I held my left arm, comforting it. The pain throbbed from the almost-brush with danger. She almost got me... I need to get stronger. Allison continued to spasm, shaking like a maniac, her movements erratic and uncontrollable. Suddenly, she stopped moving and vomited violently, the sickening stench filling the air. Disgusting. I walked over to where the table was, scanning the area for the backpack. It had flown across the room when she picked it up. In my peripheral vision, I spotted it. I took it by its straps and unzipped the zipper. I was quite lucky that no CCTV had spotted me on the way, or any witnesses for that matter. I don't even have to use the fake body now. I reached deep into the backpack and grasped a candle. I moved in front of Allison and held up the candle. She did not move; only her eyes followed my actions. I told her, "I got this for my sister's birthday." She mumbled incoherently, a mix of confusion and fear in her eyes. Ah, she wants an explanation. I explained, "You killed my sister, Amy. Well, you weren't physically there. You stalked her and made her a target." Allison squirmed, her face gradually turning blue as she struggled to breathe. She's running out of air.
Deciding to explain further, I said, "Did you forget what you did already? You are not innocent." I pointed to her, my finger trembling with rage. "This is what you deserve." I took a lighter out from my pocket, its metallic surface cold against my skin, and brought it up to the candle. With a flick of my thumb, a small flame erupted, casting a flickering light on my determined face. I closed my eyes, summoning the memory of my sister. "Happy birthday, Amy. Hopefully, this makes you happy." I dropped the candle onto the rug, watching as the tiny flame hungrily began to consume the fibers. Determined to accelerate the process, I went back into the backpack and brought out a gas canister. The heavy, metallic container clinked against the zipper as I pulled it out. Allison's eyes rolled back, her body convulsing one last time as she succumbed to her fate, her life extinguishing in an instant. Perhaps I could have monologued more, but time was of the essence. Smoke began to materialize, curling and twisting in the air, signaling my limited window to act.
I poured gasoline over the kitchen counter and the stove, the pungent smell of fuel mixing with the acrid scent of burning fabric. Satisfied with the rapid spread, I put the gasoline canister back in my backpack and prepared to leave. Should I exit through the front door? No, too obvious. I turned around and spotted a window, its glass slightly fogged from the heat. Sliding the glass up, I created an escape route, the cool night air rushing in. I leapt out of the window, landing on the sidewalk below with a soft thud. Glancing back at the house, the fire now spreading rapidly, flames licking at the walls and climbing higher, I muttered to myself, "Two more left."
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The next day..
I took a puff from my cigarette and sighed, the smoke curling up into the early morning air. What am I looking at here? Another 'arson' case this early? The apartment that lay in front of me was in shambles, the once sturdy structure now charred and crumbling. They barely got the fire under control before even the walls were consumed completely. I crossed my arms, a bit upset, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. One of my police coworkers walked up to me, his face mirroring my concern. "Hey. What do you think this is?" he asked, his voice carrying a mix of curiosity and dread. I dropped the cigarette, grinding it into the pavement with my shoe. "A homicide. There was a body inside, I believe." I asked, already suspecting the answer. He confirmed my suspicions, "Yes, sir. We think it's the owner of the apartment, Allison Heredia."
That name was familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Instantly, it all made sense. "Hey, she's part of that cult thing, right? ECLIPSE?" I said, the realization dawning on me. He shook his head, uncertain. "Maybe, I don't know." I told him my hypothesis, the pieces falling into place. "Listen. What I know is that this could be the same perpetrator that killed those two under that bridge." He questioned me, doubt evident in his voice, "You sure, man? This looks accidental to me." No, he's got to be wrong. I looked to the sky, the first hints of dawn breaking through the darkness. "We're going to figure it out soon enough," I said. Justice has to be delivered to this freak.
Meanwhile..
Gazing over the endless sea, the horizon blending seamlessly with the azure sky, I was content. The gentle lapping of the waves provided a soothing soundtrack as I sipped my tea, reclining on a poolside chair. All's well that ends well, I mused, adjusting the brim of my stylish hat to shield my eyes from the sun. My phone was pressed to my ear, the voice on the other end droning on. I finally tuned in to the conversation, focusing on the urgency in his tone. "Someone is after us, Olly. He's killed Allison and Jordan." Ah, those two. They were strong, but nothing compared to me. I took another sip of tea before responding, "Calm down, Arnold. You're wasting your breath." Arnold's voice cracked with worry. "Are you joking? You don't know how har—" I cut him off, my voice steady and confident. "I'll take care of it, okay? You're usually not like this."
Arnold's tone softened, filled with rationality. "Don't mess this up. I know how strong you are; you could probably beat me more times than I could beat you." I chuckled, the sound mixing with the gentle hum of the sea breeze. "Damn straight. That's not because you're weak, by the way. It's because I'm so strong." Arnold hesitated before asking, "Wait, how are you even going to find out who it is?" I sat up, the chair creaking softly under my weight. My gaze wandered to a beautiful woman in a bikini swimming in the pool, her laughter loudly reverberating in the warm cruise ship. "Find out? I already know him. His name is Damon. That girl's brother."