Jeanne stood in a dark room that seemed endless.
Her eyes were fixed on an old wooden chair, illuminated by light above it. She walked while observing her surroundings, the mixed feelings inside her making her feel uncomfortable.
When she arrived near the old wooden chair, Jeanne saw a piece of paper. On that paper, there was writing. Writing made by a little girl, neat enough. She picked it up and began to read it.
"Sit down…" Jeanne glanced at it in confusion, but her mind persuaded her to follow the words. Yet she could feel déjà vu from that writing.
Jeanne slowly sat down. Her blue eyes observed the dark and silent atmosphere.
BZZT!
A flickering sound and light appeared several times three meters in front of her. She narrowed her eyes, staring at it seriously.
An eight-year-old girl, her hair silver-white and long, wearing a cyan-blue bandana with a small ribbon accessory. The girl wore a simple black dress with a white ribbon on the chest. Her beautiful blue eyes stared at Jeanne.
The girl sat on another old wooden chair, facing Jeanne from three meters away. Their eyes met at that moment, instantly making Jeanne startled.
That little girl was none other than Jeanne.
Little Jeanne smiled and waved at her.
Little Jeanne slowly opened her mouth and spoke calmly. "You didn't run away like before," she said, smiling gently while swinging her tiny legs.
"Like before?" Jeanne asked in confusion. She observed little Jeanne.
Little Jeanne nodded. "Why are you asking?" then she added, "So you forgot… right, back then you ran away from reality." Little Jeanne jumped down from her chair. She giggled as if mocking her.
"I didn't run away from reality!" Jeanne denied quickly, her eyes staring at little Jeanne who was walking closer.
Little Jeanne stopped exactly two meters in front of her. She stood still, her head lowered as if unwilling to look at Jeanne in front of her. Her hair fell, covering her eyes, giving a fragile impression. Both of her hands were hidden behind her back, while her dress hung softly, moving along with her gentle breathing.
She smiled and said, "You really forgot," the dark room seemed to shrink, making the distance between Jeanne and little Jeanne grow closer.
In an instant, Jeanne saw a familiar scene. She saw her younger self inside a classroom. She wore a black beret decorated with a maroon-red ribbon on the right side of her head. Wearing a black-and-white elementary school uniform with a purple ribbon.
Little Jeanne sat alone on her chair, reading a book. Slowly she turned her head toward Jeanne who was watching her. Then she said, "I've been lonely and alone all this time… why did you choose to run away," and added, "You're a hypocrite," those words pierced her chest like needles.
Jeanne shook her head. "No…" she answered softly.
That voice kept echoing, little Jeanne ran around her while laughing and smiling. Slowly, little Jeanne began to multiply—not just one, but two, then kept increasing until it filled Jeanne's head, repeating over and over in her thoughts.
Jeanne covered her ears with both hands, the chair she sat on seemed to disappear, making her body collapse. Jeanne slowly curled up in the completely pitch-black room while closing her eyes.
"NO!" Jeanne screamed, hysterically.
...
Jeanne suddenly woke up while screaming. Her breath was ragged, slowly Jeanne inhaled and exhaled softly, trying to calm herself down.
A moment after she calmed down a little, Jeanne noticed her fingers wrapped in bandages, and her left hand covered in a cast. "I'm covered in injuries," Jeanne sighed once again.
"A-Are you okay?" a soft and unfamiliar voice asked Jeanne.
Jeanne turned toward the source of the voice. A woman with thin oval gold-framed glasses was hiding behind the hospital's blue curtain. She peeked out slightly.
She had emerald green eyes, dark brown hair, slightly wavy and braided thickly to the right side down to her chest, her age looked like early twenties. She wore a doctor's white coat, underneath it a black vest with a white shirt, and a black ribbon tie. She wore a white doctor's hat with a red cross symbol on top, as well as white gloves. Giving the impression of someone smart and mature.
"I'm in a hospital… right, before this I fainted," Jeanne recalled what happened last night, then looked at the situation. The pain in her head disturbed her at times, she touched her head which was still lightly bandaged.
"I'm still alive," Jeanne said softly, feeling a little relieved. Seeing herself wearing a patient's pajamas, as she tried to get up from her bed.
"Wait!" the woman stepped out from her hiding place and stopped Jeanne from getting up.
"What is it?" Jeanne asked, confused.
Without answering Jeanne's question, the girl gently pulled Jeanne's blanket and showed her leg wrapped in a cast.
Jeanne was slightly surprised, but it made her relieved. Showing that these injuries were real and there was no repetition.
"Who are you?" Jeanne asked softly. She observed the female doctor in front of her.
"Oh… my name is Selena Royle," Selena answered, introducing herself with a gentle smile.
Jeanne nodded. "My name is Jeanne Weels," Jeanne continued, trying to smile.
"Miss Royle, thank you for treating me…" Jeanne lay back down on the bed again, and looked at the ceiling of the room.
Selena smiled. "It's okay… this is our duty as Special Detectives of the medical division," Selena answered, she pulled a chair and sat beside the bed.
A moment later, the sound of footsteps approached them.
SREEK!
The curtain was pulled aside. Johan with dark blue hair glanced at Jeanne who had woken up, and a black-haired man stood on his left side, while a golden blonde-haired woman stood on his right.
"You're awake. Before that, I am Leo Tolstoy, the director of the Special Detectives. I apologize for accidentally involving you in our work," Leo Tolstoy introduced himself.
He had black hair neatly combed back with sideburns turning white. Leo Tolstoy had deep and authoritative brown eyes, his age was around thirty-five. He wore a white shirt and black suit with a gray tie, along with a matching black coat. He also wore black gloves.
"I-It's okay…" Jeanne responded softly, but her gaze was still fixed on the ceiling. Before Leo could speak, Jeanne continued. "Is the red-haired man still alive?" Jeanne asked, and added, "I mean… is he okay? or is he already gone?" Jeanne asked once again, her expression looked slightly fearful, she hid it under the blanket.
"He's still lying in his room because of the stab wound. The scalpel pierced through the balloon and stabbed him for real, he's just careless!" Johan answered Jeanne's question with a calm tone, without the slightest worry.
"Maybe he's dead!" the golden blonde-haired girl blurted out, smiling mockingly. Then she continued, "After you fainted, that idiot Eugene got hit by the poison effect, and screamed for help like a madman with foam coming out of his mouth," the blonde girl explained while recalling the situation she found funny, then she covered her mouth, hiding her laughter.
"I see… I hope the one on the ceiling is just my hallucination… not the ghost of that weird clown." Jeanne closed her eyes and sighed.
Leo and the others were confused by Jeanne's words. Then they raised their heads, staring at the ceiling.
"Hi," Eugene greeted with a smile. He wore a patient's pajamas and was stuck to the ceiling like a spider.
Johan rubbed his forehead, then raised his hand, targeting his mass power at Eugene who was stuck on the ceiling. A bluish-reddish light began to appear on Eugene's body.
"Heh?" Eugene was shocked as his body became heavy and started falling from the ceiling. Jeanne who saw it widened her eyes and wanted to dodge, but she was too late.
CRAKK!
Quickly, the blonde-haired girl pulled out her folding baton. Before Eugene could fall onto Jeanne, the golden blonde-haired girl shoved Eugene in the stomach with her baton, sending him flying toward the window.
PRANG!
Eugene crashed into the window until it shattered and fell outside.
Seeing Eugene fall, Jeanne became even more shocked and looked at the three of them, and said, "What are you doing, is he okay?" Jeanne asked in panic, while looking toward the broken window.
Leo Tolstoy forced a bitter smile and answered, "It's okay… that happens often here."
Seeing Selena smiling as if things like that happened often, Jeanne then looked at Johan and the blonde girl who both had completely normal expressions. Jeanne sighed in relief. "This is the first floor, right?" Jeanne asked to make sure.
"This is the third floor," Selena answered softly.
"They're really used to it…" Jeanne thought in her mind, trying not to think too far about it.
...
"Alright, let them introduce themselves…" Leo turned toward Johan and the golden blonde-haired girl.
"Johan Goethe," he said casually. "I—" his words were cut off.
"I am Isabella Goodwin, from the noble Goodwin family. I became a detective because it's interesting," Isabella introduced herself while lifting her dark blue dress with intricate white patterns.
She had golden blonde hair tied into a straight ponytail, with slightly messy bangs but still elegant. Isabella had golden-yellow eyes. She wore a bonnet hat matching her dress, with a large dark blue ribbon accessory at her neck, layered pearl necklaces, and a blue gemstone pendant that strengthened her aristocratic impression.
Leo smiled and said, "They are members of the Special Detectives, including Eugene Vidocq." Leo looked at Jeanne while smiling.
"O-Okay…" Jeanne nodded awkwardly.
The sound of running footsteps came from the hallway, and the door opened loudly. "I am Eugene Vidocq, the greatest Detective," Eugene said proudly while bowing in introduction, his patient pajamas dirty and his dark red hair messy.
"We will provide compensation for involving a civilian like you, Miss Weels," Leo said with a smile, and said something. "How are you feeling, Miss Weels?" Leo asked, his eyes investigating.
"Umm… I-I can move," Jeanne answered softly and nervously.
"That's good. Then, can you come with me?" his brown eyes stared at Jeanne.
Jeanne nodded and answered, "O-Okay…" she watched Leo Tolstoy and the other Special Detectives members leave the room, except Selena.
Selena brought a wheelchair and helped Jeanne sit down, then helped push her as she followed Leo from behind.
...
In the quiet hospital hallway, Jeanne asked, "Miss Royle, is this a Special Detectives hospital?" she asked while turning her head toward Selena.
Selena, who was pushing Jeanne's wheelchair, nodded. "Yes, if a Special Detective member gets injured, this hospital—" she answered, but stopped when Leo glanced back. Selena tried to smile, then continued, "Just call me Selena," she said softly.
Jeanne nodded. "Alright…" she answered. "It looks like I'm being suspected? that makes some sense… Karl might have been arrested and interrogated, I'm suspected because I somehow knew Karl was the second culprit," Jeanne thought.
After passing through a long hallway that looked ordinary, like a normal hospital, Jeanne saw an iron door at the end of the corridor. "Am I going to be interrogated?" she thought, making her heart beat faster for a moment, her nervousness making it hard to think clearly.
The lock mechanism that looked complicated on the door opened. Selena brought Jeanne into an interrogation room separated by thick glass. Selena waved her hand and left, and the door slowly closed tightly.
Seeing Selena leave her, Jeanne looked around the soundproof and slightly stuffy room, making her heart beat a little faster.
A few seconds later, the door in the room beside hers opened. Leo entered and looked at Jeanne, he walked to the chair, then Eugene entered and stood behind Leo.
"Alright… let's begin," Leo said as he slowly sat down, his voice calm but intimidating, his eyes began to observe Jeanne's movements. Then he continued. "I want to know how you knew that Karl Ryker was the second killer?" Leo asked, his index finger tapping the table softly in the same rhythm.
Jeanne's heart beat fast and faster, this was the first time in her life she had been interrogated. "Should I say that I came back to life and repeated time after being killed by Karl?... no, that doesn't make sense as an answer," Jeanne thought.
"I dreamed…" Jeanne answered randomly without realizing. "I'm stupid!!" she cursed in her mind.
"A dream?" Leo repeated Jeanne's words.
Jeanne closed her eyes, trying to calm her thoughts. She slowly nodded. And said, "I had a nightmare. About Karl Ryker. About that killer," Jeanne confessed softly, trying to hide her expression.
Then she added, "I had a strong feeling, like déjà vu." she said softly. As she said that, her head felt like it was being shocked. She touched her head with a slight grimace, and without realizing it, blood flowed from her nose. "A nosebleed?" Jeanne thought. Seeing Jeanne suddenly having a nosebleed, Leo Tolstoy gave his white handkerchief and handed it to Jeanne through the thick glass opening.
Eugene took a paper from his patient pajama pocket and gave it to Leo. Then Leo showed the letter written by Jeanne.
"That's the letter I sent," Jeanne remembered, while wiping the blood from her nose.
"Did you write this letter and send it anonymously to the police, Miss Weels?" Leo asked, his voice deep and calm.
Jeanne nodded. "Yes… I wrote it," Jeanne said, sitting in her wheelchair, staring at Leo.
"Do you believe that power is real?" Leo asked suddenly.
"Huh?... M-Maybe yes…" Jeanne was slightly shocked by the question, she answered skeptically. Jeanne lowered her head, her eyes looking at the thick blood on the white handkerchief.
Leo's brown eyes stared at Jeanne as if piercing her mind and investigating. Then he said, "You're not Night Order?" Leo asked Jeanne without hesitation.
"Night Order?" Jeanne repeated in her mind. "What is Night Order?" Jeanne asked in her heart. Jeanne shook her head. "I don't know that," Jeanne answered honestly and directly.
Leo turned toward Eugene, then he snapped his fingers and instantly Jeanne's room became silent, as if she could hear her own heartbeat. But Jeanne could see Leo and Eugene's conversation from their mouth movements.
"Power?" Jeanne guessed, confused, while her gaze stayed fixed, watching Leo and Eugene talk. "A power that can dull hearing?" Jeanne muttered. Her fingers were still trembling slightly, nervous.
A moment passed, Jeanne could hear Leo again.
"Alright…" Leo said with a smile. "Once again, I introduce myself, I am Leo Tolstoy, the director of the Special Detectives in Gheena city, and I apologize for involving a civilian," he added in a professional tone, then continued. "Let's make an agreement and a contract. You can keep last night's incident and the powers of the Special Detectives you saw a secret," Leo smiled. His eyes stared at Jeanne deeply.
"Alright… I understand," Jeanne answered softly. Jeanne's eyes glanced at Eugene who smiled at her, waving his hand and walking out of the room.
Leo nodded. "You will be given compensation after this.." then he continued. "Eugene recommended you to join the Special Detectives," Leo said. Before Jeanne could answer, Leo added, "You can refuse."
"What?" Jeanne was shocked. "Weird man!!" Jeanne insulted Eugene in her mind. But Jeanne stayed silent.
Seeing that, Leo smiled. "You said, you had a nightmare, and that nightmare became reality, maybe that is your power… and you can use it to save people," Leo slowly stood up from his chair, and glanced at Jeanne for a moment.
"I will think about it," Jeanne answered softly. Leo walked to the exit door and left the room. Then the door opened, Selena entered and helped push Jeanne out of the room.
...
"How was it?" Isabella asked, waiting in front of the door. Her golden-yellow eyes stared at Jeanne seriously.
Jeanne lifted her head, looking at Isabella, confused. "W-What do you mean?" Jeanne asked in confusion. Isabella sighed. And said, "Did you accept it?" Isabella asked once again, her tone still the same.
"That, I will think about it," Jeanne answered softly, her bandaged fingers gripping the wheelchair handle.
Isabella looked at Jeanne. Without saying anything else, she turned her face away, then left just like that.
Selena smiled, and said, "Miss Isabella is actually kind…" Selena broke the atmosphere that suddenly became silent. And slowly pushed Jeanne's wheelchair, heading back to her room.
"Miss Selena… will these injuries take long?" Jeanne asked, looking at her hand and leg in casts.
Selena answered, "No… the injuries will heal in just three days, I used my power by speeding up tissue regeneration," she answered softly with a smile.
"Speeding up tissue?" Jeanne muttered in her mind, but she decided not to think about it further.
...
After returning to her room, Jeanne saw that the broken window had already been fixed. "They fixed it immediately." Jeanne praised.
After helping Jeanne back onto her bed, Selena said, "Mr. Tolstoy told me earlier that we have already contacted your closest relative."
"Relative?... I don't have one," Jeanne thought and answered in her heart, she forced herself to nod, confused. "Wait? Maybe they contacted Anna?" after thinking that, the room door opened.
"Excuse me…" a voice familiar to Jeanne was heard. Jeanne turned and saw a girl with straight brownish-blonde hair, ruby red eyes. She wore a simple white dress and a white bonnet hat that matched.
"Anna…" Jeanne called softly, her heart feeling relieved. Anna turned and ran, then hugged Jeanne.
"Thank goodness…" Anna cried while hugging Jeanne.
Selena smiled and then left the room.
"I'm okay… thank goodness," Jeanne hugged Anna, and without realizing it, her tears fell. "Thank goodness…" she repeated once again. Jeanne repeated it in her heart.
"I… I came here immediately when someone called me through your phone and explained the situation." her voice was soft. She wiped her tears and Jeanne's tears, looking at Jeanne like a mother seeing her daughter injured.
"Thank you, Anna…" Jeanne said softly.