《The Preying City》Echoing Gorge (3)
Advertisement
Vincent walked out of the hospital and headed for Elias's new office. He had gotten a message from the new investigator to get to the office as soon as he could. No other details were written on the little slip of paper he received and he had no idea what to expect.
The only task he had entrusted Elias with was to find clues regarding the 'devil'. Given how little time had passed and how the investigator was busy setting up his new office, Vincent was highly skeptical that any clue would have been dug up. This confused him even more. He couldn't understand what required his attention so urgently.
Honestly speaking, he didn't like the situation. It would be best for him if he kept contact with Elias to the minimum. After all, the officer named Mayven was also enlisting the man's services. He could tell that Elias was deeply grateful towards him, but he had seen enough instances where people turned on their benefactors.
Vincent increased his walking pace and entered an alleyway. It wasn't the best place to have an office but he could understand why Mayven wanted it here. It would be inconvenient for him if Elias was neck deep in other work.
Standing by the door, he knocked twice lightly. In a couple breath's time, the door opened and Elias ushered him in.
Vincent walked past the man and sat down on the chair behind the desk. He looked around and found all the necessities to be present in the office. "Looks like officer Mayven didn't spare any expenses. It's a pretty good office that you have here."
"Thank you. I will try to be worthy of such an office." Elias answered a little nervous.
"So, what is this urgent matter that required me."
Advertisement
"A woman came by to entrust me with the task to find a person." Vincent nodded to signal the man to continue. "I asked for more details and she said that the man went by the name of Dr. Burns. Black hair and eyes. A little taller than average."
Vincent was surprised but didn't show it on his face. He quickly thought about everyone that could possibly know this much about him and still not directly be acquainted with him.
No one came to mind.
Specially someone who would actually get a private investigator to find him.
"And how did you handle the matter?" Vincent forced himself to think calmly and decided to ask for what happened next.
"I accepted her request. She was heading for the door and I knocked her out."
Vincent certainly hadn't expected the man to go to such an extent. But it worked to his favor. He could talk with this client himself and figure out her motives. "Where is she?"
Elias moved to the safe placed in a corner of the room. It was big. Probably two meters in length and a meter in breadth. Vincent had no idea why such a big safe was placed in an office. It didn't fit well in the place at all but he could guess what was inside the safe.
Without any surprise, the content was indeed a human body. He moved to the safe and checked her pulse. She was just unconscious. Pulling the shawl down, he could recognize the face. It was a young woman who had just become a supernatural recently.
'The only way she could find out about me if I think about it rationally would be if she asked the policemen. They would readily answer her thinking that she just wanted to thank me. I had taken that into consideration when I stood out last night. What doesn't make sense is her coming to Elias, a private investigator to find me.'
Advertisement
Vincent couldn't understand how the situation had come to be. He couldn't recall any loose ends he had left no matter how many times he looked back.
'Was she sent here by Mr. Collector? He should be the one most likely to identify me. He also has contact with her. But this still doesn't make sense. Why would he tell her about me and why would she come to a private investigator to find me.'
"Leave us alone for a while." Elias nodded and swiftly left the room.
Vincent carried her out and placed her on the chair. Raising the glass with water on the table, he sprinkled some on the unconscious woman.
Her forehead creased to the stimulation and she woke up soon after. She looked around and found herself in a familiar room. What had happened slowly came back to her and she grew alert immediately.
"I heard you were looking for me. Now that you have found me, can I know why?"
No answer.
The girl seemed dazed. It took a while for her to come to.
Receiving no answer, he looked her straight in the eyes and asked once again. "Why were you trying to find me?"
The girl had collected herself but she still didn't answer.
"Let me rephrase my question. What do you know about me?"
"You are Mr. Secret."
"How do you know that?"
"I saw the troll's blood and the syringe you had bought from Mr. Collector."
"When and where?"
"Last night. When you were packing up."
"That shouldn't be possible. You were unconscious back then. And I was in a completely different room." Vincent lost his calm for a while. The girl made no sense. But her body didn't show any signs of lying. He knew just how bad she was at lying and it confused him even more.
He was going to ask her once again using a different method but then recalled that she had consumed a potion recently. The girl could indeed be telling the truth. But if that was the case, then she had to have some really rare ability. He could tell that she wasn't a ghost because she wasn't pale and her body was still under the care of a police. Besides a ghost who could turn their body invisible and weightless for a little while, he didn't know any other kind of supernatural who could spy on him without him realizing it.
"It's true. Trust me. I can go out of my body and roam around freely." Miss Mystique spoke as she moved her hands exaggeratedly.
"Alright. Let's assume for a while that what you are saying is true. You still haven't answered my first question."
"I was just curious. I didn't mean any harm."
'She is only telling half the truth. She is hiding something from me.'
"Can you prove that? Or at least show a little bit of sincerity?"
She was rendered speechless. She couldn't prove it and froze with nervousness.
After a little thinking, her expression brightened up. She looked straight at him and said, "I have a clue regarding the supernatural you were searching for."
Vincent was intrigued, "Go on."
"Have you heard of the echoing gorge?"
Advertisement
- In Serial30 Chapters
I'm Not a Competitive Necromancer
Oi, you... yeah, you I'm Maximilian, and the protagonist of this story represents one of the most discriminated categories in the world, a n… NECROMANCER. You thought something else, innit?We found ourselves in another world, within the rejuvenated version of our bodies. We've been given a month to level up and get classes - it looks like we'll soon be attacked by gorillas wielding powerful artifacts. Luv, what is this? Where are we, in a video game?We are thirteen earthlings, one of whom is the greatest leader in Athenian history, and we fight alongside a people that would be the envy of the Spartans.And then, then there's me. I don't care about people's opinion, I like not to take myself seriously and I love pigs. No, really, I love pigs, since I've been here I've stolen at least three.Do you know why you should read this book? There's no reason, actually. Chapters will be published every Sunday.
8 172 - In Serial26 Chapters
Chills & Thrills Anthology
Catch up with the best of the best in our brand new anthology! These thrilling stories will keep you on the edge of your seat. Enter our Contests & Writing Prompts for a chance to be featured in this book.
8 144 - In Serial60 Chapters
A Lonely Spiral
Rye wakes up with a toad in her mouth. From the first day the world is out to make her life miserable as she struggles through living without a sun, through graves and grave threats in the form of man or monster, or even just her innermost doubts and insecurities. Join her as she explores a dark, dark world and slowly, but surely finds her place in it. Or will she? What if the world has no place for a small, weak and uncertain person like her? How will she adapt, if at all, to ever worsening circumstances? (Features a slow-burning progression, many setbacks and a thousand ways to suffer in the age of darkness with a slice of humor to finish it off. Expect the dark-souls of adventure stories. Early chapters are a bit of a mess, but it gets better. If you want to skip forward, I can recommend chapters 19, 26, or 34 as starting points.) Heyo, YJarex here, the Y is silent. This is my first story so please be kind, but don't hesitate to point out flaws or ask questions if things are unclear. I fully intend to continue writing this until it is done some time in the far future. Cover art is a commission by the wonderful hou_jae04. Check them out on Instagram here. Schedule is Tuesday and Thursday with a chance of bonus chapters on Saturday. [participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge] Done!
8 533 - In Serial170 Chapters
Slime Girl
Slimes are stupid!Annoying little pests that don't think about anything.How would they? They don't even have a brain.They don't even think about what they do, dissolving anything in their reach.That's worse than a beast acting on instinct, that's just following a program.A plague of mindless balls of goo.If it were up to me they should all get eradicated.At least that’s what I thought.Until my life was turned into a mess. Stupid slimes!
8 640 - In Serial12 Chapters
Anon: Goddess of Anonymity
a light-hearted story of a somewhat relaxed Goddess named Anon. She'd honestly prefer to stay back home and read a book, but reality doesn't always go her way. Anon finds herself mixed in unnecessary events in ways more than one that don't suit her shut-in lifestyle.
8 152 - In Serial24 Chapters
Heaven, or Max's Special Hell? (Dadvid)
This story will be about Max's new life living with David as his son. The new life where they live in a Blockbuster storeroom, in the mall where dreams go to die. At least all the campers live around there too and they don't cause too much trouble......at least he still has David, something Max is coming to appreciate more and more as time goes on. This is a sequel to my other story 'Adopt me, you son of a bitch!'. Fair warning this story is at this point 46,267 words, so if your gonna go on this journey get a blanket, a pillow, and some hot chocolate, and enjoy all the laughs and the feels to come. Also remember, comments give me life!
8 150

