CLUES AND ALLIANCE

DAVIEN'S POINT OF VIEW

I stretch my arms to relax my muscles after typing a long report on my computer. The past days had been quite stressing for me. I have several cases on my plate, but what's bothering me the most is the consecutive deaths of students from Ridley University, specifically on that section.

I recalled my conversation with Lauren and Luther. Though I already have a hunch base from what Luther narrated, I still need to be keen and heedful. Their lives are in my hands now.

"But what if I get caught in this mess? What if before I could even untangled every conundrum, it's all too late?"

These questions bring fear in me. No matter how I convinced myself that I can steal a march on those killers, there's still uncertainty and aversion.

My thoughts were cut with the sudden ring of the telephone beside me. I answered the call.

"This is Atkinson Police Department, how can we help you?"

I heard a rustle from the other line that made my forehead creased. "My husband and I found a dead body in Rodeo Drive, please come here immediately."

My heart starts to beat erratically. I've been encountering these scenarios for ages now because of my job, but the nervousness that I'm feeling every time I hear the word 'death' does not change a bit.

I close my eyes and heave a deep sigh. "We'll be coming in a few minutes, Ma'am."

When we arrived at the said place, we ensured that the scene poses no danger and immediately cordoned off the crime scene by surrounding the place with barricade tape. The patrol car was parked far away from us to prevent impacting possible evidences.

I squinted my eyes on the body lying on the cold pavement. My forehead creased, his face looks so familiar. Base from his features, he looks like a high school student. Could it be? Is he an another victim of the Ridley University's consecutive serial killing?

Elena, one of my co worker, approaches me. "These are the information that I got from them, detective," she said and handed me a clipboard.

I nod my head at her. "Thanks, Elena."

We perform an immediate area inspection to gather evidences that could point at the perpetrator.

I turn around when I heard a loud siren. Finally, the ambulance came after a few moments. The paramedics immediately assess the victim's body. I sighed in frustration. Aside from five hollow-point type of bullets, we haven't found anything yet, and this piece of evidence will give us a hard time solving this case considering the number of people who own guns with the same type of bullet.

I look over the darkness looming around us. The coldness of the night gives a subtle shiver down my spine

LAUREN'S POINT OF VIEW

"How's your school?"

My forehead creased upon hearing my mother's question. I look at her, but her gaze was focused on the food she's eating.

Is she sick? Perhaps her head is not in its sane state?

I cleared my throat. "I'm doing good in school," I answered nonchalantly.

I was really surprised that she asked about my day. You can't blame me though, it's once in a blue moon.

"I've heard about the consecutive deaths of your classmates."

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat when she mentioned it. Lost for words, I did not bother answering her.

"Have they caught the criminal already?" she continued.

I gulped down a glass of water and shook my head. "From what I heard, they don't have any lead yet."

A moment of silence rose between the two of us. The clattering of cutlery and cars passing by are the only sounds enveloping the gloomy house.

I roam my eyes around, and a pang of bitterness strikes me when I felt the pensive and depressed atmosphere around us. This house used to be filled with jovial and blissful memories, but right now, I couldn't see even a faint gleam of happiness.

"I will transfer you to another University."

My mouth literally fell open when she said that.

"Your safety is my top priority. I already lost your father, and I could not take it if I l-lose you too," she uttered in a barely audible voice.

Something inside me stirs. Ever since she blamed me for my father's death, this is the first time that I felt her concern again.

I feel like in that short moment, my mother came back. And I hope this will continue, because I miss the old us.

•••••

As soon as I step my feet inside our room, I immediately noticed the depressed atmosphere hovering around them.

I shouldn't be surprised because ever since the start of this school year, we haven't been at ease, yet I still feel uneasy while staring at my classmates.

I nudged Lei who's staring at the empty air. "What happened?"

She looks at me with a dead-pan look. "Josiah and Lincoln were gone," she responded. "And I wouldn't be surprised if we are next to die."

I clenched my fist, sudden rage stirs inside me. With my strong resolve, I exited the room.

I dialed someone's number. It only took a few moments when he picked up the call.

"Yes, Lauren?"

I breathed deep. "Can we meet right now, detective? I need to show you something important."

I heard a rustle and the sound of footsteps from the other line. "I'm actually reviewing a case right now, but I can do this later. Let's meet in the same place."

"Thank you, Mr. Davien."

I ended the call. I look over the towering buildings in front of me. The just-risen sun shone softly on the city streets, along with growing patches of blue on the sky, the sort of hue that is soft and bright at the same time. Despite the serene view lingering in my eyes, it doesn't alleviate the fury raging inside me.

I heave a deep sigh. When would all these mess end?

•••••

I'm tapping the screen of my phone while I sit outside the cafeteria, waiting for Mr. Davien.

The hair in my neck suddenly stands on its end as the cold wind blown. I gulped hard and casted a wary glance around the place when I felt someone's stares from afar. Swarm of people passing by filled the busy streets, they look like tiny waves clashing against each other. I shifted uncomfortably on my seat when that uneasily feeling continues to linger in my system. Again, I roam my eyes around, but I saw no one.

I shake my head. I'm probably just hallucinating.

"Lauren?"

The familiar deep voice of Detective Davien pulled me out of my trance. To my surprise, Luther's with him.

"Don't you have classes?" I asked the latter.

He shakes his head. "I actually did not attend today's class, monday sickness, you know. Then Mr. Davien called me," he answered with a shrug. "Anyway, let's go inside," he said  and leads us to enter the cafe.

"Ok, I've been wondering about this. Why does this place has no customers today, just like when we went here weeks ago?" I asked curiously as we settled ourselves.

"We own this cafe," he said as a matter-of-fact. "I purposely told Kierren to close this establishment for a moment."

"Oh, that explains the close signage in the door."

He nodded.

"Going back to the business, what is it that you want to show us, Lauren?" Mr. Davien speaks.

The light atmosphere turned serious.

I cleared my throat. "You probably read or heard the news of Lincoln and Josiah's death."

Luther's eyes widened. Wait, don't tell me he hasn't yet?

Luther slump on his seat with a heavy sigh. "Damn, t-that surprised me."

"Lincoln's body was found on Rodeo Drive last night, he was already dead on arrival as I speak," Mr. Davien said.

"What about Josiah?" I asked.

"Base from the data findings, your classmate was comatose for several weeks because of the bullet that pierced on his head. His body was found along with the deceased student, Samantha Arellano. The police in the same department where I'm working actually interviewed the nurses and doctors who were tending him. According to those hospital staff, the patient was already showing stable vital signs, that's why it becomes a mystery to them why did his heart stopped beating, eventually taking his life," he said.

I could not process everything that I just heard. It only took one night for the killer to murder two people.

Loralei's words earlier suddenly flash back. "And I wouldn't be surprised if we are next to die."

She's right. We are playing with death. I'm playing a losing game. And there's no assurance that I will make it out of this turbulence, where the waves are carrying sharp fangs of demise.

"What about the hospital's CCTV? Have you checked it?"

I shrugged those thoughts away and looks at Luther.

The detective nods his head. "I already asked a copy of the CCTV footage from the hospital where you're classmate is admitted. I'm going to examine it later and look for a possible clue."

I open my phone and find the recent message from Lincoln. "This was his message last night. I did not think about it that much because I thought he's just messing around," I interjected.

The detective scrutinizes the message with a creased forehead.

"As you can see, his last message seems so sketchy. I don't know if those are sequential codes or what."

"I encountered several ciphers before, but I don't think I ever stumbled on this one. How about you, Luther?" He handed the phone to the latter.

We waited for his response. We sighed helplessly when he shakes his head before handing me back my phone.

"These goddamn ciphers are not my cup of tea," he said.

"Don't worry, I will still try to decode it and ask help from my colleagues. Send me that message, Lauren."

I nod my head as a response. I'm hoping that we can bottle up the fire before it completely burns us

THIRD PERSON'S POINT OF VIEW

The eerie darkness around the place did not even faze the woman skipping through the passage covered with dried leaves. Her foot steps are creating a rustling sound.

She looks over the gloomy looking and abandoned house standing in front of her. But instead of fear, a wide and sinister grin appeared between her lips.

"This looks oddly familiar," she whispered in a thrilled tone.

Meanwhile, inside that house, two people are sitting on the couch in silence. They have this grim expression plastered on their faces.

"Little by little, we're able to execute the plan," one of them said out of the sudden.

The other person looks at her. "I just hope no one will get in our way in getting rid of those miscreants."

The former smirks. "I'd love to see them try--"

Their conversation was disrupted when someone opens the door in a forceful way. They immediately prepare themselves but the intruder's ingress was too abrupt that it caught of them off-guard.

The man swallowed hard when he recognized the person who's now pointing a gun on them.

The trespasser has this ominous grin that gives off a warning bell. Their forehead creased when the woman suddenly laughs like a lunatic.

"Oh God, I'm enjoying this. You guys looked apprehensive," she said and lowers the gun down. "Don't worry, I'm not an enemy. I actually came here as an ally."

"Ally? Are you insane? We don't need anyone's help," one of them said after recovering from shock.

The woman laugh heartily. "Well, it seems like no one wants me here. Aw, poor me, the valuable intel the I have will only go to waste," she said and slowly walks towards the door.

She was about to open it when one of them called her attention. "W-What do you mean?" she asked curiously

That made the newcomer smirks even more. "Oh, you're interested now? Does that mean you're welcoming me now? Sweet," she taunted.

"Just go straight to the point, you bitch!"

"Answer me first."

"Fine. Now explain what you just said."

The woman looks at her. "Some stupid people are watching over you. They already have an idea of the people behind the killings."

Silence took over the four corners of the dim room. The intruder's revelation petrified the two on their spot. They suddenly feel anxious.

"Why are you doing this?" the man asked after.

"Doing what?"

"This whole damn thing, plotting a scheme with us. As far as I'm concern, we're not affiliated in any way."

This time, the playful smirk on the woman's lips vanished, and her eyes starts to burn with contempt.

"That's because we share the same agenda- eliminating those people who caused our suffering."