Ficool

Chapter 1 - Prologue

In the City of Gheena, Republic of Ingrasia.

On Thursday, at 10:22 AM, in a dystopian city, the fog in the sky was thick and the streets were muddy. At Gheena Lassore Bank, laborers, government workers, and people passing by went in and out of the quite crowded bank.

In a large room separated by thick glass walls. A woman with silver-white hair reaching down to her slim waist, clear blue eyes but the bags under her eyes were a little too big, her face was symmetrical and her skin was soft white. She was around twenty-two years old, she wore a bank teller uniform with a name tag on her chest, "Jeanne Weels".

She sat behind the thick glass wall counting money and serving customers.

After the last customer left, Jeanne gently threw her body back against the backrest of her chair, took her small hat and fanned herself softly.

"I'm very tired..." she thought, quietly. Gently rubbing the bags under her eyes.

"Hey Jeanne, do you know about the case of the disappearance of several young girls in Gheena District Two?" her coworker beside her suddenly brought up the topic, the woman had long black hair tied up and the small Gheena Lassore Bank hat on her head.

Jeanne slowly turned to her coworker beside her who looked around thirty-three years old. She said in her heart. "Is she trying to scare me?" she tried to smile and answered casually. "I only heard about that case a few days ago," then she added. "I'm a little surprised that Mrs. Bone is interested in a case like that."

Bone nodded and smiled. "No, actually I'm not interested, I just want to remember that a savage person like that once existed," Jeanne's eyebrows slightly lifted, confused but before she asked, Bone continued. "I feel pity for those victims... I read it in the newspaper and watched the news on television, that some of the missing girls victims have been found, but their condition was horrible," Bone explained at length, her expression slightly changed as if remembering something bad.

Jeanne who was clearly not too interested, nodded and said. "May they rest peacefully," Jeanne answered casually. Then she took the cold orange juice on the table and sipped it, relieving her thirst. "Yeah their condition was very horrible, both their ears and eyes were missing, they died from blood loss," Bone said while opening her phone.

When she heard that, Jeanne who was sipping her orange juice almost choked, shocked. "Both ears and eyes are missing?" her back felt cold after hearing Bone's words.

"Such a savage and strange person..." Jeanne commented, she only knew the surface of the case, but after hearing Bone's words Jeanne became enough to think about the murderer and be careful.

The bank door opened and several people entered to withdraw or borrow money from the bank. Immediately Jeanne returned to her position and continued her work.

Jeanne paid attention to the customers and served them professionally. She occasionally glanced and observed some people who entered the bank, such as a man in his forties, a housewife who borrowed money from the bank, labor workers and several other people.

Not long after, a man came to the teller desk after queuing. "Good afternoon, sir. What can I help you with?" Jeanne asked in a professional and consistent tone.

A man around twenty-six years old, his blond hair was neatly combed back. A formal and luxurious suit, his face looked gentle and handsome.

"I want to withdraw money from my savings book," he answered casually, his eyes fixed on Jeanne, looking at her gently and slightly smiling.

Jeanne nodded then said while forcing a smile. "Alright, may we see it to verify it, sir? and your official identity," Jeanne asked casually.

The man nodded and took out his account book and identity card. Then Jeanne checked it and verified it several times.

"Have you been working here for a long time?" the man asked, starting a conversation. Jeanne was slightly surprised, she looked awkward because she rarely interacted with men. Jeanne tried to hide her expression and answered. "I have only been working here for three months," she answered in the same tone as before.

"Your hair is beautiful," he suddenly said, glancing at Jeanne.

Jeanne sighed softly, and smiled. "Thank you," she answered calmly, even though her heart was beating quite fast. Without thinking much, Jeanne asked about the amount of money and quickly gave it to the man.

"Thank you." the blond-haired man answered softly, Jeanne replied and nodded, then watched the man leave.

When the blond-haired man walked toward the exit door, from outside someone dressed all in black wearing a hooded cloak covering part of his face with shadow, he walked quickly past the front of the bank, he walked quite hurriedly.

Then not long after the hooded black figure was no longer visible, two uniformed police officers passed by, as if they were chasing the hooded black figure.

Jeanne's mind immediately wandered seeing what she had seen earlier. "What happened outside?" she muttered in her heart. "A criminal? It doesn't seem like it... or is it..." her thoughts stopped when she reached what she was thinking, she immediately got goosebumps thinking about it. "That strange murderer who takes the ears and eyes of young girls?" she guessed, even though she doubted it.

Then Jeanne sighed. "What am I thinking... I'm being too much," she said in her heart, then she focused on her work.

...

Night, 22:02 P.M

Time had passed. Jeanne stood up from her chair and immediately went to the changing room. A few minutes later she came out wearing a beige coat, a white shirt, and a scarf.

She knew and also anticipated from her experiences of previous days. In Ingrasia, especially Gheena, even though during the day it could be very hot and make someone sweat, at night it was the opposite of the day, it was quite cold and made someone's body shiver.

"Good night," after saying goodbye to her coworkers, Jeanne walked away toward the bus station, when she arrived at the bus station there were only a few people waiting.

A few minutes later, a white and yellow bus arrived, even though it looked quite old but it was still fit to operate. Jeanne immediately got on when the bus door opened, as she entered and sat in her seat.

The bus driver said. "The road to the usual route, the route has had a terrorist bombing." he said, looking at some passengers.

"A bombing happened in District Three?" Jeanne wondered in her mind. She lived in District Four and now she was at the capital station of Gheena as well as where she worked.

"It seems quite serious, to the point that transportation that goes through that route must be closed," Jeanne thought in her mind, then continued her thoughts. "If that's the case then we can only pass through District Two?" when District Two appeared in her mind, she again thought about the case of the missing young girls, making her a little afraid.

But soon she got rid of that thought. "I'm thinking too much," Jeanne nodded gently when the bus driver asked the passengers if they didn't mind taking a detour.

The bus started moving, Jeanne leaned her body and looked out the window, the street lights were on, tall buildings and places changed in her view.

"Taking a detour a little won't be tiring, but it will take time," she said softly. Inside the bus, Jeanne stayed silent for almost an hour, until finally she smiled slightly and took her phone from her coat pocket and looked at the messages.

"Oh... Anna," Jeanne smiled slightly. Anna was Jeanne's only friend from her university after graduating a year ago. Jeanne read Anna's message, then replied to her best friend.

[[Anna: Jeanne will you be coming home late again?]] 20:19 P.M

[[Jeanne: Sorry I replied late, I'm coming home late and now my way home is taking a detour because the bus route in District Three had a bombing.]] 22:56 P.M

Jeanne smiled, then the smile slightly faded, when she saw the saved contacts on her phone.

"The only contact that always sends messages is Anna. The rest are Mrs. Bone and the operational manager and some coworkers." Jeanne sighed and smiled bitterly. "Pathetic," after criticizing herself, Jeanne opened a new message from her best friend.

[[Anna: I heard the news, well hopefully that road will be fixed soon and I heard there were no casualties, thank goodness..]] 22:57 P.M

[[Anna: Ahh right, I almost forgot. On your day off, Jeanne let's go watch the latest detective movie!!]] 22:58 P.M

"Anna... you wrote two quite long messages in just one minute," Jeanne commented in her heart, even though she was already used to her best friend's typing speed. "Detective movie?" instantly Jeanne's expression faded as if remembering something, when her fingers were about to type, a new message from Anna came in.

[[Anna: Ahh sorry, I didn't mean to remind you... I'm really sorry, if you don't want to, we can go for a walk to the amusement park.]] 22:59 P.M

[[Jeanne: It's okay, I'm looking forward to it]] 22:59 P.M

[[Anna: Alright... good night and be careful on the road, ah yes don't drink too much coffee and remember your goal, which is going home.]] 23:00 P.M

[[Jeanne: Of course, thank you, Anna.,]] 23:00 P.M

Jeanne smiled softly and muttered. "Is she my mother?" mocking Anna's concern, even so Jeanne still followed her best friend's concern without objection.

Jeanne lived alone, her mother had died when she first entered university because of an illness, and her father was a former Detective who died on his mission.

...

When she arrived at the District Two station, the border.

Jeanne got off the bus and walked toward the train station, District Two.

"Huh... the bombing in District Three really affects people who live in District Four, they have to take a detour and use transportation twice." Jeanne grumbled. She walked casually, her snow-white hair gently blown by the wind.

After walking for almost 5 minutes, Jeanne opened her phone inside her coat.

"23:40" she thought, while walking calmly.

As Jeanne walked she saw a clown show across the road in front of her, some people were watching, workers coming home late at night smiled and laughed when they saw the clown's silly performance.

Jeanne stopped unconsciously watching the show. The clown was doing cascade juggling while riding a unicycle, his striking hair and neat clown makeup, smiling at everyone.

Jeanne stood not far from there, the clown rode his unicycle toward Jeanne, then he took a handkerchief from somewhere, then wrapped it into his fist and said.

"Can you guess what will appear inside?" the clown asked. His voice was quite high-pitched.

Jeanne's eyes stared at the clown's fist. "A dove?" she answered, the clown laughed, and tapped his fist three times. When his fist opened, the sound of wings flapping was heard.

A dove!

Jeanne was shocked and amazed, then the clown said. "It's not only a dove!!" then he pulled a rope from somewhere and put the rope into the handkerchief, then blew it.

A white rose appeared, beautiful and simple but looked lovely. The clown gave it to Jeanne.

For a moment Jeanne became awkward, and slowly took it. "Thank you..." Jeanne answered softly, the clown smiled and slowly moved back using his unicycle.

Then Jeanne remembered Anna's words. Jeanne took her phone and checked the time on her phone.

"23:48... I have to go home quickly." she hurried toward the train station.

...

In a quite large alley, after walking far enough from the place earlier, Jeanne stopped and looked back. "It feels like someone is following me..." she thought, immediately she quickened her steps, "Maybe it's just my anxious feeling..." she calmed her thoughts.

"Good evening, miss." a hoarse voice suddenly sounded very clearly in her ears. Immediately Jeanne flinched and turned around.

The hooded black man, the one she met outside the bank door!

Jeanne's eyes widened. Her instincts immediately commanded her to get away and run!

Her thoughts burned about who that person was. "Savage murderer!!" she immediately concluded without hesitation.

Jeanne ran as fast as she could and turned at the intersection of the quiet road, her white rose fell from her coat pocket. Jeanne didn't think about it further, she kept running while occasionally looking back.

That murderer was still chasing her, the grin on his face could be seen from behind his hood. It made Jeanne even more certain and afraid, and also shivering.

When she reached the quiet intersection, Jeanne turned right, toward a bar shop that was still open.

BRAKK!

Suddenly Jeanne crashed into someone, she fell to the ground.

"Are you alright...?" a soft and calm man's voice, Jeanne rubbed her nose that had been hit, then lifted her head.

A blond-haired man combed back, a formal suit, none other than the man she met at the bank while working.

Jeanne slowly tried to calm her breath that was panting. "P-Please help me... the savage murderer is chasing me!" Jeanne said in fear. Her lips trembled and stuttered.

Hearing Jeanne's words, he immediately helped Jeanne up. "Alright... come on, I will take you to the police station!" his expression became serious, and he invited her, the man held Jeanne and headed toward his car in the bar parking lot.

Jeanne sat in the front seat, calming her thoughts, and regulating her breathing. Slowly the car drove out leaving the parking lot.

...

At the previous intersection.

The clown who gave Jeanne the white rose, stood in front of the white rose lying on the ground. Without saying anything, the clown walked toward the intersection and turned right, toward the bar shop. There, at the bar and the quiet street, the clown saw a luxurious white car had already left the parking lot.

The clown looked in confusion.

Slashh!

The sound of a knife thrown quickly toward him, but the clown reacted quickly avoiding the barrage of knives thrown with his tricks.

"Are you hunting that girl?" the clown asked, his voice was different from before, now his voice sounded serious.

The savage murderer chuckled hoarsely and disappeared into the darkness of the alley across the road.

...

After going far away, Jeanne calmed her thoughts and regulated her breathing, Jeanne turned to the blond man who saved her.

"Thank you... sir," Jeanne said softly. Now her feelings were slightly calmer.

The man nodded, and smiled. "It seems you're unlucky.." he said, gently smiling. His eyes remained fixed forward.

Jeanne nodded slowly, when her gaze looked forward, Jeanne's eyes slightly froze. "Why is the police station being passed," she thought, when she saw the car kept going, passing the police station. Slowly Jeanne's neck felt cold, and when she was about to turn her head, suddenly her vision became blurry and dark.

...

Suddenly Jeanne opened her eyes. "What happened... to me?" her consciousness slowly returned, and she opened her eyes. A quiet and soundproof room, with a gloomy atmosphere, dim red in color.

Jeanne tried to get up, but her body was tied to a bed like a hospital bed, both her hands and feet were tied, her mouth was gagged.

"You're awake?" the hoarse voice she heard earlier but now slightly disturbed. But Jeanne couldn't hear it clearly.

"Ahh, sorry-sorry..." the man smiled behind his hooded cloak and took out a mirror, showing Jeanne who was tied up.

Jeanne's eyes widened, her snow-white hair was now stained red, blood. From both sides of her hair there was thick blood red.

"I also want to show you something else." the hooded man opened his hood that covered part of his face.

"H-Him..." once again Jeanne was shocked, tears started to fall, and grew heavier. Her heart felt like it was hit by a huge rock.

"Don't struggle, you will lose blood..." the man's voice suddenly became soft and warm, his blond hair was combed back, he held a tray with Jeanne's two ears in the middle.

Jeanne bit the cloth in her mouth and struggled. Jeanne cried beyond imagination. The blond man—the savage murderer slowly stepped forward closer to Jeanne.

"I will have your beautiful eyes..." the savage murderer wiped Jeanne's tears. "It hurts... this is so painful... father... mother..." Jeanne thought, her tears wouldn't stop. "Anna forgive me... forgive me for not listening to your words," she said in her heart, tears flowed, both her ears were gone, only blood that slowly dried on her silver-white hair.

The only thought right now was Jeanne didn't want to die. But she also didn't want to be tortured by a crazy psychopath.

Her face slowly turned pale, blood kept flowing, her vision became dark and empty.

...

"Hey Jeanne, do you know about the case of the disappearance of several young girls in Gheena District Two?" a clear and familiar voice sounded in Jeanne's ears, now clearer.

Jeanne froze, immediately she touched both her ears. And took her phone from the teller desk drawer and looked at the time on her phone.

10:22 A.M

More Chapters