CASE 0 - THE BRIEFCASE EFFECT
'Do you see the target?' Terror asked Light while getting up from a prone position, they were stationed on top of a rooftop, binoculars in hand.
Light still stared into his binoculars, observing the scene closely.
'He's met with another man, probably doing the "deal" we were told about. The target is wearing a brown suit and black pants and the receiver's donning a blue shirt with jeans.' replied Light, removing his eyes off the binoculars for a second.
'Alright, I'm about to block the exit now, Despair, you know what to do.' said Terror, his voice reaching Despair through the microphone fitted in his ear.
'Roger that, Terror.' replied Despair. He kickstarted the engine of his Harley Davidson, a green bike that was almost like an airplane to him, never going below 80 unless necessary. He was parked right beside the alley, his engine growling amidst the silence. Despair twisted the throttle as his bike sped up forward, the engine roaring alongside as he swiftly took a right turn and sped up into the alley towards the two men exchanging briefcases.
He slammed the brakes of his bike as he stopped right in front of the staggering men who stumbled back, dropping the briefcase on the ground.
They immediately withdrew their loaded-up pistols from their pockets and aimed it at Despair's head, their fingers hovering over the triggers.
Despair stepped off of his bike with a smug grin on his face, he was confident nothing was going to happen to him.
Slight footsteps came from behind him.
The men moved their gaze to the footsteps.
In came Terror, walking with his hand in his pocket, a smirk on his face, a laid-back expression. This mission was really nothing special for them, afterall, Makix, the planet they were on, always had these sorts of stuff going around it.
'Hello Gentlemen,' said Terror, stopping beside Despair. 'Sorry to interrupt your business. I'll be taking it from now on. You definitely know who I am right? Don't you?' said Terror in a sarcastic tone, as confident as Despair in his abilities.
'Piss off! We ain't handing it to y'all. Heh, you put up a good effort catching us but, do you really think we'd hesitate putting a few bullets through this partner of yours?' replied the target, parodying the same sarcastic tone as Terror.
BANG!
A bullet pierced through the receiver's head as his body immediately fell to the ground. A warm sensation spread against his face, blood pooled out of the wound onto it.
Despair held a gun in his hands aimed towards the two men.
The target breathed shakily as he took a step back, it was them who didn't hesitate to put a bullet.
The man aimed his gun towards Despair's head, his hands trembling, not being able to keep a steady aim. He fired but, the bullet flew past Despair, completely missing him.
Despair aimed towards the target's leg as he shot a bullet which pierced right through his bone.
The man groaned loudly in pain as his legs trembled to the ground, his gun fallen in front of him, his slight groans audible.
Terror slowly walked up to the man, his eyes never breaking contact as he stopped right before the man. His brought his hands close together, he was about to perform the execution. Just as he lifted one of his hands up, about to clap-
'HEY! I know you!' yelled a man, standing in front of the alleyway. 'You're that man! The criminal from another world or something! You don't even belong here!'
'What's he talking about?' thought Terror.
'I know that person next to you too! I'll tell everyone! I'll tell the whole damn country! None of your secrets are safe anymore!' yelled the man, his eyes filled with rage, his voice filled with slight fear.
The target started to crawl away as Terror and Despair watched the yelling man but, Terror heard the rustle. His eyes immediately darted towards the target's.
'No,' muttered the target, whimpering.
Terror clapped his hands twice. The sound echoed multiple times in the man's ears and then he felt…true Terror.
The man vanished into thin air, into nothing. No smoke, no dust, nothing.
Terror shifted his eyes towards the yelling man. 'Despair! Don't let him get away! If he leaks it to the public, then…'
'We aren't allowed to, we could only kill the two of them, he's not part of it, we can't just-'
'There's no time to think about it, just do as I say!' yelled Terror.
'But SCREAM, if we kill an ordinary person, there'll be consequences, I don't have the goddamn time and energy to deal with that.'
'Just do it! DO IT!' yelled Terror and as soon as he did, Despair vanished, leaving a gust of wind behind.
Slice
The man's neck split into two, blood gushing out of the wound as his pupils dilated. The head slid off his neck as it dropped down to the ground along with his body.
Behind it stood Despair, wiping the blood off of his knife with his hands, a grin on his face.
'Mission's done but, the real hassle starts now.' said Terror as he took a step forward, feeling tired and worried.
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCREAM Headquarters, Makix, 29th May 2016;
Terror, Despair and Light sat on a desk on the right side of the large hall room. At the end of it, sat the judiciary officer of SCREAM and beside him stood a familiar face. The room was scattered around with other officials but they didn't matter.
The judiciary officer cleared his throat. 'Terror, we came to know what you did on your last mission. This is against the Inter-Dimensional Laws upheld by SCREAM.' his voice echoed throughout the chamber.
'Sir, I acted out of necessity,' Terror replied firmly, but his tone had a sense of desperation, 'It was critical for maintaining the secrecy of SCREAM. I didn't intend it to be an act of defiance.'
'And yet, every action comes with its own consequence.' The judge said with a light sigh. 'As the captain of Team 8, you are undoubtedly familiar with this principle. The repercussions of your actions cannot be ignored. So, in accordance with the Inter-Dimensional Laws governing detective agencies and the world commissions, we hereby sentence you and your two partners to a 6-month suspension from SCREAM.'
Terror gasped, he couldn't believe he was being suspended for protecting SCREAM's own secrets.
'Effective immediately, the three of you will be exiled to Earth. You are to survive without any assistance from SCREAM—no resources, no guidance and not even your abilities. You'll live, eat and sleep as ordinary beings. After 6 months, you may return to claim back your roles. Until then, the court is adjourned.' He finally finished speaking, leaving the three bewildered.
'Hell nah,' 'Shit,' 'Damn it,' Terror, Despair and Light muttered under their breath respectively, each sharing the same expression.
'Hope, if you would do the necessary.' said the officer, looking towards the man beside him and signalling with his hand.
Without missing a beat, Hope nodded as he immediately twirled his index finger in the air.
A portal erupted out of thin air right in front of Terror and the team, a golden vortex swirling in the middle of it.
Terror knew what to do, they had to step in. The three of them moved out of their desks as they approached the portal.
Sudden rushing footsteps approached them from their side, it was Hope and another familiar person with him.
They stopped right beside the three and Hope said 'It'll be hard to manage and do missions with just Mist and me, but we'll try our best and I hope that you do your best too, Captain. See you in 6 months.' slightly bowing his head to Terror.
Terror's annoyed face turned to a smile as he stepped forward and was consumed by the vortex.
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
London, Earth, 2016;
Terror sat on a bunch of crates on the sidewalk as Despair leaned on the wall beside him while Light stood in front of him, his face frustrated.
'I can't believe you guys got me banished along with you. It has already been 2 hours since we've arrived here and all we've done is sit and do nothing!' said Light, he needed work, he needed a purpose.
'So now what, Terror?' asked Despair.
Terror sat on top of the crates, chin on fist, thinking deeply about something. 'Let's see, I think I might have an idea.' said Terror.
'What is it?' asked Despair.
Terror deeply sighed as he said 'We are doomed, shit.' shoving his head into his palms.
Despair and Light stood speechless, what idea did Terror have that he had to cancel it at the last moment?
'I think I have a better idea than the one you thought,' said Light, interrupting the long silence. 'Terror and Despair, wait here and I'll ping you a location once all the preparations are done.
'Alright then be quick, this place smells like piss.' said Despair with disgust on his face.
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 Hours Later;
160 Red Weed Alley — Block 2, Number 4
Terror and Light stood in front of the address, surveying their surroundings.
'This is it,' Light said, gesturing to the worn-down building in red and white. 'Block 2, Number 4.'
He sighed.
'But seriously, what in the abomination is this?' Muttered Light.
Terror stepped forward, his eyes narrowing at the enormous sign above the entrance. "Terror detective agency."
Terror jaw opened wide, his eyelids opened wide, what in the world was he witnessing? Terror detective agency? Light had the brilliant idea to open a detective agency? And what the hell is this lame name, sounded more like a gang than a detective agency.
Two men walked by the building, glancing at it in intrigue.
'Ha! What is this? A joke? "Terror Detective Agency"? What a name! I'd wish you luck, mate. Besides, we've got Scotland Yard. We don't need amateurs. Even one of their employees is probably better than the two of you combined!' said one of the men, a smug expression on their face.
'Enjoy your skit buddy.' said the other man, walking onwards.
Without wasting a second, Despair stepped forward towards the men, a look of disgust on his face, like looking at actual filth and trash.
He walked up to the men as he stopped right beside them, the men stared at him in confusion.
'Atleast I touch grass unlike you two baby elephants.' Said Despair.
The two men instantly trotted away, muttering insults under their breath.
Despair turned back toward the building, staring at the sign. The office entrance looked shabby at best, with a cramped room visible through the windows—clearly meant for the three of them to live in.
'Well, so this is how Terror detective agency starts I guess.' said Terror, looking up at the sign. 'Well then, let's begin…the cases of Terror?' said Terror as he stepped forward towards the building.