The Black Envelope

Chapter 8: Genocide

Chapter 8: Genocide

The man listened outside of the window of the small suburban house as the television blared out into the empty street.

"Two missing bodies of recently Subtracted young girls have still not been found after the two day search ended this evening. Authorities are currently searching for leads to end this mystery. The two families have yet to comment, but some associates from the Messengers Union for the Subtraction of the Population have spoken to our own Leanne Hart this evening, we go to her now. Leanne?"

"Thank you, Rose. Marvin Loughman, head of the Union, earlier told me that their top detectives have brought in the Unnoticed to start searching for the girls, and instead found a body of one of their own.” The reporter, Leanne, said in a peppy voice.

“A dead Unnoticed? Wow, what do they think about that, Leanne?”

“They aren’t very happy, Rose. A dead Unnoticed is strange enough as it is, and it gets juicier. It turns out that the Unnoticed who had been murdered was the one that Subtracted the two missing girls.”

“Wow Leanne, coincidences like that don’t happen very often. What does the Union say about this?”

“Mr. Loughman refused to comment on the similarities, but he did say that they are going to take this investigation more into depth now that they have two things to search about. Back to you Rose."

Rose smiled into the camera. "Thank you Leanne. Well it seems like this story is just getting better and better. Join us tomorrow at 7am for the next installment of this thrilling series. For the 10 o’clock news, I’m Rose Bollot, goodnight.”

Right as the newswoman finished talking and the ending jingle for the channel 9 news started the man felt a pressure around his waist as he was picked up and thrown into a nearby tree with a loud crack. He slid to the bottom of the trunk, groaning as he stared up into the face of a furious female Unnoticed. Females weren’t uncommon in the Unnoticed civilization, but they preferred to use the males to Subtract with.

“He was my mate.” She hissed, her beautiful features twisted with grief and fury.

“I’m so sorry.” The man said sardonically.

She responded by kicking him in the stomach. The man noted this while his breath hissed out of his teeth. A hit out of anger to stun, but not to kill, she was keeping him alive. Why?

“Don’t play games with me, Slayer. Yes I know who you are. You’re not as invisible as you think you are to my society.” The man wasn’t shocked by this, but was unhappy that his suspicions had been proved correct, so they were watching him.

“What do you want from me if you aren’t going to kill me?” He asked with solemnity, and a little curiosity.

“How do you know I won’t snap your neck this second?” She shot back, but she looked a little rattled, as if wondering how he had figured her out.

“What do you want?” He repeated, standing up. She instantly backed away, falling into a crouch and baring her teeth.

“Oh, come on, relax. If I haven‘t stabbed you by now, then I probably won‘t.” He said, straightening his coat and placing his hat back on his head. “No promises though.” He grinned, showing a perfect white smile.

“You killed him.” She whispered, black tears slipping from her dark, opaque eyes.

“Indeed I did, but I have my reasons.” The man said, leaning against the tree in a non-threatening position, but discreetly clutching the dagger in his pocket.