“Report, what information have you gathered about Roe’s death.” commands a deep weathered voice. A pair of men in suits stand before an ornate throne. The floor beneath their feet is a black-and-white checkered board. The room is lined in gold laced and ebony wood.
“It appears just as we suspected.” one man says adjusting his glasses. “Roe committed suicide of her own volition.” the surrounding occupants of the room let out measured gasps. “She left behind a note explaining the resoning behind her actions.”
The man on the throne clears his throat. “What does it say?”
Reaching to his lapel, the man takes a folded note from his pocket. Slowly he unforlds the document gaining the unwavering attention of the entire room. He holds the note open for a moment taking a deep breath. “This is my last divination to the council. I have seen a bleak omen and the recent reports of the otherworlders has confirmed my vision.
The time to begin the new world has come. I can no longer serve in the capacity to carry forth the priesthood. I advise whoever takes my place as high priestess to have a strong stomach for what needs to be done. Therefore, I will end my life after I have finished this letter. The price of the new world is too much for me to bare. I have prepared the necessary tools for the high priestess to carry out the proceeding rituals. After which the proper devices will be in your hands to finish the greater work. There will need to be a blood sacrifice prepared to initiate the new high priestess and to give her the key to the craft.” reads the man, he folds the paper placing it back into his pocket. “The letter ends there, Lord Mistura. It was handwritten in her own blood.”
“Interesting?” Mitsura considers.
A middle aged man snickers while seated. “Not the stomach for it.” he utters.
Mitsura clears his throat again. “Do you think lesser of her because she is not a killer like yourself, Natsukawa?”
Natsukawa laughs. “We live, we die. That is all.” Mitsura shakes his head.
“Further more there is another developing issue.” answers the man who read the report. “It seems there has been another sighting of an otherworlder.”
“Continue.” Mitsura mutters.
“It’s perplexing, this one was in public, inside a grocery store. The individuals have been detained for examination and interviewing. There was three homicides and four injuries. Two of those injuries are life threatening. They have informed the witnesses that a terrorist exposed them to a biological agent and encountered a group hallucination.” the man states.
“We have to get rid of the witnesses. No one will believe such a preposterous excuse. It will also strike tension in the community.” a man calls out from the surrounding seats.
A woman with a white-painted face stands from her seat. “What would we suggest if several people disappeared? How would we explain that to the public? We are not talking about a few people but an entire market full of people.”
“I agree with Hegia. We should get rid of the witnesses. We can tell the people they died in the attack.”
“No, that is wrong we cannot conduct ourselves in this way.”
Mitsura stands from his chair. “Silence.” he roars. “We will not be making a hasty decision like that. Those who will not conform with the narrative will be held and kept separate. We can convince the community they were mentally damaged from the effects of the toxins. At a later date we can release them after treatment. Until then I do not want any of this to leave the lodge. Am I understood.”
The room calls out “Aye.”
“Now, we have need of a new high priestess. The next in line is Lady Kyo, my niece. Is there any objecting views on her appointment?” Mitsura pauses for a reply. The chamber remains silent. “Then it shall be Kyo to take up the burden of high priestess. Prepare the rites for the appointment.”
The warm yellow inner glow of the police station is comforting for Apricot. Still shaken by the night’s events Apricot sits in a wooden chair. She runs her fingers along the chairs decorative grooves. The clerk’s desk is cluttered with various papers, folders, and photos. A small lamp trained over the mess gives off just enough light for the reports in front. “Miss Apricot, your account of the situation is, troubling.” remarks the clerk as he strikes his cheek with his hand. “You were in a hostage situation early this month and now you experienced a terrorist attack. Not an easy month for you mam now is it?” he jokes.
An urge to slap him takes hold in her palm but instead of letting him have it she nods her head. “Yes, sir.” she agrees.
The man looks at the paper setting it on his desk and grins. “I am just about done with you but the state psychologist will want to speak with you. They will make a determination if those biologicals affected you. I ah, got some advice for you.” the officer whispers narrowing his eyes. “Play along. We both know what happened.”
“Excuse me?” Apricot asks.
The officer leans in over his desk; he motions Apricot closer. “I don’t know what you observed tonight. Don’t want to know but you’re not crazy. I did not record your account. Instead, I wrote you had experienced a hallucination. Please, just play along. It will make your life easier. These things, they, they aren’t real but they’re here. They’re like ghosts or something. Everyone in the office is scared out of their minds right now. They have been locking up witnesses under insanity charges, including anyone in the department that acknowledges them. Even if what you said is true, forget it ever happened. Look, I should not be telling you this. Just please listen.” He sits back in his chair his eyes glassy with tears welling in them. He sterns his voice and grumbles, “Well, mam it looks like I can finish this up on my own.” he flips a switch on his desk. “Hey, I need someone to take Miss Signa to have her evaluation done.”
“Right away sir.” a voice replies.
“Just remember what I said ok,” he says to Apricot with a nod.
Apricot nods her head not sure of what to make of her situation. The events play through her head leaving a suggestion of things to come. A man in uniform opens the door breaking her train of thought. He motions with his hand towards Apricot. She rises from her seat and leaves with him through the hall.
~
“So you did not see a thing.” a woman in a black officers uniform inquires. Her rose framed glasses clash with the officialness of her attire. “A lot of panic in there tonight. Seems you did not get too high of a dose from the chemical attack.” She pauses looking over her papers. “So you blacked out for the duration and found yourself in the warehouse.”
“That is right mam.” she lied. The rules of the game were unstated but very clear. Both parties fully understood they both were lying to each other. At least to Apricot’s summation that was the facts. Complying with the narrative was all the officials of Okabe cared about. The faux illusion of stability. In same ways that is far more effective. Perhaps everyone knew about these things and yet no one spoke a word of it for fear of being outed. Even if anyone did, no one would admit to it. What a brilliant little trap Apricot considered.
The woman taps her clipboard with a pen. “Many people said there was a monster.” she looks up into Apricot’s eyes. “What do you say about that?”
Apricot did not hesitate before saying “A lot of people see things when they are hallucinating.”
“Superb point. Well, I won’t be taking up any more of your time. If you still have any hallucinations, be sure to contact the police. If you remember anything, your cooperation will be very much appreciated.” the woman holds out a card. “Call my number anytime.”
Apricot plucks the card out of the woman’s hand pretends to inspect the card carefully then palms it into her pocket. “Thank you,” Apricot replies.
“You are free to go. The exit is to the left of the hall.” the woman remarks.
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