Chapter 11:

More Troubles

The Sanctuary of Seven - Vol. 1


"Morning, Iwamoto Akemi. My name is Nishikawa Atsuko, a special agent in the elite branch of the Golden Power leadership. I work for the Investigation and Forensics department," says a tall and serious gentleman, full of wrinkles on his face.

Both his facial expression and his entire posture are very familiar to me, but I can't figure out exactly where and when I've seen this gentleman before.

"The police of sector seven in the Emerald Land Region have been informed that you, Iwamoto Akemi, have consumed substances that are not found in our regular market. In fact, once your name was pronounced in such a case, taking into account the recent allegations and the criminal case opened on your behalf, I was sent specifically with the mission to investigate the case much more closely."

Even his name is well known. A name I've heard before, just recently. I rise to my feet, becoming more and more aware of the seriousness of the words that this consequential gentleman has just uttered. Can things go worse than that? I decide not to say a word, turning my attention to the window.

"I'd like to ask you a few questions. Considering that your condition is not very serious, the doctors allowed me to interrogate you immediately as you wake up," the detective continues.

I look back at him. He is sitting in a chair next to my hospital bed, with his back perfectly straight. Beside him, standing right behind him, stands Nagamine, staring at me with panicked eyes and his hands on his chest. He seems to be thinking intensely about what is happening as if trying to find a solution to this far too huge problem.

"Where did you turn from before you fell off your bike?"

The question takes me by surprise. If I say exactly where I've been, Mrs. Tomiko could be in big trouble. By the way, my fallen backpack doesn't seem to be in the room, I approach with a few fleeting glances. And in my backpack, I have the pill and the tea from the metal boxes that Mrs. Tomiko gave me and that I know for sure that she bought on the black market.

"Miss Akemi, are you with me?"

"Explain how you came back from guitar lessons," Nagamine said suddenly, surprising me.

That would be one of the biggest mistakes. I look at him puzzled, trying to figure out what I should say.

"Trust me," Nagamine continued.

"I was returning from the guitar lessons I had scheduled today, in the To-Do List."

The detective man writes down a few things in a notebook, then looks at me with empty, lifeless eyes.

"Did you have anything at Mrs. Tomiko's place?"

They have already been informed. I look at Nagamine, who nods very clearly, knowing what my next answer is.

"No," I say briefly.

"Can you tell me what you ate today?" says the gentleman, as soon as he finishes noting again in the notebook.

"Everything I have on the menu on an ordinary day."

"Did something unusual happen today?" he continued.

I look into Nagamine's thinking eyes and he begins to dictate to me:

"I was returning from Mrs. Tomiko, my guitar teacher. I took it on a street and I remember a few people talking behind me. I heard them running after me and saying things I couldn't understand, especially words I didn't even know what they meant," I say, repeating after Nagamine. "Then I heard a man's voice shouting behind me and I glanced back, but from there I don't know what happened. I woke up right here."

The detective scrambles hard, trying to keep up with the rapidity of the words that come out of my mouth. The security that Nagamine offers me makes me seem very credible as if this really happened. My voice does not tremble, and my face remains expressionless.

"Thank you for the help. I'll come back, a little later, but for now it would be good to rest," he continued, getting up from his chair and clearing his voice. "You need a lot of energy for the moments are coming," he tells me, heading for the door and giving me a sharp, suspicious look.

I stop my reflex to swallow hard and look at him without saying anything and without letting any grimace appear on my face. Then I look indifferently out the window at Nagamine's insistence guiding everything from the shadows. The detective leaves the room and is finally alone with Nagamine.

"It's not good what's going on," he says.

I turn to him and nod, trying not to talk too much, given that someone might be listening at the door.

"Considering the following incidents, your life does not sound too rosy: first you hit Imada, lucky that no one notices that you do it with your strength. You are suspected of having a friend who was not chosen for you, which violates the rules very badly. Then Hokama finds out that you can read her thoughts and we know clearly from Furukawa's words that she testified against you. We don't know exactly what Imada said after the blackmail you applied, but we will also take this aspect into account. Then you become the prime suspect in entering the cemetery with a false identity, breaking two more rules. Then you're caught with banned substances in your blood, including a backpack containing two products taken from the black market... if they found it, which obviously we'll take into account."

I agree, realizing that on this night I will die.

"But most likely, they will let you go, choose your soulmate, and from there, things will get complicated. Especially if they need another witness, although, in my opinion, they have enough. By the way, Mrs. Tomiko was caught, too."

At this point, I realize the seriousness of the problems. Not only am I a criminal who has broken a ton of rules in just three days, but Nagamine is really real. What is happening to me is real. Nagamine would not have known this information about Mrs. Tomiko if it had only been a result of the post-traumatic shock caused by his death. Most likely, I'm really a witch. And most likely Mrs. Tomiko is too. And most likely my little brother is a wizard. And it won't be long before they link Kaba's boarding school incidents to my delinquency incidents. Especially if Hokama actually testified against me.

I sigh for a long time, immediately thinking of Mrs. Tomiko. Being caught, I sit and think if she is only in an interrogated cell or is subjected to far too harsh tests. They have no way to kill her, being a potential witness to the last incident.

"Furukawa's father!" I shouted, finally realizing who the detective was who had just questioned me.

I put my hands to my mouth as soon as I see Nagamine signaling me to speak more slowly, being scared and checking the door several times.

"They are coming back."

In just a few seconds, Mr. Atsuko returns with the same stiff posture and the same notebook to which he has a small pen attached. He enters with my parents and the three of them pull their chairs next to my bed. My mother seems overwhelmed by the situation. She has purple circles, heavily impregnated in her skin, and my father seems to be unwell, scratching himself all the time.

"Following your answers, you will remain under continuous supervision until the beginning of the process. Any other activity outside of school is strictly forbidden," Mr. Atsuko explains to me.

"Iwamoto, I'm going to Mrs. Tomiko to explain the whole situation. Looks like they'll leave you alone."

I look in Nagamine's direction, begging him with subtle glances for a few more moments until I hear with my own ears the final verdict. I look quickly at Mr. Atsuko, and when I look back at Nagamine, he is already gone.

I nod without saying a word.

"Tonight you can go home, taking the medicines that the nurses will give you. In fact, all three of you will be driven home in a car provided by Golden Power. An evening full of gold and diamonds," says Mr. Atsuko, leaving the room.

"Before you dare say something, your dear son will not return too soon. How does this idea make you smile?" I ask, full of nerves, as soon as we are left alone.

"Iwamoto, I have to get home to drink," says my father calmly.

"What happened to Kaba?" my mother asks, full of shock.

"He is suspected of being a wizard," I whisper, with a grimace and a superior tone.

"I... I need some air," says my mother, getting up from her chair and staring blankly with big eyes almost out of orbit. Dad got up after her, worried.

I'd like to get out of this damn hospital, run away, and don't care about anything else. Just run. To go to the contagious people on the island of Cursed Land, hoping they would receive me, and no one would dare come in to search for me. What does the world look like there? Is there misery everywhere and homeless people, beetles, and rats roaming the streets?

"Mrs. Tomiko is fine. She's suspected of drugging you, but for now she's only in a cell," Nagamine says suddenly, his voice startling me. He sits in the chair where Mr. Atsuko was sitting next to my bed and looks at me worriedly, although he is clearly trying to hide his fears from me. "Your backpack is outside in a bush by the tree. So you got away with it. However, I don't know how you will manage to take it, but I want to let you know that we will have to find a plan for this because that pill is very important and you need it."

I nod.

I get out of bed, but Nagamine stops me.

"Where are my clothes?" I whisper as softly as I can, realizing I can't see them anywhere.

"They took them as evidence, so you will have to wait patiently until a nurse brings you some new clothes with which you can get out of the hospital."

"So I'm a witch?"

Nagamine nods and I already feel tingling in my body that tickles my soul. I feel excited and scared.

"What can I do as a witch?"

"You have powers, haven't you seen?" he asks me rhetorically.

"Did you have powers? Were you a wizard?"

"No, but you'll find out so much, Iwamoto. I want you to promise me that you will not reject anything and that you will trust me and Mrs. Tomiko."

"Nagamine, if you belong to Purgatory, how can you go from one place to another on Earth?"

"Earth is also purgatory, but I can only get in touch with you or Mrs. Tomiko."

"Why?" I wake up, wondering like a child.

"Because I met you and because you are a witch..."

"Ah! Does that mean you can get in touch with my brother?" I burst out, without realizing.

"The boarding school and the institutes are made of much too solid material and it does not allow myself access.

"Nagamine, I think I was in the real Hell and I was heading to the real Heaven."

"I know, people are already waiting for you there," he says, smirking and letting a few giggles come out of his mouth.

Verson
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Glitch
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