Nikki Shore - Ghost Beneath The Ashes

Epilogue

A country far north, 10:30 PM UTC +9:00

—A castle situated in a cliff was standing majestically shone by the light of the full moon.

A woman was escorted into the grand halls of the front lobby. Waiting in a velvet plush seat holding a packed briefcase, the woman with her white wide brimmed hat bowed her head in silent contemplation.

"Madam, Herr Mullen will now see you."

"Thank you, Herr Oberst."

She then walked into the room as the man who called her shuts the door.

The room inside was illuminated by the candlelight of fake electric candles surrounding a chandelier in the ceiling. There were a stack of books in a wide bookshelf. A table with a old globe and various stationery sat in a little spacing from the bookshelf and a man in militaristic clothes holding a goblet of champagne sat in a large regal chair.

She hands over the briefcase to the butler who was also inside. The butler then placed the briefcase in the table and then opened the briefcase to reveal various papers. He placed some papers in a fancy cardboard folder and hands it to his master.

"Status report, Jeanne."

"It seemed that our experiment was successful. He was enhanced physically by the augmentations that he has."

"So these people's claims have been proved justified."

"However, Herr Mullen, that woman has meddled with our plans."

The woman in white then changed her posture,

"It seems that that man's daughter wasn't a fool to be treated lightly. Furthermore, she was injured with the fight with our subject."

"How is the subject's control came to be?"

"He seemed to take it lightly. He was so charming, to the last."

Her lips gave out mischievous smile.

"Oh, that is good news. It seems that we could agree that it is a success. I will tell our Furer with our status. I will also tell him about that man's daughter as well. I'm sure he will not be pleased with her resurgence. You may now go."

She bowed to him. The door opened suddenly with the butler coming back and accompanied the woman outside.

He then looked at the papers with a photo of a woman in it.

"Nicolette Shore. You're just having your baby steps following your father's. I'm going to enjoy watching your actions and I will see your demise." —

***

Roscoe's Apartment, 9:30 PM

Below the rooftop of the apartment, people were racing their everyday lives. The look of North Bellvue Hotel's dancing LED light facade never gets old to me. Lights from cars dance over the streets. The Fuente also looks nice in a vintage way.

The rooftop was a bit run down, but at least I get a nice view like this. There was a large billboard that provided the illumination for the rooftop. Erin was next to me looking the view as well, with her one hand holding a cup full of alcomix.

"Nice view, isn't it?"

"Well, it certainly seem so."

"Oh yeah Nik. Felly might not come though. She's busy playing her games again, as usual."

"Her game of 'hunt and go seek', eh?"

"Yeah, and FITA's ecstatic about it too, judging by the tone of her voice. I think she's annoying."

"Not as annoying as you Erin."

We laughed at each other until realizing the last bit.

"Wait what?"

I chuckled a little.

"Well, that's not funny bitch."

"Well, you thought you're the only one who could be open minded."

She looked at me, her lips giving that annoying smile.

"I say that you're getting the hang of your private eye thing. What about the woman's money though? Giving it to charity or something? You seemed so pissed when you realized that you've been played at all along, giving the fact that she knew things about you, even from ..."

"Nah, I'll keep the money to myself. At least she gave me a hefty sum to pay the bills and all. What mattered is the money anyway."

She knew I was diverting the topic. I still can't escape the thought that she knew about me well. What also bothered me is Kara's resurgence. She's back in town, apparently to take the scene by storm.

"Kara seems to be in good shape though."

"Well, she used to be a weenie, even back at college. I didn't like her a bit. She sure was the perky type though."

"She is still perky."

"I call fetish fuel. I didn't care if she looked hot on it, I call fetish fuel."

Erin said, she waves her arms with the cup back and forth. The pain in her shoulders kicked in again.

"Don't overexert yourself Erin, just because you got the booze, doesn't mean it goes away."

"Heh, I didn't care. Jovie might be a good nurse and a pretty gutsy gal and all, but she's always pissed at me. I find that annoying you know. You're her friend of course, so I didn't mind that, but still."

Erin's face was pink all throughout. She's totally drunk.

Frankly I didn't care about what Kara will do anyway. She's grown up now. She knows what to do, even if she's more nicely placed than I am.

"Anyway Nik. I know it's her anniversary yet again."

"Yeah, my partner's anniversary. You know Erin, I think she was a good gal. Even if she's rough around the edges or something ..."

We talked about her all night. My partner, who died in the line of fire while she was in the force. We were together in a heist, she was shot pretty badly. Like I said, I blurred out my past, as it was vivid. It still burned into my head like a photograph. No matter what I do to bury it, ashes of it still remained. Despite that, I believe that if she was around, she would give a hearty chuckle or two and say encouraging words about me. Frankly, I don't care.

For me though, it didn't matter if the past's awful, it's already there. And I still haven't accepted the fact that it's there. I think that's what kept me going at night.

END