Alan and Frank sat at their desk in the precinct, poring over the case files. The hum of flickering fluorescent lights reverberated in the near empty precinct. Surprisingly, the captain was still at his office Frank and Alan arrived at the precinct to take the case files home.
Frank grumbled, "Why the hell couldn’t I take these case files home?"
Alan sighed, "Frank, these are super confidential undercover spy shit, maaaan. You should've known you couldn't take them out."
Frank, annoyed, glared at the captain then Alan in reply. He hasn’t read a single report in years. He didn’t even act like a cop anymore and had forgotten most of the rules already.
Despite his complaints, Frank began reading the case files line by line, not missing a single detail. Ian Huang was described as a logistics personnel in the warehouse, responsible for storing who knew what. Ian’s files were extensive, detailing a plethora of illegal activities from drug trafficking to human trafficking to trafficking dead bodies. None of it seemed to be magical in nature.
Ryan Huang was listed as the manager of logistics, overseeing operations of dubious legality. Frank knew it was no good idea to get in the way of someone that powerful, in the most literal sense. Trusting the police seemed just as perilous, especially because he was one himself, although he forgot he was one most of the time.
Frank didn't want to know any of these details regarding Laoban or his business. Knowing even a small part of that world could endanger anyone’s life. He was already halfway in, almost losing his life countless times, and he didn't want to look any deeper than that. At least not until he’s solved the case he’s been chasing for 17 years.
He fetched the files on the red death incident. The case itself was technically closed by the captain years ago. Yet he would chase even a mouse should it be related to the case at all. Although the red death incident was significant, the thickness of the files was much smaller than those detailing the two undercover cops who had gone missing.
Comparing the pictures of the destruction caused by the red death incident and the smaller explosion in the warehouse, he noted their similarities. Roots extended outward from the origin of the explosion in both cases. He was sure there was a connection. The only remnants were the organic-like material left behind by the explosions, which disappeared after a couple of days. When looking at those organic-like materials, a growing sense of unease would accompany it from who knows where. Some say it would be a feeling of dread as Frank’s heartbeat raised just by even the smallest glance at the picture.
Frank then turned to examine the files of the two missing cops. He’d known them for years, but there was a weird feeling he had when looking at their faces, as if he didn’t know them all that well. When talking to Laoban, he had shrugged off that feeling to avoid arousing suspicion and earning the man’s wrath. But now, sitting in the precinct, he couldn’t remember any significant interactions he’d had with those two before they became undercover cops. It was as if they just popped out of nowhere in the past couple of years.
Alan noticed Frank’s deepening discomfort and cold sweat. "What’s up?"
Frank sighed, "There’s something off. I feel like I’ve known these guys for years, but I can’t remember doing anything with them. It’s like I’m forgetting something.”
Alan raised an eyebrow. "You think they’re plants?"
Frank shook his head. "I don’t know. But the way Laoban talked about them... he seemed to shit his pants when he saw them disappear. And something about this explosion is haunting me…”
“I know what you’re sayin’. It looks like the shit that was all over the place 17 years ago.” Alan’s leg started shaking, “I don’t even wanna look at that shit man. Frank, you know where I’m going with this, right? Let’s just do normal police work and forget all of this shit.”
Frank raised his voice, “We ain’t giving up, that’s final.”
Alan sighed, leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "So what’s the plan?"
"We dig deeper," Frank said firmly. "We need to find out more about Ian and Ryan Huang and their operations. What could’ve invited such an evil entity into their operations and such. We need to figure out what the hell that red silhouette was. Whatever it is, we can’t ignore it."
“You can’t ignore it” Alan interrupted, “Your obsession is going to get me killed. This one is too close for comfort!”
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“We said that about our last case, but we’re still alive,” Frank joked.
“My cholesterol is too high maaan,” Alan complained further, “The next time we see some crazy shit, I’m just gonna die of a heart attack!”
“Then quit ye’r drinkin’ already!” Frank rebutted.
“Bruh! It’s the only thing keeping me sane” Alan chugged another can of beer, his legs shook even more violently.
Frank sighed, glancing at his partner. "Look, I get it. This is terrifying. But we have to see this through. We can’t back out now."
Alan shook his head, the fear still evident in his eyes. "Fine, but promise me one thing. If this gets any crazier, we pull back. No case is worth our lives."
“This case is…” Frank sighed, “This is real close, Alan. Trust me on this.”
“Shit, fuck… fuck man. I’m stuck with you anyways.” Alan gave up.
Frank already knew it was a one sided conversation from the start, and Alan would’ve given up eventually. He knew there was no turning back the moment he saw Laoban’s face. The cold rage in the monster’s eyes was dead set on solving this crime. Both him and partner’s lives were at stake, regardless if Alan knew.
“Let’s go see my family.” Frank said.
“Alright, I’ll drive.” Alan replied, head low.
***
The morning was foggy and the police vehicle was parked outside of a large gate. Alan, in the driver’s seat, slept peacefully, snoring loudly enough to rattle the windows. Frank, his eyes bloodshot and wide awake, waited for the clock to strike 8 AM. He had spent the night in the car, unable to sleep, his mind racing with memories of the horrific scene in the suburbs where a major incident had happened.
The aftermath was still vivid in his mind. Houses were wrecked, and hundreds lay dead. Massive roots of unknown origin organic material spread out from the explosion’s epicenter, spanning at least a mile. The media had frantically reported it as a biological terrorist attack by the Chinese, while conspiracy theorists claimed it was an inside job by the government to eliminate a powerful figure within the American government. Frank knew that none of these explanations were correct.
The explosion had created monstrous organic roots that seemed both natural and a defiance of modern science. They were a chilling reminder that something beyond human understanding had caused the catastrophe. These roots were unlike anything he had ever seen—ghostly, yet real, spreading with an eerie purpose. They defied categorization, existing somewhere between plant, animal, and something entirely otherworldly—immaterial even.
Lost in his thoughts, the 8 AM alarm abruptly brought Frank back to the present. He nudged Alan awake, the loud snoring stopping instantly as Alan jerked upright.
"Get up and fix yourself, it’s time to see my family, and grab that box over there" Frank said, his voice rough with exhaustion. They both exited the police vehicle and headed to the gate of the cemetery..
Frank pushed open the large gate, the creaking noise echoing through the still morning air. The sound was loud enough to alert the graveyard security guard, who approached with a familiar nod.
"Morning, Frank. Right on time as always," the guard greeted.
"Morning, Bill," Frank replied without looking up. He and Alan headed straight to the fourth row of the cemetery, their steps slow and deliberate.
Frank stopped at two specific tombstones.
Molly 2051 - 2055
Adriana 2026 - 2055
Frank took the box that Alan carried and opened it, removing a bottle of wine. He crouched down to be eye-level with Molly’s tombstone, his face a mask of sorrow and determination. He poured half of the bottle over Molly’s grave.
"This was your mom’s favorite wine," Frank said softly. "I wanted to share a bottle with you when you grew up, along with your mom. I would’ve bought this bottle for you every year after your 21st birthday. It’s a rather sweet wine. Your mom always liked the sweeter-tasting ones, but I didn’t care for them much. Happy Birthday Molly."
He paused, his voice thick with emotion, before turning to Adriana's tombstone. He poured the remainder of the bottle over her grave.
"You always made fun of me for being a Gemini, saying we’d never be together. But look at us now." Frank glanced down at his wedding ring, a symbol of the life they had shared. "You always blamed me for my curiosity. But this curiosity will be what will put you two at peace.”
Frank paused for a moment, daydreaming the life he had with them, then whispered, “I miss both of you so much."
Frank’s mind drifted back to his recent encounter with Laoban and the eerie events at the warehouse. The red silhouette, the mysterious disappearances, and the chilling video replayed in his thoughts. He felt a mix of determination and fear.
"I’m close to solving it this time," Frank continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "Alan and I, our hunches are on the right track. I can feel it in my bones. I saw the proof in the video from the warehouse. You would’ve nagged at me all night to quit the case before I get hurt."
He took a deep breath, steadying himself, his eyes steeled. "This investigation might be the death of me. It’s the most dangerous one I’ve ever taken up. But I’ll do whatever it takes to bring you peace."
Frank stood up slowly, brushing dirt from his knees. "I love you, Adriana and Molly. I’ll see you soon again," he said, his voice breaking slightly.
“So where to now?” Alan voiced with a low tone.
“China town,” Frank bluntly replied, “Ian did some dealings with some of the locals in that area. Something tells me the drug and human trafficking was just a front. Let’s go.”
Both men walked out the foggy graveyard. Neither paying attention to the security guard sleeping on the job.