Le miroir d'Eden

A/N: This idea has been lurking in my mind for a long time. I’ve always wanted to write a story clouded with mystery and tinged with suspense and thriller, so here it is! It’s rated for blood and gore that are described in detail (sometimes) and the implications of psychology. Okay, don’t let me babble on, enjoy!

Case 1: Black Cross

I see the crimson red staining my hands, my face, my soul. My heart is dully throbbing, but my mind feels strangely euphoric, victorious. I can hardly breathe, out of terror and exhilaration….. Where am I?

“Here’s the latest news-breaking report! There has been another murder in Illio Street, which happened between 1.20 to 2.00 a.m. The victim has been identified as a 16 year old boy, but we do not know his full identity yet. The police have confirmed that this latest murder is by the serial killer who has been responsible and wanted for a string of murder crimes the past few months. Codenamed “Black Cross” for the cross-like slash on the front and back of all his victims, he is said to be…..”

The voice disappeared as the color screen flickered to a small flash of white on a background of black, before being enveloped entirely and overpoweringly in the sea of darkness.

“Aa~ah….why do we have to be so busy!” A man with gelled-back hair and a tan complexion groaned as he stretched his long sleeved muscular arms as far back as he could. In front of him on the table was a huge pile of paper that he was convinced would never reduce its height.

“It’s because of Black Cross you know, he’s been giving the police force a lot of trouble.” Another man walked into the small cramped room, picking his way gingerly through the stray pieces of papers that littered the floor. Any wall space that could be used were taken up by shelves upon shelves of books and paper reports. He placed a small Styrofoam cup on a rare empty spot on the table. “Your coffee, Detective Aeron.”

“Thank you, Raygun. It’s been only one month since you came but what would I do without you?” He grinned sneakily. “I think I’m taking a break.” Aeron stood up, his ergonomic chair creaking in the process. With a swift movement, he wore his trench coat and gulped down the coffee. Giving the stunned Raygun a little wave, he strode out of the room.

“E-eh, wait a minute Detective Aeron you can’t just leave like that!”

“Fresh air.” Aeron breathed deeply with pleasure. “But it needs a little something…” He popped open his cigarette lighter and flicked it, directing the pinpoint of orange light to the receiving end of a slim, white cigarette. He put the cigarette into his mouth and inhaled. “A-grade perfect.”

His black worn shoe collided with an empty can that was rolling on the sidewalk, making him stumble forward as the aluminum tin crushed sickeningly. Aeron regained his balance and turned his head towards the culprit sitting by a shop window, his vein throbbing visibly on his temple as his mouth opened angrily. He never expected what he saw.

The culprit gazed at him with ice blue eyes, soulless and expressionless, sending chills down Aeron’s spine unexpectedly. Silky black hair hung in bangs, framing those eyes, and an equally frosted complexion, creating a breathtaking contrast. Aeron stared at him for a full minute, mesmerized, before he shook himself in anger.

He couldn’t believe it. Tough-nut, devil-may-care Detective Aeron, struck speechless by a mere school boy. School boy? Aeron walked purposely towards the boy and bent down, the sun behind his back casting a looming, intimidating shadow.

“I’ll forgive you for purposely littering the sidewalk, but not for the fact that you’re supposed to be in school right now, kid.” Aeron raised an eyebrow, jabbing at the school badge above the pocket, a yellow crescent moon in a red rope which ended in a significant knot of some design. Getting no response, just that unblinking ice blue gaze, he tilted his head to read the blue name tag above the badge.

“Seraph…that’s your name? Fancy.” Aeron commented dryly. “Well, little angel, I’m afraid you have to return to class.” An icy blue gaze. “By hook or by crook.” He glared at the boy.

Silently, the boy unfolded his green clad legs and stood up, revealing to Aeron a slim, almost shapely feminine built. Seraph moved calmly, his slender, iris-white hands moving elegantly into his pockets as he walked serenely away.

Aeron’s jaw dropped open. “He ignored me just like that? He ignored me, t-the cheek!”

Raygun scratched his chin thoughtfully as he stared down at the bloody spectacle. Around him yellow tape surrounded the scene, keeping inquisitive, curious and equally depressing people out. He turned towards Aeron, who was standing beside him in his brown trench coat, smoking his cigarette as he swept a glance at the mangled body.

“Report, Raygun.”

“Yes sir. The murder occurred at approximately 2.30 a.m. The victim seems to be in his mid 20s, wounds suffered: three stabs at the throat with a small blade, presumably a pen knife, right wrist broken, and,” Raygun took a deep breath, “Four long wounds by the same blade in the shape of the cross, on his chest and back.”

“Our resident Black Cross again.” Aeron’s eye caught a glimpse of yellow half soaked in crimson, but otherwise still yellow. He knelt down beside the mangled throat of the corpse, and reached a gloved hand, retrieving the yellow thing.

Raygun cleared his throat, a disgusted look in his face. “This concludes the fourth murder case by Black Cross in this month. Sir, what is that?”

“Congratulate me Raygun. I think I’ve just found an important clue.” Aeron grinned, holding out the stained red yellow thing in his open palm. Raygun squinted at it.

“Looks half ripped. The two ends conclude in a half curved point… almost like a crescent moon. Do you suppose it belongs to Black Cross?”

Aeron rubbed the side of his head. Yellow, crescent moon… where had he seen it before……It was somewhere in his memory, but he couldn’t seem to remember.

He slipped the evidence into the plastic, sealing it and thrusting it over to Raygun to label. “Raygun, you finish up the rest. I’m returning to the office.”

Aeron walked down the pavement, inhaling and exhaling out semi transparent, gray smoke from his cigarette, deep in thought, not of the murder, but of the boy he had met three days ago. Seraph. That haunting looking pretty boy. Why is it I can’t get him out of my mind? I want to see him again, and find out the truth behind those icy eyes. The secret he hides.

Somehow or other he’d walked himself to the dirty end of the street, the slums. As he strode past a dark, seemingly abandoned alley, something made him turn his head slightly. Unable to focus in the unusual darkness of the lane in the stark bright sun light, he blinked a few times. He made out several silhouettes, surrounding an unseen.

Aeron clenched his teeth, willing himself to turn away. Whatever happened in the slums wasn’t for a detective to resolve. Just then, a stray ray of sun pierced through the frozen darkness, and at that very moment the silhouettes stepped back, giving him a glimpse of the silky raven-black hair he had been losing his thoughts on the past three days. And that was enough.

He strode into the alley, a stone-cold expression on his face. “What the hell do you punks think you’re doing?”

A man, presumably their leader stepped out, a sneering look on his face. “Hey mister, you shouldn’t interfere in our affairs if you know what’s good for ya.”

Aeron looked down his nose at him coolly. “I know this guy you’re assaulting, and trust me I won’t stand there --- holy shit!” He turned his head to gesture and instead saw the boy slumped against the wall, blood dripping down his iris-colored face, his black hair a curtain covering his eyes. Seraph’s school shirt stained with blood stuck out at angles, looking untucked… but then, there was nothing to tuck it in. The boy’s green pants hung around his ankles in a miserable heap.

Aeron felt as though his head was swimming. “You pieces of shit, you’re doing what to him?!”

“Beautiful ain’t he? Since you dare come here, we’d give you a taste of him too--- argh!”

The man couldn’t finish his sentence as a huge fist appeared in his line of sight a split second before it slammed into his jaw. Aeron kicked another man in the shin, and another in his stomach sending them both crashing into the opposite wall. With fire blazing in his brown eyes, he stood in front of the boy. “Who’s messing with me next?”

“Shit.. watch out, we’ll get you!” The remaining others shouted menacingly before taking off.

Aeron rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the boy who was lying unconscious against the wall. “How can you fall unconscious at a time like this?” He fumed. “Where am I going to take you?!”

As he hoisted the delicate boy up on his shoulders, grumbling incessantly under his breath, he never noticed the spot above the boy’s pocket. The school badge was missing the top point of its yellow crescent moon.