Secrets In The Shadows

Chapter 25: Whose who?

The killer is someone they know. Someone we know. I sit there on my bed in shock, they knew who was killing them. They died knowing who they're killer was. They died knowing his identity would be in the ground along with their rotting corpses.

I click away from the files and turn to my brother who has his phone out, his forehead furrowed. "I looked up those descriptions to see which God/ Goddesses they fit but they're are tons". I grab his phone, asking him, "did you search them up with Greek Gods/ Goddesses?". He nods his head.

I look at his phone and scroll, viewing the dozens names of God's/ Goddesses. Orion would want to sacrifice the ones that would work in his favor....at least in his deranged mind

I scan the list again, alphabetical order. I painstakingly go through all of them, trying to adapt what the God/ Goddess they are of and with the description to which victims they match. My eyes start to blur. 

Once I think I have it, I get a piece of notebook paper and pen from my bedside table and start writing down which victim is supposed to be which God and Goddess.

Once done it looks like this:

Ashley Reynolds- Aphrodite
Tyra Dawson- Hecate
Quesa Mayfield- Peitho
Paul Harrison- Poseidon
Brandon Hall-Kratos
Charles Wilson- Hephaestus
Peter Rogers- Janus
Tyler Wilson- Zeus

I show it to Maddox and Hunter. Maddox nods. "That would make sense, look here it says Aphrodite is the goddess of love, sexual desire, pleasure and procreation. Maybe Orion killed Ashley because she symbols Aphrodite. She symbols you and Orion's love for each other".

At that last part I give him a look and he quickly amends his statement, " his love for you I mean" I nod in satisfaction and continue where he left off. " Hecate is the goddess of witchcraft, magic, and ghosts...what good would that do for Orion?" I question.

My brother hums before speaking, " Maybe he thought her "magic" would help him obtain you...maybe that's why he didn't dress Tyra...she already looked the witchcraft part".  He looks down at Quesa's name.

"Peitho is the goddess who personifies persuasion and seduction which makes sense since Quesa was having an affair.  He needs persuasion if he's gonna convince people to let him near them, let you near him let alone".

Maddox goes down the line as well, " Poseidon and Zeus were brother's, Gods of the lightning and the sea. Zeus was the king which fits Tyler and Paul since they were always together and Ty was the ringleader".

I crack my knuckles, something isn't right....

Hunter picks up, " Kratos was the God of strength and power... definitely suits Brendan. The guy went to the gym almost 24/7. Orion must not see himself as a strong, suave person then...he's probably weak and scrawny. Janus was the God of beginnings and transitions.

He would've symbolized a new life for Orion and Huntress at some point. Hephaestus was the God of fire, metalworking, and sculpting....maybe he symbolized that if Orion left... offerings for him he would help? I mean there were sculptures found by his body". He looks up at us for confirmation. Maddox nods but I'm still trying to see what we're missing.

Zeus and Poseidon were brothers, they ruled the sea and the sky respectfully. Tyler ruled the school, Paul ruled the water...

Suddenly an image of a fiery demon coming from the ashes of a campfire appear in front of my eyes along with a voice. Percy Jackson I have your mother ...she is here with me in the Underworld

I blink. "Hades". I say aloud.
Maddox and Hunter look at me. " Zeus and Poseidon had another brother named Hades...remember in Percy Jackson?".

Maddox nods. "Yeah I remember him. He looked like Mick Jagger. You think Orion is going to kill someone who symbolizes Hades next?"

I nod. "He must've had all this planned out, he brought the clothes to dress most of his victims in along with him, he knew when and where they're going to be".

Hunter nods, "Which means he may already be at the next victims house already. Who did Tyler and Brandon hang out with the most?".

I think on all the time I've been in the cafeteria and in the hallways. I never paid attention to the Lions before any of this. Now I'm starting to wish I had.

"Conner Hayes" my head swivels to Maddox. I raise my eyebrow at him, surprised. " You're new, how could you know that?"

He shrugs, "Conner's my neighbor and I see him get into and out Tyler's truck with Brandon often. It's got to be him".

We look at each other, probably thinking the same thing.

We know the who, now we need to know the when