A Journey Through Beltni: Narrow Searches

Ch. 1- Welcome To Beltni...

January 6, 2031

My name is Aaron Dean Seiphin. I'm a detective in the city of Beltni. My job's not that hard when you really look at it. It's simple. Somebody reports a murder, a robbery, or a missing person, I look for clues as to what all happened, and then I catch the lowlife. See? easy.

I'm sitting in the very back of the city subway train, heading home from work. I'm wearing my casual white buttoned shirt with my black tie. I look at my silver watch which says 11:00 pm. My head slightly aches along with the feeling of my heavy eyelids. I decide to pull out my flask which is full of Brandy and take a long sip. I put my flask away and pull out my phone and look through old text messages from two weeks ago from my sister, Terra Seiphin.

*Terra: Hey I need u to pick up Leah from school tomorrow. I'm working.

*Aaron: I'll see what I can do. How come Vinnie can't do it?

*Terra: He's got something 2 do. He said it's important.

*Aaron: Fine..

Terra is my younger sister who lives on the Eastern side of Beltni with her husband Vinnie and their daughter Leah. She's always been the one I'd go to for advice. When we were kids, she'd always find a way to help me with whatever I needed. Her husband, Vinnie, is a guy that I just don't see myself trusting all that much. I mean, the guy has a good job and all but I just don't see myself liking him all that much.

As the train began to stop, I got up from my seat and walked towards the doors.

As I walk up the steps of the Subway Station, I begin my way to my apartment. While walking through the city, I can't help but notice how nearly all of this city is slowly drowning in its own disaster. There's graffiti on almost every abandoned building, broken and trashed cars behind gates, and a crap ton of homeless people in alleyways. It nearly makes me regret even growing up in a city as awful as this.

As I make it home, I decide to stop at a vending machine near my landlords office to get a non-alcoholic drink. All I've had to drink today was the stuff I keep in my Flask.

I walk up to the machine and put $1.20 in it and I grab a bottle of soda. I then make my way up the stairs to my apartment and walk inside. Being sure to lock the door behind me, I scan my home to realize just how messy it's gotten. The clothes tossed around my kitchen table and chairs, the empty beer bottles, either standing or knocked over, on my TV, and the oh so delightful couch that I happen to pass out on very often. If I'm being honest, I don't hate the fact that it's so messy.

I just wish it was a bit more of the stereotypical image of a 'home'.

I take off my tie and shoes and sit down on the couch. As I try to fall asleep, I then hear a ring coming from my phone.

"Oh my god. What now..?"

As I took out my phone and answered it, I heard an extremely familiar voice.

"Hey... Seiphin?"

"Chief Ampro?"

"We need you. Now..."

Jesus goddamn Christ. I just got home, wanting nothing but a nice long rest after today but now I gotta get my ass back up and do even more work. I wonder if even the most workaholic people would like something like this.

"Listen Seiphin, It ain't like I was planning on interrupting your night but we just got a case that needs your attention immediately."

From the sound of Ampro's voice, it sounded like this was really important. Even if I said I wouldn't, It's not like I have any other way of getting money so I just chose to suck it up and do my job.

"Alright. I'm on my way.."

"No need. I'm outside your building. This'll be quicker."

I was a tad surprised at the Chief being this eager to get work done on a case. He's usually more laid back than this. This really is serious.

"Okay? Understood I guess. I'll be right out.."

"Hurry. We ain't got time for routine."

As I walked out my apartment building, I walked towards the Chiefs car and got in the passenger seat. The minute I buckled my seat belt, he immediately started driving.

"So Chief, what's so important that I gotta do extra work for tonight?"

Ampro looked at me with slight irritation but just sighed it off and responded while sounding a bit tired himself.

"We got a girl at the Department filing a missing persons report. Normally, I'd just get one my rookies to take care of it but this girl looks like she's been through hell. Just thought you'd be the one to solve this case with ease."

I've had this reputation for getting my cases solved "easily". In reality though, I have to go through almost backbreaking work to get my cases solved but when people observe my methods, they apparently just get amused and take me for this some kind of highly intelligent being. It can be pretty damn annoying sometimes.

"Hmph. Fine. Once I get what I need out of the girl myself, I'll see what I can do.."

As Ampro listened to my words, I noticed him putting a cigarette between his lips and lighting it. As he blew his smoke out the window, he started talking again.

"Handle this case with care, alright Seiphin? I can't put a finger on it but I can just feel that this case has something behind that just..... ain't right.."

I looked at the Chief all confused and as we finally pulled up at the Department, we got out the car and right before we walk in, the Chief gives me yet another order.

"I'm serious about this Seiphin. If you don't handle this case properly--"

"I know. I understand."

I said with a cold tone of voice as we walk through the doors.