Chapter 219: The Sunnyside Murders (1/2)
A heavy downpour of rain flooded the small worn-down neighbourhood just outside Rhinefield. The time was just past midnight as a dozen police cars surrounded a small one-bedroom apartment. This wasn't uncommon for the people living there, with crime being much higher in Victoria's more quiet and mundane parts. This was for one simple reason; no streamer could get big in these areas. However, unlike the other cases, this one was different. Two figures approached the apartment being let in by the police. Inside the rotten house was bin bags everywhere, half-eaten food and blood. Taking off his hood Kurt glanced around, giving it a little thought. ”How many were killed?”
”A family. The youngest daughter killed her brother and sister alongside her mother. The father went missing three days ago.”
”While horrible as it is. I hardly see why we CEOs need to be called in for such a current event.” Vitae scoffed at adjusting her shoes. ”Are the police not capable of handling a single case?”
”The Commissioner thought it would be of great interest you see for yourself.”
Kurt folded his arms, nodding. ”Very well, what happened to the girl?”
”Well, ever since we arrived, she won't stop muttering to herself.”
”Hold on, officer. It was made clear to us that the girl was killed by your own men when you entered.”
The officer looked troubled, nodding, pausing a second to respond. ”We did.”
The two CEOs continued through the destroyed apartment, seeing more evidence of what happened. Mouldy carpet and the family's bodies rotting away in the corner. Kurt stared at them, tutting. ”What a waste.”
”Getting sentimental, now are we? An angel of death shouldn't get worked up over something like that.”
”Angel of death or not, seeing people die for no good reason angers me. That's all, surely you can understand that Vitae.”
”Of course, we share the same hive mind. All your thoughts are mine as well-meaning you cannot hide anything from us. Like the fact you've been looking for your daughter Zinnia Trost all too much.”
Kurt glanced at Vitae, choosing not to say a word as he walked into the kitchen, seeing the girl who caused all of this leaning against the wall bleeding with multiple gunshots. The blood-stained knife lay by her. She was mumbling with a plastered smile across her face. ”We're starting to call this the Sunnyside murders. This is the tenth case now, all from completely different parts of the city to each victim with different backgrounds, with no connection. They would kill their families and end up dead one way or another with that look of satisfaction a grin like no other.”
”Commissioner. Long-time no see.” Vitae acknowledged shaking the young woman's hand. ”You don't call out us like this for no trivial reason.”
”Please, I've told you on serval occasions to call me Charmeine.”
”You're not even trying to keep your identity a secret, are you now?”
Charmeine smirked, shrugging her shoulders. ”Perhaps not. Nonetheless, the way of my people has been lost to time. No one remembers what Fairy-Tale is anymore. I may be the last of my race here on earth, but I'm just a normal girl to everyone else. Regardless we both have the same goal here.”
”That we do,” Kurt muttered. ”Tell us the story then.”
Charmeine began twirling her short ginger hair around, nodding. ”We got a call from the next-door neighbour claiming he heard stranger whispers coming from this apartment and a foul smell. We sent one of our own to investigate. After not hearing back from his for hours, we sent in backup and found this very scene. The family have been dead for at least two weeks. The daughter hasn't left the house since; in fact, I don't think she's left that spot we found her in since. She hasn't drunk or eaten anything in two weeks, but she was of perfect health.”
”That's not possible.”
”You're telling me.” She states, lighting a cigarette staring blankly into the next room. ”We found our officer in the next room with the same uncanny grin whispering the same three words our murderer also was whispering.”
”Anything to suggest why the daughter would do such a thing?”
”None. She was only seven, so having the ability to overpower her whole family without anyone knowing sounds nearly impossible. Before this, she seemed somewhat normal. She had a small group of friends who would hang out on weekends playing house. She was on her school's netball team, and she was even running for school council. She had no moral or agender in our books to commit mass murder of her own family.”
”Yet here we are. Your officer, what happened to him?”
”He's alive if we can even count that being true. No matter what we do, he will not respond to any of our questions or demands. He's just a husk of what was mumbling the same tired expression over and over.”
”What words?”
Charmeine took a longwinded sigh looking to the bathroom. ”Go see for yourself.”
Kurt gave her a strange look walking into the bathroom. He was met by another officer and a medic attending to the victim. The police officer, who looked to be in his mid-fifties, lay on the floor leaning against the bath, staring down, mumbling. Not getting a good enough chance to hear, Kurt leaned in, startled at what he heard. ”The Garden Grows, the Garden Grows, the Garden Grows, The Garden Grows.”
Kurt stepped away immediately, looking much wearier. ”So that's how it is. The girl too?”
”The same all be it with a different word thrown into the mix soon enough. Salvation.”
Kurt fumbled his arms together, nodding. ”It seems the Garden has been growing under our noses once more. If they are influencing the public now, we might not have much time…”
”That wasn't why I called you here. Something like this, I could send a report to you.” Charmeine whispered, biting her lip. ”It's better just to show you.” Holding her hand out, the small light from her hand fades as all the police officers stop in their tracks, turning to the three.