The Omniscrolls

It has been only two years since I moved from my hometown and opened my own private investigation agency. I’ve solved several cases for a number of clients and have built a reputation so good that one of them recommended me to a middle-aged couple who had been searching for their lost child for twenty-five years. The backstory was tragic. Their son, Javier, was only five years old at the time. He had been playing in the park when a man had abducted him. An investigation was launched immediately, but the abductor had covered his tracks. The criminal’s car was found abandoned in the woods, and there was no useful camera footage or other evidence that provided any clues to his identity. The police ran into multiple dead-ends for over a year before giving up on the case. The trail went cold, and they were running in circles. When this case was brought to me, I was uncertain whether I could solve it. It was far more complicated compared to my previous cases. I still accepted the case becaus...

When I was very young, I had a friend who lived in my closet. Her name was Alesia, and I was the only one who could see her. Mom once saw me talking to Alesia and asked me what I was doing. When I said I was talking to my friend, she just smiled and told us to have fun. I was four years old at the time. However, when I was still talking to Alesia at the age of seven, Mom became concerned. One night, I overheard her talking to Dad about Alesia. “She’s still talking to her ‘imaginary friend’. This can’t be normal.” “Do you think this has something to do with your mother?” Dad asked. “I’m not sure… She took precautions, but—” She noticed me listening to their conversation from the doorway and got up from her seat. “Olivia? You should be in bed.” I tried questioning her about their secrets in the days that followed, but Mom never revealed anything to me. “Maybe when you’re older, honey. We’ll see.” When I spoke to Alesia about the matter, she reassured me. “Adults don’t understand, but you...