Chapter 3: Old Times
Three days later...
Kade sat at his desk, eyes locked on the glowing screen. Crime scene photos flickered one by one. But his mind was elsewhere.
(Inner Monologue)
“Three of the detectives who died were tied to the case of my father and sister’s deaths. It happened six years ago... but I remember it vividly.”
---
Flashback – Six Years Ago
Rain hit the ground like gunfire. A younger Kade ran barefoot, mud splashing beneath him. His father sprinted beside him, carrying a small girl in his arms—Kade’s twin sister.
Shouts rang out behind them. Then—
Bang. Bang.
Kade’s father stumbled, shielding the girl as bullets tore through him.
His last words were faint. Desperate.
"Run... survive... sorry..."
Underneath his father’s trembling arms, Rose looked up at Kade—pale, wide-eyed, and soaked in tears.
Then everything went silent.
---
Back to the Present
Kade clenched his fists.
“The Birds meeting is tonight, huh...”
He turned back to the screen, scrolling through reports and timelines, highlighting key connections.
His phone buzzed.
Caller ID: Elis
He paused, then picked up.
“Hello.”
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Her voice was soft. “Hey, me and Jason are going to the water park tomorrow after school. You wanna come?”
Kade stared ahead, expression unreadable.
“...Sure.”
A pause.
“And… um… never mind. I’ll tell you tomorrow.”
Click.
He set the phone down.
---
That Night – 9:00 PM
The Birds Meeting
Four avatars lit up the screen.
Voice: “Ruki, you said you had a plan? Five more people are dead—two of them were detectives. We need something.”
Ruki: “Yeah. We’re using bait. One of my teammates volunteered as decoy. He’s trained and fully equipped. If the killer takes it—we capture and interrogate. Best case, we get a lead. Worst case… we rattle them.”
Man: “You sure that’ll work?”
Ruki: “Nothing’s guaranteed. But it’s more than we’ve had in weeks.”
Kade: “I’ve been digging. I think the killer’s tied to the Clide Uruk case. A lot of the murdered detectives were working on it.”
Voice: “Interesting... I’ve been revisiting that case too. It was always strange—tragic, unsolvable. Then it just… stopped.”
Silence followed. Heavy with unspoken doubts.
Voice: “We’ve made progress. Next meeting—Sunday. Be ready.”
The screen dimmed. The call ended.
---
Kade leaned back in his chair, the room falling silent.
Tomorrow, he’d go to school. Go to the water park. Play his role.
But tonight, the shadows whispered.
---
The Next Day
Kade walked out of school with Elis and Jason, heading toward the water park. The sun was warm, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
“Hey,” he asked quietly, turning to Elis, “what were you going to say last night?”
She glanced away. “It’s not important,” she muttered.
They got on the bus. Kade sat by the window, watching the city blur past.
His mind drifted.
---
Flashback
Rain poured from a dull grey sky. Rose smiled, her small hand reaching into the rain.
“Evening rain is so pretty,” she whispered.
Their father chuckled beside them. “Yeah… it really is.”
They were walking to a shop, umbrella in hand, when Kade noticed him—a man in black trailing behind.
“Dad...” Kade whispered, tugging his sleeve.
His father turned. His entire posture changed.
Panic.
“…Why now?” he muttered under his breath.
He handed Kade the umbrella.
“Get in that alley. Now.”
Kade obeyed, watching as his father grabbed Rose and bolted into the street, dropping the umbrella behind.
The man followed fast.
Then—
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Kade peeked out just in time to see his father bleeding, still holding Rose in his arms.
His final words:
“Run... survive... sorry…”
Rose turned to Kade, tear-filled eyes frozen—
More gunshots.
Kade turned and ran.
By the time a police officer reached him at the alley’s end, the man in black had vanished. And everything went quiet.
---
Back to Present
“Kade! Kade, wake up—we’re here!” Elis said, snapping him out of it.
He nodded slowly as they got off the bus and entered the water park.
After changing, Jason and Elis ran for the water.
“Hey Kade, aren’t you coming in?” Jason called.
“Huh? Yeah… okay… soon,” Kade muttered.
Without warning, Elis jumped out and pulled him in with a splash.
“We’re not letting you mope while we have fun!” she laughed.
She playfully splashed him.
For the first time in a while…
Kade smiled.
---
Later That Evening – Home
“Did you have a good time, Kade?” his grandmother asked as he walked in.
“Yeah… sure. I’m gonna study,” he said quickly, heading to his room.
---
Kade’s Room – Inner Monologue
“I can’t get distracted.”
He sat back down at his desk, eyes scanning the screen.
“Eighteen people dead over the past three months. Every single one involved in the case of my sister... and Clide Uruk.”
“Shot after leaving the hospital.”
“There was no proof my father was tied to gangs or law enforcement… but now I’m not so sure.”
He flipped through case files. His eyes narrowed.
“Only one thing stood out during the original investigation—the bullets. Same type. Same manufacturer.”
His eyes widened.
“Grason Weaponry.”
“That narrows it down. The killer either works for them... or buys from them often. Which means the suspect is a staff member—or a regular customer.”
---
Cut To: A Weapons Store
A masked figure entered quietly, footsteps precise. He walked up to the counter.
“I want 95 rounds of ammo,” he said. His voice—sharp. Cold.
The shopkeeper didn’t flinch.
“Alright.”
The figure tapped the counter.
Waiting.
Still.
Like he’d done this before.
---
Chapter Ends
