I'm so sorry! I know I promised to get this up by Sunday, but, well... I don't want to make excuses or go into detail, but basically I was really wound up for all of Friday and Saturday, and by Sunday it all caught up with me. But I'm fine now, and I wrote most of this this evening so that I could get it up as soon as possible. I hope you like it.
By the time he steps inside the foyer of the building, Light is significantly calmer. He is Kira, cleansing the world of criminals with a notebook that can kill; he is not easily spooked by a child's doll and some writing.
He walks into the main room with his father. The lights flicker as they enter, but Light pays little attention. Only L is there, the others having not yet arrived. The detective barely gives them a cursory glance before looking back at the large stack of papers he is examining.
"Good morning. If the two of you don't mind, there are some interesting notes I would like you to look at." He holds out two folders. "I received this information last night."
Light opens the file. The first item is a printout of a report from one of L's many contacts. The title alone makes him go cold.
Document #3179
Re: Disturbed graves
Since the last report, further investigations have been conducted to determine that this is an isolated incident occurring only in Japan. Victims of Kira who were buried rather than cremated have had their graves subjected to vandalism. Gravestones have been scratched with a sharp metal object, possibly a crowbar, in a distinct pattern to resemble claw marks. The earth around the graves has also been disturbed. Four particular graves, those of _________________, have holes measuring 10cm in diameter in the earth directly above where the heart would be on the body buried beneath. These holes, likely made with a modified postholer, go all the way down to the coffin. The bodies themselves were undisturbed.
A more noteworthy fact is that the graves of _________, _______ and ________ were also disturbed. As the deaths of these three at the hands of Kira was a fact that is only known by the most high level of investigators, it may be considered that there is a leak in the system.
It is as yet undetermined who the perpetrator or perpetrators of this vandalism may be, or whether they are in favour or against Kira.
Light wants to keep rational, wants to cling on to the logical explanation printed on the paper, but he cannot help but think that the report is wrong, that this was not just some act of vandalism. And when he turns the paper over to see a photograph, he wishes that he had eaten that breakfast, because his stomach lurches worryingly and he knows.
The photograph is of one of the graves, clearly taken by the agent to show L what he was investigating. Light recognises the name on the stone as one he wrote in the Death Note, but that isn't what catches his attention. There are indeed four long, deep grooves in the stone that resemble scratches, and Light could easily have believed that they were caused by some implement like a crowbar…
…if he couldn't see the real cause in the picture.
There is something lurking behind the gravestone, a creature concealed in the shadows. Two ink-black eyes stare out from a deathly pale face, a red-gash mouth grinning wickedly at him. Its hand – if it could be called a hand, for it looks more like a fusion of metal and bone, wickedly sharp – is curled around the gravestone, clawtips sunk deep into the granite. Light cannot help but remember the scratching noises from before, fearing that this was the true cause.
"Is this a joke?" he cries, ignoring the waver in his voice.
L looks up at him blankly. "I'm sorry? What do you mean, Light?"
"This picture! Did you do this to freak me out?" He thrusts the offending article in the detective's face. L takes it from him, holding it delicately between thumb and forefinger.
"I did not realise Light was 'freaked out' by gravestones," L comments dryly, one eyebrow raised. "Or is it the name? Perhaps you knew the deceased individual?"
Soichiro flips to his own copy of the picture. "I don't recognise the name myself."
Light looks at them both, and then at the picture L is still holding. "You mean you can't see it?"
"See what?" the two say in unison.
Ryuk peers over the detective's shoulder. "Dunno if it makes you feel better, but I can see it, Light."
L is studying Light carefully. "Is everything alright? You do not look well."
Running a shaky hand through his hair, Light manages a smile. "Sorry. I think the stress of the case is getting to me. I just got a little spooked by the scratch marks." He gives the photo a quick glance to confirm that yes, the creature is still there, and yes, it is still looking at him with those endless black eyes. Soichiro walks around the table to his son, and that is when things start to go wrong.
The lights go out, hurling the trio into total darkness. Light cannot see anything, but he hears L move out of his seat.
"It may be a short. The generators should kick in soon." There is a faint glow of blue light as the detective retrieves his phone from his pocket. "Hello, Watari? What is the situation?"
Light's nerves are on edge. In the darkness, his mind supplies a thousand horrifying images of what could be all around him, waiting to attack when his guard is down. He can hear L speaking on the phone and his father's irritated huffing, but behind all of that is something else, something that sends a bolt of fear down his spine.
Kira…
Kira…
I can see you, Kira.
Light holds back a yelp and looks around him, trying to find the source of the voice. He actually screams when the lights come back on, illuminating Ryuk's curious face staring right into his own. Surprised by his cry, L regards him once more.
"Perhaps Light should go home? If you are this tense, you will not be productive today."
Light curses under his breath. Years, years he has spent creating his outer self, acting exactly how he was expected to, behaving like the model citizen, and he loses it in front of the person he most needs to hide from. He smiles, satisfied that he can still at least manage that. "Perhaps you're right, Ryuzaki. But I think I'll be alright in a moment. I may just go outside for some air."
L nods. "You'd better take the stairs. The power may cut out again, and I'm sure Light would not appreciate being stuck in a lift."
Light turns to leave, but not before taking one final glance at the photograph.
The creature is gone.
-x-
As Light walks down the many flights of stairs, he fumes at the cameras he passes. Because the cameras mean that Light cannot respond to Ryuk's taunting.
"Hey, Light, how come you're all scared? You can't be scared of a little ghosty!"
Light says nothing, but his lips tighten and he clenches his fists.
"Hey, did you see that picture? The thing wasn't there any more. Maybe it escaped from the photo! Hoho, that would be fun!"
Light stops, but not because of the shinigami's words. He has reached a window in the stairwell, and leans closer to examine the glass.
Across the pane are four deep claw marks. The glass is cracked in spider web patterns, but has not shattered. Light goes even closer, his breath fogging up the glass as he tries to formulate some explanation for this.
As he does so, the whole pane caves inwards, as if hit with some invisible force.
He flinches back and runs down the remaining stairs, Ryuk's hoarse laughter chasing him all the way.
-x-
Light does not return to work that day. He spends most of the time (hiding under the blanket) on the internet, researching hauntings. Ryuk enjoys this immensely, merrily informing Light that he wouldn't find anything about what was happening to him.
"And what would you know about it?" Light snaps.
Ryuk does not respond, instead taking a victorious bite of his apple and smiling even wider.
-x-
No unexplainable events happen for the rest of the day, giving Light a chance to calm himself down, even to the point where he is sure enough to write more names in the Note. He returns to the Investigation HQ the next morning, confident and smiling.
"I trust that Light is feeling better this morning?" L asks, not looking in the least bit interested.
"Of course, Ryuzaki. I'm fine. I just didn't want to hamper the investigation yesterday, so I stayed at home to recuperate."
The rest does indeed seem to have done Light good, as he is perfectly composed for the whole day, only starting once when Matsuda drags a chair across the room with a scraping sound. The team even make substantial progress, compiling charts of Kira deaths and generally being spun in circles by Light's underhanded scheming.
When the day is finished and everyone goes to leave, L calls Light to hang back. Once the rest of the team has departed, the detective puts down his fork and examines Light with a piercing gaze.
"What did you want, Ryuzaki?"
L blinks, startled out of his stare. "Hmm? Oh yes, Light. I wanted to talk to you about yesterday. Please, sit." Light takes a seat across from the detective. "Now, I need to know if that will happen again. I cannot have one of my best investigators taking time off because of stress. However, I also understand that you would not be able to work efficiently in that state. Therefore, I suggest that if you cannot cope, you must leave the investigation."
Stunned, Light takes a moment to respond. "I don't think that's necessary, Ryuzaki. I am fine. It was just a bad day. Please, I would very much like to stay on the Kira Investigation. Kira is a blight on our society that we have to stop."
Satisfied, L nods to indicate that Light may leave.
Light presses the call button on the lift, thinking as he waits for the doors to open. Was he really losing his grip that badly? He could not afford for L to remove him from the team. Without inner knowledge of the investigation, he would be at a great disadvantage, and could even be caught. He shudders at the thought that some invisible spook might actually destroy his dream. Why was he so scared, anyway? He hadn't actually seen the creature in the flesh, only in a photograph, and that could easily be faked. Nothing had actually happened directly to him.
Well, not yet.
As Light enters the lift, he suddenly gets a horrible premonition that something bad is about to happen, a feeling further exacerbated when Ryuk floats out of the wall and leaves him alone. He tries to open the doors again, but it is too late – the lift has already begun its descent.
Halfway between the fifth and fourth floors, Light's fears are confirmed. The power goes, bringing the lift to a shuddering halt. He presses the Emergency Call button, hoping that Watari is watching on the cameras.
It is L's voice that comes from the speakers.
"Light? Are you in the lift?"
"Yes, can you hurry up and get the power going again?"
"Watari is headed to the basement now to check what is wrong." He sighs, the noise crackling over the speakers. "I was told that the problem had been fixed. My apologies, Light, I did not krkifsssssh…"
L is cut off with a hiss of static.
"Ryuzaki? L? Are you there?" Light's voice rises with his panic.
"I'm here, Kira."
A new voice. Light pales as he recognises it from the day before.
"Who-who are you?"
The voice chuckles. "I am many things, Kira. For you, I am Vengeance."
Regaining a little of his sense, Light retorts, "I don't know what you think you are, but I am most certainly not Kira. How did you get access to the building? Only select members of the Police Force are allowed in here."
"I am where I am needed," the voice answers ambiguously. "Kira, Kira, Kira," it sings. "You cannot hide the blood on your hands."
Light cannot stop himself from checking his hands are not coated crimson. The voice finds this even more amusing. "I will take you, Kira, and I will make you pay for all that you have done."
"I haven't done anything! You're just some twisted person who's managed to access the intercom. If you don't mind, please restore the power and let me get on with my life."
The voice falls silent, and Light smiles. He is not so easily bested.
"Would you prefer a display of my power?" it speaks, after a pause.
Light falters. He is certain that this is just a twisted hacker screwing with his head, but…
"No, thank you," he responds, far more confident than he feels. "I am not impressed by cheap tricks. Please would you do as I asked, and restore the electricity?"
Silence. Then,
THUMP
The whole lift shakes as something lands on top of it. The voice speaks, but now it is not only coming from the speakers but above him, all around him.
"I do not listen to murderers, Kira. But I will tell you this. I am ancient, I am everlasting, I am all-knowing. I can find you on the highest mountaintops or at the bottom of the deepest ocean. You have summoned me with your acts, and you will pay for them."
The roof of the lift crumples, five claws ripping through the metal. They glisten with blood. Light shrieks and hits the floor.
"I am enjoying playing with you, Kira. I will not take you here. No, you shall suffer, suffer for what you have done…"
The claws pull away and Light breathes again, his heart hammering in his chest. He tries to grab the handrail and pull himself back up, but his hands are slick with sweat.
Finally, the power comes back on and the lift resumes its descent. Light jumps as the speakers buzz again, but it is L, only L…
"Light? Light, can you hear me? Please answer immediately." L actually sounds worried.
"Ye-yes, I can hear you."
"What happened? The emergency cameras cut out."
"It was nothing, Ryuzaki, nothing. I'm fine, really. I just need to go home now."
"Very well."
The lift has reached the ground floor now, and Light manages to stand, leaving the lift as fast as his trembling legs will carry him. As he walks out of the building, he glances back, almost expecting to see the creature standing behind him. Its words echo in his head.
You will suffer for what you have done.
A couple of my reviewers last time made guesses as to what is happening, and I'd be intrigued to know what your opinions are. Who or what do you think is haunting him? What do you think it will do?
I'll try to get the next chapter up within a few days.