Chapter 2:
"Happy Birthday, Light Yagami"
Muffled sounds beckoned at Light's consciousness as if he was trying to listen underwater. He was quickly able to equalize the variance. He understood little, but as his hearing began to return to normal, his sight did not. He found himself blindfolded.
He felt cold, stripped to his jockey's. The sounds he heard around him echoed as if he was in the large, empty room. He heard the drip of a water faucet and the scurry of something he didn't believe was human. He sat in a wooden chair, handcuffed to the back. If this was a role playing game by Misa, he wasn't laughing. He wanted out, right now!
"Misa! What is this? Release me immediately!"
A distant throat chuckle reverted through the room. Light turned his head around to pin point its source, but was unable. Then he heard what sounded like footsteps on a concrete floor. They approached, then seemed to stop. Light turned his head and listened deeply. He smelled the air, but it was filled with antiseptic and cleanser. It burned his nostrils. This was not his apartment.
"Welcome to my humble abode, Light Yagami," a male voice said in English, the voice was slightly muffled like he was wearing a mask. Light analyzed it mentally and determined it was infused with an Anglo-Saxon European accent. Then he easily switched to Japanese. "The Japanese culture has a wonderful array of beauty and elegance, so ancient and respected. But it's also stained with old blood and so much of it—even your hands, my dear captive."
Light turned his head to the voice. "What is the meaning of this? Who are you? Where's Misa?"
"So many questions, so which one do you want me to answer first?"
Light clenched his teeth, annoyed. This person had already humiliated him, brought him to this place and stripped him down, now he was being mocked.
"The last one," Light said venomously.
"Misa Amane is safe," his captor said with the hint of a laugh. "She was easily manipulated to contrive to my whims forced to do so at her most recent commercial shoot in her dressing room, when her gentle giant of a bodyguard was immersed with other business. She was brainwashed to act under my commands—to drug you for transport here."
"That doesn't answer my question," Light said stringently. But it did bring up one more.
Another series of footsteps was heard, lighter than the first. A woman, Light guessed. The conversion paused for a moment as the woman approached the other and came to stand close-by. Light sniffed the air again and detected a mild odour of body sweat. It wasn't repulsive, but notably separate from the chemicals in the room. This woman had been outside working.
"I was quite surprised it took you this long to catch on," the male voice continued, his voice sounding closer. "The moment your task force began to dig into the details of the Samurai killings, your computer algorithms instantly alerted me to your search patterns."
Asking what his captor meant would be futile. Light's computer system had been hacked by his captor even with all the failsafes. This was obviously an attempt at intimidation. And the killings of people to attract Kira's attention was now resolved. By whom, he still didn't know.
"My previous question still stands," Light insisted.
"Ah, yes…"
Suddenly the blindfold was removed. Light blinked to the dim, dank illumination of the room. He was surrounded by what looked like white textile walls and possibly concrete or cheap marble flooring. At the far end of the room was an entry way with two steps to an outside corridor. It looked like a medical examination or autopsy room. It had no windows and the ceiling lighting was antiquated like in old psychiatric hospital. The two individuals standing before him wore black masks, similar to light gas masks. The woman wore a complete black bodysuit. The male wore more conservative clothing, a black suit with an array of mystique.
Light noticed something else. Ryuk was missing. Why wasn't the Shinigami here?
"Let's start again, shall we?" his captor said. "We know about your operations and your secret life, Light Yagami. And let's call this an introduction, a first meet and greet. You murdered a good friend of mine. Well, more of a rival. I wanted to be the one who crushed his spirits. Yet, you took that pleasure away from me."
"What are you talking about?" Light asked.
"The killings were a way to get your attention," his captor stated. "You were a little slow on the uptake, I had hoped you'd figure out the pattern, say, after the fourth victim. They were all killed in the same manner, their throats cut, so I thought you'd make the connection. Instead, twelve people had to die for you to clue in. I'm disappointed. But you eventually rose to the occasion."
"Get your hands off me, you brute!" suddenly came a female voice. Light immediately knew by the frequency of it. And suddenly, Misa was pushed towards the open door to the mystery room. She was manhandled and pushed down the two steps by a large, muscular black man wearing a similar gas mask. He wore a black tank top, dark pants, and boots. Misa hit the floor with a thud. "Owww!" she whined. Then looked back and angrily said, "That hurt!"
"Shut it, blondie!" the black man scolded. "This chick is a wildcat, boss."
Misa's eyes widened when she saw him. "Light!" Her eyes began to tear up. "I'm so sorry! They were controlling me. It was like I was watching someone controlling my body by remote."
Light acknowledged her. "Misa, you can't be blamed," he said honestly.
"That's quite forgiving of you, Light Yagami," said the boss.
"They know about Kira, Light," Misa then said, "and they know about the Death Note."
Light looked up at the boss with awe. He couldn't see the expression of the man behind the mask, but he figured he was smiling with mirth. But how did they know? The Kira Task Force knows, L and Watari knew…
Did L send information to someone without Light's knowledge? Watari had wiped the data systems clean just before he died. Light recovered what he could, but he didn't retrieve everything. Or had Misa told them unwittingly when she was still under their control? The latter seemed the more likeable scenario since she just admitted to being brainwashed.
Misa was a liability.
Misa ran to him and then hugged him, and kissed him. Not that he could do anything to stop her. He ordered her to stop, she did, but she remained at his side, on her knees like a servant to her master. The very image, however, caused the boss to laugh.
"How can you stand it? She acts so familiar with you, Yagami," noted the boss.
Light sneered. "Misa knows her place," he said back. "Tell me, why the theatrics?"
The boss straightened his stance, then extended his arms wide in winged-godly fashion. "Killing you here would be child's play. I enjoy taunting my victims. I have so few pleasures. But you, Yagami, took away one of my most favourite things to play with. You murdered him! And you're pay for it!" The boss leaned in close, his eyes narrowed with indignation. Light could see them through two glass slits in his mask. They glowed red.
Light's felt like he was in the presence of pure evil. "What do you mean I murdered him? Who are you talking about? Why do I deserve your contempt? Just know, when I don't check in with the task force, my father will spare nothing to find me."
The boss laughed as he straightened. "Your bravado is amusing. Despite what Misa Amane just admitted to, you don't wish to incriminate yourself. I get that. And when it comes to the Kira Task Force, you've already called in. I synthesized your voice with equipment of my own design. You've decided to take a Personal Day, it is your birthday, after all; Happy Birthday, Light Yagami. And who wouldn't want to spend the day with such a gorgeous creature like the famous actress Misa Amane. You're a lucky man to ensure her heart. But you did punish the killer who murdered her parents. I guess she likes bad boys." He chuckled. "I know all about you, both of you, and I've had you under surveillance for a while. The Kira Task Force won't miss you for at least twenty-four hours. And it's been six so far. We get to play with each other until then."
"Leave him alone!" Misa spoke up. "Tell us what you want!"
"My Homeboy Candles here wants information from you, Whitey," the black man spoke up, obviously an enforcer-type of henchman. He approached with a walk that showed frustration.
Obviously "Candles" was a nickname. Something significant, he thought, and a pseudonym—to hide from Kira. Light stored the information away in his mind for later.
"Onyx!" Candles chided the other. "I won't allow uncouth racist language. Wait outside, now!"
Onyx grumbled under his breath, but ultimately conceded to the order. The big, black brute—Onyx, another pseudonym—stormed away, leaving only "Candles" and the femme fatale left.
"My apologies," "Candles" said to Light. "I'm afraid he hasn't had his vitamins today. And I must apologize once more for not introducing my lovely companion. This is Raven, my own personal siren. I'm sure I don't have to tell you about the story of Odysseus?" "Candles" paused. Light shook his head, knowing the ancient greek tale. "Good," "Candle"s said. "You're an intelligent guy, so I'm sure you can figure out the particulars of how she was able to lure her victims to the slaughter, both sexes, bisexuality is so common these days. But I digress. I want something important from you, Yagami. Other than your life, of course."
"Tell me who I killed that you care for so much that it deserves my death, then we'll talk."
"I never said I cared for him, but he was my Sherlock Holmes, per se," "Candles" said. "He was someone who rivalled my own genius. Before Kira came onto the scene, he and I battled it out in a game of wits. I sent him clues to decipher, riddles, and puzzles. My favourite game with him was Hide And Seek. Sadly, I slipped up and he caught me. I was locked up in an institution for the criminally insane. I was satisfied with the end result of our tête-à-tête, but after I read about Old Man Quillish's death, I just had to come find the man who murdered him. The fossil was a pill, but I respected the hell out of him. He was just as much fun to play with. When I read the obituaries, I knew immediately that there that would never be a rematch. There was no mention of L's death, but L and Watari were a team. Neither went anywhere without the other."
Light gulped. "You knew L?"
"Knew him? We both came from the same orphanage." "Candles" reached for his mask, he looked liked he was able to tear it off, but then relented. But Light did notice a burn mark on the right side of his captor's neck. "Candles" lowered his hand. "I eventually want you to know who I am, these masks are hot, but wearing them is essential to help protect my identity. You see, anyone who has the Shinigami Eyes can see a person's name above their head. But you need both a name and a face to kill a person, as per the rules of the Death Note."
To be continued...
