Hi, everyone sorry for being late. My new semester at university have started so I'll be even busier so please forgive me if I'm a bit late.
Enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 2
Above the chilling beach, the sky was getting darker by the minute which was setting the spooky mood especially after a student was found dead on the beach. The warm night became a district of the winter season, a myriad of the young students on the beach was continuously trembling in cold fear. The older students tried to comfort the younger ones, mainly the ones who couldn't stop crying and shivering in terror, and get them to stay around the party area where they can see everyone in the light instead of leaving them near the dead body.
Once the students called up the cops, all of their parents and carers rushed over to the beach and checked up on their kids. A few of them left the beach straight while others stayed to fulfil some statements for the police. Lucifer's car dashed to the car park as he and Chloe stepped out with worried looks, they rushed down the staircases to the bottom of the beach. There were still a lot of students standing around with their careers sticking to them as glue. It wasn't before long for them to find Lucas and Charlie sitting together on a flat, black, wooden bench.
"Lucas!" he heard his name being called out from the crowd and Lucas raised his head. Watching his parents raced to Lucas as Chloe was the one to reached out and wrapped her arms around her son.
"Oh, God. Are you okay?" Chloe pulled back from the hug and scanned her son's face with a deeply concerned look
"I'm fine, Mum" Lucas answered in a small yet confident grin, yet his panicky voice gives it away.
Lucifer kept his force on his son's face knowing what a terrible thing Lucas has been through. Until, he saw his nephew who was sitting next to Lucas, "Charlie?"
"I'm okay too" Charlie honestly nodded.
"Does your parent know?" Lucifer questioned realising that his brother, Amenadiel and Linda weren't here yet.
"They're on their way now, Uncle Lu" Charlie answered which gave his uncle a sigh of relief.
"Hey guys" Unaware to them, the best forensic scientist and best friend, Ella Lopez walked to them from behind dressed in a black, spooky beach T-Shirt with a red jumper over it.
Ella Lopez has always been a very close friend of the family, she became even closer when Ella finally discovered the life of celestials, such as Lucifer and Amenadiel and Maze, basically everyone. She learnt the truth soon after the celestial war between Lucifer and Michael, the others decided to tell her the truth as they trust Ella and it was the right time for her to deserve the truth. Now, she became like a close auntie to the boys. Ella greets them with a friendly grin, "Hey guys."
"Hi Auntie Ella" Lucas and Charlie happily waved at their cheerful auntie.
"Chloe" Ella eyed at Chloe alerting her that she and the other forensic scientists have scanned the area and developed some information about the dead victim.
Chloe silently nodded knowing that it was her duty to investigate the crime scene, however she developed a feeling of regret for leaving her son alone during this tragic moment. She turns back to Lucas and slightly kneels down to catch the same eye level with him as Chloe needed to show her son how much she wanted to stay. Then gave her son a trustworthy smile, "We'll be right back. Okay."
Lucas didn't reply back but he grew an understanding smile which satisfies both Chloe and Lucifer. The devil by Chloe's side switched his glance back at Charlie and in a soft tone, Lucifer ordered, "Stay together."
Charlie and Lucas did as they were told and stuck together as glue while Charlie wrapped his arm over his younger cousin's shoulders to comfort Lucas during this gnarly event especially if Lucas was the first who saw the dead body. Afterwards, Lucifer and Chloe followed Ella from behind where she led them to the crime scene where Detective Carol Corbett was already there, dressed in a smart suit with a tie. After the celestial war, Ella and Carol started dating and Ella couldn't be any happier than she was with a great man. After a few years of being together as a happy couple they soon got married and eventually, Ella explained the celestial truth. Which was a big surprise to Carol, nearly passed out really.
When they spotted the young student, Jason lying dead in the cold sand, Chloe could feel her stomach being twisted like she was about the throw-up. She has seen dead bodies before, but Chloe always feels sick when it comes to a murdered child thinking how could young kid end up in an atrocious fate. Lucifer could the anxiously growing inside of her, so he gently held her hand into his hoping his warmth would distract her from the agony. She gazed up and send Lucifer a grateful grin before Lucifer broke the silence and asked Ella, "So, what do we have?"
"Jason Mitchell, 17 years old, killed by two shots in the chest and then he stumbled backwards to where he fell from up there" Ella raised up from taking close-up photos of the dead victim. She pointed her stare upwards as all eyes gaze up to the top of the cliff above. Then, Ella ended as she shifted her stare back down to the dead student, "And, then lands down here at the foot of this cliff."
"Any witnesses?" Chloe joined in the questionnaire.
"Everyone was dancing until they heard a scream from a girl, Jennifer" Carol read out from his notepad that he highlights the key points from the student's statements. Afterwards, Ella added, "We've checked up on the cliff and only saw two footprints with different sizes. One with a size that belongs to our victim."
"And the other belongs to our killer" Lucifer ends the obvious statement.
"Yep" Ella nodded.
Leisurely, Carol walked around the dead body and headed to Lucifer and Chloe with a dubious look, "Listen, I heard that Lucas was the first one who found the body. Do you think he's okay with answering a few questions? As his parents, if you think he isn't comfortable at the time, I'll understand"
Both Chloe and Lucifer looked at each other as they reflected the same unsure look. Then, Lucifer gave Carol a sensible answer, "Perhaps, let's check with him."
Of course, Lucifer trusts Carol as he became a close friend, but Lucifer was more concerned about his son knowing that Lucas is probably still traumatised by the tragic event. The three detectives walked back to the party area and strolled directly back to Lucas and Charlie.
"Hey guys" Carol greet the boys where Charlie was still sitting next to his cousin while Lucas was drinking some water from a red, plastic cup to refresh his dry throat. "Lucas, can we ask you a few questions? If you feel comfortable of course."
Lucas felt his parents' eyes staring down at him, at the same time catching their silent message through their gaze about 'you don't have to answer if you're not up for it.' However, he knew how important solving a murder and trying to bring a killer to justice is important. Placing his worries aside Lucas stared up at Carol and answered in a half confident tone, "Sure. I'm… I'm good."
"Okay. So, just to be clear, you were the first one who saw the body, correct?" Carol first questioned as he took out his notepad, so he was ready to write down some key points noted from Lucas' statement.
"Yeah. Well, no, not exactly" Lucas mumbled up his answer which caused everyone to give him a suspicious stare.
"During the party, I was with Jennifer and she wanted some privacy for the both of us" he re-stared his answer. Lucas didn't look but he knew that his mum was making a funny look as they all knew what Lucas meant if he was with a girl and they secretly wanted some privacy with each other. On the other hand, Lucifer secretly cracked a gleeful grin.
Lucas continued, "She wanted to take photos of the sunset, so I took one with her in it. But when it came to Jennifer taking the photo, she didn't take it at the time. She started screaming."
"So, she saw the body fell?" Carol doubled checked on the key fact Lucas mentioned and the young guy nodded, before Carol pointed out, "And you didn't?"
"No. I was facing away from the sunset" Lucas explained. Both his parents glanced behind them spotting the sunset dying over the dark, glittery sea. The detectives hypothesised where the body was landed to how Lucas was facing away from the fallen corpse.
"What happened next?"
"I told her to stay where she was so I could go down see what it was. That's when I um…" a huge lump was blocking in the centre of his throat, causing difficulties for Lucas to breathe calmly. Lucifer saw his son struggling so he walked over and sat down next to Lucas then gently placed a hand behind Lucas' shoulder showing comfort and support from his father. The warmth from his dad' touch supported Lucas to control his panicky breathing and breathed out the ending of his answer, "…That's when I saw Jason's body."
"Were you close friends with the victim?" Carol narrow his eyes in curiosity.
Lucas shook his head, "No, we see each other at school, but we weren't close friends."
"When was the last time you saw Jason alive?"
"He was in the crowd, during the party" Lucas' mind started rewinding back to when the last time he saw Jason alive. An eerie feeling was pinning on the start of his stomach when Lucas looks forward and remembers seeing Jason lying down on the sand, his pale face half with his hair covered with his own blood as it crashed upon the hard rocks. Tiny pieces of sand attached themselves to the dark blood like peanuts on golden honey.
"How did Jason seem at that time?"
"He was okay. Usual as I guess" trustfully, Lucas didn't know how to answer. He remembered Jason wanting to talk to him during the party, Lucas hated himself for being too stupid to not notice the apprehensive expression from Jason at the time.
"And, um… Was there anything unusual before his death?"
Lucas wants to reply back with a normal answer like 'nothing at all. Didn't see or hear anything' but he couldn't bring himself to say anything at that point. His mind rolled back to the moment when Lucas noticed the same, strange woman who appeared outside of his school then standing in the centre of the dancing crowd. Lucas remembered that cold gaze from the woman as it once again sent chills down his spine.
He wanted to tell his parents about it, but Lucas remembered how Faith didn't see the strange woman nor did anyone who was close notice her mysterious ubiquitous. It's wrong to lie and Lucas didn't want to it, especially to his family, but Lucas didn't even know if what he saw was true. So, Lucas lied, "No, I don't know. Sorry."
"Alright, thanks Lucas. Get home safely" Carol ended.
Happy that he answered Carol's questions fully, Lucas still felt like he was swallowed in a dark pool of despair. It wasn't before long when all the students and the parents left the beach including Charlie who was picked up by his parents, Amenadiel and Linda, then faith with her family and finally Lucas. His mum suggested leaving his car here by the beach and picking it next the next day because Chloe knew Lucas was in no state to drive, therefore his dad offered to drive him home.
Possibly the quietest journey where there wasn't any music being played from the car radio nor did anyone speak a single word, fear of breaking the silence with awkwardness. Chloe couldn't count the number of times she peeked over her shoulder and saw her son while Lucas rested his head back to the side and gazed through the side window. Watching the blurry view of people rapidly passing by along with streetlights reflected through the widows of closed shops and cafes and restaurants.
Eventually, they reached back home as Lucifer parked next to the building where they could already hear the loud cheers and music echoing from Lux. There was an easier passenger way to the private without walking through the wild crowd within the club. Lucifer lead his family to the private elevator and their journey was dead silent, Lucas kept to himself while his parents were clueless about what to do or say.
They reached the second-highest floor, Lucas was the first to exit the elevator and walked fast as he wanted to get to his bedroom where there was privacy just for him. He heard his mum, Chloe courteously asked, "Do you want anything, Lucas?"
"No thanks. I'll… I just some rest" Lucas quietly replied, he gave his mum a thankful grin before leaving to his bedroom.
"Okay" Chloe sadly sigh for she never felt completely hopeless as Chloe didn't know what else she could do. Even when Lucifer sensed her rising sorrows and softly coiled his warm arms around his wife's belly, Chloe still felt downcast as well as Lucifer.
Inside his bedroom, Lucas strolled to the left side of the room where his comfortable bed stands. Spins himself around and Lucas let himself drop backwards until he landed on the surface of his bed feeling all of the muscles in his exhausted body weak and his mind burning with headaches. The dead silence that surrounds him made Lucas think back to finding Jason's lifeless body on the beach and now it began imprinting those images in his mind. The back of his head is vexingly inches but Lucas dare not scratch it there as it reminds him of the huge cut that scarred on the same place on Jason's head when he fell and got his head smacked against the rocks below.
He couldn't stop remembering back to the moment when Jason came up to him and Lucas turns him away. That thought make Lucas' throat extremely dry like he was choking on a strong and very bitter taste of his own guilt. That sharp question was repeated over and over louder in his head saying, 'What I could have done?'
Jason firmly tugged Lucas' arm to get his attention, once he succeed Jason yelled, "Lucas! I need to talk to you!"
"What?" Lucas roared as the music was still loud, couldn't really catch what Jason was telling him so he leaned in a bit closer.
"I said I need to talk to you! It's urgent!" Jason repeated himself.
"We will. Just party a bit okay" Lucas counsel in a cheerful tone as he was enjoying himself.
"It's serious!" Jason bawled. Apparently, Lucas was so lost joyously lost in the party and the classy music he didn't hear the fear poisoning in Jason's voice nor how panicky Jason was at that moment.
"Chill Jason! I promised you this afternoon! Remember! Okay!" Lucas eloquently yelled. Placing his hand on Jason's shoulder and rubbed his shoulders, wanting to suppress the conversation so he could wander away from him and rejoin his friends and continued enjoying himself.
Knock, knock.
He didn't bother to raise his head nor moved a single muscle because Lucas didn't care about talking or listening to anything or to anyone. All he wants now was some quietness and peace so his aching head could be in the same position. His ears pricked up the sound of his door creakingly widening as a head popped through the big gap.
"Hey" his dad broke the dead silence as Lucifer stepped further into the room. Lucifer walked over till he carefully sat himself down on the side of the bed as he could see his son drawn with a pale face as Lucas was drowning in a pool of sorrow and terror. Lucifer wiggled his lips as he struggled to find the right words, so he softly puffed, "Well, that was an eventful night."
Unfortunately, he didn't get a reply from Lucas nor did his son move a muscle, making Lucifer form a pointless look on his face. A mindful hand reached out and touched the far side of Lucas' back before Lucifer made a brisk change in his voice to a light-heart tone where he purred, "Lucas, listen. I know this has been a very rough night for you. Whenever you want to talk, I'll be here to listen."
Lucas still didn't move like he was almost paralysed in shock and Lucifer didn't blame him. Lucifer gave his advice and now he must patiently keep his word, not wanting to pressure Lucas into saying something unpleasant at the wrong time. After a soft pat on the side, Lucifer gradually raised respecting his son's wishes if Lucas doesn't want to talk. Until silence was cracked by three single words.
"It's my fault."
Those tiny, three words immobilised the will of Lucifer's body as he haltingly turns back to face his son with a deep shock look, "What?"
"I feel like it's somewhat my fault" Lucas expanded his answer in a low and loathe tone. Stunned by his son's words and the worse thing is, Lucas sounded like he deeply believed in his own words.
"Sit up" Lucifer kindly instructed before receiving a puzzled gaze from his own son, until Lucifer repeated himself, "Come on, sit up."
Instead of arguing, Lucas did as he was told unhurriedly raised the top half of his body while sitting on his bed with his knees bending in front. Lucas acted botherless as he didn't want to talk at the moment, but Lucifer wasn't ready to give up. There was no sign of anger printed on Lucifer's face instead he held a serious stare eyeing straight into Lucas' eyes. Lucifer asked in a steady yet perturbed tone, "Now, why on Earth would it be your fault?"
"Because Jason wanted to talk to me during the party and I said to him to leave it and we can talk later because I didn't want to listen at the time. I just wanted to enjoy myself. But, if I didn't push him away, he could still be alive right now" Lucas integrity explained. He lowered his head feeling ashamed and afraid of the guilt of exposing itself from the centre of his eyes. However, Lucifer wouldn't have any of this claptrap.
"Look at me" Lucas didn't obey straight away as he tried to act tough and untroubled, so Lucifer had to raise his voice a little louder, "Look at me, Lucas."
Once he got Lucas' attention and Lucifer locked their gaze with his son's, Lucifer firmly spoke, "I know what it's like to see a murdered body for the first time. But, it's worse when you personally know that victim, trust me son, I've been there. But the one thing you need to understand is that you weren't the one who pulled the trigger. You are not at fault. Do you understand?"
There wasn't much reaction however Lucas' face bloomed sorrowfully, he desperately wanted to believe in his dad's word but the view of Jason's dead and cold body increases the guilt which was drowning him deeper into darkness. Lucifer could see the shame written on Lucas' face but felt half regrettable for speaking so firm.
"Come here" Lucifer spoke softer and shuffled an inch closer as his hand wrapped around the back of Lucas' neck so he could bring his son closer. Letting Lucas' head rest on his shoulder while Lucifer leaned the side of his head near the top of Lucas', feelings his chilling, black brush against his warm skin. A sigh of relief escapes through Lucifer's lips worried that he was losing his son to his own guilt. It was far fetched, but as a parent, you never want to see your child suffer and what's worse, as a former ruler of Hell Lucifer feared that Lucas' guilt could have been a one-way ticket to Hell. He knew that the guilt wasn't enough except Lucifer remembered how Daniel was plagued into Hell after his sad death because he still had some unresolved guilt trapped inside of him.
"It's okay. It's okay" Lucifer whispered in a soft and sedating voice, while Lucas' heavy breathing was finally becoming slower and steadier, which gladdened Lucifer.
"Why did Jason want to talk to you?" Lucifer asked at the right time. Lucas was actually quite gratefully his dad asked but his hidden thoughts and guilt was slowly chewing him from the inside.
"He wanted to ask me if he can talk to you and mum" Lucas answered calmly, finally getting control of his breathing from a fast pace to a sedate speed, "He said he found something bad in his workplace and he needed to talk to someone about it."
"Like what?" Lucifer held a bemused stare.
"He didn't say. But he said it was something serious. Like illegal stuff" Lucas developed a theory that this might have something to Jason's death. Now, Lucifer finally understands why Lucas feels so guilty, "I know I should have said something, but I just still felt really bad."
"You were still in shock and I don't blame you. But, I'm glad you told me" Lucifer wasn't too keen on the lying part, yet he couldn't blame his son as Lucas was in deep shock at the time. Lucas shortly smiled at his father's support and understanding which Lucifer endearingly smirk.
"It's a tough thing to face. And, your mother and I will help you" Lucifer reminded him, "You're very strong, Lucas."
"Thanks" Lucas couldn't have asked for any other parents who could be better than his. Despite how troublesome Lucas maybe during his childhood and youth, not once when in his darkest moments when he felt abandoned or unsupportive by his family. Lucas was always satisfied when he knows how proud his dad is of him, until the thought slowly ruptured when Lucas evokes the truth he was hiding about the sibylline lady he saw on the beach before Jason's death and Lucas didn't say anything to Detective Carol or his parents.
And Lucifer caught that look, "What is it?"
"I um… I lied to Carol about seeing something unusual before Jason's death" a pitch of shame was hinted in Lucas' voice as he confessed that he has been hiding something else, "I wanted to say something, but I wasn't sure if it was real or anything"
"What was it?" Lucifer narrowed his confused eyes.
"I saw this woman. She was at the party and then she disappeared" Lucas answered, feeling goosebumps already spreading across his arms when he mentioned the mysterious woman.
"Who was she?"
"That's the thing. I didn't know her. I've never seen her before" Lucas felt that cold shiver down his spine again when he thought of that cold stare from that mysterious woman, "She was even at the school this morning too."
The last part really slipped Lucifer off guard considering this strange woman was at his son's school then followed him to the party. Lucifer's face fell in a fright as he questioned in a worried tone, "What was she like?'
"She was a bit older than me. She was all in black. Native American, I think. And, she just all alone" Lucas tranquilly described the stranger. Lucifer first imagines this woman as a harmless being, yet it couldn't be a consequence for her to suddenly appear at the party right before a student tragically dies.
"Dad?" Lucas asked as Lucifer unexpectedly became too quiet and it was slightly scaring his son.
"Leave the case to me and your mother. We'll try to solve it" Lucifer changed his tone in a hopeful mood as he held an untroubling smile, "In the meantime, I think you should rest now, Lucas."
Without any complaints, Lucas fell backwards again and rest in his bed trying to get himself comfortable. He didn't cover him with the bed covers, as Lucas want to rest more before he was ready to go to sleep. Lucifer lifts himself off the bed as he sees Lucas giving him a grateful for his dad to lend him an ear and some supportive advice, "Thanks, dad."
"Night son" Lucifer gingerly rubbed the back of Lucas's head before he kissed the top of his forehead.
Unhurriedly, Lucifer raised up and walked towards the door wanting his son to get sleep and prayer that Lucas could get better soon. Lucifer walked into the kitchen outside of the bedroom, where Chloe will be waiting by the window gazing upon the high view of the buildings below. All in bright and colourful lights shinning up the darkness that spreads through the streets of L.A. Lucifer steps in from behind and gently stroke his hands over the side of Chloe's shivering arms.
Chloe embrace the warmth from Lucifer's body as she slightly leans back before whispering, "How is he?"
"He's okay. He's strong like his mother" he complimented with a warm smile and in return, his gorgeous wife soon grew a similar smile. Chloe slowly leaned in closer and rested her head on his chest, while Lucifer wrapped one arm around her back and the other hand is holding on the back of her head.
Lucifer has seen many mortals die in front of him during his eternal life, they never affected him except until Delilah was murdered and Lucifer felt some blame for her death. The worse one was when Chloe died in his arms and sworn to never let her suffer like that again. He could sense the same deep regrets growing through Lucas' eyes.
A curious thought came to him, "What was it like for you when you first saw a dead body?"
"When I joined the police force?" Chloe pulled her head back and their eyes meet before Lucifer replied with a soft hum and a little nod. Then, Chloe tried to recall back to her early memories as a rookie, "Um… at first, I was shocked, scared. Then after a few days, I've come to terms with it because that's part of the job. I had to get used to it."
"But, Lucas shouldn't have to deal with this" Chloe wished that tonight never happened. Wished that it was just an ordinary night for ordinary kids just having some fun at a beach enjoying their high school life.
She remembered after Malcom's death, for weeks Trixie used to get nightmares of her kidnapping or sobs at night whenever she fears that someone is out to get her again. It became worse when Trixie learnt of her father's death to which Trixie was constantly crying for weeks every night wanting her daddy to come home. Chloe had to be with her daughter nearly all night to calm Trixie down.
"He's okay, darling" Lucifer purred, "And he will be."
Chloe trusted her husband's words because she knew Lucas will try to accept the situation and soon it will be trouble water under a stable bridge. Lucas was definitely scarred by tonight's disastrous event but Chloe hopes that the memory will gradually fade away.
"I need coffee" Chloe breaks the hugging chain from Lucifer's arms and walked over to the kitchen area. Turned on the coffee machine and the sounds of the dark liquid pouring into the cup echoed out which fills the unpleasant atmosphere. Chloe was about to ask Lucifer if he wanted a cup of coffee, however the words were pushed back in her mouth when she caught the sight of him being consumed with deep distress.
"Lucifer? What's wrong?" she asked as Chloe pulled all her focus on her disturbed husband.
"Lucas didn't say this at the time because he was still in shock" Lucifer started referring to Lucas who was in a blameless position, "But, apparently Jason was looking for him during the party, but Lucas want to talk after and now he feels completely blameful."
"Oh shit" she mumbled as she closed her eyes, "Well, we go through that phase of what-ifs."
"Don't we all" Lucifer concurred.
"Why did Jason want to talk to Lucas?" she asked.
"He wanted to talk to us or the police about finding something illegal in his workplace" his answer raised Chloe's eyebrows
"Illegal?" Chloe paused while brainstorming a theory, "If Jason did find something illegal and someone didn't want him to speak out. That could be a connection to his death."
"Right, I'll call Carol and talk to him" Chloe immediately reached to her phone and scrolled to her contact and started ringing Carol. She decided to leave the kitchen into a much quieter area fearing that Lucas might hear her call so it wouldn't upset him even more.
There was a second where Lucifer wanted to tell his wife about the mysterious woman Lucas told him about. However, Lucifer didn't have to stomach to tell Chloe yet, because whoever this strange person is, she was definitely not human. He didn't want to worry Chloe in case if it was actually nothing, instead, Lucifer called the only person he trusts to check up on this curious case.
He slips out his phone and called his most trustworthy friend, Mazikeen the demon who can hunt down anyone from anywhere. The phone screen touched the side of his ear and he listens to the ringing tone plays out for about a few seconds. Until, his calling was answered by a loud roar from Maze's loud and irritated voice, "What?"
"Oh, you sound pissed. Did someone steel one of your blades, Mazikeen?" Lucifer joked
"Nope, you just caught me at a bad time" she grumblingly corrected him and Lucifer was going to ask until someone else cut in their conversation.
"Hi Lucifer!" another voice echoed through the phone call with a sweet tone.
"Hello Eve" Lucifer smiley called back.
Lucifer was unaware that he caught himself at the worst timing because Maze and Eve were relaxing in a large, warm and bubbly bath. Their naked bodies blissfully relaxing in the warm water, Eve was resting against Maze's naked chest enjoying their moment with glasses of prosecco in their hands. Their bathtub was surrounded with small candles that bright up the amorous atmosphere. So, Maze was reasonably angry at the fact that Lucifer was interrupting their special moment as Lucifer's call was taunting her special moment with Eve.
"Mazikeen, I need you to do something for me" Lucifer talked back to Maze, wanting to focus back on the real reason why he contacted her.
"What is it?" Maze agreed to listen, yet her low and vexed tone symbolises the opposite.
"There's been a murder down the southern beach tonight" Lucifer started.
"So?" Maze scoffed as she rolled her eyes, "Isn't it basically your job? To solve murder crimes?"
"Well, Lucas and Charlie were there" the mentioned the boy's name strikes an anxious arrow to her heart.
"Are they okay?" Maze's voice softens when Lucifer mentions the boys.
"They're fine. But, Lucas said he saw someone there and then disappeared. Someone who was looking suspicious" Lucifer mood changes and the last words the escaped through his lips blew a wind of chills down his and Maze's spine.
"You think it's a celestial?"
"I don't know. But could you check for me please" Lucifer pleadingly requested.
"Send me the address and I'll do it tomorrow" Maze accepted for Lucifer's solicit.
"Thank you" he released a deep sigh of relief.
Hour Later
Lost in his own darkness that flooded his entire bedroom, Lucas was lying in his bed while tumbling and turning from the sides of his body to resting flat on his stomach then on his back. Being on his phone wasn't helpful as he was getting lots of notifications from the school kids repeatedly messaging about Jason's death and the news spread throughout the social media like a virus. Lucas tried to go to sleep but when he closes his eyes Lucas is still haunted by the visions of Jason's dead body lying on the sandy beach. He tried to look around in his shadowy room for something to distract him, literally wanting anything or something to distract him.
Without thinking clearly, Lucas grabbed his phone from the side table and held it in front of him while Lucas laying on his left side. Jumped through his contact list and began a FaceTime call to Faith, and just on the last second before ending, Faith finally answered the call and yawned in a deep, quiet but worried tone "Hey, you okay?"
"I'm not exactly sure is the word 'okay' describes it all" Lucas tiredly sighed, "Sorry, I would have texted, but I just wanted to hear someone. You know. Just a voice to distract me"
"Yeah. I get you" Faith plausibility replied in a half yawn, but she tried to act like she was still active and sleepless for Lucas' sake. Closed her eyes to squeeze all of the tiredness out before Faith kindly asked, "How are you feeling?"
"Not well. I can't get of that image out of my head" Lucas didn't need to tell Faith what image he was talking about. Guessing everyone at that beach who peaked at the dead body has now got that image in their heads, even Faith.
"I can't believe it even happen" Faith wiggled herself up the head of her bed, so she was slightly sitting up. A powder of sadness bloomed on her face, "Poor Jason. Who would have wanted to kill him?"
"Don't know" Lucas' eyes wandered downwards in sorrow, feeling his guilt rebuilding and the weight of Jason's tragic death crushing on his chest again, "But, I can't sleep."
"Neither could I" Faith nodded with an understandable look.
"Was it…" Faith faltered as though what she was about to ask is distasteful. Lucas detected a lump forming in her throat as she exhaled in to refresh her lungs before Faith could complete her question, "Was it a painful death you think?"
"I think…" Lucas started but quickly stopped as he actually didn't know what to say. From being raised by parents who worked in the police force, Lucas knows what and how weapons have a different effect on people, like knife attacks or gunshots. Lucas knows that being shot in the chest wouldn't have killed Jason instantly, so Jason would have felt some sharp pain growing in his chest like a virus.
Lucas doesn't want to make Faith feel bad about knowing the pain Jason felt before his death, as well as Lucas, doesn't want to make himself feel worse by increasing Faith's sadness. So, he spoke a gentle lie, "I think one of the bullets hit straight into his heart. And after that, it sort of made Jason drift into a deep sleep."
"Okay" Faith softly sniffed seemed pleased that it wasn't as painful as she thought, however Lucas caught the misery was still there painting all over her face.
"Hey, Faith. You know Jason's in Heaven now, right?" Lucas told her through an honest smile yet Faith didn't seem to have much hope in words.
"He's not in pain or alone anyone. He's up there" he indicated his index finger upwards as Lucas continued, "And, it's probably good for him because there'll be lots of old and boring people he can interview for a good story."
Lucas was pleased when he managed to gain a light chuckled to escape from Faith's mouth along with a soft smile. They both knew Jason quite well, but personally, but Lucas and Faith know how Jason desires to be a journalist to deliver a great story. Afterwards, Lucas asked, "Do you wanna meet up tomorrow?"
"Yeah" Faith nodded. Hoping that tomorrow would be a fresh new start for them to forget or find something to distract them from the tragic event this evening.
"Did you say your prayers for him?" Lucas asked, knowing that is Faith is a catholic, so he wondered if she gave out some little prayers for Jason.
"I said a prayer for you" she softly mumbled and Faith's word melted Lucas' heart.
Evoking back to the dark moment where Faith caught the view of Lucas' face as it was splatter in frozen terror. Faith understands how traumatic it must have been for Lucas to be the first who found a dead body, could almost scar someone for life. A simple piece of advice was requested from his faithful friend, "Get some sleep. You need it."
After a short nod, Lucas silently whispered, "Night Faith"
"Good night" she replied before ending the call.
Now, Lucas is back to this lonely reality in the dark and silence, slowly accepts it as his head gradually drifts back deep in the centre between his two pillows. A part of Jason's mind is still haunted by Jason's death, but his exhausted eyes wanted to take Faith's wise advice and to sleep. Unhurriedly, his eyelids closed over and he let his mind to rest as Lucas forced himself to sleep and tranquillity dream.
Police Station
The next day was refreshing for the detectives to look back on the beach murder case from last night. It was a bright morning raising everyone's aspiration in finding a lead in the case. Detective Carol Corbett set up an interview with Jennifer as she was sitting on the opposite side to him. She came in dressed in a light, creamy jumper with a stripy scarf loosely wrapped around her neck and a pair of black jeans.
In the viewing room where it was brighter than in the interrogation room, Lucifer and Chloe were standing facing the one-way window for them to watch Detective Corbett as he was interviewing Jennifer. The young student sat by the table with her hands laid out on the cold surface while fiddling with her fingers as a way to distract her from the growing anxiety. All the saddest and the disturbance was swelling on her wet face started from last night and hasn't died down.
It wasn't before Carol starts the questionnaire to which Jennifer was in the middle of her story after she explained what she and Lucas were doing after leaving the party, "We were alone for a while. Lucas offered to take a photo of me with the sunset."
"Then, I was about to take one of him. But…" that moment of reaching so close to the dark part of the story, Jennifer couldn't speak as though there was a large lump forming in the middle of her throat. Jennifer began to breathe heavily while more tears started bursting out from her eyes, Carol still sat patiently not wanting to pressure the student, after all, she was the first one to see the falling body. Her weeping was quiet, however it was clearly audible for Lucifer and Chloe to hear. After a short while, Jennifer wiped her tears away and sobs, "But, then that's when I saw the body."
"I screamed. I didn't move. Lucas went over to see it, though" her voice breaks down every time Jennifer whispers a word, at the same time more tears fall by the edge of her wet eyes, "Then more people came around."
"Did you see anything suspicious before the drop?" Carol asked.
"No" she shook her head as Jennifer kept her gaze down on the cool surface of the table.
"You were quite away from the party. Was the music quite loud from where you were at the time?" Carol questioned.
"No, it was slightly lower" Jennifer managed to look up at the detective across the table.
Carol slightly leaned forwards and asked, "So, during that time with you and Lucas, did you hear a gunshot or anything?"
"No… No, I didn't" she sniffs.
"Okay, thank you for your time" Carol ended as he stood from the table.
After the interrogation, Lucifer and Chloe exited from the viewing room and walked through the hallway in the centre of the precinct. Chloe began theorised, "If Jennifer didn't hear a gun shot, then the killer possibly used a silencer"
"To allow silenced poor Jason for good" Lucifer added.
The couple walked through the entrance of the lab where Ella was researching data on her laptop. Chloe was the first one who broke the silence, "Hey Ella, do we have anything on the weapon?"
"Yep, the bullets that were shot in Jason's chest were from a USP 9mm. And, we also found tire tracks by the cliffside" Ella sat up and took out a file that held all the information she gathered from the crime scene and presented some photographs of tire tracks marked on the cliff above the beach.
"What about the place he worked? The Organelle Foundation?" Chloe asked to which Ella turned her laptop to face them and their eyes straightaway scanned the screen where it revealed a page of the origins of Organelle foundation.
"Well the foundation was first founded by Dr. Glenn Sanchez and she ran it since 2009. It started off for cloning on animals who are near extinction to save their species and…" Lucifer did listen carefully to every word that flew out from Ella's mouth. However, his focus was pulled away as Lucifer stared through the glass window and spotted Maze by the bottom of the staircase. Instantly, he could feel it in his gut that Maze didn't have great news, Lucifer's stomach anxiously tightens making him feel sick.
"Excuse me for one moment?" he interrupted before he rapidly walked out from the forensic lab. After the Devil exited the room, Chloe eyed him with a curious stare wondering if everything was okay with him, but it became curious when she noticed Lucifer was walking up to Maze by the bottom of the stairs.
Lucifer speedily dashed to the demon and puffed, "Mazikeen?"
"We need to talk. In private" Maze quietly requested as her sharp tongue warns Lucifer that whatever she found was something very serious.
He led them to the viewing room where they could have some privacy. Once they were both insides, Lucifer securely closed the door behind them so that no one could see them through the open door. Maze started, "Okay, so I've got some good news, some bad news, and some creepy news. Which one do you rather hear first?"
Lucifer huffed knowing that neither one of them will satisfy him, the Devil replied, "Those ones in order please."
"Good news is you were right, there was someone or something there. Something that wasn't human" Maze started as Lucifer felt her worriedness increase from the edge of her voice, "Bad news is when I picked up that scent on a single spot, it somehow faded like it didn't move anywhere else."
Lucifer didn't have the faintest idea about what this creature could be, at first he thought it was a ghost. However, he knows that demons such as Mazikeen couldn't pick up the scene because ghosts are just souls without a body. He quietly gulped before asking, "Do I dare ask what the creepy news is?"
"The scent didn't belong to an angel, nor a demon, but it did smell very ancient. I've never picked up a scent like that before" Maze ended her report on an eerie note. She developed a look of trepidation on her face, deeply anxious at the fact that she picked up an unknown creature who she or Lucifer possibly never fight and both have no idea what it is capable of.
"Well, if it's not human or a celestial" Lucifer paused, expressing his fear of the unknown upon his pale face as he breathed out the faintest question, "Then what else could it be?"
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