ONE LAST TIME

Unveiling Secrets (Pt 3)

The morning sun filtered through my bedroom window, gently rousing me from a fitful slumber. With a sigh, I pushed aside the covers and swung my legs over the side of the bed. Hannah's note lay on the bedside table, a reminder of her concern. I took a warm bath, quickly dressed up, and did my make-up. With a sigh, I left my apartment, locking the door behind me. The city outside was slowly coming to life, the hustle and bustle of the urban landscape a stark contrast to the quietude of my thoughts. My destination was clear - I was heading to Atlas's workplace.

The law enforcement agency where Atlas worked was a formidable structure, a bastion of order in a world often consumed by chaos. As I entered the building, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anxiety- I didn't know anyone here. Atlas was already at his desk when I approached, engrossed in reviewing case files.  "Good morning, Atlas," I greeted him, my voice carrying a touch of resolve. He looked up, a warm smile lighting up his tired eyes. "Good morning, Emma. I've been going through the missing people's cases as you suggested. It's a lot to sift through, but we'll find something." 

I nodded appreciatively, "That's a start. Let's also prioritize identifying the victims of the 2014 case. If we can see some connections between the victims, it might lead us to some crucial information." Atlas nodded in agreement, and we set to work, poring over the details of the case. His team had gotten the case files already, making my job much easier. I started skimming through the details of the case. The file had everything, the timelines of the murders, crime scene details, autopsies, forensic findings, and the victim profiles. 

As I continued to skim through the file, my heart sank when I came across a familiar name and a haunting photograph. It was Aaron's picture, labeled as the last victim. The flood of memories rushed back, and I felt overwhelmed by a mixture of sorrow, anger, and guilt. My fingers trembled as I touched the image of the man I had loved so deeply, the man whose life had been mercilessly taken away.

Seeing Aaron's face in that context brought back a rush of emotions that I thought I had buried deep within me. His warm smile, the sparkle in his eyes, and the way he used to make me laugh flooded my mind, leaving me in a state of emotional turmoil.

Atlas, noticing my distress, looked at me with concern. His brow furrowed as he recognized the pain in my eyes, and he asked, "Emma, are you okay?"

I blinked back tears, my voice quivering as I tried to find the right words. "I... I just didn't expect to see his name here," I managed to say, my voice catching in my throat. It was as if a piece of my past had been unearthed, reopening old wounds that had never truly healed. Atlas gave me a moment to collect my thoughts and emotions, allowing the weight of the memories to wash over me. As I gazed at Aaron's photograph, memories of our time together began to resurface, vivid and poignant. I recalled the day we first met, the way our paths had crossed, and how we had instantly connected. It was as if the universe had conspired to bring us together, and our love had blossomed from that moment on. Tears welled up in my eyes as I remembered the countless adventures we had shared, the dreams we had woven together, and the promises of a future that had been cruelly stolen. 

After a few moments, I took a deep breath and wiped away my tears, determined to regain my composure. I couldn't let my emotions hinder our progress in solving the case. "Let's continue," I said, my voice steadier than before. "We owe it to the victims to find the truth." Atlas nodded, his expression filled with unwavering support. "I'm here if you wanna talk" he assured me and I just smiled in return. We turned our attention back to the case file, delving deeper into the details. 

And a while later, the forensic reports had arrived.  Both victims were estimated to be between the ages of 35 and 45. The first victim, the boy, had been deceased for approximately 48 hours before being discovered, while the second victim, the girl, had only been dead for about 24 hours. The blood samples were also a match. It was just like how I had predicted, the murders took place in different timelines. 

"Atlas, does this mean it's just one killer we're dealing with?" I questioned. 
"Nothing can be predicted just yet. It's still a possibility" he replied. 

I nodded in response, understanding that we couldn't jump to conclusions without concrete evidence. The complexity of the case demanded that we proceed with caution, exploring every avenue and leaving no stone unturned. I was indulged in making notes and noting down important points about the 2014 case. Seven innocent souls had fallen prey to that monster, Aaron being the last. I knew for a fact that, if only he and I hadn't gone to capture that killer, he wouldn't have died saving me. The memories of that fateful night weighed heavily on my conscience. It had started as a desperate attempt to end the reign of terror, to bring closure to the victims' families, and to make our city safer.

It was strange that the murders had stopped with Aaron. The abrupt end of the killings had always puzzled me. Had the killer simply vanished into thin air, or had they achieved whatever twisted goals they had set out to accomplish? The questions lingered, gnawing at the edges of my mind like an unsolved riddle.

And just as I was lost in the labyrinth of my thoughts, suddenly, I heard a loud scream...