Chapter 8 - The Boogieman
Day 18 – 574 students remaining.
Over the past five days, Shuji’s building has become renovated thanks to his team’s hard work. He has solved a few minor crimes but nothing serious. However, that all changes today. Shuji isn’t aware that the biggest case in the lifetime of the city is about to come his way.
Before the morning announcement, a timid girl enters Shuji’s building.
“H…hello. Is this the detectives?”
Shuji notices the girl and goes to greet her.
“How can I help you?”
The girl responds.
“My name is Kagami. I’d like to report a missing person. I think it was a kidnapping.”
Shuji, Maro Taro and Kanna look towards the woman in shock. Shuji begins to wonder about the situation.
“We’ve dealt with thefts and other crimes but nothing like this. How could somebody go missing down here?”
Kanna is the first to think about possible culprits.
“Do you think it could be Kenro and his crew?”
Shuji begins to interrogate Kagami.
“Where were they last seen?”
Kagami begins to think.
“I saw him around the afternoon yesterday.”
Maro Taro begins to think of the best-case scenarios.
“Is it possible that he’s just wandering around or staying with a friend?”
Kagami shakes her head.
“He wouldn’t do that. We made a promise that we’d always meet up at our house each night. He wouldn’t break that promise.”
Shuji stops the conversation for a moment.
“Is it ok if we continue this conversation in a minute? The morning announcement is about to start.”
Kagami nods her head as they all head outside. They wait until the timer reaches zero and the voice begins to speak.
“The time is 7am. I hope that you are all enjoying the game. The system has decided that Joben Hashimoto is the saddest person in the city. The execution will begin shortly.”
A loud shrieking noise occurs. Kanna, Mato Taro and Shuji look to see Kagami crying. She tearily begins to speak.
“It’s him. He’s my friend. He went missing.”
Shuji is suspicious about this but tries to plan the next step.
“Don’t worry. We’ll get to the bottom of this. If we find where his corpse is, that might answer a lot of questions.”
Shuji then turns to Kanna and Maro Taro.
“I need you both to begin inquiring where the gunshot happened. That way, we’ll be able to find the corpse.”
Kanna is curious about Shuji’s plan.
“What are you going to do?”
Shuji looks towards Mikuni’s office.
“Mikuni might have some information. Usually, I wouldn’t bother him with this stuff, but since it might involve a kidnapping, it’s of interest to him.”
Shuji enters Mikuni’s office alone. Himari is at the front desk. She notices Shuji.
“Oh, Shuji! What can I do for you?”
Shuji looks at Mikuni in her secretarial role.
“How’s Mikuni treating you? Do you enjoy it here?”
Himari seems happy.
“I’m working as hard as I can.”
Shuji smiles before going further into the conversation.
“I need to see Mikuni.”
Himari responds timidly.
“I think Mikuni is seeing someone at the moment. But I’m sure he won’t mind if I send you up anyway.”
Shuji continues to smile.
“Thanks, Himari.”
Shuji heads up the elevator. As the elevator doors open, Mikuni is talking with two members of his crew.
“Then shut down the rumours. I don’t need to hear talk of it again unless there is proof.”
Mikuni notices Shuji coming out of the elevator.
“Ah, Shuji. Just the man I was looking for. Perhaps you can shut these rumours down for me.”
Shuji is confused.
“Actually, I came here to ask for your intel. Someone has come to me about a suspected kidnapping.”
Mikuni puts his hand on his face and sighs.
“Not you too.”
Shuji wonders about the situation.
“What’s wrong?”
Mikuni begins to explain the situation.
“Suspected kidnapping reports have been coming to my crew also. Word is spreading quickly of a boogieman in the city.”
Shuji is in shock.
“Can you elaborate further?”
Mikuni looks annoyed.
“I’m disappointed in you Shuji. You can’t really believe that someone could get away with multiple kidnapping operations in an enclosed city like this, do you?”
Shuji smirks as he responds.
“Part of being a detective means that I can’t rule it out just yet. What other information do you have?”
Mikuni smiles.
“This is exactly why you’re the detective, huh. I’ll begin from the start. Nobody has heard the gunshots in the morning since day 13. Furthermore, people have been going missing the night before they are chosen.”
Shuji finds this difficult to comprehend.
“All five of them? That can’t possibly be a coincidence.”
Mikuni interjects.
“Four of them. One of them hadn’t made any friends in the city.”
Shuji begins to wonder further.
“Has anyone reported anything about the supposed ‘boogieman’?”
Mikuni clasps his hands together.
“There was one alleged witness report for one of the kidnappings.”
Shuji is curious.
“Did they give any significant information?”
Mikuni chuckles.
“I can’t say that I believe the report. The report was disturbing to say the least. According to the witness, they couldn’t see anything because their attention was drawn to his face. Supposedly, he had fish hooks holding up either side of his mouth to create a faux smile. It sounds like something out of a horror movie.”
Before Shuji can enquire more, Mikuni continues to speak.
“I know what you’re going to ask, but I’m afraid that’s all I have. The witness disappeared and was executed a few days ago.”
Shuji stops for a moment then begins to leave.
“Thank you for your help. Contact me if you need anything else.”
Mikuni raises his arm to signal goodbye as Shuji leaves the office. Shuji heads outside. Shuji then looks around the street outside and hears a voice talking to him.
“Are you investigating the boogieman?”
Shuji quickly turns to see Tamotsu Tano talking to him.
“People in this city are talking, worrying about who the boogieman is going to take next. Mikuni is going to have a tough job resolving this.”
Shuji begins to inquire with Tamotsu.
“What do you know about it?”
Tamotsu shrugs.
“I only know the rumours. Most of it is false anyways.”
Shuji begins to get suspicious.
“And how would you know that?”
Tamotsu slightly laughs.
“Really? A man who can’t die. A man with supernatural strength. I don’t think anyone like that exists in here.”
Shuji begins to walk away.
“Sorry, Tamotsu, I have somewhere to be.”
Shuji heads back to the detective’s office where he meets up with Maro Taro, Kanna and Kagami.
“Did you manage to find out where the execution took place?”
Kanna and Maro Taro look to the floor. Maro Taro speaks.
“Nobody saw or heard anything. It was like the execution didn’t even happen.”
Shuji begins to wonder about the thought process of this alleged boogieman.
“It makes sense. If nobody can pinpoint the death location, then the boogieman can hide easier. I think it’s safe to say that if this boogieman is really kidnapping people, then he has a hideout somewhere in this city. I wonder where it could be?”
As nightfall arises, a girl is calmly walking through the city. A shadowy figure is walking behind her and getting closer. The girl begins to notice something wrong and turns around. She looks at the man and notices a wire going around the back of his head. The wire is connected to fishhooks protruding from either side of his lips. A faux smile created to cause terror. The boogieman has found his next victim.
