Two: The Corpse Statue (Part II)
994 Words
Note: This was the chapter Sirius had written and send to the publishing company
To the public, she was perfection.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Kind.
Her name was Liberty Manaligan—one of L City’s most celebrated actresses and models. On camera, she smiled like she owned the world, spoke with grace, and carried herself like someone worth admiring.
But behind the lights?
She was something else entirely.
Cruel.
Manipulative.
Untouchable.
Even her own manager—someone who technically held authority over her—couldn’t control her when she decided to speak.
All it took was one scream.
And everyone fell silent.
“Didn’t I tell you no cucumber?!” Liberty’s voice echoed across the set, sharp and furious.
It was supposed to be a simple lunch break.
She had been craving a hamburger, so she ordered one.
And yet—
There it was.
Cucumber.
Her expression twisted in disgust before she threw the burger onto the floor.
Her staff lowered their heads, none daring to admit fault.
“Liberty, what’s going on here?”
Her manager had arrived, clearly alerted by yet another outburst.
“Talk to your staff,” Liberty snapped. “They can’t even follow a simple instruction.”
The manager sighed, glancing at the trembling employees.
“I’ll give whoever did this a chance,” he said calmly. “Come to my office and explain. I promise you won’t be fired—I just want to understand.”
Most of them felt relieved.
Except Liberty.
Because she didn’t want understanding.
She wanted revenge.
---
The next day—
She found her answer.
One of her stylists.
Michelle.
Liberty stood outside the manager’s office, the door slightly open as she listened in.
“I was the one who ordered the food,” Michelle admitted.
The manager sounded surprised. “Why? You’ve been with her for years—you know what she likes.”
A bitter laugh escaped the stylist.
“Exactly. And I’ve tolerated her attitude for years too.”
Her voice trembled—not with fear, but exhaustion.
“I needed the job. I needed the money. But she humiliated me… insulted me… even hit me.”
Silence.
“I was going to resign anyway,” Michelle continued softly. “Yesterday was just… the beginning. And honestly? I don’t regret it.”
The manager sighed deeply.
“I understand,” he said. “So… is that all?”
Michelle placed an envelope on the desk.
“I’m resigning,” she said. “I got a better offer. My sibling needs treatment—I can’t stay here anymore.”
The manager accepted it, wishing her well.
But outside the door—
Liberty stood frozen.
Her fists clenched tightly.
Now she knew.
And now—
Someone had to pay.
---
She waited.
And when Michelle stepped out—
Liberty attacked.
Without warning, she grabbed the woman’s hair and yanked her back.
“Miss Liberty—please, let go!” Michelle cried out, struggling.
But Liberty only tightened her grip.
“You think I wouldn’t find out?” she hissed. “I treated you like a friend—and this is how you repay me?!”
The struggle intensified.
Shouts echoed in the hallway.
Then—
A sudden, violent motion.
Michelle’s head slammed against the wall.
A sharp sound followed.
A nail.
Protruding.
Piercing.
Blood.
Everything went still.
Liberty froze.
“…Mich?”
Her voice came out weak.
Shaking, she knelt down, trying to wake her.
No response.
Only blood spreading across the floor.
Realization hit.
Hard.
Without another word—
She ran.
---
Days passed.
Her world collapsed faster than she could process.
Her stylist was declared dead on arrival.
A case was filed.
Scandals surfaced.
Secrets exposed.
Her fans turned their backs on her.
Endorsements disappeared.
Contracts terminated.
She had nothing left.
“Why won’t you help me?!” Liberty demanded over the phone, her voice trembling with desperation.
She stood inside a public phone booth near L River, hiding.
Running.
Breaking.
“Liberty… listen to me,” her manager sighed. “There’s no escaping this. You killed someone.”
The line went silent.
Then—
She slammed the receiver down.
Her breathing turned uneven as she stepped out into the street.
She didn’t know where to go.
Didn’t know where she belonged anymore.
And then—
A hand grabbed her.
Darkness followed.
---
The next morning—
A statue stood in the middle of L Street.
Perfect.
Still.
Beautiful.
And dead.
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End of Chapter.
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Julius Park flipped through the pages of his report, his expression unreadable.
He had been rereading them over and over again—searching for something.
Anything.
But there were no mistakes.
No loopholes.
Just patterns.
Two murder cases.
Two victims.
Marina Santiago—killed in an alley near Sirius’ apartment. Initial report: robbery.
Edelita Corazon—a former actress, recently involved in a scandal after assaulting her stylist. Found… turned into a “statue.”
Julius leaned back slightly, his brows furrowing.
He knew them.
Both of them.
They weren’t just names in a report.
They were part of his past.
High school.
Memories.
Marina had been their classmate.
Quiet.
Kind.
A survivor.
Edelita, on the other hand, had been popular—admired, untouchable.
And both of them…
Were close to Sirius.
They were part of the same club.
Arts.
Literature.
Julius’ grip on the paper tightened slightly.
He remembered.
Edelita had once liked Sirius.
But Sirius?
He had always been focused.
Driven.
Determined to enter L University.
Julius exhaled slowly.
Then his eyes caught something.
A detail.
Small.
But wrong.
“…Both victims have a mark carved onto their bodies…”
His expression darkened as he looked at the photo attached.
The same symbol.
The same mark.
Left behind.
A signature.
Without wasting another second—
Julius grabbed his phone.
And dialed.
---
Somewhere else—
Sirius’ phone began to ring.
Again.
And this time—
The truth was getting closer.
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To be continued…
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