In the mind of the Genius

A Glimpse in Darkness

When two geniuses converse, the ordinary people will always be left out. That is what I specifically feel right now. I don't get why I should really need a bodyguard, I know Aikido, I may not look like it, but I'm skilled in fighting, at least. And how did Beta come up with the conclusion that the murderer is a left-handed guy? Why not a right-handed girl, perhaps?

So I asked Beta to explain it systematically.

But Officer Vincent insisted to explain himself "There are only two inflictions from the victim, one from the neck, and one from the stomach. And what's remarkable is both of those lacerations were positions on the victim's right side. Considering that the murderer is in front of the victim, one can deduce that the murderer is a left-handed. As for the gender of the murderer, we can assume based on his height, the murderer must have hold the knife at elbow height, if we trace it on the victims body, we could pretty much ascertain the height of the murderer. And this tells us that his height is of a man's."

I nodded in confirmation. "So that's how you came up with that conclusion. It was that simple, when you explained it."

Then Beta said "Officer, I think that you should also consider the possibility of a tall woman if you based your conclusion there. I agree that the murderer is a man but for a completely different reason."

"Sir, enlighten me please."

"First, we know that the murderer must know who Michelle is, and must have seen and deciphered her code like I did." Beta explained.

"Yes, and you are the only one who were able to crack the code." I said.

"You can't really say that, B.S.. The murderer must have deciphered it, came up with the conclusion that it was Michelle's, like I easily did, but - this is where we differ - he refused to say that he cracked the code because he's not planning to help her, but to shut her down instead."

Officer Vincent interrupted "What code? I haven't seen any code."

I showed the photo code to Officer Vincent in my phone.

"H-E-L-P--M-E" Officer Vincent said. "So it was Michelle's writing then? "

What amazed me is that he's cracked it like it was nothing. Was the code just too easy? Or I'm just not intelligent enough. So much for being a student of this elite university.

"I pretty much have an idea. Sir, please continue." the officer said.

"There are only two ways for someone to see the code. First, the person must have personally seen the code on the classroom. Or second, the person must have seen the code through the photo from the phone of B.S., just like us." Beta continued.

"Wait, Miss Brianna, are you the only one who took the picture of the code?" Officer Vincent asked.

"As far as I know, yes I am. I'm the first to see the code. I took a photo of it when there's no one else in the room. My classmates started to arrive one by one and I haven't seen anyone taking pictures of it. Sir Maxwell arrived, observed the code and then erased it afterwards because we will start our lessons." I explained.

"So it's highly probable that our suspect is also your classmate." the officer said.

"That's where my speculation starts, officer. If the murderer was a classmate of Michelle, and since the University required for every student of EU to live in it's dorm --- You don't need to go outside if you want to see Michelle, you can just talk inside dorm rooms. If the murderer is a girl and told Michelle to meet her outside, considering how late it is, then Michelle would highly doubt the authenticity of the murderer's intentions, since they don't need to go outside the dorm, much more - outside the campus. But if the murderer is a man, he could at least lure Michelle outside since boys' dorm and girls' dorm are really far apart."

"It is more convincing!" the officer shouted. "The murderer would only have to convince Michelle to go outside the campus, meet him in some place, kill her then throw her body somewhere."

"Yes, Michelle was desperate. She blindly trusted anyone that offered help. Instead of help, she found her demise." Beta said.

"I'm starting to understand how secretive this Abyss Syndicate it." I said.

"It's more than that. This syndicate is very notorious. It claimed to have done thousands of crime, if not hundreds, under our noses. But still, they were still able to hide their presence." officer frustratingly said.

"But now, we have some information. Thanks to Michelle." I comfortingly said.

I opened the file and read Michelle's last message.

_____________________

Brianna, I bargained my last chip to you. You will surely be in danger after knowing this much, so please be careful. I don't know if I'm still alive or now dead when you're reading this, but please stop Abyss Syndicate.

I'm not really part of the syndicate, I'm a consumer at most. I just heard them from the dealers of LSD. They used me for their operations. But is it really saddening that I'm just a pawn --- no, not even a pawn. Their pawn is much more capable!

I don't know if it's true, but I've heard that the syndicate is like a chess piece. They have a king, queen, rooks, knights, bishops and pawns. I don't know their identities but it is already frightening, even if it's true or not, that a knight and a pawn is working hand in hand inside our university. I don't know if I'm gonna believe this but considering how drugs are being passed out over the university without being captured - it is truly frightening. They can easily shut anyone that might pose a threat in their activities. They have the power to do it!

I don't know if it helped. Please delete this message after you read it - it's for your own sake.

Sorry.

________________________

Instead of hope, her message pulled me in this cold darkness.

How large is this syndicate? Would they bother killing someone like me? Are they after me at this very moment? Who are working for this syndicate? I can't trust anyone. I can't trust anyone knowing that a member of the syndicate is now blending with the people in my school. Much more, the supporters of the syndicate might sell me out. It feels like my tongue suddenly ceased from working. The fear gushes, and it's best for me not to talk anymore. I'm sweating, but it feels cold. My hands are shaking. I should drop out of school at this very moment. I don't want to die!

Then I felt a hand touched my face. My lips started to get warm.

Then I realized that Beta was kissing me. It's like all the fear inside me was sucked out from my body and wrath started to boil.

I pushed him and shouted "Beta! What are you doing?!!"

"I'll protect you. I'll be your bodyguard. Your kiss will be the down-payment for my security service." Beta proudly said.

He's a stupid pervert. But i have to admit, what he did --- it really worked. I'm back to my senses. I can fight. I will fight.

Damn! It was my first kiss though!!!