It was a stormy night, rain mercilessly blasted against the windshield of my car. I drove home, back from another uneventful day at work. There was only one last package to deliver, but it was just around the corner.

[ . . . ]

"Mis...ter Timothy!?" - I shouted, as I knocked on the door for the fifth time. I needed his signature.

The door half-opened with a slow creak, but nobody was in front of me. At least, that's what I thought until I looked down. There was a small girl with silver hair, a black robe, and a pointy hat. Perhaps, somebody had been roleplaying, but that's wasn't the vibe that I was getting from her. There was something weird, something uncanny about her, but who was I to judge. My task was only to deliver the package.

"Excuse me, is..." - I looked at the label. - "...Timothy at home?"

"Timothy?" - She said, with a troubled expression.

"Yes, mister Timothy Johson. I've got a package for him."

"Could you just leave it here?" - She said with her arms crossed behind her, while drilling the floor with her right foot and staring down.

"Sure, but I need mister Timothy's signature."

The girl lifted her head, with big, pleading eyes. - "Can I... sign it instead?

"I'm afraid not."

"Why?"

"There are protocols. Look, miss...?" - I said, while I gently pushed the door to see the inside. Perhaps, I was too intrusive, because the door shut right in front of me.

I knocked again, one, two, three times. Nobody answered. In that case, I would have to leave the package back in the office lockers and do the necessary paperwork, or I would risk losing my job. At that moment, I was thinking that it was not worth the time, but I was diligent enough to not leave it at my home, so I gave it one last chance.

I knocked harder, way harder, hoping it would alarm Mr. Timothy, perhaps he was at home but sleeping. It was definitely rude, but I paid no attention to what people would think, as long as the package was delivered on time.

The girl opened again, but this time she appeared very nervous at me and anxious.

"Go away!" - She whispered out.

"Sorry, my little princess." - I tried to be kinder, but it just turned out awkward. - "You still didn't answer - Is Timothy at home?"

The girl peeked with her head out, examining the hallway, then opened the door wider, whispering. - "Come in."

She acted too strange, but her contradictory instructions didn't bother me, all I had to do, was to get the signature and leave.

"Please, sit. I'll make you a coffee." - The little girl requested.

"Oh, there is no need. I won't be here for long."

"Coffee and a nice cake, I insist."

Cake. She had me. - "Okay, thank you, miss...?" - I asked her name again, but she already left to the kitchen. It seemed like she didn't hear me or ignored that on purpose.

Five minutes passed, then another five. I was patient, but I knew something was off. I stood up, put the chair back in its place, then slowly walked to the kitchen.

The cake and coffee were there, on the counter, on nice plates.

Though, everything else appeared demolished. The fridge was on the floor, a few broken eggs lied next to it. On the walls, there was blue and pink, paint-like liquid. I couldn't tell its origin. However, what was most eerie was a ring, perhaps occult, drawn on the floor with blue, fluorescent chalk.

There was no sign of the girl. I approached the windows, they were closed from the inside, so the girl couldn't possibly leave that way. Still, I paid attention to what was outside. It was a dark alley, ten floors below, illuminated by a few tall lamps. If the girl were to jump, which was impossible, she would've been dead.

As I inspected the kitchen, I realized, I missed just one detail. There was a piece of paper, on the floor, in the strange blue liquid. I picked it up and turned to the front side, there was only one word.

"Sorry."

I had bad feelings about this. I rushed back to the guest room and opened the door to the bedroom.

I wish I hadn't done that. I wish I had just left. What horrific sight it was. Mister Timothy, I assume, his organs... were all out. There was a long incision on his stomach, and his bowels were stretched to the walls and pinned there, by nails. I found his eyes on a top of a drawer unit, in a jar. His ribs were opened and the heart appeared to be clumsily left on the floor. Most of his skin had been removed and put aside, in rolls. His left leg, had been butchered and his tibia had been removed.

I knew I had to call the investigators, but when I tried to access my phone, it turned out to be not working, so I left the apartment and knocked on the next door. An old woman, in her sixties, opened.

"Yes?" - She asked.

"Madam, can I perhaps use your phone? There is a very urgent matter."

She led me inside and that's when I contacted you.

An assistant investigator stopped scribing in his notebook and looked at the head detective.

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"...and you expect me to believe this story?" - The detective doubted me. - "Do you try to mock us?"

"Sir, with all due respect, no... I told you everything as it had happened."

"Hindering an investigation carries a maximum of seven years in prison." - The detective replied as he lit a cigarette.

"Sorry, but could you not smoke in this room?" - I politely requested.

The detective looked at me, sighed, and put the cigarette out. - "We know you have an Alibi, you were at work at the time of Mr. Johnson's death, so do tell us... for what reason did you put that girl in your story? Are you looney, Mr. Igravsky?"

"No... no, I don't think so... but..."

"...but you doubt yourself now?" - The detective smirked.

"I kind of do."

"We've screened you." - The detective tossed medical records on the table. - "There is nothing wrong with your brain. Although, I'm fond of believing, that your memories had been altered by the trauma associated with the discovery of the body."

"I never thought I could be a man of such a weak psyche. Outside of that event, everything seems to function as normal."

"Mr. Igravsky. It's all repressed, perhaps the stress related to your low-end job had finally kicked in." - The detective rested his elbows on the table and intertwined his hands. - "All I can do, is suggest more screening, unless you recall... what really could've happened. Focus, Mr. Igravsky... tell me, how could you make the cake and coffee?"

"I... I don't know, perhaps the cake was purchased and the coffee was in the kitchen?"

"Of course, of course... but the cake had fresh berries in it. They had to be imported all the way from the eastern Yltarvi... same goes for the coffee beans used. Mr. Igravsky" – The detective laughed. - "Tell me, how could a person like you afford it?"

"I... I don't know, are you implying something?"

"I don't know myself, I'm just asking questions, but I'm fond to believe in two theories... that either you're smuggling for green panthers... or that you cover, for someone else."

"Sorry, green panthers?"

"Well, If you don't know, you don't need to know and better forget that I've asked. In that case, who are you covering for?"

"Nobody... I thought, you said that I'm imagining things."

The detective tossed a hermetic bag with a card inside. - "Do you recognize it?"

"Yes." - I looked at the card with 'sorry' on it.

"Let's make it simple. Who wrote it?"

"I... I don't remember."

"Focus, Mr. Igravsky. We've already determined that you should be sane. That card was definitely addressed to you. Accessory to murder is up to fifteen years in prison."

"I'm telling you, I don't know anything!" - I tried to stand up, but I was stopped by one of the guards.

"Calm down, Mr. Igravsky!"

"I want a lawyer!" - I shouted, pretty confused and angry at myself, for digging myself into this deep hole.

This, would be the beginning of a bureaucratic nightmare.

[ . . . ]

I was kept in solitary arrest. Hearing my side of the story, the lawyer suggested more screening. She was confident that the investigators have nothing on me, but was worried about my psychical state. At the same time, she stressed that she's not a mental health professional and that it may take weeks of evaluation.

I didn't like it. For three days, I was visited by doctors, who for long hours, asked me about the finest details of my life. They found nothing of relevance, I was left undiagnosed. Due to the nondeterministic nature of my testimony, it was basically thrown out, and I let my lawyer handle the case.

It all went smoothly, until that day. The day they opened the package.

I woke up, in a dark room, with a lamp shining at my face.

"Mr. Igravsky, you never opened the package, did you?" - It was a gurgling voice.

I lifted my eyes and saw a black suit, then... then... I broke into tears of panic and fell off my chair, still handcuffed. What stood before me, was not human, its hands were deformed flesh shaped like pointy tentacles and its head was an abnormal mass of eyes and sharp teeth.

"Mr. Igravsky. I speak in a civilized manner, and I would expect you to act the same." - It said threateningly as it leaned over me, its saliva dripping onto my cheek. - "Oh, my sincere apologies." - It took out a handkerchief and tossed it to me, then backed off.

I crawled back, right to the corner of the room, ignoring the handkerchief, then stared at the creature in a suit. It waited for me to reply.

"What... what the hell are you!?" - I shouted.

"A person, just like you. I would prefer If you would not treat me with unnecessary bias, but that's up to you."

I was still scared, but I tried to calm down. - "Why... why did you abduct me?"

"Abduct?" - The creature laughed. - "No, no. Don't worry, it's all within the boundary of law. Although, the explanation why might go well over your head, so let's skip that part."

"What... what does that mean? What are you planning to do to me?"

"It depends, in the best case, you'll be deported... to a world less susceptible to... her toying."

"What?"

"Oh, ask to your heart's content... but stay precise."

I think I understood what the beast meant. - "Where do you want to deport me, and why?"

"Perhaps, to ocean moons of Verdania... or would you prefer lush jungles of Carnasia?"

"That... that doesn't tell me anything."

The monster rested on its chair, putting his tentacles on his knees, and leaned. - "The point is, it doesn't really matter. What you need to know, is that your trial period of normal life has ended the moment you met her."

"Her?"

"Yes, her." - The monster interweaved its arms and directed its all eyes at me. It was creepy.

"Could you... could you elaborate?"

"It does not concern you, nor it should, so no."

My heart was beating fast, but my mind became accustomed to the situation. The person in front of me didn't seem as scary as my instincts believed it was.

I had more questions. - "What about my family?"

"They stay here." - The monster then looked at the golden clock on its slimy appendage, then observed me, as calmly as before. - "Any more questions?"

I wanted to ask, but my mind was blank.

"No? Excellent. You can save the new ones for the administrator. Now, my turn – once again, did you open the package?"

"No, it should still be sealed!" - I explained.

"...but it's not."

"I did not open it! I swear!" - I exclaimed, a bit scared.

"If it wasn't you, then who could've removed the contents?"

"The head lockkeeper, or our boss."

"They're in clear. Who else?"

"I don't know!"

"You're not helping. Think about it. Think. Did anything unusual happen lately, in your work?"

I wasn't sure. - "We had... a new co-worker, a cleaner... he was on paid internship, but resigned after two weeks."

"Your co-workers don't recall anyone like that."

"What? That's... that's impossible."

"No, it's within the realm of possibility. The only question is... why was your memory not affected?" - The monster lifted from its chair and walked towards me. Its slimy tentacle moved towards my ear.

"Wait! DON'T! DON'T! I took a day of emergency leave!"

"...and you weren't tracked down?" - The monster kept kneeling over me, still holding its arm next to me.

"...please ...I was out of town. I don't know anything!"

The monster backed off. - "Unconvincing, but plausible." - It spoke to itself.

"Let me go..." - I sobbed nervously.

The monster's arm transformed and a sharp bone, like a blade, emerged from it. It cut a chain between my handcuffs and said. - "You're free." - I nearly pissed myself.

I looked around the room, there was no door, only a one-way mirror.

"H-how d-do I leave?"

"That? That's none of my concern." - The monster spoke and a cylinder of light surrounded him, I was blinded by its light and when it faded, I saw no trace of it.

I shouted, pummeled against the window, and waited for days, confident that I'll die from the dehydration, but then... when I was at the edge of consciousness, I heard the voice.

"Hello, I'm Kyo'tal. Your new administrator. Select your new race and choose a world of origin."