Season of Sunlight

Fifth Month

630 Bulberry Lane

The City of Trylla, The Cronia Region

2325

Elza Parks walked around her bedroom wearing black high-waisted pants, brown laced boots, a white long-sleeved blouse, and a brown overbust corset. Her red hair remained untamed, voluminous and static as she combed it with a brush.

She preferred wearing shoes inside while Aunt Frou Frou wasn't home. The cold tingle of the tiles under her bare feet sent shivers up her spine.

Elza never understood why Frou Frou insisted on covering the entire bloody house in them, but to argue would be a waste of breath. Frou Frou's mind was already clogged with too many of her own ideas. Others didn't stand a chance of breaking through.

Elza approached a vanity that lingered by the bed near a tall window overlooking the back garden. The room walls were pale grey, cluttered with several large oil paintings of family portraits.

The bed was moderately sized, with vermillion pillows and a checkered blue and white blanket resting over the white duvet.

Elza pulled out a red cushioned chair and sat in front of an oval mirror rimmed with gold. She placed her hands on the surface of the wooden desk, dipped her chin, and stared down at a copper box marked with the initials E. P.

She opened it and gazed at a stack of notes and newspaper clippings stashed inside.

Screech!

Elza looked up and glanced around the room, her body tense. The bedroom door was open.

"Inspector Fraser?" she called. " Abbott, is that you?"

Elza felt a tickle on the back of her neck, turning to face the window, which was pulled open a few inches. She shivered, spinning around on the chair as her eyes examined the bed and doorway leading out into the upper hallway.

"Hello?"

When no one answered, she brushed off the hunch and returned to the box, gripping the edge of the papers with her thumb and index finger.

Screech!

The noise caused Elza to jump up from the vanity. She pulled open a lower compartment and grabbed a silver dagger with a copper hilt.

"Alright, who's there?" she said, waving the blade through the air.

Elza slowly began to pace the bedroom, taking soft steps. The wind battered the open window, and the warm lantern light above her head suddenly vanished.

"Show yourself!"

A hand wrapped over her mouth and pulled her to the floor.

Elza's muffled scream barely made it out the door, the attacker's gloved hand pressing hard onto her lips. She hit the ground, a body lunging onto her as another hand pushed down on her throat.

She kicked her legs, kneeing the attacker in the lower spine. A deep groan escaped their mouth, but it didn't sound human. A somewhat robotic, metallic voice spat towards her.

"Stop fighting," it hissed.

Elza kicked and squealed, desperate to get a sound out the door. The hand clamped around her neck, crushing her windpipe. The grip was firm, her skin burning.

"The secrets of this case will die with you."

Elza felt a finger with her lips and bit down on the bone, piercing the skin. The attacker withdrawed with a yelp.

"Henri!" she yelled. "Help!"

***

Henri drained his teacup.

"Well, that was delightful," he said.

"Help!" came the wailing voice of Miss Parks, a mere echo in the kitchen.

He looked at Abbott. They both jumped up and ran out of the room.

Henri launched up the steps of the grand staircase, Abbott hot on his heels.

He reached the second floor, following the sound of a struggle from the end of the corridor. Henri retrieved his copper pistol and kicked open the bedroom door, firing a warning shot into the darkness.

"Inspector, it's Abaddon!" Miss Parks shouted.

She wiggled herself free, using the distraction to push back her attacker. "Get them!"

A fist punched Henri's gun into the air as he navigated the bedroom, firing a bullet into the ceiling. The capsule exploded, showering sawdust onto his head.

He dove forward with his arms extended, hitting the mysterious figure. They flew into the vanity, shattering the mirror upon impact.

"Abbott, the lights!" he said.

"Yes, sir!" Abbott replied, struggling to find the switch in the darkness.

"Stay out of our way, Inspector," said the metallic voice. "Or we will kill your sister."

A sharp blade pierced Henri's boot and stabbed into his foot. He screamed, falling back.

The mysterious figure charged out through the doorway just as Constable Abbot pulled the light switch.

"Lights, sir!" he said, the room illuminating.

The tip of a red cape disappeared into the hallway.

"Abbott, follow them!" Henri said, pointing his finger out the door. He stumbled forward.

Abbott seized the opportunity and dashed down the hallway as the attacker jumped down the stairs, eager to reach the front door. They wore a red hooded cloak.

Abbott's stomach quenched as a masked face stared him down. His adrenaline kicked into overdrive, and he continued the pursuit, losing all sense of fear.

Elza ran out of the bedroom.

"Constable, wait!"

Abbott ignored her and raced out of the house onto the front lawn. He sped through the property gate, pulling out his silver pistol.

An engine roared in his ears as he reached the middle of Bulberry Lane.

Abbott didn't have time to blink before a fleeing black motorcarriage smashed into him.

He crashed into the windshield, the impact tossing him over the roof and onto the road. His head hit the ground hard.

Thump.

"Abbott!" Henri cried, running out the door only to find the constable's body sprawled on the ground, rolling in agony.

Henri rushed over to him and fell to his knees. He picked up Abbott's head, moving it towards him.

"James!"

Abbott moaned, blood leaking from his nose. "Did we get them, sir?"

"Stay with me," Henri said, staring down the empty road.

"Inspector!"

Elza hurried out of the house, her head veering frantically in all directions. "Where are you?"

"Over here!" Henri said, leading her to his position.

Miss Parks stumbled out of the gate and shrieked when she saw Abbott. "Is he alright?"

"Call the bureau," Henri said. "Get the commissioner over here right away, and tell them to bring a medical team, now!"

Elza nodded and fled indoors.

The air was silent around Henri as he held Abbott in his arms, the young constable watching him with tears.