Chapter 1: Sweet Death

Today is the day I finally become a proper detective, and I couldn't be more excited my name is Nero Gingerbread. My family, the Gingerbread family other families living in the city of Sweetwater have an ability called sweet. "Sweet" is an inherited ability that each of the main detective families living in the city pass down to their children. My family has the ability to see the history of an object, or in some cases, corpses. I see solving crimes as an art, and I want to solve truly exciting and challenging cases. I am now 18 years old, and am able to take on cases that have been assigned to my family on my own. I grab my notebook, and put it into my satchel I have just been called to my first case my excitement making me race out of the house without eating. 

The city of Sweetwater is one of the most advanced places in the Sweet Tooth Republic a country on the continent of New Cane one of the most powerful continents in the entirety of planet Feast. Since Sweetwater is so advanced it makes sense that I can leave the house a bit later than expected since the subway will get me to the heart of town in only a few minutes. I race along the white buildings the part of the city I live in is close to the downtown area. On my way I stop by a small outdoor shop selling bagels, and muffins. I walk up to the small shop the man in the window greets me he knows me from my frequent visits to the downtown area. The man has a thick black beard, glasses and an amused grin. The man chuckles, "Nero nice to see you again lad you going to watch the detectives downtown again?"

I smile messing with my messy white hair I exclaim, "Not today old man Rush I passed my detective exams, and got my badge yesterday, so today I will officially starting as a new detective." Rush chuckled, "I told you kid I am only 40 calling me old man already is a bit too soon. Oh well looks like all that training paid off then boy you've been excited about this since I have known you when you could barely even talk." He gives a hearty laugh and then I pay for my muffin and head off towards the station. The station known as Sweetwater Station the feeling of excitement fills me as I see other people from all across the city waiting for the train. Finally my train arrives, and I board heading to a vacant spot near the back. I pull out my notebook the train is a little shaky as we leave the station, but I begin to sketch the interior.

One of my hobbies is sketching interiors of structures there is a certain beauty in the structure of buildings, or in the case the layout of the train. The way the lights, columns, beams, and other elements come together in a building to create a function is fascinating. In my mind its all one big puzzle it is always super rewarding seeing how each of these elements work together in harmony. Once I have finished a sketch or a rough layout of the interior of a structure I feel a sense of joy in knowing I was able to capture an image of this kind of art. We finally arrive at the downtown area of Sweetwater I put away my pen, and notebook back into my satchel.

The speakers come on and a gruff mans voice rings out, "Heart street. Thank you for riding with us today." I get off at Heart street the scene of my first case is pretty close by to this street I pull out the map I had in my pocket. I was familiar with some of the downtown areas, but the area I was visiting today was somewhere I haven't visited yet. I had gotten an email that my first assignment would be a murder case which isn't unusual. The main detective families living in Sweetwater have absolute authority over incoming cases. The lesser cases are usually delegated to the normal police living in the city those without a families backing, or an ability. The destination for this case was an alley way off of Jawbreaker lane.

I made my way to the alleyway in question the alley was between two apartment buildings I resist the temptation to sketch the alleyway, and move closer. Two policemen have put up caution tape around the front of the alleyway. I have seen these two before around different scenes in my mind, I don't remember their names, but once I get closer I greet them. The one on the left with the badge name "Korn" shakes his head at me, "State your business boy you best be off before you get into trouble." He is taller than the man on the right he is clean shaven, but has deep red eyes that give the sense that he has seen a lot in his time. He must not be older than 30, but he has a stern almost cruel look in his eyes with black hair that is shaven thin. I pull out my badge, and show it to the man Korn in front of me. 

His expression changes almost immediately he repeats, "Nero Gingerbread? Age 18. Lets see born July 12th, 2513. Newly appointed eh? Alright uh sir your free to go as you see fit." I can tell from his expression he doesn't exactly love treating me as his boss, but that is to be expected I was just made a detective today, and I am only 18. He glances at the man next to him a younger man in his early twenties with blonde hair and green eyes. I glance at his name tag "Roe" he gives me an awkward smile, and parts the tape for me to step past. Roe says, "Right this way sir." Even despite the clear difference in age regular officers must treat detectives sent from the family with a certain level of respect, and authority.

Korn follows me deeper into the alleyway, without me saying so Korn begins to explain the situation. Korn begins, "Mr. Gingerbread uh sir I am sure you read the briefing of the case in the email that was sent out, but should I go over the details of the case?" I didn't read the details of the case in the email because that would ruin the fun of the case, but despite that I should at least hear him out. I nod, "Please call me Nero Mr. Gingerbread is so stuffy, but please do inform me what is going on as a refresher." Korn frowns clearly not fully comfortable with my casual manner, "Right Nero the victim is a young man he was killed around 8:00 am so around 1 hour and a half ago. The victim is a 20- year-old man named Fez Alterham she was found dead in this alley with a single wound to the neck." I shoot a question back, "Anyone see anything." Korn nods, "Yes there is one witness an older woman said she saw some suspicious individuals heading to the alley one of them was our victim Fez." 

I continue, "Signs of struggle?" Korn frowns and shakes his head, "No it would appear that he was killed instantly with a swift stab to the throat. I would wager Fez was surprised b y the attacker." I asked another question, "What of the murder weapon?" Korn explains, "No such luck it would appear that the culprit stabbed Fez and took the murder weapon with them." I smile, "Seems like a fun case alright I will get to work then let me know of any updates." Korn seems a bit taken aback at my sudden excitement, but I pay him no mind I get to work. I approach the body it would appear that Fez has a look of surprise on his face, and one stab wound to the neck. He likely choked on his own blood, in terms of a map he died near the entrance to the alleyway you can see the street from this location. He died with his back up against the wall of one of the buildings, just like Korn said the man probably died instantly. 

I notice a tattoo on his arm something I recognize on his upper right arm he has a tattoo of an eagle with a sunset in the background. This type of tattoo looks more like an icon than just mere artwork, my time shadowing the detectives in this town has given me a hint to what this is. This is a gang symbol not one I have personally seen before, but given the nature of the tattoo, and how it appears to be an icon of sorts I think the probability is high. This is just conjecture for now evidence is everything in this line of work, I smile I suppose I should use my ability. I clear my mind and gaze upon the body since my power lets me see the history of any object I am looking at. I can see the past, or future of the object, and in this case this corpse serves as the object in question. This sweet on the surface seems very powerful, but there are two points that make this ability not as good as it may seem. 

For starters since I know the time of death is roughly 8:00 am I can direct my ability to show me what this corpse was doing around that time, feel their thoughts, and emotional state. Keeping this in mind the exact moment of death often is not shown since my ability usually only captures a few seconds of that history. The 2nd problem is the ability especially for the inexperienced users is very draining. Its like working out a muscle if you don't properly use it you will lose that muscle, and I will admit I haven't been using it much recently. Experienced users can see a much longer period of time, and may be able to use this power multiple times in a row. In comparison I can use it once per day for a few seconds, and even then its painful. Keeping this in mind this power "chronoscopy" is seen as lesser amongst the detective families, and for that reason the Gingerbread family has less prestige than the other families.

I focus on the corpse I feel  myself go into a trace like state sound stops, my mind is clear, my breathing is the only thing I can feel in the darkness in my mind. Suddenly I see an image of a young man much like the corpse next to me. The man has platinum blonde hair and blue eyes he is wearing casual clothes a regular black t shirt, and jeans. I feel my mind melding with Fez I feel his thoughts, I feel his breathe, I feel his nerves in the cool morning air. I feel my consciousness fade away and Fez's thoughts and emotions begin to take over.

  I light a cigarette in the cool morning glow, my boss Rena told me the client would be here at 7:30. I take a puff, no such luck seems he is a bit late. I put my hands in my pocket I feel a clear bag, my hands are sweaty I wish he would just hurry up already I hope I am not being setup for this shit in my pocket. Suddenly I feel a presence approaching from the other side of the alleyway dread washes over me as I realize just what kind of danger approaches me. My vision cuts out and I return to the scene of the crime, I only got about 7 seconds of time, but I smile knowingly. I glance at Korn I am just about to tell Korn what I found when a pompous voice yells to me across the alleyway. "What did the dogs drag into my crime scene." A tall man with dirty blonde hair and a scowl on his face looks down at me, "Scram dog go back to your dog house."