Twilight Syndrome
Disclaimer:
Professor Layton is owned by Level-5
Danganronpa is owned by Spike Chunsoft and Lerche
Many thanks to those who read and reviewed this fic. I am really happy and this inspired me to bring in the next chapter, and here the story picks up as Layton commences his secret investigation on the murder cases while Luke and Flora are about to feel that the case would affect them emotionally yet things will soon change once they gathered enough info to make their next move.
Well, enjoy!.
Ch. 2: Mujitsu no Sōshitsu
In the next few days, Luke and Flora were spending their time together hanging out, though they were still bothered by the fact that they indirectly led to the discovery of the bodies that were dumped at the Thames River due to the maggots that got stuck on his cap, and that the bodies found indicated that the bodies were that of girls so young as six years old and below, and Flora was quite silent as she wondered who could have done something this horrible.
Likewise, Luke himself is not pleased with what he and Flora found, and though he felt compelled to investigate this matter, he was persuaded by Layton to leave it to the police while he said he will talk to someone who has an inside knowledge so he can get clues on what caused the deaths of the girls as he believe that the victims found did not die through drowning alone, and both Luke and Flora nodded as they put their trust on the professor.
"I guess we'll have to rely on the police for now if we are to get some clues on what caused the deaths of those children..."
"Do not feel bad, Luke...I'm sure the professor has his reason for telling us to let the police handle this case."
"I guess...but still...I feel bad for those children...they died so...young..."
"Me too...but the professor said he'll talk to someone who has access to that case...let's hope he mignt get a lead..."
"I've been with the professor and solved countless cases...but for the first time...I feel compelled to look in to this one...I don't know why, but somehow I..."
"I know how you feel, Luke..."
"Sorry, Flora...I guess I got..."
"It's okay, Luke..."
By then Professor Layton arrive and there Luke asks him how did it go, and the professor was somewhat reluctant to tell him, as the intel he got was far more disturbing than he anticipated, and when Flora gently asks the professor what is wrong, Layton sighed deeply and told the two teens to brace themselves as he is about to tell them what he got so far, and cautions them to be prepared saying it might be disturbing for the two to listen, though they said they are prepared and will absorb whatever contents the intel has, which showed how confident the two teens are.
"It's okay, professor."
"We can handle it."
"We've been through countless cases before...Flora and I can handle anything."
"Are you sure about this, you two?"
"Yes, professor."
"Please tell us, professor."
"Very well..."
"..."
Layton glanced at Luke and Flora, and he is still worried at what their reactions would be like, but seeing that they are willing to accept what they are about to hear, the professor took a deep breath and commences his action, and told the two teens that the bodies of the victims did not die due to drowning alone, as the coroner said that they were somewhat poisoned, and right now the coroner is checking the bodies thoroughly despite the stench the corpses emit, as Layton said that the informer he talked to said that the bodies were already dead for several weeks and the bodies that were dumped at Thames River have been submerged for nearly a half a month, about15 days, and due to the bodies already decomposed, identifying the bodies is extremely difficult, especially when not a single person came to identify and/or claim the bodies, which suggests that the culprit made sure that his tracks are covered so thst no one would know who did this crime.
Lule stared in disbelief while Flora managed to keep her cool, as the two teens could not believe what they just heard, feeling sympathy for the victims and wondered who could do something this horrible, and felt sorry for the victims' families, but as Flora glanced at the newspaper, she noticed that according to the news article, the bodies remained at the morgue and so far no one has come to claim any of the bodies.
Luke scooted closer to Flora and checked the newspaper, and there he is dismayed at what the article says, which shows that up until now not a single person came and wondered if the killer has gone through great length just to keep the victims from being identified, and there Layton glanced at Luke after hearing him said that, and he took the newspaper and read the article, and after reading it, he placed his hand under his chin as he sensed that something appeared odd, if not suspicious, which attracted Luke's attention.
"Hmm..."
"Professor...?"
"Something is odd here..."
"Is there something that is related to this case?"
"I suppose there is...and it is very strange, if not suspicious..."
"What is it then?"
"What did you notice, professor?"
"Well, Luke...Flora...I think..."
Layton told Luke and Flora that he finds it strange that several days have passed since the bodies were found at Thames River, and that incident has been in circulation and even shown on news TV, but until now not a single person came forward, and if there are reports about children that went missing, then the parents would have already filed complaints to the police, something his contact pointed out when asked if there are any relatives reporting about the missing children.
Luke and Flora stared intently upon hearing this, and they started to believe what Layton is pointing out, and Luke asks Layton if there is a possibility of a cover-up of sorts, saying that it is strange that not one relative showed up to try and identify any of the victims, which Layton said that while there is no proof yet, it may be a possibility since the dumping of the victims at the Thames River was cleverly carried out, and up until now no one has claimed any of the victims' bodies.
"Although we do not have proof yet...yes...there is a possibility..."
"Then there is a chance that a corrupt policeman is involved...?"
"We can't say for sure...unless we find evidence...we can only speculate."
"Who could do such a thing...murdering children as young as three years old..."
"Luke is right, professor...who could do something like this...why poison children who do not pose a threat..."
"And they're girls on top of that...!"
"Hmm...girls...aged three and below..."
"Are you on to something, professor...?"
By then Layton's cellphone rang and he answered it, where the caller turn out to be his informer, who told him that another group of bodies were discovered, which Luke and Flora peered closer and overheard the conversation, where the informer told the professor that he overheard a cop saying that a group of bodies were found at Fulham River, and he is currently following the ambulance that is heading for the morgue where they are about to undergo autopsy.
Layton became quite concerned as he did not expect something like this to happen just days after bodies were discovered at Thames River, and there he tells the informer to tell him where the bodies will be taken, and tells him that he wants to meet with him, and the informer agrees to meet up with Layton, saying that it would be better to tell him in person about what he has gathered so far.
"...and I think it's better if we meet in person...I prefer telling you personally than on the phone..."
"Okay...so which place...?"
"Somewhere near Fulham."
"Alright...I'll be there at once."
"Alright...but..."
"What?"
"Brace yourself...what you're about to find out may shock you..."
"Very well."
Nodding, Layton agreed to it and turns off the phone and there he told Luke and Flora to stay here as he will meet with his informer and will be back later, reasoning that they would be safer here, and Luke was not pleased and pleaded that he come along, but Layton told him that if the killer is out there he might target him and/or Flora if he takes interest, and Luke reluctantly backs down upon Layton's request, as the professor promised to fill him in once he gets back.
"Really, professor...?"
"Yes. I will tell you what I gathered once I get back."
"...alright..."
"I'm sorry...but this is for your own good..."
"I...understand..."
"And look after Flora...and do not stay out too late."
"Yes, professor..."
"Yes, professor..."
Layton then took his hat and coat and tells the two teens not to stay out late and left, and there Flora patted Luke on the shoulder, trying to cheer him up as she tells him that Layton is concerned for him and her and she invited him to go out on a stroll, which he nodded seeing that there is nothing much for them to do around here, and both Flora and Luke left and he asks her where she would like to go, and she suggested that they go at Kingston Upon Thames, and he accepted, and the two teens then left to take a stroll and head out to their next destination.
-x-
An hour later, the scene shifts at a morgue somewhere within Fulham River, and Layton arrived where the informer is waiting, and there he greeted the professor, and the professor asks the informer about what he has gathered so far, and the informer told him what he has got so far, which nearly caused the professor to lose his composure when told about the results of the autopsy at Thames River, in which the bodies of the little girls died of lead poisoning, and said that until now not one person came to identify and claim the bodies, and the victims in question are all girls, and investigators deduced that they are aged four years old and below.
"Goodness...are you serious...?"
"Serious as a walrus...that is what I managed to gather...and what's more...I managed to get a glimpse of the corpses...the sizes tell it all, girls as young as three...innocent lives...lost due to senseless murders through lead poisoning..."
"This is...terrible..."
"No arguments from me...seems like we are dealing with a sick, twisted person who loves to pick on toddlers...girls of all children..."
"Looks like I may have to get involve if I am to put a stop to these senseless murders..."
"Well, good luck on that..."
"How were the bodies discovered?"
"Well...you see..."
The informer then told Layton that maggots were seen floating at the water surface of Fulham River, prompting a passing cop to call for assistance, which soon led to the discovery of the bodies, which are five of them, and all of them are already in an advanced stage of decomposition and may be at the same age as the ones found in Thames River, and there he invited Layton to come with him inside, and the two went inside the morgue, where the coroner had just came out from the room, looking disturbed, and dismayed, and seeing Layton, whom he seemed to recognized after meeting him a month ago while on a stroll, he greeted him and asks why is he here, and Layton said he happened to heard about the bodies discovered, and he came here to see if he can help in the investigation and asks the coroner if he find anything that might act as a clue.
The coroner sighed and sees nothing wrong about telling Layton about it and tells him what he discovered so far, which caused Layton to stare in dismay, as the bodies that the coroner examined have traces of lead, which was 3 times more than the dangerous amount, and the coroner said that the victims are girls aged three years old and below, and he made it clear that he was disheartened, and infuriated, that someone would want to poison such young and innocent kids who are incapable of doing something bad, and Layton could not agree more, as he is in a state of disbelief on why someone would want to poison children who are barely toddlers.
"Who on Earth would want to kill these children...?"
"You got me there, Mr. Layton...I've been asking myself why these girls die in such a death...they are incapable of bothering someone...they deserve better than this."
"So all of the victims here are girls?"
"That's right...blimey...either we got a serial killer here...or whether if the parents did this themselves..."
"You think the victims' parents are the culprits?"
"Just a thought...well, who knows? I heard that the same thing about the bodies found in Thames River a week ago...I read the papers...and from what I read...not a single family member showed up at the Thames morgue...doesn't that intrigued you, Mr. Layton?"
"..."
"Well...that's about it...if you think you have the means to solve this, you got my approval. Someone has to put a stop to this...these kids are angels...and they deserve a better future...not a despairing death through poisoning...lead of all poisons..."
By then the police captain arrived and asks the coroner for the results, and after hearing them, the police captain sighed as he tells the coroner that if in a week no one shows up to identify and claim any of the bodies, this case may become COLD, as the police could not establish a lead unless one of the bodies are identified, so that the police may at least get a clue that is enough to start an investigation.
As the police captain left, Layton was mentally dismayed, and this made him gain the determination and drive to investigate this matter and see to it that the unidentified girls will get the justice they deserve and expose the murderer and put him behind bars so he will never again carry out such cruel acts.
To Be Continued...
The investigation is now underway, and so far Layton got a few yet important pieces of clues, yet far from forming a puzzle to solve it, as he still needs more proof to prove the murder, and now he is about to make a move which may involve his assistants…
Preview:
Luke and Flora go on a date, where they may come across a situation that they would not anticipate…See you in 2 to 3 weeks…
Reviews are welcomed...