1

I don’t get it.

“What could your motive possibly be to betray your brother-in-law?” Eli shouted at the man formerly unmasked, not truly accepting the changed narrative.

“Eli, Eli. I always had this mentality. Diaz was just too dumb to realize that his actions don’t only impact the dead. The living have to be the ones to pick up the pieces. How unfair of him to live peaceably while the innocent pay for his crimes.” Campbell sat on a chair slowly tapping his legs smiling at Elijah’s current confusion.

“Okay. Honestly, that is the dumbest thing I have heard in a while. I mean, you paired up with a killer for what? Revenge? How outdated.”

“You don’t understand I am the one who recruited Q. He may think we are playing his game but I have been there pulling the strings.”

Delusional and Disloyal.

“That’s a bad look, Campbell. Even for Q, he wouldn’t stoop that low. I mean there is a lot I am missing, so tell me if what you say is true. Give me your side of the story.” Eli urged, sitting up in his chair for a better look at the man before him.

Wis, am I destined to be intertwined with the psychotics of the world?

“Hey! Focus! I know you are talking to that Wisdom entity or whatever and I find it rude that you can’t listen when you asked me a question.”

Like I said crazy.

“Last warning! Q said I can’t kill you, but I don’t think he would mind much if I bend the rules a little.” Campbell pulled his chair closer, knife in hand, millimeters away from Elijah’s neck.

“Alright, Alright! I’m listening.” E pleaded, wondering if Campbell was also involved in Hope’s kidnapping, or the killing of all those women after all.

“I won’t give you all the details now,” laughed the lieutenant. We can’t spoil our appetites when the Guest of Honor is still missing. Don’t worry; knowing him, he will find us soon.”

Elijah gulped feeling the stainless steel prick at his jugular, hoping that he wouldn’t breathe too hard and cut himself with its sharpness.

“I don’t have anyone left. And I gave Diaz a precious gift, that he squandered for his ambitions. So I implored Q after the murder in the forest, and watched as the chaos ensued.” Campbell let up on the knife and turned hearing the door open behind him, placing his mask back on.

“Ah, Elijah! How nice of you to be here. I would have liked it to be of your own volition and under better circumstances, but beggars can’t be choosers.”

Q sauntered in, happier than his letters perceived. “I know you have a lot of questions, and thankfully I am feeling generous. So I will allow you to ask one. Choose wisely.”

What should I ask him?

2

Diaz was beside himself. All he ever loved was taken time and time again. What was his purpose if everything he did ended in ash and destruction? As he rummaged through the remains of the cab company, there wasn’t much to go through. The first responders found a woman and declared her dead before the fire occurred. Again this shows that Q was killing victims and then dropping them in other locations.

How sick.

As he continued to dig, something stood out amidst the dying flames. Something shiny. Picking it up, he noticed it was cool to the touch and slightly melted along the side. ‘Eli had to be here,’ he deduced examining the lock-picking tool further. He pushed more stuff out of the way convinced he was on the right track. A track that hopefully leads to them being safe.

This went on for hours. Officers kept checking in on Diaz pleading that he take a break. But the more they begged him to take it easy, the more he felt as if the lead was slipping farther from him. Eli and Campbell with it.

Then he saw it. A partially burnt letter donned in the same fashion as all the others Q had sent before. He examined it, face full of confusion because the writing was so foreign. Q was a madman but he kept a pattern just for the fun of it. This language felt like a virus, unwelcome and invasive in this game Diaz was dragged into.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

“What do you have there Diaz?” Urged the Captian, frustrated with the lack of progress in this case.

“A letter, but it isn’t from Q.”

“Well, then it's useless. Let another wave of officers search for clues,”

commanded the Captain.

“Sorry Cap. I meant to say it was relevant. It seems to be from another person in this situation. Like a fourth player emerged from the shadows.”

“Well, what can you make of it?”

‘I’m not sure,’ thought Matthew. He began scanning the document looking for anything that stood out.

Who I am is irrelevant. Just remember I can touch the stars without being scathed. I can’t say the same for you.

Stars? Was that a clue to the observatory? Diaz felt like he was missing a very important clue.

I don’t like sharing the sun. I don’t like offering up my toys.

Something that will tie me in with the flames and burn all you have worked up to. That being nothing, as the blind lead the blind in this story.

A partner should never be overlooked.

Diaz and Eli vs. Q and I.

“Hey Captain, I’m done here. I need to get back to the station, I think I have a lead.”

Diaz grabbed his things and hopped in the car, not minding the questions the Captian spat at him in the blur of it all.

Back at the station, he surrounded himself with clues about the previous murders. One that always stood out to him was the Green murder—the one with the question mark in the forest. Walking up to an officer’s desk within the Archives, Diaz showed them the image.

“Have you seen this image before?” He urged, realizing he was out of options, but something kept tugging at him slightly leading him on the correct path.

“Hmm. I don’t know what is going on there but it looks like it’s near that place that burned down,” the officer responded.

“What building? I’m not a native here, care to teach a quick history lesson?”

“That’s the orphanage that burned to the ground. A fire happened a while ago. No survivors, very tragic piece of history.”

Campbell came to his mind. Then Gia. He grabbed a pen and flipped the photo around.

“Can you give me the address?” The officer shrugged and wrote the directions to the Happy Colors Behavioral and Mental Health Center for Children, passing the photo back to Diaz before returning to their work.

“Thanks!” shouted Diaz, running to his car, hoping he wasn’t too late.

3

Q and Campbell were getting tired of waiting and prepared to exit the room.

“Wait. I have one! What does family mean to you?”

“Wow Elijah, I knew you were a good choice, you know how to ask the most important things. I am impressed.” Q piped, pleasantly surprised.

“Come on I asked my question, enough with the compliments, you said you would answer. I thought you were a man of your word?” Eli sighed, fed up with the whole ordeal.

Whack.

Campbell smacked Eli, grabbing him by the shoulder so he could punch him, but Q stepped in and pulled Campbell away.

“Campbell you’re getting very agitated and it is scaring our guest. Right, Elijah?” Turned Q, watching as the young man sat quietly.

“I think he got the message.

Anyway to answer your question, family is everything. Life, death, and all substances in between. You know I have a son around your age.”

“Does he know that you are a killer?”

“No he doesn’t, I don’t mix business and pleasure. And don’t think I don’t see that you asked two questions. I must punish you for that. What should that be?” Q paced slowly, tapping his temple in question.

Ignoring Q and his neverending punishments. H returned his head toward Campbell. “I never got an answer. What does family mean to you?”

Campbell looked over Elijah, at the door. Another figure opened the door, gun in hand.

“Diaz!” yelled Eli, looking around and realizing that Q was no longer in the room.

Campbell ran, grabbing his knife in the process, and placed it in its position as before on Eli’s neck, stooping to whisper in his ear.

“Family means nothing to me. Nothing at all.”