The streets here were full with those devices they called cars. More appropriately, those were machines.
Mater couldn't get used to a crowded city like this. In the old world, the crowded place he came from was the capital of Enderthal. That place had thousands of people.
It was still incomparable to this city. A place with over ten million souls. People were everywhere, pushing, stacking, shoving each other for a space to live.
Mater hated it. His cat's eyes focused on the scenery.
When Selina stopped at a red light, a few pedestrians saw Mater and approached.
"What a cute kitty! He is so well behaved!"
"Look at his smooth black coat!"
Selina smiled and nodded to the pedestrians politely. Some young woman reached her hand out to touch Mater.
"I wouldn't do that. He does not like people!" Selina said.
Mater hissed at the woman.
"What a spicy kitty!" The woman laughed and continued on her path.
"What is wrong with these people? Do they know it's impolite to touch someone else's pet? No, wait. I'm no one's pet!"
Mater looked at Selina.
"Don't worry. I won't let anyone touch you." She looked at him apologetically.
"At least you know what to do." Mater lifted his head in a smug.
The pair continued down on the road, exiting the main streets and approaching a quieter neighborhood.
Selina parked her bicycle in front of a two-stories house with classic design. Mater jumped out of the basket and climbed on her shoulder.
"Let's go!" Mater meowed.
Selina rang the doorbell of the house. After a while, a woman in her late twenties appeared behind the door.
"Miss Rendell! It's me, Selina."
"Oh? Come in, Selina."
The woman couldn't help but notice the new companion on Selina's shoulder.
"Who is this little fella?"
"It's my new cat."
"She goes well with you. A goth with a black cat is a perfect combination."
"I think so too, Miss Rendell. But he is a boy, not a girl."
"Please. Call me Mary. Come inside."
The pair were invited into the house. Selina sat on the couch as Mary prepared tea for the both of them.
"I hope you like tea."
"I do, Mary."
Mary placed the two aromatic cups of tea on the table. White smoke lingered on the surface.
"So? Have you got any news to share with me, Selina?"
"Actually, Mary. I was hoping if we can gain access to Mr. Rendell… Your brother's house."
"We?"
"Yeah. Me and Mr. Mater here. We are a team."
"Mr. Mater is a cute name for a cat. You have a very good taste."
"No. No. It is his actual name. He told me. I didn't name him."
"He… Told you?"
Mary glanced at the lazy black cat as it stretched its body on Selina's shoulder. Mary swore that she saw the black cat winking at her. She must have gone crazy from all the stress lately.
"About the house. What do you intend to find there, Selina?"
"I…"
"You know what. I must have been crazy to hire you. I know David. He wouldn't just kill himself like that. But no one listens to me. Not even the police.
I thought that maybe you can help me get some closure. But now that I think about it. I should just sell the house and get over it."
"No, Mary! You aren't crazy. Your brother didn't kill himself."
Mary jerked backward in surprise. She placed her hand on her chest.
"What makes you say that?"
"I…"
Selina looked over to Mater. "Can I show her?"
Mater rolled his eyes. "The Dark Grimoire doesn't connect to David's death. But sure. You can show her anyway to convince her."
Mater meowed and nodded.
Mary observed everything in a daze. That cat just nodded its head. Could a cat do that?
Selina took the Dark Grimoire out of her backpack and placed it on the table.
"My god!" Mary was startled by the sight of the book. "What is this thing?"
"It's your brother's diary, Mary. It turned into this state last night."
"How?"
"I don't know either. But it is clear that he didn't kill himself. This is definitely the work of a Non-Corporeal Entity."
"NCEs, huh? Yeah. There is a group of people that believe NCEs are real. But they are simply myths."
"When every other option is eliminated, the only thing left must be the truth. No matter how crazy it might sound. Do you really think your brother killed himself?"
"No, I don't… Alright. You convinced me. Wait here."
Mary went away. When she returned, she gave Selina a set of keys.
"These are the keys to my brother's house. You can come inside and take a look. The police were there. I visited that place many times also but couldn't find anything.
What do you hope to find there, Selina?"
"I hope to find answers, Mary. I hope to give you the truth."
"Then I wish you all the best. Maybe you can find something there that I missed."
With that, Selina took the keys and went to David's house with Mater.
Mater's eyes followed Mary closely when they were leaving. His eyes flashed red for a split of a second.
"She has traces of Chaos on her…"
David Rendell's house was a small suburban house in the outskirts of the city. He always liked the quiet atmosphere so when he found a cheap place downtown, he bought it. That was what Mary had told Selina.
When the two of them arrived at the house. Mater immediately jumped off the bicycle and used Chaos Eyes. He could see that Chaos was all over the house. Dense muddy Chaos.
"We came to the right place." Mater meowed.
"I don't know why, Mater. But the house looks hideous in my eyes. Even though it is normal on the outside." Selina said.
"Very sharp, Selina. You are actually correct." Mater meowed again.
The black cat jumped onto the porch of the house and scratched at the doorframe.
"Should we go in?" Selina said.
The black cat nodded.
"Alright! Stay close to me when we're inside, okay? If you run too far, I won't be able to protect you."
Mater rolled his eyes. "It is you who needs to stay close to me, woman."
Selina slotted the key in and turned. The door opened. The deep dark hallway revealed in front of them.