South Park: Bloodline's, Book 1: Shadows Over South Park

The Darkened Path

The police station buzzes with low conversations and hurried movements. Every sound seems amplified, every shadow stretched longer than it should be. Tweek sits across from Officer Howard, who is meticulously sifting through the evidence. Butters is by my side, fidgeting nervously, while Cartman, for once, is uncharacteristically quiet.

Tweel: "Do you think the killer left anything else behind?" he ask Officer Howard, trying to shake off the feeling of dread that's settled in his stomach.

Howard glances up from the evidence.

Officer Howard: "It's possible. Sometimes killers get cocky, especially if they think they're untouchable. We just need to find that one mistake."

He spreads out photos and notes across the table, a chaotic tapestry of clues and dead ends. Tweek nods, trying to focus on the task at hand. His mind keeps drifting back to the explosion, to Millie's scream as the flames swallowed her whole. Tweek shivers and forces himself to concentrate on the papers spread out in front of the group, Butters breaks the silence, his voice trembling.

Butters: "D-do you think they're okay? Kyle, Stan, Craig, Wendy, and Lauren, I mean."

His eyes dart between the rest of the group, filled with anxiety. He clutches his hat tighter, a nervous habit that only makes his knuckles turn white, Cartman huffs, crossing his arms.

Cartman: "Those guys? They can handle themselves. I'm more worried about us sitting ducks here."

His bravado doesn't hide the concern etched across his face. For once, they all feel vulnerable, caught in a web they can't quite understand.

Howard interrupts their thoughts.

Officer Howard: "Let's review what we know. The killer's been targeting your group specifically Tweek, which means they have a personal vendetta. Have any of you had any recent conflicts?"

Tweek racks his brain for anything that could be a motive.

Tweek: "We've all had disagreements, but nothing serious. Nothing that would lead to...this."

Butters: "Maybe it's someone who blames us for something," Butters suggests. "Someone who thinks we wronged them."

Cartman raises an eyebrow.

Cartman: "Like who? Everyone in this town has a reason to hate somebody else. We need specifics."

Howard nods, leaning back in his chair.

Tweek: "Start thinking about anyone who's been acting strange recently. Anyone who suddenly disappeared or showed up out of the blue."

Tweek closes his eyes, trying to piece together any fragment of memory that might help. Faces flash through his mind: classmates, teachers, neighbour's. Everyone looks like a suspect now.

Meanwhile, at the Warehouse site... Kyle, Stan, Craig, Wendy, and Lauren navigate through the charred remains, their flashlights cutting through the smoke that still lingers in the air.

Kyle: "Keep your eyes peeled," Kyle instructs, sweeping his light over the ground. "Anything out of place could be a clue."

Stan kicks at a piece of debris, frustration evident in his movements.

Stan: "I hate this. It feels like we're always one step behind."