Silent pursuit

Chapter 12: The darkness within

Travis stood by the crime scene, feeling the tense atmosphere with the smell of death in the air on the cool night breeze. His gaze moved across the space, absorbing the usual view of blood smears, ripped tissue, and disorder. Another life, forcefully stolen. He understood the significance—another unsuccessful outcome, another murderer out in the open. The identical murderer they had been pursuing for several weeks. However, this time he had a lingering feeling that he couldn't shake - a suspicion that troubled him. Anita approached him, her complexion appearing pale under the street lamps. "She whispered, 'This is the worst so far,'" he agreed silently. He couldn't stop thinking about Fedola, her peculiar actions, and the unsettling aura that surrounded her like a shadow. She had been distancing herself from him, keeping a secret, and he was aware of it. However, could it be done? Was it possible that his own sister was connected to these violent killings? He shook his head, determined to concentrate. Fedola did not commit murder. She was unable to exist. However, the doubts continued to bother him persistently, unwilling to disappear. "Do you believe we are overlooking something?" Anita inquired, looking at him worriedly. These killings... they're getting worse, becoming increasingly brutal, more intimate. The murderer is becoming more daring, as if they are trying to convey a message." Travis gulped nervously, his throat constricted. Perhaps. However, we have not yet seen the complete picture. He averted his gaze from the crime scene, no longer able to bear the sight of the mutilated body. He was conflicted, torn between his responsibilities as an investigator and his worry for Fedola. Anita trailed behind him, maintaining a distance while observing him carefully. She noticed cracks appearing in Travis's normally impassive facade, causing concern for her. Travis, are you alright? Lately, your attention has been elsewhere. Since Fedola returned, it seems like you're simply not present," he paused, his hands tightly clenched as he searched for the appropriate words. Anita, it's a complex situation. There is a personal touch to this case that is hard to ignore. I can't find words to describe it." "Is it something personal?" Anita's forehead wrinkled. Travis hesitated, barely whispering, "What are you trying to say?" "Fedola." - said Fedola. Anita noticed a change in her, a secret she is hiding from me." Anita's eyes widened, fear flashing across her face. "Do you believe she is implicated?" "That is a grave allegation, Travis." "I am unsure." He ran his fingers through his hair, feeling weighed down by uncertainty. I can't help but feel like she's keeping something from me. Since her return, the killings began. Anita put a comforting hand on his shoulder, saying, "I don't want to accept it, but..." "We will solve it, Travis. However, it is important to exercise caution. "If she's included, it could be risky." Travis agreed, even though he still felt a knot in his stomach. He couldn't convince himself that his sister Fedola, whom he had always shielded, could be connected to something so terrible. However, he couldn't deny the signs, even though he despised them. At the same time, Fedola was in her dimly lit apartment on the other side of the city, with only the moonlight shining through the window. Looking at her image in the mirror, she saw sunken eyes and a thin face staring back at her. She was still troubled by memories—images of blood, violence, and a dark, menacing presence inside her. She attempted to avoid Travis and Anita and remain alone. However, the murders had not ceased. Despite her efforts to contain it, the darkness within her continued to increase in intensity and persistence. She felt it scratching at her, begging to be set free. Her hands shook as she tried to grab the glass of water on the table, but as she was about to drink, the room spun and she was overcome by the usual feeling of dizziness. Her grip tight on the table, she struggled to breathe as everything around her became hazy. Suddenly, she was consumed by haunting visions of hands drenched in blood. A loud scream reverberating in the darkness of the night. A sudden gleam of pointed teeth, ripping through skin. The body beneath her is heavy, struggling and fighting for survival. And suddenly... silence. Fedola took a sharp breath, her heart pounding as she came back from the vision. Her mind was spinning as she staggered backwards. Now, she was aware. There was no denying the truth. Her inner monster was not merely a product of her mind's creation. It was genuine, and it held power over her. She crumpled to the ground, tears falling from her eyes. How did it end up like this? In what way had she transformed into this... creature? She had always sensed that she was different from others, that something was amiss with her. However, this was something much more terrible than she had ever expected. Her mind raced as she attempted to assemble the pieces of her history. The father of her. He had always been elusive, always remote. However, there were occasions—times when his rage intensified, times when he was out of character She recalled how he would vanish for days, coming back with his clothes stained with blood, his eyes filled with a sinister and risky energy. And then he departed. Left them without any explanation. Travis thought their father had left on his own accord, but Fedola had a different understanding. Their father had not only departed. He had been fleeing—from his own self, from the monster hiding inside him. Now, the monster that had scared Fedola was within her. As she dealt with this frightening truth, Travis looked out into the night from his apartment window. His memories from childhood were more vivid than ever, with all the pieces of the puzzle fitting together. His father had not only left them behind. He had been fleeing from something - something that Travis had received. The bursts of anger, the animalistic urges, the mysterious attraction he experienced under the full moon - now everything was clear. He was a werewolf. In the same way as his father, Fedola was also now burdened by the weight of the truth, causing Travis to feel suffocated. His whole life was devoted to ensuring Fedola's safety, to keeping her away from the shadows. However, he had failed to rescue her - not in this situation. Travis tightened his fists, his jaw clenching. He refused to allow the monster to emerge victorious. Losing his father to the situation was heartbreaking, but Fedola wouldn't suffer the same fate. He was determined to find a solution, to protect her at all costs. The search for the murderer continued. It had barely started.