Don't Run

AMIL with two Y's

Hayley was at the coordinates she had received. She hadn't expected the killer to contact her so soon, but she was excited to see what he had to say.

Sayaji Museum. Hayley hadn't been here since she was on her eight standard field trip. It felt like a lifetime ago. In a way, it kinda was. Back then she had been struggling with the idea of who she was. Pas had been a recent development and she thought she was sick or being possessed or both. Which was why she had studied every major mental disorder and supernatural phenomena. Nothing fit. Overtime she stopped worrying about Pas and just let it be. He was good company, especially in her more lonely years. People have friends and lovers that they trust enough to divulge their greatest secrets and thoughts. Hayley had always found that a novel idea. Some ideal. Something that everyone struggles to reach but no one can. Ati had proved her wrong.

She looked around. Any one of these people could be the killer. Or multiple people, she hadn't yet ruled out the possibility.

Her phone vibrated.

The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.

"Sun Tzu"

"Huh?" asked the man handing her the ticket.

"Nothing." She smiled.

'Chinese Section then.'

The security personal verified her ticket. The first was the Japanese Section. Followed by an Indian sword display. She was taking her time going through each exhibit. She reasoned that she was doing it to not draw suspicion but museums had always been fascinating to her, along with libraries. She craved the reserve of knowledge they held.

Not drawing suspicion got thrown out the window when she commented on how limiting it would have been to fight and kill with the hilt of the sword being so small. You wouldn't be able to do the rolling the sword against your hand style move. After which she looked up from the display, a guard watching her curiously.

The next one had Buddha Statues and painting, a Chinese vase and the most amazing chess board she had ever seen. The Egypt Section had a Mummy. 'I don't remember this part.' After which were the Aboriginal People Section mostly filled with old rocks.

The board above the next section – Chinese. She barely stepped under the door frame. . .

"Oh. You are so dead."

Shiv was casually looking at a blue and white vase. He turned around sharply when he heard her.

"Shush!" he put a finger on his lips and pulled her inside.

"You sent me that text!" she whispered angrily.

"You came!" he furtively whispered back.

"What is your problem?"

"My problem . . ." his lips curved to make a perfect O. "Let's not forget you" he jabbed a finger in her direction "are the one who received an anonymous text, from I'm hoping you'd have assumed a killer, but it's you, hey, I don't know. And you came anyways." He finished it all in one breathe. All the while making dramatic faces, hands unable to stay at any given point.

Whispering increased in volume as half a dozen people entered the room. Shiv jerked and turned to the display which was made of ceramic statues. At first Hayley assumed they were of Chinese kings. However the plaques informed her that they were just random people.

"Seriously. . ." The people exited the section without paying much attention to the displays. "Though. What do you want?"

Shiv looked around, checking for eavesdroppers, Hayley supposed.