Page 16 of An Ancient Power's Revenge

I approached the body, studying the telltale signs of struggle. The supernatural world was unraveling, and these deaths were ominous threads weaving a dark atmosphere.

"Any witnesses?" I asked, my gaze still fixed on the lifeless figure before me.

Evelyn shook her head. "No one saw anything. It's as if the shadows themselves claimed another victim, this time a human."

A frown creased my brow as I considered the implications. "We need to find a connection, Evelyn. Something that ties these victims together. Anything."

She sighed, frustration evident in her eyes. "We're working on it, Alexei. But it's like chasing ghosts. No patterns, no apparent motive. Just death."

I paced around the crime scene, my mind racing.

As I circled back to the victim, I examined the arm scratches. A thought struck me, and I turned to Evelyn. "The scratches, they look like more than just defensive wounds.

Evelyn huddled with her team in a corner of the supermarket, their heads bent together in earnest conversation. I couldn't help but overhear snippets of their dialogue as I continued my examination.

Evelyn's voice, authoritative yet tinged with concern, cut through the ambient noise of the crime scene. "We need to run every test possible. Look for any patterns or connections between the victims. There has to be something linking them together.”

Deputy Rodriguez, a seasoned investigator, nodded in agreement. "I'll cross-reference their backgrounds, see if there's any common ground. Maybe connections we're not aware of."

Evelyn glanced toward the scratches on the victim's arms, her eyes narrowing with determination. "And focus on these scratch patterns. There might be a message hidden in them. Something we've overlooked."

Deputy Olivera chimed in, her tone measured. "We also need to reach out to the bystanders. There might be someone who saw something they do not believe to be important.”

Evelyn acknowledged their suggestions, her expression revealing the weight of responsibility she bore as the leader of this investigative team. "Good. Let's work quickly, efficiently. We need answers before another victim appears on our doorstep."

As they dispersed to carry out their assigned tasks, I approached Evelyn, my gaze lingering on the scratches on the victim's skin. "Any insights from the team, Evelyn?"

She sighed, a furrow deepening on her brow. "We're trying to connect the dots, Alexei. It's like chasing a shadow. No clear patterns between the murders, no apparent motive yet. It's as if these deaths are meant to keep us guessing.”

I nodded, the frustration in her eyes reflecting my own.

I turned away from her to examine the victim's body again. As I approached the victim's knuckles, stained with their blood, a sense of frustration gnawed at me. Whoever was behind these deaths operated beyond the bounds of our understanding.

***

Back at the Sheriff’s Department; "Alexei," Evelyn called out, drawing me back to the center of the investigation. "We've run every test, but we can't find a match for the blood on the knuckles. It's like this person doesn't exist in any record."

I sighed, the puzzle growing more complex with each passing moment. "Keep digging, Evelyn. We can't let this go unsolved."

I was about to say something when an unfamiliar man approached Evelyn and me.

“Sheriff. Mayor.”

I gave him a nod to acknowledge his presence. Evelyn turned to look at me and saw the confused look on my face.

“Oh. Alexei, this is Ryan. He's a new recruit that started at the Department a few days ago.”

“Nice to meet you, Mayor,” Ryan said.

I studied him, examining his features. He looked young and bright-eyed. Looking at him, I could tell he seemed eager to do his duty.

He looked oddly familiar, almost like I had met him before. I didn’t dwell on it too much; it might just be a harmless coincidence.

“Nice to meet you too, Ryan. So, what do you have for us.”

Ryan handed Evelyn a USB drive.

“What's this?” Evelyn asked, frowning.

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