Chapter Text
BANG! BANG!
Smack!
The window glass shattered as bullet shot right through. And just like that, a killer left a crime scene and was gone in the wind.
Few moments later the parents stepped in a room, where their teenage child was lying on floor, shot to the dead. Both started crying and screaming.
Then, obviously, police and ambulance sirens begin to echo through streets and the killer was grinning as he listen to this scenery.
And rest?, you’ll know from news next morning.
Something after 10 am Ajit walked to the D studio. As he opened door Dan jumped at him with: “Did you hear the news!?” The boy seemed less cheerful than other days, but no less enthusiastic.
“What is going on?” Ajit asked, confused. Lia placed her hands on Ajit shoulders and gets him to sit on sofa. Yellow boy, sits down as he is ‘told’. Wynton and Jenny sitting next on him, red-haired sobbing, she looks scared.
Lia angrily turned Ajit’s head towards the screen, and he started focusing on woman talking on the TV.
“Catastrophe, nothing like this has happend in last twelve years, even the ‘end of the world’ seems like nothing.”
The TV screen shifted and now there was shown some house, and suddenly room with body of teenage covered by white sheet. “What did happend!?” Ajit’s eyes snapped open as Lia glared at him.
“Just listen!” Dan held Lia down, she was terribly frustrated.
“Last night, in () Street, a 20 years old Blake Astin was found dead in their room. Young person was shot twice in body, first bullet was aimed from back, second in chest. The fatal shot was the first one, why did killer shot second is yet a mystery.
Any further information will be found after investigation. We will inform you right away...”
Then scene shifted once more and parents of the killed one started speaking. But Lia has already turned the TV off.
“Unbelievable!” shouted Wynton.
“I mean, I did not know Los Volmos is this dangerous.” Said Jenny concerned. Wynton shrugged and stated: “Shun’s dad called him immediately and forbids him to go out.”
Ajit chuckled a bit. “Poor Shun, hehe...” Dan sighed deeply and everyone turned toward him. Suddenly, he sit up straight and sparkles appeared in his eyes.
“Are we sure, that bakugan weren’t a part in this crime? They said nothing about it in news!?” Ajit shrugged, Wynton and Jenny exchanged glances and Lia shook her head.
“I even asked mom in the morning. However, they still know nothing.”
Dan’s excitement left his body and he once again fell down on the couch. “We could have been detectives...” red boy whined. Jenny slightly patted his head as she cried out. “I’m glad we’re not gonna mess with some murderer.” Ajit’s mind unconsciously slides somewhere else.
He couldn’t understand Jenny’s cowardice or Dan’s confidence. But if he was in place, where he have to agree with ones way of thinking, he’d stuck with Jenny. Golden brawler wouldn’t go after murderer either. In short, Ajit don’t want to stick his nose into this. He’s perhaps afraid of. What. The. Murderer. May’ve.. been. Thinking. Or... perhaps whose attention he wanted to draw...
Plus, he know damn well, how junked it was, when someone tried to see through your scheme. Thoughts wandered to Magnus. How is he doing, hm?
“We should take look at it, anyway! We have bakugans to protect us, We’ll be fine.” Stated Dan as he aimed for the door. “Dan? Do I have something to say to it?” Drago popped up from his pocket. Jenny grabbed Wynton's arm tightly, and gave him face saying don’t you dare. Wynton exchanged glances with Lia and then followed Dan out of the studio.
Lia turned around from door and gave Ajit a strange look. Something like I know what you’re thinking and forget it. Ajit shooks his head in answer and walked out of studio with friends.
Meanwhile...
It was basic boring morning. After I woke up I made myself a coffee and drank it, while ‘watching’ TV. There was one part that stole my mind, once I heard it. “So, we have a murderer in city? Heh...” I couldn’t help and laughed. “Being criminal is my job, here... Well, let’s see how many things are free for civilians to know.” I talked at loud, while getting ready.
When I was about to leave, opened door, my neighbour was just coming down the stairs. He turned around when he heard my steps.
“Morning, mister Storm.” He held doors opened for me, as I walked past him. “Good morning. Have you heard the news?” I greeted him back, not trying to hide my curiosity. Why would one go out, when there is killer going wild?
“Yes, I have.” He nodded as he caught up with me and begin to walk next to me. “Such a crazy city...”
My neighbour is called Sethos Szyno. He insist to people called him Seth, even though they were practically strangers to him. He was really out-coming and nice. His hair are black and short. Plus, his bangs were dyed blue. (same as Sophie’s). He wears colourful shirts and half long trousers. Black belt with orange stripe and dark grey boots, that look like if he had stolen them from some corps from 19th century, he would found on cemetery. On top of it all, he carried always maroon coat over his shoulders or just so in his hand, which he occasionally put on as an actual coat.
This guy Seth, was new in the city. He moved in few weeks ago. At some point after I ‘ve seen Havoc last time...
Also, he often visits my place, since he lives on the exact same floor as me. I am not exactly his friend, however he seems like he cares a lot and, I mean, I don’t have really friends since...
We talk much, because he ask many questions. And some of them are damn hard to answer. For instance: What’s your profession? Or How is your family?. He doesn’t answer them either, so thanks God, and we move on in conversation.
But he talk about himself a lot, so most of the time I only listen. He says I’m good listener. I have never thought about me that way. He thinks I’m a good person, too. Which is certainly untrue...
Seth moved to Los Volmos after he was released from hospital.
He told me on one of his first visits in my place.
I asked: “Why did you chose Los Volmos?” He didn’t even shrug. Just adjusted himself and answer straight.
“I- I got told I should change environment after a treatment.” A crazy smile appeared on his lips.
“A treatment? What was, if you don’t bother, your treatment for?” this, one doesn’t hear everyday. I didn’t mean to pick up such a personal topic, however man didn’t seem bothered at all.
“It was mental illness,” he remarked, as he touched with his finger a head, “I wasn’t actually sick. Haha...” he chuckled.
“But it wasn’t much in, you know. I’m just fine now. All cured and fit.” He explained. It did kind of caught me off guard. Seth looked like a normal person. I would have never guessed he had ever unstable mind. In fact, he seems more calm than other people.
“I'm glad to hear it.” I nodded and gave the neighbour soft smile.
“Yeah, sure.” He hummed then some song for a moment and continued: “Also from news I know, that here, I mean this city, is eye of the storm.”
I stopped for a mere second and then raised an eyebrow. “I’m sorry, what? What do you mean by that?” I realised that somehow everything that has happened, has happened here, like if everything have been happening around Dan Kouzo. But why would anyone want their rehabilitation destination to be such a mess?
“An eye of the storm. Centrum of all action. Of al calamities. Heh, you live here, you got ‘a know, what I’m talking about.” Seth exclaimed.
I knew, of course I knew. I didn’t plan to ask further, perhaps it could touch his, well, problem again and I didn’t want to risk that.
“I see.” I nodded.
So I just came to conclusion that mister Seth enjoys action. And probably a bit of horror. And whatever kind of emotions do bakugans ignite in people.
“Anyway, where are you going?” he disturbed my flow of thoughts and brought my back to walking down the street and all sounds of city. I turned my head toward him a shrugged.
“Just for a walk.” I lied.
“Well,” he spoke, “I wanted to go check on police station, how is investigation going. You know I wanna sleep peacefully in night, haha....” Seth laughed.
I smiled too. I wouldn’t think he cares this much about his and safety over all. Now when I think about it, he never brought up news, when I stole anything. Is he not afraid of thieves? I didn’t plan to ask him.
Then we came to crossroad and a bus just stopped on a station. I stood at red lights and Seth looked at the bus and said: “Just in time, I see. Bye, mister Storm.”
He waved at me as he run to the bus. I was watching him until he got on the bus, and I lost him in a crowd.
I made my way to () Street, where a murder happened last night. Yellow stripes were all over the place and many police officers as well as journalists. I wouldn’t be happy if I got stucked in this mess. I took a look around.
There was a small shop across the road and I find out, it belongs to family of victim. It was opened so I decided I go check it out. Because why not?
I tell you why not. It was terrible idea. I walk in and notice Magnus was there. He was wearing his purple jacket and bandage over his left wrist. I got lucky, he didn’t turn around when a bell ringed as I opened the door.
Magnus was asking a cashier some question, he seemed confused by it. The cashier took a look at me and wanted to greet me, however I slowly backed away. ‘Mister detective’ wasn’t bothered by me at all.
I left the crime scene and went back home. The way home felt much longer than ever before. Seth’s words were stucked in my head. I intend to ask him about his day when I bump in him later today. However, I did not.
I didn’t even notice when did clocks moved so forward, but it was late evening already. And so, with head full thoughts I fell asleep, trying to tidy them.
I woke up many times during night. Around midnight, 3 am and 4:13 am. When I opened my eyes without any sensible reason for fourth time at 6:09 I decide to start my day. I took my phone from night table and check news.
“What!” I sat up rashly as I scroll through the web. Another murder attempt happend tonight. No one actually died, but person had bullet shot to the right thigh.
Influencer is still in shock and hasn’t say full sentence since hour of crime. She claimed that she remember how killer looked like, however we are not sure how useful this will be. The murder is somewhere out there please watch yours backs.
Why would you kill instantly night after? Don’t you think too highly of you?
...
“From her house has been stolen two, billion dollars worth, paintings. Is this in any way connected to Phantom thief? Or is this just dead end...”
Ajit froze as Lia turned the TV off. “Heh, well...”
Jenny hugged Ajit’s shoulders, trying to calm him down. “That is your dad, right?” she whispered, but nobody heard her. Only Ajit slowly nodded. Then she let go of him and joined the conversation that was held by others, as if nothing happened.
“I think we should go visit her in hospital. My mom knows her.” Suggested Lia. Jenny and Wynton exchanged glances. “I mean, yesterday we got to know less than nothing.” Shrugged Wynton. “Yeah, why try today? Haha...” nervously cried out Jenny.
“We got our school cancelled because of this freak, so maybe we should go thank him!” yelled out Dan. This leaded to get beaten up by rest three members of AO.
“What do you reckon, Ajit?” asked then black ‘n blue Dan, determined to go take a look through night city. Ajit nodded. He didn’t mind participating in Dan’s crazy ideas. “So we’ll meet here around 10 pm and go for a walk.” Then he turned his face to scared Jenny. “You guys can join, if you’re not scared, hehe.”
Day passed as if it was nothing. In the evening Dan and Ajit met up and went take look through the city. Nothing interesting happened, but they bumped into Magnus, by whom they got yelled at, because of just how dangerous it can be to walk through the night city.
How do I know? Well, I didn’t find the killer, but my luck brought me to these guys so I was spying on them. (And making sure, Ajit’s okay)
Two more days have gone. I could not sleep properly so I was wandering through Los Volmos, looking for murderer. When I asked others neighbours whether they’ve seen Seth, they told we were just missing each others. Too bad, I said, I wanted to check up on certain matter, we’ve talked about lately.
There were not any killing attempt in those days.
And so it was another night, I was sitting on top of building of the city theatre, stargazing. I started humming some song, which I don’t remember where I learnt, when police sirens went on in the street on my left. I quickly shifted on my feet and then, from thin air, a man was running past me. I didn’t even catch his eyes.
“Hey there, Phantom thief! Better run or they’ll blame my crime on you~” he sang as he was rushing away. I turned around and blindly followed him. I’m not a murderer, well yes a thief, but not a murderer.
The man before me was dark-haired and muscular. He was wearing something similar to military uniform bandages on his calves. He chose surprisingly high heels for running through whole city, jumping from one roof to another.
For a moment he turned his head back and grinned. With contented smile he focus again on speeding away.
I could sort of see his face. Well, he got mask on. Dark blue with white glasses. The mask was covering his forehead and ended above mouth.
“I was just checking, if you’re still on my feet!” he yelled at me. I didn’t understand. He wanted me to chase him?
He jumped yet on another building and out of blue, the song began to play in my head. Until I realised it wasn’t in my head. The killer in front of me was humming it. And when I caught glace of his face again, he was singing it!
“What are you even gonna do with that much money?” I questioned him. He lifted up his hands and shrugged. I was still on his back, so I did not hear him properly. “Never knows. Maybe one day, I’ll need to move out of the country and change everything about me. And one needs helluva money to perform this without any unpleasant questions. “ he exclaimed pretty confident.
“Well, you definitely have a point,” I admitted, “but why kill them on top of that?” He shook his head.
“It’s about my mind set... But don’t you think that this is a bit personal question?” then laughter echoed through the streets.
I was able to catch up, but whenever I was about to reach, as if he disappeared. “I’m brilliant! How dare you believe that I let you catch me...” he spoke, while walking on the edge of rooftop. “Come on, it’s not too far.”
A click of his heels sounded when he got on other building. He signed me to follow him and, well, I did.
Then he just stop on one place. I thought it was another one of his tricks. However, he turn toward me and put pointer finger on his lips. I froze on place as well and listened.
“Can you hear it?
“Hear what?”
“Those annoying sirens we were running away from.”
“No.” I even twisted around, but I couldn’t see any blue or red light. I sighed and placed my eyes back on killer.
A look on his face was quite satisfied.
“Alright, Phantom thief. We can talk now.”