Obscuratus Anima

Unexpected Situation

Sean struggled to accept the new information he had just unearthed. "I trust you. But, how am I supposed to face my mother now that I know the truth?" he asked Roland, his mind racing with the weight of the secret he now carried.

Roland took a moment before responding, knowing the gravity of the situation. "I won't ask you to deceive her by keeping this from her," he began. "But I want you to tell her that Dmitri is alive and will reveal himself when right."

Sean nodded, feeling the burden of the truth he would have to share with his mother. "I'll do my best, Uncle Roland. I can't make any promises, though. My mother has already suffered so much loss in her life," he said, his voice tinged with concern.

As the conversation continued, Sean couldn't shake off a disturbing thought. "Wait, you said only my grandfather's body was found, right?" he asked, seeking confirmation of the startling revelation he had just heard.

In the conversation, Roland affirms that Sean's grandmother's body was never located in response to Sean's query. He also articulates his perspective on Sean's grandmother, expressing displeasure towards her and portraying her as a self-centred and unkind individual who consistently sought to assert authority in various situations. Roland openly acknowledged his aversion to her and conveyed that he did not grieve her disappearance. Moreover, Roland suggested that Sean should approach his mother for further details about his grandmother, as she might have possessed additional insights regarding the situation.

Sean mentioned, "I'll chat with her later today." Meanwhile, Leah, who had given a call to Melinda, unearthed significant details. "Dad, I had a conversation with Melinda. Before the murder happened, the individuals who committed the crime met someone outside the building. This person handed them an item and then swiftly departed. Subsequently, they made their escape in a battered car resembling a model from the 1990s," Leah shared after ending the call.

A conversation unfolded surrounding a 90s model car that held sentimental value for Dmitri due to his father driving him to school daily. Despite the powerful presence of his father, Dmitri dismissed his mother's threats. Sean asked whether the incident was linked to his grandmother, but Roland ruled it out after delving into her past and concluding that she lacked the power to challenge Mr Cailes.

Leah's interruption was direct and confident, "Dad, there's a flaw in your investigation. Sometimes, those who seem the least influential externally wield the most power. This is a concept I've encountered in my studies. I suggest re-investigating Mrs. Cailes." Her assertive demeanour conveyed her deep understanding of the situation and her conviction that a more thorough investigation was necessary.

"Dmitri's mother, Alia was the kind of person who liked to show that she was in power. However, when her husband, Mr. Cailes returned, she turned into a rat trying to hide away her traces. Honestly, I wondered how those two even got wedded to each other in the first place. If Mr. Cailes ever found out that she was trying to silence Dmitri's words in the house, he would send her back to her house. Alia's family background was weak. However, she married Mr. Cailes through schemes. This is something I'm most definitely sure of." Roland said.

Leah pondered if it was conceivable that someone had coerced her into taking his life, or if she had made the decision independently. It's thought-provoking to contemplate the reasons behind their lack of divorce, particularly when he held the power to initiate it.

She then looked at her dad and asked, "Was she ever involved..." She hesitated to ask the question but felt that it could've also been a possibility for occurrence, "With someone else?" her voice trailed after that.

"Not that I know of." Roland said, then suddenly as if recollecting something buried within memory he began, "Ah! Clodan. Right. How could I forget about that whackhead?"

"Who?" Leah asked. "Clodan, he was this typical boy who liked to make others' lives miserable for his happiness. I hated him so much that I once shoved him into the wall. He deserved it in my defence."

"Do you remember what I told you about Rowana not being as innocent as you think she is?" He asked.

"Yeah, we do. Why?" Sean replied on behalf of everyone present.

While he was replying, Roland noticed a shadow lurking around the mansion. So he signalled the kids that he was tired and asked them to make haste and leave.

Leah was astonished when she heard this. But she chose to place her trust in her father for he was a wise man. When they left he further dismissed all the helpers and the butler. The shadow emerged from behind the velvet curtains.

"What a pleasant surprise! You could've notified me about your arrival." Roland smirked as he turned his back to face the shadow figure.

"Roland Serpico. It's been a while old friend."

"If by a while you mean almost 30 years then yes you're indeed right. What do you think Dmitri Cailes?"

"Pardon my sudden arrival. I see you're daughter and my nephew are quite close." He said touching the walls.

"Oh dear! They're the best of friends I've ever known in my lifetime. So... Did you kill those three girls?" Roland asked. But, deep down he knew that Dmitri would never involve the innocent.

"I'm surprised you think so little of me. Although your body language tells me you don't believe what you said."

"You've become better at grasping what other people think."

"So... If you're not the one behind those murders then who is?" Roland asked.

"Your daughter and you must work together to figure that one out. Although I must say I am indeed back for revenge. Fear not, old friend. The blood of the innocent shall not be on my hands or on the hands of those who work for me. In case someone finds out something they're not meant to know I could just hypnotise them." Dmitri answered.

"Who do you think is the real culprit then?" Leah who had returned to graph her phone overheard this conversation and asked.

"I don't know child," Dmitri answered. "However, if there's one thing I know it's this. They're good at hiding they must be someone like me. Someone who was supposed to die but escaped hellfire."