SUMMONING HELL

The town of Avimonte is currently veiled in darkness of the night, but Alessandro Davien is still wide awake. The entire police building is now silent, since almost all of his co-workers already left the place.

He's scanning some files thoroughly. The darkness around him did not faze him a bit, because he's too focused searching for something.

"Found you!" he suddenly shouted, his voice echoing inside the room. He read the papers carefully that he's been looking for almost a decade now. His forehead creased when he stopped on a certain page of that file.

"Baptism Of Fire: The forgotten Sullivan's case."

He detached the stapled papers on the folder and scans through every pages of the document. He knead his throbbing head as he finally realized the connection of the recent events, and an idea enters his mind.

With a strong resolve, he walked towards their chief's office. As expected, the latter is still awake as well.

"Sir, I want to open the Sullivan's case again."

•••••

LAUREN'S POINT OF VIEW

Later that afternoon, the news report of Airen's death spread like wildfire, inflicting fear and confusion on everyone.

"She's your classmate, right?" Arden, one of my workmates in the coffee shop where I'm working, asked as he watches the news playing in the T.V screen.

I nod my head somberly.

He shakes his head. "Who's in their right mind would do such horrible thing? Damn, my stomach is already squirming imagining the things your classmate had been through."

I'm still uncomfortable talking about that incident so I did not bother to answer. I roam my eyes around the silent cafeteria. The students who are inside are either doing some school works using their laptop while sipping their frappe or just simply want to relax.

Only few people know that I'm working here as a part time waitress so that I can have an additional money for my school expenses. I don't want to be completely reliant on my mother, and I'm actually saving some of my salary incase she gets tired of me and drive me out of our house- which is not impossible.

I was not able to work here on the first week of the school because I need to run some important errands. Lei was actually the one who referred this shop to me because the owner is her Aunt. I know she pulled some strings that's why I was able to get in here easily. I'm not complaining tho, much to my advantage.

This vintage style place is an ideal place for students and employees to release stress, with the brilliant lighting and the solemn ambiance. There is also a book corner in the left hand side of the shop where the students can read books.

The wind chimes suddenly make a white noise, indicating that someone just entered the shop. A girl wearing a buggy sweater looks around before abruptly stopping at the counter.

I smiled when she stands in front of me. "Welcome to Caffeine Express, what would you like to order, Ma'am?" I asked with a wide smile.

My forehead creased when she just stares at me with a stone-cold face. Does she know me? But this is just the first time that we met.

I cleared my throat. "Ma'am?"

She suddenly smile. "Oh, I'm sorry, you just look like someone I know. By the way, please give me a cup of Ice cream Affogato and a Mini Cranberry Holiday Quickbread."

I returned my smile and grab a cup. "Alright Ma'am, that would be a total amount of 12.50 $." She handed me her payment. "Enjoy your stay, Ma'am."

I'm stretching my arms as I take off the apron I'm wearing when Arden speaks behind me. My working hours are already done.

"You're going home already?"

I nodded. "I need to. I still have some school stuff to finish."

He eyed me amusingly. "Really? I don't know if someone already told you this but I really admire your hard work. Imagine, our work is really stressing and you still have time for studies? Wow."

I chuckled at his comment. "Piece of cake," I said cockily. "I'll starve myself to death if I will not work my fingers to the bone. Anyway, I really need to go now. Take care, Arden."

I tapped his shoulder before dashing out the place.

The cold air immediately embraces me as soon as I step outside. The night is very chilly that I can even see my foggy breath. I look at my wrist watch, it's almost seven in the evening. I did not take a cab because our house is just few meters away from my work place.

My forehead creased when the entire house is veiled in total darkness.

"Isn't she here yet?"

I grab the spare key in my bag and open the door. Using the faint light coming from my phone, I searched for the switch and open the lights.

I slump on the couch and knead my head. I close my eyes for a few moments. The events that occured for the past few days invaded my mind again. I shook my head and drag myself up almost lazily. My entire body is too weak to even make myself a dinner. I will just eat a lot tomorrow.

The note that I picked up earlier suddenly came into my mind while I'm currently writing our homework. I stand up and find that paper.

"A tormented soul's vengeance scorches more than a pyre

The wind will ripple in cold despair, the moon will bath in blood

Restraints of secrets long buried in oblivion will shatter

And her awakening will kindle noxious flames of mystery."

These lines give me a certain feeling of uneasiness while I'm reading it repeatedly.

"Is this some sort of a clue that will point us to the culprit?" I asked myself. I read it again, but I could not extract anything from my brain.

Vengeance. Pyre. Blood. Secrets. Flames

I tried so hard to find the connection of these words to the entanglement that we are currently experiencing, but all my efforts were futile. How can I possibly find at least a tiny bit of a clue from this lackluster evidence?

"Why are you even stressing yourself out? It's not like you're a dexterous detective or something," the subconscious part of my mind chastises me.

Right. Instead of doing this, I should focus on my academics if I don't want to hear another rounds of scornful remarks from my mother. That shit will surely makes my ears bleed. With that thought in mind, I went back to my study table and finish writing the essay that we need to submit tomorrow.

•••••

My mother's sleeping face on the couch greeted me as I walk down the stairs to prepare my breakfast. I walk slowly towards her, there are dark circles under her eyes. My eyes suddenly brimmed with tears as my gaze turned to the picture frame she's holding.

I smiled bitterly while looking at my father's smiling face. "Dad, I miss you," I whispered.

I sit there for more minutes while silently sobbing. I heave a deep sigh to calm my emotions and put the frame back on my mother's arms again.

"When would you stop blaming me for something that I did not want to happen?"

•••••

All of us are unusually quiet unlike the typical loud and boisterous class. I immediately hug Lei when I enter the class room, her blood shot eyes spark sorrow and sadness. I'm certain that she cried all night.

The silence was only broken when someone opens the door, it's Ms. Clara. It seems that she already heard the news.

She plastered a consoling smile as she looks at everyone one of us. "I know that you guys are no yet moved on from the death of our beloved Airen. That kid, despite being a hard-headed at times, does not deserve that. I'm sorry for all of her friends' lost."

None of us responded to her, her words are not enough to get rid of the somberness enveloping the room.

"We'll pay a visit on her bereaved parents tomorrow after the class ."

The class resumes, but almost none of us are paying attention to the lessons. Ms. Clara probably noticed it but did not say a thing as a sign of sympathy. Even Ethan, who usually does something stupid or pull out some crazy tricks to disrupt the class, is just sitting silently on his chair, apparently in deep thoughts. Ashley, Lei, Pierce and Evan are also silent the whole time. Amber and Pierce, on the other hand, are not present today.

When the school bell rang, our class went towards the cafeteria with heavy foot steps. Some students are stealing glances at us.

My eyes are busy looking for a table when someone bump into me. I muttered few expletives when I felt a sticky, cold feeling. A glass of juice was splattered on my clothes.

It turns out that it was a guy. He looks at me apologetically. "I'm sorry, Ms. I was not looking at my way.

I shake my head with an awkward smile. "No, I think I'm at fault too. Don't worry, I have a spare shirt with me."

He sighed as a sign of relief. "Good to hear that. But I still want to apologize for the trouble I have caused you, Ms?"

I smiled sheepishly. "Uh, Lauren, just call me Lauren."

He nods his head. "Alright, Lauren. By the way, I'm-"

He's not yet done introducing himself when someone dragged my arms towards the table. "Move your ass now, Lauren, my stomach monsters are already raging in hunger now."

I look back and look at him an apologetic look that he just answered with a smile.

•••••

CARTER'S POINT OF VIEW

We're in the verge of eating our lunch when I felt my phone vibrated inside my pocket. I opened it, and a smile creeped on my lips when I saw her message.

"Guys, I need to excuse myself first. Something came up."

Lincoln looks at me with concern. "Is everything alright, dude?"

I nod my head. "Yeah, don't worry, I'll be back."

I walk straight to the place where we usually meet. She texted me earlier to meet her there.

The usual silent hallway greeted me as I stop on my track. I enter the ajar door of an empty room, but there's no person there.

"Ash, are you here? I'm here already," I shouted, my voice resounding on the dismal room.

"Babe, come out now."

I check the message she sent me a while ago if I read it right. My lips eventually turned into a heartily smile as I look at my wallpaper- it's Ashley's sleeping face inside my condo.

I shake my head. "Damn, I am madly in love with this woman."

Ashley and I are in a relationship for almost a year now, but no one knows it except us, we keep it hidden.

I badly want to tell everyone how lucky I am that she is mine, but she told me to keep it a secret because she's not ready yet. She always gets mad every time I open the prospect of making our relationship public and official. At first, of course, I was mad and hurt, I even thought of just breaking up with her because I feel like she's ashamed of me, but I eventually accepted it later on.

I caress her face through the phone. "I can't wait to tell the world how much I love you. I'm willing to wait for you, babe."

A creaking sound disrupt my thoughts, I look behind. "Ash?"

I stand up. "Stop playing with me, babe. Come on here now, I'm here."

But no one responded, I can only hear the soft rustle from the nearby tree.

I sighed heavily. "Stop messing around, Ash."

Again, no one came out. The temperature inside the room suddenly increased. Nervousness slowly engulfed my system as I felt a sinister presence behind me, as if that person has been watching me for a while now.

I gritted my teeth, trying to fight the fear I'm feeling. I slowly turned around, only to be greeted with a hard and forceful hit on my head. I did not have the chance to fight back or defend myself because the strike is instantaneous.

I spun around from where I'm standing, enduring the painful blow on my head. My eyes is spinning like hell.

"Argh!" I screeched and bawl my eyes out. My knees fell down on the cold floor, and someone emerged from the darkness. He brutally kick my abdomen and step on my chest.

"Pathetic bastard," the person said in a low voice. "Don't worry, your woman will follow you soon."

My eyes widened in shock when I realized who's the owner of that familiar voice. But before I could even utter a word, the person hits my head again, stealing my consciousness.