Gustav sat at the lake shore. The girl resting on his shoulder, listening to the wind brushing against the trees and gazing at the reflection of the moon on the surface of the water. Only a faint scratching sound broke up the peaceful scenery.
It was Ansem, the one behind the scratching noise. Perhaps he was doing something that he thought was important, but for Gustav, he was just playing in the sand.
"Are you done playing?"
Ansem stopped and looked at Gustav with bewilderment.
"Playing? I'm not playing detective."
"Then what the hell are you doing?"
"I'm hitching us a ride home," Ansem puffed his chest. "I'm about done. You can bring the girl over."
Ansem probably had another strange trick up his sleeve. But it could be better than trying to actually hitch a ride. It'll look very strange if two grown men, with a semi-naked girl in the middle of the night. It would destroy his reputation as a detective.
"Just watch your step," Ansem advised.
Looking down, even under the pale light of the moon, Gustav noticed strange symbols etched on the sand.
"What is this?"
"Our way home," was the answer. "Step into the inner circle."
Gustav warily looked around. "What's next?"
"Now watch," Ansem smirked.
Ansem lifted the stick he was holding in his hands and began muttering something that sounded like a prayer. The symbols on the ground began to gain a faint blue glow. Lightning began to crackle and dance around them.
"This is where is gets interesting."
Ansem struck the center of the circle with the stick. A flash of light and the surrounding environment began to vibrate at a high speed. Gustav thought something was wrong with his eyes. The scenery began to switch back and forth between the lake and a street alley.
The world turned dark before the street alley solidified. The trio was finally back the city. However, it was a street alley that Gustav didn't recognize at first. He was still a little disoriented from the brutal transfer from one location to another in the blink of an eye.
"I bet you have a lot of questions." Ansem waved at Gustav. "So, follow me."
Gustav followed Ansem down the street alley until they reached a metal door. To him it seemed like the backdoor to any ordinary building, but with Ansem, nothing was ordinary.
A half lit room welcomed them as they stepped inside. Rows of bookcases filled with unknown artifacts and devices, each clearly labeled, rested on the shelves. Gustav wondered what purpose they served. Then reached a small anteroom, it was better lit than the previous room. There was a small coffee table, a two chairs and a sofa.
Ansem disappeared behind a door, and Gustav set the girl on the sofa. Bas-relief carvings on the walls featured nature scenes that didn't resemble anything Gustav had seen before. A fireplace with a roaring fire gave the room a cozy feel to it.
Gustav wanted to step closer to the fire to dry up, but the warm temperature of the room made the burn in the palm of his hand hurt a lot more.
Ansem stepped into the anteroom with a tray with a kettle, a couple of cups and a jar and a brush.
"Make yourself comfortable, detective," said Ansem, setting the tray on the coffee table.
"Listen..." Gustav began.
"Before that, let me see your hand," Ansem interrupted.
Gustav put out his burnt hand.
Ansem took a closer look. What remained of the skin had begun to boil, and could almost see the muscle and bone beneath.
"Isn't the human body amazing, detective?"
"Why do you say that?"
"With this injury, you should be in incredible pain and unable to stand. But the adrenaline in your body keeps you going, keeping the pain at bay. The human's body ability to repair itself is admirable, but with severe injuries, it does fall short. "
Ansem grabbed the jar, the brush, and began to mix the contents into something that looked like shaving cream.
"Now," said Ansem. "This is going to hurt, so grit your teeth."
With each brush stroke on the open burn wound, Gustav felt like he was going to pass out. Took every ounce of strength in his body to keep him from passing out.
Gustav gazed at his hand after Ansem was finished. The pain was gone now. The substance that Ansem had applied acted quickly. Almost like he applied a new layer of skin. Gustav was impressed by Ansem's work. However, his hand did look a bit different. The color of the newly formed skin didn't match the rest of his hand. It was a dark-shade of red.
"And this?" He asked.
"That's what happens when you accelerate the healing process in a normal human. It's bound to leave a visible mark." Ansem explained. "Perhaps it will fade in time, or not. But it's better than having a melted hand. Don't you think?"
"I guess you're right," Gustav tried closing his hand. Didn't feel any different from before. But he would have to hide it. So far, he guessed he had broken at least a dozen laws from just getting involved with Ansem.
Then he turned his attention to the girl on the couch. She was still sleeping.
"Curious about the girl?" Ansem poured some tea from the kettle and offered to Gustav.
"She's... a homunculus... Right?" Gustav felt off asking that question.
"Yes, that's right." Ansem confirmed. "She may look human, but she's not."
"What's a homunculus anyhow?"
"To put it simply, an alchemical theory to create an artificial human being." Ansem explained as he sipped on his cup. "You take blood, sperm and other fluids, minerals and mix them together in a flask. Let it ferment for a few moons and you get yourself a miniature human, in other words, a homunculus. Heresy of the highest order."
"That explanation doesn't make sense." Gustav kept his eyes on the girl. "But you said miniature. How do she and the other freaks we found the size of a normal human?"
"Ah! That's an excellent question, detective. Someone has unlocked a method to grow to full size homunculi. Probably the one running the facility we visited, and I can assure you that wasn't the only facility growing those things."
Gustav felt sick to his stomach. More facilities? More of those monsters? He looked at the girl and wondered what part she played in this conspiracy. Was she a dangerous creature or another innocent victim? His hand twitched as he was to pull the trigger of his gun. The thought of shooting her horrified him. And wondered why.
With a faint sigh, the girl began moving her feet and hands slowly. Then she rose up to her knees. Gustav's coat slid off, revealing her delicate naked body, and gazed at Gustav and Ansem with her golden eyes. Under the light of the fireplace, the girl looked like she had stepped out of a fairy-tale. A delicate, magical creature in a world of steel and concrete.
"Ah..." she began to open her mouth. "Are... you... fa... father?"
It amazed Gustav and Ansem that the girl could talk, and wondered who she was talking to.
The girl extended her arms towards Gustav.
Ansem pushed Gustav into the girl's arms, and she hugged him tightly. She was cold, like a marble statue. Still, she might just break if he hugged her back.
"Ansem, what's going on?"
Ansem remarked that this was a very interesting development. "Maybe imprinting?"
"What is she? A duckling?" Gustav was stunned by what was happening.
"I certainly didn't expect this to happen."
Ansem let out a hearty laugh.
"And what do I do now?" Gustav wanted to pull away, but the girl just held on tighter.
Ansem tapped Gustav on the shoulder. "Congrats, detective, on getting yourself a daughter."
"Don't screw with me you..." Gustav saw the girl looking up at him, and gave him a warm smile.
Even though this girl was a homunculus, an artificial human. She had all the expressions a normal girl would have.
"What am I going to do with her? I can't take her with me."
"How about you leave her with me?" Ansem suggested.
Somehow, that suggestion turned a knot in Gustav's gut. Leaving a young girl with a stranger? Then he realized he was as much as a stranger.
"Basically, we stole an important experiment for them, and those behind her creation probably will set out to find her. She'll be safe here with me," Ansem argued, hoping to convince Gustav.
Gustav could see the reason for Ansem's reasoning for leaving her with him. There was no safer place at the moment.
"Fine," Gustav said reluctantly. "She'll be in your care."
"However, before you go. There's something important you need to do, detective."
"And what is that?" Gustav replied, a little irked.
Ansem flashed a playful smile.
"You need to give your daughter a name."