Warning

Trigger warning: Contains mature content and violent scenes. Disturbing murders and language.

Culprit🍀

"Guess which one I'm gonna shoot" The skin of my hand rubbed the metal, In way to scare the victim in front of me. Victim's eyes rolled down to see the dangerous metal placed down on his throat. "P..Please" He pleaded. "I don't even know you.." I chuckled. Almost in a whisper. "No one do" I pointed the gun harder on his skin, Making him close his eyes in fear of dying anytime I will want him to.

"You got a cigarette?" I asked, leaning back on my chair to sit comfortably. Making sure my legs touches victim's knee as he is on the floor infront of me. He gulped the lump down his throat, throat where there is finally no weapon scaring the shit out of him. His hand slide down in the pocket of his skinny dark blue jeans before they slide up with a cigarette. I took the cigarette in my hand. "Lighter?" I asked, my brows raised. "I don't have one." my frown widen "How were you going to light it then?" I asked, Keeping my voice relaxed and calm, Bending forward to reach the fireplace to get its fire on the cigarette. "I don't know. I dropped it when you were dragging me here" I hummed. Obviously you did. I took a puff and blew the smoke out of my mouth after sitting comfortably on the chair again. "You want a puff too?" My voice took victim's eyes away from the room which he is probably trying to figure out. It is dark in here with just the fireplace giving some light. "Where are we?" I poked my inner cheek at his indiscipline behaviour, At the way he ignored my question and asked one of himself. "I don't like it when someone interrupt my words. You know that?" Victim's eyes widen and his lips parted when he realised his mistake. He gulped, Seeing the darkness of eyes right infront of him. "You. Wanna. Take. A. Puff. Too?" I repeat. He bite down his lower lip. The voice. It holds anger. Danger. It holds Sin.

The victim gulped again before his head automatically obeyed the command in my question. The question screams the answer itself. Yes. My lips curved into a small smirk. "Close your eyes" He did. I threw the cigarette on floor, Slamming my foot on it. I reached forward and picked a wood up from fireplace. It still has fire on it. The Victim patiently waited for me because he can't do anything else infront of a lead beast. "Open your mouth." His lips separated from each other and opened enough for a cigarette to fit in. "Open it little more." he did. "Little more" it was a quiet pause. Victim's hands trembled as he opened his mouth till it can no longer get bigger. I sighed before slamming the wood right against his lips. "MMM!!!" His eyes popped out as I continued to fit it deeper. My one hand gripping his nape and other forcing the big burning wood in.

Detective🍀

A sweat rolled down my throat, My fingers caressing my lips. "That castle again." The voice took my eyes up from the pictures in my hand. "No one witnessed?" The opposite person shooked his head as no before leaning on the table where I kept the pictures. "This is the 56th murder in that same abdomen castle." I nodded in knowing. It is 56th murder and they all took place at the same god damn abdomen castle, Which is located in middle of the dense forest. No one would dare to go there, No one who is not a wild beast or a wild human. I Stared down at a picture of Man with a fully burnt wood in his mouth, Laying down on floor with blood drained on his face. "When did it took place?" I asked, Attaching the pictures on a white board while the Man opened a black file. "3 am." I hummed in response. As always. All the 55 murders occurred within 12 to 4 am. My blue gunmetal eyes scanning the board which is now filled with many more details about the case. "What is up with your retirement?" My eyes soften, my tongue slip out and wet my pink lips in nervous. "I don't know why they are doing this to me." I whispered in a soft voice making him nod in disbelief. The seniors said I am not worthy enough for this position. It is because of my luck though. There were no big cases to solve. "I know right. You should've not agree with their decision by the way" He kept the file on desk and walked towards me, Keeping his hand on my shoulders. I sighed and turned around to face him. "They were forcing the shit out of me. I needed peace." The frown on my forehead harden when my mind took me to the thought of taking retirement again. I am only 26.

"You need to fight, Carmel. You need to prove them wrong." I nodded, Passing by him to the desk and picking the file up. "I know, Alex. That is why I'm focusing so much on this case. If I somehow catch the culprit behind all these murders, I may get a chance. I'm sure I will." I flipped the pages, my eyes fastly reading all the information related to the castle. "But this is the most hardest one. The culprit is on the top in warning list. In whole California. No one ever saw the person." My heartbeat increased, looking at all the pictures of past cases that have taken place in that same castle. One person was found fully burnt. One was found in pieces, Shattering in different rooms. One was pressed in hydraulic press machine. And so many more worse murders.
It scares me.
It scares everyone.
And that is why the culprit is still free after all these years of killing people. No one ever saw the person. No one even know if it's a male or female. What everyone know is, The person is dangerous. So dangerous.

"I have a plan." His brows twitched together "What plan?" I bite down my lower lip, My hands trembling. "I'll stay in that castle." his lips parted and his brown almond eyes widen in shock. I wasn't looking at him but I'm sure they did. "What!?" He snapped the what at my face. "Yeah" His face showed disbelief but it is the only way I could know about the culprit Alex. Don't be so surprised please. "Are you mad? You know how fucking dangerous it is?" I do know. He was so worried, I could tell it by his face and it somehow made me happy Because there are not many people who cares about me. Him and my mom are the only one left. "This is the only way left, Alex. If I solve this case, I'll remain as detective." Alex is like my big brother. He's just like a year older than me maybe a year and a half. We've been together for 3 years now in this same field and solved many cases together. But he's soon gonna get married and then tranfer to Mexico. It breaks my heart. He tilt his head in disappointment before taking his steps to leave from my office. I disappointed him.

"Are you sure miss Carmel? You want to do this?" I looked down at my feet, wow my brown hills looks beautiful. He didn't asked are you mad? Or. Are you serious, You can't do something so risky! "Yes. I am, Sir" He nodded, His one brow is still raised in little shock that covered his face but never came on his mouth as words when I told him I am going to stay in the castle to solve this case. I was going to retire anyways, No one here cares wether they'll be invited to my farewell or funeral. When no one cares for you, Join them and do the same. So there won't be many thoughts wether you die or stay alive when you put yourself in risk to be better. "Okay. That's your decision."

He started typing on his black apple laptop again as if i came here to ask for 2 hours leave from work. It was a very big and hard decision for me. I poked my inner cheek at his inattentive behavior, Do he even know I'm still standing here? "Sir" i called out and he just hummed, Biting his lips because of whatever work he is doing. "Can you send a partner for me?" Doing this all alone by myself doesn't sound possible. I would need a partner to help me in investigation. "Hmm" He sighed out the hum and leaned back on his comfortable boss chair. His arms crossed around his chest as he finally seems to care about this mission. "It's not easy to put my officers in such a big risk." It was a simple sentence by the person i don't even care about, but it tore something inside me.
I am his officer too.

I took a deep breath while he moved little, left to right. to left to right on his swivel black chair. That chair is big enough to fit two of me on it. But he is big enough as two of me too. "It can be some junior too." He side eyed me. "Can't send a junior on such a dangerous mission, Miss Carmel. They will lack experience. And guts" I twisted the bones of my knuckles. "But I'll see." He said in a convince voice tone and it relieved something in me. "Thank you" he nodded and took his phone up that was placed near his laptop. His thumb scrolled down and then he kept it on his ear before getting up and making his way towards his balcony.

It is a big balcony that has sliding glass door. He talked to whoever he called and i stood on my place knowing i have yet to get order to leave. I don't know who i will get as my parter, Trained or weak and that doesn't matter to be honest. I just need someone to stay by my side. I know how to fight. I just need to stay there and find clues. Our team never tried to find one because of fear of facing the culprit. They would just go and collect the dead body every Sunday and it is like a routine now. Another reason they never dared to is that castle is located where there is no human colonies. It's a forest. "You will get your partner" He said, walking towards his chair again. "Who is it?" I asked just to get idea wether it's he or she. Gender doesn't matter either. "His name is jack Garcia. He is not a detective." I tilt my head to right. My brows raised at his words. A male. "Not a detective?" He nodded, giving me his phone. I looked down at the screen, it was picture of a Man. He looks around 28 or 30. Not that older than me. "He submitted a form regarding this case." I looked up at him. "He seemed to have so much interest in the culprit and all the murders." I looked at his picture again. "I just contacted him and he is ready to be your partner." I gulped the lump down.

Not a detective.
Not a trainee. A volunteer.

He is a normal person i don't even know. Who is just interested in this case. Wow.

"I'll send you his contact number, You guys may meet and talk about it." I sighed out and nodded. "If you can solve this case, You can become the best detective out there" I looked up at him. He said it without looking at me but he sounded genuine. My hands trembled a little before a small smile captured my face. Small hope can bring spark in someone's dead eyes. Someone's dead life. I read it in a book. "I will try my best" he nodded.

I flipped the pancake and let it fry. "So that's why you like cherry colour lipstick huh?" A little High pitch girl voice. Teased my mom who laughed. Almost struggled to make it audible. I smiled a little too, looked at them from side of my eye. It's her nurse. Feeding her food while talking about my mom's crush's favourite colour. My mom can't speak much. She expresses. "Pancake's almost done" I informed. Nurse smiled at me so did my mom. I quickly added some honey on top and joined them on bed with the plate in my hands. "Thank you for taking care of her lily" lily let my mom take a bite of pancake. "It's my job." she is the most kindest person I've ever met. She takes care of my mom like a mom herself. "I'll.." I spoke up in a light tone, My breath heavy taking both of their attention on me. "Be out of city for work. For some months" I continued.

Lily kept her expression same as before but my mother's face got dull. She's no longer smiling. She no longer have spark in her eyes. She no longer have hope of living. "wh..y?" She spoke up. Struggled to. Her voice is never loud, Never heard properly. I sat on bed beside her, Let my hand rest on her shoulder in a gentle way. "Mom.." My voice slow. And soft. And gentle. Her wrinkled brown eyes stared back at my blue ones. I got mine from my father, That's what she told me when I was 10. My father.. "It's really important" She looked away, looked down at her white blanket which is covering her body. "Mom" I squeezed her hands in mine. "I'll be fine. It's not dangerous, Trust me" I lie. It is so dangerous that I might die the very first night i spend there. It is so dangerous that no one can imagine what type of death it will be. I might be the 57th and my partner might be 58th murder. But trust me mom. Please. "Fine.." Just a one word. She didn't said anything else. I loosened the grip of my hands from hers. She looks sad. I looked at Lily "Please take care of her" She nodded with a smile. How can someone smile all the time. Smile so sweetly. "Don't worry" She completed.

Culprit🍀

Candles. Everywhere.

This castle looks beautiful. I hate it.
There's no blood anymore. No dead bodies in any corner. It doesn't look dull. It looks dull to me.

Someone is going to visit. Thinking it's easy to survive, Thinking it's easy to find clues. To find me.

I laughed to myself. Light up another candle. 4 years. 4 years i've been killing people here and no one investigate. They all were scared to. Finally someone dared to. Finally someone who's not afraid of me.

So i will welcome. With all my heart and with all their blood.

I'm villain in this story.

I'm villain, I don't show mercy.