Chapter 9: Visitors

Chapter 9: Visitors

The sharp raps on the door jolted Dipak from his thoughts. His heart raced as he stared at the wooden barrier, suddenly acutely aware of every creak and groan in the old apartment. The flickering gas lamp in the corner cast long, wavering shadows across the room, turning the familiar space into something alien and threatening. The events of the past day—his reincarnation, the mystical gathering in the gray fog, the formation of the Tarot Club—swirled in his mind, a dizzying maelstrom of the arcane and the mundane.

A memory flashed through his mind—the revolver. In an instant, he was across the room, retrieving the weapon from its hiding place. A slight twinge buzzed in his mind—Quick Thinking had kicked in again. Without hesitation, he swiftly concealed the revolver in the stove, his movements smoother than they had been even a day ago. His Genre Savviness skill tingled; having a gun during an unexpected visit rarely ended well in stories.

[Skill Improved: Quick Thinking (Level 2)]

As he straightened, he caught sight of his reflection in a tarnished mirror. For a moment, Klein's face stared back at him, pale and drawn. It was strange, seeing a face that was both his and not his. How much longer could he keep up this façade? He took a deep breath, centering himself, the faint scent of gunpowder still clinging to the air.

```

Name: Klein Moretti (Dipak)

Age: 22

Sequence: Fool's Path (Sequence 9)

Spiritual Power: 45% [Slowly Recovering]

Strength: 6

Agility: 5

Constitution: 7

Intelligence: 10 (+2)

Spirituality: 7 (+3)

Luck: ?

Skills:

- Acting (Level 2)

- Authority (Level 2)

- Beyonder Abilities (Level 2)

- Beyonder Knowledge (Level 1)

- Culinary Improvisation (Level 1)

- Fog Manipulation (Level 3)

- Gathering Management (Level 1)

- Genre Savviness (Level 2)

- Historical Analysis (Level 2)

- History (Intermediate)

- Investigation (Level 1)

- Mystical Identity (Level 1)

- Negotiation (Level 2)

- Novel Memory Recall (Level 3)

- Occult Knowledge (Level 2)

- Quick Thinking (Level 2) [Improved]

- Self-Awareness (Level 2)

- Talisman Making (Novice)

- Tarot Knowledge (Level 1)

- World Awareness (Level 2)

Condition: Alert, Anxious

```

Steeling himself, Dipak approached the door. His hand hesitated on the knob for just a moment before he pulled it open.

Three men stood in the hallway, their presence filling the narrow space. Two wore the crisp uniforms of high-ranking Nighthawks, while the third was dressed in the garb of a local policeman. Dipak's breath caught in his throat as he recognized Captain Dunn Smith from Klein's memories. The officers' boots thudded heavily against the worn wooden floor as they entered, each sound a reminder of how precarious his situation was.

The local policeman, a stocky man with a well-trimmed beard, stepped forward. "Mr. Klein Moretti?" he asked, his voice gruff.

Dipak nodded, fighting to keep his expression neutral. "Yes, that's me."

"I'm Senior Sergeant Bitsch Mountbatten," the man continued. "With me are Captain Dunn Smith and Inspector Leonard Mitchell from the Nighthawks. We'd like to ask you a few questions."

As the officers filed into the small apartment, Dipak's mind raced. He'd been expecting this visit, but the reality of it sent a chill down his spine. What did they know? How much could he reveal without raising suspicion?

Captain Dunn, a tall man with a weather-beaten face and sharp eyes, took the lead. "Mr. Moretti, do you know Welch McGovern?"

The name sent a jolt through Dipak. Fragments of Klein's memories surfaced—study sessions, heated debates, shared laughter. He swallowed hard, buying himself a moment to compose his thoughts.

"Yes," he replied carefully. "We're classmates at Khoy University. Is something wrong?"

Captain Dunn's expression remained impassive, but Dipak noticed a flicker of something—pity?—in his eyes. "When did you last see Mr. McGovern?"

Dipak hesitated, drawing on Klein's memories. "June 26th," he said finally. "We met to discuss a Fourth Epoch notebook. After that, I focused on preparing for a job interview." The lie tasted bitter on his tongue, but he knew it was necessary.

Captain Dunn nodded slowly, exchanging a glance with Inspector Mitchell. The younger Nighthawk stepped forward, his gray eyes piercing as they studied Dipak.

"Mr. Moretti," Mitchell said, his voice soft but firm, "I'm afraid we have some difficult news. Welch McGovern and another of your classmates, Naya, have died under suspicious circumstances."

The world seemed to tilt beneath Dipak's feet. He stumbled back, genuine shock overwhelming him. It was strange—he barely knew Welch and Naya in reality, only through the fragments of Klein's life that now filled his mind. Yet, their deaths stirred something raw in him, an unfamiliar grief that felt borrowed, yet real. How could the memories of another life feel so painfully personal?

"What? How?" he managed to choke out, his mind reeling. He remembered the ominous note from Klein's journal: "Everyone will die, including me." Was this the beginning of that prophecy?

"Apparent suicide," Inspector Mitchell supplied, his tone clinical. "McGovern repeatedly struck his head against a wall, while Naya drowned herself in a basin."

Dipak's stomach churned. He'd only known of these people through Klein's memories, but the loss felt painfully real. "That's... that's impossible," he murmured, his voice shaking. "They wouldn't... Are you sure it wasn't foul play?"

Senior Sergeant Mountbatten shook his head. "Autopsies showed no signs of drugs or external influence. All evidence points to suicide."

As the questioning continued, Dipak found himself walking a tightrope between truth and deception. What did they know? Were they testing him? Every question felt like a potential trap, and Dipak's mind raced, flipping through Klein's memories like the pages of a book, searching for anything that could keep him safe.

He spoke of his recent confusion, of waking up feeling as though something was off. It wasn't entirely a lie—his situation was confusing, and he had indeed woken up in a strange new world. As Dunn questioned him, Dipak had to remind himself not to react with *his* emotions, but with Klein's. It was as though he was wearing a mask, one that was getting harder to distinguish from his own face.

"I've been having trouble with my memory lately," Dipak admitted, running a hand through his hair. "Sometimes I wake up and can't recall what happened the day before. It's... unsettling."

Captain Dunn leaned forward, his interest piqued. "When did these memory issues start, Mr. Moretti?"

Dipak paused, considering his words carefully. "It's hard to say exactly. But I noticed it becoming more pronounced in the past few days. Ever since..." He trailed off, letting them fill in the blanks.

Inspector Mitchell's eyes narrowed. "Ever since what, Mr. Moretti?"

A memory surfaced—not Klein's, but his own. The day he arrived in this world, deliberately cutting his hand to explain the blood from washing Klein's face and body. He flexed his fingers, feeling the sting of the healing wound.

"I did hurt myself recently," he said, showing them his hand. "I think I might have done it in my sleep. My sister found blood in the bathroom..." He let his voice waver, injecting a note of uncertainty and fear.

The investigators exchanged glances. Sergeant Mountbatten's eyes narrowed with suspicion, but Captain Dunn seemed more contemplative.

"Mr. Moretti," Dunn said softly, "given your apparent memory issues, it might be wise to consult an expert. These gaps in your recollection could be significant."

Dipak nodded, a mix of relief and apprehension washing over him. "I... I think you're right. Thank you."

As the questioning continued, Dipak felt his energy draining. Each careful answer, each half-truth and omission, seemed to chip away at his resolve. He found himself grateful for the acting skills he'd gained, even as he hated the necessity of using them.

[Skill Improved: Acting (Level 3)]

Finally, Inspector Mitchell pulled out a small notebook. "Mr. Moretti, we found something concerning in your room. A notebook entry that reads, 'Everyone will die, including me.' Can you explain this?"

Dipak's heart nearly stopped. He stared at the words, genuinely bewildered. "I... I don't remember writing that," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "With my memory issues... I don't know what to think."

Captain Dunn's gaze lingered on Dipak, unblinking. "You're sure you don't remember anything unusual, Mr. Moretti?" There was something in his tone—something that made Dipak wonder if Dunn already knew more than he was revealing.

A slight buzz in his mind alerted Dipak to a new skill forming—Deception. Without missing a beat, he fed them a carefully crafted response, his words smoother than they had been even a week ago. "I wish I could help more," he said, his voice thick with emotion that was both genuine and performative. "Welch and Naya were... they were good people. I can't imagine why they would..." He trailed off, letting his confusion and grief show.

[Skill Improved: Deception (Level 1)]

As the investigators prepared to leave, Inspector Mitchell paused at the door. "You know," he said, almost casually, "in cases like this, it's usually the norm for all involved parties to die." His eyes met Dipak's, sharp and assessing. "It's both a relief and a surprise to find you alive, Mr. Moretti."

The words hung in the air long after the door closed behind them. Dipak sank into a chair, his mind whirling. He was alive, yes, but for how long? And at what cost?

[Skill Improved: Stress Management (Level 1)]

As the adrenaline began to fade, Dipak checked his status once more:

```

Name: Klein Moretti (Dipak)

Age: 22

Sequence: Fool's Path (Sequence 9)

Spiritual Power: 35% [Decreased]

Strength: 6

Agility: 5

Constitution: 7

Intelligence: 10 (+2)

Spirituality: 7 (+3)

Luck: ?

Skills:

- Acting (Level 3) [Improved]

- Authority (Level 2)

- Beyonder Abilities (Level 2)

- Beyonder Knowledge (Level 1)

- Culinary Improvisation (Level 1)

- Deception (Level 1) [New]

- Fog Manipulation (Level 3)

- Gathering Management (Level 1)

- Genre Savviness (Level 2)

- Historical Analysis (Level 2)

- History (Intermediate)

- Investigation (Level 1)

- Mystical Identity (Level 1)

- Negotiation (Level 2)

- Novel Memory Recall (Level 3)

- Occult Knowledge (Level 2)

- Quick Thinking (Level 2)

- Self-Awareness (Level 2)

- Stress Management (Level 1) [New]

- Talisman Making (Novice)

- Tarot Knowledge (Level 1)

- World Awareness (Level 2)

Condition: Exhausted, Shaken

```

The sharp decrease in Spiritual Power worried him, but the new skills offered a glimmer of hope. He would need every advantage to navigate the dangerous waters ahead.

With a heavy sigh, Dipak pulled himself to his feet. The weight of Klein's life—and death—pressed down on him. He had to visit Welch's place, to see the Fourth Epoch notebook for himself. Whatever secrets it held, whatever danger it presented, he had no choice but to forge ahead.

As he gathered his things, Dipak's mind wandered to the other members of the Tarot Club. Were they safe? Could they offer any insight into the mystical world he'd been thrust into? He made a mental note to find a way to contact them discreetly.

As he closed the apartment door behind him, the weight of the investigation and the deaths of Welch and Naya settled like a noose around his neck. The Tarot Club might hold the answers he needed, but finding them meant walking a razor-thin edge between life and death. He had to visit Welch's place tonight—before the Nighthawks beat him to it.

The fate of Klein Moretti—and perhaps the world itself—hung in the balance. And Dipak, a stranger in a familiar body, was at the center of it all.

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