Page 23 of An Ancient Power's Revenge

I leaned in, a conspiratorial glint in my eye. "Behind every successful Mayor is a secret connection to an amazing chef. It's a well-known fact."

She laughed, shaking her head. "You never fail to surprise me, Alexei. A mayor with culinary connections – who would've thought?"

As our plates arrived, the rich aromas tantalized our senses. We delved into the meal, savoring the exquisite flavors. Therestaurant hummed with a lively atmosphere, our laughter mingling with the chatter of other patrons.

Evelyn took a bite, her eyes widening in delight. "Okay, Alexei, you and your chef friend have excellent taste. This is amazing."

I grinned, a sense of satisfaction washing over me. "Told you. The mayor knows how to pick a good place."

She rolled her eyes playfully. "Alright, Mayor Gourmet. I'll give you this one. This meal is fantastic."

As we finished our meal, Evelyn looked at me with determination. "We'll figure this out, Alexei. We'll find the talisman, unravel the mystery of Mark's death, and navigate through the challenges."

I nodded, grateful for her steady presence. "You're right, Evelyn. We'll face this together."

Our conversation was interrupted by the loud shrill of Evelyn’s phone, and she took it out of her pocket. She looked at me before raising it up, and I nodded. The caller ID was Deputy Turner, and I wondered what might have happened.

“What the hell? We are on our way back right now.” She said into the phone before she started jogging towards the car. I followed, wondering what the hell was happening at the Sheriff’s Department and why they required our presence.

“There’s an emergency at the office, we need to get there right now. They didn’t say what emergency though, they just told me to get back as soon as possible.” She filled me in as I got into the car, and I drove out of the restaurant as fast as I could.

As we entered the Sheriff’s Department, the atmosphere seemed charged with urgency.

Evelyn and I exchanged glances, silently acknowledging the unspoken tension. How dire was this emergency?

Deputy Turner greeted us with a grave expression.

"We've got a situation, Sheriff, Mayor," he said, his voice laced with urgency.

Evelyn's brows furrowed. "What's going on, Turner?"

“You need to see for yourself.” He replied curtly as he led to the table where a bulky envelope had been opened.

Chapter 14 - The Images

Evelyn

Iapproached the envelope cautiously, my gloved fingers tracing the edges before lifting the flap. Judging by the look on the faces of the deputies, I guessed the contents would be very strange, and I was prepared for that. The contents inside sent a chill down my spine – images. Oh my God.

Disturbing images that would forever be etched in my memory. Alpha Mark hung on a crucifix, eyes gouged out, suspended in the desolation of a vast field. A sickening feeling of dread gripped me as I saw the gruesome scene captured in those photographs.

Whoever did this knew exactly what he was doing, and he knew what he wanted to get out of causing this chaos.

My hand trembled as I reached for the little note attached. The words were taunting, a sick invitation to a horrifying game. "The games are just getting started," it mocked me. Whoever sent it was making me a promise, a sinister promise that sent tremors down my spine.

I took a deep breath, trying to push back the wave of shock and horror threatening to consume me. The killer was escalating, and the twisted game had just begun. I needed to act, to find a way to stop this madness before more lives were lost. These people all trust me, and I would hate to let them down.

"Start a search," I instructed, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. "Find any trace of how these pictures got here."

The deputy nodded, concern etched on his face. "We'll get on it, Sheriff."

As the search began, I paced the room, my mind racing. The killer was toying with us, playing a sinister game that seemed to have no end. I couldn't let the fear and frustration show – not now, when the sick bastard needed a worthy opponent. If he wanted to play games, I would show him the right way to play.

The deputy returned, a frown creasing his forehead. "Sheriff, the envelope was brought in by a mailman. We're checking the CCTV footage to identify him."

I nodded, my jaw clenching. "Good. Let me know the moment you find anything."

The minutes stretched into an agonizing wait as we scrutinized the surveillance footage. The mailman moved with a calculated precision, avoiding the cameras like a phantom. His face remained hidden, a frustrating mystery that intensified my agitation.

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