Chapter 5: Whispers in the Dark

The city of Osaka remained in a state of silent fear. The recent murders had created ripples of paranoia, and yet, the police were no closer to uncovering the killer. Every victim had a connection to Akari Mishra, and Officer Yuta was growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of leads. Whoever was behind these brutal killings was precise, methodical, and ruthless. But what troubled Yuta the most was that every crime scene was void of any definitive proof linking Aditya Mishra to the murders. If Aditya was the killer, he was meticulous in covering his tracks.

Yuta sat at his desk, flipping through files, his fingers tapping restlessly on the wood. Each of the deceased had a well-documented history of bullying, blackmailing, and tormenting others, particularly Akari. The deeper he dug, the more it felt like someone was enacting vengeance rather than simply killing for sport.

Yuta leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "People make mistakes," he muttered. "No one is perfect. Not even a killer."

But perfection was all he found in this case. It was as if the murderer had anticipated every move, leaving behind no mistakes. And that was suspicious.

Shadows of Doubt

Meanwhile, Aditya Mishra remained composed. He carried himself with the patience of a man who had all the time in the world. He maintained his routine, spending his days caring for Akari and ensuring that no one suspected him. Whenever a murder occurred, he had an alibi—ironclad, undeniable.

He had no doubt that the police were watching him, waiting for him to slip up. But he wouldn't. He couldn't afford to.

He sat on the floor of his dimly lit study, gazing at a wall covered in photographs and names. The web was still incomplete. There were still pieces left to move. And he had no intention of stopping until the last one had fallen.

His eyes focused on new faces—three remaining bullies. Two boys and one girl, all part of the group that had tormented Akari. Two girls had already been killed in the first wave, but there were still loose ends to tie up. Now, it was their turn.

"Justice must be served," he whispered to himself.

A Web of Fear

The girl—Haruka—had felt uneasy for days. The news of her classmates' gruesome fates had shaken her, and she had grown increasingly paranoid. It was no longer just guilt that haunted her; it was fear. Fear that whoever was doing this would come for her next.

She stayed inside more, refusing to answer calls from friends. Every shadow outside her window seemed like a figure watching her. And then, one night, as she made her way home from cram school, she felt the presence behind her.

A hand clamped over her mouth before she could scream.

Darkness swallowed her whole.

The Interrogation

When Haruka awoke, she found herself in a dimly lit warehouse, her hands bound to a chair. Panic surged through her veins as she struggled, only to realize that she was utterly alone—except for the masked figure standing a few feet away.

"You're scared," the voice said, eerily calm. "Good. You should be."

Haruka whimpered. "P-please, I—I don't know anything!"

The figure tilted his head. "You were there. You saw what they did to her. You laughed. You let it happen."

Tears streaked down her cheeks. "I didn't— I swear, I didn't hurt her!"

Silence. The masked man crouched beside her, his presence suffocating.

"Tell me about the others," he said. "Who was the real ringleader? Who controlled everything?"

Haruka sobbed. "I—I don't know, it was all of them, but—" She hesitated, her breathing ragged. "It was mostly Rika, Takashi, and Daiki. They decided everything. Yumi... she—she was always there, but I don't know if she—"

The masked figure stiffened, his fingers tightening into a fist. Yumi? That name was familiar. Akari's childhood friend. But she wasn't a suspect. Not yet.

Aditya inhaled deeply, pushing down the flood of emotions threatening to surface. He needed more proof.

"Where are they now?" he asked coldly.

Haruka hiccupped through her sobs. "I don't know! But Rika—she was scared too. After Sushant—she kept saying someone was after us! Takashi and Daiki—they were still meeting up, but I don't know where! I swear, that's all I know!"

Silence settled between them. Aditya studied her, calculating. She had given him enough for now.

Without another word, he stepped back into the shadows, leaving Haruka trembling in fear, still tied to the chair. He would let her live—for now. But if she had lied to him, she would meet the same fate as the others.

His sights were now set on Rika, Takashi, and Daiki.

New Targets

In the darkness of his study, Aditya pinned three new photos to his board. Three faces, now circled in red.

Rika. Takashi. Daiki.

Justice wasn't over.

It had only just begun.