With a quilt blanket wrapped around me, I opened the frozen mailbox with my bare hands, making my fingers numb. As I took out a crimson envelope, I quickly went back inside the warm and cozy house and headed towards the dinner table, where I was greeted with hot tea and toasted bread with homemade jam. 464Please respect copyright.PENANAQroxN8TdL5
I took a bite of my toast as I unsealed the envelope and unfolded a letter inside. Curiosity killed the cat, I read silently. From, Children of Balance. 464Please respect copyright.PENANAOtToJ3slLS
"Is that from dad?" Em asked, chewing with her mouth full. 464Please respect copyright.PENANAbVU0UwGMDA
"No," I answered, as I read the short letter over and over. "It's from the Children of Balance."464Please respect copyright.PENANA7VOD2X4y7Z
"What?" jumped Aunt Inara, who almost choked on her tea. "I don't believe it."464Please respect copyright.PENANAtQQYIsB2dt
I showed her the letter and her eyes widened. "What do this even means, Bugsy?"464Please respect copyright.PENANA8e96Spo8JJ
"From what I learned in English class," I recalled. "It's a proverb which means being curious about other people's affairs will get you in trouble."464Please respect copyright.PENANA6ETbIptkc7
"That's not good," Grandma raised her concern. "They're probably threatening you, Bugsy."464Please respect copyright.PENANA4PXawhr7VT
"Shit!" I cussed. 464Please respect copyright.PENANAdgxyMa8m3V
"We have kids here, Bugsy," Aunt Inara scolded. "Besides, you're supposed to show a good example as an older sister."464Please respect copyright.PENANAjFJou477DN
"I know, aunty," I groaned. "It just slipped from my mouth, that's all."464Please respect copyright.PENANApyPmWwHD5H
"We must make a police report," warned Grandma as she stood up and slipped on her beige loafers. "We don't know what will they do to you."464Please respect copyright.PENANA07Do4MFAif
I reached for my coat and school bag, only for Aunt Inara to grabbed my hands. "You're staying home, Bugsy."464Please respect copyright.PENANACthEgFUtS2
"Wait, why?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAaAMnUDgaKG
"You'll be safer here."464Please respect copyright.PENANAlF6VXwRD4e
"But I have school," I let go of her hand and hurried to the door, but she blocked my way. 464Please respect copyright.PENANAkwqER2SRLX
"Then I'll tell Mrs Woods that you're not feeling so well."464Please respect copyright.PENANAmwgGBf06jV
I raised my eyebrows. "Isn't that lying?"464Please respect copyright.PENANADW7uutu5lV
"Yes," admitted Aunt Inara. "But it's for your own good."464Please respect copyright.PENANAy8cmETns5m
"It didn't do any good when you didn't tell me about the Unseelie Court, or the Reservoir Devil."464Please respect copyright.PENANAl4lFK8aBa6
But Aunt Inara dismissed my argument and escorted Grandma downstairs, making me lie on the sofa and pulling my hair with both hands. Why does Aunt Inara always think hiding is okay?464Please respect copyright.PENANAxkMNZcEfHZ
I stretched myself on the sofa, cleared the plates and cups from the dinner table and washed them in the kitchen sink. My brother, Carter, who stood behind me, dragged me to his room and showed me a picture book, 'Alphabets.'464Please respect copyright.PENANAiUTq7Cl0iK
I sighed and sat him down beside me and opened the book as I demonstrated how to use pronouns for each letter of the alphabet. As he learned the alphabet with me, I heard a knock from downstairs. I lifted Carter on my shoulders and headed towards the front door and saw two men with fair skin and a tan-skinned woman in suits. I pointed a closed sign hanging at the glass door, but they showed their business cards.464Please respect copyright.PENANAJfNXO0ovvG
Private investigators, I read. What are they doing here?464Please respect copyright.PENANAy65WGA2eue
I unlocked the front door and escorted them to their seats. As I faced them, Chaeyeong approached us and asked for their order. "We'll just have coffee," said the man with a light beard. 464Please respect copyright.PENANAdLvdTfGsA1
"I'll have the croissants as well," the tan-skinned lady asked. 464Please respect copyright.PENANARulYwUg8xU
As Chaeyeong left, the jet-black haired man adjusted his seat and looked at me, as if he was the interrogator. "Can I help you?" I implored. 464Please respect copyright.PENANABDnW3qLZ7a
"Are you Meredith Tan?" 464Please respect copyright.PENANAYxSA4XZFBp
I nodded. "We're here about the Children of Balance so we'll appreciate if you cooperate with us."464Please respect copyright.PENANAG6God5yyhD
"Yes, sir," I obeyed. "But you can just call me Bugsy instead."464Please respect copyright.PENANAa3XzQmnhyZ
"Okay then, Bugsy, " he smiled. " I'm Marshall and these are my brother and sister, Henry and Joy."464Please respect copyright.PENANAuaGDkH4czP
I shook hands with all three of them as their coffee arrived with Joy's croissant. Mr Henry thanked Chaeyeong as Joy placed a recorder on the table and pressed the red button. "You may begin your questioning, Henry"464Please respect copyright.PENANAbmClpZe6cO
"Can you tell me everything about your encounter with the Children of Balance?" he questioned, crossing both his legs together.464Please respect copyright.PENANAHJ0PazDQaR
"It's complicated, Mr Henry."464Please respect copyright.PENANArc02Y6G5ra
"I've seen complicated things throughout my career, Bugsy. You can tell me anything."464Please respect copyright.PENANAfIvzpWxm6t
I took a deep breath and told them about Malcolm's abandoned cabin and how the Children of Balance threatened to shoot us if we came back there. Then, I recalled about the events at the commune, where I disguised as one of its members and infiltrated their meeting, where I learned a terrible conspiracy to kidnap and murder someone. After that, I continued the part where I did my research and predicted the date the murder happened and the number of Children of Balance's victims. 464Please respect copyright.PENANALVEz2QH28F
I stopped there as I got up and poured myself a glass of water to freshen up. As I sat down again. Mr Henry asked me another question. "What were you doing at the abandoned cabin?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAzYvCvn3yC1
"In Slaborough, we have a tradition where during a teenager's birthday, we would walk on the dirt road with your friends going wherever the road leads you."464Please respect copyright.PENANAjPkQL3F4vv
"And the dirt road led you to the abandoned cabin?" said Mr Henry, in a confused tone. 464Please respect copyright.PENANARQyEiW2fOU
"It led Naomi to the cabin, actually."464Please respect copyright.PENANADSp4TouELb
"Who's Naomi?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAW6psEsGkhO
"My best friend."464Please respect copyright.PENANAJx3vOm0IFF
"Alright, second question. How did you know Malcolm was murdered and not killed himself?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAlaYZblvGBw
"I talked to his spirit."464Please respect copyright.PENANAZT81PnzbsH
"Okay then," Mr Henry tightened his lips. "How did you find the commune?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAfrpzXx7onu
"My friends and I were led by the will-o-the-wisps," my voice shook. "I know I sound insane but-"464Please respect copyright.PENANAwPGHUewJke
"I believe every word you say, Bugsy," he assured me. "Besides, what you just told me is nothing compared to what I've seen before. I've encountered worse events during my time as a private investigator."464Please respect copyright.PENANAdoZy9C3tYQ
"Okay, Mr Henry," I sighed, in relief. 464Please respect copyright.PENANAsgjAuTwX3z
"Next question," he announced. "Where did you do your research?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAsKUNLOV94g
"In the archives right next to the public library."464Please respect copyright.PENANA6yPf5gHmxm
"Were you alone?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAC90F9kO0xP
I shook my head. "I had help from Grandma and Ferdinand."464Please respect copyright.PENANA38RelG6lq9
Just as Mr Henry wanted to open his mouth, the front door was burst open, revealing Aunt Inara and Grandma. Henry stood up and greeted them, apologizing for any inconvenience. "I am conducting an investigation regarding the Children of Balance," he declared. "And right now, I'm questioning Bugsy here since she's the key witness, madam."464Please respect copyright.PENANAlaUOeBw9qO
Grandma chuckled. "No need to apologize, young man. You can continue with what you're doing. 464Please respect copyright.PENANA3sfMAtxOLq
She sat down and relaxed her posture. Henry sipped his black coffee and placed his cup on the table, crossing both his legs. "The last question, after the whole incident, did you receive any letters from the Children of Balance?"
"Yes, I did."
Aunt Inara gasped as she searched through her black handbag and took out the red envelope I've received earlier in the morning. "This is the letter Bugsy received from the Children of Balance," said Aunt Inara. "It was a short one, but I hope it'll help you, sir."464Please respect copyright.PENANA0PY5unNKV0
She handed the letter to Marshall and showed it to his older brother and sister. "Curiosity killed a cat," Ms Joy read. "Do you know what this means, Bugsy?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAUVh0vKSb64
"It means I interfered the Children of Balance's plan and now I'm being targeted," I interpreted. 464Please respect copyright.PENANAatJsf7DEHg
Mr Henry chuckled. "You're a smart girl."464Please respect copyright.PENANABqtapOqukB
I brightened up. "Really?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAhRESk4iaYi
"But a little naive to realize there's a double meaning to this proverb."464Please respect copyright.PENANAdpQpAPAo9d
My smile turned into a frown as he leaned towards me, without taking up my space. "Logically, when you infiltrated the cult, you only knew their plan to murder someone, is that correct?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAeYlIHJPlwe
I nodded. "Yes, sir."464Please respect copyright.PENANADlcoJCr9iT
"But when you, Ferdinand and your grandmother did your research, you correctly predicted Martyrs' Fest, which is on the 20th of January and how many victims did the Children of Balance, is that true?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAklQWnxcmGT
I nodded again. "Yes, sir."464Please respect copyright.PENANAQJW01Xwd2F
"Based on my hypothesis, what is your conclusion?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAngphOY5qYp
I tilted my head upwards as I scratched my chin and stared at the ceiling. Good god, I pondered. What is he even asking?464Please respect copyright.PENANAhYizHFR5AX
Ting, Mr Marshall's pocket watch chimed. It's been five minutes. Looks like I'll have to bullshit my way through. 464Please respect copyright.PENANAYuptGLKlH6
"Someone's snitching on us?" I guessed. 464Please respect copyright.PENANAwIGgIKL6dk
"That is correct," Henry was taken aback by my answer. "Someone knew you were looking for answers about this cult and threatened you to stop."464Please respect copyright.PENANAOWva0kVqMZ
"But who would've known about our investigation?" asked Grandma, in a shaky tone. 464Please respect copyright.PENANAeN0VEwWDga
"We're not sure," Ms Joy shrugged. "But we're about to find out the truth, sooner or later."464Please respect copyright.PENANAvVAT46Bvd7
As they stood up, I opened the front door and led them outside, thanking them for everything. Mr Henry gave a nod with his fedora and headed towards the snowy streets when I called out his name. He stopped and turned towards me. "Anything else, Bugsy?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAx0GfRnZZ2N
"Who hired you?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAHMU4xRuxsq
"Mayor Yearns hired all three of us," he answered. "He complained that the police in Slaborough refused to believe that the Children of Balance existed, therefore, he gave me a call."
"But their pattern of murder and kidnapping were consistent. How can they deny that the Children of Balance existed?"464Please respect copyright.PENANADKroAeKzjR
"Not all police have strong integrity, Bugsy," sighed Mr Henry. "They're humans after all and like everyone else, they can be easily influenced by an outsider. It's nice meeting you, kid. Hope I can see you again."464Please respect copyright.PENANAeRHa7cdXhN
Later that night, my sister and I erupted with laughter as we watched a cartoon mouse fall and form the shape of a square when suddenly, the yellow telephone rang. Em lowered the TV volume as I picked up the phone. "Little Owl Coffeehouse, what can I do for you?" I said, in a cheerful tone.464Please respect copyright.PENANAIZ10caFEfr
"Hello, Bugsy," replied Nathanel. "Hope I'm not bothering you."464Please respect copyright.PENANAiBBbwKpG3s
"How did you know my name?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAECKFRG1jbi
"It's a small town, Bugsy. Everyone knows one another."464Please respect copyright.PENANAFZazBjeuK9
"What did you want, Nathanel?" I clenched my other hand into a fist.464Please respect copyright.PENANAKDvcRA44Qr
"Didn't your aunt teach you how to address an elderly man?"464Please respect copyright.PENANA9KeRSTcfYS
"Well, quit stalling and tell me what you want, you monster."464Please respect copyright.PENANAkcq8w6vK6z
"Tell those three private investigators to step down or else-"
Before he could finish his sentence, I slammed the handset down as Em stared at me, with her mouth covered. "Are you okay, Bugsy?" she asked, with the cartoon running in the background. I can't let Em know about this. It'll put her in danger.464Please respect copyright.PENANAqMiq1o0xll
"I'm fine," I faked a smile. "It's just some guy from school, that's all."464Please respect copyright.PENANAZmmqXLHANP
"Are you sure, Bugsy?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAWNbyoePWo9
I nodded. "Yes, Em. Now let's get back on our cartoon, shall we?"
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