135 Life & Waterfall (1/2)
Morning.
Dream Rise House.
Zed was sitting alone in the living room around a black table. The end of the room was open and showed the captivating waterfall in its full glory.
”Shimmering and falling, breaking into a thousand shards of spray. Crashing water scares and attracts soul.”
The famous words of Mikhail Lermontov truly defined the impressive power and beauty of nature.
Zed enjoyed the spectacular feeling of fresh falling mist on the face. It helped him forget the horrifying act he carried out yesterday.
Two droids silently entered the room carrying trays filled with breakfast.
Orange and pomegranate overnight oats, orange-spice challah buns, cranberry streusel coffee cake, caramelized onion casserole, herbed egg-potato bake, and olives along with fruits and tea.
The droids placed the dishes and drinks on the table and left Zed alone. He continued to gaze at the waterfall while trying to clear his thoughts.
”I can't change what I did,” Zed's heart was filled with conviction, ”Only thing I could ensure is that I don't repeat my actions.”
He couldn't change the past so he could only move forward. There was no other choice for him, and he knew it.
He turned around with his eyes now on the breakfast. There was no more sadness and gloominess in his eyes.
”Claudia,” Zed took a bite from an apple, ”Please make arrangements---”
He suddenly stopped and turned around as he noticed a droid entering the room. The droid was carrying a small black box.
”You truly know me far too well,” Zed mused with a smile. She could predict his thoughts much before he formed them.
The droid opened the box to reveal a black ring carved with almost undetectable red inscriptions similar to electronic circuits.
[[The ring would turn to white when you are in your Kiba form.]]
Zed didn't say anything and placed it on a finger of his right hand.
[[The ring is more powerful than the bracelet but there is a very big flaw compared to before.]]
Zed nodded his head for he knew what was the flaw. The bracelet could jolt his mind because he was caught off guard.
But now he knew about the true function of both the bracelet and the ring. This also meant that the next time he lost sanity, the first task he would try to do was to destroy the bracelet and ring.
”Make more arrangements,” Zed resumed the breakfast, ”Just don't tell me what those arrangements are.”
[[Understood.]]
Only surprise factor could help him so he gave Claudia the complete freedom.
~beep~
[[You have visitors.]]
A white screen appeared above the table showing the real-time footage from the entrance of the villa.
”Emily?” Zed muttered in surprise. He hasn't seen her after the one night stand a few days ago.
Emily was standing outside along with three cops and the parents of four fools. Emily placed a crystal card on a virtual scanner to show the authority she carried.
”Let them in,” Zed said slightly annoyed.
A few minutes later~
Emily and others entered the living room and walked to the black table.
”I assume you are not here for breakfast,” Zed said as he munched on a coffee cake.
”I'm Emily,” Emily showed her identity card, ”A special investigator from the government.”
”I know,” Zed placed the cake back on the table.
”You know?” Emily asked surprised. She had only shown the clearance she had at the entrance and not her name or position.
”Your name and picture were on the internet,” Zed wiped his hand with a tissue, ”After all, as a commoner, I have to know about the people conducting a freak experiment on us.”
”Ah!” Emily flinched in realization.
She obviously knew the identity of the investigators was revealed by the masked terrorist. She was surprised earlier since Zed showed an expression as if he knew her well.
”We are not conducting any experiment,” One of the four fools' parent said, ”So stop the nonsense.”
”I doubt you would confess if you were conducting an experiment,” Zed continued with a faint smile, ”Besides the conduct of you four has shown me that you are capable of much worse.”
”You son---”
”Silence,” Emily waved her hand towards the four investigators, ”Don't talk when you're not asked to.”
The four could only silently nod their heads no matter how bitter they were inside.
”Miss Emily, forgive my lack of manners,” Zed pointed towards a chair opposite his, ”Please have a seat.”
”Thank you,” Emily took a seat.
”Tea or coffee?” Zed asked politely.
”Nothing,” Emily looked at him in the eyes, ”We are here for an investigation.”
”Oh,” Zed didn't look surprised, ”Investigation on the complaint of those four idiots?”
”No,” Emily shook off her head, ”It is on the death of Captain Athol.”
In normal times, she wouldn't be conducting an investigation on the death of a local police officer given it wasn't related to the task given by the government.
But thanks to the current environment in the city, and the strange fire involved, she was forced to take the case.
The media showed the incident as a gas explosion but the cops knew better with the CCTV footage from the neighborhood.
How can the fire from a gas explosion intentionally leave the houses and move towards humans outside on streets?
If not for the deaths of people outside,even the police would have believed Athol died in a gas explosion.
The incident occurred ten hours ago and so far, the cops were able to force the media to not reveal the names of victims.
She believed now would be the best time to get his reaction before the victims' identity is revealed by media.