Dead Soul Exorcist

24 | A Clean Slate

Kieran woke up to the sound of the car door being opened and closed. He opened his eyes, observing the illuminated garage door by the car's light. A house cat with a collar equipped with a tracker suddenly leaped onto the car hood, licking one of his front paws. Groggily, he glanced to the back seat to find Lunabelle, who had just awakened as well. It was then that the sound of the trunk being opened reached his ears, and Kieran saw Julian pulling out his large and heavy suitcase.

"Wait, I can handle it myself," Kieran said, unfastening his seatbelt. Hurriedly, he exited the car, but Julian had already lifted the suitcase onto the porch of the house.

"Welcome to my home," Julian said after placing the suitcase in front of the door. He blew his bangs and then took out the garage keys from his pocket. For a moment, Kieran observed Julian's house and the surrounding yard—a cozy two-story home with neatly trimmed grass. Many other houses dotted the neighborhood, creating a serene atmosphe