Chapter 6: Beneath the Surface
1156 Words
Rue stepped into the dimly lit apartment, her eyes scanning the room. This crime scene was different. The faint smell of blood was still in the air, but it was the eerie quietness of the place that made her uneasy. The room felt off-like a place that had been abandoned long before the police arrived.
Atreus, who had insisted on coming with her, hovered by the door. Rue gave him a sharp look as she took in the surroundings. She needed to focus on the case, and with the way his energy was pulsing, it was clear he was already sensing something she couldn't yet pinpoint.
"Stay in the car, Atreus," Rue said quietly, her voice laced with determination. "I'll handle it from here."
Atreus hesitated, his eyes narrowing. "You're going in alone? I can feel something dark here."
Rue turned toward him, her gaze steady. "I'll be fine. I just need to focus. Stay in the car, and keep an eye out. I'll check in soon."
Reluctantly, Atreus nodded. "If you need anything-anything at all-don't hesitate to call me."
Rue gave him a quick nod before heading deeper into the apartment. She had a job to do. But even as she moved through the space, her thoughts kept drifting back to Atreus. Something was off, and she knew it wasn't just the case at hand. Atreus's presence had unsettled her, and his warnings weren't something she could ignore.
She made her way through the apartment, but despite her efforts, she found nothing substantial. No weapon. No clear clue. Her frustration built as she reached the bedroom, finding it a mess, like the rest of the place, but still nothing that screamed important. The only thing she found of note was the faint, unsettling aura lingering in the air, the same one she'd felt at the first crime scene.
She quickly texted Althea: "Nothing yet. Checking out the victim's girlfriend now. Could be more to this."
The text had barely been sent when she heard the faint click of the front door opening. Rue's sharp eyes caught the figure of Atreus slipping into the apartment, his usual confident stride tempered by the look of concern on his face.
"You couldn't stay in the car?" Rue asked dryly, though she couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips.
Atreus paused, his gaze scanning the apartment. "I couldn't shake it," he admitted, lowering his voice. "The aura-it's here, just like last time. I couldn't ignore it."
Rue's smile faded as she glanced around again. "I felt it too. Same energy."
Atreus frowned, his senses on high alert. "Something's here. Something not human."
---
Later, at the café, Althea was already seated, her eyes watching the door for Rue and the victim's girlfriend. Rue and Atreus entered together, but as they did, Rue's mind was still turning over the details of the apartment. The aura. The strange sense that something-someone-had been there before them, pulling strings.
Rue glanced at Atreus as they walked in. He was unusually quiet, his energy more withdrawn than usual, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was bothering him.
Althea looked up when they reached the table, giving Rue a warm smile. "What did you find?"
Rue slid into the chair, glancing at Atreus as he made his way to the far side of the room, where he sat at a table on his own. He'd been keeping his distance ever since they arrived. Rue knew he was trying to maintain a low profile, but his presence was still palpable.
"There was something off about the apartment," Rue said, her voice low. "And I'm not just talking about the crime. I felt the same dark energy as the first case. Atreus agrees with me."
Althea raised an eyebrow. "Dark energy?"
Rue nodded. "Like a shadow lingering behind. Whatever's behind this, I don't think we've seen the last of it."
At that moment, the door swung open, and Blaire walked in, a nervous look on her face. Rue's eyes narrowed, studying the girl's every move as she made her way to the table.
"Blaire, right?" Althea asked, extending her hand with a professional smile. "Thanks for coming in."
Blaire shook her hand weakly, her gaze flickering nervously between Althea and Rue. She seemed jumpy, her body language screaming unease. Rue watched her closely, sensing the girl's discomfort.
"I... I don't know what to say," Blaire whispered, her voice trembling as she took a seat.
"It's okay. Just tell us what you know about Max," Althea said, her tone soft but steady.
Blaire blinked, then glanced down at her lap. "Max and I... we were together for two months."
Rue exchanged a quick glance with Atreus, who remained silent at his table, his focus unwavering. She could tell he was reading Blaire's emotions from across the room, probably picking up on what she wasn't saying aloud.
"Did you know about his past?" Althea asked, leaning forward slightly.
Blaire shifted uncomfortably. "His past? You mean his ex?"
Althea nodded. "Yes, his ex. Did you know they were still in contact?"
Blaire looked up, her face pale. "I-I don't know. He said they were over. But... I saw him with another girl, not long before he-" She trailed off, her voice cracking.
Rue narrowed her eyes. "So, you think he was cheating on you?"
Blaire hesitated, her voice barely a whisper. "Yes. But I didn't confront him. I was too scared."
Rue felt the tension in the air. She reached for her phone and texted Althea: "This doesn't add up. She's hiding something."
Althea looked down at her phone as it buzzed, catching Rue's message. She knew something wasn't right about Blaire's story, but before she could press her, Blaire stood up abruptly.
"I... I need to go," Blaire said, her voice shaking.
Althea watched her go, a frown tugging at her lips. Rue caught her gaze, and the two women exchanged a knowing look.
Rue sat back, exhaling slowly. "There's something more to this case. And I think Blaire knows more than she's letting on."
At that moment, Rue glanced over at Atreus. He had risen from his table and was walking toward them, his presence calm yet purposeful. He took a seat next to Rue, his eyes still reflecting the intensity of his observations.
"I heard most of it from across the room," Atreus said quietly, his voice cool but steady. "Whatever this is, it's not just a crime of passion. There's something darker at play here."
Rue nodded, her mind racing with new possibilities. "Agreed. But we won't know for sure until we dig deeper."
Althea glanced at both of them, her expression thoughtful. "Then let's start digging."
As they prepared to leave, Rue felt the weight of the case pressing down on her. Whatever was behind these murders, they were getting closer to uncovering the truth. And that truth would change everything.
- Writer
