Chapter 43: The Witch Arrival

Failure. 

          To think that conversation was recorded that day and that woman had it all this time, and out of all times, she had to speak out now. Just what the hell was that man doing? Didn't I tell him specifically to make sure she stayed out of trouble and the police. 

             Damn useless. 

            All of them useless. 

           "Mr. Omala, are you listening?"

           "Yes!"

           My eyes went back from my clenched fist toward my lawyer. A fat guy that always like to wipe his sweat, he would always wear a tight suit as if that's going to help him put off some weight. Despite his looks, he's a capable man, heck I spent a lot of money on him so he had better be or else. 

            "Listen Mr. Omala, I know it's been hard on you to stay in prison even if it's only a temporary lock-up until the trial, but your situation is worst enough that I can't help you all the way but I could at least lighten your sentence." 

            "I'm sorry, I just had a terrible nightmare last night so I haven't had enough sleep."

             "A nightmare?"

             "Yes, a nightmare" 

             Recalling that dream again, shiver began to ran down my spine. It was unlike any other dream I had. I was locked up at a dark room, not in a prison but in a cage. A tall cage that had a stairway. Suddenly a hand came in suddenly from the cage gap, I had no way of knowing who it was, just the hand and the voice that told me to repent. I back away only to found another hand reaching up to my neck. One by one, more hands kept popping out from the gaps and I did the obvious thing, climb up. 

            However, there were many hands that popped up from the sides even when I climbed up, all was aiming  at my neck. I cursed over and over as I climbed the stairs that seemed to stretch endlessly. I slipped and fell but hold on to the railings, unluckily, the railings were at old age so I was pushed from the momentum and had to kept holding on even as I dangle in mid air. 

            In reflex, I called out for help, but at that cage I was alone. Feeling it was all over, someone appeared in front of me. 

            Calling it 'someone' may be a mistake, cloak with black robe that doesn't seem real. Yes, as if it's made of shadow, I was looking up to it so I didn't realize sooner the small figure of a child it had, the only thing that made me sure what was above me is human, was the sharp green eyes that dimly glowed like emeralds. 

            She then took a step on the edge and when I thought she would fall, she instead float beside me. I thought I could too but was too afraid on doing something uncertain. I wasn't able to see her face, but I could feel she was smirking at me as I look helpless. She leaned beside me and with her soft voice that penetrates the mind, she warned me. 

             "Give yourself up or this will await you." 

            The strain of the railing was too much, I fell down with a scream, looking up at her dark figure, and at the end.....darkness. 

            It was a weird dream, as if it was warning me of my end. However, my ambition cannot stop here, I'll climb to the top even if I have to use a puppet and make sure to shut anything or anyone that gets in my way. 

            "Let me confirm this once more, are you sure you don't want to take a plea."

            "No."

            "Very well, I'll do in all my power to help you."

            "Mr. Funnel, I really appreciate your effort, I'm counting on you for you to reveal the truth in all those lies, so I'll entrust my life to you"

             "Please leave it to me, Mr. Omala."

             We both shook hands before finally left and the guard guide me to my cell. I'm not going to let this end, I will take everything they've taken from me so if anyone thinks this is the end for me, then they are wrong. 

#

A night inside the cell was rough and cold, there's no blanket and the mattress was in no condition to be used. I couldn't get any sleep in this rotten place, but what I need the most now is patient. Everything has its phase, whether I'll win the trial or not doesn't matter, my connections reaches even inside the prison building so I'll just need to build up my plan accordingly for the future. 

            In the end, I will get everything I desire and have the last laugh. Just you all wait and see. 

            "It seems you still haven't learn your lesson well enough" 

            I jolted up upon hearing that voice, in a room that was supposed to put me alone. There was a girl, shoulder length black hair, white fair skin, and bewitching green eyes. It took me a moment to realize she was just a child, yet there was intelligence in her eyes. 

            "Human's stubbornness is sure something to be awed, even after falling this deep you still tried to claw your way up."

           Who are you, is what I should have said but no voice came out of me. Under my feet, there was a paper glowing in shape of a circle with foreign words written on it. 

            "Words aren't needed for the likes of you, I had already gave you a chance to redeem yourself but I waste my time instead. You are beyond saving"

            She came closer to me and floated toward my side, it surprised me she used her ability as prison cell should have Brain Wave Suppressor, unable for anyone to use their ability.  Yet how could she....

           I tried to move away but my body was frozen, or rather it felt like the air itself is hindering my movement. She took something that got stuck behind my neck, a sticker? She shred it away and looked straight at me before she used her small hands to close my eyes. Her cold hands seem to struck deep into my skin and sent me shivers. I was reminded again of the black figure in my dream that had the same green eyes as she. At first she reminded me of a Grim Ripper, but right now, the word 'Witch' popped inside me. 

            "You who made other struggle and suffer for your own sake, Thank me that I'll make your end painless" 

          I failed to understand what her words truly meant, her words had a disgust tone but no malice whatsoever. That's why, I didn't think twice of her actions before everything went exactly as that dream.....darkness.


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Chapter 42: Reaching Toward the Conclusion

-Loranne Hutslesky-

Mom came back late at night as usual, rather than late night, it was 1 A. M. I feel bad of what I'm going to do when she looked so tired.

           "What are you doing?" Her usual bland tone cracked, her eyes winced but I knew it was her surprised face. 

             With me holding on to the skeleton's head and on top the memory card. I'm sure that this doesn't look like a pleasant sight for mom

            There was silent, a very heavy, intimidating silence pressured the at me. I might have even gone pale right now. Before she could go berserk though, I steeled my mind before I tried talking to her. Because now I know she's not what she seems to be. 

            "Mom, please listen to me, I–" 

            My sentence were cut after getting slap away by her. Her arm strength was no joke, I even got a nosebleed. She held on my collar and forced me up on my feet while she looks at me as if I'm a nuisance. "Can you explain yourself Loranne." 

            I might not have even realized the tears breaking out of my own eyes as I kept shaking my head slowly with a horrified expression.  

            "Mom, you can stop now...."

          Her hand was pulling me further, and I felt the pain further straining my neck. Her wild eyes felt it was piercing through me. She didn't seem to have the slightest intention to let me go, but that wasn't what I had in mind when I said that. 

          "You can stop pretending now."

           Her eyes winced once more, and loosened her hands, resulting me falling down. My body was trembling obviously, but I can't go weak now. 

           Lora, the only one who can help her is you. 

            Claudia had said that and I believe her. I can't chicken out now. 

            "What do you mean by that?"

            "There's no longer need  to pretend you are not sane or that you killed her when you actually didn't" 

            Again, another pause. However, she recovered and pulled my hair so suddenly that I scream unintentionally. "What part of this is pretending, I'm not sure what you're talking about?"

            "I heard the voice recording!" her arm was still coiling my hair, but she had stop giving force."Loranne was the one who called him with your phone. She was the one who heard both their conversation. Although she's still a kid, but he surely thought she would grow into a problem in the future, that's why he even go as far to....."

            I tried looking up to her, I was surprised seeing her trembling while looking away. Did I make her this vulnerable? "When that man bought me, I was surprised he had me undergo surgery and told me to live my life as Loranne, he had lied at that time, telling me you had gone insane and needed a child to close the gap you had from loosing your husband and killing your own daughter as result. However, when I first saw your terrified face when he first introduced me to you, it didn't take long for me to catch up what really happened, that you knew the man who brought me here was your husband killer. With his money and connection, holding back the police investigation would be a piece of cake for him after all" 

           "The reason you pretended to be insane, it was because you were afraid of him right? Because you were together for 6 years, you knew how terrifying he could be" 

            Mom jolted and had a distant look in her eyes, was she remembering something from the past I wonder. It seemed everything that Claudia told me is right on mark. "You might have known it later when you accidentally found a recording you never seen. In that situation, even when you're afraid, you kept it the memory card just in case but couldn't be open about it. Because no matter what you have in hand, against someone you're afraid, your heart won't be able to go against him, and in the end you could only endure." 

            The last part was also something Claudia had told me. There was deep sadness and history in her words, as if she knew exactly what my mom was going through. To be helpless, to endure, and to shut yourself because of that. Maybe that's why although she might not notice, that mom is halfway on being truly insane, if not she wouldn't have kept her body there for so long. 

            "Moreover, the reason he didn't kill you was probably because you might knew at least a clue to where 'dad' kept his evidence paper of him. In the recording, Mr. Omala killed him impulsively, and wasn't able to know the whereabouts of the so called evidence." 

            "And what are you hoping in telling me this?" 

            Her usual sharp voice had completely disappear, the woman I feared so much became this weak in an instant. "I'm hoping you could find the courage to reveal everything." Her indifferent look she had turned into a terrified expression. She bit the bottom of her lips, her eyes wide and her eyebrows knit together. 

            I took on her hand, soothing her trembling hand. "Nothing will change like this, are you really okay staying like this forever?" No reply came from her, I can understand how she wants to play silent. 

            "Even if I say anything, it won't change our anything, do you think his influence won't reach us after they taken him in?" So she said while gripping my hands tighter, even though she said, more than anything, I knew she wanted freedom. I respond to her grip and I say, "Mom, you remember that time I had played around the area and accidentally anger a wild dog. It was a big dog too so it had caught up to me a moment after I ran away, I still remember the barking noise, its wet nose and its sharp yellow teeth as its face got close and pin me down. I was sure its going to eat me when you came raining down and had it bite your arm instead. You had an extremely worried face that time that I felt it was the first time I saw the real you. Though later you hit me for making trouble."

           It's weird that I get to laugh a little even in this situation, but no matter what, I want to get this feeling through. "What I'm trying to say is, I want to say thank you. Before, I only knew my life as a slave, to be used by people, although you were reluctant, you still showed me from time to time what caring was and for me, that was enough." 

            Secretly I enjoyed the surprised look my mom had on her face, today she really is full of expression. "That's why, more than anything I want to save you." I took out a piece of paper that had a number on it and show it to her, "A friend of mine knows a trustworthy police detective and she guaranteed that after you take your statement, he'll make sure to protect and give us a new life" 

            When I showed her the paper, she was very hesitant whether to take it or not, but I shoved the paper to her hand and her hold it tight. "I won't be able to help much but.....I'll stay with you all the way so please, be brave. I know I may be selfish but I want us to stay as family." 

             I felt something wet dripping on top of my hand, and realized I was crying again. However, they're not just my tears, my mom's tears were mix in as well as she gently lean her head to mine. The room was filled with the sound of our cry for a while.

#

-Claudia Robertson-

"Beth, how many times do I have to tell you to eat your vegetables?" 

           "I can eat vegetables just fine, but does it have to be carrots?" 

            Few days has passed since then, the family table of my home is still as lively as ever, but I was the only one silently eating. Lora never came to school, I once tried going to her apartment but  no one was home either. I spent my time worrying about her well being and even thought of tracking her with magic. However, right now is a critical time for her so I can only do is wait and trust. 

           Ugh, this is so hard. 

            Karen took the remote and kept on skimming the channels that looked interesting. I watched as the screen kept changing with numerous channel. 

          My hand then reacted before my mind could as I ask her to change the channel back. I had thought I had seen wrong, but without a doubt at the upper right corner of that news channel, the smiling picture of Jason Omala and at the bottom of anchor, written in white bold letters that made me smile, this is what it said. 

            Jason Omala, No Hope for Presidency: Suspected for Murder and Illegal Trades.

            All my family made a gaping expression trying to digest what the news anchor was telling, unaware of me pumping my fist. However, things won't end just like that because they apprehended him. Things will just go his way in trial if there's anyone connected with him in it. Another thing that doesn't change with time is dirty system.

            It's time to enter stage 2 of the plan. For Lora's sake, and for that man to meet retribution.

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Enjoy double chapter  this week.

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Chapter 41: The Headless Truth

"Claudia, I've been wondering, how did you get to know all that?"

           There was a long pause when she asked that to me, I looked calm but honestly I felt panic rushing through me, "I have my ways" I said, quickly shrugging it off. She looked at me dubiously, but she didn't push the subject any further. 

            There's no way I could tell her how I actually find my source of information. I had found out about Mr. Omala killing Loranne's father from the deleted footage Zilla managed to retrieve of him getting to the hotel and his room at the fourth floor. The fact it was deleted made it certain he made one of the staff deleted it to erase any proof of his visit there. There's also what Zilla happened to found how Lora's fingerprints were different from what was recorded in the hospital. All the other stuff was also Zilla's founding, I never would have thought her abilities would be this useful, almost to the point of cheating. 

            Another thing about spirit is that the one you summon to give a name would either be strong or weak, it depends on our own ability and affinity, but it mostly depends on luck. Just like trying to get a jackpot on a lottery. 

            "Then it's fine if you say so, but one more thing, what do you intend to get from her." Lora pointed out the skeleton lying inside the sleeping bag with its face peeking out. Once more, I was back at the dark room which was supposed to be Lora's, technically this was supposed to be Loranne's room and it still is. The dark energy surrounding it, was as usual, made the back of my neck tingle. I'm already used to it though after spending my days with Ms. Hutslesky. 

            There wasn't much of a reason why I asked her to let me in here, if I had to say it, it'd be because I wanted to pray for her. The girl who unfortunately was caught by misfortune, without being able to enjoy her life to the fullest, I thought I should pray for her to have a next life worth living. 

            There's also another reason, that is because I don't feel it's the end. Just call it a hunch, and my hunch are usually right, but there was something amiss that I had overlook. I thought I might realize what it is if I take another look at the skeleton, but still nothing comes to mind. 

           "Maybe I should take a closer look"

           When I tried touching it, Lora hold on to my hand, hard enough for me to winch. "Don't touch her!" She said with a stern tone she never used on me before. It shook me the way she looked at me angrily, a face she also never used before on me. "To mom, her dead body is the sole thing that calms her, if you recklessly touch it, then I won't forgive even you Claudia!" 

            I tried to pull my hand away but her grip was stronger than I first thought. "Okay, I get it, you can let go of me!" I said that, but when she loosened her grip, the hand I put too much force swings away and flap against the skeleton's head, which unfortunately....made it detached itself. 

            Lora and I had our mouth gasped as we watch the head rolled away toward the edge of the room. Once it stop rolling with its face facing us, together we then scream.

            Now, in a situation where you accidentally break off a corpse head, anyone would freak out, including me. It wasn't intentional, but I'm feeling an extreme guilt right now. 

            After the scream, silent then accompany the room. We weren't sure what to do, that's why I held the head and looked at Lora with a serious glint in my eyes. 

            "Lora, do you have a super glue?"

            Not a very good plan if you ask me, but I can't help it, I panicked and so did Lora, because she answered, "I don't, but the convenience store just a block away from here should have one" with partially desperate tone. 

            However, when I held the skeleton's head in my hand, I felt there was some thing jiggling inside it. I tried shaking it and surely there was something inside, and whatever it is came out of its mouth and landed at the palm of my hand. 

           That thing was a memory card. 

           Now anyone would be curious why there was a memory card inside a dead person's head. Lora walk toward my side, looking at the same thing as me curiously. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" 

             There was no need for her to say that, I had took out my phone and swiftly switch the memory card inside with the one I had. I was dubious if it could still be read, but my worries was groundless in the end. 

             I search through the recorded voice calls, hoping to find what I hope to find. 

            Inside the file, there was only one recording existed, and the date was as I had expected, the date of Gregory's death. The two of us looked at each other then looked at the phone nervously. I gulped and press the play button. 

            "Huh, did I just push something?"

            ".....darling what did you push just now?"

            "Hmm, I'm not sure what I press, but since nothing happened, I guess I'm just mistaken daddy" 

           At the start of the recording, there were two voices, one was an unfamiliar man's voice, there was a hint of kindness and warmth, a loving deep voice you would want anyone to point it out to you. The other voice was mysteriously familiar to me, even though I barely heard her voice, but instantly I remembered the voice from the one called Corner Girl. She had lively voice that showed how much she miss her father. 

            However, after hearing this recording, I realized that I had a huge misunderstanding. We both continues to listen. 

             "Hmm, sorry sweety, but a guest came, talk to you later."

             "Wait daddy........, daddy?"

             "It's nice for you to come Jason, how long has it been I wonder that we've talk privately like this?"

            "Don't you go feeling all nostalgic Greg, what do you want with me?"

            "..........I'm sure you know why."

            "Kh, you....so the one that's been digging me is you, I should have known when I'm aware most of your stupid sense of justice"

            "Call it whatever you want, but I only think of this as part of my responsibility. That's why, I only ask of you of one thing, give yourself up"

            There was silent from the recording that made me thought it had stop, but then a laughter rupture within it.

           "Fool, do you think I would stop after coming this far? You should know me better than this!"

            "Because it's over which ever you go that I'm asking you this, I've collected enough proof to put you away, but as your friend I still want to give you a chance"

             "A friend you say? Hah! A friend wouldn't have stolen my woman for himself!"

              "You're the one who cast her aside when she needed you the most, It doesn't matter if she had your child, I had decided to take care of her when I ask for her hand!"

            "Ha, I knew you always have love her, but to think you went as far as to marry that used good for nothing bi–"

            A loud thud was heard that cut him off, it would seem Loranne's farther had hit him hard, even I was on the verge to throw my phone hearing his arrogant tone. 

            "I'll give you one last chance Jason, give yourself up or I'll reveal everything myself." 

            The conversation stop at that point between them, but later, a faint scream was heard before long. Only the sound of footsteps remain but even that stop. The crackle sound of the phone being moved then his voice was heard. 

            "Is anyone there?"

            "Mister, where did daddy go?" 

            The silent followed after was probably him being surprised, but I wonder why I could imagine the smirk on his face when he said the next line. "Do you want to meet daddy?" 

            "Yeah, I miss him since he's rarely home." 

            "Don't worry, mister will make sure to take you to him"

            There was still a few minutes before the recording ends but since I thought there was no longer need to hear the rest. 

            "Lora, do you want to save your mother?" 

            Lora wasn't sure what I meant, but she said yes immediately with a firm voice. "Then listen well what I'm about to tell you, because perhaps the only one who can help her is you." 

          

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Chapter 40: Lora's Identity

Everything started to come into pieces, yet I still don't know the identity of the corpse. The other crucial parts I need right now would be proof, or else everything would only be my conjuctuary and it's also the hardest thing to get. 

            I wasn't sure if it's the right course of action, but I believe that checking out her phone would lead to something. However, not using her phone meant she isn't even holding it right now, but for Zilla not to be able to track it, either it's destroyed or someone had taken off its data.

            Finding the phone....might be an impossible task. Now what to do next, "There's the approach of getting Lora to talk, will she answer if I ask?" 

            Most likely not, I answered to myself. Again, I'm hitting against another wall, not knowing what to do next. 

           "Lady Claudia, is something the matter?"

            Zilla's word of concern brought me back to reality, I ask for her to continue telling me her finding since I doubt she call for just that. 

            "Yes, you see....there is a troubling thing I found..." Zilla explain in a short an detailed, but she was roundabout what she meant to tell me. When I got the meaning of her findings, my phone almost slip from my hand and I hardly....no, I had refused to believe. However, with Zilla the one checking, there's no room for doubt at the fact and my hand began to tremble along with my wavering heart. 

            "I need to meet Lora."

#

 I knew just asking her to come out would result in vain, so I had made sure to ambush her on her way home, her scream when I tackle her from the side was simple adorable, which is also why I was depressed how she step back as if she had seen a ghost.  

            "So what do you want to talk about?" Said Lora with her hands crossed against her chest. She might try to look overbearing but to me, she didn't look any different with her always nervous self. Sometimes I wonder why she was so silent, why she barely talk about herself, why I was the only one she was so closed to. 

          "Lora, we're friends right?"

           Her cheeks began twitch at my question, her eyes look down and quickly look back at me, she open her mouth but only until a few seconds pass did her voice came out. 

           "No, we're not, not anymore" her lips quiver at the last sentence and her eyes glistened. 

            Toward that I..... "But you know Lora, I still think you're my friend, no matter what you think of me and no matter who or where you're from, that fact won't change for me. That's why, I want us to talk properly."

            Lora began to hesitate to look straight at me, her eyes started wondering at every corner as if trying to find an escape route and her feet kept tapping on agitatedly.  "There's nothing for us to talk about" she said flatly and started to walk briskly past me. I couldn't help smile wryly how she acts as how I imagine she would. 

           I blocked her way, stopping her from her tracks. "Then just hear me out, because  I just want you to listen, please...." 

          Lora began to yield, seeing me partly pleading for her to lend her ears. "You know Lora, these days I've been thinking about how much I didn't know about you and what you're thinking of, and it made me think how much I want to get to know you." I took a deep breath before I resolve myself to continue, "I know what I did may be rude to you but these past few days I've been investigating about you and you're family. That your father died 2 years ago, your mom doesn't have a stable job, that someone's been helping behind you two.....I should just get to the point, Lora—who are you?"

            Lora had her eyes widen when I said that, but rather than staying surprised or getting flustered, she made a heavy sigh and made a wry smile as if a burden has been lifted off from her shoulder.  

           "Aren't you worried that I knew?"

            "I knew I should be, but oddly I feel at ease when it's from you" she said with eyes that said she had given up on something. "How much do you know?" She asked.

             "I don't know how much I am right, so can I tell you what I think happened?" Lora nodded in consent and leaned toward the wall surrounding her small apartment as if saying she has time. 

            "Your fath—I meant Loranne's father, everything started from his incident was it? At that night 2 years ago, he called out toward a certain man, a man who he works together with and he held that man's weakness. I don't know if he was blackmailing or was convincing him to stop and give himself up. I'm not sure if that's correct but I thought it was the most probable motive....for him to get killed."

            Lora didn't rebuke and silently listen so I continued. "That day, he also got a call from his wife, and I thought what if....what if she had accidentally listen to the conversation  up until he was thrown off the balcony. The fact that her husband was killed by her former lover was too much for her to handle, driving her insane....so she ended up killing her daughter, which is also the killer's daughter. The man didn't want his connection with his wife to be known so he had made sure to replace her daughter so the police would stay out of his way."

           Before long, even when she tried keeping her poker face but her breathing became clearer toward my ear, even I myself didn't want to continue further, but....I had to.

           "He then probably bought or adopted an orphan girl similar to or had her undergo a face surgery to impersonate his daughter. He then had her stayed with her and threaten the two to keep on playing mother and daughter, probably because she had lost some of her sanity or maybe because she regretted killing her own daughter, in the end she accepted you, but at the same time she couldn't help but lash at you since you were brought by that ma–"

           Before long, I cut off my words seeing her cry. There was too much burden and pain she had to keep all alone, she was wiping her tears as it continue to flow. I lean beside her and waited until she starts to calm down. 

            "Done?"

            "Done"

            Her eyes and nose were bright reds, and now and then she would hiccup between her erratic breathing. "Mother is....a difficult woman and pitiful as well. She isn't in a normal state of mind so I tried to sooth her as much as I could....ah don't think that means I don't mind being beaten, it's just that when she calms down she would often care and love like a mother would, Claudia might not believe this though" she said with a weak laugh. 

           "That's also why the corpse is still there, for some reason when she holds her, she calms down, she also makes sure the one watching doesn't know the corpse existence. By the way, I had make sure to hide the listening device around the house when you came over so don't worry about being watch" 

           My eyes widen at the last part, now that I think about it, it wouldn't be weird for me to get watch from my suspicion movement that day, more so if they had a listening device which they should if anyone intends to surveil on someone.

            "Thanks" 

             Lora nodded in response. We stood there in silent, unable to find the right words for each other. The streets were silent, yet time to time the sound of motorcycle roaring would pass us by and we both would always ended follow it by gaze. The sun and sky had yet to dye red, but it wouldn't be long for sure. 

            "Don't you find me despicable?"

            I turned irritated at her after hearing her question that had took me by surprise, "Why in the world would you think that?"

           Lora bit her lips, hesitated to answer, "Aren't I despicable, an orphan girl that has nothing, to be given a place to live, taking another person identity and living her life while she rots at my own house."

            "You didn't had a choice for that"

            "No Claudia, if I was given a choice, I would without a doubt choose this life knowing it's a sin. That's why, I deserve to be alone."

           "Then why did you approach me, why did you become my friend?" Without meaning to, my words were louder and had took Lora aback. I tried to hold back my words as to say the words properly without startling her. 

            "I may have given in to my desire, that time when you said you wanted me as a friend, I was so happy that I didn't care about anything and just wanted to stay with you even if it's for a while, and I...I was tired of being alone." 

            I hug her tightly to her surprise, my chest tightens and I was at the verge of tears like her. She slowly lifted her hand and hug me back. "I'll keep on staying with you, don't think I let you cast me aside after all this time." 

            Lora nodded again and we stayed where we are until she let go from surprise after I ask her to let her show me the skeleton once more. 

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You know how many artist gets inspiration from weird habits. Mine seems to come from stress, just had my first midterm test, and there's 6 more to go. I want to laugh and cry. 

After I finished it today, I had that moment which I was satisfied but then I realized there was a similar setting of another story -_-

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Chapter 39: Witch Detective Claudia on the Move

Today, is just another cloudy day. With heavy qualms of skipping class, the great weather makes it harder not to feel guilty. However, today the Witch Detective Claudia is going to have to step up her game if I want to expose the truth. 

            If you're wondering what I'm doing right now, then the answer would be stalking. Who am I stalking you're wondering? Well, off course it's none other than Jessica Hutslesky, Lora's mother. This is my fourth day stalking her. 

            Apparently, she works daily at a diner, and occasionally nightly at a bar. For a single mother, getting a good pay job isn't easy. I've been watching her for hours but the most unusual thing about her is how normal she is. 

            After seeing what she did to Lora, her reaction toward the skeleton, and the way her room was, I doubted she could work as any other upright social worker. However, even though she doesn't smile, no doubt her work didn't leave anyone to give any complaint. What's up with her gap conduct? 

            Thanks to Zilla, although I found one part of the truth, I'm still far from knowing the corpse identity. Just in case, I had Zilla search for missing children in the area for the past few years and search thoroughly for their traces. I skim through the list and honestly I felt doubt that any of them is the corpse, considering the last place they were gone and the lack of connection between them and Lora. 

            That's why, desperate for clues, I began to watch over Lora's mother. For these few days, nothing unusual happen, and in the house she has a very unstable emotion. At some point she would silently make meals for the two of them without breaking a conversation, most of the meals were made by Lora though. However, at times she would have a fitting rage and takes it out on Lora, she only began to calm down when she began to embrace the skeleton again, gross. 

               There has to be reason for her actions, what I'm immensely curious is the role she play in all this other than murdering that child. 

            A sudden thought enter my mind, at the same time, that woman came with my order of vanilla latte. She might have given me suspicious look if an eight year old order that, that's why I've been tailing her with different outlook everyday with my Shapeshifting Spell. Right now to everyone in this diner, I look like a woman in her late 30s when her real age is mid 40s, a short neck hair, a height of 170, tan skin, and stern obsidian eyes. 

            That's right, today I'm disguising as my mother. 

            Putting aside on my looks, there was a sudden thought that question my other thought that I should have question long ago. 

            Did she really kill the child?

            It's indisputable that she is hiding the corpse, but I couldn't help found it strange that she cherished it so much, afraid that someone else might take it. Why would she cherish so much someone she herself hurt. There are cases of people loving someone so much that they ended killing him/her, but it didn't make much sense toward a foreign child. 

            No doubt that child has a connection to her, but what? 

             The tea ended up getting cold with me lost in thought for a while, but nothing came into mind. I guess this is the extent of a detective wannabe. I drank my cold tea in deject, it was then that I heard a scream that it had me choke on my tea. I turned and saw that woman, Jessica Hutslesky strangling an old man. Is she crazy? Well, I know she is, but didn't she just do a good job acting sane in public? 

            I rushed toward them, the woman tried to pull away Miss Hutslesky away from her son, she and the other staff panicked and shouted at her to stop. Jessica Hutslesky turned a deaf ear to them, or right now, it could be that she truly lost all sense and focused only on her objective. Her eyes unlike the days I had observe them, was lit with life yet clouded by what she thought is seeing. The strength in her arms was absurd and her expression was angry yet desperate. I tried to hold on to her shoulder and lean on closer to her ear as I whisper. 

           "He's not who you think he is"

            Thank God I made the right choice of words, the strength she had left her slowly and stood dumbfounded, the man pulled himself away and began to cry for air. 

             Jessica Hutslesky looks at me as if asking for some kind of answer, yet not even I could give her an answer. I only randomly guess what I should say.  Afterward....you could imagine what happened next that involves angry screaming, apologies, and taking responsibility. In the end result, she got fired. 

           Miss Hutslesky's expression didn't give out much change. She only said her apology and in the next hour is finding a new job. I had a hunch this isn't the first time she went berserk at work. I'm surprised no one had ever turn her to the police....or maybe no one was able to. 

            I went back toward the diner and incidentally went toward the back door instead. There I saw the manager talking with a bulky man, the man gave the manager a small envelope, the manager checked inside the envelope and looked satisfied at the bundle of cash. They were talking about something so I enhanced my hearing with a spell and hid by the corner. 

            "I thank you for the retribution you're giving me, but I don't plan on re-hiring her, that last action of her has gone the limits so I hope you understand."

             "I fully understand, my only wish is for you to not spread her actions too much, especially to those in authority." 

            The manager nodded then went back inside. When the bulky man walked toward the opposite way, not long after, I called him out from behind. Since we are on the side on the main street, there should be nothing weird on me calling out to him. He turn toward me and saw me smiling innocently at him. 

            "Sorry to bother you, but I couldn't help notice some thing sticking on the back of your hair" the man couldn't help but try identifying the foreign object behind his head, seeing he had no idea where it is, I came in closer to him and gently touch the back of his head. 

            [ Pry ]

            I chant a spell that was the first spell my master conjured on me so he could read my memories without me having to recall what happened. I slip out an old used stickers and show it to the man. The man said his thanks and went on his way.  

            I stood quite a while, trying to digest the things I saw from his memories. I couldn't find any memories that led his meetings with Jason Omala, but there were frequent memories of him watching over her and Lora. Hushing up people whenever she gets in trouble, and memories of him messaging who I presume is his client but not even he knows who it is. 

           For now, the most probable person to be suspiciously watching over her behind would be Mr. Omala, but what I don't get is why. Since they broke off long ago, there's no reason for him to secretly watch over her, and with the high probability he knows the skeleton hidden if anyone's that intent to spy on her. I wonder if there's anything to do with 'that' incident, I already had Zilla checked through her records so there might be something useful. 

           I feel my phone vibrate inside my bag, I took out my phone and saw the screen that said no number but the name 'ZILLA' appear. I answer the call and called out what was wrong. 

           "Lady Claudia, I'm terribly sorry"

            That was the first thing she said to me, she said in a loud and frantic tone, afraid that she'd disappoint me. "I tried to dig out her phone record but oddly other than the recorded call and message log, all her other files mysteriously disappeared. "

            "Zilla, you skip too many explanation, firstly calm down!" She did as I said and went silent for a moment, showing her calmness. "Now let me ask, why are you fixated with her phone records? I'm fine if you could find any other information"

            "Because, her call logs tells me that she never used her phone for the last 2 years"

            Certainly something is wrong for someone not to using a phone at this day and age. "Moreover, the last call she ever made was a call to her husband, Gregory" 

            I was stunned for a moment before I gulped my own saliva, so while calming my already irregular beating heart, I asked when was the last time she had call him. 

           "The day Gregory Howard died."

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Sorry for the slight delay, hope you enjoy!

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