CHAPTER 3 (WIC Company)

That's all there was to it in the email. And I had the impression that whoever sent this to me was squished for time and finding it difficult to type words.

"WIC Company?" He muttered into the thin air and combed his hair with his fingers.

He looked out the window at the full moon and dark sky. He hadn't even realized it was nighttime.

"How am I going to get there?" He sighed, knowing that the company was only for employees or unless they were invited.

Gunner taps the table, deep in thought. The email piqued his interest to the point where he wanted to go. He enjoys revealing secrets, which he and his twin brother do together.

"Astral?" He asked himself and looked it up on the internet.

The term "astral" refers to a supposed nonphysical realm of existence to which various psychic and paranormal phenomena are attributed and to which the physical human body is said to have a counterpart.

"Astral? What? Is this even possible in real life?" He said as he scrolled down his mouse, reading articles about it.

"Murder," he uttered, and then it snapped at him.

Since the day the WIC Company was founded. He and Slasher were extremely conscientious about the said company. Not because it was in the heart of the forest, but because of the strange activities they had witnessed. They only had men working for them. Furthermore, the families of the said employee of that company went missing unexpectedly, and they claimed they had nothing to do with it and had no knowledge of the said employee. And the employee's records had vanished. There were no traces to be found. When the WIC Company becomes embroiled in a controversy over missing persons, Slasher is compelled to intervene.

Flashback news…

Good evening, we interrupt this broadcast on TV to bring you breaking news. Another man has gone missing tonight. And now we have that man's parents behind us. They are almost insane in their quest to find their child. The aforementioned man was employed by the presumably well-known WIC Company. We will all remember that there is a missing man in said company every month. And then the company will claim that they have never hired this person and never seen him. This has happened numerous times, and the government appears to have done nothing. Is our President dozing off? Now appears to be the time for war, but the government and our President must not lose sight of these people's grievances. How many more lives must be lost before you turn your attention to these individuals?

The reporter had the audacity to say it on the air. It was not scripted, and those watching the news were aware of this. After a few days, the reporter was on the news and had gone missing. The people went berserk and staged a government strike. However, it turned out to be a bloodbath. Everyone who took part in the activity was injured, and some were shot, but no one died. And, once again, no one dares to fight back because of the incident. That is when, in the year 2030, everyone in Japan decided to be blind and just mind their own business. You are safe if you mind your own business.

Slasher, on the other hand, was not interested in such a platform. He wished to restore his country to its former glory. One thing is certain. There will be no excuse once he has the evidence about the WIC Company.

Gunner warned his twin to keep it cool before they had to take action, but Slasher ignored him. Slasher, on the other hand, sneaks out in the middle of the night without informing Gunner. But, before Slasher sneaked out, he left him a note that said, "I'll be back," but that note never came true.

Slasher went missing, and Gunner took action to notify the authorities. They searched and searched, but there was no sign of them. Gunner summoned the police to investigate the WIC Company, but they declined because it was illegal and they were not permitted to go there without a go signal from the chief. But they know their commander will not let them, which makes Gunner skeptical. There is no law in the world, and they are only making it for fun. Making it enjoyable for those who know nothing. Why was WIC Company exempted from this?

After months of searching for his twin brother, the police declared Slasher Daemon dead.

But Gunner would not give up his hope of finding his brother. And perhaps now is the time for him to pay a visit.

"WIC, what are you?"

Gunner took another look at the email, and his heart began to race.

"Dad?" He read aloud what was in the email. Why would someone email him with a word, Dad?

"Is this his twin? If he is, why hasn't he emailed me in a long time? And why is this type of email being sent? Is he all right? Is he in a secure location?" He can't help but to be in deep thought.

"Slasher, if this is you, and I hope it is, I hope you're safe and sound. I'll come and rescue you out there," he muttered under his breath, but then he stopped and cried hard for no reason; he was tired of having his hopes up; yes, he didn't want to give up, but every time he raises his hopes, he invites the pain to swallow him whole.

Why does he seem to be losing time?

Why does it appear that the email caused me pain?

Why does it appear that he is having difficulty typing?

Something is close at hand.

Then it hit him like a ton of bricks. You can type by blinking your eyes.

"I've spent my entire life thinking, mourning, and remembering all the good times with you until you're gone in darkness, but now, I'm ready, whoever sends this letter to me, maybe it leads to my twin brother, or the company, or both. I have got to risk it, it's now or never."