The Shadow's Hunger: Unveiling the True Demise

Chapter 1

Thomas has just gotten back from taking Amethyst to the hospital. He's still in the car when his phone starts to ring. "Kara?" he responds, "What's up?"

"There's been a murder at the Daybed Spa," she says, "A young woman found the body."

"Okay, was there anything unusual about the body?"

"Well, I was told that all the victim's fat was gone."

"Their fat?"

"Yeah, that's kind of odd, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is. I'll talk to Ellie and get back to you."

"Alright, take care."

"We will."

He hangs up and carries Amethyst up to the penthouse. Where's your mother?" he asks when he gets inside.

"Mama's sleeping," Gray answers, "she doesn't feel good."

"Gray, will you take your sister? I have to talk to your mother. It's important."

"Okay, come here Amethyst. I gotta show you something cool." He gently takes Amethyst out of his uncle's arms and carries her upstairs to his room. "Come on, guys. Uncle Thomas says that he has to talk to mama about something important."

"Okay!" the kids answer. They follow him upstairs.

Thomas walks over to Ellie and gently shakes her until she wakes up. "Hey, kitten," he says, "I'm sorry to wake you, but I have to talk to you about something important."

"S'okay," she mumbles, "if it's important, then it can't wait." She slowly sits up. "Damn it!" She grabs onto her stomach and bends over.

"What's wrong?"

"N...nothing, it's just nausea. It'll pass. You can talk, I'll listen."

"Well, after Amethyst got a cast on her arm, Kara called."

"Okay, and?"

"She wanted us to know that there've been a few murders nearby."

"Oh..." She looks worriedly at him. "We can't let the kids go out, not until this whole thing is solved."

"Yeah, I figured. Kara said that she thinks it's something supernatural."
"Really? Why is that?"

"All of the victim's fat was gone."

"What do you mean?"

"None of the victims had any fat on their body. Kara has seen the bodies and she says it kind of looks like all of their fat was sucked off."

"Oh, that's definitely something supernatural. Hold on, let me go grab something." She stands up and hobbles out of the room. Crash! Only a few minutes pass before there's a terribly loud commotion coming from Ellie's study. Thomas comes running into the room.

"Ellie?" he exclaims, "Are you okay?"

Ellie is laying on the floor, with books scattered around her. "Um, yeah. I just knocked over some books." She slowly starts to stand up. "Ouch!" She sinks down to the floor again. She lets out a soft chuckle. "I guess I hurt my leg."

Thomas sighs and asks, "What book do you need?"

"It's on the middle shelf, the third one to the right."

"This one?"

"Yeah, give it here." Thomas hands her the book and she flips to the pages until she finds what she's looking for. "This is what attacked those people." She holds the book up, so he can see.