Fic - The Irregularity of Death - Chapter Seven - Reputation
Thursday, April 10th, 2014 01:36 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
elfowlgirl posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
mindcrackloveChapter Seven: Reputation
“If the cause of death is not specified, the person will simply die of a heart attack.”
Mysterious Deaths Terrorize Crofton!
Another person was found dead today. Kalia Leonhardt, known serial robber, dropped dead in the midst of a robbery on a local homeowner and was found only once the homeowner returned. Her cause of death has been ruled a heart attack.
The anonymous homeowner confirmed that nothing had been taken before her death and that nothing was left amidst, save a strange sheet of paper on which Leonhardt had written “for justis” [sic] shortly before her death. She is the third criminal to be found dead in such fashion.
This is only the latest in a series of bizarre deaths across Crofton, the first thought to be the suicide of local University of Crofton sophomore, Pakratt Cobberly. Initially starting with several suicides located around Croft’s Quarry, the supposed cause is believed to be related to someone known only by the alias “Vechs”. The police have investigated the claims though so far, nothing has been found. There are believed to be as many as eight suicides related to this mysterious “Vechs”.
Meanwhile, the criminal deaths, until found to be similarly related, have been attributed to a man dubbed the “Justis Killer”, as there is no known connection between the criminals, nor do they have any history of heart problems, or of the suicide deaths of depression.
---
It was what Etho could now consider, for the most part, a “normal day”.
He would hang out with Pause and Beef during school, sometimes after school if they weren’t busy. Probably the only bright side of his day, in comparison to the brief glances from Vechs at lunch and the occasional note left “anonymously” in his locker.
This note was different than usual - “Meet me after school”. So he did.
He found the familiar convertible in the parking lot, Vechs in his usual garb, relaxing in the driver’s seat and watching him in the mirror.
“Before you ask, I talked to Beef today and he said he and Pause were busy after school, studying from some test or the other, and that you don’t usually join them. Which meant you were free this afternoon. ...Mostly because of your apparent suspicion that the pair of them are either having a make-out session behind your back or telling the truth and studying. You don’t really care so long as they’re both happy and Pause graduates high school.”
“What? How - have you been -”
“Watching way too many crime shows? Yes. They’ve been keeping me thinking several steps ahead.” The second Etho got into his seat, his companion put his hand on the gearshift and quickly sped out of the lot.
“Back to why you’re here. I’ve got a bit of a… I suppose you could call it a reward, for the wonderful work you’ve done for me with little to no complaints. I’ll admit I expected you to break sooner.”
Etho gave him a sidelong glance from the passenger’s seat. “You offered me pretty much anything I want, plus my friends’ freedom in exchange for my eye. What else could you possibly have to give me?”
The driver, to his credit, kept his eyes on the road. “An experience. A very unique experience.”
They each sat in uneasy silence until they entered the house. Vechs led the way up the staircase, taking the same turn that headed into his room. As he reached into the closet for the hidden door, Etho looked warily about the front room. “I’ve only been up here once. And that was after…”
Vechs grinned. “Exactly.”
The disguised entranceway slid open, and the two of them headed into the back.
It had somewhat noticeably changed since the last time Etho had last visited. Six screens hung around the PC, three attached to the wall, the other three sitting on the desk. A smaller, somewhat less comfortable chair was set next to the larger chair in front of the computer. Stuck to the ceiling above the bed was a pinboard with several newspaper clippings pinned to it; a few words stuck out from the headlines, including “missing”, “suicide”, “death”, and “murder”.
Zisteau relaxed in his usual perch on the bed, nursing another bottle of alcohol with a cheerful grin. He took a swig. “Heyo, E. Didn’t expect to see you here again so soon.”
“Didn’t expect to be here.” The teen gestured questioningly with one hand to the smaller chair, and Vechs nodded his approval. Etho sat. “Now will you explain why I’m here?”
“Of course!” Vechs collapsed into the seat next to him. “Chinese food should be getting here soon for dinner, got you the same stuff you ordered a couple weeks ago at lunch if you don’t mind. You’re welcome to help yourself to anything in the kitchen, too, but I need to go shopping soon so the place is practically empty.” He looked over to the Shinigami. “And, of course, I ordered some more Belgian Ale.”
“Where do you get the alcohol, anyway?” Etho asked with a pointedly raised eyebrow.
“There are thirteen places in Crofton that sell the stuff, five of which I can purchase it from - and of those five, three that don’t care about age and the other two of which I can gleefully pay off. They all deliver.” He reached below the desk to turn on the PC - the screens all lit up in turn. “Anyway, you’re here because you have the outstanding privilege of watching me work. Work, meaning Super Hostile.”
“So you wanted me here… so I can join you in the kidnapping and eventual murder that you partake in on a weekly basis?”
“Exactly! Well, maybe.” A few notes of the startup sound played. “Pigderp does the kidnapping, and I don’t technically murder anybody… but yeah. I thought you might like to see what happens to the people you ‘help’ me with.” Vechs put one arm around Etho. “What d’you say?”
He didn’t respond for several seconds, continuing to watch Vechs with quiet care. “Who are they? The ones... competing tonight.”
“They’re the last two you helped me scope out. I believe you know them both already - Jason ‘Guude’ Boulderfist, and John ‘BdoubleO’ Bubble?”
Etho sighed, his voice shaking as he spoke. “The l-longer we’re at this, Vechs, the harder I find it to keep from…”
“I know!” The ringing of the doorbell sounded from below them. “Ah, that’d probably be the Chinese, it always gets here first. Zisteau, you can head out now.”
The pigman gave a quick nod before phasing through the floor, bottle still wrapped tightly in his grip.
Vechs got up from his chair and headed for the door. “I’ll be right back with our food in a sec.”
As he went down the stairs, Etho could hear whistling. He could recognize the tune easily enough… They’d learned it some years ago in music class.
Late last night, when we were all in bed,
Old Lady Leary lit a lantern in the shed.
And when the cow kicked it over,
She winked her eye and said...
Under his breath, he murmured the last line of the song. “There’ll be a hot time in this old town, tonight.”
no subject
Date: Thursday, April 10th, 2014 06:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Thursday, April 10th, 2014 09:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Thursday, April 10th, 2014 09:41 am (UTC)I liked the "watching too many crime shows" part. 'Cause they're basically living in one. (And plus, the idea and mental image is funny.)