Fallen Wonderland

I never thought that once I took that step, my first step into that room, I will witness a scene that will be forever engraved in my memory. Not really a wonderful memory if I may say so. That red sticky liquid flowing on the floor under my feet. My best friend lying on his bed innocently as the blanket covers him. It was such a horrifying scene. “Mr. Kingsley? Are you listening to me?” A man asked to me. He's not familiar but the uniform he was wearing was very familiar. It was of a detective from the famous agency. “Ah… yeah…” I said, not really sure what is happening anymore. Maybe I am dreaming. I tried to snap out of this dream but everything seems to be so real. “’Seems that's not the case sir. I would like to introduce myself again. I am Lucas Klein, a detective sent from the Crimson Moon agency as how civilians should call it. Just call me Luke if you'd like.” He said as he showed his hand and we shook hands. “I know it must be hard seeing your friend like that but we need your cooperation. Would you please help to justify the end of your best friend's life?” He said to me as I noticed how carefully he chose his words for me. Now I remember, that's right, I saw it. My best friend died. “I would—“ "Well, you're so naive Luke!" I looked to the source of the interruption and was shocked to see a young lad with mask covering half of his face with a man behind him. “No need for his approval, it is highly possible that he’ll take the offer. For someone as soft as the heart of the young lad who played the innocent detective, he’ll accept it as he thinks it is his responsibility. Isn't that right, Arthur Kingsley?” The young lad said as he pointed his unfinished lollipop to my way. I was shocked not at how he knew my name but at how he seems to almost read my mind. “I am not reading your mind. I am simply deducting from what your face says. But it is mostly your eyes, don't you agree to me Nick?” He said as a man stood beside him. The tall man he called Nick is now clapping and smiling at the young lad. “Just what I would expect from Master Nero. Please excuse our rudeness. I am Nicolas Klein and this here is my young master. Known to the outside world as the Black Detective or Master Nero.” The tall man now named as Nicolas bowed down and as I heard his surname, a confusion came up to me. I looked towards Lucas only to find him frowning. “I believe that I didn’t receive any papers noting the permission for you two to participate in this big case that is handed down to me.” Lucas said with an irritated tone. I'm still confused as to what these two guys have as a relationship. “I don't quite remember such a useless paper but if you're asking for the paper sent to me with a seal, I may or may not have burned it. Aren't you glad? I made that paper of high quality into good use. It produced such a pleasant fragrance and warmth as it burned in the fireplace.” The young lad said and I stood there gaping on how this young lad seems to be so brave. On the other hand, Lucas was so mad; he was fuming and his face so red. Then the young lad laughed. He laughed so loud that people were now looking towards us. "How naive of you Luke to believe that I'll burn that! I am surprised on how naive you are! You never cease to amuse me. It would be wonderful if I had a mirror with me and gave it to you but sadly I don't. And as a prize for giving me an amusement, I reward to you the mail that was given to me by your agency. Nick!" The young lad said and now Lucas was really mad. Just on time, Nicolas came and handed him the mail. Lucas angrily took the paper from the grasp of Nicolas' hands. "If I may say so, this case truly amazes me. I would have never thought to encounter a house like this. Filled with only regrets and scary intent, and not just any kind of intent if I may add to that! It is truly amazing and terrifying to find such a house full of murder intent." The young lad said as Lucas continue to read the letter handed to him. I noticed something under that mask of his. There was a glint on his eyes and he was smirking on which he suddenly changed into an emotionless face. Lucas finished reading and I can see that he's not glad to have read whatever is written inside that letter. "Much to my displeasure, we'll be working together from now on Black Detective. Now, enough of the chit chat. We shall head inside and about your approval Mr. Kingsley?" Lucas said as he suddenly turned their attention to me. As much as I don't want to remember that scene, I would like to know what happened to my dear best friend. "No need to be so polite Lucas. You can just call me Arthur. Regarding your offer, I would like to take you up on that." I said with such high confidence to him. Never once in my life did I think to stumble upon an experience like this. I have done a detective character many times in a stage but never did I assist in solving a case. "Well, aren't you too dazed King Arthur? We'll be going ahead inside then." Said the young lad that seems to serve as to snap me out of my train of thoughts. I saw them heading inside and I followed, not wanting to find where they are. "Why call me King Arthur, Black Detective?" I asked the young lad on our way to my friend's room and he smirked. "It seems I wasn't wrong in calling you that. Why so polite, your highness? Just call me Nero." He said then just before I asked anything else, it seems like we've arrived at our destination. "Well, if this isn't an amazing room, I don't know what the word amazing is anymore!" Nero shouted as he entered the room and glanced around. Lucas followed and so do I. As we enter, I just noticed that Nicolas wasn't there. "Pardon me Nero but it seems like Nicolas isn't here." I said then Nero looked at me. The spark in his eyes was lost when he was looking at the room and now changed in an emotionless one. But I could somehow see that there is anger inside. "Are you talking about Nick? Didn't you notice him leave just before we went inside the house? If I remember correctly, he needed to take care of some paper works we left at home. And by the way, you can call him Nick, not like he would mind it." He said to me and continued to look around the room. "Is that so?" I asked still worried about Nicolas... no, I mean Nick. I continued walking got scared the spirit out of me when Nero suddenly called me. "Well, King Arthur! I need your help. Would you mind giving me any information you know about the victim?" Nero asked as he suddenly appeared before me in a very close distance. That surprised me resulting in me sitting on the ground. "Don't go sprouting like a mushroom in front of me in a very close distance! You scared my spirit out of my body!" I shouted as I stood up dusting my pants. He straightened his body and smirked. “Oh, why would you be so surprised King? It's not like I'm a girl you should avoid and you're surely not the type to be scared of things that surprises you.” He said while smirking and continued to observe the whole room. “Right, but still refrain from doing that. So what would you like to know about that you needed to ask me?” I asked him and fully entered the room. I was at the doorway earlier and now I’m at the middle of the room. I did the same as him, glancing around the room. “Oh, just some basic information. Right, I’ll just ask Luke to make him useful.” He said then turned his head towards Lucas. “I heard that! Well, he's the well-known surgeon, Eduardo Sison. He's only 29 years old and single. Father is alive and biological mother is unknown. Step-mother is alive and he has a younger half-brother who is 20 years old. Anything else you want to know?” Lucas said despite the complains he said. Well, it's job after all. “You forgot the basic information I was asking for, Luke! You forgot the information about the crime scene and suspects.” Nero said with such annoyed and irritated voice that made Lucas flinch. Lucas then looked at my way. “Well, about that… we still haven’t asked the suspects because we need Arthur’s help but the estimated time of death, cause of death, and time of discovery is here. He was reported at 5:10 AM but we all arrived at 6 because it was a long way. According to the autopsy report, he died around 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM due to blood loss.” Lucas said then as if to give me a cue to speak, he narrowed his eyes towards me. I was confused at first but finally found out the meaning. “I came here at 5 in the morning to ask Ed to jog with me. Ed is my best friend and my personal doctor as well as for my mom. I arrived here around 5:03 AM then heard Celia – his secretary – scream. I ran to his room’s balcony and saw Celia scared there and found him dead.” I said to Nero and I saw him smirked. That caused me to tilt my head in confusion. “You're quite calm at this, seeing as this is your first time seeing a murder victim.” He said to me and that caused me to somehow laugh a bit. I smiled at him with sincerity. “It's because it's not my first time.” I said which probably shocked everyone at the room. You know, it's the forensic team and Lucas. As I stare at Nero, I saw a change in his expression but it soon died out. “Well, how about the suspects? Shall we investigate them? I'll help out.” He said to Lucas that snapped him out of his shock and his face turned to horror. “You mean you'll join? You do remember what happened last time you joined, right?” Lucas said with such a terrified and traumatized voice. What did Nero do? Of course, he smiled or more like smirked or in short, a smile that will never do good. “I do remember! How about you King Arthur? Want to join and help us out? They might relax if it's you there.” Nero said to me and I nodded. I also wanted to hear it from them. Why did they let such a man die? “Well then, let's all head to the recreation room then! I had them gathered there.” Nero said and lead us the way. That surprised me that he knows the place and already gathered the people. After a short walk, we arrived. And as we enter, there I saw the people who are the suspects and the people who let Eduardo die. “Now… I accept the challenge.” I heard Nero mumble as we entered the room. And to be honest, I found that phrase cool.