The Art Of Death

Chapter 2: The First Case

Scene 1: A Crime Scene

Setting: A gritty alleyway on the outskirts of town. The flashing red and blue lights of police cars illuminate the narrow space. Yellow crime scene tape flutters in the cold breeze as uniformed officers walk around, taking notes. Ethan arrives at the scene with Marcus.

The smell hit Ethan first. That metallic scent of blood mixed with the stench of the alley made his stomach churn. He adjusted his tie, the new detective badge heavy on his chest, and tried to focus. It was his first case as a detective, and he was determined to prove himself.

Marcus was already standing near the body, talking to the forensics team. "Young woman, early twenties," he said as Ethan approached. "Multiple stab wounds. Looks like a mugging gone bad."

Ethan knelt beside the victim. Her lifeless eyes stared up at the sky, her face pale in the early morning light. There was something unsettling about the scene, something that didn't feel right.

"It doesn't look like a mugging," Ethan muttered, glancing around the alley.

Marcus looked down at him, eyebrows raised. "What do you mean?"

Ethan pointed to her purse, still clutched in her hand. "Why leave the purse if it's a mugging? And the stab wounds—too clean. This wasn't random."

Marcus nodded, impressed. "You've got a sharp eye. What else?"

Ethan scanned the area, his gaze stopping on the wall. There, written in blood, was a symbol—a small, intricate design, almost like a calling card.

"Marcus...look at this," Ethan said, stepping closer to the wall. "I've seen this symbol before."

Marcus joined him, eyes narrowing. "Where?"

Ethan hesitated, the memory flashing in his mind. He had seen it once, years ago, in one of his father's old case files. But he wasn't ready to share that. Not yet. "I can't remember. Maybe I'm wrong."

Marcus frowned but didn't press the issue. "We'll run it through the database. See if we can get a match."

As the forensics team continued their work, Ethan felt a cold chill run down his spine. This was no ordinary case. Something about it felt...personal.

Scene 2: Uncovering the Past

Setting: Ethan's apartment, late at night. The crime scene still lingers in his mind as he digs through old files his father kept before his death.

Ethan sat at his desk, a single lamp casting a dim glow over the clutter of papers and old case files. He couldn't shake the feeling that he'd seen the symbol before. It gnawed at him, pulling him deeper into memories he'd buried after his father's death.

He flipped through the dusty files his father had left behind. Robert had been meticulous, keeping detailed notes on every case he worked, even the ones that had never been solved.

And then, there it was.

A file from nearly a decade ago. Ethan pulled it out, his hands trembling slightly as he opened it. The case involved a string of murders, all young women, all killed in the same way—with a series of symbols left at the crime scenes.

Ethan's heart raced as he looked at the sketch of the symbol in his father's notes. It was the same one he had seen on the wall earlier that day.

"Dad, what were you working on?" he whispered to himself, feeling the weight of the discovery.

This wasn't just a case. It was something bigger, something his father had been chasing for years. And now, it seemed, the killer had returned.

Scene 3: A Warning

Setting: The next day, Ethan arrives at the precinct, carrying the weight of the previous night's discovery. He's eager to share what he's found with Marcus but is met with a strange visitor.

Ethan walked into the precinct, clutching the file he had found in his father's belongings. His mind raced with possibilities, theories forming as he considered what this all could mean. His father had been hunting this killer—could the same person have been responsible for his death?

As he made his way to Marcus's desk, he noticed someone standing near the entrance. A man in a dark trench coat, his face obscured by a hat, was watching him intently.

Ethan felt a prickle of unease. He slowed his pace, keeping his eyes on the man. Something wasn't right.

"Detective Ford?" the man called out, his voice low and gravelly.

Ethan froze. "Who's asking?"

The man stepped closer, his face coming into view. He was older, with deep lines etched into his skin and a hard, weathered look about him. "Let's just say...someone who knows more about your father's death than you realize."

Ethan's blood ran cold. "What do you know?"

The man smirked. "Your father was getting too close to the truth. That's why he was killed. If you're smart, Detective, you'll walk away from this case. Before it's too late."

Ethan's hands clenched into fists. "I'm not walking away from anything."

The man's smirk faded, replaced by a cold, calculating stare. "Then you'd better be prepared for what's coming. This case is only the beginning. The Art of Death...it's not just about the killings. It's about you."

Before Ethan could respond, the man turned and disappeared into the crowded precinct, leaving Ethan standing there, heart pounding in his chest.

He had just been warned. But if anything, it only made him more determined.