Search : Faceless Killer

*Tap Tap Tap*

Shade's feet wobbled weakly with each step he took near his house.

The exhaustion piled up throughout the day has finally caught up to him after resting for a while.

It was around 6 p.m. when Shade finally returned home.

His dream adventure was actually a nightmare in disguise with a journey of walking for hours just to end up with nothing.

Luckily, after getting a proper network he was able to call for a cab. 

Though he had planned to pay online, his phone was also on the verge of dying so he had switched it off throughout the ride, desperately hoping that it would turn back on.

And at the end of all, he was finally back home with his whole body covered in dirt and his clothes drenched in sweat.

What's this smell? Is it coming from my clothes? No, it's from my shoes… Was the driver able to smell it as well?

Mix of hunger, anger and disgust was making him go crazy but right before his home's front door, he exhaled his breath and relaxed his facial muscles.

In his face there were no signs of mental or physical fatigue nor any extreme expressions left.

"Oh- hey."

"Welcome home, it seems like your trip went well." Irina greeted him at the entrance of the house with her arms crossed. 

Trip? Oh!

"Yes, my trip. It was a long journey, anyway, tell mom and dad that I'm back and about my trip."

With a stern straight face, he replied nonchalantly while avoiding her eye contact.

"Sure. I also wanted a favour from you."

"Deal." 

He was too tired to choose between options.

Following the conversation with Irina, he had literally no recollection of whatever happened from then on.

It was like a fever dream, the memories were only remembered as images. 

Images of being in the bathroom, an image of nibbling something in the kitchen, then that of his bedroom and lastly talking about something with Irina. 

The next day this nightmare continued with constant pain and muscle soreness in his legs. 

This was surely the most he has ever walked in his entire life after all.

Fortunately he was conscious enough last evening to ask Irina to lie for him.

"Shade, you should be more active for your age, why don't you go on some more trips."

"If you feel exhausted you should take this time to relax properly, your school won't be open for another 2 weeks right?"

He didn't know what Irina had talked to his parents but it sure did wonders for him. Rather than getting complaints he was getting support from them.

Though it won't happen again.

The experience had left a painful impact both physically and mentally.

Locking himself in his room, he sat in front of his laptop thinking about yesterday's events.

OR and LL. 

If the letters CB were indeed Chandler's initials then finding about the other two people from somebody close to Chandler like Camille wouldn't be so hard.

But the thought of involving her in this mess made Shade highly uncomfortable.

[ |Search| Relics ]

He typed about the words he was most conflicted about.

A Relic, according to Irina's rude explanation, it was an object that could perform supernatural phenomenons.

By simple definition it was supposed to be an object that had survived since earlier times.

And the search results were also the same.

[ |Search| Golden rosary relic ]

Some more options about purchasing started appearing on his screen yet nothing even remotely related to the topics he was looking for.

[ |Search| Freedom relic ]

[ |Search| Revolution relic ]

[ |Search| Dusk relic ]

[ |Search| Supernatural deaths with black dice ]

One search after another, a very cryptic reason started seeming like a correct answer.

Since no search results were produced, then no such things may exist.

Which would be improbable, considering the fact that Irina, Chandler, the writer of the message and LL and OR communicated using such terms.

So if those things existed yet he couldn't find them…

Then the information is being held back.

He picked up his phone and dialed a number.

"Yo, Kale."

["You are Shade, right?"] 

A tired husky voice flew back from the other side of the phone.

"Who else has your number except your family and me?"

["No, it's rare seeing you be the first to contact. In fact, I think this may be the first time this had happened."]

Kale was Shade's friend that was always avid for supernatural things and conspiracy theories.

"Could be. Anyway, have you heard about something called Relics?"

["Relics? Like the city's old tower?"]

"No, something more supernatural. Also, have you heard about any odd deaths or something?"

["When did you start believing in superstitions? Also I sent you something like that just a few days ago, you didn't see?"]

Few days ago…

["Shade? The ghost wire article? You said you'll see it but you lied right?"]

"Heh? I don't remember at all, you send so many weird things that I can't watch them all."

["But I personally told you to watch that one! You even said that you'll watch it that day!"]

"You did? Yeah, you did… I wonder why I didn't watch it. Sorry, I must have fallen asleep before watching it."

["Then go watch it, I have online classes in a few minutes so I'll call you later, you have better watched it by then!"]

The call hung up after Kale's direct warning.

And it was clear that Kale was more interested in the odd deaths part rather than Relics. 

Shade did not even got the chance to speak about the government hiding Relics from the populace.

Even internet dwellers are unaware of Relics.

He could still rack up theories but nothing would be concrete with his current level of knowledge.

*Click*

The sound of his door open made him shiver in his chair.

When he turned around, he saw Irina entering unannounced in his room.

"What the..." He held back cursing but was still confused by the situation.

Thinking back she opened my locked drawer when we met that night and my room's door last night as well. 

"Why are you here?" He made an obvious displeased face while speaking.

"Yesterday, can you tell me what was the story behind the card?"

"Hmm?"

His thoughts suddenly switched gears and started running wild.

A puzzle, meet someone before 4, an abandoned shop, the black dice.

'-can you do me a favour?'

Why was Irina a participant as well?

Meeting her for the first time just two days ago, he was quite sure that she was another participant as well.

But she had been acting more as a guide rather than another participant till now. Her knowledge regarding most matters was also higher than him.

And most importantly, she had one. 

She has a Relic. 

"Shade?"

"Why?"

"Why would you show me?"

"Yes, why should I reveal what I found? Weren't we in a give and take relationship?"

He got lost in thoughts for a few seconds but acted as if nothing went astray.

"I guess, you're right. Relics, you are interested in them right? I'll tell you about them."

"?!"

How did she…

Regardless of what he thought, he was not going to find any answers.

And after yesterday's events, Shade had hit an obvious dead end and would not be able proceed without any help from Irina.

Letting out a long sigh, he picked up his phone and handed it over to her.

Taking it, she comfortably settled down on his bed.

Seeing her focused on his phone, Shade took the topmost book on his table and sat down beside her.

"Is this the shop mentioned on the card?"

"…"

He chose to ignore any words that escaped from her mouth and concentrated his eyes on the book.

Irina was a participant in Chandler's mysterious quest. If so then she must have been involved for a long time.

But if not she was a guide set for Shade to safely interact with the hidden world.

Eventually, all the information that Shade had recorded on his phone was consumed by Irina.

Instead of now answering his question or silently leaving his room.

She started using her own phone and dropped her upper body on his bed, laying down comfortably beside him.

Does she want something more from me? 

He could only assume that.

Also a little privacy please. Now I know what being in a relationship feels like... How did she even open my locked door?! 

There were many things he wanted to say but he kept quiet and continued reading his book.

"It's time, we should get dressed."

"What?"

He was bewildered by her sudden announcement.

"It's our first date. You promised to go out with me yesterday."

Promised?

Was that what they talked about yesterday evening?

Either way, this wasn't something that hard to fulfill.

But before answering her, he gazed at the clock ticking on the wall.

[1:46]

"I'm assuming we are not going alone on this date."

"Don't feel sad about it, my friends are someone you will definitely like and appreciate."

"And they are going to answer my question?"

She slightly bows her head in agreement before leaving the room.