Detective Nico Yukishito pushed through the mass of bodies blocking their way. Suddenly, the eerie glow of the grand chandelier lost its inviting aura, replacing it with a sense of dread. The guests were in a commotion, still wearing their masks. 'Stupid masks for stupid people!' Did no one even take care of them? The entire event hall is a mess and the police couldn't even calm them down. I think they were also confused by what they heard. Where is their old boss?
"Detective Yukishito!"
Speaking of the devil. The man with the pig mask blocked them. Inspector Ortega took off his mask and scowled at them. "Who gave you the right to disrupt this party? Our public image will be ruined because of you!"
But the young detective only dead-panned, "Don't worry, Chief. Your public image won't be ruined because first of all, it's really ruined. Your task force is useless and if you think you can mask it all up by hosting this shitty party, then be my guest. "
"What the --- ?!"
"Move aside. Unlike you, I do my job." And he quickly passed the boss in a rage. But after a while, the guests stopped them from dancing. They didn't seem to care even though the gunshots had already disrupted the occasion.
"Damn, Sherlock! Get out of the way!" Nico shouted. He remembered the man in the white suite earlier. He couldn't place a finger on it, but there's something off about that man.
"You think it's a prank to mess up the occasion?" Nova asked as they turned into the corridor.
The young man shook his head and took his Smith and Wesson branded revolver from the pocket of his tuxedo. "The timing is too perfect to be a coincidence. I have a strong feeling it has something to do with the case we're handling."
Nova's eyes turned serious as she grabbed her own gun from the holster strapped to her thigh.
They sighed as they walked down a dark hallway. It was a side extension hall, intended for other recreational purposes. The quiet and dark surroundings opened up to them. Their reflection on the smooth floor was obvious. There are several statues and masterpieces around. The only light in the hallway is the light coming from the windows. The full moon stretched over the horizon. The silence was deafening.
"Are you sure that sound came from here?" Nova asked weakly.
But that question was immediately answered when they saw the body of a man lying on the floor. They approached it quickly.
"A crime scene. It looks intentional."
'And it looks like the victim is dead.'
The pool of blood on the floor is unmistakable. That amount of blood is enough to say a person is dead. No one can survive that much blood loss.
Nico's eyes widened when he recognized the white suite and brown deer mask. 'He was killed. But why does something seem to be wrong? ' He tightened his grip on the gun and glanced around. The door at the other end of the hallway was open.
"I'll go check it out. It's up to you to tell Inspector Ortega," Nova said and started running towards it. Nico didn't last long. Just as they were about to run back to the event hall, he heard a crack.
He stopped where he was and quickly turned to the victim.
'What in the name of justice ...?'
In a flash, the man in the white suite stood up from the blood strewn on the floor. He quickly snatched the gun Nico was holding and stabbed the young man. Nico complained of pain, almost falling into pain. When the man removed his mask, his eyes widened as he recognized its face.
The man Nova bumped into in the park the other day. Lively but full of doubt the eyes. In a fraction of a second, he pointed the gun at Nico's face.
'Sherlock! This is a trap! '
"I'm sorry, detective. I was just instructed."
But before he can pull the trigger, Nico attacked and twisted his arm. He tried to grab the gun from his hand when a deafening shot accidentally escaped from it.
BANG!
Luckily, the bullet didn't hit anyone. With the noise it created, Nova's attention was immediately aroused at the other end of the hallway. When he saw the incident, he quickly ran the distance. "Nico, behind you!" He shouted and pointed his own gun. But he is having a hard time getting a good angle because the detective is already wrestling with the man. One wrong move, and he could hit Nico.
'Gosh! How can I shoot the man without harming my partner ?! '
Meanwhile, Nico struggled to fight the man. It was stronger than him even though he had already broken his left hand. Even before Nico got the hidden pocket knife in his tuxedo ---
BANG!
"SHIT!" Nico was relieved of the pain.
The man shot his hand.
The young detective saw the blood pouring out of his palm. The bullet penetrated, and he knew it had created severe damage to his hand. He can feel the pain surging through him, but he gritted his teeth in defiance. Nova was true to her position, unable to believe what had happened.
The man grinned and quickly pointed the gun at the girl. Things were moving very fast and the man was much more adept at handling a gun.
Nico's eyes widened, "NOVA!"
As soon as the gun recoiled, Neilson Tolentino pulled the trigger.
BANG!
A loud and uplifting sound broke the silence of the hallway. In those moments, only then did Nova realize the circumstances. He did not move immediately. 'Maybe Nico is right. Maybe I am incompetent and unprofessional. '
She closed her eyes, hands shaking. Detective Briannova Carlos anticipated the bullet to pierce her skin.
Nothing.
He felt nothing.
She quickly opened her eyes and almost screamed when she saw her partner. "N-Nico ?!"
Detective Nico Yukishito shielded her from the deadly bullet. It blocked the locust for Nova. Moments later, the young detective fell to the floor, holding his side. Nova's eyes widened in horror as she knelt down and studied his pained expression.
"Y-You didn't have to do that, you idiot!" Nova could feel the tears dripping.
Nova turned to the man in the white suite. It was already standing in front of them and frowning. He pointed the gun and pointed it at Nova. His eyes were apologetic. Neilson did not like this job.
"Goodbye, detective."
Nova's hands were still shaking and she felt like she didn't have the strength to fight back. Her concern for Nico prevailed. She glared at the man infront of him. The man he bumped into in the park, and if he's not mistaken --- "You're the gunman who attacked us last Sunday. The same devil who shot us outside the tea house."
Neilson nodded, "I am no devil; the man who is pulling the strings is. He is the heartless creature with this scheme. I'm sorry."
BANG!