10 Minute Tales

Feb 21 (Untimed)

He found the park. The sun was setting, the sky almost glowing in a powerful orange that the biodome's filtering glass couldn't fully mute. The park was a simple grassy field, trees occupying one corner and a circular fountain by the entrance. Importantly for him, though, it lacked proper observation. He'd warned Sentinel that it would become a dangerous place, but here he was, about to use the very flaw he was annoyed about. He sighed, bringing the envelope out of his pocket and flicking it open. The note within was simple. "Bring Alyssa." it read. "Rose will only speak with her."

"... Guess I'm seeing Rose..." he closed his eyes as he scrunched the paper up. "Jeez, that kid..." he walked over to the fountain and dipped the note in it. soaking and ruining it. Rose had been a murderer before, but had been caught and found guilty, even with her insanity plea. She had been sent to Sinis years ago, and society had mostly forgotten about her. What would she have on this Sentinel problem? And why specifically Alyssa? The two knew each other, but there was no evidence to suggest that they were friends, or even acquaintances. He frowned as he thought, scratching his chin briefly... and getting it wet. "Gah!" He had forgotten about the note, and he had gotten his chin wet. He grunted as he rubbed at it with the other hand, drying himself off impatiently. A bin was nearby so he dumped the note, trusting the water was enough to soak the writing beyond recognition. The bin's innards glowed slightly as the paper was scanned.

"Paper identified. Recycling in progress." A monotonous voice replied. It wasn't Sentinel's, being deeper and harsher than Sentinel's, but Queenson knew it would be connected. He pondered on the connections he was missing - between Alyssa and Rose, between the two victims, how Sentinel linked to all of this... None of it made sense to him, not yet. But he would find out.