Bloody Riddle (REVISED)

Prologue

Eyes never lie.

Memory never deceives.

Sadness never leaves.

When you understand how love is

Darkness always trailed behind

Storm struck hard as it reached the edge of the season. Blizzard blew over the past three hours before Christmas Eve, made Atlanta an immense city, dimmer. Every second passed so quickly. Only the cry of the air followed.

And there's an emergency call, a second before the time struck twelve.

The police patrol stationed at a square; beside the main plaza. The siren shut awhile ago, expressing a chilling present. A half bald head peeped from inside the wagon. Detective Hugo Becker sneeze as the air hit his worn-out body. Mouth blabbered incoherent sentences, cussing.

A youthful man comes out behind, a black coat hugs his shape. He let out a yawned while his partner uncomfortable with their condition, freezing to the bone on Christmas night. Junior detective James Floyd kept silent. Attention darted far towards the silver sky. Eyebrows flickered when the white puffy snow blows into his face. Lips and skin paled as he lost warmth.

"Son, hurry up, they're waiting." The older man called out, step away from the wagon towards the building.

"I enjoyed it." He proclaimed to himself. Hugo heard it. "Chill in a snowstorm. How funny. Hurry, before I turn into a snowman." Hugo shuddered, rushing into the building, leaving his partner alone. James looked back to the sky while catching snowdrops into his hands. He sighed, stuck his hand back and walked into the same building as Hugo.

Through the automatic door, a crowd greeted the two detectives. James glanced at those carrying professional cameras. He chuckled. Fuck reporters. James annoyed that the reporter came ahead before them to the crime scene. Also the public gathered to see something the two detectives were aiming for. Hugo disappeared into the crowd. He's great at it.James met the audience swarmed by a long yellow line. He made a low voice, demanding to pass. As he showed up, the officer growled. James took out his badge. He glanced at James for a moment, then raised a yellow line for him to enter.

"What took you long, hmm?" The old man grumped. He stood beside the evidence without taking his hand out of his pocket. James's eyes widened, did not react when he saw the evidence. His body tense. "There's something crossed my mind." James murmured.

Hugo raised an eyebrow. "Well, this case won't finish if you just think it." He pointed with chin. "Watch and say what you think."

James turned with a curious face, slowed his steps while circling the evidence. Admire the work of craft. The absurd design of craft illustrates something that cannot describe in words, like a Monalisa's painting filled with mystery.

The victim's body is covered with cuts. The girl's head cut off wrapped in her hand and long wavy hair. Her leg crossed, revealing pale porcelain skin, glowing in the light. As a sweetener, the killer put the rose petals in some place, make it more artistic.

A beautiful, luminous dead eye drew James completely, causing him to sink into the illusion of death before the invisible soul slipped from her body. Someone out there is enjoying how tormenting this woman. Wild imagination out of control is proof of how sensual a work of art that involves screaming and terror.James took a step back, rubbing the short beard on his face. His eyes wandered away, thinking about that woman had been like when she was alive. She must be beautiful. "James?" Hugo touched his shoulder, a bit worried. "You got something?"

James almost let out a laugh, "I thought no one could be this great." said James excitedly. Hugo glared, frowning deeply, listening to the answer not supposed to say. James showed excessive enthusiasm. If anyone listens, there will be misunderstandings. "Sorry." He replied.

"Continue." James strolled, not taking his eyes off the hideous art. "This woman, poor woman. She kidnapped, then tortured. You see these wounds ---" He's pointing, aimed at the cuts in the back and shoulders.

"--- Someone made the wound deep, but also careful not to damage the flesh. Judging from the wound, he tortured her for about two days. Then..., the sentence hung. Hugo stared curiously, tried to kill the tingling sensation in his stomach.... You know the rest. I'm sure he dipped her body in formaldehyde to prevent spoilage."

Hugo sighed. How could anyone have the heart to do such a heinous thing by smearing hands with blood? The lifeless victim did not deserve the lowest kind of thing. Neither a homeless nor a prostitute. Nobody deserves that.

Hugo sank into deep sorrow over his thoughts for a few seconds. He may have the strength to shoot a fleeing thief, but his heart breaks as he listens to James to explain the victim in front of them. Tortured then killed. The feeling of nausea was excruciating. Without realizing it, Hugo stroked his stomach.

"Are you all right?" James looked over the glass case. Hugo looked up. "I thought I was going to throw up." James rushed back to the old man, staring sympathetically with two beautiful emerald eyes. Before he took his handkerchief from the pocket, Hugo prevented him from doing it. "It's okay now." James gave him a nod.

"I hope we can arrest someone for this crime," James whispered. They filled his gaze with a big question. Every inch of sanity tells its own story, a story that has never been revealed through words. A story that can guess from a different perspective.Hugo was thinking, what would James do if he knew what awaits them. He had a bad feeling about this case.

From behind them appeared a man wearing thick glasses. A tall man with broad shoulders. Cold air flushed his nose and breath fluctuated erratically. "They didn't sterilize this place. Shit, I just came from the hospital and this is what I got." He grumbled. Having steadied his breath, he looked at James and Hugo at the same time. "You guys got anything?"

"They are trying to find her identity, Lieutenant Woods," Hugo replied uncomfortably. His eyes did not dare to stare there for long. James stood upright, said nothing. The lieutenant nodded. He approached the glass case, seeing the evidence. Beads of sweat running down his temples. "Sorry to make you see things like this." Lieutenant Woods sighed.

"You guys don't mind having a case before Christmas?"

James shook his head. "My mom's already asleep at ten o'clock. My sister didn't come home this year, anyway."

Hugo smirked. "So am I." Lieutenant Woods nodded and left them.

From the side, they divided the crowd. James and Hugo turned their gaze towards the husband and wife. The woman was sobbing. Meanwhile, the husband tries to calm her. "My girl... Dianne." She said trying to reach her daughter's corpse. An officer tried to block them.

"Let me talk to her." James appeared from behind, tapped his shoulder. The officer stepped back. "I'm sorry ma'am, but this is the crime scene," James explained.

"But she's my daughter, detective." She's sobbing.

In a quick motion, she grabbed James's arm, shocked him. "Ma'am?" James was about to break free. Alas, her grip is too strong. "Promise me, catch whoever did this to my only one." The mother let go of her hand from James. The husband said nothing when the other officers wanted to question them. The reporter who saw the incident took a photo as fast as possible.

At that moment James fell silent. He remembered something. Something that made him felt more uneasy.

hello selin back,I'm back this time after a long hiatus, with regards to my job that should come first. this time I will revise 'Bloody Riddle'. many who have read before find a lot of ambiguous words, so I think, I am fixing this article so that my loyal readers are comfortable with my writing.so, dear readers, please be patient.oh yes and don't forget to sprinkle stars on this story, you can also give suggestions or criticism.Thank you again readers (bow thank you)