Work of a detective (2)
"Work, work, work, and more damn work" Aiden punched the table causing the mug that was on the table to jump up and start falling to the floor. Aiden stretched his body, catching the mug before it could shatter on the ground. Aiden put it back on the table, letting out a long sigh as he leaned on his chair. "How long have I been locked up in this room again?" He mumbled to himself as he looked at the holographic screens. There were tens of small holographic screens, each showing a different document and report that he had to revise or check upon.
It had already been three days that he had been stuck in his own office and not able to go home. >>Not like there is much for me to do at home, but I just want to spend some time doing other things than working in this small room.<< He clicked on the holograms, scrolling through them quickly as he memorized the content in them. Someone would knock on the door, taking Aiden's attention off of the documents.
"Come in," He replied, with a monotone voice that felt closer to one wanting to give up if one listened closely. A young woman in her twenties entered his office, she held a few pieces of paper in her hand. "Why are you carrying papers?" Aiden asked the moment he saw them. Papers were quite outdated, not something used except by people who are either old or are trying to keep a secret well hidden.
"Orders from the higher-ups. There is something they want you to check." She handed the papers to Aiden, who took a glance at them underneath his hat as he took the papers from the woman. The papers talked about a few murder cases that had happened in the days that he was holed up in his office. Three more murder cases that share one similarity.
Each victim had stab wounds in their stomach and throat, while also missing fingers in either of their hand, with all three victims having been rich ones. There was no connection in their age or sex, but those were things that were the same connecting these victims. >>The same case as that with the girl…it was done the same way with the same lack of evidence<< Aiden dropped the paper on his table as he looked at the woman.
"What's wrong? Did the higher-ups realize that they are not so invincible now that someone can threaten their life?" Aiden grinned as he said it. No one cared about them. They were rich enough to protect themselves with expensive gadgets, but it was their fault as all of them had terrible personalities and treated everyone as simple objects they could dispose of whenever they wished to do so.
"You are spot on there; the higher-ups are quite agitated from these and are worried that it might be a threat to 'society.'" She spoke out the last part in a sarcastic tone as she didn't take the reason of the higher-ups seriously in the slightest.
>>A threat to society…what a blatant lie< "I will call up on divisional inspector Marington as he was on the previous case. I'm sure he will be delighted to hear that we are dealing with a serial killer instead of a one-off murderer and that his idea might be true after all." Aiden heard the woman chuckling. His eyes gazed at the woman. She had short hair, and her hair stood out with its light green color, which didn't fit with the dark blue police uniform. Her wings, which resembled that of a butterfly in a darker shade of green, were moving as she laughed silently, trying to hold it in. Aiden grabbed his coat that he had put on the coat tree. He put the coat simply on his shoulder, and while pulling the hat of his slightly down, he grabbed the papers he put on his table and walked to the woman, hitting her head softly with the papers he held. "Stop laughing and go back to work, Licht." She was surprised when she got hit by the papers, even if they didn't hurt. She grabbed the papers when Aiden let go of them all of a sudden so they didn't touch the ground and get dirty. Aiden saw her pouting face, annoyed by what he had just done, he didn't look sorry for letting the papers go without a warning. He found it a bit amusing but didn't show it on his face. "You should also go back to work, too, as you will have to go through all the reports of mine." He smiled at her when he said that to her, practically shining even with the dark circles under his eyes. Licht was shocked hearing that "W-wait a minute sir-!" Licht called out, but Aiden left the room, closing the door behind him and leaving her in his office. He looked at her, not to listen her out. "I'm sure you are aware that I have to comply with the higher-ups. If they deem the serial killer as a threat to society, then as a chief inspector, I will have to find him immediately. That way, our society can be safe again." An answer that felt like straight out of a textbook. Licht couldn't believe what Aiden said. He even smiled, giving Licht goosebumps. "I shall better leave now and call the divisional inspector to know where he is right now so I can discuss with him the details." Aiden left the small office with these words. >>She will learn to lose all the documents that the higher-ups send like the others did and concentrate on all the reports sent per Walking down the stairs to the parking lot of the station, Aiden couldn't help but smile. The idea of having been wrong felt exciting. Most cases would end quickly, there was no uniqueness but only patterns that, when memorized, solved all other mysteries. Now it was different, the usual pattern wasn't correct. >>A Übermensch powerful enough to destroy top-notch protective gear…maybe I can try and force those higher-ups to give the other departments some of our work<< Aiden wasn't particularly ambitious, nor was he greedy he was a high-ranking officer whose salary was as good as it would be, but that made him a dog for the ones even above him. Sometimes, he wondered if he should grab the leash around him and simply bite their neck open and be the one to end this thing. Aiden shook his head. >>Forget it, let me just get into my car. They will just try to find fault with it and ensure that we get double the work than usual.>> he went to the parking lot at the police station. He walked down the last stairs and took his car keys out, as his car was at the B section in the parking lot. The station was a multistorey building where hundreds of officers worked every day and of every rank, coming in with their cars and leaving with the police car, as there was no rest for them. He stepped into his car, which was provided by the government as a 'gift' for having done such remarkable work over the years. "As uncomfortable as always." It was quite the fancy car, even one of the newest models that are being manufactured. The most resilient and durable cars where he wouldn't need to worry to die from a car crash, or that's at least what was told to him when it was given to him. He started the engine of the car, and all the screens that the car had lightened up. [You have received 4000 new E-Mails] The voice of a man said it was the AI of the car. Aiden would get out of his parking spot and drive to the exit of the garage. "Go through the E-Mails and note which ones are most important." He ordered the AI to do this. The AI was quite primitive compared to current existing ones, but it did well enough for Aiden. He knew why primitive ones were handed, as those were the easiest to produce and needed the most maintenance, ensuring the most efficient way to generate revenue. [Of course, Mr. Fate, I will check immediately] The AI went through the countless E-Mails showing on the small screen, opening and closing every E-Mail. Scanning the written words, images, and rest of the content. Understanding its intention and what the sender wants to convey, all while Aiden was driving. The AI would spew out [There are in total 5 E-Mails that are deemed important] "Put them to important file and call, Flame Marington." Having given the order, the AI started the call to reach the number registered as Flame Marington. It would ring for quite some time, but Flame wouldn't take the call. Aiden already felt annoyed but kept his cool. "Locate where he is," he ordered the AI, but his request was denied. [I'm sorry, but I do not have the authority to do this; this would go against my guidelines.] Aiden stopped at a red light. >>Of course, it is useless that way<< Aiden forgot the permission of the AI, used to the one given to the office of his, that had more functions and fewer limitations in its access to the holograph system. He would have to use his watch to get intel of where Flame is currently set out or where he was last sent to. >>I will go to the nearest station and look up where he was last time. I should also prepare the papers, I should send Licht a message to save the papers of the higher-ups into the holograph system<< please make a copy of the papers that the higher-ups have sent and upload them into the holograph." he tapped on the watch, stopping the recording, and sent the message to Licht. The Light turned green, and he started to drive again. The city was large, in the middle of Austria the capital, Vienna. History told us about how Austria was lush green, with large forests and mountains that had snow on them. >>Ridiculous<< that feel too unreal to be true. He might have believed that trees had existed in the past, but not that there could have been snow on mountains or even on the streets. He would see the pedestrians on the walk looking somewhere as he drove. >>What are they looking at?<< he wonders, but it was soon answered when something came crashing down to the window of Aiden. The car automatically stopped moving and opened a barrier, protecting Aiden from any potential harm that could have happened. "Ah DAMMIT" Aiden cursed to whoever fell on top of his car >>I hope they won't try to make me pay if there is any damage to the car. His worry was the cut of his salary rather than the death of a person having just occurred. He saw the person; it was a middle-aged man, obviously dead as his entire body was broken with his head twisted as he fell head down, but he still frowned down on the man's corpse. It was only for a short time. However, as the back of the man was a large burn wound, the wound was shaped to the form of an eye. Aiden looked up from where the man fell. It was a building like every other, but up there, he saw a figure looking down. >>And a suspect already here<< He ran into the building, pushing people away, running into the elevator. Pressing the elevator button to the top floor to ensure he would catch the perpetrator. It only took a few seconds before he reached the floor. He got out and saw the stairs leading to the roof of the building. >>Let us see if he waited for me or if he used something to escape<< Aiden didn't see it as dangerous to approach whoever did that. Danger was common in this field, just like death was. Up on the roof, Aiden saw the suspect. The suspect looked quite terrible in the sense of being cliché looking. "How kind of you to wait for me, but are you filming a movie or what are these clothes you are wearing?" The suspect wore clothes that were pitch black and covered every part of their body, even wearing goggles to cover their eyes. The suspect stared at Aiden, not saying anything when their eyes met. "Are you mute, or why don't you say anything?" Aiden walked to the person, but when he took a step, they took a step to the edge of the roof. Aiden stopped and instead went a step back, and the person took a step forward. >>How annoying<< Aiden thought to himself. No words were spoken, but the threat was quite clear: if he came closer, he would jump down from the building. Aiden gave an awkward smile to the suspect, They seemed quite small and frail as the clothes weren't puffed and wide. They seemed fine in the clothes when one would be burning in the heat of February. "Fine, I won't come close to you, so let us talk about it." Aiden showed his hands, trying to get the trust of the person, acting innocent and showing that he isn't going to do anything or trying to give off this feeling to them. He showed open mimics acting worried, his eyes moving rapidly to the person up and down, acting like he felt in a sense of panic and not knowing what he should do. >>No matter how I think about it…<< The distance between the two was only a few meters. If he moved quickly, he might be able to catch them before they threw themself down from the building. That was the problem, however: the likelihood of not catching them. As small as it might be, if this possibility exists, avoiding it would be the best choice. "Detective, you are thinking too hard about it when you should act quickly instead." They spoke in a mocking tone. Their voice was rough and hoarse, weak but audible. It seemed damaged, but Aiden could still tell that it was the voice of a man. "You speak quite casual for someone who committed murder." Aiden threw out the suspicion and went to the accusation as it was as clear as day. The man was the only one there, dressed up completely covering every part of his body, and he stood there when the man fell onto the car. "I will make sure to get everything out of you so I can shut those higher-ups up." Aiden was starting to feel annoyed, thinking back to how he would have to deal with these dumb folks and hand the report personally to them. The man laughed at Aiden's words, "You are quite different from back then, detective…you have changed." The way he spoke was as if he knew Aiden; an air of familiarity was here as the man was speaking. "I thought you would remain as the cold and heartless man I wanted you to become, but…you are too emotional; you show too many emotions in your voice and face." Even if the eyes were covered, the hostility could be sensed; he was openly showing his anger to hide the murderous lust he was emitting. "Quite aggressive, aren't we? You talk like we know each other, but I'm pretty sure this is the first time meeting one another, as any criminal I met died shortly after." It wasn't something one would be proud of, usually. The mortality rate of the cases whenever Aiden caught a criminal was 100%. The criminals would either die from Aiden having to subdue them before they commit any further crime deemed too dangerous or, while being transported to their designated prison, being murdered as they resisted. "Oh, I'm aware of it," The man said, laughing. "You always have the luck of meeting the insane ones, causing them often to die in your hand, while I killed the ones you didn't." A confession? That was how it seemed to be. It felt weird, it felt like something was wrong at this very moment. Aiden didn't understand the goal of the man; why would he admit to having committed multiple murders? The action of the man since he came here made no sense, and he killed the ones he didn't? >>That means the ones who died while resisting while being transported were done by him, but if that was true, why was this not reported to me or anybody?<< Aiden's mind was racing with questions and possible reasons for things. He would snap out of it before he was caught up to find a reason for the man's confession. "Are you not worried that this will be used against you in court?" He had to stall time further; only a couple of minutes must have passed, but the closest time backup could come would be in the 10-minute mark. There were civilians who had called the police when he had gotten out of the car, so the time they should come should be closer to 8 minutes than 10. "Worried? Why would I be when I know that I will be able to escape and blend in society easily? You see those people down there? They were shocked seeing a corpse, but now?" He walked to the edge of the roof while looking down to the street. "They are now walking around like it is nothing the body left there with its blood and gore spilled around but not even one of them is batting an eye even the children have a face that show no care for the death of another person, of a fellow human being only the people who called the police are standing there" His back turned and Aiden tried to approach the man silently. "Don't even try." He shouted as he turned around. As if he had eyes at the back of his head, he warned Aiden when he tried to take even a single step. He opened his arms widely, "Detective, you are trying too hard. You think I don't know what is going on in this little head of yours? I'm aware of what you are thinking at the moment, even the little plan of yours to stall time until the police would come and allow you to capture me, but that was easy to realize, detective, which makes me disappointed on how little you think of me." "There is a fairy working for the department, right?" he turned around, asking Aiden." I can't believe that the police let a monster within their group. I assume the police are not that racist to other races anymore? Is she a good pet to those higher-ups, or does she just have a good body, and that's the actual reason she is allowed to work there?" It was an obvious mockery of one of another race, however, it was also a mockery of the police themselves. Discrimination was common; no humans loved the other races; they merely tolerated them, even then, only the ones who looked human enough. The police were, however, the ones who actively acted with racial prejudice towards other races and took the side of humans while civilians either abused that function of the law or simply watched, not caring about it. "Are you also of another species, or what is this hatred?" Even if his intention had been revealed, that didn't mean his plan couldn't work. It would be hard, but if he leaped forward when the man didn't expect it, he might be able to catch him before he threw himself down. >>It is risky; if he is faster than me, I might be the one falling if I cannot control my speed.<< Aiden didn't hold many options either; he tres and leaps forward, trying to catch the man, with the risk of him dying, or the man is faster and ends up killing himself before Aiden can even reach him. He didn't feel like letting him die; it would be like losing to him. Was it a question of pride? Or was it simply not wanting to deal with any paperwork and having to give an explanation on top with the person who fell on top of the car, it would be ending with more trouble than ever. "It seems they are quite close now, the colleagues of yours." He removed his goggles and the clothes that covered his face. "You won't know who I am, Aiden. No, if you did know, you would have long tried to find me and murder me with your own hands instead of wasting your time with this job of yours." He said, sounding disappointed. His expression changed quickly to a smile, he was smiling like a maniac. His pupils expanded widely as if he was on a drug, while countless scars on his face and neck were deep into his skin. "I had hoped that you would be able to catch me, detective. I did, but it seems I have to do the final push to make you come after me, my beautiful white swan. I shall lead you to the correct path." He held his hand, and the ripping of the gloves could be heard. Claws came out, piercing his flesh at the face, making a large wound that bled excessively. "This little play has been going on for too long now. I wanted to see whether you would remember me at first, Detective, while pretending not to know what you were coming up with, but I feel just so disappointed." Exaggerated expressions, displeasure, and annoyance, switching immediately to the smile of a madman. "I shall give you the honor of knowing my name, as I hope you won't give up just because of this little deed of mine to catch me and try to be the man of justice that the criminals know you as." He opened his arms wide once again, and his feet were right at the edge; with one wrong move, he would fall. He could not be caught. Aiden wouldn't be fast enough, and neither were the police. The moment he falls, he will die. "REMEMBER MY NAME, AIDEN, AS I WILL BE THE MAESTRO OF THIS PLAY. ALL OF YOU WILL BE SIMPLE TUNES OF THE ORCHESTRA THAT I STARTED" His face twisted up with blood coming out of his eyes as the veins exploded with how wide his face was being forced to stretch, skin ripping it was an unnatural smile as if a force was pulling his body apart to allow such a grotesque smile to exist. "EVERYONE WILL SING THE TUNES OF DESPAIR AND PAIN, AND I WILL MAKE IT BE PLAYED FOR THE GODDESS." His arms went down, and so did his head as he looked at the floor before bowing to Aiden and giving a smile, the smile that a servant would have for their master, but eyes that were filled with madness. "It was a pleasure having this talk with you, Aiden Fate. I, Jack the Reaper, hope when we meet again, you realize that this encounter is part of the fate I created for this play." He jumped down, and his eyes saw the surprise on Aiden's face as he shouted something, but it fell deaf to the ears of Jack. >>You will soon realize it, Aiden" It felt like a fletting dream even when it was reality was it because death wouldn't come to a man like him and such he felt no fear "The truth of things that happened and why you are the final piece that will allow salvation to come<< Those were the last thoughts that Jack had before he hit the ground.