Paradoxical Convergence (Book 1)

Chapter 7:First case

By the time they reached the clubroom, Aria was already there, leaning against one of the desks with her usual unflappable expression. She raised an eyebrow as Cecile entered with the nervous first-year.

"So," Aria said, her voice dry, "we have our first case?"

Cecile nodded, trying to hide the thrill that ran through him. "Looks like it."

Aria smirked, folding her arms. "Told you this would work."

As the girl sat down and began explaining the strange occurrences in her dorm, Cecile couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation building. The Helpers Club was officially in business. And this was only the beginning.

The first-year girl—small, wiry, with short hair and anxious eyes—sat fidgeting in her seat, the tension radiating from her like an open wound. She clutched the edge of the desk in front of her, her knuckles white, as though it were the only thing keeping her grounded. Cecile and Aria sat across from her in their freshly cleaned, still-bare clubroom, the faint scent of lemon cleaner clinging to the air. A slight breeze filtered in from the open window, but the weight of what the girl had to say made the air feel stagnant. Oppressive.

Cecile glanced at Aria, who, with a raised eyebrow, gave him a subtle nod. She wasn't going to take the lead. This was his case. His first real encounter.

Cecile cleared his throat, trying to muster some confidence despite the unease that was already creeping up his spine. "So, you mentioned something about your dorm being haunted?"

The girl nodded, her wide eyes darting between the two of them, clearly desperate for reassurance. "Yes, it's been happening for the past week. At first, it was small things—like items moving around or the lights flickering. But last night... last night was different." Her voice trembled, barely above a whisper. She hesitated, her grip on the desk tightening, as if she were bracing herself for a wave of dark memories. "I woke up to this loud banging noise. My books were flying off the shelves, and the closet door—" her voice caught for a moment, "—it slammed shut on its own. I don't know what's happening, but I don't feel safe there anymore."

Cecile leaned back, trying to maintain a calm expression despite the unease gnawing at him. This was the real deal. It wasn't just a story from Jonathan or an overheard rumor. The fear in the girl's eyes was palpable, and that made it all the more terrifying.

Aria, ever the composed one, didn't react. She sat with her fingers steepled under her chin, her icy blue eyes studying the girl carefully, analyzing every word, every tremble in her voice.

"Have you told anyone else about this?" Aria asked, her tone calm and detached, though her voice had that clinical sharpness that always cut through the air like a blade.

The girl shook her head quickly, her face paling. "No... I didn't want people to think I was crazy. My roommate's been staying with her boyfriend, so she hasn't seen any of it. But I swear it's real."

Cecile exchanged a glance with Aria, who gave him a barely perceptible nod. This was serious. And if Aria was taking it seriously, then they had to be cautious. Cecile leaned forward, trying to keep his voice steady. "Okay. Here's what we're going to do. We'll come by tonight, check it out for ourselves, and see what's going on. In the meantime, it might be best if you stay somewhere else—just for the night. Maybe at a friend's place?"

The girl nodded, relief flooding her features. "Thank you. I didn't know who else to turn to. I just... I just can't be in that room anymore. It feels like something is watching me all the time."

Aria gave her a small, reassuring smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Don't worry. We'll take care of it."

As the girl left, Cecile felt a cold pit settle in his stomach. He turned to Aria, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "So... a haunted dorm room. What are we dealing with?"