24 Afterparty [5]

"So, could you tell us exactly what you saw?"

After the police arrived at the scene, Amy was called in for questioning.

She was seated, face to face with the police, interrogating her.

"Like I said, there was a man with a mask. When I arrived, he quickly left the scene."

Amy's hands continued to tremble. The image of the man with the mask etched in her memory.

According to their reports, there was no evidence left at the scene.

It was turning into a cold case this quick.

"Can you tell us who you think the ashes belonged to?"

"I don't know the name, but I know someone who does."

"Could you call that person for us?"

Slam-!

In the nick of time, her friends arrived at the station.

After dialing the police, she immediately sent an emergency message in the group chat.

Despite already being 1:00 AM, the message was immediately seen by everyone.

Everyone except Brandon Locke.

This made Amy even more suspicious, but she didn't want to doubt Brandon yet.

"Amy! Are you okay?!"

The first one to speak up was Rachel, her older twin sister.

Rachel immediately approached Amy–who was seated, giving her a hug.

Claire followed suit, giving her a hug as well.

The two boys–Reinhard and Raven stayed behind.

Crossing his arms, Reinhard turned to look at the police officer.

"Could you tell us what happened?"

"Sorry, but this case is confidential. I can't reveal too much information."

"Understood."

He relented. The officer was right after all. They were mere students, it was outside of their control.

After pulling away from the hug, Amy asked Rachel,

"Do you know the name of that man from the party?"

"Man… Do you mean Felix?"

"That might be him, what's his surname?"

"Osborn, Felix Osborn."

Immediately, the officers around them widened their eyes, as well as Amy and her friends.

Osborn was a familiar name, belonging to one of the top companies in the world.

Osborn Corporation, the leading manufacturer of shiftporters.

"This is bad…"

One of the officers chimed in.

"Without a doubt this news could be big. The murder of the Osborn Heir."

They concluded that the case would undoubtedly be handed to a higher task force.

They were only police officers, the case would most likely be out of their control.

After previously evaluating Amy's magic, she was immediately crossed out as a suspect.

After all, the man was turned into nothing but ashes, evidence pointing to a mage with the Fire Affinity. And Amy was a mage of the Water Affinity. It would be absurd if she was the suspect.

But her being a Deviant wasn't out of the question.

Which is why they had to get her information.

But their findings then concluded that Amy wasn't a Deviant.

Tak- Tak-!

Reinhard stomped his feet, his expressions were one of unease.

"Damn it, where is Brandon in this time of crisis?"

At the mention of Brandon's name, the image of Brandon walking inside the alleyway etched in Amy's memory.

But not once did she ever mention his name.

If she was wrong, then it would only serve to trouble Brandon.

She couldn't do that to a friend, regardless if they were close or not.

It was then when an officer called out to everyone in the room.

He seemed to be checking for surveillance footage that was nearby the scene.

"Sir! You have to see this."

The officer who was tasked to question Amy immediately stood up, running towards the officer that called for him.

Amy and Rachel followed him as well.

While Reinhard and Raven just stood at the back.

When they turned to look, the footage traced back to somewhere near the party's venue.

Felix was running, as if chasing for someone.

But that 'someone' couldn't be seen in any of the footage.

When they switched the channel to the alleyway, the footage stopped there.

It was as if the footage was tampered.

Or cut off on purpose…

Amy widened her eyes.

For some reason, Brandon wasn't in any of the footage.

'But I definitely saw him, so why did the footage stop–just when Brandon was about to be shown?"

It was too suspicious.

Brandon was suspicious.

But it seemed like the man who claims to be Moriarty and Brandon weren't the same person.

That's what Amy thought.

'Could Brandon be working for him?'

Or…

Brandon was dead.

Immediately, Amy stood up and called out to her friends.

"Guys! Has Brandon seen the message?!"

Checking his phone, Raven responded,

"Nope."

A chill ran down Amy's spine.

Brandon could be one of the victims as well, or he could be missing.

"What's this about Brandon? Do you know something else, Miss?"

One of the police officers asked.

"No, it's nothing. It's just that our other friend isn't here."

She had to redirect it before the officers questioned her again.

She couldn't give them a lead that would take them nowhere.

Slam-!

The door slammed open once again, revealing another figure.

With bright-blonde hair and black eyes. It was her mother, Samantha Ashfield.

"Amy dear! Why are you here!?"

She took a quick glance at Rachel, but immediately returned to Amy.

At that gesture, it seemed like Rachel was uncomfortable.

It was also her mother after all.

Samantha ran towards Amy, giving her a hug. Rachel decided to give them space, keeping a fixed distance.

"Maam, are you her Guardian?"

"Yes, I am. Why is my Daughter at the police station?!"

The police then took her to a private space, informing her about the events that unfolded. From the crime that took place and her daughter's involvement, they spared no details.

Tak - Tak-!

Tapping his feet on the ground, Amy turned to look at the time.

[2:00 AM]

An hour had passed, and it seemed like the case was going nowhere.

At the end of it all, Amy was released from questioning.

One of the superior officers arrived, informing everyone that the case would most likely be handed to Special Force.

A group of elite mages and duelists, tasked to handle bigger cases.

It was now out of the police's hands.

Amy was then led to their car by her mother.

She glanced at Rachel–who was about to enter Claire's car, then to her mother.

"Are you not gonna give my Sister a lift as well?"

"No."

A flat-out refusal.

"You're still mad that she chose Father over you?"

"No."

The conversation was going nowhere.

Her mother seemed like she didn't want to talk about it.

Amy understood and did not go further.

With that, they drove off.

During the trip, all Amy could think of was the man with the mask.

Who was he?

What is Brandon's involvement in all of this?

Is Brandon even alive?

Her question would be answered tomorrow, if Brandon shows up in the academy or not.

***

After everyone left, Raven decided to stay.

Looking at all the officers present, he retrieved something from his pocket, and lifted it up for everyone to see.

The officers quickly scanned the contents of the item. It was familiar to them.

No, it wasn't familiar, they already knew what it was.

A Special Force Officer Badge.

"Please surrender all your documents, Special Force will now be handling this case."

All the officers widened their eyes. But eventually agreed, giving him a salute, quickly gathering whatever contents of the case they could find.

They couldn't refuse an order from a Special Force Officer.

While the officers were busy gathering what they could find, Raven retrieved his phone from his pocket.

After scrolling through his contacts, he placed his phone near his ear.

Ring… Ring… Ring… Click-

When the call connected, a woman's voice became audible.

[Sherly! It's so nice of you to call. Are you going to ask me out on a date?]

"Khuu…!"

Raven twitched, furrowing his brow.

"No, you're too old for me. Also, again with that nickname?"

[Eh… It's pretty cute though, and old? I'm only 23 you know!]

"I thought I told you not to call me that, it's ridiculous."

[You can't help it. After all, you're Sherlock of the Special Force.]

"I'm not even a full fledged member…"

Indeed he wasn't.

After surviving an attempt to take his life, his case of attempt was immediately given to Special Force.

After finding out there was no foul play, the group decided to take him in, giving him a badge for protection.

They sooner realized that the boy they took in had expertise in the field of detective work.

His deduction skills were top notch, even amongst the Special Force.

Hence, giving him the title of Sherlock.

But it was quite cringe for Raven.

But despite his skills, he was weak. Too weak to become a full member.

Which is why the group allowed him to be admitted into Astrea Academy, paying for all of his expenses.

He was a necessary investment.

[So, what do you need?]

"Come to the address I'm about to send you, I need you to look into this case."

[Oh? A case that even Sherlock is interested in… Okay I'll be there.]

Scanning, the officers froze in their place, wide eyed, staring at Raven.

"What?"

He then redirected his gaze back to his phone. The call was still connected.

"Ah."

He was on speaker the whole time.