Kato and the two officers walk into the forest, so I follow. I yawn. It takes around 5 minutes for us to stop. My feet are killing me at this point, but my focus is quickly changed. On the floor between two trees was a lot of blood. A body. A woman with blond hair in a braid that is falling apart just barley holding itself together. The blood comes from a wound on her neck. It was cut in such a way that some blood spilled on the right tree. It really isn’t the most gruesome scene I have seen but something about it made me nauseous and uncomfortable. Something doesn’t seem right.
The voices are quiet, but I can tell that they are watching. “The victim is female and 26 years old. Her name was Ruby Foster. No siblings and no relationship. She only has her parents. The cause of death is a cut jugular vein.” A third officer says.
Dreams the voices whisper. I have no idea what they are going on about now. Dreams the voices repeat this time louder. While I hate to admit it, this was probably a clue, but I really don’t want to listen to the voices especially since my head is already pounding. However, finding the killer is a priority and it doesn’t matter which issues I may have as long as I get the job done. “Dreams” I mumble trying to find a connection with the victim. The officer which was telling me the information earlier seems to jump. They were looking kind of freaked out. “Dreams?” The officer repeats. Officer Mike looks over to me “The victim was seeing a therapist. Something about Dreams. We aren’t sure because of doctor confidentiality. How did you know? Did you know the victim?” All the attention snapped to me making me uncomfortable. No, I think but apparently the voices do. “Not really. I just saw her once.” I lie. It wasn’t my best lie, but it was the best my sleep deprived brain could come up with.
“We already contacted Dr Matinez since she was apparently the last one to see the victim alive. She is waiting at the station.” Mike informs us. Kato nods “Let’s go kid.” We both walk out of the forest at this point I’m surprised I can even walk. We got to Katos car and drove away. “I asked you not to get involved. Also, before you start it’s not because I don’t think you can handle it but rather that this doesn’t seem right.” Kato says. “It’s going to be fine.” I reassure him. Famous last words the voices laugh. These will be your last words if you don’t shut up, I think. I decide to change the subject. “Do you think the Doctor knows something?” Kato sighs “Maybe I don’t know yet however she was with the victim last. So she is the prime suspect. Anyways we are about to find out. We are here, kid.”
After getting into the station, we met Dr Matinez. She is in a normal interrogation room with a single table three chairs and a two-way mirror. “Hello Dr Matinez. I’m Detective Ryota Kato and this is Noah.” Kato introduces us and we both sit down. Dr Matinez looks perplexed “That is a child.” She says. That coming from the raisin look alike. It may be unusual but that was very blunt especially for a therapist.
It took a lot of convincing from me to be allowed to be present during interrogations. However, it makes sense since I know a lot even things I shouldn’t. Sometimes even things the murder or victim were unaware of thanks to the voices though that tends to be a little creepy for all parties involved including me. All parties except the voices who seem to find it hilarious. After a certain point the police stopped trying to find out how I know. It only took like a whole year. Also, people are more likely to let their guard down when I’m here.
I snap back to reality realizing that maybe I should be paying attention. I stifle a yawn and turn to Kato who just seemed to finish explaining some things to Dr Matinez. “Your patient Ruby Foster why exactly did she visit you. Her file says something about dreams could you perhaps elaborate?” Dr Matinez nods. “Yes, she was having weird dreams. At times her dreams would come true. It made her feel confused and scared.” Kato puts the file to the site. “Why did she feel that way? It were most likely just dreams and coincidences.” “She saw things like her own or other people’s death.” I feel cold. Distantly I wonder if she saw this too. Kato simply raises an eyebrow. “So she had nightmares?”
Dr Matinez shook her head. “What Ruby saw normally came true at least almost. One time she saw herself getting hit by a car with another person. That day she decided to go a different route. She lived the other person didn’t. After that she came to me.” Prophetic dreams the voices say. I feel torn. I don’t exactly believe in supernatural things, but I also don’t not believe in it. The fact that the voices in my head are telling me this isn’t making my choice any easier. After all I could simply be insane and there is no way to prove that Ruby wasn’t too.
“The weird thing is that she did not foresee this at least as far as I know.” It seems like the Doctor believes in prophetic dreams. “It’s really not that weird. Why should she have seen this.” Kato grumbles. His stance on the matter is also very obvious. “She actually came to me basically glowing. The night before she did not have a dream of any kind.” Maybe whoever cursed her to have these nightmares decided to give her peace before her death. I wonder if I would be given the same peace in my final moments or if even then I would have to hear the voices. A reminder that there is somethings wrong with me. I would never know why I was this way and why I couldn’t change.
Kato ignored everything the doctor said not seeing how it could have any value to the investigation. “Was there anything unusual about her in the last 24 hours? What was your last conversation about, and did she mention if she was going to meet someone?” Dr Matinez turned quiet thinking about the answers. “No, she didn’t seem weird, but she did mention getting flowers. It was weird since it didn’t have a sender and Ruby didn’t know a lot of people”.
Destinys flowers the voices say. I’m not too sure what they mean. “You appear rather calm considering Ruby was recently murdered.” Kato notes. It seems that Dr Matinez doesn’t take any offence instead simply nodding like they were talking about the weather. “To be honest I’m still hoping that this is another one of Rubys dreams. At the same time I never was close with Ruby. She was just another one of my patient.” The voices suddenly yell commanding me to ask something. It’s hard to understand what is going on. Distantly I realize that I’m getting overwhelmed. The voices alone would be bad enough but Kato and Dr Matinez are talking as well. I need it to stop. Everything was too much too bright. I don’t get what the voices want.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
“What flowers were it?” I almost cry in relief when the voices mostly shut up. Perhaps they really just wanted me to ask anything. Both Kato and Dr Matinez look at me like I’m insane. Who isn’t? “What do you mean?” Kato asks. “The flowers that Ruby got. What kind were they?” Dr Matinez looks unsure if she should answer looking to Kato for an answer. Kato while a little surprised is pretty used to my unusual questions so gives the doctor the go to answer. “I’m unsure. I don’t think she even told me.” Destinys flowers the voices repeat. “Do you think the murder send them?” she questions. Kato also looks curious. I wish I could tell them but I really don’t know and the voices won’t stop being cryptic. At this point I’m really debating if I should call a mental hospital and see if they have some rooms left. “Maybe” I say, “Why do you need to know which kind they are then?” Dr Matinez asks.
It seems that she is very unconvinced that the flowers could be a clue. Suddenly a police officer comes inside and hands Kato a new file. I look inside along side Kato. It’s more information about Ruby’s death including a time frame. “Let’s leave this topic for now. Tell us Dr Matinez what were you doing at 4 am today.” Kato puts the file to the other one. This time Dr Matinez seems more defensive. “I was sleeping.” She bites out. “I assume there is no way to prove this.” Kato states more than questions. Dr Matinez silence speaks volumes.
The voices were really focused on Rubys dreams and then the flowers. Perhaps they were hinting at something or more like giving clues as to who the murder is. Destinys flowers disl- A loud bang rings through the room interrupting the voices. I jump almost falling out of my chair. Kato looks unfazed and Dr Matinez looks something between scarily calm and furious. An impressive combination “HOW DARE YOU! Accuse me of such a vile act!” “I’m not actually accusing you of anything. All I’m doing is my job.” Kato raises his hands in mock surrender. Dr Matinez appears to have a short temper for a therapist. Anger issues the voices laugh. I doubt that. It’s a joke geez. Instead of getting lost in my mind again I stay in the present. Fight or Flight. The voices say.
Dr Matinez eyes snap to me before deflating and putting her head in her hands. “I swear I would never do anything to hurt another person.” The voices don’t immediately call bullshit so I calm down. If I had slept a little more lately I would have noticed how much I am relying on the voices right now and how much I was losing focus. Both things I dislike.
The officer which gave Kato the new file still hasn’t left the room. I only notice this once he speaks up “We found something on the victim’s phone. Apparently, she made a call at around 3 am. The Person she called was Dr. Matinez.” Both Kato and my gaze snap to Dr Matinez. "You and the victim talked one hour before her death, and you didn't tell us." Kato leans forward. Dr Martinez looks to the side avoiding eye contact like it would kill her. Gritting her teeth she answers "I didn't kill Ruby. The phone call was hardly 1 minutes long. All she said was that she called the wrong number and apologized." Looking closer I realize that there were tears collecting in Dr Matinez eyes. She appears emotionally unstable I note. Imagine being emotionally unstable the voices laugh.
Currently all evidence points to Dr Matinez being the murderer however it’s not enough. The murder weapon wasn’t found yet nor was any DNA found on the scene. So, in the end Dr Matinez was let go because of lack of evidence. I don’t mind too much since I’m unsure if she is the murderer. It’s better if we find some more evidence first. Hopefully nothing happens in the meantime. “You look troubled.” Kato says. “You look desperate for a cigarette.” I reply. Not giving him a chance to respond I continue “So do you think she is the killer?” “What do you think?”
“I’m still not sure. She seems mentally unstable though that doesn’t automatically mean that she is capable of killing someone. Also there isn’t enough evidence to say if she is or isn’t the killer.” I look to Kato. He nods in approval. My eyes wander to the clock hanging behind Katos head. It says almost 3 pm. “Shit” I curse under my breath. I’m supposed to meet Kai and Ava in less than 40 minutes and I’m quite a distance away from our meeting point. “Everything okay?” Kato raises an eyebrow. I run past him grabbing my backpack and sprinting towards the door.
“All good! See you tomorrow” I rush out while I barley avoid walking straight into the door. I pull my phone out searching for the next bus stop. It’s about a 5 minute walk away but the next bus comes in 1 hour. I’m going to be late. Just steal a car the voices suggest. I ignore them and continue walking. If I have to walk one more time today I will kill myself. Why wait? The voices ask. At exactly 15:00 I got multiple text from Ava and Kai asking if I died in a ditch somewhere. I had to send multiple messages reassuring them that I’m in fact still alive. That can still change the voices very helpfully tell me.
Before I knew it the bus came. I didn't even take a full step out of the bus but still ended up on the hard concrete. “Took you long enough, mystery boy!” Ava says after body slamming me. I hear the sound of a camera and see Kai with his phone out trying to silence it. He looks to me noticing me staring and waves. “Do you need help?” I slump in defeat. Ava still not letting go. “Yes please.” After my back stopped trying to kill me we went to a ice cream shop. We sat down and started talking.
It ended very chaotic. “Do you want to walk around once we are done?” Ava asks always having way too much energy. “If I have to take another step today I will pass out or commit a crime most likely murder.” I threaten. “Well if you went to sleep earlier you wouldn’t have this problem.” Kai chastises me while Ava tilted her head saying “Should you really go around saying stuff like this when you want to become a detective.” Some murder never hurt anyone the voices answer.
“I will not answer either of those things.” I put some ice cream in my mouth to get my point across. Ava rolls her eyes at me but still smiling “Such a drama queen.” Kai sighs seeming resigned to his fate. His cheeks are still slightly red tinted I distantly note. Perhaps I should check his temperature later. Maybe you should give him a kiss later the voices tease. I choke on my ice cream. I can’t stop coughing and Ava started hitting my back so hard I started fearing for my bones.
“I’m fine now.” I wave her off. Silently I curse the voices out in every language that I know. I don’t even get a full minute to recover when the voices interrupt me. You should leave they say It’s going to be fun. I feel a shiver go down my spine. “Are you cold?” Kai asks not even waiting for an answer already taking off his jacket and handing it to me. I am feeling oddly cold so I quickly put it on. Leave or see what will happen the voices insist. I was getting Dejavu from earlier today. I decide it can’t hurt and don’t want Ava or Kai to get on my case when they see me getting a headache because some voices can’t take no for an answer.
I silently mourn my already spent energy. “You know maybe we could go on a walk.” Kai looks at me a little weird. “Now I’m sure that you are sick.” I puff out a breath in offence “It’s not like I never go out or go on walks. I just prefer to stay inside.” Ava ignored us grabbing both of our hands before we could say anything else and dragging us outside. “Where do you think we should go?” She turns to me. Forward the voices command. “Let’s go this way.”