The glow of the laptop screen painted Ciel's face. She scrolled through the missing persons reports as she sat on her new bed. These reports were the most recent ones she managed to acquire and compile, of those who seemingly vanished from the face of the earth. It was a wide reach to consider any of these disappearances to be the work of a vampire, as without basis, missing people could be due to a multitude of reasons.

She had also the list of every influential families within Tokyo. By corroborating the location of their homes and estates, and the missing people, she may find a link and narrow her search. Based on what she's read, there had been a spike within the last few weeks, coinciding with Ciel's arrival. A peculiar timing that would have left her wondering had she not spoken to Megumi.

Two weeks ago...

"About what happened at the cemetery." Megumi shifted the conversation, his expression becoming serious. "Sensei and I fought something. It was some kind of corpse dog - someone's puppet or familiar."

"I've been meaning to ask you about that as well," Ciel said, crossing her arms. "I've got a glimpse of it before Gojo-san provoked it into self-destructing. Based on its appearance, and the level of destruction it caused, I have no doubt that a dead apostle had sent that beast."

Megumi frowned. A suspicion he had that was bitterly confirmed. A vampire of that magnitude roaming the streets in broad daylight was a cause for worry. "Was it hunting for people?"

"It's possible. Vampires do send scouts so to resume activities during the day, even using partially-turned humans as proxy - if they cannot feed on the people themselves, they'll use others to feed for them." Like an invisible extension cord, seeping residue of blood to the main vampire host. "However, if that's all its purpose was, there was no need to give a mere scout that much firepower. You'd think its target was some powerful foe."

The crease in Megumi's brows thickened. "Maybe that's what it was prepared to deal with. I saw it look at the catacombs where you, Itadori, and Kugisaki were. I had a feeling it was after Itadori because of Sukuna, but it might have been after you, Senpai."

"...That is concerning." Ciel gripped her chin. On one hand, if that scout was after Yuji, then that implied its maker was interested in the second soul he carried. On the other hand, if it was after her, then her cover was blown. However, Ciel believed it was not the second reason, as she never had any trouble masking her scent even against strong dead apostles.

But why would Roa be interested in Sukuna?

Roa shouldn't even be partially conscious at this point. Not at this hour, not this soon. The fact that vampire had enough resources and energy to raise the dead, and create such a familiar was surprising in itself. That it would leave scorched bodies, or possibly none at all-

-!

Wait. That's not right.

The first victim she came across was someone who was bitten and bled to death. Knowing how Roa behaves, leaving a body burnt beyond edible - for a vampire - that not even blood would remain, it didn't make sense. That was not Roa's MO. Was it because his current host was influencing him? Or...

Could there be another dead apostle involved? Ciel subtly gritted her teeth.

"-Senpai?" Megumi called out to her after she suddenly fell silent.

Ciel immediately loosened the tension in her jaw and hid her worries with a placate expression. "Sorry. I was just wondering if there are any more of those familiars around. They could pose some trouble if no one takes care of them quickly."

And there's no one more fit for the job than Ciel. As much as she would mourn the thought of putting a dog down, it would be a merciful kill to exorcise those hounds.

"Sensei thinks it might have been sent here by plane," Megumi said. "There was an incident that happened at Narita Airport. The victims were burned alive, inside and out."

After giving more details, Ciel pondered over it. "The connection does seem apparent in which fire is involved. Has your coroner made a thorough examination?"

"Maybe. I'll have to ask Sensei. The thing is, after he left, the police tried to take the bodies, but the bodies ended up crumbling."

So no evidence, and thus, no absolute confirmation (or body for their families to bury).

"I see. I would tell your teacher to keep a close eye on that airport. If that dog was sent by plane, it may not be the only one."

Megumi nodded. "I'm sure he wanted to ask you himself, but I know how you feel around him."

"I appreciate that," Ciel genuinely said before glancing at Megumi's uniform. "I'm surprised he's convinced you to become a sorcerer, and with him as your teacher no less. I remember you saying you weren't interested. What changed?"

Megumi's expression became terse, he looked straight ahead. "...Something happened. I had to become a sorcerer so that I could do something about it."

"Such as?"

He gave another pause, then turned to Ciel. "It happened last year-"

"Hmm..."

Ciel paused her scrolling. She typed in the search bar, inputting an address. When she pressed enter, four results pulled up. She opened another tab to access maps. Entering the address, she watched as the map pointed to the street.

Some of these reports share a similar location of where the missing people were last seen. It was the link she'd been searching for. Looking further, there were other disappearances within the same area, as if heading for - or from - the same direction.

She expanded the search. The map enlarged and one location in particular caught her eye.

Eishuu Juvenile Detention Center.

The screen of her cell phone lit up next to her hip. Another text and funny video sent by Yuji, one of the many messages received over the past week. Ciel was too preoccupied to answer, her eyes narrowed at the map.

"Are you sure you want to interview them, young lady?" The officer holds open the hallway door. "These aren't some misunderstood ruffians. I can't promise they won't say anything inappropriate."

Ciel smiled through her disguise. "Don't worry. I have a tough skin, or else I wouldn't think to do this for my school project."

Inside the Eishuu Juvenile Detention Center, Ciel - under an alias - was being escorted to the visiting room by a guard. She had snuck her way in through the front door, under pretense that she was here for reasons and gaps easily filled in by her Suggestion Spell, convincing the staff members of this facility, including the warden.

She wouldn't have been prohibited from entering had she gone through the proper procedures, but this method alone saves her the time and trouble. There were still some convincing and paperwork she had to do, however. With her baby face, it was bound to cause some delays, but Ciel was patient.

She thought it would take a little while before she would see the inmates, but apparently, as soon as the others heard of a high school girl wanting to speak to them, many were very eager to answer.

"Yeah, this place is rough. The food here sucks!"

"My family used to visit. Not so much anymore. They're not that busy."

"Give me your number and I'll answer any questions you have, sweetheart~"

These were the general answers Ciel received. Her approach was to question their treatment within the detention center. Ignoring the flirtations, what she was looking for was suspicious activities the inmates themselves have noticed. Of course, no such answers would be easily said with the detention guard standing behind her, and two behind the inmate, but Ciel already knew that.

It didn't need to be directly stated. Just the tiniest bit of information or clue, whether through the inflections of their words or body language - something so minuscule, could lead to a bigger discovery.

"Have you made any associates during your time here?"

Ciel prodded with the same question she had given to the other inmates. Naturally, she couldn't be outright and ask "have you noticed the guards or your cellmates sucking anyone's blood lately?" She had a cover to uphold.

The nineteen-year old before her did not immediately respond, seemingly registering her words. Or perhaps wasn't interested in answering at all.

"Hey! She asked you a question." The guard behind the inmate said. "Have some manners. Someone other than your own mother actually came to see that ugly mug of yours."

The inmate, Tadashi Okazaki, huffed at the insult. Ciel noted the subdued hostility between the guards and the inmates. The power dynamic between those who held authority, and those who were suppressed under it, it was a suitable "feeding ground" for a dead apostle. However, she had yet to uncover any evidence of vampire activity. She'll need to dig deeper.

Ciel puts down her pen, pausing her writing of her notebook she had on her lap. "It's alright. Mr. Okazaki isn't obligated to answer."

Tadashi raised his eyes and saw Ciel's kindness shining in her softly-given smile. "If he doesn't mind my being here, I'm willing to wait until he feels comfortable."

The lack of judgment in her words - not to mention beauty - was enough to break down Tadashi's walls instantaneously. "...I don't mind."

"Don't let your guard down around these lot. There's a reason why most of their families stopped coming."

This was the advice given by one of the guards after Ciel finished her interview. She looked up to the guard, "Does that happen often?"

"Lately, it seemed like we've been getting less and less sign-ins. I don't blame 'em. These delinquents did bad things - some worse than others. What parent would be proud of that?" He was speaking unprofessionally, yet there was a disclosed sympathy to the family in question.

Ciel held some doubt towards the statement. Not every parent would agree with everything their children did, but that didn't always lead to disownment. Some parents were even blind to their children's faults. Thinking as a person who came from a family of unconditional love, it didn't seem likely that there was intentional abandonment here. Based on what the inmates told her, there had been no particular fallout between them and those who came to visit, enough to warrantee the abrupt cut contact.

However, Ciel had not converse with all the inmates, as that would take more time, paperwork, and permission. So she could not be certain either. "Had there been a lot of arguing during visits?"

"Almost every day. Some inmates get too agitated, and we would have to end their session early."

"They would get violent? Would they be detained back to their cells?"

"No. If there's anyone acting up, we put them in solitary. We'd also get requests to transfer those who keep it up, mostly due to overcrowding. It's a new system that was just placed in, and it looks like it's working. There's barely any noise around here anymore."

Ciel thought back to the expression she's read on the inmates she interviewed. The way their answers ranged from lax and unfiltered, to controlled and evasive when she broached the subject regarding the guard's treatment. As if they were afraid to speak it, in a way that could mean their punishment.

Prisoners transferred out of the blue, combined with the lack of visits from their families. It'd be easy for such people to slip through the cracks and disappear. Hardly anyone would notice apart from their extended relatives, but who's to say they would be aware that those people came here? And who else would associate, let alone check in frequently, with criminals behind bars aside from their closest relatives or friends - those who would visit in person? It'd be a plus as well if there were no extended families to worry, with such information likely accessed by this facility.

It was a theory. And Ciel intended to explore it.

The tour lasted another hour. Ciel excused herself to the restroom and left the guards to stand outside the door. She hid within one of the stalls and immediately lifted her Suggestion Spell, instantly vanishing from the memories of those she had just spoken with.

After a moment, the guards - not knowing exactly why they had been standing there - returned to their posts, and Ciel went to work. In such a highly-secured location, there were challenges and obstacles to be expected, but they were nothing Ciel couldn't overcome. Earlier, she obtained a map of the whole facility and memorized the routes. It was with that map she discovered there was a sewer system underneath the detention center. She knew that was where she needed to investigate.

Sneaking past security was no issue, as she was a quick blur in their camera feed. As for the guards, Ciel avoided being spotted by them. Even if she were inches away did they never notice her presence while she hid behind a corner. Bypassing a locked door using a keycard she nabbed from one of the guards, she reached a spiral staircase and, sensing no life below, leapt through the gap, easily reaching the very bottom.

The further Ciel went, the less and less guards there seemed to be, until there was no one. She bypassed another locked door and entered a new hallway. It was much darker here. The ceiling lights completely off. There were rooms on each side of the wall, all closed behind heavy metal doors. Solitary Confinement.

There seemed to be about a dozen of them in this hallway alone, yet Ciel sensed no people in any of these rooms. It didn't appear as if anyone's come down here, not for long anyhow. She saw the security cameras but noticed none of them were on, and so Ciel calmly walked down the hall.

There should be another entrance that leads to the sewer system through here. If Ciel's theory was correct, those who were originally held in these rooms would be moved there, and then...

Tap. Tap.

Ciel halted at the sounds of footsteps. She chose to wait, even as the light of a flashlight shone in her direction.

"Hey! Who's there!"

The light landed on her figure, and she was spotted. Two detention officers stepped towards her from the end of the hall, demanding her not to move.

"Now what do we have here?" One of them said. The darkness mostly masked their faces, but even under the shadows of their hats, Ciel saw it clear as day. The dark crimson of their eyes.

Vampires.

"This is a restricted area, missy. Who let you in?"

Ciel pretended to fidget with her hands, presenting herself as benign. "I'm sorry. I got turned around."

She concocted a lie that she was here to visit her brother, despite her parents forbidding her to, and she ended up getting lost. She begged the officers to not inform her parents, suggesting that no one else knew she was here.

The officers looked at each other, an agreement in their gaze. They assured they won't tell, and to follow them for the exit. Expressing relief, Ciel complied and they led her through the dark hallway. One of the officers walked behind her, ensuring she would not flee.

"Don't mind the electricity. We're doing some re-wiring here," the officer in front of her excused. "Just stick close to us. We'll take you outside."

"Thank you," Ciel answered with a convincing smile. It was obvious what they intended to do with her. Just their conditions alone confirmed it. With luck, she might be taken directly to their lair, where their master reside.

The stench of death thickened the further they walked. Any other person wouldn't be able to tell, but to Ciel, it was more than noticeable. Which meant there'd been casualties. Around two-handfuls of missing reports led her to this place. Who knows how many more these men were able to bury.

-! What?

She felt something. A graze to her system at the back of her head, at her magical sensor. It was distant, as if it was somewhere outside. An ominous presence that was steadily growing.

Is this-?

An alarm went off. The hallway suddenly blared with a flashing light, bleeding into the room and then fading out. Over and over.

"-?! The hell?" The officer up front lifted his flashlight to the alarm.

"A fire?" The second officer questioned. He looked to his associate. "What do we do?"

There was some hesitation before the first officer answered. "Ignore it. It's probably just a drill."

The nicety fell as he barked. "Hurry up! We'll wait it out until it's over."

They grabbed Ciel's arms and dragged her along, hastening their steps. "Just keep following us. If you know what's good for you."

Ciel did not object. Her eyes hardened as she felt the ominous presence continue to grow, surrounding them like a cape falling over their environment. This was not the air of a dead apostle. Instead, it felt more like-

A curse?

The moment she thought of this as she was pushed through an open door, the world around them changed.

Author's Note: I thought about how Ciel would sneak into the Detention Center. She could have just snuck in via under the moving truck and hide behind boxes and etc., but then I wrote this instead. Maybe it would have made more sense if she avoided direct contact buuuut this idea popped into my head and I just rolled with it. Let me know what you guys think.

I said before that I should focus on JJE next, but I'm on a roll here with this fic and now I don't know how to stop and when to switch. It's got me in its grip! I kind of squeezed out that ending there, though, which is why it was abrupt. It helps not to write so much like how I usually do.

Hopefully that means I've had my fix and will be switching over to working on and updating my other stories. We'll see!

Thanks for reading! See you next time! Happy Labor Day!