4: Blood and Photos

The turnover was postponed for the next two months due to my fractured arm, my grandfather not being happy about it as he kept on insisting that I was being sabotaged by some jealous officer for having the case. I thought otherwise. Nobody would want this case, even if it's a high profile one, I hate it and many of my friends share the same sentiment. Two months after the injury I found myself staring at the file folder of Annie Villafuerte once more, her seven year old angelic face was smiling back at me. She was only three years younger than me but somehow there was something wrong about the picture, something wrong with her smile that I just can't put my finger on to, but it wasn't enough to speculate on. I read her family's background. I was lucky to have my grandfather updating the file for the recent years, noticing a peculiarity with the way the family members reacted to being photographed. They all seem to be having trouble with photographs with none of them having a decent shot or rather, just like what my grandfather's note says, no one seems to want to get their photos taken since the girl was lost. All except for one, Bethany, the last relative to have seen the girl normal before she went loony. I sighed, this is harder than I thought. I picked up my phone and typed on my reminders, 'Go to Villafuerte house with grandfather'. I really dreaded the said day but I had no choice since I knew my grandfather would insist on doing it anyway.

I woke up with a start the next day and prepared for the meeting with the Villafuerte Family, my grandfather was smart enough to make a schedule with them beforehand. Arriving at the Villafuerte residence I was shocked that the Villafuertes were easy to talk to, contrary to what I was expecting. I guess my grandpa used the lost little girl as an excuse for the meeting, and so my investigation begins.

I read the file again and the notes my grandfather wrote on it; apparently, Annie Villafuerte suddenly went berserk while she and her sister were playing in their room. Bethany swore that she didn't know where her sister got the knife or how, ever since the accident they had been too careful around her to let any potentially harmful object to be near. The file further stated that her mother wouldn't stop sobbing whenever they mention their little girl, and that the other siblings were in shock that they were not able to question them for the next two weeks. Her father, the senator on the other hand was more quiet and composed enough to be asked but his answers were dead ends, it seems that nobody had a clue what happened. However, whenever they were asked if they believe she was still alive all had the same definite answer, "Yes".

I stretched my arms for a moment and sighed. Each and every member of that family was convinced to the core that the girl is alive, this has been proved by the countless calls they gave my grandfather through the years. However, there were no leads and no one could even give a plausible theory how that girl could live. Besides, their persistence on the belief that Annie is still alive is something that disturbs me like an itch on my back that I can't seem to reach. I know a lot of families who takes years to accept the death of a family member but there was just something wrong when it comes to the Villafuertes, again I heaved a sigh, this was an impossible and unsolvable case. I set my brain to "search and retrieve" rather than "search and rescue". I was about to take a bath when I felt something wet seeping through the pages of the folder, I looked down and saw a red pool forming from the photos that were on my desk. I scrambled to save the papers, quickly throwing the pictures on the floor. I looked at the red liquid on my hand from which a foul odor was reeking. It was a smell I knew wherever I went - it was blood. I looked at the photos I threw on the floor and an image so horrifying began to form that it made me - a grown man cower in fear, it was the face of a demon. I slowly watched the blood pool on the carpet. Something was rising, I saw its claws grab hold of the rug, a dark enigma was clawing its way out, but all I could was to remain standing on my spot. I heard a snarl and all of a sudden the whole room was trembling with such intensity because of its presence. I froze as I saw the whole thing, it had horns that twisted around on his head, eyes dark as abyss and a menacing grin. I watched as it bared its teeth sharpened to a point, its eyes burned on my skull with anger and all evil in the cosmos, I knew that moment what it wanted - my life.

I was about to turn away and run when I felt a hand clutching my neck, the owner was the creature that only existed in nightmares. It had claws for hands and the face was that on the blood on the floor, he was crushing my windpipe. Instinct made me fight back as my hand tried to push him back but the demon laughed at my weakness. I felt my life slipping through but with one final try I pushed and the demon seemed to have been swept back by some unknown force and scrambled on the ground. Shocked with what had occurred, it took me a moment to notice that the being was darting towards me again. I was tackled to the ground this time and as I fought for my dear life, I felt its acrid breath on my neck as it said, "Do not interfere with my plans traveler", and in one strike I felt its claws lash at my face.

I closed my eyes, heard footsteps a few moments later, and when I opened them I saw my grandfather was looking over me with a quizzical look.

"What the hell are you doing down there Robin?", he growled.