Love Letters Through Corpses

Chapter 38:The killer is in this camp

They were still in the warehouse, quietly examining every corner of the room as well as the body without entering. A few moments later, Daexoen came back with a bunch of teachers and staff of the camp. They were surprised at the same time, fearful of their encounter. The staff started to call for reinforcements as well as the owner to let them know about the situation. The teachers were trying to calm down the two crying students. There was also a group of students flocking the warehouse entrance, trying to get pieces of information. 

“Did you call them?” Styx asked Daexoen, who was now approaching them.

He nodded, “Yeah, they said they were on their way. Might take awhile though, since it’s quite far,” he answered.

He noticed how the youngest was staring mindlessly at the dark room, “You okay? Sage?” Daexoen asked, trying to get the youngest’s attention.

The youngest continued to gaze at the room,“Yeah. I was just thinking, could she be part of the Rose case?” She acknowledged him.

Styx looked at her, “Why? Did you see something?” Styx asked her.

She shrugged, “I think so, but it was so fast I couldn’t make out what it was.”

“Let’s just wait for uncle to come, then help with the investigation.” Daexoen suggested, which the two surely agreed on. 

“I suggest you don’t go in there or touch anything. That’s now a legitimate crime scene. If one object or such gets infested with your DNA you might be held responsible for any demeanor.” Sage suddenly warned one of the teachers who was about to enter the room. He was either very brave or very stupid. 

The teacher looked at her harshly, ‘Are you saying we should leave this? The students-”

He, however, was suddenly cut off by Styx, “Should not be here right now.” He said before looking at the grouped students. “I suggest you all leave before you get involved with this.” he added, causing the teachers to drive the students away from the warehouse.

And at that time, the agents were seen running towards the warehouse, followed by a group of agents behind them. As soon as they entered, the two head agents immediately ran towards the trio while the others tried to get rid of the students as well as get testimony from the teachers.

“Are you guys alright? What happened?” Agent Kleio frantically asked them.

Agent Brook sighed in relief, “I swear you three are magnets of misfortune events.” he said.

“Honestly, uncle, we’re surprised as well” Daexoen teasingly answered.

Styx shrugged, “Guess we’re lucky.” 

The quintet then looked at the now brightened room as staff and other agents filled the hall with lights. They were able to perfectly see the hanging female. Covered with her own blood, brutally killed by the killer. 

“One of your classmates?” Agent Kleio asked the female.  

She shook her head in response, “No, She’s from another class. We were about to have lunch, when her friends begged us to help find her. Sadly, she wasn’t alive when we did.” She explained. 

“Is she another Rose victim?” Agent Brook asked, as he and agent Kleio started to prepare to enter the room.

“We’re not sure. We weren’t able to look at the body closely. There were other students with us” Styx answered, gesturing towards the two other female students they were with. 

The two nodded, “I see. Agent Hyro. Ask for the two’s testimony about the events.” He ordered one of the agents. “You three can come with us.” He handed the three a pair of gloves each before gesturing them to follow.

As they entered the room, there were already about three other agents examining the area and another one taking pictures of the scene. Daexoen and Sage slowly went near the body while Styx looked at the situation of the entire room. 

The female’s death was indeed brutal. You wouldn’t even dare to imagine someone with the right mind would do this. Her body was tied to the walls by steel ropes. Her clothes had strips of cut places and deep wounds were found behind it. She must have been whipped to death before a deep cut through her throat ended her misery. It was as clear as day that the victim was tortured before her sad demise. Which made the case unlikely to be part of their current serial killing case, because unlike the other victims, except for Ivan’s, this death is brutal compared to the simple poison the others witnessed. 

“Is she really part of the case?” Before agent Kleio could add more, the youngest already answered.

“I found it” She said as she pointed towards the victim’s hand, where six little dots were found. 

Sage lifted the victim’s shirt just a tid above her torso. Revealing a not-so detailed tattoo. 

“Her tattoo is vaguely different,” She said.

“It looks like she was forced to get this one, unlike the other victims, who looked like they were applied willingly.” Daexoen seconded.

The agent looked at the body weirdly, “Why is she killed so brutally but the others were poisoned?” Agent Brook asked.

“She must have fought back, hitting a trigger towards the killer.” Styx concluded 

The four looked at him, “What do you mean?” 

He shrugged, “Isn’t it  like those in the movies? The character triggers or upsets the killer which would then lead to the killer killing the victim brutally due to anger?” The agents almost facepalmed themselves while Daexoen laughed at his friend’s innocence. 

“Well it could be. What have you found?” Daexoen said, before asking the other male. “Found a glass of Chloroform and a handkerchief” he answered, showing them a bag with the handkerchief and a bottle of chloroform.

“I see, looked like she was intentionally led here and was drugged by the looks of the tattoo and the freshness of the wounds, it looks like the tattoo was forcibly imprinted first onto her body before wounds.” Daexoen concluded.

“I see he was planning to continue towards poison. But she must have awoken by the time or before he had finished giving her the tattoo. She must have insulted and angered the killer, causing him to brutally hurt the poor girl”Sage continued. 

“I saw a glass that was labelled Botulinum toxin. What is that?” Styx added, causing the two to look at each other.

“So that was his plan. Botulinum Toxin is one of the deadliest poisons in the world. The toxin attacks the body's nerves and causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and even death. It is also a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum and related species. It prevents the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from axon endings at the neuromuscular junction, thus causing flaccid paralysis.” Sage explained.

The agents looked at them bewildered, “Did you catch any of that?” Agent Kleio whispered to his partner.

“Not a word” he whispered back.

“I see, because of the victim’s will to live, he decided to cut off his initial plan resulting in this.” Styx said with an enlightened tone. “Well, he sure made it clean. I doubt you’d find any fingerprints here.” he added.

“Do you think the killer is in this camp?” Daexoen suddenly asked, making everyone look at him.

“What do you mean?” The female asked. 

He looked at them passionately, “I mean how else could he kill? It looks like the victim knew who that person was. She willingly left their house, then came here before being abducted. If it was someone she didn’t know or outside the school’s staff and students, then why would she dress up? Or even come here.” Daexoen explained. 

“Huh?” Agent Kleio said, looking at them with pure confusion.

“I get it. She’s wearing makeup, and her outfit, if not ripped apart, looks more decent than sleeping attire. She was planning on meeting him either for a talk or something else.” Sage added.

“It could be a staff or student. Based on her classmates' description, she’s a ‘playful’ girl”, Styx maliciously answered.

“It’s dangerous for the students to stay here if we’re right. Uncle, we should cancel the camp” Daexoen suddenly advised.