Chapter 6: Taller Than Our Soul

　　Night marched on back in town and the two young women settled down from their busy dine outdoors. Their hotel room was left just the way it was at the very moment they left. The room was filled with various items that had been with them since their arrival in town, all of which were far more expensive for the average person. There seemed to be no traces of a maid`s handiwork anywhere, and no stolen items.

　　Whatever the case, Lucille sat down on the bed and began reading a book. Meanwhile Bel lay next to her. Minutes passed, and the bustling sounds of the town slowly died down. The gentle hum of the wind passed through the open window, while the rustle of each turn of the page. Lucille was focused in reading, mesmerized by the thoughts that captured the imagination of what asinine writing could achieve. She occasionally took a concerned glance towards Bel. Her eyes looked tired and uneasy.

　　The silence between the two sisters slowly but surely got more awkward, and a voice within Lucille wanted to strike up a conversation. Then, Bel suddenly spoke what she had on her mind.

　　"Have you ever dreamed about times where you were in empty spaces?"

　　She closed her book and looked at Bel, her expression curious and in a daze. "What do you mean by empty spaces?" she asked.

　　Bel shrugged. "I don`t know, just places where there`s nothing around. Like a vast desert or an endless ocean or maybe the clearing in the woods we used to go to. Every time I think about it, I`m reminded of the time Father told us about that."

　　Lucille nodded slowly. "I think I know what you mean. Sometimes, when I wrote articles at the office, my mind starts wandering on its own. I cannot recall much, but I suppose that what I felt, it`s the same thing you probably felt."

　　Bel`s eyes widened. "Sometimes, life just gets you that way. It`s haunting."

　　Lucille smiled wryly. "Yeah, I guess it can be. But there`s also something peaceful about it. Like everything else in the world has fallen away and there`s just... space."

　　The two women kept silent for a while, while they busied themselves with whatever they were doing. This time, Lucille broke the silence.

　　"You know, I noticed that you`ve been showing that devil when you met Morgan for the first time." Lucille calmly brought up a thought she had for a while, as she flipped through her novellete. "Did you get the case of the heebie jeebies? A crush, Belinda? Can you answer me?"

　　"It`s not any of those, Lucy dear." Bel replied. "While I was by the docks, an old man who kindly modeled for my pictures told me that Morgan had a... how should I put this. A less than favorable reputation around the town."

　　Lucille raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Bel`s response. She set her book aside, giving her sister her full attention. "A less than favorable reputation? What do you mean, Bel? What exactly did the old man say about Morgan?"

　　"He`s the darling of the harlots and frequenter of the brothels, the old man said! He was taken in by a criminal, and that mysterious look he had seemed super suspicious. They say he was those things, we might end up like Fran."

　　Lucille`s expression changed to one of concern as she listened to Bel`s words. "Do not remind of that, Belinda. We definitely don`t want to get mixed up with someone like that. But if he really was the kind of person you say he is, we need to be careful, Bel."

　　Bel nodded in agreement.

　　"However, he did not seemed that way when I met him. He broke up that drunk fight like a professional, without the hint of any malicious intent."

　　Bel pondered on Lucille`s words for a moment. "That`s true, we shouldn`t judge someone based on rumors. But we still need to be cautious and keep our guard up, just in case. Did you call the offices about the articles you wrote?"

　　"No, not yet. I haven`t found the time. It`s been... I don`t know I just didn`t do it."

　　Bel nodded understandingly. "I get it. It`s hard to find the motivation sometimes."

　　Lucille sighed. "Yeah. And I don`t even know if they`ll accept them. I mean, I`m not exactly the most experienced writer out there."

　　Bel shook her head. "Don`t say that. You`re amazing. I`ve read some of your work, remember?"

　　Lucille smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Bel. That means a lot coming from you."

　　Bel grinned. "Of course! You know I`ve always got your back."

　　They both sat in comfortable silence, the quiet interrupted only by the sounds of the people walking in the corridors outside their room. However, their room wasn`t exactly as ideal as it had been a few days ago. The room was filled with various items that had been with them since their arrival in town, all of which were far more expensive for the average person.

　　"I must go out for a while, it`s a bit stuffy in the room."Lucille sighed. She stood up and left the room, leaving her sister alone in the room. "I`ll be back in a few, take care and sleep well, Bel."

　　"Farewell, Lucy." Bel smiled.

　　-break-

　　Lucille strolled down the quiet streets, her mind drifting in contemplation. The tranquil atmosphere embraced her as the moon illuminated the surroundings with its gentle glow. Yet, her serene moment was marred by the constant interruptions of people bustling along the sidewalk. Their careless movements resulted in frequent collisions, and rather than accepting responsibility, they attempted to deceive her with shoddy goods or unnecessary elixirs. Their actions struck a blow to her integrity, an affront she found utterly appalling.

　　As she continued her walk, Lucille felt a magnetic pull towards a nearby small park. It exuded a tranquil ambiance, with only a handful of individuals leisurely strolling with their dogs or engaged in a gentle jog. Intrigued by the serenity of the scene, Lucille succumbed to its allure and settled herself on a bench. From this vantage point, she observed the ebb and flow of life, content in simply being an observer of the world around her.

　　The gas lamps cast a soft glow, dispersing the dimness that shrouded the town of Loreinstad. Their gentle flickering added a touch of warmth and nostalgia to the otherwise subdued atmosphere. Lucille, perched on the bench in the park, allowed herself to be immersed in the enchanting ambiance. She marveled at how the lamplight transformed the town, painting shadows on the cobblestone streets and lending an air of mystery to the surroundings. It was as if the gas lamps held secrets and whispered tales from ages past, captivating Lucille`s imagination and inviting her to explore the hidden depths of Loreinstad. Crows and ravens perched on them, and cawed in random moments.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

　　It was in moments like these that she felt at peace. Away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, with nothing but the sound of nature and her own thoughts to keep her company. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting the fresh air fill her lungs. She felt the pressure from her work and her own past. To be free from it all, at least for a while, it was an eye-opening experience.

　　But then, the sound of a loud cough interrupted her bout of introspection. She looked behind her back, and saw a tall man standing before her. He was dressed in a ragged police uniform, had a dark coat like a detective, and he had a fedora shadowing his eyes. Lucille`s eyes dilated in fear— she knew this stranger. His bushy mustache, his sideburns, and a deep jagged scar that ran through his nose like an atrocious reminder. His eyes, however, had a calmness that was unusual for such a threatening man.

　　Lucille felt an urge to run away, and head back to the room. But, the man simply sat down next on the bench with her, turning his head and putting his hand on her shoulder, his face haunted by a ghost.

　　"What do you want?" Lucille angrily said. "You`re gonna rob me? Just like you did with the passengers back in the train? Or is this the business deal you want to me to discuss?"

　　"Tell me, lass. What could I possibly want from you?" He said in that commanding voice, which prominently had a lazy drawl. "I know that I said something about a business deal, but really it was just an excuse to scare you. First of all, ma`am, I`m a cop."

　　"You`re a policeman?" Lucille said, her eyes bulging. "I do not believe you, you criminal scum."

　　The man chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of amusement and something else that Lucille couldn`t quite decipher. "I can understand your skepticism, miss, and I apologize for doing that robbery. My boys are quite rowdy and its hard for them to trust me. After all, my appearance might not be what you expect from a cop. But by the grace of the Lord, I`ve been working undercover for quite some time now."

　　Lucille`s curiosity began to overshadow her fear as she leaned in, her eyes locked with his. "Undercover? Doing what, exactly?"

　　"There`s been lots of bad things happening in town. The bigwigs at Blumentritt hardly care about people like us. Y`know, most of us became part-time crooks. Well, I`m not a crook. I`ve earned everything I`ve got. So, I work with these criminals, waiting for the perfect time to backstab `em."

　　Lucille sat silently, absorbing the man`s words. Her initial fear had subsided, replaced now by a mixture of curiosity and caution. She found herself strangely intrigued by his story, wondering if there was more to this mysterious man than met the eye.

　　"And what`s your name, officer?" Lucille finally asked, her voice tinged with skepticism.

　　The man smirked and removed his fedora, revealing a set of graying hair. "Call me Detective Rudolf Brandt, or Rudy for short. That`s all you need to know for now, miss."

　　Lucille nodded, still uncertain about placing her trust in this enigmatic detective. She couldn`t help but wonder why he had approached her and why he seemed to have taken an interest in her.

　　"Mr. Brandt, why are you telling me all this? Why are you revealing your undercover work to a stranger?" Lucille questioned, her eyes narrowing slightly. She had a lingering feeling to write down what she heard.

　　Detective Brandt then stood up from the seat, and lit up a cigar. The detective sighed and looked off into the distance, his gaze filled with a mix of weariness and determination. "Because, miss, there`s something about you and your sister that caught my attention. Since you left Rochsydt, there`s been some people chasing after you two."

　　"How did you know!" Lucille exclaimed. "How did you know we were at Rochsydt?"

　　"While we were planning to the rob the train, I spotted you two being followed by a strange man." Rudy explained, blowing out smoke. "You know your hair color stands out from everyone else, so I recognized you two from the train easily. Anywho, those men were relentless and speaking Sordvellian."

　　Lucille gulped. She felt her throat grip tightly, almost strangling her. She could almost hear what Detective Brandt was going to say.

　　Rudy continued, "You two aren`t from here? You`re from Sordveld. The slight accent you talk with kind of gave it away, I`ve heard it ten odd years ago. Back when I used to be a soldier."

　　"Indeed," Lucille confirmed, her voice barely above a whisper. She paused for a moment, her eyes narrowing with suspicion, before continuing, "But how did you know that, Detective Brandt?" Her sudden realization prompted her to jump from her seat at the bench. "Do you truly understand what these men are after? Because it`s not what you think it is."

　　Rudy paused for a moment, taking a deep drag from his cigar and exhaling a cloud of smoke before responding. "I may not know the full extent of what they`re after, but I have my suspicions. The men who were following you, they`re not ordinary criminals. They`re connected to something much bigger, something that reaches far beyond this town."

　　Lucille`s eyes widened, her mind racing with stress. "That is alarming. Luckily, we have Morgan to protect us."

　　Her words hung in the air as she contemplated the gravity of the situation. Detective Brandt`s eyes flickered with a mixture of concern and determination as he listened to her. He took another puff of his cigar, the smoke swirling around him like a shroud.

　　"Morgan is undoubtedly a capable individual," Detective Brandt replied, his voice laced with a note of caution. Lucille noticed that he seemed to have a frusturated tone when he uttered Morgan. "But these men pursuing you and your sister, they possess a level of organization and power that goes beyond what any individual can handle alone. They have resources and connections that extend far beyond this town."

　　"Detective Brandt, we need your help," Lucille stated firmly, her voice resolute. "We can`t face this alone. If these men are connected to something bigger, then we need someone who understands the bigger picture. Will you assist us?"

　　Detective Brandt`s gaze shifted from the distance and met Lucille`s eyes. There was a flicker of admiration in his expression, mixed with a touch of sympathy. He stubbed out his cigar on his coat and took a step closer to her.

　　"I`ve already seen enough to know that you and your sister are in deep waters," Detective Brandt said, his voice carrying a weight of determination. "I can`t promise you safety or an easy road, but I can promise you this: Whenever I`m nearby, me and my gang will make sure you take it easy, lass."

　　An eerie laugh resonated through the air, catching the attention of Lucille and Detective Brandt. They turned towards the source of the sound, only to find a dark, shadowy figure standing there. Its white eyes gleamed with an unsettling glow, piercing through the darkness of the night. Lucille`s heart skipped a beat as she stared at the mysterious presence, a shiver running down her spine. Seeking solace and protection, she instinctively drew closer to Detective Brandt, finding reassurance in his presence.

　　"And who might you be?" Detective Brandt asked, his voice steady but tinged with caution. He pulled out his gun, a sleek vintage revolver, and aimed it at the monster. "Come over here, you."

　　The figure took a step forward, revealing a tall and imposing presence draped in an eerie darkness that billowed around it. Its corporeal form seemed to be made of shadows, as if darkness itself had taken shape. Its piercing white eyes cut through the gloom, radiating an intensity that sent shivers down Lucille`s spine.

　　"I have found you, Lady Cynthia. I beckon thee to return to where thy Father calls from." Its creepy voice cracked aginst the serene night. A strong Sordvellian accent harshly grated on the air.

　　"Don`t you dare call me, Cynthia!"

　　Lucille`s breath caught in her throat as she heard the figure`s words. The mention of her father sent a surge of emotions through her—confusion, fear, and a glimmer of hope. She glanced at Detective Brandt, searching for guidance and support. Rudolf Brandt`s expression hardened as he stepped forward, positioning himself between Lucille and the mysterious figure. His voice was firm and resolute as he addressed the figure.

　　"Who the hell are you!" He shouted. He held Lucille behind his hand, and she seemed to tremble violently. "Tell me right now, or else you`ll be blown to bits!"

　　"I am what thy kind call a Shadow Walker," it said, its voice echoing with an eerie tone. Stepping closer and closer, a dark aura enveloped its entire being, emanating a malevolent energy that seemed to crawl like twisted tentacles or the legs of a spider. The two humans instinctively stepped backwards, realizing the formidable threat they were facing.

　　"Our mission is simple. We return Lady Cynthia back to her father. It has been far too long." It proclaimed, creepily laughing and dripping with insanity. "You naughty girl!"

　　Suddenly, the Shadow Walker split into ten identical monstrous forms, each exuding the same terrifying presence. Their spines cracked violently, and it retched and cackled echoing. Bystanders who saw the transformation ran away. The horde of monsters lunged towards the vulnerable Lucille and Rudolf. Rudolf immediately grabbed on Lucille`s hand and began making haste, shouting in the dead of night.

　　"Run, young lass! We`ve gotta run!"