Nevermore: The Secret Order

Chapter 3 - Disappear

It did not take long for NYPD to respond to the residential facilities management's call and that of the report of a man splattering on the street. Upon arriving, the police saw an exhausted Raven on his knees catching his breath with his glasses off. Detective Fuhrman was also present given that he was already working the related disappearance case. The officers quickly called for medical attention. Before he knew it, Raven was being evaluated by medics for any injuries. On top of the visible exhaustion and the light gash in his arm, he was alright. Physically at least. Thanatos decided to stay quiet as it would not help if Raven were to respond to him out loud. He'd end up in a psychiatric ward and they'll simply pass it off as trauma due to the incident.

The detective however found something odd. There was no way this young man had the time to get a new tattoo yesterday given the events. And yet, he suddenly had one. He was weighing between asking further details and simply overlooking this single detail. He looks like he's been through hell as is. But this isn't exactly giving him much to work with. What's odd is also how he survived the encounter. There was no way he could have done this on his own. Let alone do so without sustaining anything serious in the process. It was apparent that he engaged these men. The means however have eluded all logic. A lot of it simply does not add up. Interrogating the men may be off the plate as their injuries could keep them impaired and incapacitated indefinitely. One of the two dead gunmen in the dining room took a volley of bullets. He had no fighting chance. The other one was just as unlucky. But it took a serious conviction to bite down on a cyanide pill. The survivor couldn't respond after waking up. He seemed out of it and then he would snap about seeing a hooded demon. These men were obviously part of something bigger. This wasn't just linked with a petty kidnapping case for the sake of ransom. If this attack wasn't any indication, he wouldn't know what is.

"Cigarette?" Detective Fuhrman offered.

"Thanks." Raven accepted.

"It's only been less than 48 hours and you've already been through hell." said the detective while lighting the young man's cigarette.

Raven took a deep hit and that already spelled exactly how this young man was coping with the ordeal.

"So what's going to happen now Detective?" Raven asked.

"We're taking the bodies for further investigation and these guys into custody assuming those two didn't suffer any permanent brain damage" Detective Fuhrman continued.

"The third guy?" Raven added.

"He seems completely shaken. Wouldn't shut up about that demon." said Detective Fuhrman.

"I'd hate to see what he saw then." said Raven as he took another deep hit.

"We'll find your godfather." said the detective in a reassuring tone. "And perhaps find out why they went after you. Obviously, this isn't the end of it. I'd make myself scarce if I were you. You'll need to disappear."

"I can make arrangements to stay somewhere else. My stroller wasn't unpacked. So that's one less thing to worry about." said Raven.

This young man is definitely more than what meets the eye. He could sense it. Even from from his shaken state.

Raven simply remained quiet for the most part but was responsive when being asked for details and for his condition. His peripheral vision caught the sight of two dead bodies being moved away from the scene as the rest were given immediate medical attention. One managed to wake up on the spot but seemed heavily concussed. According to the medics, the surviving men sustained serious head trauma and may suffer some permanent effects.

After the investigation, Detective Fuhrman asked Raven what his plans were following the incident. Raven simply said he can book a temporary accommodation somewhere while the repairs are being done. The detective offered to drive him to the wherever he'll book a room in but the young man declined opting to book one instead. He insisted that he simply needs to get away from all of this. While Raven is simply doing this as a ploy to be able to connect the dots on his own, he was in no way unscathed from the attack. Three men died by his hand that night. That's an act he'll always carry for life even with the circumstance.