Human vs. Phantom

Chapter- 5 Episode- 4 September 30th

Chapter- 5

Episode- 4

September 30th

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“Finally, the day is over, it has actually been a long tiring one.” Jim threw his exhausted and giant body on the bed of their room. It was not very comfortable for his big frame before, but now for his fatigued body, it was the warmest and comfy thing he could get. Not sleeping properly and working the cases was taking a toll on his body. He was just pushing himself harder and harder every day, only revenge can put an end to his endless misery.

“I just want to sleep now, driving the whole day, I'm exhausted.” Reeve too laid on the bed next to Jim’s. he was too tired to even take his shoes off. They were both working and driving since the morning, not to mention they haven’t eaten anything the whole day.

“I told you to let me drive, but you are so stingy, won’t even let me touch your car,” Jim whined lying flat on the springy mattress, but even though he was complaining he voice came out muffled as if he was really trying his hardest to form words to come out of his mouth, but his exhaustion won’t be making it any easier.

“you hungry? Wanna have something to eat?” Reeve asked trying to save the argument on why he won’t let his brother drive his car. He was not that stingy when it comes to sharing his things or toys with his brother ever since they were kids. But he didn’t know the Jim himself was very tired to continue with this argument at this time.

“it’s over midnight now Reeve, not many restaurants deliver orders at this time,” Jim said in an informative tone, Reeve kind of expected this statement from him.

“I know some who will,” Reeve said.

“order anything, they can deliver as fast as possible, I'm famished, I’ll eat anything I have right now,” Jim replied.

“burger will do?” Reeve confirmed.

“anything” Jim answer while he felt his stomach-churning.

“Okay, I'll order the best meal of the day for you. You just wait and don’t sleep.” He said and dialed a number on his phone.

“Hello, I’d like to order two double cheeseburgers, two large tots, and two shakes.” He spoke.

“how long will it take?”

“Okay sure, the delivery address is room number 105, motel 6.”

“credit.” Yes.

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Next morning,

“Reeve you noticed something when we talked to the victim’s family last night.” Jim said as they both freshened up and sat on the table to talk about yesterday’s investigation.

“What do you mean?” Reeve questioned.

“They all mentioned one thing, which was common in all of them.” He paused to see Reeve’s expression and then again continued. “they all said that they started acting strangely after they came back from their reunion party,” he completed.

“I also find that pretty strange. Must something has happened that they started acting weird all of a sudden after their reunion. We must find out.” Said Reeve motivated.

“And one thing more, they all had recently been to their reunion, I don’t think it is a season or something for reunions, this is festive seasons, people spend it with their families. Were they all in the same school? This could be possible.” Jim reasoned while Reeve nodded on that idea. He thought that them knowing each other makes a lot more sense.

“I think there are some blanks we must fill in to get some leads to work on,” Reeve spoke out.

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They had a quick breakfast before leaving for the full day of struggle. Their energy was not wholly replenished, so they did a kind of healthy breakfast, at least healthier than what they ate last night, to keep them focused throughout the day.

They got the numbers of Lucas, Thomas, and Ruby’s parents yesterday. Reeve called them all to ask for more details about the reunion that they went to. After spending about an hour on the calls he went to where Jim was working.

“Hey Jim, you busy? Gotta tell something interesting I just found out.” Reeve told Jim who was as usual busy with his computer.

“just a second.” Jim said and bookmarked a page that he was scrolling through then said, “okay, now say what is it?”

“I just called the victim's family and you know what I found out?” Reeve again said.

“what is it spill now?” Jim said curiously.

“both Lucas, Thomas, and Ruby were born on the same day, September thirty twenty-three years ago,” Reeve told Jim.

“This can’t be a coincidence that they were born on the same day and died in a kind of similar way that too within a week. Don’t you think it is weird?” said Jim confused.

“weird as ass, I would call it,” Reeve commented to which Jim again asked. “Did they go to the same reunion party too?”

“Yes, they all went to Blue Bennet Hotel last Saturday for that party. And you know what is the most surprising part? They graduated from the same elementary school, Little harbor, twelve years ago where they used to be besties but they didn’t have any contact after graduation.” Reeve said in an informative tone.

“you think their school has something to do with the murders or is it because they had the same birthdays?” Jim asked.

“I think we should check it out once,” Reeve spoke out hoarsely.

Little harbor elementary school was about an hour's drive from there. So, buckling their seatbelts they drive off there

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Parking their car outside the school gate they walked inside the premises. The school was too quiet to even tell if someone was there or not, especially kids, they are never quiet. But none the less, they went inside. Walking through that place, every second, every step was making Reeve uncomfortable. He never thought just a thing as simple as this could do such a difference on him. He was too in elementary school when the incident happened when he lost his most beloved, which changed both boys’ destiny forever. He was having flashes of that day in front of his eyes. It was like his being teleported in time to that year again, each memory was so clear in his head that he can never get it out of his system and move on, ever. Each step was harder and harder for him. After that day, years ago, he hated even the idea of going to school leaving his brother behind, he was always scared of what could have happened to his brother when he goes back to him. He skipped on most of his school life, which could have been the best days of his life as he has always been smart and attractive.

“Why did you stop?” a voice suddenly brings back Reeve to his senses. The voice jolted him out of his thoughts back to reality.

“Uhh, no nothing. I'm fine.” He uttered looking around.

They went to the school principal’s room to ask some questions.

“Hello Mr. Patterson, I am officer Springsteen and this is my partner Officer Bennett. We are here to ask you some questions.” Jim said showing his badge to the principal, while Reeve just flashes the badge, he was in a terrible mood.

“Is there something wrong officer?” he asked.

“yes, three ex-graduates of this school died... murdered this week and we think this could be connected somehow.” Jim again said.

“whom are you talking of officers?” the principal asked.

“they graduated in 2007, Thomas Shaw, Ruby James, and Lucas Carter.” Jim was the only one talking today, Reeve was not interested in a chit-chat today.

“Oh yes, of course, how can I not know them? They were a notorious bunch. But they were bright too, all four of them.” He spoke.

“four?” Jim spoke suddenly.

“yes, they were a group of four kids, Thomas, Lucas, Jody, and Ruby.” The principal told the boys.

“Jody…?”

“yes… Jody Mills. Just like the three of them, Jody too had the same birthday. They became friends in the first place because they had the same birthdays. Everyone in the school knew that.” He said again.

“do you know where this Jody lives now?” Jim questioned elbowing Reeve.

“no one in the whole town knows where she is now.” Mister Patterson answered.

“what does that mean?” said Reeve, he finally had something of interest now.

“her parents passed away in an accident on the day of their graduation and after that, no one in the town knows where that girl went. Her relatives tried finding her but no one could actually find her. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mills were among the richest in this town, and after their death, Jody was the only heir to all the business and property which is now her relatives are looking after.” Okay thank you, Mr. Patterson, we will call you again if we have something to ask you. This is our card you can call us if you have something you remember and wanna tell us about them.” Jim said giving him their fake card.

“I would be happy to be of any help officers.”

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After their kind of long chat with the school’s principal, they were back inside their car, where Jim said to Reeve,

“what happened to you in there? You were acting unusual.”

“nothing happened,” Reeve replied, his voice came out a little frustrated. Reeve hated showing his weaknesses.

“I don’t think so.” Jim was worried for him; he knew he hated school but he never knew the reason for that.

“I hate schools.” Was his only reply before he changed the topic and said, “do you think this Jody should be our concern?”

“I think she is too somehow connected too.” Jim said and after a small pause again said, “wait, I think I had an idea.” He took his tablet out and typed something and again said, “Reeve see this, I searched for all the deaths in the past week in Auburn, CA, and this is what I got.”

As Reeve’s gaze turned to the screen of the tablet he again said, “there are about forty-eight deaths in the whole week, among this number, five more other than the three we knew of who was born on September thirty 1997, have died from last Saturday till today. Three of them committed suicide, one died of an illness which is not specified here and one was in an accident. So, you could say whoever was born on that day are all dying one after another, the reasons are different but this is all connected.” Jim explained.

“Their age and birthday are we know somehow connected to their deaths. Do one thing, search for anyone who has been born on the same day in this town and is still in the town, the demon will be going after that person next.” Reeve said to Jim.

“yes… wait a second.” He said and started tapping his fingers on the screen. “Done!” Jim took around a minute or two and again spoke.

“three others, two girls and a boy were born on the same day in this town and among them just one-person, Rocky Shire is still in town. He is a writer and poet. His address is nearby. We should go there before the demon gets him. He is our only hope in finding what is going on. This doesn’t look like some soup spilling, bed shaking business with the demon here, this is much serious than we thought at first.” Reeve said and ignited his car’s engine to do what they decided to do. it was the only thing that they could do right now.

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