Chapter 8 Hell Is Open
Lina's POV
I went home straight to catch a good sleep.
I didn't care.
I knew I had a lot to cover, but I clearly need this sleep. It seems like I'm beginning to lose my mind without sleep.
I made it into my apartment and carefully let my bag slip to the floor, then my heels flung at two different corners of the room, and BOOM, I hit the bed so hard.
I fell asleep almost immediately.
Another day to get dressed, head to work and face my one and only annoying Senior Detective, Rashon.
The station stared ahead at me as I walked into the familiar building, the environment whispered nothing but regular routine—the consistent click of typewriters, murmured discussions, and occasional flipping of pages.
I was surprised to see Father Eron at the station already, he's damn early today.
“Afternoon!” He yelped.
“Hi,” I sighed, taking a seat next to him.
“You're early.” I chimed with a silent sense of surprise in my voice.
“Yh, I was able to round up the church's morning service a bit earlier, so I thought of showing up.” He explained.
“Hmm…that's thoughtful.” I hinted.
“Thanks.” He smiled.
I was just about to pass an instruction when a sudden scream tore through the station.
A woman's voice, loud and desperate, echoed through the hallway, sending everyone to stop on their track and listen to the scream which was getting louder and weirder.
“What's that?” I asked, while I carefully conditioned my ears to listen detailedly.
Eron didn't say a word, he flung me a glance—clearly trying to say he's just as confused as well.
Few officers rushed outside to see what's really happening, while others remained quiet, trying to capture each scream.
I was curious too, so I jolted upright from my seat and stormed through the front door, towards the entrance where the scream enraged from.
Father Eron stumbled behind me.
I stormed out of the station only to see that a young looking woman had created a big scene out of her scream already.
People stopped on their tracks to watch her, the security officers stood at the entrance frozen, an officer paused while in the middle of sipping his coffee.
Every soul in the station was suddenly drawn to the woman's desperate cry—causing chaos and destruction.
The screaming woman soon began to sob while she cursed at everyone loudly. Her words suddenly fuzzed into an accusation, but the desperation and pain in her tone was impossible to ignore.
Without saying a word, Eron and I exchanged suspicious glances.
“Why am I feeling like I've met this woman before?” I whispered to myself.
“Do we know her?” I asked softly.
“There she is,” Eron muttered, his voice suddenly dropping with excitement.
I turned sharply; “Who?” I blurted and my gaze suddenly met with Eron's.
“The REVEALER!” He proclaimed, his eyes narrowing with satisfaction.
“Wait, what?!” I asked, confused and left behind.
“I thought you said Revealers were always fully covered?” I whispered, my expression was still trapped in confusion.
“Yh…I said so.” Eron stammered, now sounding unsure.
“So why isn't she fully covered? She's fucking wearing a gown above her knee and she has no gloves and red-ass glasses on!” I growled.
Eron's lips flew open; “I've no idea, but I think something is wrong.” He managed to say.
“Bring her in!” I hissed and stumbled back into the station.
Eron stepped forward, carefully addressing the bickering women, until he convinced her to put away her scream and come with her.
Eron guided her inside and brought her to my office.
“Please sit.” I said softly.
She hesitated before she sat down. She was trembling and wiping her tears away with the back of her palm.
I took the untouched bottle of table water on my desk and offered it to her but she refused it. I didn't push, I simply placed it before her, in case she changed her mind.
“I know who you're and I can only tell you that we're doing everything we can to bring your daughter back.” I said softly, sitting across from her—expecting that she understands. “I know how you feel, but I promise you, we're doing our best, and your daughter is our priority.” I added, staring straight into swollen eyes.
“No,” She suddenly snapped, slamming her hand hard on my table, pulling the attention of others around.
I jolted a bit.
“I can’t wait around anymore, the cops are sleeping on this. Is it until our children die?” She fired back.
“We're trying our best….” I tried to explain but she cut me short mid-sentence.
“I know where my child is!” She suddenly uttered.
“What?” I chimed.
“There's this place…I always dream of it since my daughter's disappearance. I think I can find her there, I've tried to go…but it seems like I'm missing something…it's not what I think…it's something beyond what we can see.” She cried.
“Wh…what are you talking about?” I stuttered.
“You have to come with me…I can't go alone…it's asking for you!…” She murmured, her voice was trembling.
Fear suddenly filled me, as I shifted my gaze up—glancing at Father Eron. And in that silence, I melted away.
“Ex…excuse me? What do you mean…it's asking for me?” I shrieked.
“The more I try to cross over, it keeps showing me some faces, and your face, I see among them. I think these faces are the ones that must come with me if I really want to save my child.” She explained—she looked too serious to be joking about this.
But it sounds like a joke to me, I can't believe this is happening to me.
“Umm…I'm sorry, Eron, could you please take her statement and round this up, I need to…umm…use the ladies room.” I muttered as I excused myself.
Fuck, I was getting scared already, I could've melted away if I hadn't left.
I used the backdoor and strolled out of the station—rubbing my forehead from the sudden ache.
I sighed and took a walk to my car. I sat in the driver's seat and exhaled sharply.
I needed a break.
Fuck, I swear I'm going crazy.
Without hesitating, I turned on the ignition and drove away—heading towards a coffee shop, to grab coffee, I needed it to calm down.
I parked across the street and walked towards the coffee shop.
The bell above the door jingled as I walked in. It was calm and peaceful, I guess that's what I came to seek—the peacefulness, the quietness, and not the coffee.
I ordered an iced coffee and took a seat by the window so I could stare outside while I enjoyed my coffee.
I stared at the cars and the passersby, further entertaining my eyes.
I needed this.
I let the cold sip slow away my thoughts so I wouldn't go crazy—yet. But I bet this is gonna be one heck of a case.
I loved how calm this place was not until a commotion erupted—flaring away the serenity in the room.
A waitress was violently yelling at a customer.
“No money? Then leave! That's what you bitches do, you all are gonna dress in fancy-luxurious designers but damn, you can't even afford to pay for a goddamn coffee.” The waitress yelled disrespectfully.
“That was so rude.” I thought.
I flicked my eyes towards the counter only to catch a glimpse of a woman standing awkwardly near the cashier, her bag widely open as she was ruffling through her things—looking for cash.
“I had it…I swear it was just here…someone must have taken my wallet…!” The woman tried to explain while she kept on searching her bag desperately, but the waitress was extremely rude and she wasn’t entertaining the woman's explanations.
The woman was well dressed and I simply would believe her if she said her wallet was stolen.
She doesn't seem like she can't afford a single cup of coffee.
I observed her demeanor—she felt embarrassed and humiliated. The waitress didn't even care to listen to her, she kept on using harsh words on her.
So I decided to step in.
I stood up and walked towards them, gentle but rigid.
“That’s enough. I’ll pay for her.” I simply said, interrupting the bickering waitress.
The woman suddenly turned around to face me and I was shocked to see that it was Kate all this while—Kate, the therapist, the same one I visited her office yesterday.
“Kate?” I called out in shock.
“De…detective Lina?” She murmured, embarrassment etched all over her tired face.
“Wait…I…I swear I'd my wallet here. I just came for some coffee and I couldn't find my wallet anymore…” Kate explained, her eyes were filled with frustration.
“I understand, it happened to me before.” I chuckled—sliding my card across the counter to pay for her order.
“Thank you, detective. I really appreciate it.” She sighed.
“It's fine.” I smiled and turned towards the door to walk away.
“Detective Lina,” Kate called out, she sounded urgent as if she just remembered something.
I paused on my track and turned slightly to face her—my fingers tightening around the cold cup of coffee in my hand.
“I'm willing to help…I want to be a part of the investigation.” She said, finally showing a sign of agreement.
For a moment I didn't say a word, I only stood there, glancing at her.
Then with a soft smile, I whispered; “Thanks!” And I walked out of the coffee shop, a soft smile still lingering on my lips.