The Incubus System Chapter 1144. A Mistake?

The Incubus System Chapter 1144. A Mistake?

Shadow’s ears flicked. “Suspicious.”

“Yeah,” I muttered, still staring at my phone. The Read status mocked me like a blinking red flag.

Then—my phone vibrated.

A reply.

Larry: Sorry, I made a mistake.

I frowned. My grip tightened on the phone, thumb hovering over the screen. His words felt… off.

Larry wasn’t the kind of guy to say ‘Sorry, I made a mistake’. No stupid reply, no weird words, no unnecessary details about how he got into trouble. Just plain, cold words. That wasn’t him.

Foxy peeked over my shoulder, her fluffy ears twitching. “That’s it?” she asked, unimpressed.

I exhaled, shoving the phone in my pocket. “Yeah, but…” My words trailed off. My gut told me something was wrong, but my brain was trying to rationalize it. Maybe he just got hit on the head or something. Maybe he actually did make a typo and panicked over nothing.

I shook my head. “Oh well, at least he’s fine.”

Celia sat on the counter near us and swung her legs back and forth. Her fingers idly traced the edge of the wooden surface, the same way she did when she was deep in thought. “Are you sure?”

I raised a brow at her. “You want me to show up at his place and kick down his door?”

Foxy grinned. “I mean, we could.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, but I guess it’s unnecessary.” I decided to push it to the back of my mind. “Anyway, I need to focus on the prison visit first. I’ll call Tiffany and ask if she also got the same letter, and if she wants to come with me.”

Celia nodded, but I could tell she was still tense. “What I don’t understand is why they only gave you a little time before the meeting.”

I shrugged, though the question gnawed at me, too. “I’m more curious why they used a letter instead of an email, a phone call, or a text. It’s like they went out of their way to make this feel old-school and dramatic.”

Foxy snorted. “Maybe they wanted it to feel official.”

Puriel crossed her arms, eyes sharp as she leaned against the wall. “Or they wanted to make sure there was no immediate response.”

I frowned at that. No immediate response. She had a point. Letters were slow. If they wanted me to come, why not just call and confirm instantly? Why the delay?

Celia drummed her fingers against the counter. “Think she’s gonna try something?”

I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I let my mind drift to the memories I tried to bury. Cold stares. Empty words. The weight of knowing someone was supposed to love you but didn’t. The way she always seemed to take and take and take, even when she had nothing left to gain.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But I do know one thing.”

Celia tilted her head. “What’s that?”

I sighed, pushing away from the counter. “She’s not asking for me because she suddenly cares.”

For a moment, the house felt smaller. The air, heavier.

Red let out a low growl. Shadow’s tail flicked. Foxy’s grin was gone.

Celia hopped off the counter, landing softly. She met my gaze, her expression carefully neutral, but I knew her too well. There was anger under there. Not at me. At her.

She reached up and smacked my shoulder. “Well, screw her, then.”

I let out a surprised chuckle. “That’s the spirit.”

She smirked. “So, are you gonna call Tiffany or what?”

I pulled my phone out again, scrolling through my contacts. “Yeah. Might as well see if she got the same summons.”

Celia snorted. “You know she’s gonna say yes.”

I pressed call. The line rang. And rang. Then, finally— A click.

Tiffany’s voice came through, calm and measured as always. “Ethan.”

I leaned against the counter. “Hey, question—did you get a lovely, heartwarming letter from the police today?”

A pause. Then, “…Yes.”

I exhaled. “Figured. You going?”

Another pause. Then, quieter, “I don’t know yet.”

Celia raised a brow at me, mouthing, “Really?”

I shrugged. “Well, I am. Figured I’d ask if you wanted to tag along.”

Tiffany didn’t answer immediately. When she finally spoke, her voice was laced with something hesitant. “…You sure it’s a good idea?”

I scoffed. “Nope. But here we are.”

Another pause. Then a sigh. “Alright. I’ll come with you.”

I smirked. “Knew you would.”

Celia rolled her eyes. “Predictable.”

“What time?”

“Afternoon. 1 PM. Guessing they gave you the same ridiculous short notice.”

“Yeah.”

I frowned. “Does that not bother you?”

Tiffany’s voice was unreadable. “It does. But not as much as the fact that she asked for you first.”

I blinked. “Wait. What?”

Celia tensed. Foxy leaned in, eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Tiffany sighed. “The letter says I need to come with you.”

I shifted. “And… you?”

Then, finally, “I was just allowed to come along.”

Something cold settled in my chest.

“She asked for me first?”

Tiffany hummed. “Yeah. And that’s why I don’t think this is just a ‘last visit before the trial’ thing.”

Celia exhaled sharply. “Great. More drama.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “Well. If it’s a trap, at least we’ll both walk into it.”

Tiffany chuckled, but it was humorless. “I’ll meet you there.”

-Click!

I lowered my phone slowly. The weight of everything settled over me.

Celia nudged me. “You good?”

I forced a smirk. “Yeah. Just rethinking my entire existence.”

She grinned. “Mood.”

Buni yawned. “So. You still going?”

I exhaled. “Yeah.”

Rave nudged me. “Then let’s make sure it’s on your terms.”

I smirked. “Now that is a plan I can get behind.”

Celia grinned, tossing a pillow at me from the couch. “Yeah, yeah, Demon Lord. Try not to look too thrilled about meeting our favorite person in the world.”

I caught the pillow with ease, tossing it behind me as I leaned back into the couch. “Oh, I’m ecstatic, obviously. Can’t you see the joy radiating off of me?”

Red let out a dramatic sigh, stretching out on the rug like he owned the place. “You’re both acting like you’re going to a public execution.”