《Lost in the Echoes》Left Empty and Drained
Advertisement
Sophie entered the study and made two dry taps on the wooden desk. Jason, so caught up on the paper on his desk, was unfazed by them. Sophie contorted her brow, coughed, and yet again made two taps. When that did nothing, she gave up and yelled at him. “Uncle!”
“Huh,” Stumbling back and dropping his pen, he asked, “what is it, Sophie?”
“Sam,” I whispered.
“Yeah?” It replied.
“What can Sophie do for him?”
“Give him a pep talk and a bottle of scotch to settle him down,” Sam said. “It’s not much, but for now it will have to do.”
“Scotch, I didn’t know Jason drinks.”
“He doesn’t, Jason tends to avoid alcohol.”
Her talk with him done, Sophie gazed over to us and winked.
“Ah, so he’s ready,” Sam said.
We floated to the kitchen, Phraze roaming about behind us. Has Jason fed the cat today? I wondered, for Phraze hung around the corner; the one where Jason placed his food.
“Why is it hidden in the wall?” I asked Sam.
“That should be obvious,” Sam released a long, near tired sigh. “We were afraid Jason would start drinking after their deaths and spiral into a deep depression that could have lead down a dark path.”
“Oh, good thing it didn’t happen,” I said.
“Who’s to say it didn’t?” Sam questioned.
“What do you mean?”
“You see it every day and don’t notice it. Gray, the man compulsively chases after a murderer he’ll never catch, one that he was told not to chase too.”
“You seem so sure he won’t catch them, why?”
“He’s been running around in circles for months, it just doesn’t seem possible for him.”
“That’s regrettable,” I said, my belief in Jason unwavering.
Advertisement
Sam yanked the small bottle of scotch from the wall, the glow around the bottle reminded me of something. Why does it look familiar? My memory flashed back to the other night, of Ellie. Wait, so does that mean it’s something ghosts can do? I’ll have to ask Sam to teach me later.
“C’mon,” Sam said, it’s voice heavy, “and stop with the questions, I’ve done plenty for you,”
…Or not, I’ll have to learn it myself then.
We returned to the study, waving at Sophie, I beckoned her toward the hallway. “We’ve brought it.”
“I’ll be right back, I’ve got something that will calm you down,” she said to Jason, stepping out of the study.
We stood in the hallway, Sophie eyeing the scotch in Sam’s squishy-like hand. Sam squinted it’s eye at her in return.
“So, how did the talk go over?” Sam asked Sophie.
“I think it went as well as it could, but he’s overall pretty bad this time.”
“Really, did you find out why?”
“Ah,” she placed her hand on her chin and whispered, “from what uncle Jason said, a new victim has surfaced not too far away from here. That’s why he was working on the map, he’s trying to center out where the murderer generally strays.”
“I see, and why was he worried about the heart?”
“It’s the heart and not the heart that’s got him worried. The heart is different from the liver before, but that’s not as big of a deal compared to who was murdered.”
“Wh-”
“What about the victim?!” I asked, interrupting Sam in my flurry of curiosity.
She looked at me, her right brow raised. “I’m not sure if this would matter to you, Gray, but the person murdered was quite an important figure here in Detroit.”
Advertisement
“Quit stalling,” Sam said, “who was it?”
She clicked her tongue and said, “ You’re never any fun, Sam. The mayor’s son, who is a very popular model for a local magazine was murdered.”
“That must mean the case has gained traction in the media again?” Sam asked.
“That’s right,” Sophie said, “in fact, uncle Jason has been thrown back on the case.”
“Really, and after the chief told him he wasn’t allowed back on it?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so,” Sophie replied to Sam.
“Well, he is a good detective, I can understand why the chief would assign him.”
Sophie sighed and said, “Me too, but it doesn’t mean I’m happy about it. Anyway, I better take him his scotch.”
Sam handed over the scotch, then looked to me. “Hey Gray, want to see something funny?”
“Sure!” I yelled.
“Come watch this.”
Sophie, carrying the small bottle of scotch, placed it onto his desk.
“Sophie, isn’t this a little small for me?” Jason asked.
“Nope,” she replied, “it’s just right.”
He put his hand over his mouth, and his brow contorted. “I suppose it’ll do."
She left the study for a moment, on returning she entered with a small glass filled with ice. Placing it on the desk, she grabbed the bottle and poured it for him. “Here,” she said, handing him the glass, “drink up.”
He swirled the alcohol around for a moment, contemplating something. “Where did you get this?” He asked. “You’re not able to buy liquor.”
“We’ve had it for a long time, now shut up and drink it.”
His cheeks brightened up, oh, is he going to get mad?
“Fine,” he said, and took a sip. “Wow, it’s been a while!”
Guess not…
Sam laughed and said, “Enjoy it while you can, kid, it won’t be long.”
“Huh?” I asked, puzzled by it, but didn’t get a reply.
We watched as he drank the scotch. One sip, two sips, three sips, four sips, and then the next cup.
“It just doesn’t make sense,” he slipped out between mumbled slurs. “How could one take out a heart without blood spraying everywhere? …Though, t-the body we found didn’t have blood in it, it had to have it while the murder was taking place.”
I heard it, but couldn’t wrap it around my mind. Sophie, however, had a face filled with concern.
By his fourth cup he began swaying side to side. When he finished his fifth, he looked at Sophie, his eyes half open and smiled at her, then his face smashed onto the desk.
Ah, I understand now why Sam said that.
“Alright,” Sophie said heading for the door, “my work here is done. When Ellie gets back, we’ll drag him to bed, I’m going back to my room now.”
“Thanks Sophie!” I yelled at her while waving.
“…No,” Sam said, it’s attention on the map.
“What is it?” I asked, but Sam floated out of the room before I could get an answer.
I gazed at the map instead, trying to find what stirred Sam to act like that.
Hmm, haven’t I seen that street name before? Oh right, outside the house. I could hardly read the map, as I didn’t know much about the outside, so I turned to Jason.
“What could that be?” I asked, staring at the small glowing black circle above Jason’s nape.
Advertisement
- In Serial75 Chapters
RE:WRITE
Fed up with a world where science has made every fantasy a reality and people just don’t care about stories anymore, a young video game developer named Kai uses ancient black magic to transport himself into one of his games, titled: Choices. Disturbed by his powerlessness on Earth, Kai makes sure to give himself the ability to change this new world as he sees fit, literally. If you were ridiculously powerful, would you throw away all your morals and do whatever you wanted?Would you find happiness? Would you find love? Or would you end up realizing that… Absolute power is pretty depressing. Note: The format for chapter titles is: “Overall_chapter_number POV_chapter_number: Chapter_title." Look at the POV chapter number to see who is narrating. Thanks to Ia-shub niggurath and peacefulcatastrophe for editing. Also thanks peacefulcatastrophe for the idea for the new cover image: John Martin, 1789–1854. The Deluge. 1834. (Public Domain) You can read it on my website too!Please vote for my story on TopWebFictions! No sign up, just click on the link and vote for as many stories as you like. Signed and fulfilled the Pledge. ~~A Proud Member of Writers to The End; we finish our fictions!~~
8 173 - In Serial17 Chapters
Amulet of Infinity
Wherever it is found, the amulet has been known to herald disaster. Now, it is in the hands of three sisters who do not know its curse or its power. Will they control its destiny, or be controlled? With the sisters at the helm or mercy of fate, two kingdoms are thrust into a state of panic for very different reasons.
8 61 - In Serial184 Chapters
CARNAGE CARNIVORE - A dragon devouring faeries...-
Carnage... This name I gave myself...The last human being...The first dragon...The first carnivore...The world as we knew it no longer exists. The Gods, the sky or the creator...whatever. After a solar explosion and a good dose of gamma rays, all humans and most animals disappeared. With time, all traces of civilization disappeared. But the Gods, tired of our conflicts or wanting to finish once and for all with evolution, decided to replace our way of life by a magical, fantastic universe. Populated by elves, gnomes, dwarves, goblins and all sorts of creatures born spontaneously by magic, the moon, flowers and dew, like fairies. A paradise.Me? I was a scientist... I knew... There were plenty of signs... and I went on expeditions, stole relics from another age and by the power of science and genetics I made the crazy bet to transform myself into a dragon. When I woke up... Everything was gone, replaced.So I decided to avenge those billions of sacrificed souls by devouring everything I could. Gods included. I am the first and only carnivore...
8 1073 - In Serial17 Chapters
My Life : 僕の命
Aonair faces the truth of this chaotic world. To achieve his dream, he will not stop, no matter who or what stands in his way.
8 244 - In Serial20 Chapters
Better To Be Lucky Than Good.
The world is dying, something has to be done. The people who messed it up are clueless. The ones who are fixing it aren't in it for the right reasons. They have endless funding, and unlimited resources, but the plan they advertised isn't the plan they will execute. Drew is put in charge of integration and security for a major project at work. He knows something is off so he asks the one person he trusts the most to help him. Unfortunately that person isn't a hero and is the last person humanity wants to depend on. These two are all that stand between them and their goals. Can they stem the tide and bring humanity back from the brink or will they just screw around and go for shiny treasure and digital glory?
8 145 - In Serial12 Chapters
Let's Just Be Human (Finished)
It's been thirty years since the collapse of the Soviet Union. They'd both moved on, or so they thought. If it wasn't already clear, this is a Sovame fic.
8 98