The Road to Darkness

Case 2: A Criminal from Long Ago

That night I didn't get much sleep, just waited in bed, thinking. When I finally fell asleep I got a call from my partner, early the next morning, around 5:00 am.

"What do you want?" I groaned, still half asleep.

"Good morning to you too" he sarcastically snickered.

"Whatever" I slurred. "What do you want?"

"I want you to get down to the station as soon as possible" he summed up. "It's an emergency."

I woke myself up fully and told him I'd be there soon. As I got ready, I looked at the cake from last night. Times of the past began to push to my brain's surface before I quickly shoved them out altogether.

On my way to the station, I got a text from Berry.

Hey, buddy hopes you slept well, your partner...

Several more messages pinged in.

What's his name?

Nakamura?

Well anyway, he said to get to the station fast, I'll be there in a few minutes myself.

As I arrived I saw Nakamura, Berry, and even the chief himself at the station. When I walked in everyone was watching a video on my computer.

"What's going on?" I inquired but no one looked at me, just kept watching the video.

I went up and saw what they were all watching. My eyes widened at the sight of the man in the video. I smiled sharply before giggling a little.

"So that bastard is alive after all?" I trembled, making my hand into a tight fist.

They all nodded.

"He posted this video and well...you should see it from the beginning" the chief didn't look me in the eyes.

I watched the video and I seemed to get a bigger smile the more I watched it. In the video the man was shown in a room with a young boy, no older than seven tied up, blindfolded and gagged. He stated that each day Yato Ushio didn't come to him a child would be killed. He got closer to the kid with a knife to his throat.

The kid whimpered louder and louder before the man palmed his head like a basketball and forced the blade deeper, threatening to break the skin.

"And make sure to come alone" he warned, straight-faced as a drunken father before smiling like the madman he was. "Or else." Slicing the kid's throat slightly, making him struggle like an old man having a seizure.

The video cut to black, only showing me my mesmerized and somewhat smiling pupils in the reflection.

"Yato..." Nakamura stuttered before Berry stopped him.

"Listen, Yato, if you want us to catch him we will" the chief assured me. "I'll get our best men on the job."

I turned, pupils dilating, "That be me."

The chief gave me a shocked look, "well true but I mean..."

"Don't worry chief, this one's mine" I claimed, getting my pistol. "Come on Nakamura, let's get going."

"Oh um coming," he responded, running to the car.

As I walked passed Berry he grabbed my shoulder.

"Don't get reckless okay?"

"Yeah okay," I brushed him off, looking back to him as Nakamura and I drove off.

"So where are we going exactly?" Nakamura asked.

"To go catch him of course," I clicked my tongue, looking at my phone.

"What! But it's obviously a trap!" Nakamura snapped.

"Yes, that's very true but I can't let a child die, not when I have a chance to save them," I said. "If I have to die to save even one kid then I can die in peace" I scrolled down some files on my phone.

Nakamura didn't respond then changed the subject "so you know where he is Yato?"

"He made it obvious, if you look to the right of his elbow in the video you can see a little logo of a cup foaming and an 'A' behind it," I explained.

"Oh, that's an old beer company that uses to be made here in town. My old man wou-" Nakamura stopped himself.

"A-anyway, I know where it is, we'll be there soon," he got back on task.

As we arrived I got out of the car and sent Nakamura a file to his phone.

"I know you don't know why this man wants me or who he is..." I trailed off. "Everything is in that file I just sent you but promise me you'll stay here and only open it in ten minutes, you understand?"

Nakamura nodded, to his obvious displeasure.

"Trust me, this is between me and him," I stated, slamming the door to the car and heading to the entrance.

"I'll be there soon!" Nakamura called out but I couldn't hear him.

I stepped up to the doormat, with the same logo from the video.

With a quick light knock, I heard a hand slam on the other side of the door, causing me to instinctively go for my gun.

"Cops?" A raspy, clearly sore voice croaked.

"Don't worry it's me, Yato Ushio, I'm alone."

"Excellent," the voice lingered from the other side of the door.

I heard about four to five different locks click before he opened the door.

"Come in come in...let's have some fun..." he gestured, smiling. "Of course before I let you in I'll have to check you."

"Naturally," I cooperated.

He patted me down and found nothing besides my pistol and cuffs, which I willingly gave up.

"Great come in," he nodded frantically.

"With pleasure."

I gave Nakamura a sign with my hand to show that he had five more minutes before he could read the file. As I walked into the old factory he took me to a room in the back that was pitch black.

"Where are the kids? I know you have them already" I cut to the chase.

"Don't worry, you will be with them...Shortly" he hummed as he locked the door behind us and turned on the lights.

The bright flash blinded me, my eyes adjusted to a truly horrendous sight.

Eight children, from the ages of six to eight all tied up, blindfolded and gagged, each squirming slightly at the thought of the man returning.

"Let them go, I'm here now they have nothing to do with this!" I yelled but he laughed and got his knife out.

"Oh, but they are part of this...or at least, now they are."

As this was going on the five minutes finished and Nakamura opened the file.

"Yato, what did Berry tell you! You better hope it works or else."