"Damn! It's an investigator! Let's go, forget about fighting!"
The overcoat man slowly walked by Isa as if he didn't notice her at all. What is happening…? Isa leaned on the brick wall. A sharp pain stung her leg as she moved, making her remember what happened to it just seconds ago. She snapped her head back towards the man that just passed her, who stood now several feet from her. He seemed so calm-the way he stood straight with confidence, his relaxed body posture. Was this an investigator?
"I said run! What are you doing!?" The woman's voice called out far in the distance, her voice was laced with annoyance and fear.
"It looks like he's quite defenceless. Where's your Quinque, ghoul investigator?" The ghoul said.
"No-you don't understand! Please… Fa-"
What is happening? Isa was too in shock to run away. And it was somehow fascinating to see a ghoul investigator for the first time. Her fear inexplicably melted away.
There were sounds quick footsteps. The man disappeared. Reappeared further ahead. Isa was bewildered by his speed. Was that even possible for a human? She stared almost in a trace at everything that happened in front of her the next several seconds. Liquid gushed out from the ghoul. Even though she couldn't see the red, she knew it was blood. His body dropped on the ground, lifeless and cold. Pain gripped Isa's calves as if her muscles were being squeezed until her leg would fall out. Isa's hand instantly grabbed for the painful spot. She felt blood soaking her hand, the coppery smell entering into her senses. Quickly, she ripped the thin material of her blouse and wrapped it around her wound. She groaned and leaned on the wall from the exhaustion. From the corner of her eye she saw the woman-ghoul's silhouette running away, jumping high onto buildings, disappearing in a behind the heights. The investigator gave a lingered stare at where the ghoul ran off, then turned around to look at Isa. He wore glasses-it sparked a memory from a few months ago.
The man from Arôme.
He walked towards her, giving her an emotionless stare, just like the one from the last time they've met.
Isa staggered a bit before she spoke. "Thank you, sir," was all she could say for some reason. "I-are you hurt anywh-"
"How bad is your leg?" His said calmly.
"I won't be able to walk on it for a bit, but other than that, I'm okay. I just need to get it treated-no severe injuries."
Isa learned his name was Arima. He helped her get to the hospital to get treated and left because he had important duties to take care of.
"What will happen with the body?" She asked when he was leaving.
"It will be bagged and taken to a lab. What happens there is none of a civilian's business," Arima turned around, looking Isa in the eye. His gaze relaxed. "You shouldn't be around late at night, it could happen again."
"Yes," she replied as if she was answering a parent.
Then he left, closing the door shut. His footsteps were inaudible due to the thickness of the walls. Isa thought. They both seemed similar. Tatara and Arima. The way they spoke-always interrupting Isa-not that she really minded. They both gave off the serene demeanor and nonchalant stare.
So which one is it? She suddenly thought to herself, then pushing the thought away. It was obviously Tatara. Isa unlocked her phone to call Ina if she could take her home.
Hey. I almost died from a ghoul attack… She thought to say when she called her. Ghouls. The thought came back; the menacing look in her eyes red as blood.
She stared absentmindedly as she waited for Ina to pick up the phone, her mind feeling more hazy each time the dial tone rang in her ear. Ina didn't pick up.
Isa was welcomed to stay a night at the hospital she worked at, she didn't mind too much not being able to go home.
A couple hours passed, she lay awake, not being able to sleep from the throbbings of her injured leg. Also about the experience she had earlier. The fact that she'd actually seen one for the first time-two of them. What had even cut her anyways? Was it a knife? If Arima hadn't been there, she would have been their meal. She shuddered at the dark thoughts. It led back to all the of news on TV about ghouls, then back to what happened to her parents, and then back to what the woman ghoul said.
"This is what we have to go through… Hunted down everyday. This is our lives," Isa repeated. Someone knocked on the door.
"Come in," she said.
The door opened, and to Isa's surprise, it was Arima.
"Arima-san?" Isa said in surprise. He still wore his ghoul investigator coat, but something about him seemed more relaxed, casual.
"I thought you'd want a ride home, considering you're not really in a condition to be hospitalized."