MISPER

The Ugly Truth

Yuka Sakura's statement was long and thorough. She remembered every detail of these past months, and the officers reading it and creating a time line felt sick by it. To put it objectively:

On April 13th, Yuka Sakura left work at the maternity hospital at 6 o'clock in the evening. As she crossed the parking space to get to the main road, which would led her to the train station, she heard a muffled scream. She took a look around and saw a black-haired man, 1,85 m tall dragging an unconscious pregnant woman into his van. She tried to hide before he would notice her. He noticed her and when she tried to escape and scream for help, he hit her with something over the head.

The next time she woke up, she was lying on the floor, handcuffed to a pole with a massive headache and a gash on her front head. She was alone in the empty room for some time before the man returned. He led her into his van and drove her to an unknown place. There, she had to help the kidnapped woman to give birth. It seemed the man enjoyed if the woman screamed in pain and pushed a thin iron bar into her opening to widen her and speed up the process.

The woman lost a lot of blood and suffered a lot of pain. Once she brought the baby to the world, she lost consciousness. Sakura had to take care of the baby after it was born and had to watch the man kill the woman. With a big round iron stick, he crushed her face so it would be unrecognisable. He also hit other places on her body until she was bleeding everywhere. Then he purred petrol over her body and burned it. He buried the bones in the ground. He did that to every woman he brought with him. And every time he brought Yuka with him. They did not stay at the place where he killed the woman, but drove to another place, which Yuka guessed was the building they had found her in. Whenever he took her with him, he put a band over her eyes, so she would not see anything.

At the beginning, Yuka did not know what he did with the babies. However, a few months of captivity, the man, felt comfortable enough to use his phone in front of her. He talked with different people and discussed illegal adoptions. He kidnapped pregnant women to take their babies, sell them to naive parents and killed the women. What he was doing was pure business of illegal baby trafficking and murder. Yuka did not know if there was an agent involved, but she suspected there was, because the man's appearance was not very pleasant and not trust worthy. She guessed, there had to be another person taking care of the fake paperwork and handing over the new born child.

During her stay, Yuka had been raped whenever the man wanted. Normally, he did not beat her up, but a few days before the police had found her, she tried to commit suicide and the man caught her in the act before she could hand herself. He first patched her up, then beat her up every day to get some sense into her head. He needed her for a smooth birth process. Since she tried to kill herself, he constantly watched her and never stayed out too long. Yuka did not know why he did not simply kill her off, but she guessed, he really needed help in his crimes.

Since the first time she had to help him, she pressed a few nerves on the women' body to make them faint earlier. She did not want them to feel pain.

The description Yuka gave as the crime scene sounded like that: ''It was outside the city. There was no sound around. At least no human sound. I heard animal sounds, like birds and some others I don't know. I heard movements of tree branches if the wind was too strong. It also felt a little colder than back in the city.''

''Do you remember anything else? Something that was different at that place?'' Natsume kept asking, writing down everything and filming the whole conversation. He noticed that Mikan did not move. She held her mother's hand and stared in front of her, lost in thoughts. He also noticed that not once did Yuka name the man as Persona. He would have to clarify that.

Yuka thought about it a little. ''Hmm… Yes. The smell.''

''The smell?''

''Mhm. It was like… Like in a forest. You know, the smell of damp leafs, fresh air, and well… smoke. I also smelt roasted meat, like on a picnic.''

Natsume blinked. ''A picnic?''

''Yes, you know, when you go out with family and friends on a picnic and you roast food – that kind of smell. I was often hungry so my ability to smell got really good.''

''Were there any names of other people the man mentioned, any indication of another person involved?''

Yuka shook her head. ''No names. He was careful not to name anyone he was talking to. But I remembered all the names of the women. I asked them to tell me before…''

Natsume nodded, completely focused. They were getting close. ''Would you mind writing down a list?''

''Just give me paper and a pen. But I only know those during my stay.''

Natsume gave her his notebook. ''Now. I have to ask you this this, Yuka Sakura. Can you confirm that the man who kidnapped you is this man on the photo?'' he showed her the photo of Persona. Yuka's lips trembled. She gulped. ''Yes. Yes, that's him.''

Natsume patted her hand then recited a few other words into his recorder for protocol. As he finished, he gave Yuka time to put down all the names. He glanced at Mikan, but she was lost to the world. ''Miss Mikan.'' Addressed her and she looked up. ''Can I have a word?'' he indicated for them to step outside. She nodded and stood up. A nurse was standing next to Yuka's bed and helped her write. Mikan and Natsume stepped outside and walked down the corridor so the policemen in front of the door would not have to listen to their conversation.

He bought her tea and made her sit again.

''How do you feel now?'' he asked and she shrugged. ''I knew it was horrible. I only needed to hear it.'' She looked up at him. ''Do you think mum will ever be able to live normally again? Because what had happened to her… That's… I can't even imagine how she must feel now. I don't know how I can help her. I just…'' she let out her frustration. ''I don't know how to handle this. I don't know what to do…'' she sniffed but held herself together.

Natsume took her hand and tried to calm her down. ''Both of you will receive all the help possible and I will personally make sure you two will be all right.''

She stared at him, her eyes glassy, and her hands shaking.

''Mikan. You're safe. Your mother is safe. We'll catch him.''

She nodded, taking a breath. ''Yeah… Yeah you're right.'' She smiled weakly at him. ''I think if it's you, I can relax. I completely trust you.''

The words hit Natsume hard and he felt the feeling of pleasure work its way through his whole body. He felt his brain react in a way that was currently not appropriate and he tried to control his urge to do something stupid. His grip on her hand became a little stronger and he could not fight a smile. He did not realize it, but he leaned closer to her. ''I appreciate that. You can count on me.''

They stared at each other for some time, not saying anything. Mikan's cheeks flushed a little and she opened her mouth, stuttering. ''Um… Hyuuga-san… You know- if- if- after you catch Persona- and- if it's not inaprop-''

''Inspector Hyuuga?'' interrupted the nurse that was taking care of Yuka. With his heart rushing, Natsume quickly stood up, glancing back at Mikan then at the nurse. He had to focus. ''Yes?''

''Miss Sakura finished the list. And she's asking for her daughter.'' The woman explained. Mikan slowly stood up, her eyes wide open, her cheeks red.

They followed the nurse back to Yuka's room not saying a word. Once they were there, Mikan sat down next to her mother's bed and took her hand. Yuka gave the paper to Natsume and he glanced over it. There were many names. A whole page and a half of names. So many dead girls. So many children gone.

''Thank you, Miss Sakura. You were a great help. I'll come back to you as soon as we have new information. The police will protect you until we have him.''

''Thank you.''

''Then I'm off to take care of this.'' He walked back to the door and took one final glance back at the young pregnant woman who made him feel so nervous. She glanced back at him and gave him a shy smile. Natsume smiled back, opened the door, and walked out. He heard Yuka tell Mikan to get home.