Broken World

16. Investigation

NEXT DAY 

“Damn it! The kidnapping happened again!” Cooper shouted in frustration while pacing up and down. 

“Mind your language, Cooper,” Nina scolded him, folding her hands. 

“That’s unusual, it was supposed to happen on Wednesdays, right?” Kevin replied. 

“They might have changed their plans,” Jack said. “I will talk with higher officials about this.”  

Just then we heard sounds of bullet shots coming from the entrance.

“Damn it! Looks like Blue Stars are back,” Nina said, getting up. 

“Mind your language, Nina,” Copper replied, folding his hands.
They exchanged a few glances before we dashed outside to confront our enemies.
    
“Blue stars?” Kevin asked. 

“That’s another community we are in a fight with,” Jack replied. “Come on, we have a fight to win.” 

From the walls, the fighters were shooting at the enemies. The three of our seniors joined them while we assisted by providing guns and ammunition. The enemies were hiding in the forest and kept on shooting from there. The brawl continued for quite a while, and then suddenly the firing stopped. 

“I’m going to meet Mr Dan. Keep an eye on your surroundings,” Jack informed getting down from the walls. 

After an hour, the shootings started again. I and Kevin rushed to the gun room to get the ammunition but to our shock, it was locked. 

“Why the hell is it locked at a time like this?” Kevin shouted in frustration. 

We again rushed to the security room to get the spare key, but it was locked too. 

This is unusual. 

“People here are nuts, why no one is in the security room?” Kevin said in disbelief. 

We returned to the gun room, I kicked the lock a few times and fortunately, it opened. We grabbed all the ammunition and returned to the frontlines. 

“You guys are late,” Nina scolded. 

“Blame the security guard,” I replied.  

***

THAT NIGHT 

After we were dismissed, both of us went to investigate the locked room. Apparently, one of the fighters saw senior Jack in the gun room during the brawl.  

“Erik, are you thinking the same thing I’m thinking?” Kevin said in a low voice. 

“Yeah, you are right, but since we are new here, I don’t think anyone would believe us.” 

“Sheesh, lower your voice.” 

“We need strong evidence. The letter won’t be enough to prove him guilty, we need something more.”

“Why would someone do that? What do they benefit from it? I don’t understand a thing now.” 

“Until and unless we catch the culprits, those questions would be hard to answer.” 

As we were walking in the streets, we bumped into senior Jack, a key fell from his pocket, I quickly looked at the number and handed it to him. 

Why the hell does he have the keys to the security room?

“So, how was the fight? Is everything settled?” he asked.

“Y-yes, sir,” Kevin replied in a low voice.    
      
***

That evening, I came out to stroll and get some fresh air. On the way, I spotted James and Jane sitting alone in a deserted spot near the garden. Both of them were laughing and having fun judging by their expressions. 

Looks like Kevin was right, she has finally fallen in love. Whatever, I don’t care. 

But something in me forced to stalk them. I sneaked and hid behind the bushes to hear their chatting.

“J-Jane, I-I want to tell you something important,” James said in a low voice staring at the night sky. 

“What is it, James?” she asked, looking at him.                

“I-I-I like you.”

“I like you too,” she replied with a smile.   

That was fast. Absolutely fast! 

“Not as a friend Jane, I mean, I love you, again not as a friend, m-more than just friends,” he explained. “You get what I’m saying?”  

She lowered her head and said, “S-sorry James, there’s a guy I love.”       
       
There’s a guy she loves? Who the hell it can be?  

“Does the guy you love know about it?” he asked in a low voice. 

“He doesn’t have a single clue. I’m fine with it, we still have time.” 

“Can I know the name of the lucky guy?” 

Now for some reason, I ran away from there without knowing the name, something in me wasn’t ready to hear the name of that lucky guy. 

I feel bad for invading their privacy. I should have at least overheard the name. Tsk, this suspense is gonna kill me before any ghoul does. 

“Erik, where were you? I searched every place,” Kevin said, waving his hand. “We are on the lookout duty tonight, remember?” 

“Let’s go,” I replied, my heart was still beating fast. 

We got to the high tower from where the whole town was visible. I grabbed the binoculars which were kept in the security room and kept a watch outside. 

“That place is an auditorium which has two lions at the entrance,” Kevin informed. “So, according to the victim’s letter, if that’s the last thing they are gonna see... then it means there’s another passage from inside the place. Umm, like an underground secret tunnel.” 

“We are a step closer to the culprit, but before we accuse someone… let’s gather more information,” I replied, resting my hands on the grid. 

“A guy like him… why would he betray his people?” he said in a low voice. “If someone like him can betray his own people… then no place is safe.”

***

During the early hours of the morning, Kevin found something unusual. I grabbed the binoculars and rushed outside and spotted a few children alone on the streets near the auditorium. I tossed the binoculars to Kevin, rushed downstairs and followed them. After walking for a few minutes, they stopped outside the auditorium and looked around. The door opened and they ran inside, the door closed again. 

Hmm, looks like Kevin is right. 

I sneaked to the window and peeked inside, I spotted senior Jack leading them to a room. They seemed to be scared and a few moments later they all disappeared into another room. 

For the time being, I returned to the security room and rejoined Kevin. I was relieved and at the same time tensed. We found the culprit but we still didn’t know where they were taken. 

“How did it go?” he asked, looking nervous.

“We were right, that bastard Jack is one of the culprits,” I replied, clenching my fists.