PUZZLE 3: THE DEADLY PENDULUMS - ACT 1
Perdition… the most expensive watch brand in the world.
There aren't any fancy marketing tricks propping it up, no celebrities wearing it in the movies.
Their watches just have… an uncomparable aura.
I heard rumours that every part of it, including the steel bracelet, is made of materials sourced from the depths of Hell. At first I thought it was just some PR stunt, but then one day I was able to make it shoot fire.
How strange it is to have a piece of Hell on your wrist.
Perhaps evil resides within it, and it can make its user commit terrible acts?
Hmm… On reflection, maybe not. I am responsible for all my actions.
And besides, even though Yaeko thinks I'm a monster, I still spared Jun.
That was the right thing to do, I guess.
I recall what was written on her card to me:
"Dear Akemi,
I know it seems strange that someone like me would hang out with someone like you, and truthfully, I was nervous that our friendship would tank. I don't have any other friends, and I don't wanna end up telling them my past, but I gave you a shot as you're a real safe bet, and honestly, I think it worked out pretty well in the end! I really like how focussed and organised and smart you are, and I hope I can have those qualities one day, too!
Hope you love the gift,
Jun."
Kindness. Real kindness.
It must have taken so much courage for her to warm up to someone as, well, vanilla as me.
Did I seriously want to kill someone like that?
Yaeko was right to deter me! My selfish act to avenge Maiden drowns me in shame… but I will accept Jun's friendship as my redemption.
Her protection is guaranteed under my eye!
Hmm… Wait a second…
I'm a 'safe bet'? What does that mean…?
Yaeko and I watch the screens in the briefing room, with the image of the security camera footage of the holding cells spread across them all. The camera aims at the last two cells on the row, each of them made up of a bed and toilet contained within cold metal bars.
Third, wearing bright orange overalls, sits on his cell's bed, reading a book.
Two Hell Police officers escort Jun, also wearing orange, over to her cell at the very end next to Third's.
She's let in through its door, then the door is locked. She's then ordered to put her back to the cage, and an officer unlocks her hand cuffs.
The two officers walk away, and Yaeko and I closely eye Jun.
"I'm glad you didn't kill her," the detective comments. "Her network seems to be big enough to locate the puzzles with ease."
I stay silent.
"So, aside from her pissing you off," she continues. "What do you make of her?"
"Hmm…" I cross my arms. "She revealed the location of the mound discreetly. You keep referring to her network as if she's a part of them, but I strongly doubt that."
"Huh?" Yaeko faces me again. "Her network seems to know where the puzzles are, but as far as we know, they have no incentive to reveal them. But she's revealing their secrets… in secret?"
"Exactly. She would have revealed everything she knew by now if she wasn't bound by some set of rules."
Yaeko tilts her head and tenses the side of her mouth. "Yeah… I think you're right. She could very well be a rogue Angel."
"Her network will likely kidnap her to protect their secrets."
"Ha! Oh, yeah?" Yaeko crosses her arms. "Watch them fail faster than a lead balloon. Hardly anyone knows where those cells are, not even me!"
"Movement."
Yaeko's gaze locks on Jun.
The inmate slowly walks over to the cell bars at Third's side, and looks at Third. He notices this, stands up, and walks over to the bars.
They don't say a word. They just stare at each other, absent of emotion.
"Somethings wrong," Yaeko remarks as she whips out her phone. "I'm breaking them up."
I place my hand on her forearm. "Wait."
Yaeko's breathing quickens as she faces my serious expression. She hesitantly moves closer to the screens and watches Jun and Third, both still frozen before each other.
Suddenly, Jun grabs the back of Third's head, and pulls him into the metal bars repeatedly.
"Dammit!" Yaeko shouts.
Even with the lowered quality of the security camera feed, I sense that Jun's using a huge amount of strength with her attack.
Yaeko rapidly types on the console, and the alarm in the cell row activates, making its alarm light on the ceiling flash.
Jun simply continues to clutch Third's hair and smash him into the metal bars over and over again.
Why… is Third not fighting back?
Four police officers race to the end cell. One of them fires a taser at Jun and zaps her, then she falls onto the ground, jittering from the shocks.
A bloodied Third also collapses, and the guards enter the cell to check him. One of them dials a number on his phone.
Yaeko's mobile rings and she answers.
"He's in a real bad condition, ma'am!" states the officer on the phone. "Do we transfer him to the Ajisai?"
"Seriously?" she responds through gritted teeth. "That's where Maiden is!"
"I'm sorry, ma'am. That hospital is the closest."
Yaeko tuts, separates from her phone and thumbs the hold button.
She downcasts her eyes for a moment.
"Let him go."
She quickly glares at me. "What did you say?"
"He's standing in our way of getting to the watch, and Jun's already suggested that a puzzle is in the Ajisai. We don't need him anymore."
She grabs my blazer's lapel and drags me in close.
"Listen here, nerd," comes her angered hiss. "You seem to be forgetting where you are. I beat up people like you for lunch money back in my school days, and I can easily do it again. Would you like that, Akemi? Would you like me to break the rules and break you? Get in line!" she orders, shoving me away hard.
I stare at her emotionlessly as she takes her phone off hold. "Move him there, and increase the security around Maiden!"
"Yes, ma'am."
Yaeko shoots me a squint. "'Wait', huh?" She rolls her eyes then storms out the room.
I turn back at the screens, unphased by Yaeko's annoyance.
Third is carried away on a stretcher.
Hmm…
Did Jun attack Third… knowing he would be moved into the Ajisai nearby?
No. That can't be. Jun was unconscious while she was moved to the cells. She has no idea where she is.
Unless… Yaeko is wrong, and the Angels collectively already know her location.
Crap!
I get out my phone and call Gaku.
"Yes, sister?" comes his gravelly voice.
"Sergeant, the Angels know where Jun is. All access to her cell must be heavily restricted immediately."
"Consider it done, sister."
"Thanks."
I hang up my phone and look back at Jun on the screens.
A 'safe bet'... I'm a 'safe bet'?
Come to think of it… she must have been out in public countless times after she went rogue, yet was never apprehended by the Angels.
Could it be that… Jun knew she was safe from her former allies if she was closely connected to me?
Ah, so that's what she means.
The Angels must fear me.
I don't know why, though…
It's not like I'm associated with them…
