The rain poured endlessly. The City of Luvino was consumed by thick fog, accompanied by a grey sky and the smell of smoke in the distance. In this rain, Lucien ran and ran without a break, and without looking back.
I don't know what that thing was, but it can't be human. I need to check if Halden is safe, but first I need to warn Archibalt and Donarenzo. As much as I want to say I killed it, I know it came too easy. And the worst part: it can take the form of our teammates… if that's the case, then can I really trust anyone–
CRASH.
"Damn it," Lucien exclaimed, his cane skidding across the wet cobblestones. "Can you watch your step?"
"Is that any way to speak to your superior?"
"Huh?" Lucien looked up in confusion, his heart hammering against his ribs.
"In age, that is," Archibalt chuckled, reaching out a hand to steady him.
Lucien slapped Archibalt's hand away.
"I'm not a child. I'm capable of standing on my own two feet."
"HEYYY ARCH!"
Donarenzo came running in from the distance. "Why'd you disappear all of a sudden?" Donarenzo asked, catching his breath. He glanced over at Lucien. "And why is he here?" he added, pointing a finger at him.
"That's what I'm curious about as well." Archibalt turned back to Lucien. "Weren't you going to conduct an investigation on Halden?"
"I did, and I found nothing," Lucien said without a stutter.
"Really?" the duo said in unison.
"Truly. But I found a body right outside his quarters. I was going to get the subordinates to clean it up for me."
"Did you recognize the body at all?" Donarenzo asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
"No, it was mutilated." Lucien locked eyes with Donarenzo. "Its face could've belonged to anyone, honestly."
Donarenzo dropped his suspicion and took a deep breath. "Well, in any case, we should find some cover."
"You're right," Archibalt responded. "What about Pelliva? That bar that's close by."
Donarenzo responded in disgust. "You know I don't drink, Arch. What about Rivera? The scenery of the flowing water from the comfort of a warm room... now that sounds divine–"
"Booorrring," Archibalt interjected. "At least mention someplace that gives you the option to drink, like Inmerilli."
The two detectives started throwing names at each other in succession, trying to one-up the other.
"Vallum–"
"Afullix–"
"Trascila–"
"Estrua–"
"Won't you two shut up?" Lucien said with a hand on his temple. "I have just the place. Just follow me."
After walking for a while through the cobblestone streets of Luvino, the trio reached a safehouse that had definitely seen better days.
"I don't remember a safehouse ever being here," Donarenzo said in awe.
"The city may still be filthy, but some things were bound to change while you two were still away," Lucien said, sharp-tongued.
He unlocked the safehouse, and the door slowly creaked open. They made their way in. Lucien locked the entrance behind them and took a seat between the other two.
"You two clearly know something's up," Lucien said, placing his cane gently on the floor. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have suggested I bring you here."
Archibalt rubbed his head. "Suggested? We didn't even know this place existed until now."
"I don't mean here exactly. But you wanted to speak somewhere private, didn't you?"
Archibalt chuckled. "Nothing gets past you, ay?"
"Pelliva, Rivera, Inmerilli, Vallum, Afullix, Trascila, and Estrua," Lucien rubbed his temple in shame. "You couldn't have made it more obvious. Honestly, anyone with half a brain could've understood exactly what you were trying to do."
"We'll have enough time to socialize when we've put an end to the Wraith," Donarenzo said, having lost his patience. "Until then, let's deal with the issue at hand. Lucien, what exactly happened while you were investigating Halden?"
"It was more of a confrontation than an investigation." Lucien shifted his attention to the ground. "But whoever that was, whatever that was... it wasn't Halden."
Archibalt unknowingly raised his eyebrow, just by an itch.
"It looked like Halden, but its mannerisms and way of speaking were not remotely close to the Halden I've known all these years. On top of that, it was covered in that alchemical scent, like it was the embodiment of it." Lucien raised his head again and faced the two detectives. "Not to mention, the pure bloodlust that escaped that thing's body was beyond anything I've ever felt. My instincts were screaming at me to run away."
"So that's why you were in such a hurry?" Archibalt asked.
"Yes."
"Hmmm, I'm not sure what to think of this. I'll hand it over to my trusty sidekick," Archibalt said jokingly.
"Honestly, this is no time to be fooling around, Arch." Donarenzo rubbed his chin, trying to make sense of what Lucien had told them. "I guess all that matters is that this thing is killable."
"I wouldn't bet on it." Lucien picked up his cane and pointed at the dried blood on it. "I lobbed its head off with my cane... unintentionally." He paused as he remembered the brutal scene. "Yet, my instincts flared up even more. I know it seems like I'm telling a story from some fairy tale, but I still think that thing is alive somehow."
"Well, then we're fighting a losing battle. We might as well drink our lives away. Which is much better than being brutally killed by that thing you faced, haha," Archibalt said, trying to lighten the mood.
"You know that we can't do that, Arch. We could at least use some more intel." Donarenzo looked around frantically. "Speaking of which, Alice would've been the perfect person for this type of situation."
"You reckon she knows something about this that we don't?" Archibalt asked, curious.
"I do. And even if she doesn't, she's the perfect person we could use to find out-"
"So you're planning to use me for information again? Aren't you tired of that game?" Alice interjected, stepping out from the deepest shadows of the safehouse, her clothes glistening with rainwater.
Donarenzo didn't flinch, though his hand instinctively dropped toward his coat pocket. "Alice. How long have you been sitting there?"
"Long enough to know you boys need a proper scout," she scoffed, tossing a small, leather-bound notebook onto the wooden table between them. It thudded softly.
"Lucien's right about one thing. Whatever he decapitated in that alley... it wasn't Halden. Because the real Halden hasn't been in his quarters for days."
Lucien leaned forward, his grip tightening on his cane. "I know that much, but how do you explain what I saw-"
"You saw a mask, Lucien," Alice said, her voice dropping its usual playful edge.
Archibalt remained entirely still, his face fixed in his usual easy-going smile, but beneath the table, his fingers tightened into a fist. The air in the ruined safehouse grew just a fraction heavier.
Donarenzo picked up the notebook, flipping through her scribbled notes. "Not just days but weeks… if Halden was already compromised then, then the orders he gave us..."
"Were a trap," Alice finished for him.
Archibalt cleared his throat and raised his hand to draw their attention.
"I might have a plan," he said, his smirk never leaving his face.
"What?" the squad said in unison.
"Divide and conquer."