A single bullet // M.C ✔️

01

The blinking cursor of my mouse stared at me from my little Word document perched on the side of my screen as my eyes scanned the latest update of the 5sos gang. A new body was found dumped on the outskirts of New York with a slit neck and a hole in his head and chest. Talk about overkill. Literally.

My fingers anxiously tapped against my desk with my other hand resting my head above it. All the murders were always the same: a bullet hole somewhere on the body, a slit or cut-up/off body part, and a hole stabbed somewhere into the body; all courtesy of the three main members.

They weren't known to the public by their actual names, and no matter how many people tried to research and find out, no one could. They were just singular letters in the world of names, further hiding any identity they held from the world.

M was the leader and always the owner of the hole in the body due to the process of elimination any police did on bodies. The holes were always on the right side of the body, never the left, showing that he was right-handed. A few notes had been left before with details on how the gang was going to kill; we all assumed the plan before they did it and it got dropped or fell out of a pocket, but even then, they were just initials.

L was always the owner of the slit in the body, sometimes even with a small L next to it carved into the skin like a little watermark artist does to say this is my work.

A is the gun hole, and it's always in the head. He never strayed from what he knew, which made it easy for the police to label him to that part. The only one that wasn't fully known is C. No one ever really heard about C or had never even really been able to guess what he actually did since there was nothing unlabeled on victims for him.

"God, what am I meant to type?" I sighed, pushing away from my desk and rubbing my eyes harshly, making the little black spots form.

"Are you talking to yourself again?" I spun around and made eye contact with my roommate, smiling softly.

"I didn't realise you were home," I admitted to her before focusing on my laptop again.

"You look stressed,"

"Nervous more like,"

"Over what? No article before has made you nervous," I listened as she took the few steps into my room and towards my desk standing behind me. "Oh shit,"

"Oh shit is right," I scoffed rolling my eyes before going to at least type something even if that something ended up being fuck this article.

"This is a death wish, Nicky,"

"But you know how I am, Kensie. I'm fully into all this shit. I had to accept it before he gave it to someone else,"

"I'm convinced he wants you dead,"

"That is drastic, Kens even for you," I rolled my eyes before looking back at the cursor.

"What are you going to say?" I thought her words over slightly, slowly blinking as I urged something to come to mind. Nothing.

"Fuck sake," I groaned, leaning forward and resting my head in my hands, slightly pulling the strand of hair at the roots.

"You'll end up bald if you keep doing that." Barely noticeable, Kensie unwrapped my fingers and freed the strand before sighing. "I don't like this, but start small. Maybe a slight difference in their kill. Maybe something 'C' did. We only ever know about the other three, so no one will be able to go that's not how he causes harm." Ding ding ding.

"What an idea." I explained before typing out the few words that will hopefully draw people in.

Mysterious X in the victim's body.
Buried underneath the marks of the three known criminals, a small X was present on the victim's skin, not matching any of the other three and paired with a few new bruises on the victim's skin.

It is believed it is caused by the never-mentioned or seen-before C completing the four members. Either he has gotten shabby with hiding his mark or he's finally started coming out to play in the dark. Whichever it is, the police are now on the hunt for newfound evidence and the crime scene present and past desperately trying to see if the mark was missed.

We have reached out to the police for a statement, but nothing back at this moment in time. More updates to come soon.

N.S.

"There." I breathed out after signing my initials. Not only do these murderers go by initials, but the news reporters do to. Especially with articles like this.

"You mentioned the police, Nic? Aren't they coming after you now?"

"When aren't the police close by or after me?" I laughed, leaning back. "Me and New York police are so buddy-buddy with each other."

"Just concerned if you make shit up, they'll come after you wanting to know how you know stuff they don't know." Kensie pointed out, making me sigh in realisation.

"They do use our news reports for knowledge and information." I quickly moved the cursor to send the email to my boss to see if it's approved or if I have to lie some more before signing off, shutting my laptop down. "Either way, I'm screwed with whatever I do, Kensie, so I have to do this and mess up with the police and shit or lose my job. And who would want a reporter who used to report on the big New York gang?" I asked, finally pushing my body away from my laptop and standing up to stretch.

"Just be careful, Nicky. I mean it. I would hate to lose you in any way, and I'm scared with you doing this. I may..." she trailed off, looking seriously at me, making me smile softly.

"I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

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