Tags: Psychological Thriller, Urban Noir, Vigilante, Mature Themes, Serial Killer, Crime Drama
⚠️Authors Note - Mature Content
"This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, nations, corporations and events are products of the author's imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real events or persons is coincidental."
Near laid unconscious, shock and pain had made him collapse. Occasionally he'd open his eyes but he'd always pass out again. He would try to push himself up from the bloody wooden floor, but he couldn't think straight.
It was Detective Brady.
Near crawled slowly, dragging his wounded body across the ground-
He coughed. And coughed.
He knows his body. He should be dead right now.
The headless corpse of Mr Haines sat up on the couch. His head on the floor facing Near.
Cough…
'Must… stop… Brady….'
Click Click Click
'Well…. Well…. What do we have here?' a voice cooed.
All Near could see were tanned scarred legs wearing black stockings. A woman knelt low.
It was-
The Owl.
She leaned over the vigilante who shielded the stab wound with his hand.
'My Prince Charming… hurt?....tsk tsk tsk….'
Her tanned hand swept over his hand-
She lowered herself-
Near's blue eyes saw the Owl's creased cleavage sway first and then the pendulous golden owl medallion, her white blouse left little to the imagination, her black bra was visible but powerful, her bust held in the black cups. Her aroma fell over the vigilante like snowfall on a cold wintery night. Near looked up further and saw her tanned aged but firm face. Her brown eyes were calm, but pained.
She puckered her naturally light brown lips deliberately.
TAP TAP TAP
Footsteps echoed on the expensive wooden floor-
It was the yellow jacket lieutenant, reaching into his inner pocket he cocked his pistol with a metallic CLICK-
'Jesus Christ, no head seriously?-
He paused as his eyes fell on the headless Mr Haines-
Hang on boss I will end him before he stands up-'
'Touch him and I will DESTROY you.'
The Owl growled sweetly, saliva slipping from her lips as the venomous words struck her chief henchman. She peered down on the injured vigilante, cupping his face with her light brown palm.
'your safe~'
Later on…
The Owl Mansion
The Stretch
Nears eyes parted, his body jolted from the sudden rush of adrenaline-
He sat up faster than a whip-
His blue eyes scanned the room. It was painted white. The ceiling was supported by wooden beams. He was in a large bed, it was far larger than what he had at home. Not as big as the ones in the Kodoma household.
Silk burgundy curtains sat comfortable around him, beneath him, the white sheet of the bed was covered in crimson blood.
He held his side, the pain was sharp he shouldn't have sat up so fast, Near couldn't stand his body was too heavy. He checked his head and face, the mask and balaclava were still on. Recently removed, albeit temporarily.
He peered outside the curtains, the light of the room was out. Silhouettes of furniture sat in the darkness.
He could hear talking, not within the room, but in the corridor-
'Why the hell are we protecting him?! He broke my jaw last year!'
'The Owl said protect him, so we are.'
'But surely ONE peak won't hurt.'
'Not a good idea, she said she'd kill anyone who goes in there.'
Klick Klick Klick-
'SH*T.. she's coming!'
'Next time… then.'
Near could hear the henchmen scampering away, the Owl was at the best of times dangerous, right now she's downright homicidal. No. Protective.
Klick Klick….klick-
The impact from the heels stopped outside the bedroom door.
Nears heart raced, and then-
Click… followed by the light screech of the wooden door opening.
'You better not be jerking off in here.' She murmured, the door slowly swung with ease from a light shove.
Tap…Tap…Tap…
She now stood opposite the bed, then she parted the curtains-
She stood her arms folded, her white blouse unbuttoned to her third button. Blood marked above her tanned creased canyon, the owl medallion was not there.
In her hiked up black skirt, he slowly approached strutting forward.
She leaned down-
'So, Hero, how are you feeling?' She cooed brushing her long dark brown hair from her tanned face. Her smile was dangerous, but not threatening.
Near remained quiet.
'Silent treatment huh? After I dragged you to my mansion?... rude.' She smirked.
'Brady-'
'An imposter. My men found the REAL Brady, tied up in his home.'
The Owl continued leaning closer-
'He was gagged. Beaten. He is recovering.'
'Why..?' Near asked, his fists clenched.
'Why?' The Owl abruptly backed away-
She smiled, it was uncharacteristically warm.
'You did save my son after all.' She rang.
She leaned back, folding her arms, she looked at the ceiling, as if in deep contemplation-
'You know… I am aware you found my son… you and the REAL Brady did anyway…. YOU went into the lab to find him… I am simply repaying a favor.'
Near began to pull himself up from the comfortable, but very bloody bed. He winced and gritted his teeth as he felt his skin stretch and almost tear.
'He's still out there.'
'Darling, the Wedding Ring Slayer is gone into the night, he's proven a master of disguise.'
She paused.
'In a way, so proven, he did manage to get you.' She smirked.
'He missed.'
Near grunted standing, blood ran down his torn side, for a moment he swayed but he steadied himself leaning on the wooden bedframe.
'Clearly not.'
Near looked at the Owl who stood with her arms still crossed. Pushing her tanned cleavage together. She leans in inches from Near's face.
He stands taller, staring her down.
The Owl's eyes narrow, and a smile of pure unadulterated excitement stretches across her face.
'Keep staring like that hero, and I don't care that you are injured, I will still jump you.'
'Threat?'
'No, cutie. Promise.'
The Owl turned and her heels clicked away-
'Leave. Next time…I won't be this kind' She whistled, the cracks of her heels echoing away.
And so into the cold wintery night-
Near vanished.
Later on…
Near was walking across the rooftop opposite the Stretch and the Owls Mansion, a light breeze of snow engulfed Near.
The ominous silhouette of the Mansion glinted in the background, its lights brightening the night sky.
Near walking slowly, raised the gauntlet to his face. It glowed blue as graphs and text appeared in front of Near.
'Sunohara. I was stabbed by an imposter.'
['Imposter?'] Sunohara's voice echoed in his ears-
'Brady, or so I thought, was the Wedding Ring Slayer, that explains why he is so hard to find. He is a master at disguise.'
['What… Wh-... I am confused… no one can do that to Near…']
'I know Yohei, it was a shock for me too, believe me.'
Near tapped on his gauntlet.
BEEP BEEP BEEP
'The Owl said the real Brady was subdued in his home. And is now recovering-'
['You believe her?']
'Not usually, no, however, it explains what happened.'
Near continued to walk along the roof of the building.
['What are you doing now Near?']
'I am going to Brady's apartment.'
Brady's Apartment…
Bridgerton Bay District…
Brady's Apartment was in the Bay district, nestled deep within a tall structure that looked out over the City's bay.
The Giant Santa continued to slowly bob up and down in the distance, like a foreshadowing of the holidays to come. It was a small dingy place, the aroma of mold pungent in the air.
Brady, was laying back in his leathery lounge chair. A fat cigar in his jaws. His work clothes strewn across his tile floor. His television flickering in the corner of his room. On it was a talk show broadcast-
"Look! All I am saying is that this Near vigilante, he is a menace!"
"How? He is finally forcing the corporations to face their crimes!"
"By blowing up the Central District? An entire administrative building was on fire!"
Brady peered behind him, his tired eyes locking on Near's silhouette.
'What happened?' Near asked, concerned.
'I was jumped-'
Brady, exhaled the cigar smoke from his jaws.
'When I returned from the Emily Haines crime scene, something or someone jumped me in my apartment.'
Brady then lifted his phone lazily-
'When you THOUGHT you called me to Mr Haines apartment, you actually called the imposter.'
'How do I know you're the real Brady?'
He exhaled-
'On the 3rd of December we were supposed to meet at the Bay District, but YOU never appeared.'
'Why didn't I?'
Brady faced back to the television-
'Said you were busy.'
That confirmed it, THIS was Brady.
'So, what now?' Near asked.
'Well, I am on sick leave until next week. But don't worry, I have a few interesting leads that came into the department, so if you're interested, drop by.'
'I think I will do just that.'
Near turned away, and walked slowly towards the apartment window. He stared across the Bay. His face was stoic as always.