#TASHOTU

[deckerroosevelt]

Chapter 2, part 4

   “My name is Loki. I woke up here today. (I don’t even know what day it is.) I have met a strange man named Decker Roosevelt. This house is his, I think. With me, here lives a girl with a blindfold (I forgot her name), Treacher, Ambeth and Neda. 

   Treacher seemed nice and normal, though he has a mask, so I don’t really know how he looks yet. He has darker skin and has purple strokes in his hair. Neda is a porcelain doll. She speaks, but I think she has a microphone in her mouth or something. Dolls do not talk or move.   This house is making my brain burn. The hallways make no sense at all, but when I stormed away from Neda, I found my way here without thinking. Did I even go down the stairs? I can’t remember. 

   The only regular looking people I have seen are the cook that brought us breakfast and Ambeth. Ambeth looks like a 12-year-old child as she’s supposed to. A bit homeless though, but we all are ‘rescues’ here. Why have the others been rescued? I can’t remember why I was rescued.

   I remember that my family loved but forgot me. That sounds unrealistic. But I feel like I forgot myself at one point too. But everyone remembers me here. Why is it so important to me? Of Course they would remember me. Why do I keep thinking about forgetting? I should write everyday like this.”

 I wrote everything so fast that my handwriting was horrible. But I understood it and it’s not like my handwriting would be good anyways. Good enough. I took the notebook and put it under my pillow. 

   I looked outside and saw the sun setting. This day has been so confusing, but now I feel unexpectedly cozy. The stillness and silence was intense, now that I stopped writing. It was so beautiful and peaceful. I could just stay here for the rest of my life. Sitting on my bed looking at the sunset. But the sunset is not there forever, like I am. I am not here forever, though. Right?

[deckerroosevelt]

Chapter 9, part 3

   We spent the day together just hanging out and talking. We looked through Ambeth’s book (or she did and we listened) and dug up some nasty secrets of celebrities. We hadn’t heard of Decker after he left and Treacher had isolated himself to his room. 

   I went to my room around midnight. It wasn’t optimal for my healing progress but I had lost my perception of time. As I was walking in the hallways I heard a thump below. I slid to the staircase quietly to see what was going on. I saw Decker who looked rough. Like he’d been in a fight and his usually flawless suit had dust all over it. His red glasses had a crack on the other side and he looked oddly annoyed. I had never seen him in that kind of state and there were some new scars on his face. Fresh.

   Another person entered the room. It was Neda who also looked like she had seen some things. Her face and other parts of her doll-body had cracks. Her curly hair was messy and she didn’t have her eyes in place. I wanted to go and hug Neda but I didn’t think she would have appreciated it in that state. They both needed to rest for a while I assumed and went to my room.

   I went to sleep with a good feeling. Neda was safe, Decker was safe, I had a good day and I was healing. Carlton’s case was closed– 

   Just then I realised I didn’t know what exactly happened. I had forgotten to ask or even think about the situation. Did he die? Why was he in the state he was? Is he still out there?

   My mind brought me back to the moment. The stuffy, thick air and the rotten and mouldy smell. Blood flooding in my ears, pain all over my body, painful cracks of my bones and that thump I heard before all went black. And the victorious fear in Treacher’s eyes. The writing on his skin. How did he follow me and what was the thing with the texts? 

   I thought I would sleep well tonight but I didn’t. My mind kept wandering and asking questions. At one point I had to get up and write them down.

  “Things I need answers to:

How did Treacher remember me outside?

What happened to Carlton and Avery?

How did Carlton become so weak and why?

What happened to Neda?”

[deckerroosevelt]

✧˚Masterlist ˚✧

˚✧Introduction

˚✧Prologue

˚✧Chapter 1, part 2, part 3, part 4

˚✧Chapter 2, part 2, part 3, part 4

˚✧Chapter 3, part 2, part 3, part 4

˚✧Chapter 4, part 2

˚✧Chapter 5, part 2, part 3 (Neda's POV), part 4 (Back to Loki's POV)

˚✧Chapter 6, part 2, part3, part 4

˚✧Chapter 7, part 2, part 3

˚✧Chapter 8, part 2, part 3

˚✧Chapter 9, part 2, part 3

˚✧Chapter 10, part 2, part 3

˚✧Chapter 11, part 2, part 3

˚✧Chapter 12, part 2, part 3

˚✧Chapter 13, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5

˚✧Chapter 14 (Ambeth), part 2

[deckerroosevelt]

Chapter 14, part 2

   Shards of glass shattered everywhere and the knocking on her door echoed everywhere. It was a lot louder than I had anticipated. I pulled Merinda up to the window and we started climbing down. The knocking ended and we shared a gaze. I jumped down and a sharp pain on my legs made me fall. I got up quickly and helped Merinda down. She was quite weak so I held her up. Lucky enough she was quite small sized because I wasn’t that strong myself. 

   A tall figure towered in front of the main doors. It was taller than the doors but its spine was a bit weird. I realised I was staring when Merinda grabbed my hand and started running. The figure moved and I ran too. An orange flickering light burned my eyes in the dark. The huge bonfire. People with collarbones outside their chest were in a circle around it. We were supposed to get them at some point too. I couldn’t say why but they are pretty crowning human’s neck and chest areas. 

   Merinda yanked my hand with a sudden turn to the left. We left behind the school and ran on the street. I tasted blood in my mouth and my legs were screaming from pain. Merinda just kept running. She was so brave. A shadow grew on top of us and Merinda speeded more. The shadow was getting larger and stronger. With a sudden move we lunged to the car drive and a bony thump echoed on the ground. Before I processed anything we were on the run again but the shadow wasn’t behind us anymore. It was in the front and we ran right to the owner of it. 

   Decker.

   “Stupid, stupid, stupid Ambeth”, he cursed and dragged us to a car and speeded away. The journey was completely silent and Decker’s anger could be sensed all around the car. Merinda had passed out but I didn’t dare to look at her nor Decker. 

   We took Merinda to our guestroom. Decker made sure I didn’t believe she would stay. She had her own family and life. He then took me to his office and handed my book to me. 

   “Look up your teachers. Tell me everything that’s suspicious.” I did as I was told. It felt like reuniting with an old friend. First I looked up some of our teachers and the headmaster. Most of them had a colourful past with crimes and drugs. Lastly I found Mr Banting and a name popped to my eyes. Millie Miracle. His wife was the owner of the Miracle company. Could they be connected?

   “Yes! Finally! You know what this means, Ambeth dear?” he asked me, eyes full of triumph.

   “No?”

   “We got a reason to interrogate Mr Banting's family and through that Miracle! You know what Loki found from your room? Miracle’s pills. We can charge the company for aiding the school’s cult and that way we can connect our case to this.”

   He took his hat and his jacket and left me there. The school would get put down. Would I be separated from Merinda? What does it matter? She will see where I live and who I live with. What if she’ll be scared? There are so many things I don’t know about her yet.

   My book caught my eyes. It was just lying there without supervision. I could get answers to every question I have about her. Just a peek wouldn’t hurt, would it?

[deckerroosevelt]

Chapter 13, part 4

    It was nice finally being able to talk to Ambeth outside. She talked about her school days and I got to be involved in the conversations in the crime scenes. Not with the police though. They knew it was a paranormal case, I mean that’s why we were there, but we didn’t want to make them paranoid. Decker explained that people don’t want to know that there’s something they can’t notice. Of course it meant that I wouldn’t get credit for my ideas but at least my closest people knew to give me credit. I don’t feel so useless anymore. I can just walk to places which has turned out to be quite beneficial especially when a company that doesn’t want anyone to come inside is involved.

   I had gone twice or thrice to the Miracle company but I haven’t been able to locate Ms Miracle herself yet. It was like she never came to work. I shouldn’t have been so scared there as I was. We were sure that the creature wasn’t able to remember me. Otherwise it would’ve killed me there. The factory was still a bit spooky. Not like haunted spooky. But it was just wrong. I never saw anyone smile and everyone was like moulded from the same mould. There were a lot of sick “motivational” signs like “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” and “Be the best version of yourself and skip meals.” I know those are very toxic but they just penetrate into your mind. 

   I was completely in my thoughts walking to Ambeth’s school. I bumped into a few people  but of course it makes no difference if I just continue or apologise.

   “Loki! What a coincidence!” a familiar voice came from ahead. 

   “Mary! Is that you?” my mood brightens.

   “Yes. I moved a few weeks ago. My stuff is still here and there but I finally got my kitchen done so I was going to do groceries. How have you been?”

   I surface the case we’re having to her. “We’re a bit stuck with it. The Miracle company’s not cooperative and even if I could go there, we couldn’t even find Ms Miracle herself. One of us got badly injured during an attack and we still haven’t made progress.”

   “The Miracle? They have been big in the industry for such a long time. And I live quite near. I’ll keep my eyes open for you. Come to have dinner some day. And take your friends with you too!” she smiled warmly. 

   “Sundays are ‘off’ for us but it’s not really a job. It’s a hobby if you could say so. Do you have anything next Sunday? Some third party opinion would be appreciated.”

   “That’s set then! Now I’ll have to go plan the meal. See you then! I’ll text you my address”, she waved and walked in the opposite direction.

   Mine and Ambeth’s mood was tired. She didn’t talk much and it was fine with me. I wasn’t really in the mood to talk. We needed a search warrant to the company but we couldn’t prove any connections to them. I was desperately trying to think of a way to get there when I heard Ambeth’s stomach growl. 

   “You hungry?”

   “No. My stomach is applauding”, she smiled at me proudly. I didn’t process her words at first and just stared at her. I even stopped walking.

   “What did you say?”

   “Our teacher said that when our stomach is growling it’s applauding for our self control! I got the best grade with my weight”, she got a sudden burst of energy while explaining. “I’m quite tired though. And hungry. But I am a model student in P.E. class. I don’t even need to be athletic!”

   I didn’t know what to answer so I took Ambeth from her hand and walked home as quickly as I could. Decker had to hear this.

[deckerroosevelt]

Chapter 13, part 3

   Saiyan was in a weak condition for a long time after the incident. I had only lost fat but he had lost some muscles too. Decker said he was lucky no limb gangrene. He had to roll on a wheelchair for a little while until his muscles would be able to hold him up. Just when he had made a solution for the fire problem he got another barrier to break. I blamed myself because if I would have held tighter onto him this wouldn’t have happened. He even had problems breathing and doing anything. 

   Decker had been right about the slow recovery and to be honest I don’t think he’ll ever fully recover. His heart isn’t like it used to be. Saiyan mostly spent his time in his room either coming up with inventions and trying to gain his body back. He also started making rather ugly bracelets. I use it because I didn't want to insult him now. We on the other hand had to continue with work. At least we got extra motivation for it. I don’t know if I did right by saving Saiyan. He said that it would’ve been better if he died there in the beginning of his recovery but it could be just the toughness of the start. I really don’t know.

   Few weeks after the incident Saiyan rolled to the dinner table with a hint of joy on his face. Me and Treacher shared a hopeful glace. Something had cheered him up a little. 

   “I cracked it! Ambeth, you will go to school with Loki.”

   “I always do, don’t I?” she gave me an unsure smile as if asking. 

   “No, but tomorrow you can converse with him!” Saiyan claimed with a triumphant mood. I could see the surprise and excitement in everyone’s eyes. 

   “No way! How? Tell me, do I have to share my brain with Loki?” Ambeth joked and everyone laughed. I didn’t know how to feel about everything but I chose to look excited.

   “No, no. I figured that if you need to be aware of Loki all the time in order to remember him–”

   “So I need to stare at him the whole time. I’ll look dumb”, Ambeth cut him off.

   “No! I made bracelets that simulates his exact heart rate on your wrist. That way you constantly get a reminder of him. I tested it by going outside for a while with the bracelet. I gave one to Loki already, you see. And I remembered him!” he explained with a slightly too fast tempo. He was getting excited. I looked at the ugly bracelet and it started to make sense.

   “And I thought you just made ugly bracelets”, I joked.

   “Rude. But I admit that it is a bit ugly. The visual part is still unfinished”, he confessed. “But that’s not important. The important part is that it works.”

   “True”, I consented.

[deckerroosevelt]

Chapter 12, part 3

   The next day we went to talk with everyone who works at the warehouse or is some other way connected. There were some regular staff members and we really wanted to talk to Ms Miracle but we weren’t able to. Out of curiosity I tried to google her. I had painted a picture of a blond rude looking woman in my head but honestly she wasn’t anyone you’d think twice of on the street. A weird thing I noted was that she was never really publicly visible but now she had disappeared completely from the eyes of other people. For me that is understandable because many had criticised her brand based on her looks. There are a lot of stereotypes and body shaming in this industry and the brand’s sales have actually gone up after she vanished from the public eye.  

   The man we saw the other day was her adviser and secretary. He wasn’t happy to be interviewed but in the end he answered most of our questions. He used the answers “That’s confidential information”, “I can’t comment on these matters”, and “Ms Miracle does not wish to see anyone in a while due to her medical reasons.” He didn’t seem to understand that three people had died in a horrible way that is completely unknown to us. He just raised concerns that the company has something to do with this. Why else would he have been so secretive?

   “He knows something for sure”, Yumekui broke the silence at the dining table.

   “Yeah, we should investigate them more but we have to keep possibilities open. We don’t know anything for sure”, Neda signed. 

   “I’ll go bring food for Saiyan. I’ll be right back”, I got up. I wanted to also ask what he was thinking about everything. Saiyan turned out to be very intelligent but he sometimes got too much into his inventions. Maybe he wanted to get to his family as soon as he could without burning them alive.

   Just when I was opening the door it opened and Saiyan was there. I am embarrassed to admit that I shielded my face with my hands when I saw he wasn’t wearing his gas mask. But soon I realised he had some weird pipes coming out of his neck and chest. 

   “I did it! I can live without the mask! Though this is a bit weird– You’ll get used to it. It’s not perfect yet but I can at least eat with y’all now.”

  “I won’t even ask how that works but I’m glad! You look so different without the mask. That’s something to get used to”, Treacher seemed surprised.

   “It’s not ready yet but I’m trying to get the fire under control. How cool would that be if I could control the flames! I would be like a superhero– whoops!” Saiyan was so excited he dropped his cutlery. “I’m also trying to think of a way we all would remember Loki outside. That would make things a lot easier, right?”

   At that point I got more interested. The thought of being able to talk to them outside intrigued me but also scared me. I wasn’t used to it and it would be a massive change. I couldn’t do everything I normally do outside. I couldn’t talk to myself aloud etc. But it would be worth it.

   “That would be nice, Saiyan.”

   “I have so much time for everything now! I have to stay here so why not make use of the time. I usually don’t have so much time with all the studies and music and everything. I usually…” I zoned out thinking about all of the possibilities I’d have. I wanted to hug him but I was too scared I’d mess some of the pipes up.

[deckerroosevelt]

Chapter 12, part 2

   Later that day we went to take a look at the warehouse. It was quite well investigated but we took more pictures and we got handed the blueprints of it. We were talking to the police there (or they were) when I saw a lanky man in a black suit approaching. He limped with fury there and started talking with a fast pace and a bit of a shaky voice.

   “We can’t empty this warehouse. It’s our main storage for god’s sake! This is absurd! We had nothing to do with this– thing! But we have to pay and hold conferences expressing our condolences?!”

    A police officer walked forward and took out a little notebook. He clicked his pen and started with a calm thick accented voice. “Calm down mister. We can negotiate this out. What do you keep inside here?”

   The man was a bit taken aback but answered. “O-only some ingredients, supplies and ready products.” He observed the officer's face for a bit. “So we don’t have to move them?”

   “I didn’t say so but I’ll see what I can do. I’ll keep you informed”, he turned around and walked back to the other officers in a slouchy manner. The man also turned around and limped back where he came from but this time more calmly. 

  The man hadn’t said his name nor position and thus raised suspicion. Fortunately we didn’t say any major details to him. The police noted down to investigate more to the company, ‘Miracle’, and ask around about the man. He was seen on the cameras they had set up. Also I listened to Decker and one other officer’s chat about how we are mainly in charge of the investigation. The police forces would help with more dangerous things.

   I headed out of the scene to pick up Ambeth. I would brief everything to her after we got home. The way home was very quiet because of course she didn’t notice me there. I couldn’t wait to get home and start talking. I explained nearly everything to her. I knew I wasn’t supposed to underestimate her but I still left the nastiest details untold. She was fascinated by the case and the butterflies. Apparently she has a weird interest in biology and butterflies interest her at the moment.

   “I should search for the company owner and the victims from my book!” she proposed and got up but I held my hand up.

   “No. You need to be supervised at all times while you are with the book by Decker, remember? In addition we don’t have the key to get the book.”

   She seemed visibly sad but understood why she couldn’t read everyone’s lives like she wanted. It must be hard for her to be separated from the book. It was her ability and she couldn’t use it. I could sympathise with her since my ability was just as unuseful. 

   “Well, how was your first day of school?” I changed the subject to fill in the silence.

   “Oh, it was great! I got a friend called Merinda! She is so cool and clever and pretty! The teachers are a bit scary but with Merinda I want to be active! I want to be as clever as she is!” Ambeth started highlighting. Merinda seemed like a good friend and I was glad for Ambeth.

[deckerroosevelt]

Chapter 11, part 3

   There were no major cases during the next three weeks so we mostly got to know Saiyan more and prepared Ambeth for school. And we threw a surprise party for Ambeth. We feasted until it was time for her to go to bed. I stayed up a bit longer with the others. We were sitting in the living room snacking. Saiyan, Treacher and I had became an inseparable trio maybe because of our similar ages. I thought that Treacher saving my life and me saving Saiyan’s life had its own contribution in our friendship. 

   “I’ve been thinking about an alternative solution to my ‘ability’ as you call it”, Saiyan started. “This gasmask is quite inconvenient because I can only eat in my room. We got the air switched there but it can’t be done outside.”

   “I don’t know what other solution we can make. The air must have more water than usual air to neutralise the burning reaction”, Decker explained.

   “I know. But I happen to be interested in applied sciences and mechanics. That’s what I wanted to be when I grew up but now I can’t. I have done some testing with some different inventions I made and the most potential one was like a gas mask inside breathing ways.”

   Decker started looking actually interested for once. He has been quite passive towards Saiyan after he came along. Maybe because he didn’t want him there in the first place.

  “But how would you get the alternative ‘air’ then?”   “I have made a system that would filter hydrogen to my lungs and then it would burn and become water…”

   I didn’t understand most of what Saiyan was talking about. He was really smart and had even skipped classes and was in college already. He was one year older than me but had already done his master degree. Some brains could be useful in this household for once, though.

   “I should go to sleep. I will walk her to school tomorrow and I can’t really sleep in”, I explained while getting up. 

   “Good night”, Saiyan wished and I left the room. I wanted to message the old woman Mary before I went to sleep. I had finally gotten my phone to work in the house after a bit of struggle. It was still a bit slow but it was better than nothing.

   ‘Hello! It’s the boy you met a while ago (Loki). The one after the Harding family. I finally got a phone to work and I’d like to inform you that Carlton and Neda have passed away. Carlton was clinging to Neda’s memory of him and after an unexpected occurrence with Neda, he faded away. Nobody else was permanently hurt physically and everyone has recovered including me. 

   As you are a person who sees these things, I’d like to inform you that we have a sort of an investigation service with those kinds of cases here. If you have anything to report, feel free to do so.’

   It was really weird to write a message. I had never done that before. I thought that it maybe should be formal since she’s older than me and I thought that’s how it’s supposed to go, right? I sent the message and went to sleep.

[deckerroosevelt]

Chapter 11, part 2

   I wasn’t religious and I couldn’t say I believed in magic. That got me thinking where do these creatures come from. Why was I born like this? There must be something that affects some people and things that come out as so. But what could it be?

   Frustrated, I left the library and went to my room. I crashed on my bed and closed my eyes. I was exhausted maybe from the short night but I couldn’t sleep. I was too awake. I don’t know how long I laid there but I got up when someone knocked on my door. It was Ambeth with her book. 

   “I found him.”

   “Ehm… Found who exactly?”

   “Saiyan you dummy.”

   “From the book?”

   “Mhm.”

   “That rules out nearly all of our theories. Are you sure?”

  Ambeth handed me the book and there was a picture of the very same boy I had saved the day before. It told about his family, favourite foods and every little detail of his life. I didn’t read it through to respect his privacy though. Why did the book show him but none of us?

   “Don’t read it much, Ambeth. Let’s try to respect his privacy for now, okay? But this is good to know. Thank you. And maybe don’t mention it to Saiyan that you can read his life”, I instructed. 

   Ambeth shaked her head. “I’m not stupid. I'll soon be 13-years old.”

   “When’s your birthday?” I could go look for a gift while I got a mobile for myself to contact that nice lady from the little shop too.

   “In three weeks! Decker said that I can go to a real school instead of homeschooling!” Ambeth claimed excitedly. I could see she was willing to get normal friends and communicate with people her age. “I just need to promise not to look them up from the book. Like Saiyan.”

   I felt proud of her. She was already like a little sister to me. Maybe I could walk her to school every day since people couldn’t remember me. Ambeth wouldn’t be embarrassed. 

   After Ambeth had left I went back to laying on my bed and doing nothing. What would I buy for her? A camera? She could collect memories when she goes to school and hopefully gets friends. She has so much info from other’s lives she could once record her own. And I would get that from the same store as the phone. Though she’d probably need one too. That would have a camera in it too. I came to the conclusion that I’d buy two phones and some chain for her too to attach to the phone or backpack.

[deckerroosevelt]

Chapter 11

Disclaimer: I was inspired by TMA but the statement itself is based on my dream (Like nearly everything in this novel) before I had ever heard about TMA. So it has no connections to the Hunt or anything in TMA except it’s in a statement form.

We were having breakfast when the guest came in. I got a déjà vu from it. It was nearly just like it had been for me. He was awkward and looked insecure. He had the gas mask on and apologised with a dry voice for not eating. He had some kind of problem with oxygen. 

   Decker said his name was Saiyan. It struck me that he might not remember what happened before he came here. Not even his name. Like me. And how did Decker know his name? Saiyan didn’t seem like he was used to the fire problem so how did he possess the ability? As I remember I was born that way like Neda, Treacher and Yumekui. How about Ambeth? How did she get the book at such a young age?

   I excused myself and went to the library. I felt like I needed to get something else to think about. I sat on the floor and took a random folder:

“‘CHRISTINE’S’ STATEMENT:

It all seems like a dream but I swear it wasn’t. It all started during the summer. I live with my family even though I’m more than old enough to leave. Don’t get me wrong, I have a stable job and friends but I’m just too lazy to move away. In addition, I can spend more time with my parents. They are quite old, you know. Or could spend more time with them. Now I’ll move out in a few weeks. 

   Anyways, I should start from the beginning. It was a hot day and I was just going to sleep. And for the context we live in an apartment, quite small but comfortable for three persons and two cats. That evening my room was a bit chilly even and that alone was out of the ordinary. Our house always heats up during the summer and the temperature can rise up to 30 degrees. 

   When I fell asleep I had a dream where I was in a lovely mansion with my family. It was very realistic and grand. It had three floors and a beautiful garden. There was a fountain in front of the house and the water was running there. I spent the day there which I’d say felt like a whole day. I dined with my family and explored the house. When I went to sleep there I woke up in our own apartment. I didn’t think much of it except that it was the nicest dream I had ever had. I didn’t mention it to my parents because it wasn’t anything worth mentioning, was it?

   But little did I know that I’d spend the next week or so there. The following night I was there again but it was night. I remembered everything from last night but that time it was night. The mansion was dark and spooky. I went to wander around the house again. When I reached the living room I sat down on a red leather armchair and looked out of the window. A black SUV had pulled up next to the water fountain. I moved closer to the window and a man got out of the car. He stood for a while inspecting the house and then raised his head and looked straight to me like knowing I’d be there looking. It was dark but I saw his eyes. The eyes were crimson red and shining through the darkness. He took a step forward and got into the house. I stayed put and didn’t go down. The man didn’t seem like someone I wanted to meet.

   I heard my dad going downstairs and I remember being surprised he was awake too. For a while I heard nothing. Not even talking. Then I saw the man stepping outside and he said one word to my dad that I didn’t hear. He looked at me with a grin again and got to his car and drove away. 

   I was about to go downstairs to ask my dad what had happened until I heard a deep growl. It wasn’t from a dog or anything but my father. I peeked down and there my dad was with endless fury in his eyes and the red glow. Our eyes met and for a second he looked at me intensely. Then he blinked and he was chasing me. It felt like it was supposed to happen but I was so scared. My heart was pumping like crazy and adrenalin was flowing in my blood. I ran for my life to wake up mom but her door was closed and I had no time to open it. Dad was still behind me and he was faster than me.

   I hid in the library and locked the door. I heard my dad thumping to the door and trying to break it. After a while he stopped and instead broke the door opposite. I heard my mom’s screams and cries. I hid in the corner of the library trying not to breathe. 

   I finally woke up in my own bed. My muscles were sore and I was all sweaty. The following day was foggy. I felt like we all were exhausted and mom had some bruises. She said she fell from the bed but I was anxious about them. I tried to convince myself that it was just a coincidence. 

   The next evening I tried not to fall asleep but I did. That time mom had red eyes and dad had bruises in the morning. I tried to hide in the library every time but on the fifth night my mom found me and attacked me like a wild wolf. I had a knife with me and stabbed her as self defence. Mom had died during the night. She stabbed herself in sleep.

   The night after that I had the red eyes. I felt an unimaginable anger and fury bubbling inside me. I felt the need to chase someone and beat anyone or anything that came in front of me. It was more fussy than the rest of the week. I wasn’t thinking clearly and I remember some bits of chasing my dad and his face before I threw him down from the rooftop.

   He had killed himself by jumping from our apartment rooftop.

   Just like that I had killed my parents and the dreams ended. I went to therapy but ended it after the first appointment. The therapist was the man with the SUV. I will move to America to get far from here. “

  I read a bit on and Catherine had killed herself a few weeks after moving to America. The case wasn’t followed any further except the deaths of the family were confirmed as suspicious and the therapist did not exist.

[deckerroosevelt]

Chapter 10, part 2

   “I’ll call the police there. Where are you?” I didn’t answer him. This boy looked so innocent. He had gone underwater not to hurt anyone. He would have died there eventually. And what would people do to him? I analysed him and he was about my age. Where was his family? He didn’t seem like he had anyone to back him up. 

   “Loki?”

   “No.”

   “No, what? What do you mean?” Decker didn’t have his usual gentle voice anymore. He sounded annoyed like he didn’t care for this boy at all. How could he not?

   “No police. He will come to the house.”

   “What?! No, no, no. He can’t.”

   “Why?”

   “He killed a person. Burned him.”

   “It was an accident. He nearly killed himself.” I closed the line and started dragging him to the house. I must have seemed very suspicious but it didn’t matter. I had to get him to safety. He didn’t deserve to die or to be tested in laboratories like an animal. 

   Decker was waiting for me at the door. He was completely unreadable. A hint of amusement but also annoyance and even anger. Was there some despise among everything too? I didn’t care. I pulled past him and he didn’t care to move aside at all. The others were more helpful. After I had explained what I saw they agreed with me. We made one room habitable for him and let him rest. A note was left in his room for the time when he woke up just like I had when I came there. I wondered if  it was like that to everyone. Would he remember he had killed someone? I hoped he wouldn’t.

   “He’s sleeping now. Should we clean up the case files? I think it is closed now”, I come down to the living room and sit next to Yumekui on the red leather sofa.

   “I can do it!” Ambeth volunteered and started cleaning the table. 

   We all turn our heads when a creak echoes in the room. Neda stepped into the room smiling. She looked much better but some glue was still on her face. The broken parts had been glued. 

   “Are you okay?” Treacher worried.

   “Yes, I am much better. Thank you. Thank you to you all.”

   “So what happened?” Ambeth begged for explanation.

[deckerroosevelt]

Chapter 10

Neda was back but she needed rest before she could tell us what happened. Decker didn’t wish to discuss it. Instead he gave us a new urgent case to solve. It was posted to us right away after the papers were written.

   I opened it and there were a few pictures and many papers. Reports, medical histories, statements of witnesses, forensic reports, etc. I picked up a picture and my stomach dropped. There was a fully burned corpse. An arsonist? Another picture was a building that had burned down and there were also a few pictures of burn marks on walls of some dark alleys. They didn’t seem deliberate. 

   “This one statement says there was a boy who set the man on fire. With his mouth”, Yumekui reads. “They state that the boy seemed taken aback from the situation and tried to help the man but just made it worse.”

   “This statement is just racist. Apparently we’re looking for an assumed Indian boy who breathes fire”, Treacher made a disgusted face. I looked at him quite reservedly. He hadn’t talked before this since yesterday.

   “Where did it happen?” Ambeth asked.

   “According to this it happened just around the corner”, I read. “In Hyde park.”

   “Where was he last seen? This all happened yesterday”, Yumekui asks.

   “He never left Hyde park. The guards have been surrounding it since it happened and he hasn’t left.”

   Before I even got to digest the information I was in the search team. I could search more hidden places because people wouldn’t notice me. I was walking around there looking at every bush and hopping over fences. I was looking for any traces of fire. I eventually came to the conclusion that he might have gone somewhere with the least vegetation. A huge fire would give him away. Or go around the water!

   I jogged to the Serpentine lake and gazed at the water. The water was still as far as I could see. He must have gone somewhere he might not be found. Like under a bridge. At this point I was out of breath but I still ran there. I peeked below the bridge and a tower of smoke and hissing was coming below the surface with bubbles there. I took out my walkie-talkie and called for Decker.

   “Decker, I think I found him. He’s under-water. Any back up?”

   “Do you have the mask with you? Try to get him out of there and put on the mask before he gets to breathe. And please be careful.”

   “What’s in the mask? Why does he need it?”

   “Just do it.”

   I took out the gas mask Decker had given me and paddled to the water. I didn’t like the feeling of the ice cold water around my clothes soaking through them. The boy didn’t move at all and I nearly thought he was dead. He had been underwater for so long. But his stillness would make my job easier. 

   I got a grasp of him but he was completely unmoving. Maybe he had passed out? I took a deep breath and pulled him to the surface and slapped the mask on his face. Then I closed the straps behind his head. He was definitely passed out but I checked his pulse and he was breathing very slowly. It was like his heart was on slo-mo. I dragged him so that we were unseen and reported to Decker.

[deckerroosevelt]

Chapter 9, part 2

   “Will Neda come back?” Ambeth asked.

   “Hopefully”, Yumekui looked at Ambeth and I just knew she didn’t have high hopes. “I’ve started a new project. Would you like to help me, Ambeth?”

   Ambeth nodded excitedly and showed pudding to her mouth.

   “What’s the project?” I finally asked. I had been curious about Yumekui’s ‘projects’ for a while now. I didn’t know what she did in her free time but I never really thought about it. She seemed so mysterious and a bit distant. I don’t know if I even have ever seen her as a human. I know she can create illusionary creatures from nightmares and has problems sleeping, which I’ve got to admit is very edgy.

   “I started knitting a new jumper a while ago. I got it done and now I want to sew a stuffed animal for Ambeth”, Yumekui smiled. Maybe the first time I saw her smile to someone else other than Ambeth. “I like crafts!”

   This I did not expect but it also seemed obvious. Of Course Yumekui would like crafts. It created a kind of balance to her. She practises fighting with a naginata and relaxes with crafts.

   “Can I come? I wouldn’t care to be alone just yet.”

   “That would be great! I feel like we haven’t spent so much time since you are either alone or with Treacher all the time”, Yumekui pointed out. It was right but for my defence, Yumekui was older than me and quite scary at first. And Ambeth was… well, a child.

   We headed to Yumekui’s room. It was messy, but as a messy person myself I knew it was an organised mess. She knew right away where everything was and moved very smoothly there.

   I waited while Yumekui drew the draft of the plushie according to Ambeth’s wishes. I looked around me to make a full picture of Yumekui. She liked horror, but also read romantic books. The colour theme of the room was red and black. Some stuff she had were like rainbows in darkness. Her eyes were sensitive to light, so the room was quite dim. I usually don’t see her eyes, but now she has taken off her blindfold. She gestured that they were done and I sat down on a chair in her room.

   “My first question is; what is your thing you’re here for?” Yumekui started directly with no hesitation. “Sorry. That was quite blunt. I have just been wondering what it is. You give no hints.”

   “Don’t worry, I don’t mind. It’s not really special, but quite pathetic. If we’d go outside, you wouldn’t remember me. Everyone just forgets me as soon as they turn to look away. Of course there are some exceptions, but I have met only one so far”, I explained. I felt like they all had something cool and they had practised to use them well and then there was me. I couldn’t do anything with my ability.

   “Interesting. How about your family? Were you isolated your whole childhood?” Ambeth put a word in.

   “I can’t remember much from before I woke up here, but I remember some bits”, I circled the question. 

   “I don’t think you were completely isolated. Not that I’d know of course, but you speak too well for that and you can still read, talk and write. Who taught you that?” Yumekui pondered. She clearly was interested in psychology. I had never looked at that or actually anything but I still could tell.

   “I think I taught myself. That’s why I’m quite bad at everything”, I started to feel self conscious. 

  “No, you’re not. You’ll improve quickly.”

[deckerroosevelt]

Chapter 9

I was finally healed enough to go downstairs and eat with the others. I had completely forgotten about Neda’s absence but now the empty chair was taunting. Decker was covering how Harding’s ability worked and wondering how he got it but I was listening only some bits.

   “He packed the energy to the grapes – – The grapes ripped the body from the inside – – He couldn’t be seen when he had concentrated all of the power to the grapes – – His power was sourced from memories.”

   Memories. He was mumbling about Avery and her remembering him. But Avery was alive. Or was she actually? She was totally different from what the papers and numerous interviews had pictured. How does Neda fit this picture? Did Neda kill Avery? No, Avery was– Could Neda have taken Avery’s body? She had some quirks in her voice last time we met. Neda wasn’t technically tied to any physical form, was she? Like Treacher doesn’t have a constant physical appearance. He had shown me once how he turned invisible for a second letting light pass him by not absorbing any light particles. He couldn’t do it for long, but it made my point clearer. 

  “Any clues on Avery?” I put a word in between the conversations. Silence fell to the room but I didn’t feel awkward. 

   “No? Could Neda and Avery be locked to the same body for some reason?” I questioned. I was so invested in my new theory that I had to get opinions and maybe someone to criticise it.

   “Well, that could be possible in theory, but–”, Treacher started after a while of silence. 

   “But what?” 

   “I don’t know. Why would Neda do that?”

   “Maybe it was an accident?” I started doubting myself. “We heard a scream before we went inside the house, remember?”

   Trecaher stood up shaking the table slightly and rushed away. I knew it was a sensitive topic. Why had I asked about it?

   “Interesting theory, Loki. I will go to Dorking and a few other errands today and I might just stop by the winery. Wish me luck!” Decker consoled and got up too.

[deckerroosevelt]

Chapter 8, part 3

   A down pulling weight pushed me down from my back. I sensed there wasn't anything physical there but some force was pulling me down. My body felt weak and the force pulled me to the floor. It felt like it was trying to push me through the floor. I tried my best to get up but I just couldn't. The pressure on my spine felt unbearable. I heard a snap on my rib-cage and a sharp pain. My heart was beating faster than it had ever beaten before. I felt strangled and couldn't breathe. 

   A thump echoed around the room and suddenly the pressure was gone like it had never been there. I felt so light that I felt dizzy. I turned my head around and there was Treacher and Carlton knocked on the floor. 

   I must have passed out at that point because everything went black.

   My eyelids felt heavy and my ears were ringing. When I finally opened them, I realised I was in my bed and Decker was sitting next to it. I heard Treacher and the other’s voices in the background but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. 

   “He’s awake!” Treacher and Yumekui’s faces came visible and presumably Ambeth sat on the other side of the bed. Treacher had black marker strokes all over his face and they confused me greatly.

   “What happened? What happened to your face?”

   “I was a genius and figured out how to help you and ended up saving your goddamn life.” He grinned smugly. I had no idea what he was talking about but I couldn’t block my smile.

   I tried to get up and get a better look of the situation but a sharp ache stopped me. My whole body felt sore and I collapsed back. I didn’t try again.

   “Take it easy. A few bones are broken but you should be fine after they heal. Good that Harding was in a weaker state at the time. But I must say, it was quite reckless going like that for days not giving any sign of life from you”, Decker’s troubled voice stated.

   I didn’t have the energy to actually answer him and just zoned out.

   “Were you in Birmingham? I have always wanted to go there! Why didn’t you take me with you!” Ambeth’s voice echoed. 

   “I just showed you where it even is a few hours ago!” Yumekui laughed.

   I had to lay there not moving for a few days until I could get up. I was still sore but the injuries weren’t that major. Decker conversed with me every day and the others brought me my meals. Decker asked things about the trip and I told him most of it. I asked him not to tell everything to Treacher, though. I showed the papers I snatched from Avery and he tried to play it cool but I had started to understand him more. There was concern in his eyes. Greater than I had ever seen before. But he didn’t want to spread concern. He was a good man, but I guess he’s also slightly foolish. I understand hiding things from Ambeth, who is quite unaware of what comes to the outside world, but hiding things from Yumekui, Treacher and me might not be wise.