The Road to Darkness

Case 21: Into Reality

I made my way to California and received my final letter that read "The light always comes, but so does the darkness....go to the place that this is easy to see at 8:00".

"That gives me a little over five hours, guess I'll get a bite to eat" I considered.

The rest of the day I spent walking around anxious about what was going to happen.

I arrived at my room and put on my suit along with my tie and hat given to me by Molly and the others. The sun was getting lower and I decided to arrive a bit early. I made my way to the only place that it could be....the Hollywood sign.

As I drove up the road I began to feel like maybe I shouldn't do this alone, maybe it's a trap.

"If it's a trap, I'll make sure they regret it" I convinced myself loading my gun.

I arrived at 7:40 and sat down by the sign, looking on as the sun begin to set and the night crept over it.

I waited and waited before noticing a strange looking patch of grass by the sign and went to examine it. I felt a breeze from under it. I began to pry under the dirt and found it was a small door.

I looked around before descending into it. Inside was a giant room filled with a bunch of names on the wall. At the end of the room, a name was carved in big letters.

As I dusted off the letter I stood in shock at the name "Kotori Ushio".

"What a view huh?" A voice popped making me jump.

When I turned I saw a man in a black suit wearing a mask and had a voice scrambler.

"Don't be scared, I'm here to tell you what you want to hear".

"You clean up nice, wanted to look good for the occasion?" He tried to make small talk.

"What is this room? Why is my father's name here? Who are you?" I badgered.

"I'm just a passerby, no one special" he dusted off the question, walking closer.

I reached for my gun and he stopped moving.

He let out a sigh "I see you don't trust me, fine how about we have a small chat" he said sitting down.

I slowly took my hand away from my gun and sat as well.

"Did you like your father?" He asked, his voice popping into existence over all the booming quiet the room produced.

"He was a very good man, always knew what was best".

"That's not what I asked".

The tension seemed to pinpoint itself on me, my shoulders began to pull down as a felt the weight of an elephant push on my back.

".....yes, I liked him".

"You say he always knew best but then why isn't he here today?"

"He was killed by an unknown man while out on a job".

"I see".

"Why are you doing this? You already know all this!" I felt my patience waver.

"Who would you say loved you more? Your father or mother?"

"What?"

"Let me rephrase that, did either truly love you?"

"Stop talking in riddles what are you trying to say!"

"Would you say your father had a strong moral compass?"

I silently nodded.

"Was he a man for justice? known for having pride in himself?"