Demon's Reborn

Chap 1

"The majestic Hasfia clan got erased from the world's surface by the fire which broke out in their centennial manor last night wherein a grand reunion was taking place. The villagers said that before they found out the manor is on fire, they heard an ear piercing shriek of a demon that was heard throughout the nearby villages that woke them up. Though it was raining last night, it barely helped on putting off the fire. While the people are waiting for the firetruck..."

Hale sunk on his leather finished swivel chair as he reads the newspaper he held tightly with his hands. As he goes on, he felt like he was being stabbed on and on. He rested the wrinkled newspaper on his desk and started to silently cry with his palm on his face.

Outside his office, a man holding the same newspaper on the same page, slammed open his door and dashed towards Hale. Seeing the newspaper on the table and Hale's chair turned against the door, he already figured it out. Without saying a word, he went back and locked the door.

"Hale, there's still a chance she's alive. One body is still being excavated from the rubble and another is missing. She can be either of those two" the man said trying to convince him and to ease the pain he's feeling right now. The man quietly sat at the chair before Hale's desk. He waited for him to calm down.

Feeling a little hope, Hale dried his eyes and faced his friend who's patiently waiting for him,  and gave him a sad smile. "You're right" he said. "There's still a chance". "I've already contacted the police, they permitted me to go and check at the site" he paused and looked at him with determination. "Please let me handle this". There was silence before Hale spoke up "Thank you Luigi".

"Thank you for trusting me on this. I'll update you when I get there" Luigi patted Hale's shoulder and dashed out of the door gently. Directly going down at the basement parking, he went straight into his car and get in. He paused. He took a deep breath and started his engine.

After a four-hour drive, he reached the Hasfia province. As he drives his way up, he saw that the people are all wearing black. But what's strange is they all looked determined about something. Luigi then recalled what he read. They're looking for the murderers. They'll never stop until they have avenged their masters.

He parked his car near the police cars and went towards the team leader. "Good morning sir" he greeted, his voice booming with authority. "As to you sir" the team leader greeted back. "Have you located and identified all the bodies?" Luigi asked. The team leader flipped up some pages and paused. "Yes sir. One is already excavated and the other found not far from the manor. Both have been identified without the need of forensics. Everything is still intact aside from those holes made by bullets through their body." The team leader led him to the van where the bodies are and unzipped one of the bags. Luigi's heartbeat began to escalate in nervousness and anticipation waiting for the team leader to identify those two. The team leader stepped aside to show the person in the bag he just unzipped.

"Sad to say sir but... she is one of them... miss Venice." The team leader's nonchalant voice almost made Luigi explode in front of him for not being sympathetic, and that the truth that his best friend and master is already gone. After a glance on the corpse, he turned away. The team leader zipped the bag and seemed to have noticed that the officer is displeased, so he spoke up, and tried to sound sympathetic. "I'm sorry sir, please send our regards to the General". Luigi sighed, able to suppress his anger. "And the other?" He asked trying to sound calm, ignoring the team leader's fake statement. "A cousin" the team leader shortly answered.

"A request letter for the complete result of the investigation will be sent to your office shortly. I suppose your office do not want to upset the General for not delivering his demand right after the completion of the findings" Luigi's voice threatening with authority and power made the team leader quiver for he knows what happens to those people. It can either be exile or death, and he doesn't want any of the two. "Don't worry sir, it will be sent immediately" the team leader replied wishing that the officer have nothing else left to stay. But to his dismay, there's more.

"Have you retrieved something from her?" Luigi asked, his eyes looked at him like snipers ready to fire. "Yes sir, a locket and a ring". "Show me" Luigi commanded and the team leader did not hesitate to lead him towards one of the police cars. From the driver's seat, the team leader pulled out a specimen bag containing the items he just mentioned and handed it to the officer who seemed to have softened after setting his eyes on the objects in the bag. "When will I be able to get this from the office?" He asked the team leader who was surprised to hear the officer speak so softly like his spine has been taken away from him. "We can deliver it to you sir at the same day with the findings" the team leader proposed but Luigi shook his head in disagreement. "Can I have it in advance before the delivery of the findings?" Luigi asked, almost a plea. The team leader wondered how the possessions of the dead was able to tame a wild tiger. However it is, he quite get the gist of it. "Possible sir, we'll call for you when it's ready" the team leader agreed. "Thank you" Luigi said and gave back the bag. "Have a good day". Luigi went directly back into his car and drove off. His hands trembled as he steer the wheel to park his car at a space off the road. Tears silently crept down his cheeks. The moment he calmed down, he told his friend the bad news.

Luigi drove back to the office without hesitation. Work now, mourn later, he told himself a lot of times because he knows that Hale would do the same. But even by doing so, he doubt that either of them would be able to work properly after what they had just heard today.

He scanned his ID and entered his pass-code at the metal double door that leads to his office. "Welcome back, Colonel" the AI installed within his office greeted then closed the door the moment he entered. He slumped heavily on his sofa and squinted his eyes against the bright light at the ceiling of his office.

He doesn't feel like facing Hale right now because he had failed his friend. He's given him hope that now made things more painful. But Hale's not the only one who had hoped. He did too. They may notice it or not, but he's a lot more damaged by Venice's death than it does to Hale.