Case of the Returning Dead Part 1

I glanced around the town, frowning. Why did she have to bring us here? 

"Isn't it wonderful?" asked Fleur, as she stepped out in front of us, throwing out her arms and taking in a deep breath. "Ah, those lakes look gorgeous from up here!"

My frown curved into a smile. Well, she is right about that at least. We stood upon a cliff overhang looking down over the town of Rumptha. It was known across Almahna as a spa resort town, the kind that would drive Zoe nuts. And she did, in fact, fight against coming with us.

"Well, I'll give you that at least, Fleur," I responded, before folding my arms. "But just what am I supposed to do here? You wouldn't even allow me to bring any of Lavarsus's case files!"

She stopped and looked back at me, stepping closer. "It's called a 'holiday', Kairine. You might have heard of it. It's where you spend time relaxing, not thinking about work," she said with a smirk. She looked at David. "Any help here, hun?"

David laughed. "You should know her well enough by now. Getting her to relax is like asking a Gigazard not to burn down the village."

I'm not that stubborn. Am I? 

Fleur rolled her eyes. "Let's get moving, I've got the whole day planned!"

"Of course you do. . ." groaned Zoe, her arms crossed.

David glanced between us. "You know. I couldn't see it before, but I can finally see the family resemblance," he said with a chuckle as he followed after Fleur.

Zoe stared at me for a long time before rolling her eyes and stomping away. This is going to be a long holiday.

As we started through the town, I was beginning to see what Fleur meant. There were people from all around here, including Goblurins, Sabertooth, and Cowins. My gaze was drawn as a hulking green Dragla, his wings furled, walked right past us.

The town itself was idyllic. The architecture was beautiful, with arches through out the city streets, awnings spread out over us, and tiny streams running along either side of the road. The streets themselves were paved with white marble bricks.

Fleur brought us to a large building, where the glass doors, the likes of which I'd never seen before, opened up into a grand hall. The floors were covered in a plush, cerulean blue carpet.

As we stepped up to the desk, she announced our names to the person working there, a surly-looking Cowin with a curved mustache who was propped up on a stool, bringing him just up to Fleur's height. He pulled a book closer to him and started flipping through the pages.

As Fleur checked us in, my eyes wandered around the hall, and I saw a gathering of people on my left. As I listened to their hushed voices, I stepped closer.

"They've been returning for the past week," one of them, a Sabertooth with black and white fur, whispered to the others.

Raising an eyebrow, I quickly ducked behind a pillar.  I leaned back against it, and kept my ears open as they spoke.

Another, an elderly human woman, said, "Indeed. They've been going home!"

"How could dead people be rising from the grave and going home?" said a man. Suddenly, my curiosity was piqued.

Dead people rising from the grave and returning home? Did I hear that right? My gaze went to Fleur, who was beaming as the clerk at the desk handed her our room keys. She's not going to be happy. But I can't leave this alone. Can I?

Quickly, I moved to rejoin the others before Fleur noticed I was ever gone. As I did, she turned to me and handed me my key, a wide grin spread across her face.

"I've got the whole weekend planned out, Kairine," she said, turning to David and handing him his. So I get to share a room with my sister, is that it? She's not going to like that.

"Who am I with?" asked Zoe, frowning.

Fleur motioned to me. "I thought the two sisters could share a room," she replied. "And I will share a room with David."

Zoe raised an eyebrow. "And why exactly? Why can't Kairine share a room with David?" See? Told you. "Why do I have to room with her?"

Fleur glanced at me with a shrug as she sighed. "Well, because I didn't think she would necessarily want to room with him. Can't we all just enjoy our time here and forget about the room arrangement?"

Have you met my sister? "No! I want to know why I have to bunk with my sister!" Zoe complained, her face reddening. She'll always find something to complain about.

Smiling, I walked over to Zoe. "Come on, it'll be fun. Maybe we can investigate this new case I found," I replied, before suddenly realising what I'd just said. I stopped, turning slowly to look at Fleur.

She was stone-faced, her arms folded. "Kairine, no," she stated. "We are on holiday. No mysteries."

I bit down on my lip as I took a step back from her. "But, those people over there, they were just talking about. . ."

"Holiday, Kairine!" she interrupted me. "Promise me, no mysteries."

Glancing back at Zoe, my sister only smirked as she turned away and started for the stairs. Some help you are. "Fine. No mysteries," I conceded. I have to know when I'm beaten.

I sighed as I picked up my bag from the floor, slinging it over my shoulder.

Fleur laughed. "Kairine, why don't you let the bellhop take care of that for you? That's what they're here for."

Raising an eyebrow, I glanced over at a boy with short cropped black hair and brown skin staring at me with a wide smile. A shiver ran down my spine. This boy gives me the creeps. Staring at Fleur, I shook my head. "No. I've got it," I replied. 

Can the boy please stop staring at me? It's making me very uncomfortable. Gritting my teeth, I turned for the stairs.

"I hear there's going to be a town hall meeting!" exclaimed a man whispering to a Fey woman. "Do you think they'll be talking about the Returning Dead?"

Returning Dead? Is this related to what the other group was talking about? I froze at the foot of the stairs, listening intently to the conversation.

"I am sure of it!" the Fey woman exclaimed. "That'd be my assumption. These are strange times indeed."

My eyes narrowed as I turned around to face the couple. "Excuse me," I said to them, bowing. "My name is Kairine Kamuya, and I couldn't help overhearing. What is this about 'Returning Dead'?"

"Kairine. . ." Fleur groaned as she approached me, staring at me.

The man ignored her, looking at me. "You don't know? Recently deceased folk are returning to life!" he said with wide eyes, glancing at his partner.

"That's right!" the Fey woman added. "And get this. . ." She leaned in closer. "They've been going home! Like actually returning to where they lived!"

I glanced at Fleur. She stared at the couple with a raised eyebrow. She was silent for a long time. Then, sighing, she said, "Kairine, you have an incredibly bad habit of finding mysteries wherever you go, you know that?"

Smirking, I replied, "Fleur, I've been asking myself that for months."

As we made our way to the town hall, Zoe complained the entire way. "Why do we have to go to this thing? What does this have to do with a 'holiday'?" she said, scuffing her feet at the ground.

The night air was crisp, cooler than I was used to in Calrune. The stars were plainly visible in the dark sky above as the twin moons lit our way, perhaps more so than even the twinkling city street lights. It felt as though I were walking through a field of stars.

Fleur glanced at me with a roll of her eyes. Yeah, I know. I broke my promise. But you have to admit, this one is intriguing. "Ask your sister," she responded.

Zoe's stare turned to me as she approached the building at the centre of town. "Kairine. . ." she said, clenching her fists tightly. "Did you go looking for a mystery again?"

I smirked awkwardly. "Honestly," I started, glancing at Fleur with a crooked smile. "This one sort of fell in my lap."

Fleur sighed. "We'll have a discussion about your propensity for finding mysteries another time," she said with a shake of her head. "For now, however, this one is intriguing." See? I knew it! Even her interest was piqued.

Zoe exhaled sharply, looking straight ahead. "Just how are we going to get through that?" she asked, pointing at the long line which wrapped around the eastern side of the building.

I raised an eyebrow as I glanced at Fleur. She stared right back at me. "Don't look at me, this was your idea," she said, throwing up her arms. Great.

Looking at David, I wondered if he might have an idea. . . And the wide smile on his face and bright eyes told me he did. He bolted ahead of us without a word, leaving us stunned.

"What's he doing?" asked Fleur.

"No idea, but give him a second."

"Kairine, your boyfriend's weird," Zoe observed.

Rolling my eyes I glanced at her. "He's not my boyfriend," I replied. I only went out with him one time. And that was a complete disaster.

The three of us made our way toward the massive throng of people, as my eyes scanned around for any sign of David anywhere. Then I spotted him and I immediately rolled my eyes. Oh, no.

There he was, at the entrance to the town hall, speaking an animatedly with one of the people guarding the doors--and he pointed directly at us. David, you idiot.

A few minutes later, as he walked back to us, my jaw was clenched as I stared at him. "Just what in the world do you think you were doing?" I asked suspiciously, my face reddening. "Are you out of your mind?"

He looked back at me, his eyes wide. "Uh, no. I just thought, why not just tell them the truth? I told them you're a psion and you work with the Maji Guard in Calrune," he replied, shrugging as he glanced at Zoe and Fleur. They both shook their heads. "Anyway, I think they want your help. So they said we can go in."

I groaned and  glanced away from him. I hate to admit it, but maybe he had the right idea.

"Fine," I responded. "Let's go see what's going on." But when this is over, you and I are going to have a word.

Fleur rolled her eyes. "You can't just skip an entire queue, hun!" she said, glaring at him.

"Apparently, I can," he replied. Unfortunately, the evidence supports his position.

Sighing sharply, I said, "Alright, let's just go see what's going on."

Making our way to the front door of the building, there were two men standing there. One had light skin, the other had dark skin and was clearly taller than the other. He looked at me, raising an eyebrow. "Are you the psion?" he asked.

"I am," I nodded as I bowed to them. "My name is Kairine Kamuya. I sometimes consult for Sergeant Lavarsus of the Maji Guard in Calrune." By which I mean I often do his job for him, but hey, who's counting?

They glanced at one another before allowing us inside. As we walked in, I shot a look at David. "You really need to stop going around telling everyone I'm a psion," I muttered to him under my breath.

He stared back at me with a raised brow. "What? It worked, didn't it?"

Turning around, I stared him. "That may be so, but you saw the way those guys looked at me. There's still some prejudice against psions, David," I  kept my voice low so as to not be overheard.

David sighed. "Right, point taken."

Good, now that we've got that clear, let's see what's going on with these 'Returning Dead'. I looked around the room, taking in all of the scenery and cacophony of voices. There were rows of chairs arranged on either side of the room, with a long blue rug laid out between them. The room was packed from one end to the other with people of all kinds. Closest to us was a couple who were in deep conversation, their hushed voices barely able to be heard over the noise.

I approached them. There was a woman, heavy-set with dark skin, wearing a purple flower dress, while the other woman beside her was thinner, her skin colour darker still. She was wearing a blouse and blue slacks.

"She's our daughter!" murmured the heavy-set woman. "Clearly, she's returned to us!"

The thinner woman threw up her arms. "Is she though? She looks like her, sure, but. . . there's something seriously off about her, Tabia!" she responded, turning her back to her.

"Excuse me," I said, giving a bow. "I'm sorry, I couldn't help but overhear. What's this about your daughter?"

The thinner woman's eyes went to me as she exclaimed, "You know, it's incredibly rude to be eavesdropping!" Her jaw clenched.

"I know, and I'm deeply sorry. But if you talk to me, perhaps I can help," I replied, taking a step back. Her eyes are red, she's been crying. Bags under her eyes, as well. Has she not been sleeping? My gaze went to her attire. Her blouse was ruffled and wrinkled, looking as though it hadn't been washed or ironed. Then I noticed the tag near her neck. She's wearing her blouse backward. Did she just throw something on in a hurry?

She glanced at her partner before exhaling sharply, turning back to me. "Alright," she said finally, in a calmer tone as her posture softened. "It's. . . about our daughter." A tear fell from the corner of her eye. She wiped it as she turned away from me.

A wave of grief and sadness washed over me in that instant, and immediately I felt myself right back at the grave site, looking over my father's burial. "You don't have to say it," I responded softly. "I am so sorry." My voice cracked as I said the words and my eyes watered. Quickly, I wiped the tears away with my sleeve. That must be so hard, I can't even imagine.

"Well, that's just it," the heavy set woman, Tabia, said with a long face. "She's not gone! She came back, Karima!"

"That's not her!" Karima shot back. "Something is off about her, that can't be her."

My eyes narrowed as I looked at Karima. "Why do you say that?"

Karima got to her feet quickly. . "It's just not! I can't explain it. She's nothing like our Razan."

"Tell me about her. What was she like?"

She sighed as she glanced back at me, hugging herself tighter as her whole body began to tremble. Her eyelids drooped as her brows scrunched together, tears raining from her eyes like an afternoon drizzle. Fleur approached her and wrapped her arms around her, holding her close.

Approaching her, I set my hand gently on her shoulder. "Take your time," I said softly with a gentle smile. "I'm so sorry. I can't possibly imagine how hard this must be for you."

"You are kind to say that," replied Karima, as she wiped her eyes, sniffling. "Razan was a real sports nut," she smiled for the first time, with a wave of happiness mixed in with the sadness. "And she really loved to swim. One day, she was at the Nile River with some friends and. . ."

My gaze fell to the floor as she said that. Don't tell me. 

"She was attacked by a Hammerox!" Karima cried, the tears falling freely, her entire body trembling uncontrollably.

I glanced up at Fleur as I shook my head. They should really put signs up by the Nile River during this time of year. "So the person that came back that Tabia says is her, you are determined it isn't?" I asked. 

Karima shook her head furiously. "No! It's not!" Her voice cracked as she covered her face with her hand.

"Why is that?"

She shot a look at Tabia, who glanced away, crossing her arms. "It's cold and distant. It has none of her warmth, her tenderness. None of her excitement and energy."

I narrowed my eyes. Why is she referring to her as 'it'? "Then what is she?"

She stared at me, her jaw clenched. "It's a Risen! An abomination! It looks like her, but it's not her!"

"Can I meet her?" I asked. As I did, Fleur shot a look at me with a raised eyebrow. "It might help me to figure out what's going on."

Karima looked at Tabia. Then, exhaling sharply, she said, "Sure. I have no problem with that," she said. "I really hope you can figure it out. She deserves to rest in peace. As much as Tabia wants it to be her, it's just not. . ." she sobbed, wiping her eyes.

"To tell you the truth, I wish it could have been her. I miss her so much. But she's gone. It was a terrible accident, and Tabia. . ." she gazed at her partner, as she turned toward her. "I want you to know I don't blame you. I don't blame anyone. I love you, and we will get through this, together."

Tabia's lips quivered as a tear fell from her eye. "I love you too, Karima."

I stepped away and looked at Fleur, then glanced at David and Zoe. "Let's give them a moment," I whispered, gazing back at the two as they embraced, and sobbed together.

"What are you thinking?" asked Fleur, leaning in close to me.

"I'm not sure yet. Maybe I can get a psychic impression off of her if I meet her," I responded, sighing. Then, turning to David and Zoe, I narrowed my eyes. "I wonder if you two can stake out the cemetery? If this keeps happening, it might happen again tonight. If it does, call us, but do not engage. . ." I stared at my sister. "Zoe. No fireballs. Leave it alone, and just follow it. See where it goes."

She rolled her eyes. "Do you always have to ruin my fun?"

I smirked. "Do you really have to ask?"

Turning back to the couple, I scrunched my brows together. "They've been through so much. We have to figure this out. For them." Suddenly images of my father's spirit flashed before my eyes. He better not make a special appearance today. Today most of all. I felt a stabbing pain in my heart as I shut my eyes, fighting back the tears.

"It is such a tragedy. I have half a mind to march up to the Maji Guard and demand they put up signs by that river!" responded Fleur with a tinge of rage, her cheeks reddening. "It wouldn't bring her back, but at the very least, it would prevent any more such tragedies."

I nodded slightly as the couple turned back toward us, and a smile brightened Karima's face for the first time since I'd met her. They will make it through this. And I will do everything in my power to help them.

To be continued.