Del Perro Pier

Ethan woke up in his big bed in his fancy house. The soft sunlight crept through the curtains, brushing his tired face, which still had lines of stillness and thought. He moved slowly, feeling the cold floor under his bare feet as he walked toward the partially open window. He looked outside, where the city was just starting to wake up too, but his mind was still stuck on different thoughts.

He sat down at the table, where his phone was plugged into the charger. He looked at the dark screen with a blank stare, like it held no hope. He was waiting for a call or a message from his dad. He knew it was unlikely, but he always hoped. He slowly glanced at the clock showing the scheduled time, but still, nothing.

He muttered quietly, "Not today either..." and closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. He wasn't mad, but a sense of disappointment wrapped around him. He raised his hand to scroll through his phone, expecting at least a message, but nothing came. He stared at his phone for a while before carefully setting it back on the table, like he was making sure not to show any frustration.

He took a deep breath and felt the calmness filling the space around him, like he was in another world, where the small things mattered more than the big ones. He found peace in this calm, even if disappointment loomed in the background.

He made himself some coffee, sat on the couch, and started flipping through the TV channels. Suddenly, his hand stopped on "Weazel News." There was breaking news on the screen.

The news anchor: "Breaking news from Rockford Mills. In an unprecedented robbery, a luxury jewelry store has been targeted... authorities are searching for the suspects."

Ethan was sipping his coffee when his attention was grabbed by the reporter talking again, pointing to a person who seemed to be the victim of the incident. The TV now showed Bert Staley, the cop who survived the robbery. He appeared on screen with a slight smile, like he didn't care much about what had happened, but there was something unsettling in his eyes—a mix of pride and disregard for what he had been through.

The reporter: "We're now with Officer Bert Staley, who survived the terrifying attack in Rockford Mills. Officer Staley, how was the experience?"

The cameraman turned the mic toward him, and Bert lifted his head a little, like what happened was just another day on the job. He spoke calmly and quickly, but his voice carried a tone of pride, like the whole situation hadn't fazed him much.

Bert Staley: "I was doing my job like any other day. Nothing unusual... until I saw them coming on their bikes. I tried to stop them, but one of them was clear, he was the leader. He pushed me to the ground like I was just a stone in his way, and told me, 'You forget thousands every day, let this one be one of them.'"

But there was something else in his words, something that made it clear Bert wasn't scared. He seemed to treat the situation like just another workday. His pride was evident, like he was showing off how easily he handled the situation.

Ethan was scrolling through the channels slowly, like he was just trying to kill time, nothing was really important to him at that moment. But when he suddenly stopped on a local channel, the sound started to grab his attention. The screen showed a scene under the Del Perro Pier, the dim lights illuminating the scene where darkness seemed to swallow everything around it.

The reporter, breaking news: "Breaking news under the Del Perro Pier. A mysterious murder was discovered this morning, and police say the killer is still at large."

Ethan was watching carefully, his eyes fixed on the image of a small body lying on the sand beneath the pier, surrounded by a number of police officers taking pictures of the scene. But what caught his attention more was the way the murder had been committed, something felt odd about the case, something unusual.

The reporter: "The victim, a young girl believed to be about 12 years old, was found hours after being killed. According to the police, the killer used a toy to lure the victim, before delivering fatal blows with a sharp object."

Ethan kept staring at the screen with while the reporter continued to provide more details about the strange murder. But suddenly, as the camera zoomed in on the crime scene, something familiar struck his mind. He remembered a strange moment under the same pier, a few days ago, but the details were still vivid in his mind.

His eyes widened suddenly, like a realization hit him hard. He started to suspect that it was that clown, the psychopath he'd met.

His suspicions grew when he realized that the day of the murder was the same day he had seen the clown.

His eyes widened, and his hand stopped on the phone screen, where he was searching for details about the incident. The murder was indeed strange: a young victim, killed in an extremely brutal way, and the weapon used was excessively sharp. What stood out most was the way the killer lured the victim using a toy. Something about these details made Ethan's heart race, like they pointed to something he had personally experienced.

He sighed slowly, exhaling deeply, and ignored the event unfolding in front of him. He had gotten used to watching strange and disturbing news, and he knew that these kinds of stories were common in the city. But he couldn't shake the feeling that the crime was somehow indirectly connected to him.

He took another sip of his coffee, turning away from the screen showing the details of the murder, leaving it open as if he didn't care. He took another sip of his coffee, and...

Later...

He was sitting in his comfortable spot, the clock showing it was 7 PM. It had been a boring day, just like any other. As Ethan sank into his thoughts, indifferent to everything around him.

On the TV screen, a banner appeared with an intriguing headline: "A huge event in Los Santos tonight! Famous singer Sophia Morrison will kick off her concert at Del Perro Pier at 10 PM."

The news anchor: "Tonight, in an event everyone's been waiting for, global star Sophia Morrison will take the stage at Del Perro Pier at 10 PM, celebrating her achievements in the music industry and performing a selection of her hit songs in a show that will be the talk of the town. Thousands of music fans are eagerly awaiting this grand event, which will feature celebrities from all over the world."

Ethan watched the screen, showing no real interest. His eyes stayed fixed on the images of the crowds arriving at the event, but his mind was elsewhere. Sophia Morrison, the star who was the talk of everyone, was about to fill Los Santos with her voice, but Ethan was detached from all of it.

He muttered to himself quietly, "As usual, another regular thing. Another party, another star. What's the difference?" Well, at least there's an event.

In that moment, Ethan decided to leave this boring space, even if it was just a change of routine. He knew the Del Perro Pier concert might just be more temporary noise, but he needed that change, no matter how trivial.

He stood in front of the mirror in the far corner of his room, examining himself calmly. He chose to wear a tight black shirt with detailed cuffs, paired with a jacket that suited his calm nature, but the standout detail was his black sneakers, which he loved for their comfort more than their appearance.

He got in his car, hoping the glass wouldn't break again. He headed towards Del Perro Pier, with his thoughts racing. Between the concert he was going to attend and the strange feeling he had.

As he got closer to the beach, the traffic around Del Perro Pier got worse. Cars were lined up in long rows on the side of the road, and crowds were flooding toward the place, with loud sounds reaching his ears. The bright lights filled the area, and the crowd's cheers grew louder. Ethan left his car in a nearby parking lot and walked through the crowded streets, only caring about the movement of his feet on the sand as the waves lapped at the shore intermittently.

He reached the main spot, where the stage glittered under the lights. The air was mixed with bright lights, laughter, and cheers.

Great vibes, Ethan said, looking at two men holding hands and interacting with the crowd.

While Ethan moved through the crowd at Del Perro Pier, the bright lights illuminated the area, and the music and cheers filled the air. He made his way toward the edge where the crowd gathered on both sides, and glanced at the sea, gently touching the shore.

The stores were in their peak promotional stage, with several stalls selling fast food, drinks, sodas, and alcohol.

Ethan bought some popcorn from one of the stands before heading toward the stage.

As he watched Sophia Morrison on stage Her hair was blonde, and she had cute eyes that seemed to draw you in Her body was developed for her age, with a big chest that seemed like it could hold the whole world, he realized why she was famous. He muttered sarcastically, "Now I get why she's famous," eating his popcorn.

She was singing with a soft, beautiful voice full of emotion, drawing Ethan in even though he didn't care much for songs.

He listened for a while before deciding he'd had enough. He stepped out of the crowd and saw a chubby guy, his face all saggy, He stares at Sofia and shouts rudely. . The guy took off his shirt and tossed it aside.

-_-:Ethan looks up at the sky and He raises his hands. "Thank God I have a brain.

Ethan walked through the crowd, listening to the songs.

He moved between the stalls and small shops, the noise around him, the laughter, and the happy voices. As he passed by one of the small stands, something shiny caught his eye.

It was an old shop with a simple front, filled with strange and unique toys. But he suddenly stopped when he saw the small red balls. They were carefully arranged on an old wooden shelf, shining under the dim lights.

As Ethan took a step toward the shelf, he felt something brush against his foot. A small red ball suddenly rolled off one of the shelves and fell to the ground in front of him. Ethan's eyes followed it for a moment, then he bent down to pick it up.

As he lifted the ball, he heard a voice close behind him.

"Oh, looks like it fell from you," said the vendor in a calm voice, smiling gently. He was a man in his thirties, with light brown hair and bright green eyes reflecting the light around him. He wore a simple shirt and classic pants, giving off an elegant but understated appearance. His face was pleasant to look at, but there was something about the way he stood...

Ethan looked up from the ball, then glanced at the vendor and said calmly, "I didn't notice it."

The vendor smiled again, but he seemed more focused on the ball Ethan was holding. "You know the ball, you know its owner."

Ethan took a deep breath before replying, "I don't think it's for me."

But the vendor, with a small look of disappointment on his face, insisted, "But it might be different. Something special. It's better than just a ball. It could become part of unforgettable moments." His tone was calm, but it seemed like he was trying to sell more than just a toy.

"Sorry, man, but my days are over," Ethan said, continuing on his way, ignoring the vendor's sad look.

The vendor continued to watch Ethan's back with a mysterious gaze.

"Will you give me the ball, handsome?" said a woman in her thirties, flirting with the vendor.

The vendor's features returned to their pleasant demeanor before he replied, "Of course."