Complex

“That’s a lot of piercings for one ear” the girl called me out my past.
“Huh?”
“I said that’s a lot of piercings, there’s like four of em.”
Still confused by the sudden remark, I looked behind to see who made it.
Oh, I know this girl. She’s in the same department as me. What was her name again? I seriously gotta remember stuff like this.
The girl sat next to me, without waiting for my reply.
“Yah well.There arent any restrictions for them.”
“That’s not why I asked, Why do you have them? Is it only for style? I don’t think you’d look any different without them”
Did I ever talk to her before? I don’t remember.
“Do I have to have a reason?”
“No. I guess not,” she said with slight disappointment.
“Why are you asking?”
“My brother had piercings like yours. Three piercings in the left ear. Just like yours.”
“Well, why don’t you just go ask him why he has it. Or are you two not close.”
“We were I guess.”
“Well, what happened?” A bit of personal now that I think about it.
“He died a few days ago.” I was caught off guard. I didn’t — I wasn’t expecting something like this.
“I guess its a little to late now to ask him” she continued.
“I’m sorry I didn’t know.”
She didn’t hear me. Or I guess she didn’t care. She closed her face with her hands and kept her elbow on the table. Probably hiding her sad face. She might just start crying for all I know. I waited for the storm to set out. Luckily the storm ended before it even started. She casually started eating her lunch as if nothing happened. Well, I guess nothing really did happen.

She must be Claudette. Yes, I did hear about her because she wasn't attending classes for a week. Short hair glasses girl who mostly keeps to herself. Teachers dog so no wonder a week of absence made a small ruckus.

“How did he die?” I asked without considering her feelings. I am a bit curious, though I do feel a little bad for bringing it up. But she seems rather strong which contradicts her outlook.

“You heard about the murder in Aney not too long ago?”
“You mean the first beast murder? Wait I thought the victim wasn't identified”
“The one in Aney was. They identified my brother one week later of the incident. The other one in Mishima remains unidentified.”
She said matter of factly, it seems she has coped with the fact better than what I thought previously.

She ate a bit and then stormed off without saying anything else. I continued to eat my lunch. The beast murders are nicknamed as such cause of the severe brutality it had. The bodies were torn apart and some parts were eaten. What remained wasn't really a body more like some flesh and blood. It is widely believed that it was done by an animal. Probably a wolf of some kind, but if it were the case it shouldn't be to much trouble to find it. Alas, nothing noteworthy came up as of yet. The murders were suppressed to a good point to avoid panic. So not much details about it are known. My own knowledge are mostly rumors.

“Yo.Louis.You come to the “banquet” tonight right?”
“Pfft, banquet. Just call it what it is damn it.”
This was my ex-roommate from the dorm, who was also called Luis. Even though I moved out and got an apartment for myself we still kept acquaintances.
“It is what it is man.”
“It baffles me though. How can the guy afford to treat so many people in such a big fancy place like castle de vuin.”
“You don't know whos even treating you do you?”
“Do I have to?”
“It answers your question. Hell, do you even know why he's treating us?
“I just heard about the treat from Rumi like an hour ago. I didn't bother with the details”
“You never do man.” “The whole department is getting a treat from Henri Macvely. He is the oldest son of the Machirano corporation. He graduated from our department. His sister recently got married. The treat is for the occasion.”
“Wait,Macvelies daughter?. It was on the news. The third most expensive wedding ever. Well, that explains a lot.”
“Yah the Macvelys are royal family. Lots of names are under the Machirano corp. Which is run by good old Macvely and family.”

I finished my lunch when I realized I had classes in about 5 min.I was about to leave but before that something bugged me.

“Hey Luis, do you know about Claudette?”
“Claudette who now?”

Ah well. I guess she never did really stand out.

X…………x

Frustration was clear on the man's face. A man in his 40s, being talked down by a man in his 30s. The age was clear from their faces. Their appearance told a lot about them too.
The man sitting down had long black hair that seemed uncombed forever. Beard that still smelled like beer from last night and big tired eyes that said work was too much. The younger man was a lot sharper. Clear cut appearance with sharp eyes.
Looking over the script the young man sighed and looked over to the man sitting in the chair before him.

“This won’t do Mr.Donavin, This isn't the thing you should be doing right now.”
“Huh? Who are you to talk to me about what should I do or not do in the first place? Let's get started already, we need to do this right now.”
“Not with this we can. Look, your first two films were great pieces of works Donavan. You should use this popularity to your advantage. Not squander it with this.”
“Squander what? This will make me famous. This world needs this film Jim and only I can make it.”
“Please, Mr. Donavin don't give me that. This is such a departure from your last two works I just don't understand where to begin. Were you drunk when you made this? Are you still drunk?”
“What are you talking about? I wanted to make this film for a long time. Now I finally have the resources but I need your okay..”
“Well your not gonna get it.No ones gonna give this an OK. Not on this soil. How can I explain this to you Donavin? I thought you were a man of great talent. Then why are you trying to be sellout now?”
“A SELLOUT?! ME!? You have to out of yo-”
“Do not shout Donavin.” the stared him down “Don't give me that crap. This is nothing but a slasher flick with no good intentions. Are you trying to start a war? This won't fly. It's not gonna fly anywhere.”
“How can this fly if you're not ready to take a risk you bafoon.”
“Have you fucking lost it? What's wrong with you. You even look like hell.You damn well know I cant take this. You take your script.”
“No no not now. How can you do this to me?” The man screamed with teary eyes. Retorting loudly without an ounce of sense. The young man had enough.He quickly prompted measures to get the old man cleared out.
The man sighed with relief. Its not weird for directors to be one with their vision, but this man was pushing it.
“Such a shame” words came out naturally from his mouth. He worked with many small-time filmmakers. He thought this man had real talent.If only he understood business a bit more.

The man looked over the script again that was on his table.
The script followed a young girl walking a deserted chess piece environment while eyes followed her. For whats, it worth the man imagined the girl as evil represented in some way. The young girl did atrocious acts of violence with everything, even herself to all the chess pieces and beyond. Until a row of tanks came in from which men with certain clothing emerged
The girl was tortured, raped, and half of her body eaten by the men. While the other half was imapled with all manner of materials and was crucified on top of a hill white laughing moon dripped of dark black ooze that suffocated everything else.
From the whole script, this section was the longest and the most detailed second to the girl's monologues and her own atrocities. The level of detail in each act was insane. It was less of a script and more like a journal of records.
The whole thing made the young man sick to the bone.
“Can you even call this a slasher flick? Maybe the first half?”the man murmured to himself.
“There are works reminiscent of this” the man thought “But the intention is incomprehensible here.” The man tried to look from every angle he could but there was nothing to be found. “No point in the first place.” the man thought. throwing the papers in the trash.

“Such a shame really.”

X……………………………X

“I knew the place was big and fancy, but this…”
“I know right! Looking from outside you can't even tell what inside! Its like a night club in here.”
“That's because it was designed specifically for the occasion like this.” The girl eavesdropping on our conversation replied.
“Ah what really? Looks like Henry really know how to make people happy.” Luis said gleefully.
“Well, I guess that's how you get to the top in the first place,” I remarked.

The whole place from the outside looked like a fancy hotel. But once inside there's an underground area similar to a market. But its actually a club down here. And a big one at that.
Decorated with the flash and juice of any night club but with a bar as extravagant and as long as the room itself filled with high-quality products students like us could only dream of drinking.
This was just the right stress reliever I needed now that I think about it. This was the last semester and almost a crunch hour for most students here. I myself was in a pretty good place. A job was just waiting for me after I graduate. Marks was just right too. I couldn’t wait to get over with the hell that was the last few years.
But still, the life I was so used to for the last few years will end.It was bugging me. Even with the luxury of certainty I had, something still weighed down on the heart. But this is good booze.
I feel lighter in my heart. Maybe a bit too light though.
A certain lightness I haven't felt since forever. When did it all change for me?
Booze was nice. But It was never enough. There was just a bit stiffness there, certain ich that I must scratch.

“This is some good stuff,” I remarked to my self.
“This is DAMN good Louis. Damn it so many things I want to try out here, but I don't want to be drunk too.” Luis vented.
“Yet your still drinking the same thing from the start.”
“Paradox of choice my friend. The paradox of fucking choice.” Luis continues to vent.
“Well it might as well be the last time I will ever be here. I will take a look around. Don’t get drunk. I won't carry your ass keep that in mind.”
“Yah yah.”

The place itself was just one big straight line with more length than width. The long line of bartenders with their tricks was the most notable part for me.
The lighting of the whole place changed drastically from time to time completely changing the look of the place. While amusing my self checking out bartenders I saw a familiar face. A face I saw just this morning.
“Never thought she’d come though” is what I thought.

The slight orange hue from the lighting colored her short hair and herself. She one with the scenery of the room so much that it would be a waste to bother her. Though it seems I didn't have the chance in the first place.

Voices,murmurs suddenly came from the direction of the stairs which leads down here. Facing towards it an uncomfortable sight greeted me. A man wearing a pig mask was walking towards a group who were chatting on the sofa. As if to welcome the man the light orange color of the lights darkens.Slowly the color started to change to sharp violet. In this slight state of panic and confusion, the man withdrew a knife from his back and before anyone could assess let alone react to the situation the knife had already placed itself deep into the short girl's face who was closest to the man.

Scream full of horror filled the club. The color of the club changed to scarlet fitting to the thick red blood gushing out of the girl's face.The man still holding on to the knife used his other hand to hold the girls head and tried to run the knife downwards towards her neck.

Instinctively everyone else in the room ran towards the back and I too moved closer to the bar. Beyond anyones expectations, I threw a bottle of brandy right towards the pig man, which hitting his head shattered into many bits that probably cut his body in many places. The man looked towards me, of course, he would. Even though one can see nothing under the mask the fact that he was angry was evident from his body language. The man taking out the knife out of the girls face started running towards me without a single trace of emotion other than anger, which was the only thing I could feel anyway.

Yah what are you gonna do fucko? You're an easy read.

I have read enough true crimes to know that this was not a planned murder. This wasn't an act of grudge, nor an act of getting material gain from other means. Killing itself was the motif here.
The man wasn't a trained killer nor an experienced person. The way he holds his knife and the way he uses it approves this. In a sense, it's no different than a child holding a knife to help its mother.

I was holding a half-broken brandy bottle hoping to use it to pierce the man's body somehow. But judging by the knife’s size and the position we are in I would the victim. I quickly dropped the bottle. The man came straight at me knife in his right hand, holding it upwards. He plans to embed it straight in my face.

Is he a fool? That lives openings! Oh if only I were stronger this would've turned out so much better.

Cornered and out of fear the only thing I could do was hold the mans right hand with my left and his left with my right which he also threw at me as if to claw through my face. A fight now based on pure physical strength. If i slip up that knife gets to me, If I can overpower him I can live.

I held up his hand as strongly as I could trying to push the man down. To my surprise, the man initiated a conversation or rather stated a fact.

“My hands are dirty” the man stated with a crude voice filled with passion enough to unnerve me.

So are mine.

The wrestle only lasted for seconds as I was overpowered by the man. He wasn't strong by any means but the sudden remark caught me off guard. But just before I let go I pushed my self back and lost my footing tumbling back towards the chairs which hit my hip. Pain that I would almost scream felt nothing at that moment.

Quicky thinking my next action I tried to move towards the right of me for free space,but the color of the room reverted back to the sharp violet hue and slowly going back to the orange and just like that, the man ran towards the stairs from which everyone in the room came.

People like him worked on impulse.

No. We aren't done here. The slight itch was just beginning to fade, why would you run from me now?

“Hey get back here you bastard!”

I picked my self up running after the man up to the street level is where I lost him.

Disappointed to say the least. The sound of the wind was being overpowered by the sirens like I was just minutes ago.

X……………………………X

“So are you ready to tell me what happened?” Luis asked me first thing.
“I’d speak better with a drink” Luis got up to get me a drink. He’s rather obedient today for some reason.
“Here you go, man. You've been the talk for the last few days you know.”
“I was hoping a bit more crowd though” I frowned. I assumed I was gonna be treated like as superstar even for a day at least.
“Please. Everyones scared of you. I don't have to tell you the looks you're getting right? Even Zinan asked me if your right in the head.”
“How does he even know me. I don't even attend his class all that much. Dude can't teach for shit”
“Your not alone there I tell you besides he is quite good with me. But hey don't get sidetracked what happened next come on.”
“……..”
“You didn't answer your call at all to, I was worried you know”

Fuck that wouldn't have hurt so much to pay me a visit would it? is what I thought.

“Nothing at all. I lost him in the streets. Just a few minutes later the cops arrested me and the few guys that ran behind me. We were taken in for questioning, and they let us go the same night. I was advised to get medical help though”

“Haha well, that's a given.”

“Got some hella shit for having a criminal record though, damn it stings you like a bee every part of your life .”

“You weren't a good kid?”

“I was the best kid.”

“Haha,I know you are man. Anything else?

“I think I need legal help .”

“Huh? They charged you or something?”

“Nope.Its just…”

“Yo dude you look pale what happened?”

“No….uh nothing major..Who was the girl who died that night?”

“Preina. We had one class together.I didn't know her personally though, But she was always nice. It’s such a shame”

“Its always is. Damn it, if only someone reacted sooner. I can't believe how he got away anyway.”

“Vuin was known as a safe place. He probably wore the mask after he got in. If only they bothered for a list or smthn..”

“But still doesn't it seem a bit odd? Why didn't they bother with a list? Were there anyone else outside of the department?”

“Not that I noticed.”

“Still to let someone in just like that”. It seems not too unlikely yet. Was the killer there all along? He just wore the mask later and came in from the mall rather than the gate? Not that anything changed from this assumption. But now that I think about it I assumed many things about this that isn't clear cut.

“The whole thing is trying to be put under the bridge. Students have been advised to not “spread rumors” about it. Pfft. Pisses me off. Like what does that even mean”

“You know how it is.”

“No I don't man. I don’t. Is something bothering you? I feel like you wanna tell me something.”
“………I live in my apartment alone right?”
“Uh yah…why?”
“Im not so sure anymore.”
“What why?”

“There’s uh,,,,,h-hair in my bathroom.”

X……………………………………………..X

“What the hell were you thinking?!” Claudette scolded me.

Not the person I thought I would be scolded. Hell, I didn't even expect to talk to her ever.

“It's not nice to scold at people” I replied with enmity.
“Of course your gonna be scolded if you do reckless things like that”
“Is that how it looked like?”
“You provoked a murderer!!”
Catch me suddenly in the middle of the hallway and now making sense out of the blue just to antagonize me? I didn't ask for this.
“I did that, didn't I. Arent you afraid of me? You should, you know. You can never trust my cognition.”
“I’m used to dealing with spoiled brats like you”
Wow, that sounded genuine.
“…….”
“………”
“Can I ask what is this?”I want to go home now” saying that I almost started to leave.
“I’m used to dealing with spoiled brats like you…..” she continued saying “But I could never understand where you come from. Why? Why did you feel the need to risk your life like that? You could've died and still….”
I was tempted to say something cliche like “That's what heroes do” or something along the lines, But I feel like I'm not quite there yet.
“I didn't risk anything”
She looked at me with a frown, not being satisfied with my answer.
“I didn't risk my life. I wasn't planning to die. The thought didn't even cross me. He was lucky that he made it out.” I tried my best to explain.

I tired sigh exhaled from her. Maybe she finally calmed down. The silence was awkward and it was just becoming unbearable for me.

“So sure of yourself .” she almost laughed saying that. I feel like it wasn't even directed at me.
Then without saying a word, she left me to my own. As if she suddenly remembered something.

“Does anyone at home know?” she asked me without even looking at my general direction. Out of the blue again. Normal people don't talk like this. Whats with her.

“No. Not that anyone's home right now anyway and Id like it to stay that way. Can't even imagine what Da-” without even letting me finish my sentence she waltz off again.

“Maybe just curious” I explained to myself. That's what we study after all.

X…………………………………………………X

I first noticed the night I came back home from the police station on the night of the incident.
It was all normal at first. An unclean apartment only for one and if squeezed in maybe two. It was the same size as the dorm but having two people living in it suffocated me. This apartment is the last luxury I had since coming to this town.

I was extremely tired that night for obvious reasons so I hit the bed as soon as entering.

The next morning I woke up late. I had no intention of going to Uni and didn't expect it to recover from last night's incident. I turned off my phone too to save my self the trouble. I should turn it back on soon though. The police said I could be called in any time.

So just like every other day, I went to take a shower. I smelled like a pig.After cleaning my self I started to soak my self with a towel and that's when I saw it.

Hair. It was hair. My hair is long but not that long, nor is it weak enough to fall like that, I have kept healthy ever since Uni.
The hair was on the shower drain. It was a lot of hair that got rounded by the water.
It hit me that I live alone. No one else lives here in any other part of the day or anything.
The sudden realization sent chill down my whole body. The fear made my leg stuck in place. The coldness of my neck was being unbearable. Before I almost started shaking I got out of the bath. I have to think soundly about this. I asked the guard if he knew anything about this. I didn't expect any satisfactory answer. The drunken bastard is nothing but dead meat sticking around. This was widely known as the “students” area of the country ever since the student revolution. Thieving wasn't common but it can always happen. But there was nothing stolen, which only added to my stress.

There are some cases in Naito where homeless people find an open apartment in buildings and sleep there. This could be one of those cases but I always lock the door. But this lock is pretty basic and making a fake key wouldn't be hard, hell the windows shouldn't be hard to climb.

There are many ways and too many explanations. Maybe it was my rash decision the other night which made me feel this was a life-threatening situation. A police report wasn't enough to make me feel safe. But I was stubborn enough to not let this inconvenience take a toll on my mind. Even though my mind drifted to it, I tried my best to prepare for the finals. And after two days alone in the house I was finally brave enough to go to Uni and expected it all to be over.

X………………………………….x…………………………X

Its been a week or so since the incident. For the most part it's already forgotten. But my health only got worse ever since then. Washing my face before the faucet someone reminded me of that fact.

“WAHhhHhhhh” I screamed out of fear. Something had touched my left ear. I fell on the ground out of surprise only to see it wasn't who I thought it was as I was delighted to find out the gentle nudge was by none other than Claudette.
Betraying my reaction she seemingly looked at me confused. Before I could go all out on her, she said,
“I’m sorry, I didn't mean to startle you”
“Well it doesn't matter now,” I replied while getting up.
“I thought you would see me coming behind you, you know with all this mirror here,” she said while pointing at the mirrors.
I looked at the mirrors again. It reflected my face. It was tired. It was scared. It felt like it was about to cry. Why is that? As if I didn't know. I wondered what she saw in the mirror.
“Well how was your day?” she asked trying to cut out the awkwardness till now.
“Huh?”
“……..”
“oh yah. Ah yes I'm alright.”
“You didn't eat your lunch today, its probably because of that your feeling sick.”
Ignoring my statement she went straight to the cause. When did she see me eating lunch anyway? I never see her in the cafeteria anyway. Does she even eat?
“Didn't I tell you should keep yourself together?”
“Did you?”
“Yes I did damn it,” she replied suddenly raising her voice.
Who is she even talking to? I feel like looking behind. She looks straight at me yet I feel her eyes being elsewhere.
“You don't look so good. Want to take a walk?
A walk? With someone? Yes that's exactly what I need. Ever since the incident, I feel like someone follows me. I looked hard for someone but I don't find anyone. The hair stuck that seemingly found itself on my shower drain didn't help either.
It wasn't a case of a thief or a killer. Someone must have been following me. I suspect someone I angered. Someone mad at me for some reason. The only one who came to mind seemingly felt impossible.

Yah sure.
I didn't say it. But I started walking with her anyway.
we stopped by to have some food near a stall, she ate like she hadn't eaten in a few days. Getting some food in my belly, I also felt regaining a bit of a composer. Looking at it now, even a mundane looking girl like Claudette looks lively when eating a hamburger. The sense of fear was feigning when a call rushed it all back.

“Hello? Mr. Louis. We need you in the station right now.

X<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<x

“Why did you let someone like that in?” one of the waiters asked the girl who handles the bar.
“Don’t you know him?”R.R Donavin, the director of “IF’ remember?”
“Holy shit that's him. Why would someone like him be in this part of Mishima?”
“Yah I am quite surprised too. He looks so… worn out”
“That's not even the problem here. The guy keeps on wanting more drinks and his already over what we can permit.”
“Jeez. Is the fame getting to him or something? You think its a publicity stunt?”
“I don't care what it is. He keeps asking for more drinks. People are leaving cause he is making a scene. He even refused to pay.”
“Yikes. Braun even said not to let a guy like that in. Damn it.”
“Well what do I do?”
“Why are you asking me?”
“You let him in!”
“aaaaaaaaa. BOSSSSSS!”

The manager after hearing the whole situation was obviously furious. He tried to talk to the man himself. But couldn't handle his drunken spouting much longer. He told Braun to pick him up and throw him out, the cash didn't matter.

Braun tried his hardest to make the man move on his own. But the man refused to co-operate. He ate and drank without any restrictions. His bullshit spouting caught Brauns nerve and he punched him right in the guts.

The man fell on the ground and started vomiting instantly.All the chicken, beef, soup, pasta all came rushing out of his mouth with beer. The scene was so disgusting the bartender almost vomited herself and Braun who cant handle this sort of thing ran. The man started coughing out blood too.

Too exhausted and the tearing of the brain got to the man he fell on his own vomit and blood he held his stomach as if in pain while smothering himself in it.

There weren't many customers in the restaurant but the few who were still there ran out of the place out of disgust and party out of fear.

The workers were too disgusted to even think of what to do with the man.

The man however suddenly free from pain tried to stand on his knee.
The ecstatic started to splash the vomit with his own hand.
“THIS IS IT! THIS IS IT! DO YOU SEE EVERYONE! THIS IS IT! THIS IS WHAT MAN RAY MEANT! THE SOULS OF ACHERON LOOKED FOR THIS! THIS IS DEFINITELY FRANCISCO GOYAS MASTERPIECE!”

The man screamed on the top of his lungs while trying to eat the hard items on his vomit.

X………………………………………….X

The police called for me. At the same station I was interrogated the other night.

“Listen to them. See if you recognize the voice.”

I looked straight at them. 5 people. All wearing the same pig mask. The same mask the killer was wearing the other day. They all looked the same. To the current me. They all were the killer.

“My hands are dirty”

“no”

“My hands are dirty”

“no”

“My hands are dirty”

“no”

“My hands are dirty”

“no”

“My hands are dirty”

“Say it again”

“My hands are dirty”

“no”

X

Head hurts.
The excitement I felt from the crooks are dead and gone. I honestly wanted one of them to be it. I was so sure. One of them had to be it. How can such a poor excuse of a criminal still be on the loose? Is the law so pathetic?
They weren’t in my case.

The eyes were back.

I drank a bit too much than usual. Mishima was an always will be the place of sin. I was obviously in one of the poorer parts of Mishima. Even a bigger after a day could easily afford this place for an hour. But I couldn't.

Someone was watching me.

It rained just a few minutes ago. The calm feeling of this afternoon was gone. The feeling that engrossed me for the last few days came rushing back. I felt sick. I could feel my body burning. I needed to go home. But some part of me wanted to die remembering no one was there. That wasn't home. It was an apartment.

The red neon lights of the sign shone so brightly everything looked red.
I just started to move lazily when I met him.
The thing that happens in romance stories. The hero and heroine were fated to meet after many years. So many time passed that they were unrecognizable. But the faint feeling of familiarity made their eyes wet.

For us however. Specifically for me it was disgust. He wasn't wearing a pig mask. Maybe he was someone else. But for the life of me I felt like crushing this man for even resembling him.

He took his time as well. Even in my lacking senses I could deduce that even if someone else was standing here. He would've done the same or is it just me?

The last feeling I felt when I didn't have holes in my body was a disgusting smell. Now only the red neon light that grew brighter caught my eyes.
A faint silhouette my eyes still perceived. It wasn't of the man.
This one was crying.

Even in my final moments, the person crying before me wasn't crying for me.

That was the thought I died with.

x

Rolling some weed, the news finally caught Luises attention.

“Two murders occurred in route 3 near a restaurant called Bounty. The bodies have been identified as students of Grenoble University. One male. One female. The cause of death is blood loss from multiple stab wounds. The perpetrator has been caught but the identity has yet to be public. The murder could be connected to the castle le vuin murder where a student of the same university was murdered but no official statement has been made. Nothing else as of yet has been mentioned by the authority.”