"It saw ." Jas could not believe the words that ca off his own mouth, but it was the only explanation he could provide to the receptionist on the Cryptid hunting agency.
"I'm sorry, Sir, I'm afraid I don't understand what you want to do." The woman behind the desk dismissively apologized.
"Please, send soone. I need help, it's driving insane." Jas begged.
"Let see, according to our registry several hunters have been dispatched to your ho on several occasions and haven't found anything," The receptionist skimd through several pages of reports from different hunting parties then continued. "have you tried looking for help sowhere else?"
"Isn't this the cryptid hunting agency? I'm telling you, there's a cryptid living in my house! Why can't you just kill it?" The man exclaid. He had bags under his eyes, a somber expression and he looked famished. All of which were the usual tells of soone from the slums, though his clothes were made of natural fiber and his address was sowhere in an upscale neighborhood in Hollywood gacity.
"Maybe the nature of your problem isn't related to a cryptid. You should check your ho for carbon monoxide leaks and other substances, you might also want to consult a physician." The woman replied in a monotone seemingly uncaring of the man's situation.
"Been there, done that. Just let place another bounty!" The man hit the desk with all his strength, though he was not even a hunter and that piece of furniture was made with the purpose of withstanding far worse.
"I think you've wasted enough of the agency's ti already. It's not a matter of money, we just can't spare the hunters." As many desk workers her job was sowhat boring and repetitive, but the root of her lack of empathy was the sheer volu of petitions they received after the poltergeist event.
It was portrayed as a breach in the walls that allowed all sorts of creatures to enter the city, but the truth was that cryptids had always inhabited the city and only now their presence was revealed to the public.
"What's the matter?" Asked Alioth who ca out of her office when she heard the fuss caused by the man who refused to leave the premises until they took him seriously.
"This incompetent woman won't help ." The man grumbled, though he didn't raise his voice knowing he was now in the presence of the head of the only agency that could help him.
"Co in my office and we'll see what we can do for you." Alioth invited the man who hesitated before stepping inside. No matter her reputation as a 'weak' huntress who would rather run from a fight than risk getting hurt, if she wanted him dead the only defense Jas could possibly have were the witnesses.
Despite his fears, Jas decided to follow Alioth inside her office as it was his last resort and not even getting killed could be worse than going back ho alone.
"This happened after the breach in the wall. After closing a pretty good deal I poured myself a glass of wine and turned on the TV so the house wouldn't feel so lonely. It was nothing out of the ordinary, I wasn't even paying attention to whatever show was on until it saw ."
"What saw you!?" Alioth asked wide eyed, afraid to hear the answer. Like usual, she questioned herself how did she end up being the head of the agency in charge of hunting cryptids when even reading the reports made her shiver in fear.
"The thing inside the TV!" The man replied.
"How did that thing look?" Alioth asked to which the man sighed in relief as he produced a picture from his pocket. He too wondered how did soone as easy to scare landed her job, but it was the first ti soone actually listened to him without scoffing or rolling their eyes. "You do know this is an actor, right?"
"Yes, I know," The man nodded. "this is just one of the forms it takes."
"Well, that actor is still alive which ans it can't be a ghost." Alioth heaved a sigh with a hand over her chest.
"Huh? Everyone knows ghosts don't exist." Jas glared at the woman thinking she was making fun of him.
"I know, but one can never be too sure. Did you try changing the channel?"
"I did, but no matter the channel the thing is always present staring directly into my eyes. I even tried getting rid of the TV, but it happens on any screen. Please, you have to do sothing, it's driving insane!" The man wept.
"That's bad, there's screens all over the city." Alioth pondered.
"Yes, my anxiety spikes every ti I walk into a store and this fucking city is filled with advertising screens!"
"Have you tried seeking professional help?"
"I thought you believed , but now you're just saying the sa things everyone does!" The man continued crying inconsolably prompting Alioth to offer him so pastries.
"It's not that I don't believe you, but according to what you told there's quite a few reasons why this can't be related to cryptids. We've heard of all types of creatures in this place, but nothing that matches what you're describing."
"It can be a new type of cryptid!" The man rebuked, ignoring the pastries in front of him due to the knot he felt on his stomach.
"Also, cryptids emit a field of disruption that causes all electronic devices to be turned off." Alioth said.
"What about the poltergeists then? They did the opposite." The man countered.
"I am aware of that, which is why we didn't dismiss your case the first ti and also why I was willing to hear you out. But there's sothing else that doesn't add up. Cryptids attack humans with the intention to feed upon them, the more flux energy a person possess they're more likely to be targeted by a cryptid, yet you're not even a hunter."
"I..." The man racked up his brain trying to find an explanation. He had answers at the ready for most cases since he had been through the sa situation multiple tis, yet it was the first ti soone actually took his concerns seriously and also the first ti the conversation reached that point.
"Think about it, what would a cryptid gain by tornting you? It's not that I don't believe you, I do believe you have a problem. I just don't think we can help."
"I just don't know what to do anymore," Jas placed his face on his palms while rocking himself on the chair. "At first it was just a bit unsettling, but turning off the TV was enough. Now I see it everywhere and it's getting so much worse."
"That's usually the case when ntal diseases are not treated properly. That's what make them so dangerous, because most people would believe themselves to be healthy and don't think of getting help." Alioth explained.
"That actually makes sense, I'll make an appointnt before going ho," The man heaved a sigh after finally coming to terms with his reality. "Still, could you please turn on the TV? I know and understand I have a problem, but it would make feel so much safer if you did. Just to check everything's fine.
"If it makes you feel safer, then I don't see why not." Alioth said with a wry smile as she turned on the TV.
It was the usual vanity show where so called celebrities or old ti famous people comnted about the current affairs or other people of the sa standing. The content of the show itself was of no interest to them and Alioth put her focus on examining both the TV and the man sitting in front of her.
"See? Everything is fine, the TV didn't so much as flicker which ans there aren't any cryptids present at the mont." Alioth nodded her head in a reassuring way.
"Thank you, thank you so much. This is the first ti soone actually listens to , you have no idea how much this ans to . I'll leave a generous paynt for your help." Jas retreated from the office feeling much better as he now at least knew there was sothing wrong with him and not with his TV or even his house.
After his conversation with Alioth he felt silly for how worried he had been and for considering moving out.
"Can soone send Maggie over? I need to have a word with her." Alioth said through the speaker.
"I did everything according to the manual! If he says otherwise he's lying!" Maggie, the receptionist defended herself as soon as she walked inside the office. Alioth remained unfazed, tippling her fingers on her desk. "Fine, I admit I was a bit edgy with him, but you know how understaffed we are and the amount of work we've been having lately is nuts!"
If before she thought she would get nagged at, now she was certain she was getting fired or even punished for mistreating a wealthy citizen, yet no matter how many bad scenarios she pictured in her head nothing could ever prepare Maggie for what Alioth told her next.
"It saw ."
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