The City of Darkness and Blood

Chapter 17

Thursday Evening - 8:09 PM

Since Lexi's disappearance, the city had been buzzing with police activity. Chief Vlad's decision to publicize Lexi's kidnapping had only intensified the pressure on her team and made it clear to the Mad Butcher that the authorities were closing in. The streets were swarming with officers, and every available resource was dedicated to finding her. I couldn't wait for a miracle, so I quickly headed upstairs to change into my vigilante suit.

A flash of red on my right glove caught my eye as I was about to leave. It was blood—the same blood that had stained my glove when I punched the Mad Butcher. An idea sparked. I dashed to my phone and downloaded a forensic scanning app from the app store. After a few seconds, I held my gloved hand under the phone's camera and scanned the blood. The app processed the data almost instantly. "Blood belongs to Roman Black," the screen read.

"Son of a bitch," I cursed under my breath. Roman Black was the killer. My mind raced. I needed to find Lexi before he could inflict any more harm. The name Roman Black rang a bell, so I rushed to my office and pulled up old articles on my laptop. The first article I came across was about Roman's daughter, who had tragically died when a truck hit her. The report described the profound impact her death had on him. Roman's subsequent actions—a twisted form of solace—became apparent. He had started abducting young girls, taking care of them meticulously, almost as if trying to replace the child he had lost. It was a dreadful form of therapy, born from his unresolved grief.

The following article revealed a deeper layer of Roman's background. It detailed his father, Carlton Black, who had been arrested for money laundering. I read through the paragraphs, discovering that Carlton had a long-standing rivalry with a gang led by Eduardo Garcia—one of Roberto and Herman's uncles. The gang had been linked to the murder of Roman's wife, which explained Roman's vendetta. Herman's involvement was part of a larger, tragic cycle of retribution.

I scanned one final article before my frustration boiled over. It described how, after Carlton's lieutenant was arrested, all of Carlton's businesses were shut down and dismantled, except one: Black Meat Packing. Roman had purchased it after his own doll-making business faltered. This abandoned meatpacking plant was likely where he was keeping Lexi and possibly other victims.

With this revelation, I geared up in my mask and suit and set out for the meatpacking plant. The building loomed in the darkness, a grim reminder of the horrors within. I approached the entrance, but it was locked tight. So, I grappled up to the roof and accessed the building through a ventilation shaft. The narrow tunnel was claustrophobic, but I crawled steadily, listening for any signs of activity.

Ahead, I heard the Mad Butcher's voice. Peering through the vents, I saw him with Lexi, chained to some rusted pipes. Her face was streaked with tears, her body trembling with fear. The Butcher was ranting, his voice a chilling mixture of anger and twisted affection. "Stop crying," he ordered harshly. Lexi's sobs only seemed to fuel his rage. "STOP FREAKIN' CRYING!!!!" When Lexi didn't comply, he slapped her. Her cries for mercy echoed through the grimy room. The Butcher's anger flared. "I'm sorry, darling," he said, his tone taking on a disturbingly soothing quality as he caressed her face. "Daddy doesn't like it when you cry."

He walked away momentarily and returned with a dress eerily similar to the one worn by the dead girl in the crime scene photos. He knelt beside her, holding out the dress. "I got you a pretty dress. I want you to put it on," he said with a creepy smile. Lexi, shackled and terrified, could do nothing but sob. The Butcher's face darkened with fury as he saw her refusal to wear the dress. "You disobeyed daddy. Daddy's going to have to punish you," he threatened. Desperation surged within me. I couldn't watch this any longer. I removed the vent grate and dropped into the room, landing with a thud. The Butcher's head snapped toward me. "Get away from her, Black!" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady. No!" Roman Black shouted, his voice filled with a blend of desperation and rage. "Leave us alone, Hunter! Leave me with my daughter!"