I was trying to continue sleeping but the constant ringing sound in my head wouldn't let me. I tried to shake off the noise but it only became more annoying.

I opened my eyes reluctantly. All I saw was white, though a bit blurry. I blinked a few times. Where was I?

The last thing I remember is falling unconscious in front of Brian's apartment. Where did I end up? I shuffled a bit and sat up. Pain shot up in my head as I grabbed it hard to stop the pain. But there was something around my head. I felt the soft thing with my hands and realised that my head was bandaged.

At the same time, I heard footsteps and looked up to see someone approaching. I squinted my eyes to see better. It was someone tall but my eyesight was still blurry. As the man approached me, the light in front of me was covered by his head, forming a halo around his head. I chuckled to myself. Is this an angel?

I kept staring at him until my sight became less blurry. When I could see clearly, I jumped back against the bed clutching the bedsheet.

"Oh, devil!"

"Really now?" An amused voice shot back.

If I was not mistaken, this tall guy with black hair and green eyes seemed awfully familiar. A bit too familiar.

Right when I was about to speak, the door opened and in came Eliyah, with something in a paper bag. She threw it on my lap and sat down on a chair next to the bed.

"You just woke up?" Eli asked with a blank face. Well not really a blank face; it seemed a kind of dark and threatening type of blank face.

"Yeah...the friend gathering went well, I assume?" I asked tentatively with an awkward smile, trying to ignore another stare next to her.

"We found you on the floor wet, shivering, with blood pouring down your head, unconscious. We dragged your stupid ass to the hospital. And we have been waiting for you to wake up for three hours. It is now midnight. That's all you can say?"

I pulled Eli by her sleeve to bring her closer to me and leaning on her shoulder, I whispered, "Yeah, but what is the devil doing here?"

She glanced to Castiel and then back to me. "You, my dear, owe your life to Castiel here. If he didn't arrive as late as you and didn't find you, I can't imagine how long you would have remained unconscious at Brian's door," she said smugly.

"Don't exaggerate," I murmured and scowled. Then I glanced at him and made sure to glare at him for him to receive the message clear: No, I don't owe you. Really though, we meet after all these years like this. Why like this?

Eliyah stood up and motioned Castiel to sit in her place. "You can sit down. I'll just call the doctor and come back." I tried to grab her hand but all I received in my hand was air. She practically flew out of the room. Well her concern for me warms my heart.

Castiel slowly came over and sat down. I didn't look at him and nor did he look at me. He was just staring at his phone. There was an awkward silence. And I was getting thirsty. I coughed a bit. I coughed again. Then I coughed once more.

"Here," I heard and saw a glass of water placed in front of me. Without glancing sideways, I grabbed the glass of water. I gulped it all at once. I was so hungry as well. I reached for the paper bag and saw a burger in it. I've got such a good best friend.

As the burger was about to reach my mouth, I paused. I looked at Castiel. He was on his phone. I coughed to bring his attention right back to me. He glanced up, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Just for the record, I could have handled it alone. You didn't have to help me."

"Oh. I didn't intend to," he said like it was obvious.

"You didn't? Then why did you help me?" I asked surprised.

"Well, I was supposed to go to Brian's apartment. And you just happened to be blocking the way."

"Oh." Cue the embarrassment.

"Well, you could have just put me aside and entered," I said to myself under my breath.

"Anyway, I thought I was the one more likely to end up like this because of my job. Your job seems as much thrilling," he remarked dryly, looking me up and down. I looked down as well and noticed I got some cuts and scratches as well.

"Pfft, what would you know about my-"

His phone cut my sentence. He looked at his phone briefly and then looked at me. "Can I take this call?"

"Oh, you need my permission?"

"No, it was just a polite way of saying it," he said nonchalantly.

I took a deep breath and clenched my wrists. It had only been a few minutes and he was already driving me over the edge. Even my heartbeats became erratic, due to my suppressed anger for sure. This, in turn, was well reflected on the heart rate monitor beside my bed, which started beeping even faster. I blinked furiously at the monitor willing for it to disappear as my eyes went back to a very amused Castiel.

"What are you looking at? My heartbeats have always been a bit, uhm, energetic. Don't mind me and take your call," I snapped.

He shook his head, chuckling as he stood up. He took the call, walking to the window as he talked. I tuned out what he was talking about as I looked at him. It had been six years since I last saw him. He seemed more refined, no longer the boy I knew.

He must have let his hair grow more, I noticed, as his tousled black hair almost reached his neck. His face was more strong and defined, giving him a serious manly look. I noticed that he was wearing a dress shirt which fitted him well and made his shoulders and muscles look more prominent. He was holding his suit jacket in one hand while his phone was in the other. Damn, he could make a girl blush if it was not for his attitude.

The entrance of the doctor brought me out of my thoughts. He was followed by Eliyah and Brian. "I see you've woken up. How are you feeling right now?"

"Oh, just a headache. And I'm feeling a bit dizzy. But I'm okay right?"

"No, you're not. You've taken quite a blow on your head. You suffered a mild concussion."

"And I wonder how? Maybe while playing catch the criminal game?" Eliyah said as she crossed her arms, glaring at me.

"Oh, haha, yeah..." I trailed off ignoring her demonic expression.

"You need some rest, Miss Carter. At least a week. I've prescribed a few medicines for your headache and fatigue. For tonight, you should stay here," the doctor said and went out.

I sighed and looked at Brian who stood next to Eliyah. "Sorry. Not only was I late, I didn't even manage to get inside," I laughed to ease the tension.

"Yeah, funny right?" Eliyah asked chuckling. But it was the kind of chuckle that dared me to continue laughing and agreeing. Like one mom ain't enough...

"Handle your girlfriend, Brian. She's scary right now," I whispered to him. Sadly not low enough as Eliyah stomped towards me with death glares while Brian just grinned widely, grabbing Eliyah's hand holding her back.

"You! I just want to freaking knock your stupid head off!"

"No need. She did it to herself already," a snarky comment popped in. I rolled my eyes at Castiel who returned back to my side after his call.

Just then, Eliyah's phone started ringing. Damn, this made me remember my phone. It contained crucial evidence which I needed to fetch as soon as possible.

Eliyah took the call, spoke a few words and handed it to me. 'Attorney Kim', she mouthed to me. Oh, he must have been trying to call me.

"Hello, sir. I'm sorry, my phone is currently not with me."

"I guessed so. I called to inform you that the case about Argan Gregore has been closed in case you were still working on it."

"What? How can the case be closed? Why so?" I asked as I straightened up in bed, while the others stood to attention, looking at me.

"That's because he has been found already. Dead by the road near some faraway village. He has been found two hours ago."

My heart started beating erratically. I'm sure this has something to do with me breaking into somewhere I shouldn't have been. Would I have ended up like this if those people managed to catch me?

I heard Attorney Kim speaking again. "No need to concern yourself with this case anymore. Anything with it now has been taken over by the IOF."

"Wait, isn't it totally closed? Why is the IOF taking the case?" I asked glancing at Castiel whose attention perked up at the mention of the IOF.

"Your case was to do with Argan's disappearance but he has been found now."

"Yes, but I need to determine the reason-"

"That is not our concern. The case is supposedly linked to other recent cases that were being handled by the IOF. So it's no longer ours. You'll be assigned another one tomorrow at work. Good night."

"But-"

He ended the call. I let out a frustrated sigh. He never listened.

"Argan Gregore has been found dead," I informed Eliyah as I handed her back her phone.

I looked back at Castiel and snapped my fingers towards him. "Your organisation has taken my case from me," I said. I probably seemed childish but I felt offended that I'm being told not to meddle in it again. Like I even got a concussion and all these cuts for that case. If that ain't dedication, I don't know what is.

"Oh, that was your case?" he asked sounding surprised, "Well, it's better for the case to be handled by us since it's more important to us. This case is a clue to a larger case of ours."

"Oh really. Elaborate please," I huffed and crossed my arms.

"No, that's confidential."

"You know I'm the one that possesses the most information on this current case, right?" I said. "What I went through a few hours ago says enough. I'd at least like to know how you'll continue on with this case."

He looked hesitant for a while, probably pondering on whether to tell me or not. "You'll know about it if you'll be contacted about the case."

I sighed and looked over at Eliyah. "Can you go to my apartment and fetch some clothes and toiletries?" I pleaded. "Please, please, my apartment is like only five minutes away by car from here. Go with Brian and then both of you can return home. I'm sure you all must be tired." I threw a convincing smile to Brian.

She threw an exasperated look at me. "You haven't even said how you ended up in this state you know."

"I swear. I'll tell you in the morning. It's already late right now," I said trying to look as firm as I could.

"But-" she started before Brian dragged her away and closed the door. And as they disappeared, an awkward silence crept into the room again. I kept playing with my fingers as a distraction but after some long suffocating minutes, I couldn't restrain myself anymore. The awkwardness felt as if I was being strangled. I glanced at Castiel and found him staring back at me. I seized the chance to ask some questions brewing in my mind.

"So when will the autopsy be carried out? It needs to be done as soon as possible. That man may have been dead for several days."

"Oh really? How do you know that?" he asked suspiciously.

"I said 'may'. It is just a supposition. But is it really the case though?"

"Yes, it was a colleague who had called a while ago and told me about it," he looked at me as if trying to figure me out. I squirmed in my place and threw him an innocent smile.

Just then, his phone rang again. "Oh, it's Brian," he said puzzled and took the call.

He then put the phone on loudspeaker for me to hear as well.

"Lyn, you here?" I heard Eli's voice, which sounded a bit weird.

"Yes, what happened?"

"Did you, by any chance, forget to lock your apartment's door?"

"No, not at all. I remember clearly that I locked it. Why?"

"I think...a burglar had come in your absence. Your living room is in disarray right now."

"Oh...well okay. Just take my things and return back."

"Didn't you hear me? I said a burglar had broken into your apartment!" she exclaimed, waiting for me to react.

"Well, it's already done now. Just return quick."

I heard a confused okay and they hung up.

"You seem to know what happened and who broke into your apartment," Castiel observed.

"Who said so?"

"Obviously your reaction. This has to do with what happened to you right? Just what mess did you end up in?"

I sighed inwardly. That guy was too smart for his own good. And he had the nerve to look so confident at me.

"Maybe, but that's none of your business."

Castiel smirked and looked away. Then he mumbled to himself. I was sure I heard something along the line 'still such a stuck up girl'.

"Conceited ass," I snidely commented while looking towards the opposite direction and then looked back to see his reaction.

He was smirking at me. I looked at him weirdly.

"I've missed that," he said quietly.

"What? Those harsh facts that only I have the pleasure to remind you of? Any time, Castiel," I said showing him my best fake smile.

Just then, Brian and Eliyah stormed in with my essentials. I took the bag and was about to thank them when Eliyah grabbed my shoulders and shook me. "A burglar, Haelyn, a burglar!"

"I doubt-"

"I wonder what they could have taken-"

"No, really though-"

"It could've been dangerous if you were-"

"Don't worr-"

"We need to report to the-"

"I know who it was."

Eliyah stopped mid-sentence and looked at me. "You know what?"

"It's all related. I'll tell you tomorrow. It's almost 1 a.m right now. You all need to go home."

"You put me through so much stress and suspense. How am I supposed to get any sleep now?" Eliyah complained.

"Just forget it for now. Time to say goodbye."

"Tomorrow, I'll squeeze every teeny weeny detail out of you," she said and got out. "Good night, sweet dreams," I called after her as Brian followed after.

I looked up at Castiel. "No good night or sweet dreams for you. Only nightmares. Bye."

He chuckled. "No nightmares, thank you. I don't want to dream of you."

Before I could retort back, he was out of the room. Aghh, I'd get him back another time.

☆☆☆

The next morning, I headed to my apartment for some minutes and changed to my working clothes. The state of my apartment left me speechless. Whoever did this was going to pay dearly.

I headed to the law firm shortly after. What was embarrassing was the large bandage wrapped around my head that caught pretty much everyone's attention. I brushed off their questions saying that I simply fell down at home and hit my head.

For now, I had to go to Attorney Kim's office. As usual, I found his head buried under stacks of files on his table. I knocked and entered.

"Here you are-", he stopped midway in astonishment staring at me. "What did you get yourself into?"

I sat down in front of him and waited for him to snap out of his daze. I was about to open my mouth when I heard a knock and Eliyah entered into the office. "I thought we were supposed to meet first thing in the morning."

"Well, you came at the right moment. I was just about to-"

Another knock interrupted us. It was another employee. "Haelyn, you're requested into the meeting room. Eliyah and Mr Kim as well."

I stared at Attorney Kim questioningly. "What is this about?"

He pursed his lips and stood up. "Let's go. You'll find out soon."

We walked out of his office, Eliyah and I following behind him wondering what was going on. We took the lift up to the seventh floor where the meeting room and conference hall were situated.

Attorney Kim knocked on the door first and entered. We followed suit. There, in the meeting room, around the large circular table, sat ten men, all dressed head to toe in black. They could make people squirm with their looks. They were so unnerving. They all looked stoic, guarded and serious.

Well, not all. One among them was sending me an annoying smirk as greeting.

A/N:
Is the book captivating enough? Or does it lack the suspense/thriller/mystery that it needs?

XOXO,
Celestia