"Thank you for using our services, sir. We hope you were satisfied," said a woman as she approached me.
The white room was empty now with just me, Rin, and Lala remaining as everyone else had already left as soon as the funeral ended.
"Yeah," I replied simply as she gave a practiced smile and handed me a tablet... It was the bill for the funeral.
'Thats day light robbery,' I thought with a sign, that was the first thing that crossed my mind after seeing the numbers.
Even in times like this where humanity itself was barely holding on, the instinct to exploit hadn't gone anywhere. Some things are just too deeply rooted in our society.
But I didn't say that out loud, knowing there was no point as I raised the tablet, let it scan my iris, then entered the PIN to confirm the payment.
With a quiet sigh, I looked at my balance...
150,000 EFC (Earth Federation Coins)... 20,000 for stay tax for three of us, one adult and 2 kids and around 10,000 for other expenses monthly... Meaning we have 5 months of deadline.
'I have to hurry,' I thought to myself. The five-month deadline wasn't what worried me, as I already knew I wouldn't wait that long and so, I planned to do it tomorrow... As soon as possible.
"Please use our services again," the woman said with a polite smile, confirming the payment as she bowed slightly, and I gave her a small nod, trying not to look too long at her face.
As if that was something you wanted to hear from someone who handles graves and dead bodies but truth be told, I hoped I'd never have to see her again.
"Let's go," I said to Rin and Lala as I started walking toward the white wall and as I stepped near it, the gate opened automatically as we continued walking .
But just as I stepped out... "Mr. Aura," someone called out as I turned to my right.
There, a man in a black suit was standing as he approached me with light steps, "We'd like to ask you a few questions related to your parents. We'd appreciate your cooperation to help solve this case."
'Well, there it was...' I thought to myself and chuckled lightly in my head... Or maybe someone else chuckled on there,
"Hmm..." The investigation, can't say I don't saw that coming, and maybe, something that I'd been waiting for too, knowing I can't avoid it forever.
I wasn't scared about it though, I knew this was coming the moment I killed them and all I have to do is stall them for a few days… just enough time to try awakening.
And after that? Either I'll be safe for good, or it won't matter if they catch me but well, not really.
I'll probably awaken anyway... my blood test from years ago showed null cells in my body. Not a good memory though since that's where it all started going wrong really and turned my life into what it is today.
You could even say that the test was the first domino and everything... Everything else followed right after.
But... whatever, it's all past now and so, "Sure," I said, looking at the man and the few people behind him. "Let me guide you all to the murder scene... our home." I said and smiled.
Or I tried to smile. God, why is smiling so hard?
.
.
.
The living room felt quiet, too clean of the horrors from last night. Like no one had ever lived there.
The cleaning bots had already done their job after the bodies were taken away, but everyone could still feel something heavy in the air.
Aura sat on the edge of the soft gray sofa with his hands resting on his knees as across from him sat a man in a black suit, short black hair, serious face, and a badge clipped to his coat.
Two other people stood nearby, watching quietly. One a blue haired young girl, and other a bald guy.
The black haired man looked at Aura before placing a small recorder on the table as he finally spoke.
"Mr. Aura, thanks for your time. I'm Inspector Vale. I just have a few questions, if that's alright."
"Sure," Aura said lightly with nod, looking at Vale.
"First," Vale said, looking at his tablet, "do you know anyone who might want to hurt your parents?" He asked as Aura shook his head. "No idea. I have never met anyone like that." Aura said.
"No one who was angry at them? Maybe someone they had money problems with? Any fights? Anything?"
"People always said they were nice. I didn't hear anything like that ever from someone."
Vale looked at him for a second, then asked, "Did they act strange lately? Seem worried about anything? Sacred or behaved differently?"
Aura thought for a moment. His dad had been quiet before… right before he stabbed him. But Aura just said, "No. They were normal during the day... As far as I remember."
One of the other officers wrote something down.
"Did you hear anything the night they died? Any loud noises, someone breaking in? Do you saw anything unusual?"
Aura looked down at the table. He remembered the sound clearly, the knife, the silent pleas, thier body going cold and those eyes looking at him, unable to speak due to poison and-
"I slept early that night," he said. "And they usually come home late."
Vale didn't say anything for a second and just nodded after looking at his calm face. "You don't seem... upset," he finally said what was on his mind for a while.
Aura looked up, straight into his eyes. No fake tears, no forced sadness as if it's just a normal Sunday afternoon and, "People deal with stuff in different ways," he said with a small, tired smile... Or so he tried. "Maybe it just hasn't hit me yet."
Vale stared at him for a bit, then stood up. "Alright. That's enough for now. We might come back with more questions."
Aura stood too. "I'll be here." ...a small, quiet sigh escaping his lips.
As the investigators turned walked towards the door which slid open automatically... a small clink came from the hallway.
Aura, as well as three officers turned thier head to look and there, halfway behind the wall, was Rin, peeking in with wide eyes, still wearing his little black jacket, his toy fallen from his hand.
Rin froze when he realized he'd been caught as Aura walked towards him and bent slightly, picked up the toy and handing it back, not looking angry or surprised.
"Go back to Lala," Aura said softly, almost like a whisper as the officers left after a deep look... Especially the girl who looked at him and Rin with her deep blue eyes.
Rin stared at him for a second, then slowly took the toy and backed away without saying a word.
Aura didn't wait to watch him leave. He turned and walked the main door before locking it and walked to his own room before opening it.
It was still as dirty as he knows it, but he have a lot of memories in this room, and they are not good ones.
Looking at the pile of junk he gathered together last night, he pulled out a lighter from his pocket, these were his memories, good and bad ones, the gifts he received, the love... Which ended with rod he was beaten with.
Throwing a lighter on that he walked out of his room without looking back, the fire control system will work on it soon anyways as he walked towards his parents room... Neat and tidy, looking brand new even though it witnessed a murder just last night.
Throwing himself on the bed, there was only one thought in his mind...
Awakening, that's what really mattered now.
He had to awaken soon, before they came back... Before the truth caught up. He realised again that he can't hide it forever.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, Vale walked forward followed by his subordinates as... "What do you think," he said without looking back or stopping, as the blue haired girl thought for a bit and then said, "He's suspicious."
Vale nods as kept walking, "He didn't show any real emotion," she continued. "No sadness, no anger and just… like he was reading from a script. The only possibility i can think of is that he had prepared himself for this... For years maybe."
"Some people freeze during loss," Vale replied, giving her another angle to think from, "Maybe," she said and nods but continued.
"But it felt off... Too off infact. His answers were short and careful. He never gave us anything at all, he didn't lie, not even once I am sure. If he did then I would have detected if but he didn't say anything of value either."
Vale glanced back slightly, as he thought for a moment.
"And that kid…" she added, her voice lowering. "The little boy who was spying… he was scared. I could see it in his eyes."
Vale stopped walking, now fully listening.
"He wasn't just sad. He looked like he was scared of Aura." She said.
There was a short pause and then Vale smiled faintly.
"Good. Keep watching. I want full background reports by tomorrow," he said, turning forward back. "If he's hiding something... we'll find it."