Web Novel: Blue Rose

[Nyaagisa The Maid]

So, I decided to write a web novel series! Not that I wrote one before. This novel has nothing related with pokemon, so if you're expecting a fanfic, you're wrong. Any comments or reviews on my novel series can be posted here:

Chapter updates: Updates? I don't know. Maybe weekly. Maybe when I have enough idea and time to write a chapter full of crap things that makes you want to say crappy things too.

 

 

Synopsis:

 

Aisha Ameera is an office lady in her early 20's with outstanding skills. She thought her life will be normal and smooth until misfortune came crashing down; causing Aisha to lose both her career and home in a blink of an eye.

Not enough of it, she caught into a life threatening incident. She was saved by the Blue Rose Agency and offered a job by the Agency as a clerk. She accepted, not knowing that the decision will change her views on the world forever, for good or for worse

[Nyaagisa The Maid]

Blue Rose: Prologue

 

                8.30 A.M, January 16 1998, Blue Rose Agency, K City, Somewhere in Malaysia

 

                “Tap. Tap, tap, tap. Tap, tap. Tap, tap, tap” – Tapping sound echoes through the room. Blue Rose Agency’s office is just made up of a room with 8 meter length and 6 meter width; very small size for an investigation agency.

                Aisha is typing using the bulky old computer keyboard from 80’s. She is doing her usual job, writing the report about the case files that solved by the agency. The computer is quite high end except the keyboard, which is hard for her to type using it.

                “Could the Boss give me the newer keyboard? It isn’t that they don’t have money at all but this keyboard is as old as my late grandpa when he died” – Aisha complained.

                It is true that Blue Rose Agency has quite ample amount of resource in store. Even in the office, from furniture to desk phone to cabinets and even masks hanging on the wall as decorations, is at least 100 years old antiquity

The Blue Rose’s Boss is said to be a noble from Britain with filthy amount of wealth. So, it isn’t much for him to get that amount of antiques. It’s just Alisha thought that using antiques as daily life furniture is quite absurd.

“Finally, it’s complete!” – Said Aisha while stretching her arms. Writing a report using such brick of a keyboard, no clerk in the world would want that.

Aisha hover the mouse to the print icon on Word and clicked it. The printer machine next to the monitor whirs, indicating that it is printing the report inputted by Aisha.

While waiting the printer to complete the printing process, Aisha walks to the cabinet where they store the previous reports of Blue Rose’s case files. She randomly picked a file and opened it to see the content within.

Maybe just a coincidence, but the file that she picked is actually contained the report on a case, which has a picture of her in it. In that instant, she reminded on how she could be a part of the Private Bureau of Paranormal Investigations; Blue Rose.

It’s a day that she could never remove from her memories. Even if she wanted to.

[Nyaagisa The Maid]

Blue Rose - Chapter 0: A (Not) Normal Day

 

 

 

6.00 A.M, Monday, 11 December, 1997, K city somewhere in Malaysia

 

 

 

                Aisha Ameera, 22 years old, woke out on 6.00 A.M as usual as always today. Since she have been woke out at the nearly on the same time her whole life until now, she has no need for alarm clocks.

                “Uuagh” – Aisha slightly moans while stretching her arms upwards.

                Opening her drowsy eyes, Aisha slowly takes a glance of her bedroom. If her female office mates sees the room, they would probably shock. Not because the room is too girly or too messy, but it’s too neat and clean. In other words; the room is too plain.

                A woman in early 20’s and beginning to start their career would probably take a serious approach in appearance. From clothes, to handbags, to make-ups and even to their room decorations such as posters of famous actors, collections of hair pin, nail polish and lipsticks of many colors. They make sure that they need to be fashionable at least. Yet, Aisha’s prefer a room which is white, neat and need no for expensive, useless extra decorations.

                She then quickly took a bath, and dressed for work. Though she maybe has a bleak sense in house decorations, Aisha is a different person when it comes to professional looks. She makes sure her work dresses are properly ironed, without a trace of wrinkles. Aisha also makes sure that the dress coordination look proper and suitable with professionalism.

                After donning her work dress, Aisha waste no more time and do her morning prayer. Though she doesn’t wear Hijab, but as a Muslim, Aisha is doing her best not to miss any of the daily prayers. She felt obliged to do so as thought by her late parents. Despite having bleak sense of fashion, as women, Aisha cares about her physical image. After prayer, Aisha decided to apply some make up to give the aura of confidence to her face.

                In the mirror, she saw herself. A woman with slightly dark skinned. Her big eyes brimming with confidence and her sleek black hair ran down slightly passed her shoulder. She took some of the foundation powder and applied it softly to her cheek and forehead. Then Aisha applied some of the lipstick with faint red color onto her lips to make it look natural and not too red.

                After that, Aisha decided to eat breakfast before going to work. It’s already 6.30 A.M by that time. She has an hour before going to work by train where it takes only 15 minutes for her to arrive at the office before 8 A.M.

                Before making the breakfast, Aisha turns on the TV and switched the channel to morning news. She then goes to the kitchen to make her breakfast.

                “I think I’ll eat some omelet sandwich and coffee for breakfast” – Aisha talked to herself.

                In front of her is an open corridor between the living room and the kitchen. That way, Aisha can still saw the TV while she’s cooking her breakfast. It is the TV1 morning news.

                “- Malaysia economy would probably suffer greatly from this worldwide economic meltdown. We now proceed to news from last night.

 

 The missing person incident occurred in K city from the last two week has claimed its 14^th victim. The victim, Ngo Choon Hua, 32, was reported missing yesterday when his family realized he is coming home late from work.”

 

Finished making her omelet sandwich and coffee, Aisha bring both to the table and slowly start her breakfast while watching the news.

“Police conducted a search but find no evidence of murder, thus suspected the victim was kidnapped since there are no trace or personal belongings from the victim. The incident started when a family of four suddenly when missing with no trace and victims were went missing within 2 to 3 days gap. It is suspected that this is the work of foreign organ trade syndicate originated from Thailand.

 

The police department encourages the citizen to report any information regarding the missing persons to the K City Police Dept. Missing Persons Taskforce.”

                “This city is becoming more dangerous lately” – Aisha thought. She slightly worried about the condition of the city she’s been living in.

                After cleaning up her dishes after breakfast, Aisha walks to the train station five minute walk from her apartment. This is the daily working day routine for Aisha. She reaches at the station on time when the train to her office arrives.

                While sitting on the train seat, Aisha can’t help but wonder. Seeing the train is packed with office workers and students, while remembering how the station still bustling with people, Aisha thought “Despite the news, looks like today is still a normal day.”

               Or that is what Aisha wished for. She doesn’t realize that yesterday is the last normal day she would have in her life.

 

 

 

4.25 P.M, Same day, Marketing Dept., White Pearl Cosmetics, J City

 

 

 

                “What do you mean, boss!?” – Aisha shouted. Her voice is so loud that it could be hear through the Marketing Department’s office floor.

In front of her is her boss, Mr. Will, head of the Marketing Department. With heavy voice Mr. Will said – “The higher ups has decided to fire you from this company”. This is the second time he said that sentence to Aisha.

“You know of this year’s economy crisis right? Of course, even our company was affected by it.”

“So, to cut cost and settling debts with the bank, the company’s board of directors decided to fire 35% of the workers, especially those who has bad discipline record or doesn’t show any significant achievements” – Mr. Will continues.

“But you know of me, right, Mr. Will? I have been an outstanding member of company in my 6 years of service. I have no bad discipline records, my performance is consistent and I even pulled many great projects for the company. So, why do I am still fired?!” – This time, Aisha even slams Mr. Will’s desk.

“I know you’re an outstanding worker, Aisha. Even your performance, it never drops since the first day you started here. You have brought many great things for this company and I am grateful to you for that.” – Mr. Will said with heavy voice but sincere.

“But, it seems that the Board of Directors (B of D) chose personnel other than you. You know the new rookie, Ms. Chang? The B of D took a liking to that rookie”

“They chose that rookie than me?! She hasn’t even joined the company for a year and the B of D already deemed her that important?!” – This time, Aisha’s voice gone louder. Being fired because of some rookie is any senior worker cannot accept.

“I’m too, agree with you, Aisha. The things she had done weren’t comparable to your achievements. But she has an outgoing personality and dare to take high risks in her projects. Those oldies are sure love hot blooded young lass. Well, maybe she even ‘treats’ them all nicely. I don’t have to explain that, do I?” – Mr. Will continues.

“Nevertheless, I have no say on this matter, Aisha. I tried to convince them but their decision is fixed. I am very sorry.” – Mr. Will apologizes.

“I would have to ask you to pack your things and clean your desk. I wouldn’t say today but I hope you can have it done soon. Once again, I’m very sorry, Aisha”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Will. It can’t be helped. This is what the company decided. After all my blood and sweat, I am nothing but disposable human resource after I fulfilled my purpose. I’ll take my leave then. I will clean up my desk before next Monday, I promised” – said Aisha with emotionless tone. She left the Dept. Head’s office after that.

Since she’s already fired, Aisha decided to break the rules for the first time in her career. She took an early leave that day.

 

6.30 P.M, Same day, On Train

 

 

 

                Aisha is on the way home in a train. Ever since she heard the news from her superior that she was fired, her mood is down the drain. She felt like dying. All of her effort in the last 6 years was all but wasted on fat ass, old B of D bastards.

                She was too mad that she’s going to thrash the office if she stays, so she decided to take an early leave to calm herself down.

                “This is my worst day of my life so far” – Aisha thought.

                “I don’t think something worse could happen”.

                There a saying that said, “Fortune strikes but once. Misfortune strikes but many times”

                While staring blankly, Aisha gets a phone call. She took out the bulky cellphone and saw her landlady, Mdm. Chia’s number on the screen. Her landlady seldom calls her except for something important. She’s expecting good news of the apartment is now hers since the rent she paid is now near to the original price for the apartment.

                “Hello, landlady, is anything I can help you with?” – Aisha asks gently despite her mood.

                From the other side, she could hear faint sound of crying. Aisha was just going to ask before the other side talks.

                “H, H, hello Aisha? This is me, Mdm. Chia” – Mdm. Chia speech stuttered from crying.

                “Okay. What happened ma’am? Why are you crying?”

                “Aisha, I am very sorry, Aisha. I am very, very, very sorry” – the landlady’s voice become more stuttered as she starts crying again.

                “My son, he borrowed money from a loan shark and, and, failed to pay back”

                “The loan shark then came to me, threatening to kill me if I’m not paying the debts”

                “S-s-so, I gave them the grant for your apartment”

                “!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” – Aisha is so shocked that she couldn’t say anything.

                “You can blame, Aisha, but this involves mine and my family’s lives. I have to kick you out of the apartment”

                “Your stuffs are already taken out from the apartment. Again, I am very sorry. I didn’t mean to do this” – the landlady then cut off the call.

                “What do you mean, kicked out?!!! Where do I live after this?!!! Did you know today I lost my job? Now I lost my home too?!!! Where do I suppose to sleep tonight?!!! Where do I live after that?!!! Answer me, you old hag!!! You think only your live is on the line here?!!! What about me?!!! Answer me, you bastard old hag!!!!!” – Aisha shouted to the phone that no longer on call. She cares no longer to the people staring at her losing her mind.

7.00 P.M, Same day, K City Train Station

                When Aisha arrived at the station near her (former) apartment, Aisha walks down the street selflessly. She felt like dying. This is the worst of her entire life. First, she lost her job to some naïve rookie, after that, she lost her apartment to landlady that don’t know how to teach her son. In other words, she no longer cares what would happen to her.

                She walks following the path to her apartment she’s been living from the day she start working with Pearl Cosmetics in the Marketing Dept. She thought her live beginning next year would be good with living in her own house and the pay raise from the company. Who thought that such peaceful life could be overturn so easy?

                Still, life goes on. As a Muslim, suicide because of given up of life is one of the worst of sins and Aisha doesn’t want that. She swallowed all her despair for now and need to face the problem with clear head and calm mind. She decided to stay at a hotel tonight, and went to get her clothes left in front of the apartment.

 Aisha walk passes the street that usually filled with sea of people, bustling from those who back from work and those who out to enjoy night life.

“Sea of people” - As Aisha thought of that phrase, she realized something.

There’s no sea of people around her right now. At the street that is usually bustling with people at this time, only Aisha stood there. There’s not a single soul besides her. The neighborhood that usually filled with noises and voices now is quite as not a single living being at the place. The quietness makes Aisha felt a cold sweat drenched around her neck.

                “!!!” – Aisha shocked. She snapped out of her panic when she spotted something amidst the weird atmosphere.

                In front of her, not too far away, Aisha saw a faint figure. From the shape, it looks like a human figure. The figure suddenly moves slowly towards Aisha.

                As the figure is getting nearer, the street lights illuminate its form. The figure is actually a woman in white night dress with her hair covered her face. After some distance, the woman stops walking.

                “hEY, YOunG MiSs, arE yoU ALOne?” – The woman speaks with a soft voice but her manner of speech is somehow in irregular tone.

                “……….” – Aisha remain silent. She got a hunch that if she talks, something bad will happen to her.

                “HeY, Are YOU AlONe ?” – The women asked Aisha again. This time, there is more pressure in her voice.

“…….” - Aisha still remain silent.

“sO, yOU’re ALoNE tHEn? How aBOut yoU Let mE ….” – said the woman. Her body trembles strongly as she talks. It makes Aisha cringe.

Aisha prepared herself for anything that is going to happen. Her hunch is getting stronger and stronger as the longer the woman in front of her trembles. She is never an occult person but she does know some scary stories from her childhood. This kind of situation is similar to the stories she heard.

“ThEN……”

“ cOuLD yOU LeT me EAT YoU ???!!!” – The woman shouted. Her soft voice earlier changed into an eerie sound.

Aisha quickly turns backwards and dashes. She is running as fast as she could. Even though it’s all in the far past, Aisha is once an athletic person. She confident the she could lose the creepy woman with her speed.

But Aisha is wrong. She is terribly wrong. As Aisha run, she could feel something is chasing her back. Aisha didn’t dare to look back. She is too afraid. She afraid of seeing something she shouldn’t. Yet, she has this irresistible urge to look back. While maintaining her speed, Aisha turns her head and takes a quick glance.

She regrets it.

Aisha regrets that she looks at her back.

This decision is something that she will regret until the day she dies.

When she turns to look, Aisha saw a grotesque figure of the woman, running on fours. Her skin is dark bluish in color, like the color of a dead body. What Aisha cannot forget is the woman’s face. But it’s no longer a human’s. It’s a face that can no longer describe as a woman but creature.

There are no lips. No eyebrows. No form of nose. It’s only a mouth, pair of nostrils and eyes forming its face. The skin of its face is darker than the other body parts. The part that Aisha cannot help but look at it is the eyes. The eyes are the most monstrous part of the creature.

They are round and large as an egg. Faint bluish light emitted from them. They devoid from any form depicting eyes. Aisha felt like barfing the longer she looking at those pair of ‘eyes’. She turns her face forward and dashes faster than before.

Aisha takes the way to the back alley of the neighborhood, hoping to lose the creature in the labyrinth like alley. After 6 years living there, she knows the back alley like the back of her hand and confident she could escape.

The back alley is covered by pitch black darkness. Only sliver light from the moon illuminates the path of the alley. One could easily get lost in the dark if they don’t have any flash lights with them.

Aisha runs hastily through the back alley. She’s running out of breath and need to take a rest before continuing running. Yet she can’t. She could not yet stop. Aisha felt that the creature is still on her tail.

Turn right.

Turn left.

Aisha takes any turns she could find. Not long after that, she no longer felt the creature’s presence. Aisha stopped running and took a look at her surroundings.

“Did I lose her?” – Aisha thought.

Relieved, Aisha rest her back on the wall and took a breath. Finally, she is freed from the creepy creature. After a while, Aisha rested enough. She got the clue of where she is and decided to go back to her former apartment.

“I think I should go now”

As she said that, Aisha felt like she’s going to puke. The air becomes stagnant and a sudden shiver caught her body. She can feel a dreadful presence above her. She is afraid to look. Yet Aisha cannot resist the urge and look upwards.

“FOuNd.  yOu. YOunG. mIsS!!!” – A eerie voice can be heard.

The creature is crawling on the alley walls. Her eyes are looking directly towards Aisha. Aisha trembles. She is too afraid that she couldn’t move. Yet Aisha managed to steel herself, albeit a little and dashes as fast as she can once again.

Turn right.

Turn right.

Turn left.

Turn right.

Aisha takes random path that she found, hoping to lose the creature once again. But this time, it is different. The creature is chasing her on all fours while on the wall. Aisha can longer spent time to take a glance. The only think she could focus now is to shake this creature off again.

“wHere. aRe. yoU. GoINg. YoUng. MISs??!!!” – The creature shouted. Its eerie voice intensifies Aisha’s fear more.

Another right turns.

Another left turns.

This time, Aisha is doomed. She found a dead end in her way.

“What? There shouldn’t have any dead end here??!!” – Aisha shouted.

She cannot believe there is a dead end. She knows that there no dead end in the back alley as the people usually use the alley as a short cut to the main street. Placing a dead end would, without doubt, incurred wrath from the residence.

Yet she encountered a dead end. A dead end that supposedly didn’t exists. Aisha turned her back to the dead end and saw the creature, standing not too far away in the distance.

“no. MORE. HiDe. AnD. SeEk. YOunG. MiSS” – The creature talks with its eerie voice. A big smile appeared on its face, like a hunter cornering its prey.

The creature then slowly approaches Aisha. Aisha could no longer move. Her body no longer obeys her control. The fatigue from running combined with fear rendered her body petrified. Aisha does nothing but just resolve herself to fate. She could no longer move. She could only pray that the despair will end quickly.

“What a bad day I had” – Aisha thought.

The creature is getting closer and closer to Aisha.

5 meter

“First I lost my job.”

4 meter

“Then I lost my apartment.”

3 meter

“Now I’m going to be killed by this ghost.”

2 meter

“Really, what a bad day I had. Haha” – Aisha let out a fake laugh.

One meter

“NOW. Let. mE. Eat. yOu” – Said the creature while extending its skinny hands.

Aisha slowly closes her eyes. She doesn’t want to see the creature’s grotesque face if she were going to die. But suddenly, something strange happens. Out of thin air, bluish green colored flames engulfed the creature.

With faint light emitted from the fire, Aisha could see three figures at least 4 meters away from the creature, who now rendered immobile with flames burning its body. In the distance, Aisha could hear the figures are talking to each other.

“Hmm. Looks like it’s already at stage four, Boss. My flames can only cremate its body; it would do nothing to the thing inside. It not long for it to start moving again” – said a man. From the voice, he is a young man of early 20’s.

“I have offered exorcism prayers as well and it doesn’t work on that one too. I’m sorry for my incompetence, Boss” – said a woman. From her accent, she is a foreigner possibly from Europe.

“Don’t mind, Isabelle, it’s not your fault if you’re exorcism doesn’t work. That demon already reached Stage 4, we should expect as such. As for Aizat, well, you’re just an average mage with this kind of magic, I couldn’t expect more of it” – a man speaks. He has a deep voice, he probably at late 20’s to early 30’s of age. From his accent, he is a native English speaker.

“Boss, that hurts, you know?” – Aizat complained.

“I’m apologized once again, for leaving this to you, Boss” – Isabelle apologizes with respectful manner of speech.

“Don’t apologize, Isabelle. Besides, isn’t this is the reason why I lead this time’s business? I already expect we would need my powers to solve this” – said the ‘Boss’.

After a few seconds, a sound of gunshot could be heard in the alley. Aisha saw the creature in front of her, still engulfed in flames, falls to ground, no longer moved

“Am I, saved?” – Aisha thought.

Her consciousness fading and her knees weaken. Aisha begins to faint. As she falls to the ground, her sight already faded. Still, she can hear the people who saved her.

“Boss, there’s a lady there!” – Aizat shouted.

“Most likely, she’s the one that the demon is chasing” – said Isabelle.

“A one lucky young lady isn’t she? If we a little bit late, she would already become that demon’s meal for tonight and we have the 14^th missing person. Well, if you call being targeted by a demon is lucky“– said the Boss.

Aisha’s mind faded after that.

 

 

6.00 A.M, 14 December, Ward 4, Room No. 5, K City General Hospital

 

Aisha opened her eyes and finds herself in the hospital room. The nurse that was on duty that time quickly calls out for the on duty doctor. The doctor arrives in about a minute later and do examines Aisha’s condition.

After sleeping for three days straight, Aisha’s memory is cloudy. She asks the doctor if the doctor knows anything about what happened to her three days ago.

“I was told that you are attacked by a robber and because of shocked, you fainted. Luckily some people saw it and the robber were captured. Your belongings aren’t taken too. They’re the ones that contact the ambulance and have you delivered here” – The female doctor explains.

“Do you know who the people who saved me are?” – Aisha asked.

“Unfortunately, Miss Aisha, I don’t know. Even the identity of the one who paid your hospital bill is also unknown” - The doctor apologized.

“Someone paid my hospital bill?”

“Yes, it is one of the people who saved you the other day”

After completing the checkups, the doctor leaves. Aisha was staring outside the window, trying to recall the incident that happened three days ago. But, she failed to recall anything. Her memories are too cloudy.

Then, something caught her eye. On the desk next to her bed, beside the flower vase placed on the desk, there is a wax sealed letter. The letter was meant for her. After checking the envelope, she found the letter’s sender.

“The sender is, Blue Rose Agency?” – Aisha talked to herself while wondering about the sender.

Edited December 24, 2016 by Nagisa_Hideyoshi

[Nyaagisa The Maid]

Blue Rose – Chapter 1: Eyes/Perception (TEASER, AGAIN)

 

6.30 A.M, Monday, 11 December 1997

Organized Crime Investigation Section, K City Police Department, K city

 

                Inspector Chen let out a long sigh. Cigarette smoke blows out from his mouth. The ash tray on his work desk filled with cigars and ashes, so much that the ashes scattered near the tray. There are faint smoke rising from it, showing it was not long after the last cigarette squashed into the tray.

 

                Leaning his back onto the chair, Inspector Chen stares at the ceiling. He is both physically and mentally tired. Pulling an all-nighter of work is not weird for him and he used to it, but after last night’s interview session with the reporters, he’s been feeling restless and racking his brain. Even someone who smokes only one time a week like him ended up being a heavy smoker in a span of a night.

 

                “Se-or” – Inspector Chen heard a faint voice of a woman.

                “Sen-or Ch-n!” – The voice is getting louder, but he is still in daze.

                “Senior Chen!!!” – That shout returns Inspector Chen to reality.

 

                “What? Who??!” Inspector Chen quickly rise from his lean, then frantically look to his left and right in search for the source of the voice. His eyes stopped after he saw a figure to his left. Inspector Chen’s gaze slowly move upwards until he saw a face of an angry Chinese woman.

 

“De-detective Liang? What’s with the sour face?” – Inspector Chen asked. His voice is a little shaken.

“Senior, do you know how many times I called to you?” – asks Detective Liang.

                “She is angry!!”- Inspector Chen fake a smile but he is screaming in the inside.

                Putting her hands on hips, Detective Liang let a long sigh.

“Why are you dazing off, Senior? Usually, you are always sharp. But this isn’t like you.” - Detective Liang asks with worried tone.

 

Inspector Chen feel guilty. This junior of his is always a hardworking and righteous police officer since she joined the force about 9 months ago and considered him her mentor as Inspector Chen is famous for his strictness and responsible character. Showing her this side of him is really embarrassing.

 

                “It’s because of that case. Last night’s interview really draws the last ounce of wits I have left.” – Inspector Chen answered. He try to control his tone, not showing the tiredness he has right now.

                “Oh, that case?” – Detective Liang’s reaction implied that she have the clue of what Inspector Chen was talking about.

 

The case Inspector Chen meant to say is the case where 13 people has been missing. Case of missing people is a rare occurrence but the police department managed to solve the previous cases quite fast and efficient, for normal missing people case that is.

 

After gaining his usual sharp personality, Inspector Chen answered, “The case has claim its 14^th victim. The situation are getting worse. Both reporters and publics need to know about our action about the case, including the previous cases.”

 

“I heard the inspectors are talking about the case. I don’t know the details since I’m not part of the task force but the case is quite absurd.” – said Detective Liang while staring to the air and touching her chin. Since she always doing each time when she talks about cases, her colleague dubbed it as “Detective Liang’s Detective Mode”.

 

“14 people missing without trace. And within 2 weeks. How it’s not absurd?” – said Inspector Chen.

“The reporters asks difficult questions. What are the cause? Who’s the perpetrator? What are clue’s found? What are the police’s next move? I used all I have to make the answers realistic as possible. How am I not dazing off?” – Inspector Chen added.

“What does the higher ups thought about the case?” – Still in her “Detective Mode”, Detective Liang asks.

“Those burly, fat, holier-than-thou superiors? Who done nothing but only know how to order?” – Inspector Chen returns a question back to Detective Liang.

“I… I am sorry”- Realizing her fault, Detective Liang apologizes.

“It’s not your fault, Liang. Even us, members of the case’s task force, couldn’t think of something.” – Inspector Chen comforted Detective Liang.

“Why is that?” – Detective Liang asks.

“Do you know why it is called ‘Missing without trace’? Because there is no trace, at all. No evidence of kidnapping or struggles, no personal belongings at the site. There is not even any footage of the victim in the city’s surveillance camera.”

“It’s a different story if the victim last witnessed traveling into back alleys or entering shady premises but that’s not it. The victims last spotted is in crowded places and within the city’s surveillance system. Yet, we haven’t found any trace of hacking in the surveillance system, which could be concluded that the footages are faked” – Inspector Chen explains.

“So, how you’re going to investigate such case?!” – Detective Liang asks. This time she lost her cool and panicked.

“Calm down, Liang” – Inspector Chen try to calm down his junior.

 

                Inspector Chen put out a handbook from his pants side pocket. He then browse for a page and then put the handbook onto table.

 

“Since, even the most logical reasoning could not explain the cause of this case, there is only one way to find out”

 

He picks up the phone with his left arm, while his right arm pointed at a text on the handbook. While Inspector Chen is pressing the phone buttons, Detective Liang take a peek of the text. The text seems like a name, probably to a person or an organization.

“Blue Rose…” – Detective Liang thought to herself. “It’s maybe an organization”

 

###################################################################

 

8.26 A.M, Same day

Office room of Private Paranormal Investigation Agency Blue Rose

 

                The Victorian-styled bronze ceiling fan spins slowly, enough for it to barely produce breeze. Its creaking sound echoes through the room, as if telling that the fan is a genuine antique from Victorian Era blacksmith workshop.

 

Even though the fan produce such light breeze, with the small area of the office, all the people in the room could feel it. Sitting behind the Victorian-styled office desk, also on Victorian office leather chair, an English man in his early thirties. His shoulder long greyish curly hair run down his face, and wearing a modern Victorian suit.

 

In front of him is a newspaper of the day. His eyes glued to the newspaper while his cross-fingered hands supported his chin. The page he is reading now titled “Missing person case reaches 14^th victim. What are the police doing?” Immersed in reading, he doesn’t realize what is happening in front of him.

 

He doesn’t realize the brown haired young Asian man in his early twenties, wearing a green sweater sitting on the long sofa of the Victorian sofa set in front of him. The young man has been scribbling on a paper supported by the coffee table, which are weird alphabets written in circular form.

 

He doesn’t realize the Caucasian women in her mid-twenties, wearing black and blue suit, sitting next to the young man. While exuding aura of a pure, innocent nun or devout, she is reading a book about Buddha’s Ten Commandments. Her focus is as much as himself.

 

He also doesn’t realize the mid-forties old guy in an old lab coat. His coat is stained with remaining, probably chemicals, of many kinds. The old man is deeply observing collection of weird looking masks hanging on the wall.

 

Suddenly, his focus are shaken. For him, nothing could disturb his reading except one, the fragrant aroma of the rose tea. Beside the newspaper, an exquisite white cup with detailed rose patterns on it is put by a beautiful Japanese woman. She has a near doll-like face and long, sleek, raven-like black hair. She wears an elegant hand tailored black Houmongi with embroidery of hydrangea.

 

She gracefully pour the rose tea from teapot of the exquisite tea set into the cup. As the aromatic fragrance whiffs throughout the room, the other three focused members of the agency snaps out of their attention.

 

“Thank you, Kyouko” – In Japanese, the English man thanked the woman named Kyouko. Kyouko reply to his thanks with a bright smile. Her cheek turns beet red of embarrassment. How can she not blushed when her beloved husband stopped his reading, just to thank her for serving him tea?

 

“Kyouko-san, I want a cup too!” – The young man pleads.

“In that case, pour one for me too, Ma’am” – The Caucasian woman asks Kyouko.

“Do you care to pour for one more, Madam?” – The old man quickly adds his words right after the Caucasian woman finished her sentence.

 

The woman named Kyouko poured some of the remaining rose tea into a cup for the old man in lab coat as he slowly seated on a single seat of the sofa set. She then take the remaining cup and slowly seated beside her beloved husband. After she poured the remaining tea for herself, all of them quietly sips their cup.

 

Expression of satisfaction appeared on their faces, showing how remarkable the tea was prepared. The office becomes silent as they enjoy the taste of the tea; not too bitter and not too sweet. The fragrance of rose that accompanies the taste as well as the perfect temperature of the tea. And calm atmosphere of the office that is decorated with antiques, it’s as the time has stopped for the moment.

 

“The tea you prepared is magnificent as always, Kyouko”. The British man complimented his wife’s prepared tea. Kyouko fidgeted a little with her cheeks beet red, and a slight smile appears on her face. She is very happy of that compliment but try hard to maintain her polite demeanor. Her actions is quite comedic in the eyes of the office staffs.

 

After that, they continues to sip the remaining tea from their cup, albeit slowly. With such remarkable tea, how could they let it finishes so fast without savoring the taste first? But, not long after the moment of serenity, few sound of knocking broken the silence inside the office. All of the office except the British man wondered “Who’s the guest that coming so early in the morning?”

 

Putting his tea cup, still with remaining rose tea, on the table, the British man spoke “Come in”. The door is opened and the figure of the guest emerges in front of everyone in the office. It is Inspector Chen and his junior, Detective Liang. In the inspector’s hand, there is an envelope. Based on it thickness, it contains a quite amount of contents.

 

 

               

Inspector Chen and Detective Liang seated on the couch, facing the British man. The woman in Houmongi named Kyouko quickly serve the fragrant rose tea to the guests that have just arrived. She throw a faint smile to both of them and walk back next to her husband. “What do you need our help for this time around, Inspector Chen?” Asked the British man, quickly answered by the stern-faced police Inspector-”Don’t play around, Sir Henrique. You already know for what I have come to see you.” ”Indeed I am.” ‘Henrique’ refuted.

 

“The help I need from you this time around, are these” Inspector Chen pull out several documents from the envelope he brought with him and lay them onto the coffee table in the middle of the sofa set. “The case of people missing without trace, I believe that’s what it’s called” said ‘Henrique’ and he’s quickly answered by Inspector Chen “Yes and that’s the reason I seek for your help.” “The documents are the list of the missing victims and their details.” The staffs take one or two of the documents and quickly go through it while Inspector Chen continues “Same as what the case is called, the victims listed here missing without any traces. From personal belongings, witnesses, and even surveillance cameras, there is any evidence of the victims at the scene” “It is like the victims are just vanished like smoke” “At any rate, abnormal case like this is far from my abilities and the police department to solve”

 

“It is truly, a case beyond norm” ‘Henrique’ implied “and based on my judgement, the perpetrator is beyond norm either”

 

 

 

Edited February 12, 2017 by Nagisa_Hideyoshi