Chapter 545: The Realm (1/2)
'Why are they running about, I'm fine. Everything's so blurry, I feel like I woke up from a long nap. Wait… the lake, they threw me inside the lake. Those bastards, how did I survive… my limbs are still here, what a relief. I feel better, time to wake up.” In a minimalistic white room, mild shouts echoed down the hall, patients rolled from one place to another. Time showed 05:00, the cold fearsome outside muddled with the rising sun.
”Are you ok?” inquired a soothing voice.
”Igna?” the head shuffled about the pillow, ”-is that you?”
”Don't be so dramatic,” said he sat on a stool, ”-you were submerged for less than three minutes.”
”Give me a break.”
”No, you give me a break,” visibly agitated, ”-what happened?”
”Question,” her lashes paused, ”-why's the hair black and white, I don't get the crimson pupil either…”
”There's no room for you to speak,” refuted he, ”-care to explain?”
”Fine,” gathering her strength to sit upright, ”-it happened last night. I was invited to a party by some workers from Ecliprises. I mean, I saw a lot of important people on said list. Figured, if I wanted to get to places, I had to make contacts. The party was normal for the most part. Many were indulging in alcohol and some in more nefarious activities in private-rooms. Didn't matter to me since I was engaged with an employer of the film studio. The talk went over nice until the drinks came along. I can handle my liquor, proven time and time again… however, this time, something else was mixed in the drinks. Next thing, I blacked out and woke inside the forest with men chasing me. A guy said to run away, we're playing tag… I feared for my life since bodies were also found in the lake. I thought about contacting the police… well, they wouldn't help, I knew it. All my contacts were either girls or good-for-nothing assistants. You popped into mind for some reason, that's why I called.”
”Look at that,” he held her hands, ”-aren't you energetic now.”
”You son of a b-”
”There, there, a lady shouldn't go use such vulgar language,” he came across as defiant and mocking.
”What about a gentleman?”
”Fuck you,” giving the middle finger, ”-doctors said you can leave. There's no risk of pneumonia and any other complications. I'll have the papers readied, take a nap or something,” he parted the thin curtains.
”Igna!” the damp pink hair usually kept parted down the middle awry into an adorable mess.
”What?” he turned also damped by the rescue.
”Thanks for saving me.”
”No thanks,” refuted he, ”-I demand a date as compensation.”
”A date?”
”Yes, a date,” he laughed, ”-might not look it, but a handsome boy such as myself is still single,” a heavy dramatic tone nulled any seriousness.
”Shut up,” she chuckled, ”-there's nothing handsome about you, wet dog.”
”Wow, wet dog,” the brows raised, ”-what does that make you?”
”An angel,” she smiled in a conceited manner, jerking her chin up and to the left.
”Too bad angels can't swim,” the door shut on the last laugh.
”Éclair, you've got the location of the nightclub?”
”Yes, made a few conclusions from what she said.”
”The culprits should still be near the lake or on the way back. Do your thing.”
”Orders confirmed, also, PUT ON THE DAMNED LENSES!”
”No need to shout.”
Far from the hospital, as the sun rose on outside, so did the guests at the mansion. The case of the two bodies found added another layer of mystery to the already complex turn of events. Odgar sat at the desk going over and worrying about what to do next. '-There must be a way to sneak inside the company. The coroner didn't give an exact cause of death. Were drugs used or not, is it the same company or another killer. Hold on,' accessing missing person's report, '-two starlets were filed as lost after four months of disappearance. The information didn't get any media attention. I can hardly find any mention on the Arcanum. Good thing Igna gave me access to the police's servers. The ones who filed were, let's see, Robert Dania. A director working for Bright Barnacle Film Company. He was found dead to natural causes a week after the police report, hmm, maybe, just maybe,' stood to grab the overcoat.
”You going somewhere?” inquired Camilia rhythmically typing.
”Yes, some old school information gathering.”
”Sure it wise?”
”Definitely,” said he, ”-if there's a person who knows what happens here, then it's him.”
At the driver's seat, he rode off towards Fulha's district. A more moderately priced area for those in search of a budget vacation. As the largest district, locals divided the latter into three parts. North also referred to as Mi's district, Center, and South, which held no connection to the cardinal points, just a convenient naming scheme. North, a place of gambling and host to the local red-light district. Center, a place for many media companies and idol agencies. There were mostly subsidiaries of the bigger brands, a proving ground for up-and-coming stars. And then, South, the residential area, similar to Eldow's high but at a way, way, lower price. Destination, the center of Fulha – to a certain low-key publication company, host to the controversial Rave's paper. They took pride in writing just about anything, from scandals to well, scandals. The only reason for the popularity was the baiting titles and secret investigation on certain powerful individuals.
At the center, a journalist and writer, by the pen name, Nav. The articles written by him were worthy of praise. The words reached the point of having the star in question mail death threats. A mistake he'd never be able to live down. The shrewd play of the card of justice and being rightful, forcing both the police and the star into granting immunity. If ever found dead, the blame laid on the death threats, and if the investigation grew cold per any reason, they were corrupt. That day forth, Nav painted a bullseye on his back.
Out in the reaches of Hidros, after the council ended. Reception of the Haggard's leaving the Federation rattled both parties. Arda's leadership slowly secluded themselves with Lucifer at the center.