Baptism Of Fire

TORNED AMITY

DAVIEN'S POINT OF VIEW

I took Elena's advice. I filed an indefinite leave on my work and spent the days to hang loose and relax. But I returned after a few days as well. I guess being workaholic will never leave my system, it's embedded already on my DNA. I just can't stand the feeling that I'm lounging around, doing absolutely nothing while some people is need of my help.

But tonight, I feel so helpless and vulnerable. I feel so powerless and impuissant. All my efforts to find the culprit of the Ridley University students' killing are all futile. It's been almost a year, and yet all my effort to thwart those bastards have gone into waste. The investigation has no progress yet.

Am I still deserving with my title as a detective?

I shook my head. I shouldn't wallow in self-pity. That's the last thing that I should do in this forlorn juncture.

@349!8#5-3(8))34

I have wasted a lot of time to decode this set of characters, but all those endeavor are pointless.

My phone lights up. I open it, one of my colleagues sent me a message. I stared at the screen of my cellphone for a moment. My forehead creased, and with a trembling hands, I grab the paper where I typed the various symbols that Lauren sent me. I kept the paper alongside with the screen of my phone. For few moments, I just stare at them in silence.

My breathing hitched when realization dawned me. I finally figured it out. Those symbols and numbers corresponds a certain letter on a phone's keyboard!

I have a hunch that Lincoln mistyped his message because of agitation. I want to punch myself for getting the hang of it just now!

"Fuck! I knew it!"

I get a pen and another paper before I write down everything. My hands are literally shaking in suspense.

And when I finished it, my eyes widened in shock. My heart almost pumped out of my chest. Beads of sweat formed in my forehead as I read the words over and over again.

I can't believe it. This is beyond what I can fathom. How can this student commits such nefarious and atrocious crime?! What pushes them to do this?

My stupor was sundered with the continuous ringing of my phone. Luther's name appeared on the screen. Why is he calling me in the middle of the night?

Despite my confusion, I answer his call. "Luther, what is it?" I asked.

"Detective? Fuck! Thank heavens you answered!" I can hear his heavy breathing from the other line. The frowns on my forehead got worse. He sounds so nervous. "We have a huge problem!"

I heard the obfuscated noises of students on the other line. "W-What's the matter? Did something bad happen?" I asked while fixing my belongings on the table.

Luther sighed. "There was an explosion that happened earlier on the venue, and I have an intuition that the killers are affiliated with the said accident."

My eyebrows furrowed. "Why?"

"I've been searching for Lauren, but she's not here. And not just her, their entire class is missing."

I was stoned on my spot. I feel like my brain will explode in any moment will all that is happening.

"H-How?" The only words I was able to uttered.

Lauren sent me a message weeks ago. She told me that someone gave her a cryptic note. I finally understood what those words are trying to tell

As everyone gets adrift in the rhythm, when their souls dance in liquors and ecstasy, I will creep along the darkness. As the pale crescent moon glimmers like a silver claw, the scent of cruel fire will pervade the night. Before the sun cast a rosy hue across the morning sky, they will bite the dust and will be soaked in blood.