Chapter 23: Missed Opportunity

Avery collapsed onto his bed, exhaustion seeping into his bones. The conversation with Billy had cleared his head, but now his body was screaming for sleep. Just a few hours until his shift at the convenience store...

His phone's creepy ringtone shattered the silence. 

Avery groaned. It was the Cleaner's phone. Of course they organization want answers after the clown's death and Lacuna's capture. He'd prepared the perfect alibi, but—

"Cleaner 8827," a cold voice cut through his thoughts. "We've noticed some... hiccups in your performance."

Avery tensed, waiting for the hammer to fall.

"However, Siren Song speaks highly of you. The challenge you provided? Impressive."

Wait, what?

"As for Lacuna, don't sweat it. His content wasn't pulling views – too unhinged, even for our audience. We're sending a Butcher to handle the clean-up."

Avery's mind reeled. They were treating this like some twisted reality show!

"Siren Song's latest video hit 2 million views in 24 hours. Keep up the good work. He's one of our premium Artist sos be sure to take care of him."

He bit his lip, choking back a mix of relief and rage.

"Doing my best," he managed.

"Oh, and we're assigning you two new Artists. Lots of fresh talent applying."

Avery's stomach dropped. He'd taken down two killers, but more were lining up to replace them? This was a hydra – cut off one head, two more grow back. Avery couldn't help but think that maybe, he's doing it the wrong way.

"Don't forget to ride Enigma about his upload schedule. He's got potential, but punctuality isn't his strong suit."

"Copy," Avery growled.

The line went dead. He clenched his fists, mind racing. Lacuna couldn't die, not yet. Not before spilling everything he knew. Now that a Butcher is here to deal with him, there is no way he would allow it.

He was in way over his head, and the game was only getting deadlier.

…

Avery's heart pounded as he pedaled furiously through the night. His bike flew over the pavement, eating up the distance to the Sheriff's Department. Every second counted – if a Butcher was involved, things were about to get messy.

An ambulance screamed past, its siren wailing. A chill ran down Avery's spine. 

No way. It couldn't be...

He rounded the final corner, skidding to a stop at a safe distance from the Sheriff's building. The same ambulance was parked out front, lights flashing. Deputy Jenkins hunched over nearby, retching. 

Weird. The guy had just been sorting through jars of hearts, but this made him lose it?

Avery edged closer, straining to catch snippets of conversation between Sheriff Davis and a grim-faced paramedic.

"...left for a pizza run. When we got back, his body was... God, those boils. They just kept growing until they exploded. Even his head popped out like a balloon" Davis's face was stone. "And the blood…Hot. Steaming. Never seen anything like it."

Avery's mind raced. Boils? Exploding body parts? 

A memory from his past life in the Murim – his assassin days – surfaced. This had poison written all over it. The fast-acting kind that needed to be injected. Therefore, who ever did it needs to be in contact with Lacuna.

He cursed under his breath. The Butcher had been efficient, he'd give them that. But now Avery was back to square one, with zero leads and a growing pile of bodies.

He melted back into the shadows, Was he playing defense for too long? Is it time to take the fight to the Organization–or is it too early.

Just then…

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Enigma."

Avery spun around, every muscle tensing. A guy in his late twenties stood there, grinning like a kid who'd just found a secret candy stash. But that smile... it sent chills down Avery's spine. This was no ordinary person.

"Siren Song," Avery breathed.

"Relax, I'm just here for the Butcher show," Siren Song chuckled. "Heard they only send those guys for the real pros. Missed him by that much, though. Dude's like a shadow."

Avery's blood boiled. This was the psycho who killed Violet. He clenched his fists, fighting the urge to lunge. If only he has no covers to blow up and the Sheriff in the distance to alert, he would've taken care of this person right here.

"So, I hear you wrapped up your gig?" Avery asked

"Yeah. Man, mine was a rush! Some mayor's side piece. Thought she could mess with his family? Please." Siren Song's eyes glittered. "Girls like that deserve to go out slow. Real slow."

Avery's stomach churned. He had to get out of here before he blew his cover.

"Why so quiet?" Siren Song cocked his head. "Oh, you're probably wondering how I pulled it off with all that security, right? Simple. Became one of 'em. Got the mayor to trust me, assign me to guard his little pet. Child's play, really."

As Avery turned to leave, something whizzed past his ear. His hand shot out, snatching it from the air. Needles.

Siren Song clapped, that creepy smile never wavering. "Nice reflexes! The Butcher tossed those at me when I tried to tail him. Poison, I bet. I'm thinking of applying for that gig once I've cleaned up this town's... infestation."

Silence stretched between them, electric with unspoken tension. 

Avery's mind raced. Based on that force of the needle, this guy wasn't like Shadow Stalker or Lacuna. He was in a whole other league – maybe even tougher than that Cleaner he'd fought.

…

"Damn it!" Sheriff Davis slammed her fist on the desk, cursing for what felt like the millionth time. Her big break had just turned into her worst nightmare. The award and promotion seemed too distant now. How could a suspect die on her watch? Unless... "The pizza guy?"

She lunged for the phone, fingers flying as she dialed Pizza Planet's number.

"Pizza Planet, open 24/7. What's your order?" The voice on the other end sounded like it belonged to a zombie.

"This is Sheriff Davis. I need to know who delivered our pizza earlier."

"Rico. Got a complaint?" The girl's monotone didn't waver.

"Just need to talk to him."

"Hold on." There was a muffled shout. "Rico! What'd you screw up this time? Eat another slice? I swear I would fire you in an instant as soon as I found your replacement."

Davis caught Rico's retort in the background. "Dream on! Who else would work this graveyard shift for peanuts?"

"Hello?" Rico's voice crackled through, irritation clear. "What's this about a complaint?"

Davis's patience snapped. "Watch it, punk. You're talking to the Sheriff. I even tipped you big."

Silence stretched for a moment. "Tip? Your guy didn't give me squat, despite the trek out there."

Davis's blood ran cold. "What are you talking about? I handed you the tip myself."

"No way. Some dude met me on the road. Said you weren't in a nice mood and I'd get chewed out for being late. He took the pizzas."

Davis's mind raced. "Describe him. Now."