Residual Latency

Chapter 2

Avani pulled a brown cardigan over her white button-up as she checked the time. The clock on the wall read 1:50. She slipped on her black loafers, running a hand through her hair. Knowing Ciela, she would be late. Avani wasn’t sure why she had gotten dressed on time if she knew that—maybe in the hopes Ciela would be punctual for once.

Avani sighed, sitting on the kitchen stool while she waited. The events with the bodies had been plaguing her mind lately. Was she really overthinking it? Hopefully, sharing this with Ciela would shed some light on the situation...

Just as she was mulling over the case, she heard a knock at the apartment door.

"Coming," she called to who she assumed was Ciela.

Opening the door, her eyes met her co-worker’s.

"Hm. Not a bad time, all things considered," she hummed, turning to the clock. It read 2:19.

"Oh, be quiet already. Now c'mon, there's this café down the road I want to take you to," Ciela said, leading Avani out of her apartment and waiting for her to lock the door.

"A rather cliché place to talk, but I'll allow it," Avani said, following Ciela down the hall to the elevators.

"Whatever. Not like you'd rather be anywhere else anyway," Ciela huffed.

Avani simply hummed in lieu of a reply.

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Walking down the street, the skies were clouded over, providing a slightly dreary but calming atmosphere.

Ciela opened the door to a small but cozy café Avani hadn't seen before. The wooden floors and beige walls created a warm, welcoming feeling, with plants lined up by the windows and mahogany tables surrounded by comfortable-looking chairs and couches. Everything—from the chalkboard menus to the contrasting colors and soft lighting—added to the cozy ambiance.

A young woman at the counter greeted them with a smile.
"Hello, what can I get for you today?" she asked in a calm tone.

"Hmm, I'd like a London Fog, please," Ciela answered after glancing at the neatly written font on the chalkboard.

"Okay, one London Fog. What would you like, ma'am?"

"Uh... a macchiato, please."

"All right. Paying separately?"

"Together is fine," Ciela said with a smile, pulling out her wallet.

"Are you sure?" Avani asked, feeling slightly guilty for letting her friend pay.

"My treat," Ciela replied, paying for their drinks.

"Would you like a receipt?" the woman asked.

"No, I think I'm okay. Thank you," Ciela replied, pulling Avani toward a table near the windows.

As they sat down, Ciela immediately started questioning Avani.

"So. What's been bothering you?"

"Couldn't have started with some small talk?"

"We both know you hate small talk and would rather sit in awkward silence."

"Fair," Avani relented.

"...Well?" Ciela prompted, encouraging her to continue.

"Recently, the bodies I've been assigned have shown really odd causes of death and side effects. They've all been similar too... It's been bothering me."

"In... what way?"

"Well, they've all shown signs of aging — wrinkles, dark spots, reduced elasticity in the skin, slowed metabolism — even though most of them were under 35.

"Similarly, the majority had early-onset dementia or Alzheimer's in their medical records. Most died from stab wounds or gunshots — only one or two to truly vital areas.

"My coworkers keep telling me it has nothing to do with the cause of death, just the kind of people this person is targeting.

"But I can't shake the feeling that there's something more to this."

Somewhere during her rambling, the woman had brought over their drinks. Ciela had thanked her quietly, still focused on Avani’s explanation.

The clouds start to ease up, small rays of sunlight filter through the storefront windows. The warm natural light brightening up the café.

"I agree with your coworkers that it seems like they are targeting a specific genre of people," Ciela hummed, setting down her london fog.

"See, that's what I want to believe too, but I seriously think something is up here-," Avani argued, rubbing her temples.

"I didn't finish yet. I do agree that they are targeting a certain crowd, but such a large quantity of people, even if it's only been 7-11 people in the past year or two, it's still a large amount considering that such effects are already far and few between," Ciela stated, matter of factly.

"It's unusual for so many to be concentrated in one area. Additionally, how could one person find all these people? How come there's no evidence on them?

" Especially since the murders seem hyperfocused on disposing of them rather than for malicious intent or any other motive."

"See thats exactly what I thought too but all the people I spoke to about this told me it was simply a creepy coincidence," Avani sighed, turning towards the large window at the front of the café. It allowed a lot of light in, but also displayed the bustling street.

"That, maybe with the changes to lifestyle or certain drugs and or other contriband, could contribue to some of these effects."

"Hm.. best not to dwell on it. There isn't much we can do at the moment," Ciela said, taking another sip of her drink. Avani sighed, staring at her untouched drink.

She took a sip, staring out the window at the passerby. She watched as people enter and exit stores, parents making sure their children stuck close to them, teenagers, going store to store. Some enter, some simply gaze at the window displays, chattering and laughing away.

"It feels wrong to just leave it be though," Avani muttered, turning back to Ciela.

Ciela gazed at her silently, swirling the last of her London fog around in the bottom of her cup.
"I know what you mean. I'll... see what I can do. Just wait for my word," She smiled warmly, her reassurance easing Avani's worries.

It was nice to know she wasn't alone in this anymore.

"Oh, all mysterious and professional now, are you?" Avani replied snidely.

Ciela rolled her eyes, getting up to return her cup.
"Fine then, forget I said anything, I won't help you."

"Fine, fine, do your thing."
Avani smiles, taking another sip of her now lukewarm drink.

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I drafted this like a month ago, was gonna edit the end for better flow n stuff cuz jts lowkey bum but I keep procrastinating it and I got covid and WHATEVER just take this for now, I'll edit it when I don't have a splitting headache LOL