*FARICIA*
I'm driving in my Mercedes as I go back to Headquarters. What another successful case! The suspect almost killed a victim again. Good thing I got there on time.
I park at the parking lot just across from Headquarters and head to the Second Division. Once I arrive, I see my co-detectives busy as always. "Another successful case again aye Fari?" Dunford asks as he teases me with his own made up nickname for me. I hate that nickname.
"Yeah, good thing I got there on time. And stop calling me Fari. We're not close you know?" I say to him directly.
"Ouch! Straight forward aye mate?" There he is again with his accent.
"At least I'm telling you the truth."
"Double ouch!"
Just then, we see Mr. Colon going down the stairs to our unit. "Is Myst here?"
I stand up from my seat and say, "I'm right here——"
"We need to talk." He says in a disappointed tone.
Oh God, did I do something to make him disappointed? I hope he doesn't fire me or maybe something worse. I follow him to his office and close his office door.
"Sit down, Myst." Mr. Colon says as he points the chair across from him.
"Thank you S——" and again he cuts to the chase.
"I have read your reports. And the only thing that surprised me was you're just a newbie. If I'm right and not mistaken, it has only been a year since you worked here?"
"Yes."
"And solved five crime scenes?"
"It's actually six now." I smile a bit.
"Really now? I heard that you're only a Class C."
"I——"
"Unfortunately, that doesn't matter. Your future is going to change."
"Wait what?——"
"You will transfer to another division. They need a person like you."
"Forgive me, but I'm still a Class C agent. This is all so sudden——"
"We don't have time. It has been five months, and they haven't found the suspect's whereabouts."
"But why me? I just started working here for a year."
"Time is irrelevant. They need your skills and talent down there."
Down there? "You mean the basement?"
"Yes, oh and a piece of advice. What you will be working in is— quite unexplainable, hard. But I'm sure they can explain everything to you. Well, I hope."
"I understand Sire."
"Go start moving your things to the basement. Viscount will meet you there."
"Yes sir."
_____________________________
While packing up my stuff, Dunford frowns at me, "You're leaving?"
"The division. I'm going to a new division that is located down the basement." I answer.
"The basement?!" Dunford asks in surprise. I look at him in curiosity. He knows something about the basement that I don't.
"Yes, the basement. Do you know something about it?"
"Only a bit though, I don't know if it could help."
"Spill." I smile as I listen to what he's going to say.
"Well, I heard that they dealt with unexplainable events like a supernatural conspiracy kinda thing. Like their investigations are quite.. unbelievable. It sometimes explains the rumours laying low after a week or two."
"No logical or scientific explanations?"
"I think so, but I doubt."
After the small talk, I'm done packing up my things. "Well, thank you for that advice or whatever that was."
"I hope it helps you."
I head to the elevator and down the basement. The moment of truth is coming. I wonder what kind of people I'll be meeting.
_____________________________
As the elevator door opens, I step out of the elevator and take in the new atmosphere that I will be working in. Computers and bunch of piled papers are all over the working area. Except for one, that is probably my seat. As I go near it—— "What in the three hells are you doing?" A sassy looking woman walks to my direction. "This. Is. My. Space."
I swallow nervously and calm myself down, "I'm sorry I didn't know that this——"
"Of course it's mine! Who the hell are you anyway? What are you doing here?"
"I was transferred by Mr. Colon."
"Oh I'm sorry, we don't need you. This division only needs ME."
"Violet, can you calm down?" A guy blondie sighs as he looks at her then to me.
"You're not the captain in this team." Another guy smirks as he turns his chair to our direction, and combs his black hair.
"I don't like this idea." Another guy speaks just at the other side of the working area, he's printing or maybe scanning something. He's not too far nor too near across from us. He crosses his arms and sighs while waiting for the papers. His dark brown hair is mesmerising. Gosh Faricia stop it with those thoughts.
"See? Von agrees with me!" Violet smirks triumphantly.
"I didn't say that I agree with you."
Violet is about to argue with him when an older man steps out of the elevator. "Let me guess.. Violet is scolding another newbie?"
"You guessed that right boss." The black haired guy says with such a smirk. Oh God, I hope I survive in this new playground.
"You must be Faricia Myst. I'm Heirby Viscount." He introduces himself with such a friendly smile.
"Nice to meet you." We shake hands.
"You must have thought that this was your space."
"Y-yeah about that.." I turn to face Violet. "Violet right? I'm truly sorry for——"
She points her index finger on my chest. "You owe me a drink." Violet says as she sits down on her chair.
"Anyways, your desk is there beside Collsen." Viscount points at the desk. It's surprisingly clean.
"Thanks!" I thank him and walk my way to my new desk.
Viscount claps his hands twice to get everybody's attention. "Alright, is everyone present today?"
"Nope, Catera's not here yet." The blondie raises his right hand.
"Okay, I'll fill her in later. Today, as all of you knew, we have a newbie in the Ouroboros Division. Meet Faricia Myst, from this day on, she's a member of this division."
"Understood capt! I'm Jackson Spice, A.K.A. Jack." The blondie introduces himself then points at Violet.
"Violet Joyce Hemming.. Just call me Vi." She's probably a nice person after all.
"Finn Narrow." The black haired guy smiles.
Everyone of us look at the the guy who's still waiting for his papers. He sighs, "Rial Von Collsen."
"Don't hesitate to call him Von. His first name was quite hard to pronounce." Jack says.
"Was it pronounced as Ri-al or real?" Violet teases him.
Von lets out a frustrated sigh, "It's pronounced as real. But sure fine, just call me Von."
After that, a woman our age steps out of the elevator. "Hey I found this new——" She stops talking when she sees me. "Oh..my.. FARICIAAAAAA!!!" She runs to my desk and hugs me so tight. I can't breathe. "What a small world!"
"Hey Cat, you know this newbie?" Violet asks.
"Newbieeeee?? Are you saying that—?"
"Yeah, she's gonna work here from now on."
"OH MY GOOOOOOSSSSHHHHHH!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT MY BEST FRIEND WILL BE WORKING HERE!"
"Best friend?" Viscount asks with a smile.
"She's my best friend since the fifth grade!"
"I am surprised as well. I never knew Catera is working in this division neither HQ."
"WELL YOU SURPRISED ME MORE!"
"Catera, can you not shout?" Von says in an irritating tone.
"Woops, sorry."
"Guys, I got a new update on our suspect." Viscount says while holding his tablet.
"What day is it today?" Jack asks.
"Monday." Finn answers his question.
"He's got a new play date again." Violet sighs.
"Vi's right." Viscount passes the folder.
When it reaches to me, I see...blood everywhere. There were three victims, all women, their bodies were in the middle of a sidewalk. One was slit by her throat, the other looks like she was smashed by a wall, and the other was shot three times. There were so much blood, and on the wall something was written there but I can't read it. The image wasn't clear. "Do you have this picture in a tablet or computer?" I ask.
"I already sent the picture to Von's tablet." Viscount says.
Von walks to my desk and hands me his tablet. I zoom in the picture and try to read what was written on the wall. Still, I couldn't. You watch to many mystery movies Fatima.
"Try to catch me if you dare." Von whispers just a few inches to my ear, but I can feel his warm breath.
"What did you say?" I ask him.
Von suddenly looks seriously at me and points at the tablet. "Try to catch me if you dare."
I try to read it again and—— he's right. I thought he was— Nevermind. "Looks like our suspect wants to play hide and seek." I say.
"Yeah, each month he kills three people." Finn informs me.
"Specifically, women." Jack adds the information.
"Tell me, how did the suspect killed the previous women?" I ask, getting more info about this case.
"One slit, one smash, three shots." Jack answers.
"The same as this one." Von says.
While they discuss the crime scene I'm carried by my thoughts. Think Fatima, 113? Could it be a number of a—— or maybe is it 1+1+3.. "Equals to five.." I speak as I kinda figured out where the suspect is.
"What?" Catera asks me.
"The suspect wants us to find him. Most probably he's in Fifth Street."
"Oh honey, don't you get it?" Violet says with her sassy look again.
"Get what?"
"The suspect isn't human. If you can see in the image, there's no one but them."
"Isn't there any security cameras?"
"Unfortunately, the security cameras blacked out then it went back on when they saw that."
"Basically, we're playing hide and seek. What like Fari said." Catera says.
"So there's some sort of hacker?" I ask again.
"No hacks."
"What?"
"Faricia, can I talk to you for a minute?" Viscount asks me, his expression serious. I nod and we go inside his office.
_____________________________
"I don't understand. No hacks? No sign of the suspect? What is going on here?" I ask once I close the door.
"Myst, this seems hardly unbelievable for you, well for now."
Unbelievable? Didn't Dunford told me that too? "You're not saying that this unit investigates some paranormal, supernatural, unexplained theories or conspiracies are you?" And with that I knew I am done for. His lips are zipped. "So," I laugh a bit, "This isn't— it can't be right?."
"You'll believe it."
"I mean— What are we dealing here?" I ask again, wanting more answers.
"You won't believe it."
"But you said that I'll believe it."
Viscount sighs, "We are kind of dealing with an.. invisible..person."
I chuckle, because why not? There's no invisible person! The person might be just great with camouflaging. "You're kidding right? Maybe the person is just so smart in camouflaging or hiding in the shadows."
Viscount places a folder infront of me as if he wants me to read it. I walk to his table and open the folder. Suddenly, I see the victim who sat lifeless on the ground and— Is that a knife and a gun?? Where in the unexplainable shoot is the suspect? Wait- no— "Last time, it was an invisible woman. And that woman killed men." He tells me.
"And you were able to find her?" I ask while reading the report.
"Kill her, actually."
I look at him and close my eyes as I close the folder as well. Killing a person is not what I signed up for. I want to make a world a safer place. Well, at least the city for now.
"I don't want to pull a trigger nor hold a dagger, a knife, a sword, nor whatever."
"Mr. Colon told me that too. That's why I will be giving you this." He hands me a pistol, but it's unlike any other pistol. "This could only sting a creature or a human or whatever you will be dealing with. You can also change its mode, something that can make you feel dizzy, electrocute them, some things like that."
"I-I don't know what to say."
"Say nothing, just do your work." He smiles at me, and I smile back.
Going back to the discussion, I ask him, "Is the invisible person a man this time?"
"We don't know yet. That's why we need your help."
"Why me? I'm a Class C."
"You were recommended by your former captain actually."
Of course she did. Such a spoiled brat. At least you're not in a toxic division anymore, right? "I will do my best."
"Oh I know you will. Now go and do your job."
I smile at him and walk out of his office. Eventually, the five of them starts to look at me seriously. "Fifth Street? Really?" Violet questions me.
Oh shoot was it a wrong thing? It was just a suggestion or a guess mostly. "I- uh- I——"
"You have such——"
Catera cuts he off— "A BIG BRAIN! Why didn't we thought about going to Fifth Street the last time?" Catera gives me this happy look. Am I in trouble or??
"So? Uhmm.." I'm clueless pf what's happening. Faricia you're so slow.
"All the victims recently live in Fifth Street, except for one victim who was only passing by." Von says.
"The one who barely made it?" Jack asks.
"Yep that's the girl." Finn answers as he leans back on his chair.
"Wasn't she the girl who almost kissed you because you saved her?" Violet teases.
"Ah let's not talk about that. That's too yuck."
"Says the guy who wanted to ask someone out for a date." Catera teases too, supporting Violet's teasing club.
"That was just a joke." Finn avoids eye contact.
I see Violet stops typing for a bit then goes on. I take my seat and start to fix my things. Yes, I haven't unpacked my stuff since I got here. Well, to think that this division is quite unbelievable. I just see these investigations in a logical manner. That's so impossible that there is some unexplained things going on. Oh my forsaken sake Fatima, get a grip.
I'm finally done with unpacking! I take my water bottle and drink, when—— Von sits on the chair beside me. My eyes go big and look away.
"You don't have to look away, you know? I don't bite." Von says while typing.
I cover my mouth and cough a bit then speak, "I'm— I'm not— this is nothing."
"Of course it's nothing. It's not like there's something." He chuckles.
"The-there's nothing! Obviously. What are we even talking about?"
"Nothing."
I give him a small smile, but he.. He is focused on his work.
_____________________________
Work was done and now I'm walking back to my condominium. Since I parked my car a few blocks away from there. I see an old man, a beggar, sitting on the ground. I ordered fish and chips earlier. I'll just give it to him. I walk closer to the beggar and give him the food I bought. "Here, it's the only thing I have for now."
He takes it and thanks me, "Thank you for your kindness. I hope nothing bad will happen to you."
"Nothing will." I smile with confidence.
"Easy to say. I talked to an invisible man lurking around here."
My eyes go wide when I hear those words, "Invisible?"
"Yes. You see that door over there?" He points at the entrance door to the condominium lobby. "He told me that he'll go in there."
B-but that's where I live. "How did you know about that?"
"The man spoke to me, and the people passing by thought I was crazy and was talking to myself. The man was just opening up."
"Opening up? What did he say?"
"That he wanted revenge for his wife. All he wanted to have was a happy and simple life with his wife, and have children someday. Until someone ruined it, making them invisible to the world like they never existed. That's what he said to me."
The invisible man? Revenge for his wife? Happy and simple life? He's taking out the wrath through killing innocent women. "Even bad people have their own story. You can't just judge them in an instant." The beggar adds.
"Thank you for warning me. Enjoy your meal!" I smile at him and he smiles back.
I enter the lobby and secretly ready the gun Viscount gave me. The gun doesn't look like a real gun, so the security might have thought that it was just a toy. I'm not gonna use it for bad deeds anyway. I walk to the elevator but then— I hesitate to go inside. He's here, beside me. I don't know how and I don't know why. But I need to be in a crowded area. The more witnesses, the lesser crime. So I head to the lobby and sit down on one of the fluffy and fancy chairs. I pull out my phone and call someone.
Catera is with her friends tonight. Finn's parents are expecting him tonight for some event we don't know of. Well he did tell us not to ask. Violet? Haven't asked for her phone number. Obviously. Jack said that he wants to rest. Catera told me that he gets a bit grumpy if he doesn't get any rest. Von.. not approachable.
Oh God! Faricia your life depends on it! Just call anybody! I accidentally drop my phone, good thing it has a screen protector, then once I pick it up——
Von
Ringing...
My eyes go wide and I am now PANICKING! My nerves shoot straight at me. AAAAAHHHH WHY DID I—— HOW DID I EVEN HAVE HIS PHONE NUMBER IN MY BAG??
Then I remember.. When I was about to leave my desk, he turned his chair towards my direction and called my surname. "Myst."
I turned to look at him, "Hm?"
"Phone."
"What phone?"
He arched his eyebrow and walked towards me. Woah wait what is he doing? Before I knew it, I pressed myself against the wall while he was just a few inches from where I was. "You don't understand. Do you?"
"Enough of this crazy joke Von——"
"You really do not get it." He took another step, and were about— I didn't know— 3 or 5 inches apart maybe?? "Next time I ask for your phone——" He suddenly showed me my phone. "You give it to me."
"H-how did you——"
He handed me back my phone with no interest in letting me finish asking my question. Instead he said in a mockingly manner, "Keep your questions to yourself for now. I'm not in the mood with answering questions from a some newbie like you."
Well you— little— rude— HMP.
Now back to the present———
Too late, he answered. AAAAAHHHHHH!
Von: Hello?
I gulp nervously and speak, "Uh hi! Uhm uh.."
Von: Uhhh?
TELL HIM NOW! OH GOD PLEASE HELP ME! "I-I uh need to uh— I—"
Von: You need me?
I swallow nervously again, "Y-yes.. Can you come here? I mean not in a weird way or anything it's just this is awkward— aw-awkwork— I mean work thingy thing." I laugh awkwardly. What is wrong with me?
I hear Von sigh tiredly. I guess he's tired. "Uhm.. It's fine if you—"
Von: I'm already here actually.
"Wait what? Where?" I stand up and look outside the glass the window.
Von: Myst, look behind you.
I turn behind me and see him in his casual clothes. He ends the phone call. He puts his hands in his pockets.
"I guess we both work and live under the same roof huh?" That's not a good thing to ask Faricia. He's not in the mood to answer questions. "I uh— did not expect that coming." I smile awkwardly. What in the Heavenly chocolate fudge is happening in the refrigerator? Wait what?
"You told me that you need me." Von tells me while he is doing something with his watch.
"Uh yeah yeah I need you."
"Okay.. With what?"
Too crowded, many people might hear our investigation. "Can you just.. Follow me? We need to talk."
"With what? Any leads?"
"You see, I.." I let him realize that there are many people.
"Fine."
And by that, I finally get inside the elevator, but this time I'm with him. I don't know why I called him, but I think it was a good call. I don't feel like I will be the next victim. Or maybe it was just my mind. Too many things to accept. But I must.