Chapter 42 Cindy

Ian packed his belongings and left with Aarav for Caito.

Aarav quickly made arrangements for their new roommate. He filed all the required documents. He applied for Ian's transfer to a private school nearby. With that, Ian could reach his school with a few minutes walk.

With a blink, Aarav's break was over. A soon as he joined back, he was summoned to the chief's office. His reporting officer was Ulnas. He never met anyone other than Ulnas from the SOUL agency. It was his first summon.

After reaching the office, a brown-haired middle-aged man greeted him. He was very difficult to read. He didn't come off as a nice guy in the first appearance. He placed a golden black mask on the table.

"Do you want it?"

He knew what that mask was. It was something only SOUL agents wore. It could hide their appearance, presence as well as voice. Those who wore it were the special agents of the SOUL. Ulnas was nothing in comparison.

"You can have it if your performance meets my expectations with your next assignment."

"Yes, Sir. I am ready for it."

"Good then. Just a reminder you can lose your life if anything went wrong."

"I am prepared for it."

The chief told about the assignment. He had to find the missing officers of Soul. There was a long list of names. It was a confidential document as the identities of Soul agents were protected.

The missing was linked to the rebels or more accurately the Kagena rebel forces. There wasn't much info on them. The current ongoing rampage of animals was also linked to the rebel forces. Aarav's attributes, and his report about the End of the World valley, made him become a prospective candidate for the SOUL agent.

He checked the first name. Milos Tudor. He went missing more than a year ago. It was a few days before they crashed into Sanka. Milos signal went off in the back alleys of the North zone in Caito.

The next missing person was Ven Zela, Ulnas's partner. He went missing in Sanka. There were many names and the last place they were seen at.

The case was more than a year ago. The traces might have disappeared but there still was a chance. Aarav went into the archive and pulled out all the reports made on the day Milos disappeared. Just to increase his work, he pulled out data from a week before and after.

One report caught his eye. Two days before milo went missing, a scuffle between an officer and civilians was reported. But there was no follow-up. An officer fighting on the street would get him suspended. But there was no name of the officer.

He went to the place where the report came. He checked the surrounding. It was an alleyway and was dark. A commonplace to get mugged. Aarav tried to read the memories of the place. There was a lot. The place was dark and filled with negativities leaving behind strong impressions. It was a difficult place to get anything. He tried tracing back the time. But it was utter chaos.

He looked around for clues in the place. It was filled with rubbish. What was from when and where was hard to tell?

Every day he will follow the traces of the missing officers and read the memories of those places. It was difficult to find anything useful. He would return home exhausted every time.

One day, while working for the case in the North zone, he came across Cindy. She was in Caito all along. They never crossed paths before.

She was on the street working on an easel. She was painting portraits of people to make a living. It was going well for her.

"I never thought I would meet anybody ever again. I thought I was the only one left."

"I also didn't have any hope of meeting you. We hardly had any info about your group. Where are the rest of you?"

"I too don't know." Saying that she sighed. She told him they got attacked by hyenas, and then a slave trader took others. She was rescued by a SOUL agent. They exchanged their current well being.

"I will be leaving this planet soon. I have decided to pursue education from Utania."

"Oh wow! I heard that is a very tough exam"

"I know. That could be my only way back home. If not I can become filthy rich…. Oh looks like you have become some hot stuff yourself."

"Not yet."

"You should also leave this place ASAP."

She leaned forward and whispered, "Some bad things might happen in about a month."

Surprised Aarav asked back, "What do you mean?"

"I heard them. They were planning something. You are already hearing about strange incidents. Right? They are not simple. "

"Who are they?"

"I can't talk about them. I'm indebted to them. They gave me food and shelter. I can only warn you guys. I should leave now."

With that, Cindy left. She had dropped a huge bomb. There were indeed suspicious things happening. It was going on for a long time, a lot before they arrived. She was right. It was better to leave than getting entangled in others' conflict. But he was entangled with his responsibilities. He cannot just move out of the place. He might not be of any help if the situation worsens. But he had responsibilities. There were a lot of people he had grown attached to in this short period.

Aarav looked into Cindy's data from the embassy. He found her address and also her adoptees who looked like a normal couple. There was nothing suspicious about them. He looked around their connection. But he found nothing. He decided to visit the place. Only after using his gift, he can feel assured.

He went to the place. It was a shopping district and the apartment was over an old antique shop. He went to the shop, pretending to look around. He wanted to coincidentally meet with Cindy and use the chance to scoop around.

As he entered, he was welcomed by an old man. He was very humble. He let him be on his own.

Aarav looked around the shop. There were many old things, pocket watches, muskets, crystal balls, colourful stones, and all sorts. Aarav found the crystal ball beautiful. It had a couple in it. They were in a dancing pose.

"Did you like it? "

Aarav decided to act like a normal customer. "Yeah, it's pretty. "

"You should try playing it. It is much beautiful that way."

Aarav lifted the crystal glass. There were not any switch in it as he inspected the glass thoroughly.

"Try pouring your magic."

"Um. I can not do that."

"Oh! Let me do it then."

Soon a green light enveloped the crystal, and the crystal activated. Slow music started playing, and the couple inside started dancing. There were a lot of movements in their dance. The most amazing was the changing season. Suddenly it started snowing, then there was rain, and then pink, little flowers swirled around with their movement, dried leaves were flowing around them. It was too magical. Aarav decided to buy it.

"Aarav. What are you doing here?"

"Cindy. What a pleasant surprise? Do you live here?"

Aarav pretended to be surprised.

"You guys know each other?" The shopkeeper asked them.

Cindy replied, "He is an old friend."

"Oh! Is that so? Why don't you come inside then? Cindy's friend is our guest. Please come inside and have some tea."

The man behaved like a normal old man. He didn't look like he would have any connection with the rebels.

They went upstairs. The living room was spacious and homey. As he sat on the sofa, the man went back to tend to the shop and Cindy went to make some tea.

Aarav looked around the room. He was looking for something that he could use as a medium to gain access to the memory. He could access the memory after he leaves the place.

Soon Cindy came with a tray with tea.

"It wasn't a coincidence, right?"

"What? No way. I didn't know you lived here," Aarav replied with his eyes still on other things.

"You don't believe me, do you? "

"Of course, I believe you."

"Then, are you looking for evidence."

Aarav was startled. Cindy got up, "Come with me."

"Aunty is not at home. So I can show you this place. But you can't tell it to anyone."

She led him to a long walkway. There were rooms on both sides. At the end of the hallway, was a grandfather clock. She stopped there and pulled a lever behind it. The clock moved and revealed a door behind it.

Inside was a dark and damp room. The ground felt sticky. Aarav wasn't able to see the darkroom as he had walked from a well-lit place. When his eyesight adjusted, he could see the goriness of the room.

It wasn't a normal room. There was blood splattered everywhere while a dead body was lying at the corner.

"He was caught two months back. I couldn't help him. There were many before."

"… "

It was hard to even identify the face. It was hardly recognizable. There was no smell of the dead body, probably because of magic. Otherwise, the foul smell could alert the neighbours. The dead body was probably one of the missing officers. She said there were others. So, other officers were also dead like him.

"There are other hideouts. More people are kept there."

Cindy had a guilty face. She knew the crime happening around her but she couldn't do anything about it.

"Do they know that you know about these things?"

"No. Uncle downstairs is also unaware of it. I'm afraid if they know, they will kill him."

"Are you sure he is not involved?"

"Yes. He has short-term memory. He doesn't remember more than a few days. Also, he is a very kind person. He cannot do such things."

Cindy further added, "Now leave this place. It will be better if you forget about this place."

With that Aarav had to leave the place. After going back, Aarav read the memory of the place. There were other hostages. He had found a clue. He found all the tortures that happened at that place. He was also able to find the location of the other hideouts.