The man with medium length brown hair picked up the newspaper from the stand. “Latest murder victim could link to cold case” read the front page headline. The man put it into his bag with a sigh. The small convenience store was nearly empty. Light rain fell outside. The door beeped as a woman with an umbrella walked in. The man paid her no attention and walked over to the counter. After paying he walked out into the rain. He didn’t have an umbrella; in fact he didn’t attempt to cover himself from the rain at all. He turned into an alley right next to the convenience store and sped up his pace. He kept speeding up until he was nearly running. Making another sharp turn, where the alley opened up into a wide street that had people in it despite the rain.
Heels clacked and came to a stop as a black haired woman stood there and looked at the street. It was as if the man had vanished. Suddenly she heard footsteps behind her and felt something press into her neck.
“Who are you? Why are you following me?” he demanded.
“Really, Anon, is this how you treat old friends?”
The woman turned around as she felt the object against her neck being lowered.
“Sarah?! Why are you here?”
“Do you even need to ask? Haven’t you seen the news? There’s a killer on the loose. Chances are it might be the same one from back then — ”
“It’s not” Anon he said cutting her off.
“How can you be so sure?!”
“Have any of them been raped? If you found semen on the victims then it’s not the same one.”
“Please, come back. We could really use you on the force.”
“I can’t. There is something important I have to do.”
“More important than the lives of innocent people that are being ruined ? And what about your partner? He’s still missing, right?!”
The man began to walk away.
“Please tell me what’s going on! You had a bright a future ahead of you. Why did you quit?! What happened two years ago?!”
“Please stop asking. It’s not something you would understand and it’s something I’m willing to explain. I’m not coming back. And don’t follow me again.”
The man seems to vanish before her eyes.
Several blocks away, a two story building on the outskirts of town is illuminated by flash similar to lighting. The man rubs his sore neck, then quickly goes up the stairs and walks to the last door. Inside it one single room with a bed, a small kitchen area, a table with two chairs and a door leading to a bathroom. The bed is occupied by a woman with auburn hair. Another woman is in the room, her red hair tied into a ponytail, white shirt standing out in the darkness of the room. He closes the door and turns on a small light on the table.
“I take there weren’t issues?” he asks.
“None.” The woman replies.
“Thanks for doing this, Pam. I really appreciate it.”
The woman seems to ignore his words of gratitude. She’s seated on the chair with her green eyes fixed to the woman on the bed.
“You said she’s been like this for two years?”
“Yeah, she’s been like that since incident.”
“Physically, she’s fine.” Pamela said.
“The doctors said as much.” Anon said leaning against the door. “ But she’s not waking up. from the coma.”
“Well in that case I have good news for you — she’s not in a coma.”
“What?!”
“She’s sleeping. I saw her move a few times. Somebody in a coma would not be able to move.”
“so the doctors got it wrong?”
“No. I think that she’s been in a coma but has at some point come out of it.”
“But then, why isn’t she waking up?”
“Well, if there isn’t anything physically wrong with her, I guess the reason lies elsewhere. Most likely it’s not that she can’t wake up it that she doesn’t want to. Not that I blame her.”
“Does that mean she will stay like this forever?”
“Who knows? She might. But I think our sleeping beauty just needs a little incentive to wake up.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
“What do you have in mind?” Anon asks worriedly.
“Don’t worry nothing too drastic. Anyways, did you try talking to her?”
“I did. That doctors said that people in a coma can still here you.”
“Did she ever react to you?”
“I don’t think so. “
“Huh, interesting. Well I have things to do, “ Pamela said grabbing her coat off the other chair and taking a pack of cigarettes from the pocket. “ I’ll be seeing you.”
“Thanks again for looking after her.”
“No problem,” she replied with a cigarette in her teeth.” One more thing. You’re going to have quests soon.”
She walked out the door, fishing her pockets for a lighter. Climbing down the steps she walked past a woman with long black hair, dressed in a dark suit jacket and skirt. Anon stood there still processing her words when there was a knock at her door.
“Did you forget something?”
Seeing who was on other side she made a move to shut the door but the woman put her foot in.
“How did you find this place? Thought I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, you’re FBI after all.”
“I admit that was quite the impressive getaway. I can see why they call you the Flash.”
“I was never fond of that nickname you know.”
“Anon, can I come in? I just want to talk.”
He looks back at the woman on the bed.
“Make it quick and I don’t promise to answer anything.”
He opened the door letting Sarah through. She looked around the dimly room, gaze immediately going to the bed.
“Sorry, if I interrupted something.”
“You didn’t. Keep your voice down. You have three questions better make them count.”
“Who is she? “
“Nobody. Two questions left.”
“Who was the other woman that was just here?”
“A nurse. One question left.”
“Jesus, Anon, can’t we have a civilized conversation?”
“This is your final question?”
“ I’m not trying to interrogate you. I’m here as a friend.”
“A friend? It’s that why had people tailing me? Well let me tell you what I’ve already told your boss— I’m not going back!”
“I’m not here to bring you back. Like I said I just want to talk.”
“Don’t give me that crap. I know why you’re here— because you’re desperate.”
“You’re right. Won’t you help? I have the case file right here, Sarah reaches into her bag and take out a manila folder.” Please just look at it. You were one of the best. Anything will do. Any ideas you might have.”
Anon look at the folder lying on the table.
“I’ll pay you.” Sarah continues.” I know you haven’t been employed for the past two years. You must need money.”
He glances back to the bed then looks back to the folder.
“I want to see the money first. Cash only.”
The woman smiles and takes out an envelope, slides it to him. He looks inside.
“1000$,” she says, “For the initial consultation. If the information leads to capture there’s another 10 000 in it for you. And if you’re willing to consult on any future cases there might more.”
Anon is already lost in his own head, completely focused on the information contained in the folder.
“They’re wrong,” he says.” This case has nothing to do from the one two years ago.”
“You said that before but what makes you so sure”
“ For starters all the victims mentioned here were blond, ages between 16 and 22. It’s not the same M.O. the guy from two years ago went for older women and he didn’t do blondes. Furthered more, while the victims have been raped the killer never left any evidence of himself behind, like using a condom or a dildo to perform the act. This one has left semen behind on every victim. But your people have figured out as much.”
“The media are the ones linking the two together, “Sarah said” we just didn’t bother to correct them.”
“You think this will make the killer feel safe, if he thinks that you are looking someone else. You think he will make mistake and you’ll catch him because of it. “
“It has worked before. But surely you can see more than that.”
“Well, I can see why you’re desperate. You have his DNA but it didn’t match to anyone you have in the criminal data base. He was careful not to leave finger prints but he still left something of himself behind. He’s cocky, has high a sex drive and mostly goes after high school girls. He’s young, probably in his early 20’s . He’s not a local either. Maybe he only recently moved here. Maybe he’s a college student here. Although if he is he probably doesn’t attend class very often. Most likely has a night job. He also has a place he brings them back to. He rapes and kills them during the day when most people are at work so nobody is around to hear them scream. Disposes of the body at night. “
Sarah was writing his every word on a notepad.
“I think he’s only recently discovered the enjoys this. Although he probably committed other crimes in his home town. He’s probably never been caught or has been let of the hook. He has something that makes him feel untouchable. However it’s unlikely that he comes from wealth. “
“What makes you say that?”
“Because he has a night job. He probably doesn’t own a the place he lives in. He probably lives in some middle class or lower are of the town. Some place that has a basement or something similar. Somewhere he could keep them for a while. I’m guessing he’s somewhere like that recently or is planning to move there soon. Because he’s starting to realize that he wants to keep them for longer. The gaps between the kidnaping and the discovery of the body will grow. Also, he might stop for a while or appear to stop anyways.”
“What you mean by that?”
“He might move to another area temporality. He definitely has a car. He’s smart but I think he also had help from someone. It’s either that or he’ s in some way a magus.”
“Magus? That’s quite the guess.”
“No. I’m not guessing. Like I said he is cocky, feels like he is invincible in some way yet he doesn’t come from money. He could be well connected but considering he is new to the town and doesn’t have money and works at night — not the most likely scenario. I think he is a loner, the type to avoid crowds. Probably grew up in a rural area, on a farm maybe. He’ used to hard work, well-built physically. But that alone would not make him confident enough to do this. So what else is there but magic?”
“ That’s quite amazing. Are you sure you don’t want to come back? We could really use you.”
“I can’t,” he says looking towards the bed.
“Is she a family member?”
“No.”
“What happened to her?”
“Coma.”
“How long has she been like that?”
“Two years.”
“ I’m sorry. You could have told us. I’m sure everyone would have understood. You just left so suddenly and Toshi disappeared altogether. You didn’t hear from him in all this time?”
“Not a thing.”
“I see.”
“He’s probably dead.”
“Why would —“
“The guy from two years ago. He’s either dead or in jail for something else.”
Sarah looks at him shocked.
“He hasn’t killed anyone in two years. Serial killers don’t just stop like that.”
“You’re probably right,” she said putting the folder back into her bag. “I won’t bother you anymore but if you want to more work like this, I’ll leave my contacts.”
Anon takes the card from her but says nothing as he watches her leave. He locks the door and waits for sound of heels to be out of earshot. He pulls up a chair to the bed and sits down next to the woman. He gently takes her hand.
“Toshi, please wake up soon.”