Lines of Deception

Case File Entry #021

The midday sun bore down on the cracked pavement as Ohm and Beam arrived at St. Joseph's Hostel once again. The air carried the faint scent of damp earth and something more sinister—an unshakable sense of unease that seemed to cling to the walls of the old building.

Beam walked slightly ahead, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings. The hostel seemed normal, its facade a veneer of calm that only deepened their suspicions. As they entered, Beam spotted one of the senior staff members and approached them directly.

"We need to speak to Mew, the janitor," Beam said, his tone clipped but polite.

The staff member hesitated, their expression faltering. "Mew's... not here."

"Not here?" Beam pressed, his brow furrowing.

"He left," they stammered. "We haven't seen him since this morning. His room's empty. He didn't say anything, just... vanished."

Beam's jaw tightened as he glanced at Ohm, who was already looking around the corridor, his expression unreadable. "Inform Por," Ohm said quietly. "Get a search started immediately."

Beam nodded, stepping aside to make the call while Ohm continued deeper into the hostel. His movements were deliberate, his eyes scanning every shadow, every detail. It was then, at the end of a narrow hallway, that he saw her again.

The girl.

She stood partially hidden behind a pillar, her gaze fixed on him with the same eerie stillness as before. Ohm's heart quickened, but he kept his approach slow, careful not to startle her. "Hey," he called softly, his voice steady. "It's okay. I just want to talk."

The girl didn't move, her small frame taut like a coiled spring. Ohm took another cautious step forward, his hands raised in a non-threatening gesture. "I'm not here to hurt you. I just want to help."

Suddenly, her hand shot out, grabbing a loose stone from the floor. Before Ohm could react, she hurled it at him with surprising force. The stone grazed his arm, and he stumbled back, instinctively raising his hands to protect himself.

"Stay away!" she screamed, her voice shrill and panicked. "I won't let you take me!"

Ohm froze, his mind racing. The attack wasn't out of malice—it was fear. Pure, unfiltered terror radiated from her small frame as she clutched another stone, her hands trembling.

"I'm not here to take you," Ohm said firmly, his voice low but calm. "I'm here to keep you safe."

But she didn't listen. With a sharp cry, she turned and bolted down the hallway, her bare feet slapping against the floor.

"Ohm Sir!" Beam's voice called from behind him, but Ohm didn't stop to respond. He was already running after her, his footsteps echoing through the narrow space.

The chase led him through winding corridors and out into the open courtyard. The girl darted between trees, her small frame almost disappearing in the dappled shadows. Ohm pushed himself harder, his breath coming in sharp bursts as he closed the gap between them.

Back at Ohm's home, Jake arrived with an armful of food containers, his usual easygoing demeanor slightly strained. Nanon sat cross-legged on the couch, his posture guarded but not as tense as before. The sight of the food seemed to relax him, and he gave Jake a faint, almost shy nod of acknowledgment.

Jake unpacked the containers, laying them out neatly on the table. "I wasn't sure what you liked, so I brought a bit of everything," he said lightly, his tone friendly but cautious.

Nanon's gaze flickered to the door for a brief moment before settling on the food. He reached for one of the dishes, his movements slow, testing the waters. Jake took a seat nearby, watching him with quiet curiosity.

"You know," Jake said, his voice gentle, "you can talk to me if you want. I'm not here to judge."

Nanon didn't respond immediately. He took a bite, his expression unreadable as he chewed. But after a long silence, he spoke, his voice low and hesitant. "I used to like mango sticky rice the most."

Jake raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Used to?"

Nanon's lips twitched into a faint smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "It was something we... shared. My friends and I."

Jake nodded, not wanting to push too hard. He let the silence stretch, allowing Nanon the space to continue if he wanted to.

As the meal went on, Nanon seemed to relax further, his posture loosening. But every so often, his eyes would dart to the door, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. Jake noticed it but didn't comment, instead pulling out his phone and sending a quick text to Ohm: He's eating. Seems okay for now.

The silence between them was almost comfortable when Nanon suddenly spoke again, his tone eerily calm. "I was so hungry back then," he said softly, his gaze fixed on the plate in front of him.

Jake looked up, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. "Hungry?"

Nanon's fingers tightened slightly around his fork. "Yeah. I remember thinking how hungry I was while... while I chopped them with the hammer."

Jake froze, his breath catching in his throat.

Nanon turned to him, his face devoid of emotion, his eyes dark and unreadable. "It's funny, isn't it?" he continued, his voice light but hollow. "I was so hungry, even with all that blood."

Jake's grip on his phone tightened, his pulse quickening. He forced a small, nervous laugh, though his unease was palpable. "That's... quite a story."

Nanon's lips curved into a faint, unsettling smile. "Stories are all I have left now."

The chill that ran down Jake's spine was almost paralyzing. He couldn't decide if the boy in front of him was unraveling—or if he'd been unravelled all along.