Upstairs, Choi suggested, “We may want to divide our search up here,” which earned a faux pout from Dahlia. “I’ll start from the back wall and work my way forward from the back. You start at the front and work your way back.”
Dahlia nodded, although she would much rather be close to Choi. She made herself believe it was for his protection, but Yeong was a fighter and could take care of himself.
“Just whistle if you need me,”. Dahlia said softly. “You know how to whistle, don’t you? Just pucker your lips and blow.”
Choi chuckled and moved to the back of the balcony. Dahlia searched the front, using her military issued torch.
“I think you’re thinking of Modus Ponens, the guy said it wrong.” said Sartre. "I’ll go with you Alyssa.”
Alyssa nodded, and pulled out a flashlight, “Let’s start with the outer walls and work our way forward, and then through the seating area.” She made her way into the theater and started checking out the walls.
Choi began the search in the back of the balcony, nodding at someone in the far corner. When he looked back, the person was gone.
“Dahlia?” Choi whispered just loud enough for her to hear.
“Yes?” she responded looking up.
“Do you see anyone else up here?” Yeong asked.
Dahlia worked here torch back and forth in the balcony. She didn’t see anyone. Turning the torch back to Choi, she said, “N…”
A person’s image appeared behind Choi, causing Dahlia’s face to pail. By the time she took a picture, it vanished, supposedly leaving only Choi in the frame.
As the agents looked over the seating arrangements, not much could be found. However; you noticed that the red upholstery must have been attached to the seats in the early 1900s. The building has clearly been here for a very long time the silver screen looms in front of you.
While looking at the stage with Ekaterina, Agent Powers asks, “Any clue what we are looking for Princess?” Ekaterina was still using her minions to search the entire theater as well as the outside. Anything that stood out would be shared with Ekaterina through he mind link. She was also looking around when she replied elegantly, “Well we are essentially looking for anything that does not belong normally. However there have been times when cursed items, large bags of money, priceless antiques or drugs find there way into such places for illegal deals. Looking at the upholstery of the theater, its obvious that this building is quite old.” Ekaterina continued her search with her minions hoping to find something out of place.
“It’s right behind me,” said Choi, “isn’t it?”
“Was,” Dahlia replied.
“I could feel the cold from behind,” Choi responded in return.
Dahlia suggested, “Get your phone and start taking pictures. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”
Both Choi and Dahlia began taking random pictures around the balcony. Some with flash, some without.
“Peter, you find anything?” Alyssa asked. “For a place that’s not listed as haunted, it certainly seems like it should be.” Alyssa tended to get frustrated at finding nothing significant, either in a deep dive on her computer or in person and this theater was extremely frustrating to her.
“Maybe we should take a walk down the hallway and look into one of the side rooms. What do you think, Agent Wilson?” He said Agent Wilson professionally, yet gave her a knowing glance. He reached for a fist bump.
Choi and Dahlia began to feed pictures that had taken in the balcony to Alyssa’s phone. There were several with strange shadows. Two seemed to show a face, one with a full body. A couple had like a mist in the form of a body.
“Sure,” Alyssa grinned slightly at Peter, and returned the fist bump, as they were walking down the hallway, her phone vibrated. She looked at the image, “Hey, we might have ghosts after all.” Showing the image to Peter. The two entered a room at the end of the hall, which looked like it might have been an office, possibly, at some point.
Choi sat down in the back row of the balcony. He patted the seat next to him for Dahlia to join him.
“Let’s see if we can get one to make contact,” he suggested.
Dahlia smirked and replied, “You just want to sit with me in the back row, don’t you?” She sat next to him.
Choi turned the recorder on to his phone, pointing it out to Dahlia. He held his finger to his lips to prompt her to be quiet.
“Hello?” Choi said. “Is anyone here with us?” He paused as if expecting a response. The hairs on the back of his head were standing on edge. “My name is Yeong; this is Dahlia. What is your name?” Another pause. “Did you come to see a movie?” Pause. “What happened to you here?”
Dahlia added, “How long have you been here?” She paused, the. asked one more question. “Were there others with you?”
Choi and Dahlia only heard static coming from the radio. It is as if there were no voices to be heard.
As Alyssa enters the office, she is immediately startled by what seems to be an office worker, he is messing with a boombox. The old device is playing “Don’t go Chasing Waterfalls” by TLC. "Are you a member of the new crew, I started working here late last year. Did you hear that Nirvana’s former drummer is forming a band. I think they’re going to call it “Foo Fighters.” Sartre watched as the pale hacker talked with the man.
Meanwhile on the theater stage Ekaterina paused as she overheard the odd conversations going on with others at the same time through her bugs that were nearby them.
Agent Powers asked, “Any luck?”
Ekaterina elegantly nodded as she replied, “A bit. Choi and Dahlia seem to be looking for a ghost and Alyssa is having a conversation about music. Do you know a band called Nirvana?”
Agent Powers looked it up on his phone and replied, "Oh yeah they were a grunge band in the 90’s. The singer died and made the news. Some say his ex wife killed him but I am not sure what happened after that.”
Ekaterina elegantly replied, “Oh I see.”
Agent Powers paused then looked at Ekaterina and her lovely visage then whispered, “Do you have super hearing?”
Ekaterina smirked as Agent Powers was on to her. She elegantly replied, “My skill set allows me to search large areas in a short time under ideal conditions.”
Agent Powers gave Ekaterina a smolder before he replied, “Cool. My skill set is limited to combat.”
Ekaterina smiled elegantly as she replied, “Mr. Powers, you are undervaluing yourself. I am sure there is more to you than you say.”
Agent Powers was confused by what Ekaterina said but took the compliment as he kept searching.
Choi played back the recording and the two only heard static. Choi shook his head. He thought he had a good idea.
“Send it to Alyssa,” Dahlia suggested. “She might be able to enhance the recording and eliminate the static between our questions.”
Choi agreed. He hit the button to share the file. Pushing the rhetoric button, it was off to Alyssa.
He typed to Alyssa: See if you might be able to enhance the recording and the pics. I think we have ghosts up here.
Choi then resent the same files to Moon Eun-Ji, so she’d be in the loop. At least he can work as a team member with her.
Sending the files, Choi said to Dahlia, “I like this version of you better.”
Dahlia smiled. She wondered what he would think of her side job.
“Yes. I got that album when it first came out four years ago. They should be releasing another album this year. I can’t wait to get the CD. Though cassettes are cheaper. That’s what I’m listening to right now.” said the man. Sartre looked to Alyssa.
4 years ago? Maybe his time wasn’t linear. Waterfalls -94. Foo Fighters were formed in 94 and Black Hole Sun came out in 94. Alyssa was puzzled because if he was stuck in 94 he couldn’t have bought the album three years ago. Or maybe he’s confusing it with a different album. “Oh, I’m working to buy a cd player.” The hacker said. “I’m Alyssa by the way.” To be honest she didn’t know if the man even saw Peter or if Peter saw the man, so she didn’t introduce them.
“I’m Raymond, think about it. Next year it will be 1997.” Sartre asked, “Who runs this place?” Raymond would respond, “Oh, it’s currently owned by the city, hopefully the new Democratic Administration in Washington under President Clinton can get cities like this fixed up.” Sartre looked at Alyssa again. "Do you guys have any more questions, I’m going to need to get back to work in a few minutes. I’d hate to miss my TV shows tonight and it’s hard to buy those blank VHS tapes to record stuff all the time.”
Choi sighed, then asked, “Did you hear those workers say other investigators were here earlier and one of them hat a military-style haircut?”
“Yes, I heard it,” Dahlia replied.
“How much do you want to bet that’s the guy we’re meeting tonight?” Choi asked.
“Do you really think so?” Dahlia responded.
“What’s his game?” Yeong thought aloud. “I’m glad I’ve got backup.”
“I will not allow something to happen to you,” she replied.
He looked into her pale eyes. “Thank you, Dahlia.”
There was an awkward moment before Dahlia suggested, “Shall we join the others and find what else needs checked?”
Choi smiled and shook his head. “We’ve got to check out the box seating first.”
“Of course,” Dahlia giggled. “I forgot about those.
There were five box seating sections on each side. They decided to check the left side first, then the right.
“Oh, do you know of a military guy that might have come around here?” Alyssa asked. She was going on what would be a wild theory to some.
“Military guy? The war ended five years ago. We threw Saddam out of Kuwait.” Raymond looked extremely puzzled. "I’ve got to get back to work soon.”
So much for that idea, Alyssa though. "Yeah me too. Maybe, they’ll get this place operational again. Play some Greek myth movies, or something.”
Choi and Dalia searched the box seat sections. They found nothing there on the left side. Looking across to the right side, they could see a light on above the box seats there.
“There must be a third floor,” Dahlia said pointing at the light.
The two cross over to the right side, they found nothing in the boxes seating there. Choi then stepped up onto the railing in front of the box seating. He balanced himself well.
“Choi?” Dahlia was beginning to think Yeong was being crazy. “What are you doing?”
Choi grinned, knowing his abilities. He jumped upwards, grabbing the floor above him. He pulled himself up, then lowering his hand downward, pulled Dahlia up to him.
“You are a curious fellow,” Dahlia expressed.
Choi grinned. “If you only knew. Let’s look around.”
He texted Powers and Alyssa: On the third floor.
Alyssa’s phone vibrated because she forgot to silence it. Well, it definitely didn’t look like any tech that was around in the 90s, so she ignored it.
As Choi and Dahlia traveled up the stairs, towards the main box office, an armed guard with a 9 mm pistol stopped them. "Mr Skorzeny only sees people by appointment. We have to get this place ready for opening night next week. I can take your name and numbers down.”
“Alyssa, let’s head further down the hall towards the boiler room.” said Sartre. “Don’t forget to watch Michael Jordan and The Bulls,” said Raymond.
Agent Powers looked to his hip as his phone buzzed. He checked the message and looked up with a smolder as he said, “Hey Princess Choi and Dahlia went to the third floor.”
Ekaterina smiled and replied elegantly, “Yes I can see them. Choi seems to be very agile.”
Agent Powers replied, “Yeah he has some fancy moves. I think he learned them at a Buddhist monastery.”
Ekaterina then smiled elegantly at Agent Powers and asked, “Are you and Choi close, Mr. Powers?”
Agent Powers gave Ekaterina a smolder and paused. Then he replied, “Good question Princess. I know a little about him but that’s about it. He seems to be easy to work with unless Eun-Ji and I but heads. Why?”
Ekaterina then asked, “Are you and Alyssa close?”
Agent Powers shrugged as he replied, “She is easy to work with and nice to me, but it’s my job to protect her so it’s professional.”
Ekaterina then looked perplexed as she asked, “Mr. Powers, is there anyone you spend time with outside of work?”
Agent Powers was still looking around as he replied, “Nope. I started doing solo missions and on my downtime I work out or watch movies, and play games on my phone. Sometimes I try to learn some cooking tips, but my schedule makes it hard to do anything else. Why?”
Ekaterina was a bit shocked by that answer. She asked, “Don’t you ever get lonely Mr. Powers?”
Agent Powers replied, “Meh… I did at the beginning, but since Dad was pretty strict and over time I got used to it. I am an Agent first and foremost and if I need friends my dad will assign them to me.”
Ekaterina was taken back by what she just heard. Apparently Agent Powers was controlled by his father this whole time and denied the freedom others had. She found it sad and lonely as she held back from giving him a hug since it would be hard to explain to him.
Alyssa nodded to Peter, “Alright.” She left with Peter and they headed to the boiler room. “Wouldn’t the boiler room be downstairs in the basement?” Alyssa said, as they came to some stairs.
Up on the third floor, Choi and Dahlia saw a small set of steps going to a short platform with a door. As they walked up the steps, a man came out of the door. Seeing the two at the top of the steps, the man pulled a 9 mm and pointed it their direction.
“Mr. Skorzeny only sees people by appointment. We have to get this place ready for opening night next week. I can take your name and numbers down."
Choi held his hands to the side in a non-threatening way. “Look, we’re just trying to help. No harm; no foul. Mr. Skorzeny, eh? He’s the manager? Yes! Sure! You can have my number and name.”
Choi was doing his best at what he does best. Talking. Serving as a distraction, so Dahlia could have a chance to leave.
But Dahlia wasn’t leaving. She stepped away to the side, slowly reaching for her .38 stuffed in the back of her pants. Quickly, she pulled it out and the hammer clicked into place as it was aimed at the man.
“Drop your gun,” she ordered.
Ekaterina was watching Choi and Dahlia from her bugs perspective. She smiled as she commanded her bugs to interfere with the guard. Suddenly several large wolf spiders fell on the guard’s arms and head from above to freak him out. Ekaterina smirked elegantly from afar as she stood next to Agent Powers who was clueless as to what she was doing.
“I knew you people would come.” said the security guard to Choi and Dahlia, "Listen, I’m just here for the circulatory system. What these people are fighting over, Gary has been pretty much destroyed, I don’t know why the guy that runs it still thinks that he can keep order here. Those others are trying to turn it into a free state, all the while he’s trying to push into Chicago. You can go in there but Mr Skorzeny will be gone. You are the hunters right? The ones that listen to those voices? The hunters call them The Heralds,but you seem different. You seem like you’ve been on the circulatory system a long time.”
As the two descended the stairs, there could be heard sounds of yelling coming from the boiler room as if someone were yelling for help. Sartre grabbed his pistol and covered Alyssa as they headed into the dark room, it was covered in dust.
There are screams coming from inside the boiler, Screams of pain as a man yells “Jim help me!”
Peter shinned his flashlight over the boiler in the room. They are the only two in there except for the screaming coming from the boiler.
“Careful Alyssa, What should we do?” Peter said.
Choi took the 9 mm from the security guard. “Gotcha!” he replied. He trained the gun on the man, then said, “You can go in first.”
Dahlia was smiling, for she knew Kat sent the spiders. She wasn’t sure if the man thought magic was involved or if it was a coincidence. Either way, the man dropped his guard. She was thankful, not wanting to kill the man.
Dahlia inquired of the man, “Circulatory system? As in blood? Are we talking blood magic?”
When the scream first occurred, Alyssa had grabbed her knife. She now stood in the boiler room holding it. “Sung said someone had been killed in here. I am guessing he meant this?” Alyssa said.
She took a breath and called out, "Hello? Who’s here?”
“Jim!!!” howled the voice as if in pain.
“You want to open it, Alyssa?” asked Sartre.
“Yes,” Alyssa responded. "You might want to stand back.” Rather than just making the boiler fall apart, Alyssa focused on the pieces holding the boiler in one piece, causing them to fall out and the boiler to open.
Inside the boiler, Sartre and Alyssa could see a man curled in the fetal position being emulated and burned alive while sitting atop hot coals. It is as if his clothes are a burning shroud. He screams in agony and cries for help. After they blinked, he was gone as if he were never there.
"You could say that, it feels magical. It’s the greatest drug that’s ever come through the state. I’ve heard some of them can make it magical. I think they call those guys “The Tremain” or something. These spiders don’t bother me, as long as I have access to the circulatory system and the drug that comes out of it. Out of that pipeline. I’m always in a good mood. You can go check out the office but Skorzeny won’t be there.” The guard said to Choi and Dahlia.
Ekaterina was a bit shocked to see the security guard so relaxed while covered in spiders. This was not a normal reaction and what was this drug “The Tremain” he was referring to. She then looked at the confused Agent Powers and replied elegantly, “Mr. Powers, it seems the security guard is some kind of drug called “The Tremain”. Have you heard of it?”
Agent Powers gave Ekaterina a smolder and paused before replaying, “No it must be a new drug. I have destroyed a lot of Cartels in the past but that name is new. It could be made by the government. They have been trying to make super soldiers and pandemics.”
Ekaterina nodded as she elegantly replied, “This whole mission seems very wrong. A missing person who is not missing, a haunted theater, a security guard on fearless drugs in the middle of a poor gang ridden city. Any ideas?”
Agent Powers sighed as he replied, “We should check in with Alyssa. I know she is with Sartre but she might be in danger.”
Ekaterina agreed and both headed to the basement where Ekaterina’s minions saw her heading to.
Choi and Dahlia made mental notes of the Tremain. From the explanation, it sounded as if this was an organized criminal organization. The drug was called the circulatory system.
Dahlia poked her .38 into the man’s back. “Okay,” she demanded, “you heard my partner. Enter the door. We’ll be right behind you.”
Choi still pointed the man’s own 9 mm at him. Flicking his wrist, Choi motioned with the gun, confirming Dahlia’s words.
Dahlia asked as she followed the man into the office, “So, who are the Heralds?”
Though shaken; Alyssa did not lose her grip on reality.
Sartre asked, "You alright,Alyssa?”
As they made their way into the basement, Agent Powers led the way as Ekaterina used her minions to search the area. She quietly guided Agent Powers in the direction of Alyssa and Sartre.
"Y…yes,’ Alyssa shakily responded. “He…was… do you think he was killed that way?” It was horrible to think about.
Agent Powers then yelled, “Alyssa you down here?” He was looking around for her as Ekaterina was looking around the room.
“Yes,” Alyssa called back, "we’re in the boiler room. Turn left at the bottom of the stairs.”
Ekaterina confirmed that Alyssa was correct as she guided Agent Powers to where they were. After a bit of walking they arrived and saw Alyssa seemed to be shaken up.
Agent Powers looked around with a smolder as he asked, “Are you okay, Alyssa? You look like you are having nightmares again.”
Princess Ekaterina elegantly asked, "Did you see something off?”
“Not a nightmare, but this place is definitely haunted.” Alyssa’s throat was dry, she swallowed but it didn’t help much. Pointing at the now dismantled boiler, “I think we found the man that Sung was talking about or at least the spirit of him. He was…being burned alive - screaming - then he disappeared.” Alyssa spoke quietly as if scared to invoke the man again.
Agent Powers looked and saw nothing as he was puzzled by this. Sadly his amazing strength was no good against ghosts and his knowledge of the occult came from movies and video games so he was not sure how much he really knew on the subject.
Princess Ekaterina on the other hand had some knowledge on the matter as she looked at the boiler and elegantly said, “That sounds a lot like an echo spirit.”
Agent Powers asked, “What’s that?”
Ekaterina replied elegantly, "An echo of a spirit is merely their imprint of energy left behind in a location. Say, they had the same routine everyday for years, their energy would be left in that location much like a tape recording playing over and over. However in this case it was a traumatic experience since they burned to death. If we have any psychics in the group we get more information.”
Alyssa knew they should have waited to come to the basement, she texted Choi, Ekaterina about Sung and asked them to come to the basement. "I just asked the others to come to the basement. We might have some luck with that.”
Ekaterina the elegantly spoke up, "It seems Choi and Dahlia are dealing with a troublesome security guard who is high on some drug. They may be delayed for a bit.”
“Are we sure that guard isn’t also a ghost?” Alyssa commented.
Ekaterina pondered elegantly then replied, "That is a good question. However he did have a gun, admitted he was on drugs, he mentioned some hunters calling themselves “The Heralds” and a boss named Mr. Skorzeny. Right now Dahlia and Choi seem to have captured him and are questioning him.”
Alyssa nodded, and started typing in her phone "Mr. Skorezeny, Gary, Indiana " being her phone was tied to the Illuminati database, figured she might get something.
Sung had come in from the back area like he had the night before the same thugs seemed to still be there from the early morning and some homeless people sitting with their stuff around them who he took note of.
Sung went to the same window he had the night before and opened it. He did find it strange that the night before it was unlocked. The window was just stuck shut from old paint and age. He looked around and then went in making no noise shutting the window behind him. The small room was dusty and only had an old wooden desk and two wood chairs. A door that leads to the hallway to the other side.
Opening the door he looked into the hallway and walked to a back stairway down there was more to look at than the boiler room. The experience last night. He made his way to another room and the door was locked but the lock was one from the early 1900s and was easy to bypass. walking into the room. It was full of boxes and stuff left behind. Sung started to look through everything looking for old scrapbooks, yearly publications, and commemorative albums. Anything that would give him or who ran, and owned the theater and when.
As Sung looked to his left, it looked as if the wall had something behind it. It was as if the wallpaper was hiding a door of some sort.
“Who do you think the guy and the boiler could have been?” asked Sartre
Ekaterina pondered for a minute then elegantly replied, "Perhaps this crime was reported to the police? There might be a record from the past if this was a past crime.”
“I’m ahead of you. Running everything through the database.” Alyssa responded.
Agent Powers looked around quietly since he really had nothing to add to the investigation. He felt a bit out of place since investigations was not part of his skill set, but he kept that to himself since he was taught to not to share his weaknesses to anyone. His father strictly brainwashed him to understand that he could be betrayed by anyone, at any time, and that it was best to keep his emotions and private information to himself. Sadly he was already feeling guilty for opening up a little with Alyssa and Ekaterina since they were nice to him. Sadly none of that mattered on this crazy case since the only thing he could do is beat up the gang members who get in the way. He wondered why his father never trained him to do investigations before. He wondered if that was part of him working with a team and he needed to learn on the job. He looked at Alyssa type away and realized he could not follow what she was doing.
Satrre said, “Who is to say what we saw was even real?” It was only there for a second." Perhaps we should ask the other employees. Maybe we should go see if we can find that guy Raymond.”
“Skorezeny doesn’t come up, it might be an alias. Nothing about a crime, I had run the theater through the data base before and there was nothing but double checked and still nothing.” Alyssa sighed. "Peter might be right, it might not have actually happened. I’ll keep looking.”
“There has to be something else in there Alyssa. Go Hacker Go!” Sartre smirked and glanced over at her, Giving her that knowing look. After the apparition In the boiler, he was curious to see what her reaction would be.
Alyssa smiled at Peter, and went back to her phone. She looked curiously at something, hit a few buttons and furled her brows. While, she didn’t say it outloud her look said - well, damn - quite loudly. She continued typing, almost as if forgetting she was standing with others in a boiler room.
Agent Powers was confused by Sartre despite being on the same team. He wondered if he was some type of psychic since they never talked to each other much and Agent Powers was in the dark on his skills. Since Alyssa didn’t say anything to Sartre, Agent Powers kept his thoughts to himself.
Princess Ekaterina on the other hand was perplexed by this news. She wondered what the other possibilities were for the ghost sighting. She then elegantly looked at the others and asked, “The lack of a crime report could have many reasons such as it was not reported to begin with, we are under the influence of that drug the security guard is on or a psychic force is toying with us. Either way I don’t see this going well for us.” Ekaterina sighed as her job was getting harder by the moment.
Choi remained vigilant at guarding the guard with his own gun as Dahlia searched the office for anything that might be of use in the investigation. She searched the drawers, office bins. ‘Rolodex, [Rolodex?]’ Dahlia thought. That was a surprise. Most people just use their phones these days.
“You still haven’t answered her question,” Choi sternly demanded. “Who are the Heralds? A rival gang?”
It took only about another five minutes but Alyssa seemed to be reading something, then a few clicks and outloud she said,"OMG. Damn. I don’t know if this is something - actually I take that back - I know it’s something but this might not be the best place to get into it.”
“Where should we get into it, Agent Wilson?” said Sartre.
“Maybe, back at the hotel?” Alyssa commented. “Its linked to other things which two of you know but Ekaterina, probably, doesn’t. And there’s the others who are here but not currently with us. I mean you all know how much I hate repeating myself.” Alyssa half shrugged. If they really wanted to know now, she’d tell them but she thought it was best done later.
Ekaterina elegantly replied, “If we are leaving, we will need to fetch Choi and Dahlia on the third floor. They are looking for clues and dealing with the security guard.”
Agent Powers then gave a smolder as he asked, “Is there anything else to do here?”
“What should we do about the guy at the bar?” asked Sartre.
“We’ll also need to get Sung, not sure where he headed off to,” Alyssa turned to Peter, "Not sure what you mean. I think the same people should go meet with him. There’s enough backup among all of them.”
"Good idea, can someone call Sung to us?” Peter asked.
“Sure,” Alyssa sent a text to Sung, asking if he was still busy or ready to go soon. “Ekaterina, should I text Choi or are they still busy?” Being her minions seemed to have a lot of answers about that.
Ekaterina touched her temple as she looked at what Choi and Dahlia were up to. She elegantly replied, “Choi is still questioning the security guard at gunpoint and Dahlia is searching the nearby office for clues. I can text Dahlia since she can answer her phone right now.” Then Ekaterina texted Dahlia that they were ready to leave when everyone was ready.
Dahlia received her text. She was disappointed she found nothing really noteworthy. She sighed.
Pulling a dagger from the sheath inside her boot, she held it up to the guard’s face.
“Who are the Heralds?” she asked again, out of patience. “Or I make it so you never talk again by cutting out your tongue.”
“Uh Dahlia?” Choi asked with brows resized.
“This is how we handle it in the Middle East,” Dahlia professed. Turning her attention back totally to the man, she insisted, “Tell me everything you know!”
Sung moved a few boxes away when he saw that part of the wallpaper peeled back and showed something different than the paneling. Sung took out some of his pocket tools and carefully moved more paper as he had learned in forensics.
Sung peeled more back to reveal a door frame. Then a door that had been covered up a long time. This was done intentionally. there was no light from under the door so he doubted the room had windows. The doorknob had some rust on it so it had not been used in a long time.
He felt his phone vibrate. ‘I don’t have time for this,’ he thought. He pulled the phone out and texted the others where he was and he had found something.
Sung checked the door, there were no extra wires or traps he could see or find and of course, the door was locked. A search warrant is pointless right now. As he pulled another tool out to push the door latch back. The door was still stuck. Sung concentrated and focused on Anima summoning his Spirit Blade then with one price slice he cut the hinges on the door easily on the side of the door and waited on the others to arrive.
Alyssa’s phone vibrated, she looked down. "Sung’s found something. Maybe we should go see what he’s got.”
“Let’s go see what he found,” said Sartre.
Alyssa said, “Hold on a second,” in a moment she had successfully put the boiler back together. She then walked out of the boiler room and waited for the others.
Agent Powers and Ekaterina left with Alyssa and Sartre to where Sung was. Agent Powers was not sure what to do since he was feeling rather useless at the moment. Ekaterina on the other hand was enjoying her time with the stoic Agent Powers and she did love a good mystery. She continued to search the theater with her minions in case she found something new to report.
As the group entered the area where Sung was, they see a room full of boxes and equipment. To the left side of the room it looks as if there is a door that has been opened by Sung. It leads to a darkened room covered in dust.
Alyssa pulled out her flashlight, “Sung, you in here?” She called out.
As Alyssa shines her light, the group sees Sung standing in what is clearly an old Speakeasy from the 1920’s During the days of alcohol prohibition. There is a bar and a few posters from early films and plays of the 19th century.
Alyssa stepped inside, it was like going back in time. She walked around, looking at the walls, then moved behind the bar to check out that area. Clearly intrigued, the hacker commented. "This is great.”
Choi quietly said to Dahlia, “I honestly don’t think he knows anything.”
“How can we be sure?” Dahlia asked.
“If he hadn’t answered the question at the threat you made, the. I believe he doesn’t know,” Choi responded.
Dahlia sighed. “You’ve got a point.” She sheathed the dagger back into her boot. “But we don’t want this lug blabbing while we’re still here.”
“Exactly,” Choi began. He gave Dahlia the gun to hold on the guard and began the smooth-flowing motions of dahnmudo. Soon the guard flew backward into the wall, making a rather huge hole. The force was so great, it knocked the man unconscious.
“Nice,” Dahlia admired the power. “Let’s find the others. Sung found something.”
Agent Powers looked around with a confused expression on his face as he asked, “What is this?”
Ekaterina looked at Agent Powers elegantly, confused by his question. She elegantly replied, “It is an old style bar Mr. Powers. They called them a Speakeasy during the 1920’s during the days of alcohol prohibition.”
Agent Powers seemed to get it a bit as he nodded and replied, “Ohh… so this is what a bar looks like.”
Ekaterina was a bit shocked by that comment and elegantly asked, “Have you never been to a bar Mr. Powers?”
Agent Powers shook his head no and replied, “Nope. None of my missions included going to one. All my handlers met me at secluded places for safety.”
Ekaterina was very intrigued by that answer as she asked, “Do you not fancy alcoholic beverages Mr. Powers?”
Agent Powers shrugged as he replied, “Dunno. Never had one before. My dad said it would cloud my thinking and mess up my missions so Inever bothered.”
Ekaterina was a bit taken back by how similar Agent Power’s life was controlled by his family much like hers was. She actually felt a connection with him and wanted to learn more about him. However, that would need to wait till later since they were still on the case.
Ekaterina elegantly asked, "So is this room a part of history or are we seeing another illusion?”
Dahlia revealed that Sung was in the basement. She and Choi quickly walked the stairs. Hearing Kat and Max talking as they entered, both were surprised at Max’s confession.
“Interesting,” Choi stated.
“Maybe the proprietor is a certain Skorzeny?” Dahlia offered to everyone. “I wonder if he was any relation to Otto Skorzeny.”
Ekaterina elegantly smiled at Dahlia as she said, "Mr. Sung found this hidden room. Is it me or does this theater feel like it came from the Twilight Zone series?”
Alyssa emerged herself in trying to find anything of significance behind the bar, she pulled out a whiskey bottle and dusted it off. It was empty but the bottle was amber, squarish and had a label on it, “Old Horseshine”. Alyssa’s face lit up. "Maybe no spirits down here of the human kind, but this bottle could be a collectors item.”
“I believe,” Dahlia suggested, “there was a gangster presence here. It’s confusing, since Skorzeny is Polish.”
“There were polish gangsters in the 20s. One of the biggest rivals to Al Capone was Polish/American. Hymie Weiss, was what he’s known as but his actual name was Henryk Wojciechowsk.” Alyssa commented while continuing to look through the bar.
“So,” Choi replied, “you think this belonged to that gangster? Skorzeny was maybe his right hand man?”
Choi began to search with Alyssa, wanting answers. He didn’t get any from the guard.
“Well, we aren’t that far from Chicago. It’s possible though Skorzeny came up with nothing. However, I could double check the 1920s in particular and…” She trailed off as she typed in the name and then lifted her cell up a little. "Signal’s not great down here.”
Agent Powers and Ekaterina were looking around with the others. The place felt old and historical as they looked around.
“Still nothing.” Alyssa shook her head, “If he was a minor gangster who never got caught. There might be nothing, there were far too many of those in the 20’s for law enforcement to keep track of.” Alyssa kept looking behind the bar. The other bottles didn’t seem nearly as interesting as that first one.
Ekaterina then had a thought as she elegantly asked, "Perhaps there is a hidden safe or room used to hide valuables or for secret meetings? I heard they were all the rage back then.”
“That’s very likely,” Alyssa agreed. "Besides, behind the bar might want to look behind anything in a frame and maybe look for a hidden pocket door.”
Agent Powers and Ekaterina began looking behind picture frames and checking the walls for secret panels.
“Or,” Choi suggested, one of the taps may be false and open up a trap door.”
Alyssa nodded, “That’s likely as well.” She seemed a bit like a kid in a candy store as she searched all the bottles and anything else she could find to look at.
Choi began pulling on the tap handles. All had been drained of beer for decades. Hopefully, one would open up another clue.
Alyssa looked at her phone again, “Otto Skorzeny SS Officer, tried to free Mussolini.” She said, but almost as if thinking out loud. “Ah…Janos Skorzeny. No relation to Otto. Bought this theater recently.” She looked around some more and spotted a wooden lever. Walking over to it, the young woman carefully pulled on the lever.
As the lever was pulled, the collection of bottles behind the bar reveal themselves to be a hidden doorway into a room. The room is enveloped in darkness, all of the furniture is covered in blue sheets. There are several musical instruments laid on tables and chairs.
“Good job,” Dahlia encouraged. “It looks like a bandstand.”
Dahlia waltzed into the room. She looked around, even picking up the instruments.
Alyssa stepped into the room and looked around. It was hard to believe the instruments had just been left like that. "I wonder if this place was possibly raided, at some point.”
“It’s quite possible,” Dahlia affirmed.
Choi entered the once hidden room. “I doubt that,” Choi suggested. “Someone cleared out all the full bottles of alcohol. All the kegs are dry. It doesn’t make sense. Of course, when has anything made sense in our investigations.”
Agent Powers rubbed his chin then said, “Maybe this place was used as a safe house in the past. I have had to hunt a few targets hiding in safe houses in the past. They used old slum houses, closed up business, crack houses and even shut down amusement parks. That would explain why the bottles are empty and the sheets are still covering their stuff up.”
Ekaterina was a bit surprised by Agent Powers’ insight. She elegantly said, “That is a possibility Mr. Powers. This place would be ideal for that in the past.”
Then Agent Powers gave a smolder as he looked around then paused. He then said, "Is it me or does this place kinda remind you of that movie "The Shining? I am worried we will open a door or elevator and a river of blood will gush out or something.”
Ekaterina noticed an old book on one of the tables. It was covered in dust and had not been used since early in the last century. It was called, "The house of light.” Inside the book, could be found several strange passages referencing light. Specifically mystical light bulbs that could light the way to the end of suffering and towards the stars. In dried blood were the strange sayings. “Tower” and "Golconda.”
Ekaterina was elegantly looking around when she found an old book covered in dust. She looked at the title and saw it was labeled as “The House Of Light”. She opened it up and looked it over. Then she elegantly said to the group, "I found a rather old creepy book if any of you are interested. The label reads "The House Of Light. Alyssa I may need your insight on this one.”
Alyssa looked at the book as if it were a snake that might bite her, at first. “As long as I never have to jump inside one again. Alright.” She walked over to the book. "Let’s take a look.”
Light was something with which Dahlia was familiar. The Kabbalah contained shards of light. Each shard entrapped a portion of divine light, seemingly separating this primordial light from its source. These shards, known as the kelipot (pronounced k’lee-pote), represent malevolent constrictions in being, which, according to the Kabbalah, are the source of evil and personal suffering.
According to the Kabbalah, divine sparks of light — psychic/spiritual treasures — are encoded within us and hidden throughout the physical universe. The forces of darkness imprison the light in such a way so as to have the light under a magical spell.
“Let me have a look too,” Dahlia requested.
Alyssa put the words in blood into her phone. “Golconda means a source of great wealth. It’s also an abandoned city in Turkey which is in ruins.” Alyssa swallowed. “When I went into the book, I was taken to a ruined city in the desert.” That seemed to not be a coincidence, at least to Alyssa, and she suddenly didn’t want to be in that room any longer. She wasn’t even thinking about the fact that two of the people in the room hadn’t been at the Halliwell house for the book journey.
“We believe there is light hidden in each one of us. It is hidden by the darkness, or evil, that we may not know the source of that light,” Dahlia explained as she perused the pages on display.
“Hmmm,” Dahlia thought, “Is there a tower in this Golconda? There is actually a Golconda in India. Hyderabad…I don’t know much about the one in Turkey.”
“Alyssa, lets go into the hallway and look up “Tower”. said Sartre, knowing the hacker was shaken.” Has the group would look up to the ceiling, they would notice that it was a black ceiling covered in stars and constellations.
“There was obelisks, but I …I don’t know.” She took a breath, Peter’s suggestion was welcomed. “Yes,” she walked out in the hallway with Peter.
Agent Powers rubbed his chin then gave a smolder as he said, "I am pretty sure there is a fort and a watch tower in Golconda, India. I had to chase down a weapons dealer there once. I almost got in trouble since I accidently damaged the wall.”
As Dahlia began flipping through pages referencing lights making visible the way towards the stars, she remembered her grandfather teaching her from the Torah of Jakov and the stairway to heaven. A smile came to her face at the memory.
Choi noticed it. “You find something good in there?”
“Just a memory,” Dahlia confessed. She looked upward. On the ceiling there were small points of light, which made them look like stars in the sky.
She uttered a word, “Hokhmah!”, meaning wisdom, a point on the Tree of Life. She had hope to gain the wisdom to interpret the meaning and find this passage. She began to glisten as a glow emanated seemingly from within her.
The security guard from the upstairs office ran into meet Dahlia and the others. "You asked about the heralds, isn’t that why you people are? You have strange visions and an inopportune time. Seeing the world is it really is. Or are you different?”
Agent Powers looked at the security guard and gave him a smolder. Then asked, “Who are you?”
Ekaterina was shocked as she looked at the security guard and then asked not so elegantly, "How are you okay after Choi put you through a wall?”
“Alyssa, earlier you said you had some information. You said you wanted to go over and at the hotel. Perhaps we can make a connection. Do you want to go ahead and get out of here before night fall?” said Sartre.”
The guard said “I’m just here for what the pipeline brings in, the circulatory system has the best there is.” He then made his way away from the group.
Choi rolled his eyes at the randomness of this guard. Perhaps the kick through the wall brought the guard to his senses. Still, the circulatory system, which seemed to be a drug, and the pipeline must be the supply line.
The glow had ceased from Dahlia, yet her face maintained a radiant feature to it. She continued looking at the small lights in the ceiling.
In her search for wisdom, she had sensed a presence somewhere out there in space. Could this be the actual source of the light that is within each individual? Where El stated, “Let us make man in our image.”
Dahlia breathed slowly, then announced, “I believe the what we seek is in the stars. I sense a presence out there.”
Alyssa had this distinct feeling she should get out of there, like another portal might open up at any second however, "I don’t know if I feel right just leaving the others. " Especially, with the guard in there now. Alyssa was standing outside the hidden room but did look in and saw the glow from Dahlia. She heard the guard speak about the circulatory system, Heralds and a pipeline. Placing those terms in her mind to investigate later, for any kind of connection. Then what Dahlia said, which sounded a lot like a description of God. Alyssa, despite everything or maybe because of it wasn’t overly religious. She hadn’t been raised with any sort of real religious upbringing and never sort out to learn more than she might need to know as a general working knowledge for her. (Being she was a genius it was certainly more knowledge than some but it was on a purely intellectual level). There wasn’t a connection like some had, that Dahlia clearly had. However, that also got shoved into her mind for more research.
Alyssa quietly stepped away from the room, deciding, on second thought that the ones in the room were more than capable of taking care of themselves. She did text Max and said, she was going back to the hotel with Peter. She doubted he would have ridden back with her but she was still his job and thought he should know. Alyssa included in the text that someone should get pics of the hidden room.
The temptation to take the bottle of whiskey found earlier was great because it would be getting a piece of history, but it didn’t belong to her so she left it. The hacker did take a few last pics of the room and the bottle and then left with Peter.
Agent Powers saw the text from Alyssa and replied, “Okay. Text me if you need me for anything. I’ll help the others till then.” Moments later Alyssa hit the thumbs up emoji and sent it to Max. Agent Powers nodded at the reply and went back to taking pictures of the entire room and all the decor included. He was sending it to the cloud account Alyssa had set up for incoming files and pics so they didn’t overload her phone. After Agent Powers showed Ekaterina the cloud account and connected her to it she began taking pictures as well. She also planned to take pictures of the book when the others were done reading it.
Dahlia was amazed. It was the closest she had ever felt to the source of the light that was within her, for that is what she thought the presence she had sensed to be. It was the book that led her to that presence.
Her gaze fell to the book once more. Certainly, this book held clues to reaching that presence. Closing the book, she picked it up and slid it into the back of her pants.
“We need this,” she assured the others. “It has important clues.”
Learning from the books at the Halliwell mansion, Choi stated, “We should take pictures and leave the book.”
Choi saw the now familiar pout. It was quickly becoming a week spot for him.
“Okay,” Choi said, “bring the book.”
Ekaterina elegantly asked, "Dahlia Mr. Powers asked if I could scan the book and send to his cloud account later on. Would that be fine? If you have a cloud account as well Choi I could send a copy as well.”
“We can do that back at the hotel,” Dahlia confirmed.
Choi probed, “Is there anything else we need? If not, we should head back.”
Agent Powers finished his photos and gave Choi a smolder before he replied, “Yeah I’m done sending Alyssa photos of the place.” Ekaterina gave an elegant smile and replied, "I am ready anytime. You know I bet they could make more turning this place into an historical haunted house.”
“Okay,” Choi said. “Let’s get out of here.”
Dahlia was a little hesitant, wondering of she needed to read the book here for it to lead her to the presence she had felt. She wasn’t exactly sure what it was, so it may be best if all of them be there when they were led to that presence. However, if it was the source of the light in each person, Dahlia wanted to meet it. Apparently, it was lights that led the way to it. She’d research the book at the hotel.
“Shotgun,” she called, ensuring she’d be up front with Choi, while Max would be with Kat in the back.
Riding back in Alyssa’s new van, Sartre noticed the upgrades."
“You have all new equipment!”
When we get back to the hotel, I want to go over some of this stuff. See if we can make any connections. There has to be something somewhere, and you said you had something that you didn’t want to show right away."
In the chip: "Alyssa, can I stay with you tonight? I feel safe with you.”
Agent Powers saw the text from Alyssa and replied, "Okay. Text me if you need me for anything. I’ll help the others till then.”
“Yes, Cassini insisted. I mean I like this new van there’s plenty of room for Max, when he’s in it, and the tech is beyond state of the art. The security system is amazing as well.” She paused, “But I still miss my old van.”
Alyssa hit the thumbs up emogee and sent it to Max.
They were the only two in the van, so, the hacker was a little unclear why Peter used the chip. She made sure that he was ready, then started up the van before responding, which she did outloud. “I don’t mind you staying in my room but a few things, I’ll be working most of the night. And you’ll have to sleep in the other bed.” Alyssa then said. “Things got weird before with us in the same room. Can you promise that won’t happen again. No trying to get into my bed, even if it’s just to sleep. No asking me to kiss you, just as a friend, and no assumptions about what I might want. I will let you know when I’m ready for more. Can you agree to that?” Alyssa liked her space, the fact she was willing to share it was big enough in her mind, for right now.
"Oh, we can agree. "he smirked. He loved her assertiveness. "I’m really excited to see what evidence you have? Why did you not want the others to see it?”
Alyssa nodded, with a slight smile to Peter agreeing with her on her terms. “Oh, I didn’t say I didn’t want the others to see it. I just didn’t want to discuss it there.” Alyssa clarified. "I want to wait until we’re back at the hotel, then I’ll show you what I was sent.”
“Sounds good Alyssa. I love spending time with you.” he smiled. “Did your van get a new stereo?” he continued.
“Absolutely, Cassini didn’t miss a thing.” Alyssa grinned. "You wanna listen to anything in particular?”
“Whatever you want fiery and dangerous hacker.” He reached for another fist bump.
Alyssa laughed slightly at his comment, and returned the fist bump. “Whatever, huh? Between that speakeasy and the ghost that was stuck in the 90s… I’ve got it.” While driving the hacker tapped a button. “Play Squirrel Nut Zippers, Hot album.” She spoke to the onboard computer. Soon enough the sounds of jazz, from the 90s revival, were playing in the background, horns included.
“When I was a lad I was a little bit shy.
Something came along and caught my eye.
When I heard the jazz band strike up…”
The song, Got My Own Thing Now seemed to go with the theme of the day. “A compromise among the two time periods,” Alyssa commented.
“How long till we get to the hotel? Hungry for some junk food Alyssa?” asked Sartre.
“A few minutes, but I am kind of hungry. What time is it anyway?” They had oddly spent several hours at the theater, as it had been morning when they arrived.
“Pizza. I’ve always wanted to try the deep dish Chicago style everyone talks about. I bet we can find somewhere that has decent pizza. Door dash will deliver from Chicago, if we want.” Alyssa commented.
“Deep dish from Chicago? Absolutely!” he said as they pulled into the hotel parking lot. He would follow Alyssa to her room.
She opened her room using the key card, then let him in. “Let’s order the pizza.” It would take a while to get there. “I’m going to order extra if anyone else wants some.” She knew Choi, Max, Dahlia and Ekaterina would be out for dinner before going to the bar but there were a few others that might want food, even if not, she could give the extra to Max. Alyssa went to her draw and pulled out a second key card, handing it to Peter. "Here, you’ll probably need this if you’ll be staying in this room. Now, what do you want on your pizza?”
“I’ll have whatever the hacker is having.” He took the key card.
Alyssa ordered a few pizzas with various toppings, from the app and then sat down on her bed. She then asked Peter, “I don’t know if I should be telling you this but I’ve never dated anyone before. Even though we’re not official or anything, still this is all new to me.” She wanted him to understand a little more of where she was coming from.
“I understand Alyssa, it can be very nerve-wracking at the start. I understand you want to take things slow. Did anybody really not find you interesting? Even though we’re not official, why the interest in me? What do you look for in a guy? I know this is your first experience, I’m thinking of a beach in December. Though you decide, you’ll decide everything and be in complete control when we…” He smirked. My guess is, that will be a first for you as well? Let’s take things slow, But let me do this. You are one hot hacker to be so pale." That was probably the first time she had heard that he thought."You said no holding hands in public. You did not say we couldn’t hold hands while you research and try and figure things out, Alyssa.”
Alyssa took a soda out if the mini fridge in the room, “Do you want one?” She sipped her soda, and sat back down on the bed as Peter spoke.
"Well, I went to college so young and really only focused on my studies. I didn’t have anything in common with the other college students. It’s not like they’d invite a 12 year old to party with them or anything. Then I graduated, and my father brought me to the Illuminati. At first I worked in the tech department at headquarters but I was, once again,the youngest person in the department. When I became a little older, I don’t know, there’s no shortage of guys in my field but they seem to intimated by any female who’s their counterpart. " She sipped her soda. “I’m interested in you because your intelligent, nice and willing to put up with all that internal stuff I bring with me. Heck, I’m being stalked by a demon-like thing that can open portals to - somewhere hellish and your still interested, that takes some kind of guts. You are aware most men would run in the opposite direction at that, aren’t you?” Alyssa was telling the truth, but it was sort of a quip as well. “Hmm… what I look for on a guy, intelligent, kind, patient, willing to do things with me, I guess those are the big things.” She nodded to his words about taking it slow, but said nothing regarding the beach in December. When he complimented her, she could feel the heat rush to her face. Was she blushing, Alyssa had never blushed before in her life. She looked down, so, maybe he wouldn’t see and waited for the heat to pass. The hacker smiled at the agent, she put her hand in his. "For now, it’ll be too difficult to try to type on my laptop like this. But I kind of want to wait, the ones staying in the hotel, not going to the bar, maybe we can just all hang out together and try to piece things together, as much as we can.”
He gripped her hand. “You just want to sit here for a while and hold hands. He squeezed her hand. I thought you said you didn’t want to. I’m surprised you don’t want to get back to work, just yet. you’re nervous I can tell. It’s alright to blush. You know you’re smart, cautious and hot.” He paused. Can I at least get some sort of preview before December?”
“I can change my mind, about things - like hand holding.” Truth was Alyssa had missed him, but she didn’t want to admit it, not yet, to anyone including herself. “Well, Max thinks I’m a workaholic. I suppose a little break while we’re waiting on the food and the others won’t hurt anything.” She smiled slightly at him. "A preview? What do you mean by that?”
“I mean something like I watch you get undressed into something more comfortable, while I watch. You give me just enough of the preview to wait until December. I know that I can trust you and that you can trust me. You could also slap me for asking for that. When you’re in control in December, you might do that again.” He smirked. "The blushing makes you all the more hot.” He hoped he hadn’t messed up…
Alyssa stared at him, but didn’t remove her hand or get up. “Don’t you think that’s a little fast considering we haven’t even kissed or been on an actual date, yet?” Hadn’t they just discussed not moving too quickly. “I’m still not sure we’re on the same page when it comes to the speed I need to go at.” She wasn’t mad, and didn’t sound mad but…“I’ll let you think about if my speed can meet your, apparent, expectations. While I take a shower, and get changed. You are welcome to move your things down here, if you still want to.” Alyssa just couldn’t figure out how else to explain that holding hands was about 10 mph, getting changed in front of him was about a 60, to her. She couldn’t go from 10 to 60 that quickly. She gathered some things, went into the bathroom and turned on the shower. She really wanted a proverbal light bulb to go off for Peter, where he’d just get it.
“I wonder if you are speed can meet mine. Can we compromise?” he asked playfully. “The thought of you in the shower. Can you speed up just a little bit. I’ll go grab my things while you shower. I’ll be here waiting when you get out.” He continued playfully. “You are very prudent Alyssa.” He smiled and said seriously.
She heard what he said, “I’ll think about it.” She quipped at him, with a slight grin. With a nod to his last comment, she closed the door to the bathroom.
He went to his room, retrieved his case files and sidearm. He returned to What he wanted to consider their room even though it wasn’t official. He glanced at her laptop wondering what Mysteries the genius hacker could unravel. There had to be something connecting all of the occurrences with what was written in that book. he sat down and simply looked at the laptop, he respectfully moved his thoughts towards solving the case at the same time waiting to see what would emerge wet from the shower. He wondered which would be more powerful…
Posted by : Cindy
