REPLICA-GAME

<5> Encipher

For Aria, her life had slowly returned to normal following the event of the severed fingers, and with the police putting much of their focus on the suicide, she had been left alone. Still, keeping to herself the note and the ring finger, though completely useless to her.

However, it was the note that stuck with Aria the most, specifically the one who had sent it to her. Only signing it with the letter 'G' and 'H'.

"Over the years, there have been many internet born individuals. Most of them are labeled as supernatural and such. But in recent years a new one popped up from nowhere, one that practiced in the occult and black magic."

"Their name and known actions slowly made them infamous. To a point that even people who try and make contact with them. One that practiced their black magic on people. Reports of them came up first in Europe, but they slowly began happening in other places, but those were nothing more than copy cats."

"The actions involved the murder of people and stealing their hearts. It was the real deal in Europe, while others around the world were obviously done by others who clearly rushed. The actions taken by the real one, their actions were careful and precise, a near perfect cut in the chest every time."

Aria gave a little smile as she looked at the note.

"Now it seems I've been caught under their radar. However, whether it's the real thing or just a fake, that's still unknown. Course, they aren't the only one on the rise these days."

"The first is one individual that goes by the name Ghost Head. One who practices black magic and an affiliate of the occult. If I'm under your watch, then I wonder if you have anything to do with the rest going on right now. How close are you to all this?"

"What about the other one? How close are you to the other internet born legends?"

[11.19.2021]

"About Collective Millennium," Toko started, "Sorry, but actually it was Katsumi that brought you to my attention... well, that and the stories that have been posted, all coinciding with the recent events as well."

"At first maybe it was just people nearby saying their parts of the story, but then the posts you put up sounded all too familiar. Similar ramblings to a man who was once greatly respected, only to be found dead in his home."

"So if you don't mind, could you tell me everything you know?"

"For starters, there's the matter of Alexis Stevens' unexpected suicide. At first glance, it seems normal. A man has a mental breakdown, locks himself away from the world and takes his own life. But then why give it little media attention? Not only that, but just as they started to, a mass suicide occurs. Now Alexis has been all but forgotten."

"Well yeah, I think that was odd, but I just wrote that off as just a coincidence. I mean, what would connect a university professor to over one-hundred random men, women, and children?"

"That's likely another thought some would think." Toko said.

"But there really isn't a connection, is there?" Katsumi asked.

"There's only one way to find out, why not go visit Alexis' home?" Toko suggested, "There's nothing that stands out about it, but that stands out to me. A well known university professor kills himself. Normally if someone well known or famous dies, the media will cover it until the next big thing. For Alexis, that only lasted less than half a day, why?"

"Because the incident at the park." Katsumi quickly said.

"A mass suicide that seemed o come out of nowhere." Reika added, "Wait, Toko, do you know where Alexis lived?"