Recap

Migai then wakes up to his phone ringing, in the same house but now alone. He takes the phone and answers it

Over the phone, "Migai, we’ve been allotted a case at Dak Bunglow street, Sector 2, Building 23. We need you here as soon as possible."

"Hmm"

He gets up and muffles his pocket to check for his belongings. He looks around the house as he stands alone. Finally, his gaze falling on the family picture, he looks at it with unbearable pain and then leaves.

From Chapter 2]

***

State: Merram (Central State)

Dak Bunglow Street, building 23; a stand-alone building in a society comprising of multiple buildings like this one. There are countless houses adjacent to it all attached to each other, one after another with a huge compound in the middle surrounded by the houses. This was a construction strategy that the new builders took to avoid too much land usage and reduce cost. Inside building 23 on the ground floor, A photographer is clicking pictures of the room with his flash on and two officials in uniform taking down notes. A forensic expert is collecting blood samples from the bodies. There are three bodies hung on the wall, their hands and legs tied behind them and nailed to the wall and their bodies riddled with holes. Blood is still dripping from those holes.

A man of about six feet in height wearing a dark coat arrives at the scene; he doesn’t say anything to anyone, just simply walks up to the murder spot. He looks up at bodies like a master painter looking at a painting, showing no traits of emotions, just blankly staring at it.

“Sir, It looks like a Kusokan’s work. Which means it’s either the ‘Rebel Faction’ or a ‘Rogue’.” Martin speaks in a respectful manner.

“Why not the ‘Aegis Corps’ then?” Migai replies promptly.

“Sorry sir?” A startled Martin asks.

“You said it’s the work of a Kusokan and then took two possible scenarios out of three, why not the third?

Why not the military (Aegis Corps)?” Migai moves around fiddling with the house-décor.

“Why would the military kill three civilians’ sir?” Martin exudes in a soft voice.

“Then why would the rebels, they have no reason to enter a central state, especially to kill three measly people. Don’t jump to conclusions Martin without enough data, I thought I’d already taught you that.”

“Sorry sir, it was just the sight of the bodies…..it really….I got a little ahead of myself.” Martin’s face beams with disappointment in himself.

“You need to have a hold on to your emotions, it’s part of the job. Moving on, who are they?” Migai consoles him.

“The elderly man was a shopkeeper, he ran an essential store a little far from here, the woman is his wife, she was a homemaker no prior jobs. The young man was his brother he was going to be a central administrative officer.”

“A prospective first tier”, he carefully observes the broken pieces of photo-frames then scratching his cheek he continues, “Run a background check on the brother. Find out all you can about him. What made you think it’s the work of a Kusokan?”

“The holes in the bodies are all exactly of the same shape, as of now we’ve not found any bullets shells or casings. For a normal human to make those holes it would take hours. It looks like the work of an ‘Emitter type’.” Martin answers carefully, measuring his words.

“How long they’ve been dead? Any idea?”

“Forensic data is yet to come but the time of death is approximately around 10-11 hours ago.”

“Who spotted the bodies?”

“It was the people living on the floor above. They had come down for a conversation when they found the door open and then the bodies.”

Migai takes a long pause looking around the entire room, “Send me the forensic report, the background check and the testimonies of the family living above.” Then again after a pause, “And pull the bodies down.”

“Sir, the assistant commissioner is coming to check on the bodies, so I’ve been instructed to keep it in this state till he comes.”

“What is that idiot coming here for?” A look of surprise flashes on Migai’s face.

“Apparently a grotesque murder like this in the civilian stronghold requires his attention, so he will also be overseeing it.”

Migai sighs and then begins to walk out, “Just send me the files, and remove the bodies after the idiot’s here but don’t let anybody touch anything in the room. I want it exactly that way it is now.” He warns before leaving out of the door.

“Yes sir.”

***

Location: Merram Police Station (East Zone)

At an officer’s cabin, a man of healthy stature with dark skin and a white mustache is sitting comfortable on his chair, he is the commissioner of the police force, with him is another man who is in his early twenties, properly cut hair and an absolutely clean attire who is the assistant commissioner.

“Why did you assign the case to him when you knew I was involved?” the assistant commissioner questions, a genuine look of discomfort on his face.

“Abdul you know a case like this needs his expertise. This case has put us under a lot of pressure. A murder like that right in the middle of the residential hub, its driving people mad!” the commissioner explains in a slow pace.

“Sir, I can handle this case pretty well on my own, I don’t need him.” A confident Abdul replies.

“I’m sorry but this is his case, he’s the best we have.”

“With all due respect but I’m his senior”, Abdul responds now seeming very impatient.

“Only in these four walls, socially he ranks higher than you. He’s an honoree first tier. After all he’s solved every case he’s ever been assigned.” A smile flashes on his the commissioner’s face as he mentions this.

“Except one.” Abdul scoffs

“Hey! That’s crossing a line. Abdul you are to cooperate in this case if you don’t I’ll have no choice but to remove you right now.” The commissioner warns Abdul in a slightly agitated tone.

This is turn further agitates Abdul. Right at that moment, a knock is heard on the door.

“Come in”, the commissioner replies in a hoarse voice.

Migai enters the room looking as inexpressive as ever.

“Oh, Migai we were just talking about the new case assigned to you.” The commissioner heartily welcomes him.

“About that, why is he involved?” Migai answers pointing at Abdul.

“Hey…” Abdul is cut off by the commissioner who continues, “As the assistant commissioner he has also been tasked to work as an advisor. But you’re the primary investigator.”

“Fine. But is his advice really necessary?” Migai questions with an air of superiority.

“Hey!” Abdul is again cut off by the commissioner who answers in his stead, “Unfortunately it is.”

Migai takes in a long breath, looking exhausted he makes peace, “I’ll keep you posted; also did you hear anything from the officers posted for inspecting ‘The Sighting’?”

“Nothing as of now.” The commissioner replies in a serious tone.

“Hmm, they’re holding the bodies for you, better hurry up to the crime scene” Migai informs Abdul, as he leaves and closes the door behind him.

“Another sighting?” Abdul enquires curiously.

“Yes”

“How many dead?”

The commissioner speaks in a solemn voice, “Two-hundred and seventeen is what they’re telling me. No idea about the real numbers.”

“This is the fourth one…..”

“And yet we have nothing except a name.”

***

State: Ayana (Independent State)

Location: Outskirts of the town ‘Shindi’

In a small police station, an official in civil clothes is seated at his chair with one of his constables at his side.

In his opposite direction, the young boys he had captured from the fields are squatting on the floor, shivering and crying. They are not wearing anything on their torso and their backs have marks of being flagged, they also have bruises on their face. Another constable is standing behind the children holding a thin wooden stick.

The officer in civilian clothes laughs finding the children’s state to be humorous, “It’s really funny how your people have started living so freely and carelessly, it’s as if the war never happened.”

One of the kids who was trying very hard to hold his tear back breaks down and begins to cry loudly, the officer gestures at the constable standing behind them. He hits the kid who is crying loudly on the back, immediately shutting him up.

“I told you, if you’re loud I’ll smack you. Now see I’m pretty exhausted and I’m sure so are you, so just tell me where those foul siblings of yours are?” The officer asks.

After a pause a significant pause one of the boy’s begins to speak in a very soft tone, stammering from time to time.

“We seriously don’t know, they come to the village to meet us. We never know where they are.”

“But there must be something you’ll know right. Mr. Rana is going to be here so tell me before he arrives otherwise it’ll be too late. I’m sure you’ve all heard of the Rana family and what they do to kusokans right?

So let’s not delay this further. Just tell me what you know and I’ll immediately let you go. It’s as simple as that.” The officer offers this deal to the children.

The boys look at each other, shuddering and shivering.

“Come one, come on. Spit it out!”

“We don’t know where they are but we know that they’ve set their new base near the ‘Jamundi Forest’.” The eldest of the boys answers.

“Wohoo! superb! That’s more like it. Very good boys! Now don’t worry we’re going to lock you up for some time then let you go, okay?” the officer informs them with an angelic smile on his face.

The children hesitatingly nod.

“That’s more like it, see cooperation is key.”

Once the children are escorted out the room, a tall-fair man with a thick black mustache and a salt and pepper beard walks in to the room, he has very scanty hair and is wearing a traditional home-made outfit.

“Mister Rana! We have a lead now, finally.” The officer welcomes the new man in the room.

“Maybe we do”, Mister Rana replies in a heavy voice sitting in the chair and thinking.

“Cheer up Mister Rana we’re going to finish these bastards very soon.”

No reply came back.

“What should I do about the kids?” the officer asks casually.

“Kill them obviously” Mister Rana replies with a professional expression.

“Okey dokey” The officer responds with an angelic smile on his face.

***

State: Ayana (Independent State)

Location: Shindi (A few hours after the meeting with the official)

Mister Rana walks into his home, he walks by the dining table where he sees his daughter; Sridha sitting there. She looks at him trying to speak up. Ignoring her he climbs up the stairs leaving the area without saying a word.

Story By: Four Eighty One

Art By: Sakshi Chokhani

(The Story, Characters, and Art are all original pieces of work, kindly refrain from using them without permission)

Chapter 8: A Rotten World, releases next Friday