Seer: The Blessed Child

Back to Earth

Flies buzz around a dumpster with a rancid stench. The smell was so overwhelming that some with weak stomachs vomited on the spot.

Having seen his share of crime scenes during his fifteen-year career, Wolf recognized the distinctive odor right away. It was decaying flesh.

The victim, a dark-haired female, had been beaten beyond recognition and strangled. It would take dental records to find out her identity.

The body, removed from the dumpster, was placed in a body bag to be taken to the medical examiner. Watching from the sidelines, Wolf couldn't help but feel emotional. This person was someone's relative. She was someone's daughter, someone's girlfriend or wife. She didn't deserve to have her life snuffed out in such a brutal way.

From the tale-tell signs, Wolf knew in his gut that this was the workings of the Copycat Killer. It didn't take long for him to find the proof.

Canvassing the area of the long-abandoned gas station, he saw it. On the gravel, next to the metal fence, lay an MP3 player. The Styx song, Too Much Time On My Hands, bellowed into the silent air. Close to it was a fractured wristwatch. The time at 9:11 pm like a cosmic joke.

He shut his eyes for a moment, rubbing his temples from the strain and irritation this case was giving him and sleepless nights. "Maybe this death could have been prevented if only...," 

His phone rang in his coat pocket.  He checked the id, gritted his teeth, and answered.  "Look who decided to return phone calls," he said his tone snippy.

Staring at her phone, Sachi frowned. Maybe this wasn't a good time to call given her godfather's foul mood.

She cleared her throat. "Sorry for not returning your call until now McCoy," she said with a nervous chuckle. 

"Yeah. I heard you were with your boyfriend," Wolf said his annoyance plain for her to hear.

Sachi sucked in a breath at the harshness of her godfather's tone and anger in his voice. Of all the people in her life, she never thought him to be the judgmental type. Yes. He is overbearing and overprotective but he was always chill when it came to her and Kael. She never thought him to be a prude.

Her voice low, she said, "McCoy, I love you but you're not my father. I'm not a little girl anymore. Besides, my relationship with Kael is none of your business."

"So since I'm not your biological father, I can't voice my opinion that you're growing up too fast," Wolf said raising his voice. "Is that how it is?" If he was irritated before, he had gone beyond that now.

"McCoy, if you would just——" 

"I'm talking!" Wolf barked into the phone. "You want to know where I am right now? I'm at a crime scene. You see, while you were busy, The Copycat Killer killed his second victim and threw her into the dumpster like yesterday's garbage."

Kael, listening to the exchange, bit his tongue to keep from chiming in. He knew it was not his place to say anything. He couldn't help, though, but feel a strong urge to defend his girlfriend against the older man's hostility. 

Gripping the steering wheel tighter, he instead focused on getting them home safely.

"T-The body was in a dumpster," Sachi said. She swallowed hard, feeling sick to her stomach. "Yes," Wolf said. "I could have used your help. You, on the other hand, didn't think it a top priority to return my call when there is a killer on the loose!"

"So you're implying that this is my fault somehow," Sachi said, her brows raised and mouth gaped open.

"That's exactly what I'm...," realizing his words, Wolf gasped, covering his mouth, but it was too late. The words had already flown out his lips. 

Admittedly, he took her abilities for granted. Even he knew that she didn't have the power to stop the murder from happening.

"What the hell am I doing," he thought horrified. 

"Seer, I'm sorry," he said. "I-I....," 

"I understand that this case has your nerves frayed," Sachi said, her voice hitching on the verge of tears. "I'll be damned that you blame me for this. What could I have done to stop this from happening? Tell me!"

Wolf had no reply. He knew there was nothing she could have done. It was unfair and unreasonable for him to take his frustrations out on her. He did the only thing he could do. He apologized.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I was irrational."

"You're damn right you were," Sachi shot back.

For a while, there was silence on both ends except for occasional sniffling.

"Are you going to let me explain why I called now or are you going to yell at me some more?" 

From the shakiness in her voice, Wolf knew that Sachi was crying. It made him feel like an even bigger heel for lighting into her like that. What kind of lousy godfather is he?

"I'm listening," he said meaning every word.

"I need for you to check on mom and dad," Sachi said. "They may be in trouble."

"I just spoke to Lars not too long ago. He and your mom are fine," Wolf said. "What's this about? Did you see something?"

Sachi relayed to him what she saw in her vision from the flies buzzing around a dumpster to the scrawled note with her home address on it.

"I'll send a patrol car over," Wolf said. "The offer still stands about you guys staying at a hotel." 

"I may consider it," Sachi said. "I need to see if mom and dad will agree to it."

"Come by my office after school tomorrow," Wolf said. "I need to go over the case file with you." "Okay," Sachi said. 

"Hey," he said rubbing his neck sheepishly. "I'm sorry for yelling at you, okay, kid." 

"I know," Sachi said. "Just don't make a habit out of it okay."

Wolf winced at her admonishment. "I'll do better. I love you. You know that."

"I know.  See you tomorrow, McCoy," she said. With that, she ended the call.

Kael exhaled deeply having held his breath for during the duration of the tense conversation. "Everything okay?" he said taking a quick glance at his girlfriend. 

Sachi clasped his hand.  She nodded.

The euphoria of their first night together had faded leaving in its place the physical aftereffects of the momentous occasion. Her thighs ached. She found sitting to be especially painful to where she used her jacket as a cushion during the long ride home. 

Despite the pain, she had no regrets.

After a magical night of romance, reality came crashing back like being doused with a bucket of cold water to wake up from a blissful dream.  Sachi couldn't ignore the problems she faced. She knew that better than anyone.