Ch.131Prologue: Ch.9 – What’s Inside the Entrance

# 191■. ■■. ■■. PM 10:42

Alleyway near the (former) Savio Mansion

Pollard Island

‘Blue’ finally let out a complaint.

“Put out that cigarette, Grey.”

As always, Grey didn’t obey right away. He deliberately took two more drags.

Only after frugally burning his Camel cigarette down to the filter did Grey toss the butt to the ground and crush it with his heel.

“Clean your heel too.”

Blue nagged again. Grey raised an eyebrow but followed his partner’s instruction, dipping the sole of his shoe in a shallow puddle of gutter water. After splashing it around a couple of times, his shoe was clean again.

“I know without you telling me.”

With the customary complaint added on. Blue felt a surge of irritation but, not wanting to jeopardize their important mission with an argument, tried to reason calmly.

“Those things leave traces behind. Haven’t I told you countless times?”

“I know, Detective. And you’re aware that I’m a detective now too, right? A proper licensed detective, that’s what I am.”

“You’re still an employee at my office.”

At Blue’s remark, Grey let out a hollow laugh.

“I’m quitting after today’s job, so make sure you prepare my severance pay, Blue. I’ll use it to set up an office in the front room of your building.”

‘If only he’d stop talking nonsense.’ Blue surveyed the Savio mansion again.

Another burst of raucous laughter erupted from the distinguished guests. A crash of something breaking. Screams, the loud chatter of drunken men and women. Grey listened intently to those sounds.

“What do you think about Prohibition?”

Blue looked at Grey, who shrugged his shoulders.

“Some states are still debating it. Others have already implemented it. Here they’re smashing taverns with axes, claiming alcohol is the root of all evil, while over there people are pleading that they came to America seeking freedom and peace only to have their rights to make and drink alcohol taken away.”

Blue looked back at the Savio mansion. The drunken guests had now come out to the yard and were singing loudly. Some were even urinating in public with their pants down.

“People should cut back on drinking, that’s true. They drink too much. But regulating it by law? I don’t like that.”

“Oh? Why not?”

“Tell humans not to do something, and they’ll just do it more. And it feels wrong. Someone forcibly enlightening others? Using legal coercion? Right or wrong aside, that’s a terrible thing. It’s moral high-grounding.”

“Moral high-grounding? Blue, what do you mean?”

“‘I’m morally superior to you, so you should listen to me.’ That’s what it is. It’s threatening the other person. Intimidating them. When humans feel cornered, they’ll do anything.”

Grey nodded.

“Like us, Blue.”

Blue didn’t answer. Soon, luxury cars pulled up in front of the Savio mansion. The intoxicated nobles and high officials of Pollard boarded the vehicles. Where they had been, only filth and garbage remained. Savio’s servants, wearing white gloves on both hands, cleaned up the trash.

“Yes. Like us.”

Blue nodded. Grey checked his revolver again. The servants, having finished cleaning, dragged sacks of garbage to the corner of the street.

A moment later, a bald man emerged from the annex. With his elegantly curved aquiline nose, he was unmistakably the Savio head butler.

Based on a month of observation, it was customary for the head butler to inspect after cleaning was completed at the Savio mansion. If there was a problem, the head butler would stand still at that spot, and the servants and maids would have to rush over and find the issue themselves.

But tonight, even that fastidious head butler seemed to be cutting some slack. After scanning the area with his sharp eyes, he entered through the back door of the main building. The servants and maids retreated toward the annex, exchanging light banter. As long as they didn’t make too much noise, they would enjoy their small amusements.

The lights in the main building went out. Curtains were drawn over the windows. Men wearing white gloves and armed with pistols took positions around the building.

Blue and Grey left the alley. Walking along the shadows, they evaded the mafia’s surveillance. The two headed for the side door of the annex—the most populated and also the most poorly guarded area of the Savio mansion.

As expected, cheerful violin music and laughter came from inside. The voices of men and women exchanging lewd jokes were in full swing. Grey flung open the side door. He gave a thumbs-up, indicating no problems.

Inside the side door was a storage room for garbage. As Grey and Blue entered, a mouse scurried out through the open door.

The two took positions in the storage room and held their breath. No particular sounds came from the kitchen beyond the storage room door. Three steps from the kitchen was a long corridor, and past the corridor was the door leading to the main building.

Under no circumstances, they were told, should that door be locked. No one knew when “services” might be needed.

Once certain no one was around, Blue turned the doorknob leading to the kitchen.

“The young master has arrived, they say.”

A voice suddenly came from the kitchen. Blue froze with his hand on the doorknob. Grey drew his gun and aimed at the door. There was a clattering sound. Someone seemed to be looking for a bottle of liquor.

“So they wrapped things up early today.”

“Why did he come, really? He should just focus on his college life. Is he here to beat his siblings again?”

“He hasn’t been doing that. Poor little Michael, but poor Miss Aurora too. She rushes in asking him to hit her instead of her brother.”

“Really. How do they live like that…”

The voices, the clinking of liquor bottles, and footsteps faded away. After counting exactly thirty seconds, Blue flung open the door with a relieved sigh.

The kitchen was empty. The corridor was dimly lit, and from the hall came laughter, cigarette smoke, and the clinking of glasses. Blue and Grey quickly crossed the corridor and opened the door leading to the main building.

It was just as they had researched. There were no guards here. After waiting for the moon to hide behind clouds, the two quickly pressed themselves against the main building door. This time Grey opened the door, and thankfully, the hinges didn’t make a single creaking sound.

Unlike the annex, no noise was permitted in the main building after 11 PM. This was to prevent mistaking patrolmen for assassins and killing them. The only exceptions to the rule were family members.

That’s why Blue and Grey had prepared sheepskin overshoes. They looked ugly but were effective in reducing footsteps.

Tap. Tap.

At the sound of unhesitating footsteps, the two stopped and hid behind a pillar in the reception room. The eldest son of the Savio family was walking down from the second floor.

In his right hand, covered in wounds, he held a candle. The kind of wounds one might get from hitting something without properly wearing gloves.

His face in the candlelight was deathly pale. A face without a trace of blood. It was strange considering the Savio family was generally olive-skinned.

Beside him stood the stern-faced head butler. His expression was much darker than before. The two stopped at the stairs leading to the basement after reaching the central hall.

“No.”

The candle trembled. The eldest son shook his head desperately.

“No. I said no. Why me?”

“It’s the covenant, young master.”

“Don’t give me that bullshit, butler. It’s a contract my father made. Not one I made.”

“The covenant cannot be broken.”

The butler repeated the same words in a strict tone. The eldest son exhaled a long sigh.

“What about Aurora? Michael? They’re far inferior to me. Shouldn’t they be offered instead? Why should I for those brats…”

“Young master.”

The butler raised his hand. The eldest son flinched and stepped back. Even in the darkness, the trembling of his shoulders was clearly visible.

“It is the covenant.”

The butler snapped his fingers. Blue and Grey saw it—a shadow slipping out from within the wallpaper, wrapping around the eldest son.

“This fucking piece of sh—”

The butler skillfully caught the candle that fell from the eldest son’s hand. The eldest son stood upright, trembling all over. Ominous language continued to flow from his mouth. It wasn’t English or Italian. It wasn’t even like the gibberish that circus magicians spout.

It was closer to a hyena’s laughter, the final groan of a wild dog, the lament of a slave dying from being stoned. When the butler waved the candle, the eldest son walked toward the basement like a puppet. The two entered the basement.

“Right on schedule.”

Grey whispered. Blue nodded.

“Assistant. Let’s get ready.”

“I’m going independent after this job, Blue.”

“So until then, you’re my assistant, Grey.”

Blue picked up a fire extinguisher placed in the corner of the reception room. It was a state-of-the-art powder extinguisher. All they needed to do was throw it into the basement where the ritual was taking place and shoot it. After that, all that would remain would be to be torn apart by the invisible hunter.

“Better than letting the world end.”

Grey sighed. Blue patted his shoulder. Blue, carrying the extinguisher, crossed the hall. He would probably be hiding in a suitable spot. When Grey opened the basement door and drew attention, Blue would throw the extinguisher and shoot it.

A simple plan. Also one with no return.

Still, this much means we’ve done our job. Grey thought as he left the reception room.

And then he stopped in his tracks.

A girl holding a kitchen knife was looking up at him. Even in the darkness, her reddish-black eyes were clearly visible, burning with unmistakable hostility.

“Who are you?”

The girl was brave. She showed no fear at the sight of a stranger. Instead, she threateningly pointed her knife. It was the stance of a skilled assassin-in-training.

“An avenger.”

Grey answered honestly.

“Savio has made many enemies. Exactly whose avenger are you?”

‘Should such words come from a child’s mouth?’ Grey’s mind was in turmoil. The girl’s smile was more chilling than her kitchen knife.

That’s when it happened.

Bang! Bang! Loud noises erupted from the basement. Grey didn’t miss the opportunity and kicked the girl’s hand. The knife flew away, and the girl screamed. Grey quickly picked up the knife.

“Get out of the way, it’s dangerous! Run to safety, kid! Blue, Blue! Damn it!”

Grey ran toward the basement. From the basement stairs, “Aaaah! Haaaaa!” burning figures came running out.

Charred humans collapsed haphazardly on both sides of the corridor and furniture. The fire quickly spread to the furniture. One of the figures shouted at Grey.

“It’s the hunter! The hunter has come! It’s the hunter, the hunter! Everyone dies, die…”

“Damn it, Blue!”

There was a clang. Blue had thrown the fire extinguisher into the basement. But he didn’t shoot it.

“It’s the hunter, Grey! Set more fires. We need to burn this mansion completely! We have to burn it while that thing is bound by the spell!”

Blue shouted with the burning basement as his backdrop. Grey yelled for him to be careful. But it was too late.

Bang.

Blue collapsed, clutching his chest. Gunpowder smoke rose from the eldest son’s pistol. Half of his body was on fire, the other half still in human form.

“I… I am… Savio… Give it back. It’s the covenant! I am Savio, you damn bastard. No one can take me. Not you either! It’s the covenant! The covenant!”

Grey saw it.

The flames were a dark red like dead blood and the night sky. Unlike the surrounding fire, it was a flame that devoured everything. What the flames illuminated was not the basement. What could be seen beyond the smoke was stars and stars, universe and universe, and eyes, all writhing, echoing, and boiling.

The sobbing sound of a violin. The drumbeat that had stolen the fading heartbeat of the dead. The flute sound of demons going mad with the thought of taking souls.

Something grabbed Grey’s ankle. It was the Savio butler. Half of his body had already been consumed by the flames. Yet he was still alive.

“Let it burn.”

The butler looked up at him.

“We must offer. That’s the covenant. If we offer, everyone can live. That’s the only way for the Savio family to survive. It’s also the only way for this world to survive.”

The butler’s body burned completely. It was literal annihilation, not even ashes remained. Where he had burned, only the night sky remained. Stars twinkled beyond the burn marks.

Grey hesitated. Meanwhile, the eldest son moved. A sobbing girl came into view. As if her legs had given out, the girl couldn’t move at all.

“Blood kin.”

The eldest son cried out in joy.

“Blood kin, blood kin, my blood kin! Look, there’s a lamb! Take that child instead of me. Crucify that child, take that child!”

The flames blazed fiercely. They seemed to be trying to escape from the eldest son’s body. The flames somehow stretched toward the girl.

The girl’s dark red eyes met Grey’s.

“Hey. Idiot.”

The flames turned toward Grey. Without realizing it, Grey fired his gun. Precisely through the remaining part of the eldest son. Two shots. Three shots. Four shots. Blood flowed from the parts hit by the bullets.

The human-looking part went limp, but the remaining burning half stood upright. The flames seemed to glare at Grey before finally lunging at him.

The revolver Grey dropped slid toward the girl. The flames caught on Grey’s body. Strangely, he felt no pain. He just watched his body blacken and melt away like a piece of meat in strong acid.

Thud.

The flames looked at their own chest in disbelief. The dagger taken from the girl shone in its chest.

“Anything that bleeds can be killed. That includes you, idiot.”

The enraged flames raised its fist. The burning fist crushed Grey. Grey didn’t lose his smile until the very end.

There was a gunshot. The flames writhed and then gradually subsided. The drumbeat, the whistle sound, and the flute sound were no longer heard.

In Grey’s eyes, he saw the girl holding the revolver, tears streaming down her face. Behind her, he also saw Blue slowly lowering his gun. He looked in pain but was alive.

The girl fainted. Blue gently laid her down. Grey saw the girl narrowing her eyes and convulsing.

“Damn it. Assistant.”

Blue felt various parts of Grey’s body.

“Crayfield.”

Grey called Blue’s name. He tapped the front pocket of his coat.

“Just let me have one cigarette.”

“You crazy bastard…”

Crayfield took out a lighter and a Camel cigarette from Grey’s front pocket, lit it, and placed it between Grey’s lips. Grey coughed violently and laughed. The Camel cigarette fell to Grey’s side.

Stupid Crayfield. How can you light the filter end of the cigarette?

It’s like a joke, Crayfield. A terrible joke.

But we won, didn’t we, Crayfield?

Seeing Crayfield nod, it seemed that was true.

“Well done. Second assistant. Damn. You were really something.”

Grey was satisfied.