It is just a week before the 31st of October, and the investigation department boss, Mr Sir, couldn't drink his cup of coffee. He looked at his favorite drink but this time, the urge to boost his morale with the caffeine in the coffee died walking in.
Every last week before Halloween, an article was always dropped on his desk. Missen after Halloween and Toldya were the latest he read. Nothing seemed different this year as he entered his office and saw a magazine titled, “ Ahead ahead says the time”.
A string of fear gripped his mind, knowing that the unresolved mystery was here again and that he could do nothing about it was a pain that burned through his heart.
He sat on his office chair and picked up his telephone.
A voice sounded from the other side, “Hello."
“ I believe I am talking with a representative of the paranormal investigation unit,” he replied.
“ Yes, you are,” the voice replied.
He introduced himself and was passed on to the Director-General, and they had a lengthy conversation.
“ Do not forget about the subject of discussion,” Mr Sir said.
“ Do not worry, someone will be there in two days,” the Director-General replied, and the call ended with pleasantries.
Mr Sir sighed in relief, knowing that the case was off the criminal investigation unit and now with the paranormal investigation unit. He picked up his cup and took a gulp.
Two days later, a man in his forties arrived at the department at the criminal investigation unit. He was extremely handsome with fully grown sideburns.
“ You can take a seat,” Mr Sir said with a handshake.
“ I am Inspector Dodo Ododo,” the man replied with a smile that eased the fears and worries written on Mr Sir’s face.
He handed a large envelope to Dodo, who collected it with optimism. He opened it and saw a picture in which an attractive mask was snapped on it.
The mask was rainbow colored with a masterpiece of extraordinary beauty, it was carefully crafted to resemble the face of a handsome man. It had a thick, elegant moustache curled gracefully above the upper lip, adding a touch of masculinity, mystery, and sophistication.
“ That is the picture of Toldya,” Mr Sir said and continued after a sip.
“ The mask was found in the room of every missing person during the Halloween holding from years past,” He concluded.
“ How did you know its name?” Dodo asked, showing his milkish set of teeth with his usual smile.
“ Look through thoroughly,” Mr Sir said, and Dodo dug his hand deeper into the envelope and brought out some letters.
In it, it said, Toldya, ahead, ahead says the time”
Dodo's eyes dimmed, and an aura of sadness enveloped the atmosphere.
“ What is the problem?” Mr Sir asked, observing his change in mood.
“ Nothing,” Dodo replied before asking his final questions.
“ Who are the victims?” he said, looking dead serious.
“ Males, around mid-twenties,” Mr Sir replied, and this answer sent a cold shock to Dodo’s brain.
“ Ouch,” he exclaimed.
“ What happened?” Mr Sir said, looking concerned.
“ It is just a sudden headache,” Dodo replied, thanked Mr Sir, and left the office.
Getting to his lodge, he could sleep through the night. The statement “ ahead ahead” was his last words he said to his succubi, Rayra, ten years ago on a Halloween eve when he cast a spell to separate their bond.
He could also remember Rayra saying, “ I won't let this sly, Toldya,” so Dodo knew he was back in the city to clean his mess.
On the fifth day, he walked up to every mall and stall to ask about the rainbow mask, but none of the dealers claimed to have sold it.
On Halloween day, everyone was wearing different masks, roaming around the street, apart from Dodo, who was indoors. He knew that he would have a visitor because he had a score to settle.
Immediately, it was eleven o'clock. Dodo noticed that his environment was as silent as the graveyard, and he peeped through the window only to see that he was at the graveyard and the Jack-o'-lanterns used in designing the route were laughing loudly.
The laughter was so loud that it wanted to deafen Dodo’s ears, so he used his hands to cover his ears. Then something told him to look at the window once more, and he saw Rayra walking majestically towards his building.
She has long, midnight-black hair cascading over her shoulders, and her glowing crimson eyes hold an unsettling intelligence, while her flawless skin contrasts with her dark, elegant gown.
Two small, curved horns emerge from her hair, and she smiles captivatingly yet mysteriously, giving her an appearance that is simultaneously beautiful and terrifying.
She looked up and saw Dodo, then put on the rainbow mask.
Dodo charged towards the door and locked it up. And after that, there were knocks.
“ Open the door, my dear,” Rayra said.
“ No, I won't, Dodo answered, go and find your dear in the afterlife; we are done for good,” Dodo replied.
“ Let me in, and I will give you anything,” Rayra said teasingly.
“ Tell me where the missing people are,” Dodo asked in a shaking voice.
“ If I tell you, will you open the door?” Rayra asked.
“ Yes, I will,” Dodo replied, knowing he was lying but ready to sacrifice his life for the others who are yet to be seen.
“ The missing people are not dead; I only made them invisible and hid their visibility in the wall clock found in their house,” She replied, laughing gigantically.
“ So how can they be released?” Dodo asked again.
“Once the battery of the wall clock is removed and the time is stopped, they will appear again, for the time is not going forward again but is stuck,” she concluded.
“ Now open the door,” Rayra said.
“ I won't,” Dodo replied.
“ If I open the door, who will pass the information to the people?” he concluded.
Rayra pointed her finger at the door, and the door ripped open widely.
“ Do you think I can't open the door?” she asked, smiling and winking at him.
He knew he would not win this war, so he decided to escape through the window, and as he wanted to fly off, Rayra clapped her hands, and Dodo hung in the air.
“ I will make you suffer,” she said, and swung her hand, which made Dodo fly around and hit the wall and ceiling of the room, and within ten minutes, the room had scattered into a chaotic one.
“ Are you ready to take me?” Rayra whispered.
“ No I'd rather die than to live a life without genuine love” Dodo said and this broke Rayra.
“ Then let's end this,” Rayra said angrily, and Dodo smiled as blood dropped from his lips and said, “Have you forgotten”
“ Forgotten what?” Rayra asked, confused.
“ It is twelve o'clock am” Dodo said triumphantly, knowing Rayra would be powerless at that time, and he had acted well to buy the time.
“ No, no, I was lost in time without knowing the time was counting,” She said. Then turned into a dark shadow, which formed a ball shape, and Dodo brought out a ring, and the shadow entered it.
Within a twinkle of an eye, Dodo started to hear passersby's voices again. It is over, he said, looking messed up with a black eye and a broken arm.
Within a week, he rescued the missing and hidden people; then he threw the mysterious ring in the middle of the bimodal triangle.