Cases Uncovered

𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪39 | Stupendous Saturday

"To deceive your enemy, begin with your ally."

- Hattori Heiji

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Chapter 39:
Stupendous Saturday

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ZANE

I woke up to noise coming from an unfamiliar source. As I opened my eyes, I let them search for the source of the irritating music.

I could barely lift my body, feeling as though my hands were pulling me down from the bed. I stretched out my right hand in search of something until I realized I had fallen into the void.

"Oof!"

I thudded onto our wooden floor, jolting me back to reality. I quickly got up, hoping no one had seen my fall. Acting as if nothing had happened, I turned my attention to my phone, which was lighting up.

As I silenced the alarm I had set for myself, memories of yesterday came flooding back.

"Where is Raine?" I immediately opened my room and headed out to check on the locked room of my companion.

"Raine?" I knocked several times on her door, but there was no response.

Looking into the living room, I saw that the bag she usually left on top of the bookshelf by the television was gone.

When I checked the clock, the time only increased my anxiety.

10:00 a.m.

"She's probably there. I'll be late!"

I rushed to the kitchen, frantically searching for something to eat. After quickly finishing the leftover bread from Raine's sibling's visit and some tea I still didn't like, I dressed and organized my things.

"Lunch? Here. Money? Also here," I muttered to myself.

Let's go, Zane!

I was about to open the flat's door when something crossed my mind that I couldn't quite grasp.

"It's twelve o'clock. My class is at one," I said. "Rushing in traffic could be a problem-"

Finally, I managed to clear my mind. I pulled out my phone from my pocket and checked the schedule displayed on my new lock screen.

12:29 p.m.
Sat, 12 Aug

"Of course!" I suddenly exclaimed, halting in my tracks. "We don't have classes today. Yes, there's NSTP, but it hasn't been scheduled yet."

I set down my bag and plopped into my favorite chair facing the ever-turning clock.

Tick tock.

I stared at the time while fidgeting with my foot.

"How boring," I complained. I was about to get up to burn off some of my newfound energy when a message arrived on my phone.

Please tell me this is not another one of those anonymous messages.

When I checked my phone, I saw a new message from Elizabeth.

You have the chance to speak with John Zamora's wife.

"Just me? Are you sure?" I muttered to myself.

As I stood up from my chair, I noticed the quiet around me. Everything was in order, as if it no longer needed tidying.

"Darn it, fine then!" I quickly went to my room, grabbed some clothes, and changed in my bathroom.