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With the shrouds of night, every lowlife has a chance at committing crimes in the city that is drenched in gold, Penacony.
A city or rather, the beating heart of the whole nation. With her most recognizable landmark, an enormous clock tower…
Himeko was a very famous detective, in her early 20s she managed to unveil a plot against the biggest noble family in the city. After that, her record only grew in numbers.
The police were grateful to her to the point that she got unofficially employed by the department.
After that little parenthesis, considering also the low rates of crimes, Himeko decided to go private, in a small flat near the suburbs of the city.
The flat was shallow as a puddle before her coming in, now it was a little beauty on its own, with her most precious thing, a shining red brewing machine.
Himeko’s day was starting like any other, waking up and instantly making herself a mug of black coffee.
However, as she drank it, through her mail box, it came through a purple letter with black highlights and the stamp was a black widow.
She carefully picked it up and read through the content.
“My dear detective,
You don’t know me, but I do know you.
You can think of this letter as my formal introduction.
Your career affascinate me. I wonder if the so-called Rose Detective can shine once more.
Think of me as a friend,
See you soon,
- Kafka”
The paper smelled like lilac, somehow. Himeko felt a shiver running through her spine, there was something evil lurking beneath those words but she couldn’t pinpoint it yet.
However, something in her started burning once more.
She rushed to the police’s archives, without forgetting her prestige coat with gold lineaments.
Hours passed by but nothing interesting came up. Granted, she had nothing to work with for starters.
“Signing a letter with a borrowed name.”
One thing was certain, she would’ve kept this situation under her radar…
Kafka’s family was bathed in poverty and her upbringing meant to struggle even for the simplest thing. But this didn’t affect her soul cause she knew how to read people and how to twist them, not in her favour but in the great scheme she calls fate.
She didn’t feel attachment to anyone, not her family but to a small pair of black glasses she wears all the time.
The rumors about the Rose Detective working again, scared the shit out of the crime life.
But Kafka locked a game of cat and mouse. She became somewhat interested in her and wanted to see how far she could’ve pushed the both of them.
This game went on for months, Kafka always left a small hint on her crime scenes for Himeko to catch up.
Those were petty crimes, her plan was like a Crescendo as she called it in her letters, but now the Finale was about to start.
“My delicate Rose, did you have fun trying to catch me?
Did you get frustrated at the idea of me falling through your fingertips?
You’ll get the last chance to see me.
Fail to stop me, there will be consequences
Meet me at the highest peak, at the golden hour.
- Sincerely yours, Kafka
Same envelope as the first one Himeko ever received, if the other letters were somewhat playful, this one read and felt like a threat.
In those months, the police called her back into service to stop this person because she became a beacon for others to copy. Crime spiked once again.
Kafka had to be stopped.
Himeko followed the instructions and she guessed the right location, the golden clock tower. Stairs after stairs, she reached the roof where a slender feminine figure waited for her.
Her coat resembled a spider.
“And so, you’re here.”
Kafka turned to see the detective, no matter how dark the glasses were, Himeko’s bright her shone through them, leaving her stunned.
“What are you planning to do Kafka?" Himeko’s voice was calm as the sea.
The criminal took out from her pocket a little remote.
“I’ve planted bombs through the entirety of this tower. With the help of this little guy I’ll detonate them.”
Himeko’s blood grew cold, she was standing on a death trap. But she didn’t lose her composure.
“I’m gonna ask you a simple thing.”
This was a part of her game, Himeko waited as she walked towards her.
“Bow in hand,
I glide and slide,
Strings resonate,
Emotions collide,
Classical or temporary, I bring delight
With my melodies, I take flight…
What am I, my beautiful Rose detective?”
Kafka smiled as she looked at Himeko’s beauty, waiting for the answer.
Through Himeko’s head, countless answers came and most of them would’ve made sense as the theme of the riddle, since Kafka always wrote her f as a clef.
Then her answer.
“A violin.”
Kafka clapped slowly.
“Pity…but afterall, you’re truly a detective.”
And without looking back, after letting the remote off her hand, she jumped off the roof.
Himeko instantly raised her arm trying to catch her, but it was late…
To this day, Himeko doesn’t know if she’s gonna ever see her rival once again, but the hope in her heart burns still.