"I called for transparency; I didn't expect you'd come."

"I needed to know the details," Takumi sounded more like an investigator rather than a concerned friend. The nurse, who's tending Kathleen's arm, glanced at the two of them only to realize they were the once showing on the Emergency Room's television in Global Mass-Media Flash Report.

"I can see you informed the cops about what happened."

"Am I not supposed to?"

"I didn't say that. I was just concerned how will you explain what had happened," Takumi sloped against the wall next to the bed where Kathleen is lying.

"You talk like an old stager. How'd you know?"

"I didn't; however, why else would you be so transparent about this if things ain't connected?"

Kathleen fleered. "I don't wanna argue anymore, and if you don't mind, I need you to talk with Mr. Cagas. He's the head investigator about this shit. Just make up any stories you can think of. I really need to get some rest."

Takumi quickly swallowed his unsaid words when a man around his forties, fanned the curtain, separating Kathleen's bed from someone on her right. Although it was vacant, the man closed it right away to maintain the limited space for privacy.

He's wearing a black trench coat, black Fedora hat, white shirt underneath, black tie, black high pants, black tainted glasses, and black shoes—no doubt—must be the investigator leading the crime.

"Good day, lad. I'm the one in charge with Miss Kathleen's case. You must be the friend?" The man started off in an edged manner, taking his hat off to express respect.

Takumi slightly bowed his head, mirroring the same approach. "Which friend?" He had to clarify, glancing at Kathleen who's faking her slumber. He sighed and shoved his hands deep into his pockets.

"Can I have a word with you somewhere else, privately? As you know, walls have ears, doors have eyes..."

Takumi doesn't have any idea what the man is after; nevertheless, he trusted his gut for him to be of use to their objections, thus, he agreed. Much to his disgruntlement, he was brought in an interrogation room.

Great! Just great. The setting brought him too much memories meant to be forgotten years ago.

"I didn't expect this was the privacy you were talking about," Takumi eyed the nostalgic, gray, dull wall, surrounding them.

Mr. Cagas placed his hands above the table in between them. "I'm sorry if I failed to inform you about that part; however, I must commend your bravery for you to enter this place again. For a moment, Takumi stopped to think.

What's he talking about?

Slowly, his brows met when memories started blending with the image he's currently looking at and the man, now, looks familiar.

"Zach," Takumi muttered.

"'Twas me. How have you been?"

Takumi's lips twitched. The man, whom he referred to as Zach, rang with solicitude, yet it only fueled his suppressed anger from years ago.

"You dare ask me that after ruining my family's reputation," he scoffed. "I'm not even surprised how you've finally reached your goal of becoming the lead investigator."

"Now, I'm not going to argue with you with that," Zach sighed. "I was sent here to help with Miss Kathleen and Doctor Samantha's case which, coincidentally, you got yourself involved..." he paused, sliding a white file in front of Takumi. "Again."

Takumi remained staring at him, crossed his arms, and leaned back. It's no doubt that he had no interest in checking whatever's inside the damned thing.

"Staying silent won't help your friends' case," Zach imitated Takumi's actions, pressing a button of his aggression.

"And you are on no grounds to help them either. I know your intentions, Zach. You are as sick as your brother. Now, why don't you investigate your nephew's case; why choose Kathleen and Samantha's?"

Zach chuckled. He's plugged into the fact that Takumi's only trying to terrorize him, knowing that there are people watching behind the two-way mirror. Despite the possibility of them exposing each other's identity, they're both confident that none of them would do such risky attempt or they're done for.

"I really don't have any convincing answer for that aside from being the one assigned for. You know me, I can solve everything," Zach smiled. "Now, would you be so kind to check what's inside? Miss Kathleen told me you might have a little idea of what that might be. We need all the help that we can get in order to solve the cases and at the same time, calm the public down."

Takumi still didn't break the eye contact he's having with Zach; howbeit, his wants to leave the place took over his intentions to be of no use to the man's investigation.

He sat up straight and placed a hand on top of the file. He doesn't have to tell him any truth about whatever he might find inside anyway.

Slowly, he opened the file and was surprised to see Christian lying on a pool of blood and above him was a demonic sign drawn using his own blood.

"In case you didn't know, your friend survived and surprisingly, he didn't really lose that much blood as what's shown in these photos and it might something to do with that mark. What do you think?"

Takumi looked up to meet Zach's smug face. He smiled and closed the file. "I might have encountered paranormal phenomenon before, but this one's not familiar to me."

"Really?" Zach pressed his lips together, lying both elbows on the table. His eyes, however, are fixed on Takumi's face as though he's memorizing his features, perhaps, remembering them. "I could distinctly recall you have such beautiful eyes and it's too dark in here, you can remove your glasses."