The Winter Clock

CHAPTER 5 - FEAR

“Reina!” Natalie shouted. “Ryther!” She cried out as the man pleased himself with her body. “NO! AHHH!”

“Silver!”

Reina stood up from her bed, eyes wide opened. “Thank God, you’re awake” Ryther exhaled deeply in relief. But that alone did not make him at ease. Reina’s head throbbed painfully. Suddenly, she remembered Natalie.

“Nat. Where’s Nat?!” She asked panickily and search the whole room. Her eyes then caught someone standing from the corner of the room. Someone who doesn’t look familiar to her. That man was wearing a black uniform and holding a folder in his hand.

“Who is he?” Reina asked. What on earth does that cop doing in her room?

“Good morning, Ms. Silverstone. I am Detective Holer, pleased to meet you.” The man greeted. Reina frowned and looked at Ryther, perplexed. She felt something’s wrong as her heart beats faster.

“Silver, something happened.” Ryther started. He squeezed her hand in hesitation. Reina’s breathing became unstable. “Natalie- Silver!” Reina did not finish Ryther’s words and quickly jumped out of the bed. She knew it but,

It can’t be.

She dashed out of her room but was taken aback upon seeing the scene outside. She gasped. The whole place was filled with uniformed men, forensic men in a white bunny suit, and cameramen. Yellow tapes covered the entrance of Natalie’s room. Reina tried to walk towards the room, but her feet won’t move. Suddenly, she remembered her dream.

“Natalie… Natalie…” She whispered in the air. Her body trembled. Usually, she was the first one to enter a room with dead bodies. But now, she felt as if fear crept her whole body. Fear of seeing someone very important to her turned cold overnight. Fear of knowing what happened. Fear of… seeing the reality.

“You can stay here if you can’t look, Silver. I think you don’t want to see it.” Ryther held her shoulders and only then did she come to her senses.

“No…” She bit her lip. “I will go.” She whispered, trying to gain courage. Ryther nod and took her hand, guiding her through the room. She walked slowly. Every step she takes felt heavy. The room was not far, but it took her a while. Her heart beats so fast it can come out any moment. Finally, she reached the yellow tape. Ryther pulled the tape up and they bent to enter the room. The people inside transferred their attention from the scene to Reina. Mr. A was there.

“Ms. Silverstone.” He called but Reina did not mind him. Her eyes focused on the clothes stained with blood, scattered on the floor. Long white sleeve, pencil cut mini skirt, black stockings, and ankle boots. The outfit was very familiar to her. Reina was staring at the clothes and boots blankly. She was speechless.

She walked closely but Mr. Holter stopped her. “Step back. You might tamper the evidence.” Seeing her expressionless face, Mr. A spoke.

“It’s okay, Detective. She works with me.” Mr. Holter hesitated at first but then agreed. He sighed deeply.

“Please wear this then.” He handed Reina a surgical glove, but she did not even bother to lay an eye on it. So Ryther took the gloves and put them on her hands. She remained silent until Ryther finished putting it. It was still blanked to her. Her mind refused to process what she is seeing now. Is the dream true?

It seems like a door was shut in front of her. Her eyesight was blurry, and her hearing went silent. There was an unusual heat coming up from her inside.

“Natalie…” She whispered. “Natalie… You said we’ll to Paris, right?” Her voice broke. Tears started to fall from her eyes as she knelt. “My poor sister…” She sobbed and took Natalie’s clothes. But in everyone’s terror, something fell from Natalie’s clothes.

“What is that thing?” Detective Holter asked with a frown.

“It’s the biggest clue.” Mr. A said. His small eyes widened in disbelief.

Reina’s eyes widened as well upon seeing the thing they are pertaining to. It was not a thing. It’s a finger. Reina grabbed the pinky finger and froze with what she saw. 00:00:00. Death time.

“Natalie!” Her ear-shuttering scream filled the whole room. Ryther quickly covered her eyes and took the finger from her. Mr. Holter hurriedly took the finger from Ryther. Reina shook her head wildly. “Nat! Nat! No!” She sobbed loudly.

“Shh… “ Ryther locked his arms around her to prevent her from falling. Reina shakes him off violently, but not with the right force.

“No! Nat’s not dead. Please tell me that she is not dead!” She screamed in agony. She grabbed Ryther’s shirt and shakes him, but Ryther only tightened his hug, not knowing the right words to say. “Ahhh! Natalie!” A big portion of Ryther’s shirt is not soaked with her tears. It was unbelievable and unbearable. Only last night, they were merry. Who would have thought that that happiness will turn into sorrow in just a blink of an eye?

***

NEWS: Another victim of the known winter serial killer was reported to the authorities this morning. The investigators as well as witnesses that found the body confirmed that only the clothes with bloodstains were found on the crime scene. Her body was missing aside from her pinky finger that was cut and left in her room at the famous Hamilton Hotel at nine in the morning and found by utility staff. According to further investigation, the license found in her bag contained her identity as Gabriella Natalie Everleigh. She is a twenty-eight-year-old and was a Perioperative nurse at Trauma Patient Medical Hospital. The authorities believe that money was not the main motive of the crime, because her bag, wallet, and money were completely intact –

Mr. A turned off the television upon seeing Reina’s tears that are threatening to fall again. Her eyes were red and swollen, her under bags are black and her lips were chap. She stared at the television with an expressionless face. She refused to eat nor drink. Aside from her parent’s funeral, it was their first time seeing her like this, so they don’t know what to do with her.

“Silver.”

“Silver Rose.”

Ryther and Mr. A said in chorus. They exchanged glances and sighed. Reina looked at them blankly.

“About the killer-“

“Give me this mission.” She said out of the blue. Mr. A was taken aback by her words. Ryther frowned. He completely knew how dangerous this mission is.

“I think I misheard you.” Mr. A scratched his ear in disbelief, but Reina shook her head slowly.

“Let me handle this mission. I will find the killer and make him pay for everything that he had done for the past ten years.” Her voice was stern. She stood up and wiped her tears. Determination mixed with anger filled her eyes.

“Silver, what you are saying is dangerous. We cannot bear to see you-“

“So you can bear seeing other victim lose their lives? Other families in agony?” She retorted. There was a faint anger present on her voice. Ryther crumpled his fist and grinned his teeth.

“Then you can’t do this alone, Silver.” Ryther stood up from his seat as well. “Natalie is also my friend, and I am your partner, so let’s do this together.” It was not a request. It was a command. Reina looked intently at his blue orbs and nod her head slowly.

“By the way, I did not saw Dr. Vander since morning,” Reina said. She looked at her phone but received no text messages. “Even Carter was not in the scene. Well, that’s quite unbelievable. Given that Natalie was the victim.” Her frown deepens. Her voice lost compassion.

“You haven’t heard about it?” Mr. A asked, fazed. “Carter’s the main suspect.” Reina stopped.

“What?” She asked in disbelief. “That’s impossible. Carter can never do such a thing. Especially to Natalie!” She exclaimed. Her anger rose higher again.

“That’s what’s what we all thought.” Mr. A took his laptop and clicked something. “Here’s the CCTV footage.”

Reina looked closely. She saw Vander entered his room. Mr. A fast forward it and Natalie popped out. She was standing outside Vander’s room for a couple of minutes. Calling someone and knocking on the door. After some time, she stopped calling then came closer to the door. Suddenly, a man in a black hoodie and cap walked towards her and covered her mouth. Reina paused the video and zoomed in, but the man’s face was not visible. His masked covered his entire face. Reina slammed her hand on the desk and clenched her teeth in anger. She then played it and Natalie lost consciousness and was dragged somewhere.

“Dr. Vander only came out of the room by six in the morning. It was when he was called to the hospital, so he was not suspected.” Mr. A explained thoroughly.

“How come Carter became the suspect? The man’s face was not visible.” Reina asked firmly. Her fist still crumpled on top of the table. Mr. A nodded.

“Yes, but when the authorities checked the CCTV footage, Carter’s car was parked at the hidden spot of the camera. When the authorities called him, they cannot reach him. His colleagues also said that they did not saw him after he left to eat with you. Until now, we heard no message from him.” Mr. A took a flash drive from his vault box and handed it to Reina.

“Every evidence for the past ten years about the serial killer is inside that flash drive.” He said and cleared his throat. “I leave this in your hands. Please take care.”

~ There are a lot of times wherein we need to be perceptive. Sometimes, there are warnings around us that we need to notice. ~