Chapter Text
It was another boring Saturday in Hamburg, Germany. Weiki had come home from buying groceries at the supermarket and some Chinese food, too. Hamburg had been raining for the past few days. It was about to rain when he was reaching home, but luckily he arrived, in a dry condition. Andi was sitting on the sofa, reading his new fantasy book he bought several days ago. He was digging the plot twist; until Weiki interrupted him with his yelling. “Honey, I’m home!” He yelled as he entered the house.
“I’m not your honey, Michael. And for the last time, stop yelling nonsense whenever you come home!” Andi was rather pissed with his friend, always trying to tease him. He thinks it’s annoying. “I wasn’t! It’s just a common phrase whenever someone comes home. Sheesh, don’t you know? Recluse.”
Andi raised an eyebrow, “For your information, I know that it’s a common phrase. Do you simply think I am that stupid? Whatever, just go mind your own business and let me read in peace.” Weiki was irritated. He wanted to kick Andi’s ass but was afraid to do so, for his colleague might karate-chop him into two pieces. He tried to tease Andi with another topic. “Gee, y’know, a ‘thank you’ would be enough after all I’d done for you. Look, I even bought dinner just for you!” He shook the plastic bag that was containing boxes of noodles.
“You’re changing the frigging topic! But thanks anyway...” Andi flipped the pages to find where he last read, and continued. Weiki rolled his eyes in annoyance and went to the kitchen to put the groceries on the counter. It had been almost a month since their last client contacted them. Their business was not going well at all. Perhaps it’s because they are exorcists. It’s not easy to get money when you’re an exorcist, because people seldom get possessed in the 80’s and it wasn’t how it was back in the 17th century. Different eras, different people. Michael had been trying to find a vacant part-time job recently, but unfortunately he hadn’t a chance. Andi was too much of an introvert to get a proper job. He’d rather stay at home reading books than interacting with humans (the job he was suggested was a client service). “Damn, I don’t think we’re gonna survive in the next two weeks; so please, please, please! Find a fucking job as well.” Weikath fell on the chair and sighed deeply. “I can’t do all of these alone, Andi! Make yourself useful!”
“I’m only useful at hunting demons, nothing else.” He flipped the textured paper as he answered. Weiki was trying his best not to punch Andi in the face when he heard him. “Ugh, when will you learn to NOT be a recluse?” Michael gripped the armrests and leaned on the chair. Andi pretended to not hear his babbling. Suddenly, the telephone rang in the office. Andi looked at Weiki and said, “It’s your turn to answer the phone call.”
“Bitch, what the hell? Since when did we take turns to answer phone calls?” Weiki rose from his seat furiously, not leaving his eyes off from Andi. Andi didn’t respond as he was focusing on his book. Weiki sighed and said, “Whatever, I’ll just answer it.” The latter thought to himself, maybe it’s a new client! He hurried to the basement, opened the door, and answered the phone. “Hello, are you needing of assistance to banish demons and spirits? If yes, you’ve called the right place!” There wasn’t a sound through the speaker for a few seconds, he thought the line cut off but it wasn’t. He could only hear someone breathing. “Hello? Anybody there?” Weiki questioned. “Hello... I thought this was the bakery’s number.” The person calling sounded like a lady in her 50’s. Michael politely replied, “Oh no, this is not the bakery. The bakery’s number ends with a 7. You might’ve accidentally pushed number 8.” Realizing her careless mistake, the lady quickly apologised and wished Weikath a good day. The latter hung up and sat on the chair, disappointed of his expectations. Damn it! It’s so hard to get new clients. Being a Demon Hunter isn’t as easy as I thought. He spun on the chair like a child and it made him almost fell. He shook his head out of dizziness and sat upright. Oh well, if there are no clients, I guess I’ll just continue to find more vacancies.
Before he even stood up, the phone rang again. He picked it up in reluctance. “Hey, I’m a Demonhunter. Wanna get rid of demons?” Weiki answered sarcastically, not being serious about it.
“Ah– Hello, I called you just now. Just wanted to say that there’s this young man who’s living in front of my room keeps making weird groaning sounds. I tried to visit him but he was so rude and he acted differently... I think he’s possessed.”
Michael rose up and replied in an excited voice, “Oh! Really? How long has it been?” The old lady hesitated, because she forgot how long it happened. “I think around two weeks? I am not sure, I have a bad memory.”
“It’s alright, that’s pretty long actually. Usually it can only last less than a week. Anyway, could you tell me your name and your address?” The old lady said, “Oh sure! I’m Mrs. Hastert. This is my address...”
“ ANDREA----S !!!” A loud yell came from the basement, and Andi was startled by it. He quickly put a bookmark on his last read page and sprinted to the room. “What? What happened?!” He saw Weiki’s face all bright and sparkling with an eager smile, it was as if Faeries sprinkled magic dusts all over him. He cleaned his glasses just to make sure it wasn’t the glasses that caused the glittery effect. “What’s with that face, Michael?” Weiki hopped and squealed like a teenager who just found out a famous pop artist just came to town. Andi was scared with Weiki’s behavior, and impulsively slapped him. “Oh my god, what is wrong with you Weikath? I thought I already secured the house with the repellents!”
“No, that’s not why I am like this! We got a new client!” Andi dropped his jaw and squealed as well, “That’s AWESOME !” He grabbed Weiki’s arms and hopped along. “Okay, we mustn’t waste time! We have serious work to do,” Weikath said with his finger pointing up.
“Pft, you were the one who started being all childish,” Andi provoked. “Oh shut up, Andreas DRESCHER !”
“Hey, I told you not to call me that! It’s not even my real name!” Weiki snickered and left the room, “Whatever, Mr. Drescher! Hahaha...”
Knock! Knock! Andreas knocked on the door, not confident with the address. “Are you sure it’s this door? Are you sure it’s not the other one? What if I embarrass myself?” Anxiety took over him. He had never been good at interacting with people ever since he was a kid. One of the reasons why Weiki called him a ‘recluse’.
“Can you stop worrying? It’s so annoying.” Andi hmphed loudly to make sure Michael heard him. “I’m gonna do the talking here, you just sit there like a loser,” the latter continued. “Says the one who tells me to do everything in combat...” Andi murmured.
Suddenly, the door opened and there stood a small freckled old lady wearing a pastel-coloured flower apron with short curled hair. Her small round spectacles were dangling on her neck. Mrs. Hastert looked a bit shocked and questioned, “Oh my, how may I help you gentlemen?”
Weiki smiled and politely said, “We are the Demon Hunters. You had called me earlier today. My name is Michael Weikath, by the way.” He then patted Andi’s shoulder, “And this is Andi Drescher.” Andi smiled nervously, and stuttered, “I... It’s nice t... to meet you.” Mrs. Hastert wore her glasses to see their faces better and invited them inside.
“So, Mrs. Hastert...” Weiki pointed to the door that was opposite the old lady’s door. “Could you tell us more about the possessed person? You did say that he has been acting weirdly in these past weeks.” She poured some tea in her tiny antique cups that were printed with radiant flowers and illegible texts.
“Oh yes, he was such a lovely man. He used to greet me every time we bumped into each other at the bakery. He always buys bread there. He’s friends with the owner.” Andi nodded whilst he jotted down the information. “Recently, he went on a road trip with his mates. I don’t remember how long, though. Perhaps around two to three days? I’m not so sure.” Weiki shook his head, “It’s fine, ma’am. Why do you think that he is possessed?”
“Ah, well– After he returned from his trip, he barely got out of his room, he no longer greets me, he even looks unusual; as if he’s a living dead!” Mrs. Hastert put her hand on her cheek, feeling fear whilst thinking about the expression on that person’s face. Andi wasn’t even writing anything, he was already convinced that the person was indeed possessed but Weiki had doubts.
A person who’s not possessed can also behave like that, though. Eh, maybe I shouldn’t tell her about it or else I’ll lose my chance. He thought to himself. Andi nudged Michael’s arm back to reality, for he was thinking too deeply. “Sorry, I zoned out for a while. I was thinking of methods to exorcise the person.” Andi rolled his eyes after hearing the lame excuse his colleague gave to her.
“Oh – It’s alright, I understand. Please do me a favour though. Don’t harm him badly...” She begged with her worried eyes and shaky voice.
“We promise we won’t do him harm, unless it gets worse.” She thanked them a thousand times until the duo set foot outside her room. They will come again the next morning to see how bad the condition of the victim is.