Pact of the Cryptic Killer

Prologue

The rain fell heavily, each drop striking the pavement like a metronome counting down to an inevitable end. The streets of Kingston were unusually quiet, as if the city itself held its breath, aware of the darkness lurking within its shadows. In an alleyway, dimly lit by a flickering streetlight, the air was thick with the scent of fear.

A lone figure moved through the night, unseen and unheard, blending into the backdrop of the sleeping city. They approached the lifeless body lying on the cold ground, their movements precise and unhurried. The killer's eyes glinted with a chilling satisfaction as they surveyed their work, a twisted masterpiece of death.

From a pocket, the figure withdrew a small, folded note. With careful hands, they placed it beside the body, ensuring it would be the first thing discovered when the sun rose and the crime scene was found. The note was simple, yet its message was anything but. A list of names, meticulously written, with one name now crossed out.

The figure paused, listening to the rhythm of the rain, before disappearing into the night, leaving behind nothing but the note-a promise of what was to come.

At dawn, when the city awoke, news of the murder spread quickly, and with it, the mystery of the cryptic note. It was a puzzle that would capture the attention of the entire island, but for Sage, it was a matter of life and death. She would soon discover her name on the list, and with it, the chilling realization that the killer was already watching.

The pursuit commenced- not only by law enforcement but by those in pursuit of Sage herself. In a city filled with hidden secrets, she had to decipher the trail left by a cunning and dangerous mind. Time was running out, and the perpetrator always seemed to be one move ahead.