Prologue

At the edge of a dilapidated village, where shadows loom larger than life, a 17-year-old boy navigates the maze of life alone. With grit forged from years of solitude, he embarks on a relentless quest to find the only family he has left his older brother, vanished without a trace on a fateful night three years ago.

He stumbles upon an enigmatic officer, their initial encounter cloaked in suspicion and mistrust. But fate weaves an unlikely alliance between them, intertwining their paths in an unexpected partnership born of necessity.

***

The oil officer's desk was a maze of papers, a labyrinth of forms and reports begging for attention. Edwin sat, his eyes fixated on the stack of letters in front of him. Another day, another pile of complaints, but among them lay a letter, distinct. Ray's name on the envelope, standing out amidst the mundane bureaucracy.

As Edwin unfolded the paper and his eyes scanned the contents, his curiosity piqued. The message was cryptic, pointing to an issue plaguing the village. The words resonated with urgency and a silent plea for

help.

The next day found Ray in his decrepit home, no, a single room, a haphazard arrangement of scattered belongings and worn-out furniture. He was settled on the floor, preparing to eat his meager lunch when a knock echoed through the silence. He rarely received visitors, maybe once in 2 years or so, let alone unexpected ones. His expression remained impassive, a practiced shield against the world, as he approached the door.

The rusty iron groaned open, revealing a man in a sharp suit—Edwin, the gas officer. His arrival was a surprise, a departure from the typical remote correspondence. Ray merely murmured an indifferent acknowledgment and allowed the officer entry.

Edwin had contemplated his response to the letter, deliberating on a suitable course of action. The sight of Ray's dilapidated living space caught him off guard. A single room, devoid of life, mirrored Ray's solitude. The officer, unsettled by the starkness of the place, realized the gravity of the situation.

Ray offered Edwin some simple 10-buck-lunch that he was preparing to eat. The officer declined, but the exchange led to inquiries about the ongoing issue mentioned in the letter. Edwin probed, seeking more information, only to be met with Ray's characteristic monotone.

"Why are you here?" Ray's voice, flat and devoid of inflection, betrayed none of his thoughts. Edwin replied earnestly, "I'm here to investigate the problem you've reported. It's my responsibility."

Ray's reaction was consistent, his expression unchanging. "I know nothing else," he asserted. "I suspect it's you," he added, a hint of accusation in his voice.

Edwin chuckled, taken aback by the unexpected accusation. The tension eased as both men shared a moment of laughter. The issue at hand was grave—a recurring theft of cooking gas from the village of Paprika every Wednesday night. Even the authorities had failed to unearth the culprit.

Days blurred into weeks as Ray and Edwin pursued their paths separately, each searching for answers in their own way. The shadows of suspicion loomed over the village, hiding secrets waiting to be revealed.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***