The Reaper Saga [Book 1-3]

PART 2: BOUND: HOWLING SEEKERS [EDITED]

VERMON

Don't just look at it, look through it. Try to understand.

The man who taught me that was ordinary by every means but he lacked something crucial from every one of the neighbors we had. He didn't hide behind cowardness in the name of concern.

"Detective, what do you think?"

"All of you wanted to see an evil, I'll happily show you what it means to be truly evil. Help me, please. Save me from this monster." I read the lines word by word, looking at the cop only when I heard him cough. "What do you think?"

"I can't even imagine what they felt in their last moment." Another cop spoke up before he could, this one much younger than the first one and more emotional. "Whoever did this must really want to see this place burned to ashes.

This place being Godfrey Sanatorium.

Now nothing but ashes.

"Do you really blame them?" I wondered aloud, scoffing when no one agreed. I knew the question was inappropriate in a time like this but everyone in the town knew the sanatorium by name. Especially the owner and the rumors circling around him.

"Don't blame Mr. Valentine." Clenching my jaw, I turned to the cop who called me in the first place. "You think we didn't look into him first? He has a solid alibi, he has no reason to ruin his own business."

My gaze went to the wall again to see the words. This could have been a simple case of wrong time wrong place if this graffiti of blood wasn't found.

"Doesn't mean he didn't have enemies who'd love to see him dead. If you didn't notice before, this is the staff quarter. All the patients are safe where all the staff is dead as we are speaking." I huffed in annoyance. Besides the cops carefully skirting around the broken glasses mixed with melted skins away from them to collect evidence, others were taking photos of the walls where Mr. Tim from the forensic department was taking the blood samples from the floor.

How could they not see revenge written all over it?

"Hernandez?"

Aaron.

Seeing him not far away, I excused myself to go see him. Usually, he's fast enough to notice the unusualness every crime scene had but for some reason, it took him hours to get my attention today.

"A bit late for your brain to kick in, isn't it?"

"Haha." He rolled his eyes, definitely not amused with my tone. "Look what I found."

I let out a whistle, snatching the thing before any of the cops could. The diary in my hand looked torn and old, the brown texture almost fading away. "A diary. Fascinating."

"Yeah. Something isn't right here. Apparently, someone called 911 right before this whole thing happened and reported a possible escape. When they asked for a name he couldn't remember it. He also informed that the staff kept going missing for the last three years so many of them wanted to resign but Mr. Valentine didn't let them. I would have loved to ask him more in person but he's one of those who passed away." He paused, taking a deep breath. "You should have seen the patients, they look far too happy, Hernandez."

"I know what you are talking about. I talked to a few of them. They didn't like anyone here but a specific nurse-"

Before we could discuss this matter any further, one of the cops cleared their throat, making me hide the diary. If they get their hands on it now, I'll never be able to find things on my own. Thankfully, the cop only smiled at Aaron, offering his hands like a gentleman.

"I believe we met before. Aaron something..."

"Aaron Jeller." He spoke up, shaking his hands. "Partner of Detective Hernandez."

"Guys, I'll be at the roof, you two...talk." Ignoring Aaron's glare on my back, I walked faster, making sure no one was following me. It didn't take me long to find a blind spot since everyone was too busy cleaning the messes left from the fire.

Finally.

"Dear diary,

Killing a human should be easy. But taking their life force to actually live on it? Give me a freaking break. I'd rather burn the world instead. Not that I didn't try to, I did only to die alone in a freaking tub cause someone couldn't get over a stupid misunderstanding. If you are curious, who am I? I'm 5132 and I am really starting to hate being a Reaper."

I stared at the page for too long, long enough to hear footsteps near me, and then ripped it to shreds, pocketing it like a good Samaritan would. Looks like, some secrets were better buried to the ground.

***

Hey, so I'm back with this series. This is the second book of the Reaper Saga and it is about Emie's twin sister Lana. Let me know what do you think!