"Captain." James got back into his car and called the captain. Hearing his grunt on the other end, James carried on, "This guy was investigating some of the people we were." He paused, picturing the wall, "In fact, I would say he had a much better grasp of it all than we."
"He had the alleyway footage?" The captain asked. James could hear the suspicion in his voice, knowing he was already making a list of who a leak could be.
"No, but he did have a picture of it. I assume, like Rose, he's an informant for a NPPD officer. Asked a few questions about the crime scene and, after hearing New Horizon was involved, got a picture of it. From there, he would work out how it fit in." The captain stayed silent. James took a deep breath, carrying on once more, "Also, I couldn't find any form of diary. Unless he kept all his discoveries in his head, they were stolen."
"Anything else?" James looked at the book on his passenger seat and debated whether to say anything.
"It might be nothing, but according to Rose, he always spoke of a doorway or something. She thinks it's random ramblings, however." Keeping the books' existence hidden, he replied. The Captain sighed and thanked James before hanging up. Driving off, James parked up in a random car park and picked up the brown book.
Rubbing his hand over the cover, he felt the rough exterior. On the front, the golden title 'DOOR TO HEAVEN' shone. Activating his eyes, James looked at it on the slim chance it was an artefact and quickly shut it off, seeing it wasn't.
Flipping the book open, he tried to find where the chapters would be found and frowned when he saw nothing, having to read his way through the whole thing. James didn't worry about any work he might have to do. With his deal with the captain in place, he knew his work would be taken over by someone else unless he was required to be there.
James sat in silence for hours, not bothering about his hunger, quickly flipping through page after page, his brow getting deeper. At some point, the book stopped with multiple blank pages, cutting it in half. James let out a tired sigh and leaned back, rubbing his temples. Reaching into his glove box, he pulled out a small protein bar and nibbled on it as he sorted through the information in his head.
The majority of the book was nonsense, made-up or old legends from around the world stitched together. James was sure of that much, although, having never studied it in depth, he had come across many crime scenes where someone stupid enough had tried to bring those legends to life.
But in there, there was one that caught his eye. 'Buried under the world, the door to heaven exists. We are in hell, and once in heaven, we will become Gods.' James couldn't help but get the opening line about the Door to Heaven out of his mind. It was so far-fetched, but it reminded him of something else.
"New Horizon." Saying the church's name under his breath, he thought of the doctrine. Unlike other faiths, New Horizon didn't worship a God but believed that man could attain Godhood and that only through worship and the combined belief of millions would it finally come and bring about paradise.
James pulled out the burner phone. Calling Xavier, the man answered instantly, "James, a lovely surprise."
"I have two questions. First, have you ever heard of something called the Door of Heaven?" There was a noticeable silence on the other end. Although it was quiet, James could hear Xavier taking a few deep breaths, almost like he was in shock, before snapping back into character and speaking with his usual flat calm.
"Yes, but this isn't a conversation we should have over the phone. Come to this address." Xavier hung up, and five seconds later, his phone vibrated with an address of a Penthouse in the Financial District. James quickly drove off, arriving in twenty minutes, and was stopped at the front door.
"Sir, you can't come in." The security guard said, eyeing James up like he was a piece of dirt. Rolling his eyes, he couldn't be bothered to get mad. The people of the Financial District were all the same, snobs who believed themselves better than others. James just couldn't understand why a guard who could be his neighbour was acting like one of them.
"They won't let me in," James called Xavier and quickly said. There was a light chuckle before he said 'Wait a minute' and hung up. From behind the guard, a man wearing a priest's robe of New Horizon walked over and whispered something in his ear. The guard's face went pale with fear before he turned to James and bowed at a nighty degree angle, profusely apologising.
Waving it off, he stepped into the elevator and took the long ride up to the top floor. When the doors opened, he stepped out into what could only be described as a modest penthouse. The priest didn't follow behind and took the lift back down. As he was about to call out to Xavier, the man turned the corner in his silver suit and spread his arm. With a pleasant smile, he walked over and forcefully took James into his embrace.
James didn't try to dodge understanding what his abilities were, but pushed him off when he felt Xavier was holding him too long. "Come, I have wine." Xavier walked towards the table set up by the window for the skyline view.
James was starstruck for a second, seeing a view of Newport he had never seen before—the neon towers of the Financial District were alongside him. Between them, he saw past the Financial District at the neighbouring Jefferson, where large apartments were laid out like a grid, the streets below bustling with life. It all looked so small to James, and for some reason, he couldn't help but activate his eyes.
A myriad of colours outside mixed with the rain, creating a rainbow that spread over the city, blanketing it in a beautiful fog. Shaking his head, he took a seat, deactivated his eyes and apologised.
"Don't be, it is a lovely view." Xavier popped the cork on the bottle of wine and smelt its contents, "Jean-Pierre. Have you ever?" James shook his head, and Xavier leaned over, pouring him a glass. Pouring himself his own, he swirled the drink and smelt it before sipping, showing a rare happiness as he let the flavour sit on his tongue. "Magnificent. Please drink. My treat."
James frowned and knew he would get nowhere unless he did as told. Picking the glass up, he took a sip and was pleasantly surprised by its taste, never having been a fan of red wine. Despite it, he put the glass down, "It's lovely, but I am not here to drink wine."
"Well, more for me." Xavier took another sip, letting out a satisfied breath, "Door to Heaven. Such a primitive name you know it by."
"So you do know?"
"I'm more surprised you do. I didn't take you for someone who delves into the occult." Xavier joked, taking another sip of his wine. It was strange, but James could tell, even though he kept his usual flat, calm tone, the walls had dropped slightly in his own home.
"I'm not, but someone who ended up dead rambled about it to my colleague. Now it could have been brushed off as insane ramblings if it weren't for this." James pulled out the photo of the wall and slid it over to Xavier. When he had the chance, he took another sip of the wine, finding it tasted better on the second try.
"Well, I can see why he's dead. Look who he has here, even me." Xavier said with real admiration, "Was he a strong ability user, because this is mighty impressive."
"He didn't have one at all. A normal person." Xavier's lips curled up in disbelief as he chuckled.
"Well, he has some dangerous people on here." Xavier enlarged the image on the black jogger, "Do you know who he is?" James shook his head, "A gun for hire, you could say—one with a perfect record. He is also a major arms dealer." James frowned at how he didn't know this, but Xavier did. The man chuckled and shrugged, "How do you think he gets his weapons? He has a really good friend to hide him. How your body found out about him is beyond me, though."
Xavier handed the phone over. Although James could tell he knew who the singer and magician was, he refused to divulge. Despite that, he couldn't be mad about learning at least partly about one of the people. Xavier put the glass down and held the bottom.
"The Gateway, Domain of Heaven," Xavier looked up into James's eyes, "Zoktis's Home. It has many names that tale. Part of it is real, but what it is, I am unsure. I have a couple of theories, but they can't be proven."
"That brings me to the next question. New Horizon. What does it mean when you preach that man can attain Godhood? It was similar to Door to Heaven but different." Xavier looked at the window with a genuine smile on his face.
Speaking, his tone had a hint of pride, "Throughout the centuries of Human existence, there have always been a few special people with abilities. We call them ability users now, but before it was magicians, witches, sorcerers, you name it." Xavier poured himself another glass of wine, "But why is it, in this day and age, abilities that can interact with machinery exist, when by human timespan it is a modern invention?"
Xavier looked up, taking a sip of his drink, "Because, like nature, they have evolved, with the passage of time. Before, people could only summon fire or what have you, but as new ideas, inventions and concepts are created, so are new abilities. So why can't it be manipulated? What would happen if you had millions believing one thing? That Godhood could be achieved. If the world is shaped by our ideas, then this is feasible."
It sounded insane to James, and shaking his head, he couldn't help but look at Xavier with a strange look, "I understand your whole thing about evolution, but this belief system. It sounds like magic eugenics, to be frank. I mean, your faith has existed for two hundred years, and what?"
"To call us a faith is so strange. I prefer a study group." Xavier took a sip of wine, "Let me ask you this, if you have ten thousand people who believe a child will be born with foresight, what will happen?" James froze, his eyes widening as he stared into Xavier's, whose smile grew wider. "So smart detective."