Chapter 7: Vanished

My head is aching when I woke up in an unfamiliar room, I look around the room. It's in modern style and looking so luxurious and aesthetic.. I'll take photos here later- wait.. Where am I?!

I only remember myself being bitten by my grumpy vampire boss..

"You're awake." I heard a dangerous cold tone from my boss and I look up at him getting out of his bathroom..

He's freaking topless!! Towel in his waist and water still dripping in his muscular body.. Oh god..

"Quit staring and get up, unless you wanna see me change." He casually said like it was an everyday line he say..

I immediately get up not saying any word, my face flushed. That bastard!! I swear! As I closed his door, I let out a shaky breath.. I'm still a woman..

I touch my neck as I lean at the door, he bit me here but why does it not hurt anymore? I was about to grab my phone at my pocket when the door opened and I fell.. But a strong arms catched me

Me and Mr. Vale stare at each other for a good while before he pushes me, I stumble a bit but I quickly regained my balance..

"I am so sorry Mr. Vale.. I was just trying to-" I didn't finished my sentence when he got downstairs without even looking at me.

He really loves cutting people mid sentence isn't he?

I followed him downstairs and saw him preparing his breakfast.. I scratched my neck

"Mr. Vale I'm going home now-" he cut me mid sentence again

"Sit down. I don't like repeating." he commanded, his voice stern and dangerously attractive

I obediently sat down and looked at all the breathtaking lustful mouth watering food infront of me... My stomach rumbles as I saw the food he prepared..

"Wow.. I didn't know you can cook.." I whispered as I enjoyed the smell of the dishes

"You think I'm spoiled?" I frowned at his comment "Eat." he commanded again

He really likes showing authority even in just eating.. I enjoyed the food and happily munch like a pig that hasn't eaten for 70 years..

Eventually after a few hours he drove me home and told me to take the day off because he does not like owing people. I rolled my eyes as he drop me off infront of my apartment building.

7:20 am? Still early I can steal some sleep again!

I checked my phone as I woke up and it's already dark outside, 6:50 hmp! Almost 12 hours! I checked a few notifications in my phone and.. A new email from the company?

"Good afternoon Aria Ein Storm!, Mr. Vale is going to investigate about the disappearance of light market at the Leafdust district tomorrow. You're one of the agent who will solve this case. Thank you for your cooperation!"

I smiled receiving the mail, another case??? Oh I love doing this! Being Mr. Vale's secretary isn't just the only thing I signed up in this company but also their agent so I'm actually super happy! Being an agent is what I really want but the system suggested me two roles before I submit my applicant in the company and I got both!

I access the case file and saw it's status, open but restricted to the others unless you're an higher rank in the company... I read the file and got confused on the article at first.. The light market suddenly vanished from the Leafdust district during peak hours.. and all the possible entry points are burned into ashes.. That's really confusing

The next day

Me and Mr. Vale are currently walking around the site and the light market is really gone like it was erased on the world..

What could possibly happened here.. I touch the ashes of the entry points that has been burned..

"Mr. Vale, the file indicates that there are two survivors seen? Are we going to visit them?" I asked while looking at the sigils and glyphs at the stones near the site

"Yes, they are currently staying at their homes. Their families are instructed not to let them out." he casually stated while using his vision trying to find morw clues..

"One survivor was found wandering around the old Dust chapel.." he said

Wandering around the dust chapel?

While I was thinking of the clues I accidentally kicked something.. "What the hell is this?" I whispered as I bent down to pick up a pocket watch..

The design is very old, it's silver and... Why is it like this? It ticks backwards, not the right time.. I immediately walk towards Mr. Vale and shower him this

"Mr. Vale look, can this be an artifact connected to the case?" but he only looked at me like I said nonsense

"it's ticking backwards.." I said but he's still unimpressed, psh! I tried resetting the pocket watch or twisting it's fixer but it's not doing anything.. "It's seems broken but it's still working" I handed it to Mr. Vale

He frowned when he touched it, he put it inside his pocket "We'll be looking into this later, let's go. Well visit the survivors." he said walking towards his car.

We arrived at the one of the survivors house and I knocked three times, an elderly opened the door and give us a tired smile.

"Jose has been getting more and more weirder.. Please help us Mr. Lucien." the elderly said, we enter her house and saw the survivor named Jose sitting in front of the window, he is whispering but in not familiar language.. It's like reversed..

The first time I heard something like this is at the dedmoor Orphanage, Ms. Luisa and agent Calusy singing nursery rhymes in reverse... Could that be a long forgotten language? Ms. Luisa is from 18th century so maybe..

My thoughts are cut when Mr. Vale said his farewell to the elderly "We are leaving already?" I asked confuse.. We just entered

"We can't stay inside, I can sense Mr. Jose's irritation towards our presence." he said "Call Angela and Luriko to contain the two survivors in our containment facility and if seen more survivors contain them immediately." I nodded at his command and immediately dialed, Luriko's number

I have quite a bad feeling about this..