The white walls of the room resembled canvases painted expressively with deep, in places still liquid red color. The grey tiled floor seemed to be swimming in bloody tissues, used, disposable gloves and needles of various thicknesses. The cushions on the floor were ripped open, and the dust particles swirling in the air seemed like an extremely heavy memory among the remains of what it had witnessed only moments before.

– You'll have to excuse us, our patients sometimes go into a rage that is difficult to control – Derico picked up a piece of printed paper from the floor, bent the corners and put it in the inside pocket of his medical apron - We always try to be very careful, but...

– I understand that you care about the comfort and convenience of others – Raziel fixed his gaze on the dilapidated pillows, which looked more like a murder weapon than a soft, filled material.

–...but sometimes we can't stop them from self-harming – Derico finished, giving Raziel a sharp look, then led the two detectives into a room full of round windows built into the wall opposite the entrance. The light cast by the sun’s rays was striking the eyes accustomed to darkness, so Ruth used the protection of her hand to look calmly at the beds arranged in a row at regular intervals.

– This is where some of our proteges spend their nights, so they don't feel lonely and isolated from people with same problems – the doctor turned slightly to Raziel, whose hands involuntarily went to the metal frame and shook it gently. The beds appeared to be securely fastened to the floor, but their uniformity caused an awakening of nostalgia in the man's mind, clouded with impressions.

– Long-time patients too? – Ruth swept her gaze over all the nameplates she could see, and when the two turquoise diamonds hung on her figure, the brunette didn't break eye contact even for a moment as she waited for an answer. Raziel watched closely the doctor's furrowed brows, the concentration on his young face, and when for a split second that expression was replaced by a faint smile, the detective knew that the black-haired man had just analyzed something important in his mysterious mind, and it seemed that the conclusions were to his satisfaction.

– It depends on how many years they have been with us. You see – Derico approached Ruth unhurriedly, and his hand made a gentle gesture toward the courtyard – I have only been working here for five years.

The tension between the pair of staring eyes, one with determination, the other with quiet challenge, grew more and more intense, and Raziel couldn't understand why the atmosphere had suddenly become so heavy.

– So, are we in the right wing of the building? – was the first question that came to the Blond's mind in this awkward situation. Derico closed his eyes, laughed quietly and turned his intensely animated gaze towards the tense man.

– Yes indeed. If you wish to rest, then...

– Please lead us to the rest of the rooms – a firm, womanly tone interrupted the doctor, who nodded gently and moved towards the passage on the right. Raziel threw Ruth a questioning glance, but she was already busy analyzing the rest of the room before moving to follow Derico through a low, arched opening in the wall.

In such an atmosphere, the rest of the tour of the vast agglomeration of the asylum passed. Derico led the detectives to an area where patients were just receiving portions of medication at the hands of several nurses, whose blue clothes blended with the turquoise outfits of those waiting at tables, sitting on the floor, or watching nature outside the dusty window. Raziel noticed that many of them were carrying cards with numbers, and most looked very relaxed, even happy residents of the building. Pale faces with dark strands under their eyes smiled beamingly at them, and increased whispers came from the corners, but the women in aprons dispensing small cups did not grace the guests with their attention, directing only brief instructions and questions to their charges.

After several arduous hours of visiting individual rooms and many equal conversations with staff and patients able to answer questions consciously, the doctor led the two into another long corridor, hardly different from the one at the main entrance. Derico stopped at one of the metal doors, taking out a small, polished key from his pocket.

– This is where the isolation rooms are located. Let me open just one. Unless…– No need, one is enough - Raziel refrained from an impatient snort as Derico slowly opened the door and let Ruth in, who was not particularly interested in this part of the asylum.

– Sometimes we need longer time to deal with the more aggressive patients, so for their safety and ours, we conduct examinations in these rooms.

Raziel looked around the cramped space, where the only furniture was a leather seat and a narrow mattress in the corner. The walls were covered with something resembling foam surrounded by intermittent fine mesh. At once, the man's memories rushed back to his youth, when he used to play hide and seek with his brothers and chose his father's workshop, whose walls were covered with the same material, as a perfect hiding place. Unfortunately, the door to the workshop was jammed, and had it not been for little Raziel's fierce pounding against the wooden shell, no one would have heard his cries through the thick layer of insulation. The blond man quickly pushed the unpleasant image from his consciousness and left the room, escorted by the watchful gaze of azure eyes.

– The rest of our island is the hospital's livelihood, we have a post office, a bakery, farmlands… – Derico led them down the stairs to the first floor from where they had started their rounds a few hours earlier - we try to take care of our patients in every way possible.

As they walked down the same dark corridor, the green curtain hung at Raziel's eye level moved uneasily, and the dark, sharp eyes saw a space larger than just a recess for another metal door. The young detective was about to turn back when Ruth nudged him slightly and pointed to the large clock hanging above the double doors.

– I think we've seen everything we needed to see – the brunette turned dryly to the black-haired man who had just directed the two women with bundles of documents to the second floor - we'll send you the full report and the decision of the investigation department regarding the further functioning of the hospital in a few days, but initially I can describe this assessment as positive - the official voice echoed through the empty hall, while Derico leaned his right arm against the pale wall and smiled slightly towards the detectives.

– In that case, I will escort you outside.

The doctor moved towards the exit of the building, but Raziel couldn't take his eyes off the now motionless material they had left behind. However, when he heard a soft, impatient murmur, he turned toward his partner and wordlessly followed after her. There were still three uniformed guards standing by the stairs, and when Derico heard the distinctive sound of the door opening, he hung his gaze on just one figure, who walked confidently towards him.

– Thank you for your time, I'm sure.

– Where has your partner gone? – Bright eyes focused on the top of the stairs for a moment, only to return to the confused brunette, who momentarily turned her gaze towards the entrance of the building

– Oh... I'm sure that... he was behind me... – the quiet, uncertain voice disappeared completely as the woman realized that she had lost the following reverberation of shoes hitting the floor somewhere halfway to the exit door.

– Hmm... maybe he went to the restroom, didn't tell you anything? – Derico stood just in front of the woman's field of vision, blocking her view on everything that was happening behind the taller man's back - We can wait for him, there are benches we can sit on – the slender hand indicated with a gentle gesture a place under two pine trees growing near the grey, closed fountain.

– Gladly, thank you – Ruth headed for a shady spot under two tall pine trees. As she took a seat on a well-worn bench, Derico squatted down next to her and began quietly whistling a tune that Ruth's subconscious knew very well, but she could not identify its origin.

– Interesting sounds – Ruth chuckled lightly, looking at the lone albatross resting on the branch of a leafless tree.

– I have something even more interesting for you – Derico didn't take his eyes off the cloudy sky, feeling more and more the intense gaze fixed on his figure, and his cherry lips slowly curved into a satisfied smile.

***

The cold hallway seemed to have escaped the perception of the figure standing before the still, mowed surface, when an expression of hesitation passed through the dark eyes, and the delicate hands proved to be quicker than any flashes of rationality. The green curtain was abruptly moved apart, revealing the stone walls of a passageway lit by candles dripping with wax, suspended from copper holders. A thick layer of cobwebs covered the entire vaulted ceiling, extending to the opposite outline of a narrow black doorway.

The increasing clatter of heels prevented Raziel from contemplating what he saw for any longer. A scrap of blue apron peeked out from around the corner of the main corridor, and after a moment, the nurse's cloudy eyes rested investigatively on the carelessly closed material. Behind its surface, the deep-breathing man clenched his eyes, listening for impending danger, while his consciousness was flooded with a wave of sudden, ineffective ideas for getting out of this hopeless situation.

- Fuck... - a quiet whisper involuntarily escaped from between the cracked lips, a strong shudder ran through the frozen body, and when the increasing sound of footsteps quieted in an instant, Raziel was ready to run or fight the person who was already one step away from his hiding place.

After a few moments of tension and uncertainty, which seemed like an eternity to the cold-sweating blond, the heavy sound of heels began to slowly move away towards the stairs. As the faint silence once again enveloped the restless mind, its owner was able to let the air out of his lungs, relax his clenched jaw, and focus back on the interior of the narrow, deserted hallway.

- Someone must be in there...

Curiosity paving its way to the surface of sharpened consciousness fueled Raziel's cautious steps, and within seconds he found himself within arm's reach of a black door stained scarlet in some places. The man's hand rose uncertainly, hovered in the air, retreated a few millimeters, then instantly pressed the smoothed handle.

Rapturous convulsions shook the blond man's body as the scent of rotten fish and mouse urine hit his clouded senses, and the intermittent humming and gnashing seemed to approach him with the threat of being permanently impaled in his stimulus-filled head. A scrap of the jacket pressed firmly against his face proved to be the only salvation, allowing Raziel to inhale more deeply of the residual oxygen found in the blindingly bright room. The glare of shapely eyes reflected off the metal tabletops that, arranged at various angles, formed a wall around the tall hospital bed.

The man tried to regain control of his reflexes and slowly analyze everything he was able to see. Metal racks, copper bowls, cracked flasks, needles... It all blended together into a blurry mosaic of incongruous elements, but when his distracted gaze came to rest on the object protruding from beneath the white sheet, the detective's heart clenched for a moment and his leg muscles trembled considerably, unable to support his heavy body, tensed to the limit.

- Is... Is this a...

A sharp swish behind Raziel's back prevented him from making another move as the hard surface collided with the back of his skull with incredible force, and black spots began to consume the man's consciousness, bringing with it a painful, silence-filled nothingness.

***

- So you can see for yourself how wonderful it can turn out to be.... - A quiet vibration interrupted the smooth speech of the doctor, whose watchful eye had long noticed the tense muscles of the woman seated beside him on the wooden bench. A small hand reached with a trembling motion into the pocket of the coat from which the persistent sounds were coming, and when the contents of the incoming message were read, the gray phone slipped from sweaty fingers, landing on the grassy surface beneath their feet.

- Are you okay? - a soft voice broke the deep silence whose presence grew heavier with the passing seconds. The brunette looked down at the dropped object with an absent-minded gaze, then picked up the phone from the ground in one movement and began to move restlessly on the hard surface.

- It's... Raziel... - Ruth lifted her gaze to the black-haired man, whose hands now rested tightly clasped in his lap, and the slightly leaning forward figure seemed to be expecting specific information - He says he wants to stay longer at the facility and I should not... - the almond-shaped eyes paused on the mesmerizing depths of the azure gaze, whose sparks almost popped from the intensely shining irises -...should not wait.

- Ah, he is probably talking to our patients - Derico straightened up slowly, looking at the pale face of the motionless woman - Do you wish to join, or....

- For my part, that's all - the whisper disappearing among the strands of brown hair surrounding a face with gentle features seemed empty and cold, just like the gaze of eyes sparkling in the sunlight, whose concentration was directed at the high, spiked fence.

- If you had any questions... - The slender fingers straightened in Ruth’s direction, who, without giving the doctor a shadow of attention, accepted the note written with numbers, nodded slightly and moved towards the boards crammed into a makeshift carriage on rusty wheels.

- Please, take the detective back to where you met her this morning - Derico addressed the armed men in green uniforms, whose identical, compliant gestures merged into a coherent whole. The melodious voice still seemed to vibrate in the air as the turquoise eyes met the glazed almonds for the last time, and the right corner of the rosy lips lifted slightly as he watched the carriage disappear into the distance.

***

The chill of the hard ground was the first to hit the man's waking consciousness, joined immediately by a sharp, skull-shattering pain and a salty, metallic taste in his dry mouth. The disordered body tried in vain to move the aching muscles, an irritating odour viciously assaulting the sensitive sense of smell. The heavy, ragged breathing was replaced by a violent cough as the grain snaers entered the swollen larynx, mixing with the salty drops of tears falling one by one into the open mouth.

- Ah, you're alive after all... too bad - a deep, mocking giggle ripped through Raziel's ears as he struggled to locate the source of the unpleasant sound.

The sound of footsteps and the clatter of metal against concrete blended with the incessant squeaking that filled the blond's ears, and as his iron eyelids gave way to his strenuous attempts to open his eyes, he caught sight of the outline of a figure bent over what appeared to be a mass of glass vessels filled with colored liquids.

- Forgive me, I usually care about the comfort of my guests - quiet groans and carelessly articulated curses began to come from the corner of the room as Raziel felt a burning sensation where the thick, rough ropes had cut into his skin - But you are, how do I say it... - warm drops dripped from his wrists onto clenched fingers, creating scarlet trails of blood on the surface of the bruised palms -...an unusual case.

- What...do you want…from me... - A weak voice struggled to escape from between clenched teeth, and chestnut eyes hastily searched any surface they could see.

- Ah, nothing special - a soft, resonant tone seemed to come from behind Raziel, who was lying on the side, his bound hands clumsily searching the ground for any sharp tool - just a small favor - a loud cry of pain tore from the young detective's throat as his fingers were pressed firmly to the ground with the tip of a shoe, and as Raziel turned his head abruptly, his disbelieving gaze was met by piercing azure flames.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

***

– Can you repeat that?

– I know how it sounds, but...

– Tell me you're joking...

A dense atmosphere prevailed in the small office on the second floor, where tiny drops were running down the dirty windows one by one, and the ticking of the clock was breaking slowly the silence that reigned in the room. Joseph leaned back slightly in his leather chair, not taking a hard gaze off the woman sitting across from him. The gray irises tried to read sincere emotion from the brunette's hunched, anxious posture, but the truest mirror of Ruth's soul was now pointed toward the floor's hollowed planks, diminishing the reliability of the older man's judgment.

– I wasn't prepared for this either – a pair of almond-shaped eyes now turned to the listening boss, whose intertwined fingers rested on the surface of the black table – I had thought that he would have joined me quickly. I waited two hours with your carrier. Just as I was about to return, this guy...

– Henry...

– Henry – Ruth closed her eyes, concentrating on a deep, long inhale - said he couldn't wait any longer and I was either going to stay there for the night or go with him.

– And at that point you decided to leave Torres on the island? Alone?

The woman unhurriedly glanced at the window overlooking the dark street. Her usual cheerful manner had disappeared during the two intense days and Pierre was sure that it was not just out of tiredness.

– I'm going there.

The loud rustling of a chair caused a sudden reaction from Ruth, whose figure in a split second found itself beside a wet coat hung clumsily on a wooden stand – I'm going with you.

– No. You will stay in the office and inform me if Torres comes here on his own.

The slam of the door was still hearable in the air when a pale face emerged from behind the curtain, watching a white vehicle pull out into the street, and a trembling hand slowly softened a piece of paper written in faded, slanted script.

***

– Hmm... We can start with something gentle... – the sound of breaking glass filled the small space while Raziel struggled against the strong straps securing him to the cold frame of the hospital bed. The man didn't know how he had ended up in this position or how long he had been imprisoned, and the only markers of reality were the stars visible through the cracks in the decaying roof boards of a wooden building.

– If...you want money.... – barely audible, hoarse voice caused Derico to straighten up from above the metal countertop and turn with a mocking smile towards the blond man, whose muscles gradually refused to cooperate in his attempts to break the strong bonds.

– You are extremely funny – the man laughed lightly, setting aside a pot full of tiny white flowers - Do you think I would waste my time with miserable detectives if I wanted money? – slender fingers carefully lifted the glass vial and slowly poured its contents into a syringe – I’ll have more fun with you than I thought...

The thick needle, dripping with liquid, was brought close to the blond man’s arm, whose faint hope of breaking free from the leather straps had evaporated with the last jerk of his weakened muscles.

– Get the hell away from me! - Raziel tried to jerk his hand away from the sharp instrument, but the needle's tip bit mercilessly into his reddened skin, and a shrill shriek mingled with a derisive laugh of satisfaction.

– You can't move anyways, so you won't feel much difference – Derico nimbly inserted the mysterious substance into the man's veins, whose horrified gaze was jumping from the doctor's focused face to the fluid quickly disappearing from the container. For a moment, the unpleasant sensation of the needle being pulled out of the man's body and the pain of the prick were the only things Raziel could register, but after a while he began to feel the effects of what had been poured into his organism.

The muscles on the left side of his body became limp, numb, and unresponsive to even the strongest commands sent from a stunned brain. The whole left arm, a moment ago throbbing with pain from the needle and the tightened straps, now seemed to be nonexistent, as if suddenly detached from the whole. The same condition encompassed the entire hip of the blond man and the initial part of his thigh, which fell slightly on the dirty surface of the white bed and completely immobilized the entire limb.

– What are you... – Raziel couldn't understand what was happening to his body, and the panic of not being able to control most of it began to spread quickly through the young man's consciousness, whose shocked gaze rested on the doctor, now leaning over the open drawers.

– Hmm... Ah, perfect! – the soft voice barely broke through the clang of metal, and as Derico turned towards the man lying motionless, the cat-shaped eyes caught a glimpse of some objects the smiling doctor was holding in his hand. In an instant, the only muscles in command began to jerk with newfound strength in an effort to avoid what was about to happen, but Derico ignored these desperate attempts, meticulously placing the sharp tools, knives and screwdrivers side by side on the cold countertop.

– What do you think about starting with... this? – The long blade reflected the glow of chocolate irises in which terror mingled with the determination to survive as the black-haired man walked unhurriedly closer to the motionless arm and pressed the flat surface of the knife against the pale skin.

– What do you feel? – Derico looked investigatively at the reaction of his new test subject, who was now staring into the azure depths with flames of hatred and a wave of contempt pouring into the doctor's soul - Oh, I’m asking for a minimum of cooperation....

– They'll find me here soon – the menacing tone broke through the crisp night air coming in through the leaky walls of the low room – You'll pay for this.... – the scarlet liquid began to flow slowly from a deep incision in the smooth skin – ...and then I will show you what I feel...

– Touching, indeed – Derico analyzed the freshly cut wound unhurriedly, collected a few drops of blood into a glass vessel and wrote something down in a black notebook – And I hoped I had met someone less naive.

Raziel did not know exactly what these words meant, but after a while, something began to gently tap at the surface of his consciousness, like a disjointed flash of intuitive premonition.

– What do you mean?

Derico turned a bewitching, excitement-fueled gaze toward the awaiting an answer man, whose frustration and anger mingled with impatience on the surface of his tensed face.

– The better question is – Doctor grabbed the scrap of white shirt strapped over sweaty body and with a swift motion tore open its left side, revealing the anaesthetised part of bruised torso – Who I mean.

***

– You're lying.

– Oh, faith is truly a subjective matter.

A thin razor blade dug into the skin on his ribs and marked a bloody path along the left side of his body. Whole days seemed to pass in a single night as Raziel, with no movement, no water, and no food, endured the slicing, slashing, piercing, and cutting of tiny scraps of his skin, hearing the same questions over and over again.

– Well, curare, my dear, has unusual properties. Usually...

– TELL ME THE TRUTH! – a loud, desperate scream interrupted the doctor's gentle speech, who, without taking his eyes off the rapidly rising chest, smiled faintly and continued his experiment.

– You must accept that, what seems certain – a groan of pain spread through the small space as another blade plunged into a place with properly functioning nerves – does not always turn out so.

Hateful flames ignited more strongly in the darkening eyes, and a growing feeling of disappointment began to displace the searing, burning pain in the right side of the mangled body. Raziel longed to shout everything he was thinking about the doctor's words and actions, but knives, needles, and vials of foul-smelling substances assaulted his senses with increasing intensity, forcing only a single shriek from his clenched throat.

– All right, that's enough for today – the quiet words anchored itselves in the mind of the half-conscious man, whose pale skin protruding from behind the torn fabric of his shirt was almost completely covered with bloodstains, like a white canvas painted with scarlet.

– I think you've earned it – Derico supported the back of the detective's head with a smooth motion of his hand, lifted it slightly and put a glass vessel to the blue lips – Your only chance for the next few hours, I advise you to use it.

The cold drops dripped slowly onto the dry tongue, and as the clouded mind identified the mysterious liquid, the neck muscles themselves tense violently, lifting the blond's head even higher, and the sounds of rapid swallowing and amused laughter began to fill the space.

– Careful, I don't want you to choke yourself to death- Derico placed the empty bottle next to the metal leg of the bed and straightened over the heavily breathing figure, whose animated gaze focused on the azure crystals.

– Before, you'd been...disappointed...with me being alive...what changed? – Convulsions of intermittent coughing shook the petite body as the doctor gently tucked the bloodied instruments into a wooden box standing on a high table.

– My plans change frequently... Ah, I would have forgotten – Derico turned towards the double doors leading outside – I have an important task for you.

The wooden surface opened wide and regular rumbling and clattering began to mix with quiet groans and the scuffling of boots on the dry straw covering the uneven floor. Two cloaked figures stopped two steps away from the bound man, pushing an inert body to the ground. A quick glance in the direction of the kneeling man was enough to see the stained white caftan and the fuscous liquid dripping onto the cold concrete floor.

– If you don't mind - the long fingers lifted gently in ordering gesture to reveal a face hanging towards the ground, at which one of the men grabbed a handful of short dark hair that was streaked with a thick smear and jerked it sharply, eliciting a weak, helpless moan from the patient. The harsh light of the lamp was directed at him and the choking reflex of vomiting overcame Raziel's trembling body in a second, squeezing salty tears from his dark, dilated eyes.

– You're too sensitive – Derico approached the detective, forcefully turning his head towards the deformed face with a single jerk. The remnants of needles stuck in profusely bleeding forehead reached the swollen, purple eyelids, bloody patches ran along the slashed cheeks, disappearing within black-stitched mouth, and flaps of skin dangled from the torn, twisted jaw. The moaning stopped completely, and the detective's horrified gaze was absorbing the nightmarish image while the doctor crouched beside both men and turned his excited gaze to Raziel's pale face.

– Now listen carefully…

***

The clang of metal rang out across the stuffy courtyard, catching the attention of all those present outside the building, among whom could be spotted a cluster of green uniforms by the stairs and a bunch of walkers accompanied by grim-faced nurses. When the wings of the gate opened sufficiently, a low wooden carriage entered the gravel path, but before it came to a complete stop next to the first step, three figures jumped out nimbly.

– Good morning, can I speak to the head doctor? – The official tone and alert gaze was directed towards the first man at the stone steps, while a wrinkled hand showed a shiny badge attached to a leather cloth. Joseph endured the long gaze sliding slowly from the badge to his face and back again, mastering the urge to tighten his free hand on the grip of the gun invisible from the outside.

– Yes, sir, wait here – the man finally tore his gaze away from the detective and covered the distance separating him from the entrance of the gloomy building with a few large steps, disappearing behind the double, penetratingly creaking doors. Pierre glanced fleetingly at his two companions, whose roving eyes were intensely admiring the architecture of the mighty building, and whose open mouths let out loud sighs of delight from time to time.

The detective felt that he had not made the wisest choice of subordinates, who would have shown more sense and professionalism, but he quickly chased those thoughts away from his consciousness, knowing that however he had no other option. After several minutes, a distinctive sound again irritated the man's ears, and a tall figure in white clothes and beige leather boots appeared in the entrance.

– Welcome to the Black Asylum – the black-haired man descended the steep stairs with a light step, shook the outstretched hand and focused his attention on two grey, cloudy irises – What brings you here?

Joseph took a moment to collect his thoughts and choose the right words after seeing a young doctor, who looked to be in his early thirties, taking such a serious and responsible position.

– Good morning, my name is Joseph Pierre, detective in charge of the intelligence division of the Pennsylvania police – the man struggled to reciprocate the doctor's slight smile, which seemed to convey a gentle, barely perceptible aura of anxiety and challenge – one of my subordinates, Raziel Torres, was here yesterday with...

– Ah yes – a melodious, relaxed tone broke through the official one, and shining eyes studied slowly every feature of the tired face – Mr. Torres was here all night, he wanted to take a closer look at our activities under different conditions.

– I see – Joseph measured the building with his eyes from the façade to the pointed roof of the tower, then he focused again on the still smiling doctor – It doesn't surprise me at all, he is a born perfectionist. He must examine everything in its length and breadth, otherwise he will not sleep...

A quiet laugh of amusement broke out from between the raspberry lips, to which the older man replied with a faint smile that did not, however, extend to the watchful eyes that hung on the massive door behind his interlocutor's back.

– So will you be kind enough to bring Torres here, in the office he will give me a report and we will send you the final decision on...

– On the further operation of our hospital, of course.

Joseph quickly focused his attention on the taller man, whose gaze peered hypnotically inside the old, experienced soul, savoring every slightest sign of fear and uncertainty.

– Oh look! Just in time.

The detective struggled to turn his gaze toward the reopened entrance at the top of the stairs, where strong rays of natural light reduced his visual acuity to patches of white and black. The man squinted slightly, trying to focus on the features of the figure unhurriedly moving toward them, and as its shadow drifted smoothly down the stone driveway to where Joseph stood, a pair of burgundy crystals stabbed intensely into the stunned face.

– Good morning boss.

The stillness in the courtyard grew as the two men watched each other's intense changes occurring simultaneously on the pale faces, nimbly slipping over the smallest details visible in each delicately expressed emotion.

– Raziel, you could have warned me that...

– Forgive me, it was an abrupt decision – the torn voice caused a wave of icy shivers to cascade down Joseph's tense neck, whose feet involuntarily took two steps back and his ashen gaze once again swept over the entire figure of a man who seemed familiar only by name.

– Shall I leave you, gentlemen, alone? – a soft tone broke through the electric atmosphere as a pair of young eyes found the distant point above the superior's head and fixed their dead gaze there. It seemed to Joseph that he was speaking not to a living person, but to a remnant imitating a corporeal figure, a colorless and limp substitute for the previous, vigorous man.

– There is no need for that – Raziel immediately turned his gaze towards the doctor sitting on the bench, whose nonchalant position and slight smile presented a relaxed attitude, but a brief moment of focus on his azure eyes was enough for the observer to feel a warning, menacing aura emanating from the depths of the cold ocean.

– I understand that you have already checked everything you’d thought you should – Joseph tried to direct the blond's focus to his own face, but the man again with a smooth motion turned his full attention to the trees growing in the distance, refusing to confront the rough, penetrating gaze.

– Yes, but I'm not going home – the man's right hand moved slightly, a trembling thumb clung to the inside of the smooth surface before being covered for a split second by the rest of the grey-blue fingers. Joseph's eyes, however, remained focused on the exhausted face, not noticing the gentle gesture to his subordinate's inner despair.

– What do you mean? – thick eyebrows rose sharply, deepening the dark wrinkles on the man's forehead as his subconscious began to analyze all the possibilities justifying this sudden decision.

– I got a message from my family in Berlin – Raziel closed his tired eyelids under the influence of the cool wind teasing his bloodshot eyes, but the sudden loss of balance forced him to open them again, which he immediately regretted. The chocolate flames were instantly intercepted by two anthracites, painfully drilling a hole in the younger man's soul with a look of question and concern as a loud sigh of understanding tore through the thick air.

– Did... Is your mom...

– I don't know when I'll be back. Sorry.

Reality shrank in a split second to two pairs of intensely shining crystals that were silently exchanging a mosaic of emotions and soundless words that were completely incomprehensible to either party. It seemed as if the space, full of calm breaths and quiet, melodious whistling, would soon disintegrate into millions of glowing pieces whose heat would match the intensity of the gaze in Joseph's eyes, bringing answers to all the questions anchored in his troubled mind.

– So... Shall I leave you here? – the man approached the motionless, barely breathing figure, trying to enter the depths of the younger man's mind and forcibly pry out the true thoughts visible in the depths of the tense gaze. In those eyes Joseph saw something that set in motion a multitude of conflicting emotions, and his sharpened sense of intuition began to scream incoherently, trying to draw his attention to something that seemed extremely obvious, yet distant and incomprehensible at the same time. At that moment, however, the detective couldn't connect all the pieces fast enough or extract a logical whole from the scattered, rapidly passing conjectures - only later, as he took the boat through the clear waters of Lake Erie, did he begin to understand that in this case, looking for answers in logic was a big mistake.

– That's all I wanted to tell you. See you later – Raziel turned slowly towards the entrance of the building and took a shaky step up the crumbling staircase, but a strong grip on his burnt arm stopped the blond painfully, with a single jerk turning the man back towards his irritated boss.

– Listen to me. I don't know why you're being so secretive, but you should...

– Unfortunately, I must ask you to leave our asylum. We want to take care of the patients, and you're causing too much of a fuss – Derico appeared out of nowhere beside the two men, pointing with his arm at a group of nurses gathered under the spreading branches, whose entire attention was focused on the intense scene unfolding almost in the center of the square.

Raziel took advantage of a moment of inattention, snatched his hand from a strong handle, then sent the older man's final look and headed toward the open doors of the hospital. Joseph, on the other hand, did not make any move to break out of his deep state of surprise, trying once again to analyze all the sudden information and decisions of his subordinate. Meanwhile, a slender hand summoned the two silent guards with a single gesture, pointing to a carriage parked nearby.

– Please take our guest to his place of return transportation. I hope you know a way back? – The tone of the doctor's voice suddenly seemed extremely harsh and expressionless to Joseph, but his consciousness barely grasped the meaning of the words he heard, forcing his parched lips to utter a firm "yes, goodbye" and the next thing the man caught sight of was the holey door closing behind him with a crackle and the clatter of horses' hooves.