Aunt Honey opened the towel and let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank God, it's not too deep. And looks like it's already clotting." She spoke comfortingly and looked at Wren, whose face was now blank and pale. "Why do you look so pale, dear?"
"... " She looked at the woman but couldn't talk, several thoughts rushing into her mind. All the sound suddenly felt slow and distant to her, her aunt's words, Sameul's footsteps on the metallic staircase outside, the hush of breeze that blew her dark brown hair softly.
Aunt Honey frowned, unable to understand.
"Is it paining too much?"
Wren slowly felt her head shaking sideways.
"Then, what happened?" Aunt Honey's voice now carried a hint of fear. She held Wren by her shoulders after a momentary hug. "How did this happen anyway? "
Her thoughts were still circling around Sameul.
"He..." Her voice was interuppted by her thought without her realising that only her mind spoke...He understands me.
"He? He what? What did he do? Did he do this to you? That guy hurt you?!"
"N-no..." She muttered, looking at Aunt Honey's worried face. She needed time to process what just happened.
In fact, I was the one that tried to hurt him...
Aunt Honey couldn't help but keep questioning, although she felt Wren wouldn't be able to answer her.
"Then how did this happen?"
"I did. I did it to myself." A small forced smile curled up her lips as she saw her aunt's unexplainable expression. "I was making salad... Got distracted."
Her aunt sighed. "I keep telling you to focus on one single thing at a time. Well, what's done is done." She stopped and frowned a little. "Your face still says otherwise. I think you should have some rest."
Wren nodded. Private time with herself was what she needed, she agreed.
And so, she climbed upstairs, slowly, her thoughts never stopping to engulf her mind as she reached the next floor.
She stood still, looking down the corridor. To one side was the door to the meeting room, and her bedroom. To the other side was the restroom and her brother's bedroom.
She stepped forward with silent footsteps and fixed her ear to the door of the meeting room. The voices weren't much audible.
"Yes, we did talk...please."
"...Again... When you do, then..."
She frowned with dissatisfaction. She then walked to the next door, entered her bedroom, closed the door lightly, then slumped herself over the bed. Her eyelashes dropped slightly as she stared blankly at one single position, her stare a thousand yard, with nothing to actually focus on. She didn't want to focus on anything. She didn't want to think of anything. She felt tired.
...
Why...do I cry?
Her heavy tears dropped onto the bedsheet, making a number of wet circles.
...
She hated this feeling. She wished she could...could stop feeling. Stop thinking so much.
I want to rip off my brain out of my skull.
*******
Orion wasn't done fixing the room when the door knocked. He fixed the chairs and the cushions, never feeling guilty of making his client wait. Then he walked to the door and opened it.
Sameul gave a nod, to which Orion returned a nod too and moved away to let him in.
"Name?" Orion spoke, fixing his glasses as Sameul seated himself.
"Sameul. Sameul Oaks. From Oak Town."
"The one in the southern Yelen. Hmm. New to Loughtown, I suppose?" Orion said, never smiling while he took notes.
"No, I have been here two times before. You see, my job requires me to travel around, clicking important and interesting shots."
Orion resisted a smile when he heard that. This guy has the guts to call our town uninteresting.
"What's your job?"
"Cameraman for the press. I actually came to you to submit these pictures in the hope of getting some...enlightenment." He gave his usual charming smile.
Orion ignored Sameul and swiftly pulled the pictures towards him.
Hmm, interesting...There's a lot.
"I am sorry." Orion said, putting down the pictures back onto the small round table that stood between them. Sameul frowned at such a fast answer. "I don't think I will be able to directly confirm anything from these pictures. These pictures...they require time."
"So, you will be able to use them with enough time?"
Orion nodded. "But if you require them to be kept with you, then I can't help. It would be very convenient if you could leave them here. Do you have anyone else to show to? Because there are many detectives without job in this town. You see, although it sounds selfish, after our young king saved us from criminals, detectives almost lost their occupations. So, any detective will be eager to help you in this case."
Sameul tilted his head but never frowned nor smiled. "So you are not willing to help me?"
"I am, if you are willing to give me time and these pictures."
"Well... Sure." Sameul muttered although a lot of thoughts came into his mind. "As long as you can be helpful, I will be patient."
Orion smiled and nodded and kept the picture away, not giving another glance. He stood up to get Sameul a glass of water from the flask on his cupboard.
He kept the water on the table and gave another nod then sat down on his own seat, making Sameul frown a little at how he took his sweet time and worked so slowly.
"Sooo," Orion said, "You really don't want to go to other detectives?"
"I already went. They didn't wish to help, quite contrasting to what you said." Sameul chuckled.
"Well yes. This case sure is confusing. How did you find the detectives if you don't come to this town often?"
"Wren Winters, your sister. She gave me a list of all the detectives yesterday."
Orion nodded at the honest answer.
"Welp, you might want to say goodbye to Wren before you go then, I suppose!" Orion said, standing up. "After all, you have submitted the pictures. Just tell me where I can contact you for the report. Where are you staying, in Loughtown?"
Sameul was a little shocked and happy at how quick their conversation was. "Near the hospital. House no 17. With a relative."
Orion was quite surprised at the quick answer although he hid his expressions. He hadn't expected such a accurate and fast description. It almost seemed like he was really a normal guy, after all. But he didn't let down his suspicion.
Sameul fixed the bag that hugged his waist and then gave a small bow to Orion. "I don't think Wren will be willing to meet me. Also, thank you for your help."
Wren, who was at the next room, overheard her name and the screech of chair that pushed back when they stood up. She quickly wiped her face, realizing that Sameul might be leaving. She was grateful for the fact that her cry was not ugly and loud at all, for it helped her very much.
She rushed out of her room to the other door and slammed it open. She shook with realization.
"Sorry." She said, a little flustered for slamming doors in front of a client.
Orion rolled his eyes and Sameul laughed, his hand already on the other door handle.
Energetic as always, he thought to himself.
Wren looked down at her feet in embarrassment.
As her view fixed at the floor, she saw Sameul's approaching from that perspective.
She then felt a hand over her head. She looked upwards slowly, and saw Sameul with a genuine smile while he patted her head.
"..." She stayed speechless.
He then took out a single picture and handed it to her. "Keep it", he said gently seeing her hesitant hands.
She took it and gave a small head bow. To this Sameul waved his hand and exited the room.
The room stayed silent for quite some time, Wren frozen on the doorway and Orion frowning deeply.
After the metallic sound from the staircase ended followed by a small cry from the garden gate, Orion couldn't help but shout.
"WHAT THE ACTUAL **** WAS THAT?!"