Chapter 1 : Too strange to believe

"Such as are for death, death

And such as are for the sword, to the sword

And such as are for the famine, to the famine

And such as are for the captivity, to the captivity", - Jeremiah 15 : 2

"And I will appoint over them four forms of destruction!", Josie screamed over the uproarious noise. The open window led in gush of dusty air in the bedroom.

She continued screaming, "I will appoint over you four forms of destruction".

Israel knelt before her, pleading with tears, "Please don't do this. I beg of you".

"Only from bloodshed, will I get redemption", Josie picked up a kitchen knife from the table and lifted it over his head, "Therefore, I will stretch my hand against you and destroy you".

"Mother, please don't do this", Israel grabbed her legs.

"I will redeem you from the grip of the terrible", the knife went down his head. From the inflicted wound, flowed liquid burning with Vermilion red. Staining the floor, the cottons, furniture and bedsheets. Israel's body slumped lifelessly to the floor.

Josie sat next to the corpse on the floor and picked the knife, "You have been slain with my sword. Israel, you have been set free".

The door flew open.

"Holy shit. Josie, what did you do? What did you fucking do?", A petite blonde ran in and gasped.

Josie dropped the knife, "I set Israel free from the shackles".

"You murdered him, you crazy bitch", the lady pushed Josie to the floor, "You killed your own son".

"He defiled the lord and the lord has repaid double of his sin", Josie began to laugh maniacally. Her voice becoming louder.

"Fuck!", the lady ran out of the room and went down the steps. She took out the home phone and dialled 911. In a heartbeat, the phone clicked.

The receiver on the other end respond, "911. What's your emergency?".

"Please send the police to 14 crescent street by Palm-moore. There's a killer here. Please come help", She broke into quiet sobs.

"Ma'am, you're speaking so fast. Come again", the receiver spoke slowly.

"Shit", She dropped the phone and ran to the kitchen, "If they can't help me. I'd have to help myself", She grabbed a butcher's knife and hid behind the counter.

A whistle filled the evening air in a particular tune. One almost unrecognizable. Josie took slow steps in the kitchen.

"I don't know what fucked up idea you have in that crazy head of yours. The cops are gonna come here sooner or later", She shoved the knife across the kitchen.

As soon as she heard retreating footsteps, she came out of her hide out only to be caught by the neck on a fishing line. She trailed her eyes to where the thick line came from. Josie must have tied it from the switch to the kitchen table. Blood dripped from the lady's neck wound. She placed her hand over the wound, croaking in pain. Her sight blurred and she lost her balance. Trudging towards the door with one hand.

"Behold, I will cast out the enemy out of thy sight", Josie approached her with a bloodied knife.

Knowing her time was up, she lied on her back. Mortified. The knife came down on her.

* * * * * *

Police sirens announced their arrival in crescent street. The damp air turned to dew breaking dawn and sunlight. Chioma bounded out of the car with her partner, Aaron.

"Forensics, what we got?", She looked at the Keep out sign taped to the door.

"Not much, sir. Its a homicide. Victims are an adult male and little boy. The woman's body was found in the living room while the boy is upstairs. There's the occasional blood", Suresh replies her.

"Oh lord, it better not be who I think it is ", She went into the house and held her nose, "God!".

"This is clearly the work of an experienced killer", Aaron squatted over a pool of blood.

"Yeah. See the trail of blood from here to the kitchen floor", Chioma pointed up.

"The victim was struggling to reach the door", Chioma walked into the kitchen, "She was stabbed on the floor but got wounded around here".

Aaron opened the blanket covering the corpse, "She's got a neck wound. It wasn't cut open with a knife. Its way too deep. Like a rope or something".

Chioma knelt to the floor, "You're right".

There were bloody footprint. One barefooted and another looked like a boot. She took a look at the victim and tuts, "There were two people here".

"Let's check upstairs", Suresh leads them.

The moment they arrived. Chioma kept her eyes closed for a moment, then set her teeth and opened them again. The stench of death poured out.

"Now, I regret having breakfast", Aaron covers his mouth.

"Jeez, you still eat crap in the morning", Suresh examines the body of the kid hanging from the wall.

"My food isn't crap", Chioma snorts, "Everyone knows that".

"Fuck. I can't get used to this", Aaron stumbled away to retch.

Suresh laughed, "Easy there, man".

"Let's get the record. Victim is a male, Caucasian, estimatedly 8 - 11 years of age. Can't be sure due to the small nature of his body", Chioma says.

Suresh took out his camera and took a photograph of the body.

"If I would guess, the killers are a male and female. Judging from the small barefoot prints and the boot. The woman killed the victims while the man moved their position. Look at the poodle of blood here", Chioma explained, "The child's body was nailed to the wall".

Wearing a glove, he raised the boy's hand, "There's a mark here".

"Mark?", asked Chioma

"There's an emblazoned mark of the cross on his palm", Suresh says.

"What?", Her eyes widened in fear, "A cross? Are you sure?", She went to look. He was right.

Suresh asked, "What is it?".

"The only killer that gives her victims this mark is First Disciple. That's not possible. She's in jail. I put her there", Chioma removed her handgloves and goes downstairs. Suresh following.

"Well, not anymore", Janice hands her phone to Chioma.

Chioma's eyes widened at the sight of the headline, "Serial killer known as First Disciple escapes prison and is believed to be on a killing frenzy".

"How is it possible?", Suresh becomes afraid, "You locked her up 5 years ago, Chioma".

Looming over the female victim's body, Aaron unfolded the clenched fist only to reveal a crumpled paper. He opened the paper.

There was a message written in red ink, "CHECK AGAIN, CHIOMA. THE VICTIMS ARE THREE AND NOT TWO".

"There's that sick game of hers. Its a trap. We have to get out of here", She screamed at everyone, " Run".

"Come on, let's go. First Disciple is not to be trifled with. Trust us, its a trap", Aaron yells at them.

Taking his wife's hand, he leads her outside.

Suresh and the others enter their vehicles. Aaron was about the car whe n he realised something, "Something is not right. This is too damn easy".

" She wouldn't let anyone leave without dying", Chioma looked at the car parked by the drive way, "Fuck! Suresh!".

There was an explosion in the first car. The wave blew open the windshield of the car. Indeed, First Disciple has claimed her third victim - Suresh Pragmaraj

Chioma could do nothing but scream as loud as she could. First Disciple was out. Out to draw blood.