I poured a kettle of water into a floral porcelain cup and sprinkled a teaspoon of tea and sugar into the water, mixing it into a sweet tea. I carried it to the kitchen and placed it in front of an altar, with the picture of a Kitchen God on the wall. Besides sweet tea, the Kitchen God was offered a small bowl of raisins, persimmons and canned raspberries. As the whole family gathered in front of the Kitchen God, we kneel in front of him and held our joss sticks with both hands, praying for good fortune and prosperity for our family, especially my father. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJpluj54k4
My heart sank as I thought about him, who is on the battlefield, fighting against the enemy soldiers for a better future. I stared at the Kitchen God, praying for my father to return home, unharmed and embracing me in a warm hug. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSBGlIIAIG
Ting. I heard the front door chime. I went outside the kitchen and was greeted by Mr Henry and his siblings with a smile. "How are you?" he asked. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJUPHaOxbt
"We're doing great," chirped Aunt Inara. "We're preparing for the Lunar New Year so we just gave an offering to the Kitchen God."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMyJDT9VEs
"That's very nice to hear," Ms Joy replied. "I hope you all have a prosperous New Year."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUGhh1tR9S
"Thank you."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHE3yxi4Qk5
"Speaking of prosperous," Mr Henry cleared his throat. "We would like to speak with Bugsy regarding our ongoing investigation with the Children of Balance."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSACcbyYTVG
"Of course," Chaeyeong grinned. "Would you like some coffee, perhaps?"566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfuw4rvZ50
"That's very kind of you, miss," chuckled Mr Marshall. "But we've already had breakfast at the motel."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtZkFZk6Ny
"Alright then, I'll be at the counter if you need anything."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdNgK8DTSg
As Chaeyeong and Aunt Inara headed towards the coffeehouse counter, I sat down with Mr Henry, Ms Joy and Mr Marshall, who were clad in their thick jackets. "Martyrs' Fest is today," he reminded. "You know what that means."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUxVA7EJZX
"I'm this year's martyr?" I guessed. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEyXHUcQ1n
"That's correct," praised Mr Marshall. "According to the Children of Balance Bible, you'll be sacrificed for a peaceful future."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrBaT3Pmnt
"So how do we prevent the Children of Balance from kidnapping and murdering me?" I asked, in a curious manner. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMCPEKfd34
"Simple," Joy stated. "You'll be leading Henry to their commune."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIN0xzwrV98
Aunt Inara, who was wiping the cups with a plain cloth, gasped. "No way I'm letting you take Bugsy," she protested. "It's too dangerous."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfh0iK8JKg7
"With all due respect, miss," Henry addressed. "The Children of Balance have your house address, which means they know where your house is."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA526fjcsf7
"True, they also knew our phone number as well."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyOrPRlOqq
Joy's eyes widened. "They called you yesterday?"566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw78sBOvrOV
I gave a nod. "Yup, Nathanel Roth called me yesterday."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzeEH5B672
"What did he say?" Marshall inquired, as he took out a pen and a small piece of paper. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmqi3YIMlH
"He wants you and your siblings to step down your investigation."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqMHZrN7KH
"Looks like the spy has made her move," Joy chuckled. "As we anticipated, of course."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIN5YfT72g1
"But who's the spy?"566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIjsuHBpOH
"We'll tell you everything after you and Henry return from the commune, with all the information you've gathered."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGg3w36nPt3
I raised one of my eyebrows. "You're not coming with us?"566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuQL1Nqb9R
"Joy will be staying here to guard your family," Henry explained. "Marshall, on the other hand, will convince the police to cooperate with us."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPly0wOAWs
"I'm not sure about leading you towards the commune, Henry. It'll be heavily guarded, and they will have guns."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fvrnZ8cXw
"Then I'll shield you from those bullets."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrH6ztsWSh9
"Mr Henry, you could die from those gunshots," Aunt Inara raised her concerns. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDh6RhD7WHG
"I've been shot hundreds and thousands of times, Ms Inara. It'll be just fine."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiojHztR5vT
"But-"566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kgA6CxwCi
"I'll be fine, I promise, ma'am."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lMOMjimqS
Aunt Inara stood silently as she approached me, hesitating. "Be careful, Bugsy," she almost choked on her tears. "I can't afford to lose you, just like how we lost your mother and your friend."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9SfTLQr8z
I placed my arms around Aunt Inara and embraced her as her teardrops dripped on my shirt. "I'll be fine, Aunt Inara," I reassured. "I promised I'll see you again."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2HRvJwLlr
"Aunt Inara wiped her tears with her fingers and curled her frown into a smile. "May the gods protect you from harm."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUvFflLpbg
"Amen."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczxqXk0klW
The wind howled as we took a step onto a thick, snowy floor, surrounded nothing by darkness. The icy wind felt like thousands of tiny needles penetrating through the skin that I wrapped both my arms around me. The sound of silence around me was chilling and frightening, in every possible way. Then, I heard a crackle behind me and I walked a little faster, only to knock my head on a tree trunk.566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEUraz7htl
"Watch your steps, Bugsy," Mr Henry let out a small laugh, shining a flashlight at my face. I sighed as I rubbed my forehead and stood up, wiping my behind. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3wt9C2aH8
"I forgot you were following me," I said, avoiding eye contact. "I thought it was some evil faeries or something."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiglWL9O5Kf
"You met one?" he asked. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnzmFDd0fI
"Once," I answered. "We called them the Unseelie Court."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3BnSfs91a
"What are they like?"566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8WFnDjYIX
"They glow yellow lights and screamed like coyotes."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXQbyfMapf
In a distance, I heard numerous ear-screeching screams, making me shiver. "Those are Unseelie Court," I pointed towards the sound. "They torture people for fun."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYNrwJHCxr
Mr Henry tightened his lips and continued walking, ignoring the screams at night. I began to catch up behind him and hurried in front, making sure he doesn't get lost. With his flashlight, I retraced the steps I took with Ferdinand, Lisa, and Naomi, who I've led the other day. The forest grew darker than screams of the Unseelie Court gradually grew softer, making the forest eerily quiet, hearing only our footsteps and the whispers of the wind. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bmF31DXyY
My heart drummed as I saw a yellowish light from afar, completely surrounded by the same fence my friends and I climbed. "The Children of Balance's commune is not far from here."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Z5eZl5TTA
"Alright," Henry nodded. "You walk behind while I protect you."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8dLa8NxbV
"Won't you get yourself killed?"566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOwYFOeGop
"Do you trust me, Bugsy?"566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWjecnH8oz
"I do, Mr Henry," I bobbed my head.566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCp1Omvoh0f
"Then don't worry about me."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9MXmxYbk3
He gave me a wink and walked towards the fence, pulled the gate open and picked up a chain and padlock. "Gate's been opened for hours," he observed. "Someone must have unlocked it."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijOigXC9IK
"Maybe we're too late," I groaned. "My family will get killed instead."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pUodR01GZ
"Maybe, maybe not. Come on, kid."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFkMhML3Gm
He twisted the knob of the front door and entered the commune, inviting me inside. "It's empty," he commented. "And pretty quiet for a commune."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lIstlNeJP
"It could be a trap," I hesitated. "They might spring out of nowhere and shoot us down."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRSuQDT25x
"Bugsy, just trust me."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡua8sJQkfhH
I exhaled the cold, crisp air and ran inside the cabin, panting. "Mr Henry, can you just hold my hand?"566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SrIIFPpI1
"Why?"566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbFvb5K2UJ
"Just to calm me down."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylaGWt3yh7
He squeezed my hand as I led him to the hall, passing by a giant painting of Nathanel Roth. My breathing grew rapidly as we entered the meeting hall, only to find the bodies of the cult members, laying on the carpeted floor, with the scent of wine filling up the room. Mr Henry kneel and pulled out one of the Children of Balance's mask, revealing a dark-skinned man with a bushy moustache. "Mr Kamal?" I wheezed. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEcptXUO1q
"You know this man?" Mr Henry asked.566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfyFN5w0PX
"He was one of my friend's father. I haven't seen him since her funeral."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRPfQh6dgM
Taking out a small tube and a dropper, he extracted a few drops of red wine into his tube and slid it inside his pocket, then handed me a camera, asking me to take a picture of Mr Kamal. I peeked through the camera's eye hole and pressed the big button, hearing a click sound. I passed his camera to Mr Henry and fled from the gruesome scene, gagging. Feeling a little light in my head, I dropped myself and frantically crawled towards a bin, throwing up. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eOkDzaSpJ
Mr Henry rubbed my back as I wiped my mouth with the sleeves of my jacket, puffing up my breath. "Why would Nathanel kill his followers?" I cried. "They were so devoted to their 'messiah', even murdering and kidnapping to fulfil his agenda."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHox4f6P2u
"It's like the Jonestown Massacre," he answered. "He felt exposed so killing his followers would save his skin, like a true coward."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhPA7XHcUf
I licked my dry lips and followed Henry upstairs, where we discovered Nathanel Roth's office, filled with tumbled furniture and scattered papers, like a rat's nest. Henry picked up some papers and ordered me to do the same. I gathered most of the papers I could carry and piled them up into a Jenga-like stack, which in a matter of less than a second, collapsed. "Maybe you should consider arranged them in order," Mr Henry jabbed, in a playful manner. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvqcYnHJ11
I contained my laughter as I read each of those documents carefully, organizing them into a few categories. Tax evasions put them on my top left. Banking statements, bottom right. Contracts, top middle. Court documents, bottom left. Calender's, top right. Property deeds, bottom middle. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnZNhorhEp
When all the papers were arranged, I started to see the bigger picture of the Children of Balance. The calendars were circled in red ink, indicating Martyrs' Fest, and another important, Founder's Day. According to the Bible, Founder's Day was the recruitment day for new members of Children of Balance, which falls on November 7. I then read his tax evasions and property deed, feeling clueless. Taking out his pocket-watch, he stacked them neatly and asked me to carry the other half, to my delight. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSPoMYA6SL
"Let's go back to the coffeehouse," Mr Henry said. "I think I know where Nathanel Roth is."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ztOJMSV7m
I glared at Nathanel, as he struggled to break free from the chains on both arms while Mr Henry analyzed each document we had gathered at the commune. Adjusting his suit, Mr Henry cleared his throat. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mjkX86T6j
"Now where do I start?" he stroked his beard. "Oh yes. The Children of Balance was founded by you in 1961 during the height of the Cold War, where you utopia where everybody from a different background would join together and achieve world peace."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1q3bamoXrO
"That is correct," said Nathanel, stone-faced.566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmSHyYmdDv
"Your goal sounds good, I have to admit, Mr Roth. I'm even impressed for your moves."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡab6I2zN73J
"From what I read, cults usually have good intentions at first glance," I noted. "Just like The People's Temple, Jim Jones wanted an integrated society between whites and blacks."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAC3uh3F9uG
"Exactly, but like any other cults we've investigated for decades, their leaders would be asked their followers to give up their worldly possession to connect to 'god' more spiritually, like what your banking statements say."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVt5NteOpTP
"It was a necessary move."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLs2qqEStpO
"Is it? You preached your followers not to be materialistic and yet you have millions of dollars in your bank account and evaded taxes for 36 years."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomIZ99EAYl
"36 years of tax evasion," wrinkles formed in Mayor Yearn's forehead. "And the police didn't do anything about it?"566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgstF9bV53
Mr Henry glanced towards the kitchen and yelled for Ms Joy, who entered the customer's area with Sheriff Dean by her side, to my surprise. What's Sheriff Dean doing here?566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHpfI6oaxG
"You've all been wondering why is Sheriff Dean in handcuffs? Well, what if I told you that the sheriff has been bribed thousands of dollars to keep his mouth shut?"566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpEkQPRUsX
The whole room gasped. "But Sheriff Dean is an honest man," Aunt Inara defended. "He would never take bribes."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwC6HgGwEO
"Which is why no one suspected that Sheriff Dean would sign a contract with Nathanel Roth to cover-up their murder and kidnapping in exchange for cold-hard cash."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyUo6QYn4U
"So that's why Martyrs' Fest kept going on," my eyes widened. "And how the Children of Balance could have access to guns."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8dVn3BRFQ
"That is correct, kiddo!" Mr Henry praised. "Through the contract, he signed with the sheriff, Nathanel could have free access to firearms, without paying a big, fat, fine."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWShobzidh4
"So much of corruption," commented Mayor Yearns. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHACOvZViG
"But Mr Henry," I spoke. "Now that we know about the police's involvement in the cult, who was the spy?"566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ91BzrSzMC
"I'm glad you've asked, Bugsy."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsBExviwxn
Mr Henry clapped his hands twice for his brother, who came out, holding Yves's hands. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTGPWBnIue
"You're the spy," I squealed, surprised to see Yves. "But how is that possible?"566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBD7tZSYVNf
Yves bowed and avoided eye contact, with both hands clasped together. "Hear me out, Bugsy," she whimpered like an injured puppy. "I knew about the Children of Balance from the beginning. I knew what they had done and how their crimes were never discovered, but it wasn't my choice."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRewuBnjrO
"Don't you dare lie to them, Yves," threatened Nathanel. "After everything I've done to you."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYbBCxuqJ9
"After you've heard about the Children of Balance's plan, Nathanel forced me to prevent you from finding out the truth about them," Yves then took a deep breath. "So I only gave you a few newspaper clippings which made, you analyzed 29 victims."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbsDFvY2jD
"There were more than 29?"566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Zwg7LCZ2L
Yves nodded. "There were 36 victims that the Children of Balance kidnapped and killed."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbINP5vAD6u
"36 victims?" I shouted. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNClBbvRR4d
"Yes, there were 36 victims but even if you were misled about their victims, you still figured out Martyrs' Fest so Nathanel demanded your house address at first, until the private investigators stepped in, so I had no choice but to give your landline to Nathanel."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFRxigK1QV
"You whore," Nathanel threw a tantrum like a toddler. "You were supposed to be loyal to me, not the cops."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwpjhFpGX2
"The straw that broke the camel's back was when you gave a death threat to a 15-year-old girl, Nathanel," shrieked Yves. "I am sick and tired of you beating me up when you don't get what you want. I really hope you burned in hell."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLW0ViQNP1
"I'm doing this for the best of humanity, you piece of shit! Blanca is plagued by a useless war that brings nothing but chaos and anarchy in the aftermath. I'm just trying to prevent it by sacrificing those vermin on Earth for peace. You are all making a huge mistake by ending Martyrs' Fest. Mark my words, Bugsy!"566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyMJQceZ3Q
In a moment, hoards of police car surrounded in front of the Little Owl Coffeehouse and burst into the shop and dragged away Nathanel Roth and Sheriff Dean from their seats. "This isn't over, Bugsy," he yelled as he grabbed a gun from the police officer and pulled the trigger.566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuY8JlKKNsW
Bang!566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIJzMncHUY
My heart stopped as I watched Mr Henry dropped on the floor, bleeding. With blood flowing from his shirt, the gun was confiscated from his hands in a flash and he was pushed into the back of the police car. "Bugsy," Mr Henry coughed. "Could you take the bullet out of my abdomen?"566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCFaB4e1P1
"But that could kill you, sir," I cried. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQi5sMQxui0
"Just trust me, Bugsy," he begged. I sighed and slowly pulled out the bullet out of his wound, only to witness his wound healed in less than a few seconds. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGZXjCCZdi
"What the-"566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAz6ePiL3fm
"As I said, bullets are nothing to me," he chuckled as he dusted his coat and walked outside the store, discussing with Mayor Yearns and the police in the cold night. 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaMI7XD7V0
I glanced at Ms Joy, who sipped a cup of warm water. "Who are you?" 566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNBUEyr7Zc
"We're just humans who happened to live longer than anyone else on Earth," Joy replied, in a casual tone. "I'm not sure how it happened though."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ116xMX50bY
"So what's going to happen now?"566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJEXIubY4o
"Mayor Yearns will be assisting us in our investigation," said Henry, standing in the doorway. "You've done your part, Bugsy, and I'm very proud of you. I know you'll do great in the future, kid. You just need to have faith in yourself."
I smiled at his statement as I waved goodbye to the private investigators, who I'll never forget.
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