A Society Rotten from Core

Brendon exhaled slowly, the cold night air biting against his skin. His cigarette burned low between his fingers as he stared up at the sky, his mind a tangled mess of theories and questions. Ridgecliff was more than just a town with a dark past—it was a living, breathing web of secrets, and somehow, he was stuck right in the middle of it.

Just as he was about to flick away the cigarette, his phone buzzed.

A text message.

But the number was unknown.

"So how was the show, Sheriff? I hope now you understand what happens if you defy me."

Brendon's grip tightened around the phone. His eyes narrowed as he read the message again.

He immediately typed back.

"Excuse me? Who the hell are you?"

The reply came almost instantly.

"Aww, forgot me already? It's your buddy... Drago, at your service."

Brendon's lips curled into a sneer.

Drago.

He had known from the moment the bastard had turned himself in that something was off. Drago was no ordinary criminal—he was a manipulator, a planner, a man who played both sides to his advantage.

Brendon typed, "I knew from the very moment you turned yourself in, Drago. You are a scoundrel."

Drago's response came swiftly.

"Hey! Hey! It was not entirely my idea to attack the police station. You see, my boys just did that to rescue me. I was just there at your station to find my package."

Brendon's stomach twisted.

He knew exactly what package Drago was referring to—the one the kids had stolen. The one Robert had retrieved from the river bay.

Still, Brendon didn't write anything about it. He wanted to see what Drago would say next.

His phone buzzed again.

"But it's disappointing and satisfying at the same time that you didn't have that. So I will let you go for now. But remember, never cross my path ever again, or things might get uglier than that."

Brendon smirked. He typed back, "Sorry, I can't guarantee you that."

There was no reply.

He switched off his phone, exhaling sharply.

Drago was taunting him, but more importantly, he had just given Brendon a crucial piece of information. If Drago had left the police station without the package, that meant it was never brought in.

His mind snapped back to Robert.

Where the hell had he put it?

---

The Forgotten Package

Brendon's hands clenched into fists as he thought back.

Between the chaos at the station, the attack, and the leads he had been chasing, he had completely forgotten about the package.

If Drago never found it, then that meant Robert must have hidden it somewhere.

His gaze flicked back to the library's dimly lit entrance. Robert was still inside, sound asleep.

Brendon took a step forward, but before he could move any further, a distant scream cut through the night.

His ears twitched.

Most wouldn't have noticed, but being a wolf, his senses were sharper than any regular person's. The sound had come from about three alleys away—somewhere deep within the winding maze of Ridgecliff's underbelly.

Brendon didn't hesitate.

---

The Alley Confrontation

The alley smelled of damp brick and cheap alcohol. Brendon moved quickly, his boots crunching against the gritty pavement.

The sounds of a struggle met his ears before he saw them.

A woman, dressed in a short red dress and high heels, was being shoved against a wall by a black cat anthro—a man with dark, sleek fur, a lean build, and a predatory stance. His claws were out, his tail flicking aggressively as he spat something at the woman.

Brendon caught only fragments of their conversation.

"...you think you can just walk away?!"

The woman struggled against his grip, her voice sharp with defiance. "Let go of me, you bastard!"

Brendon didn't wait for an invitation.

With a single stride, he grabbed the black cat by the collar and yanked him backward. The man barely had time to react before Brendon drove his fist into his stomach, making him double over in pain.

He didn't stop there.

A knee to the ribs. A heavy punch to the jaw.

The black cat stumbled, groaning, before scrambling to his feet and fleeing into the darkness.

Brendon watched him go, exhaling slowly before turning back to the woman.

She was leaning against the wall, catching her breath, but there was no fear in her eyes—just mild curiosity.

"Thanks for the help..." she said, brushing a strand of blonde hair from her face. Then her lips curled into a small smirk. "...Sheriff."

Brendon's ears twitched.

"So you're the new Sheriff, huh?"

Brendon gave a small nod. "Yeah."

The woman adjusted the strap of her dress, her golden eyes scanning him. "Well, that explains the hero complex."

Brendon ignored the jab. "Why was he beating you?"

She let out a dry chuckle. "Work hazard. That happens quite often."

Brendon's gaze hardened. "So you are…?"

"A prostitute," she said bluntly. "Any problem with that?"

Brendon shook his head. "No, just asking. It must have been hard, right?"

She shrugged. "Yeah. But you get used to it."

Brendon sighed, pulling out his notepad. "What's your name? If I have to make a report, I should know your and his name."

The woman's playful smirk returned. "Sorry, Sheriff. Can't disclose my name… or my client's."

Brendon's jaw clenched. "This could be easier if you cooperated, you know that."

"Sorry. I can't help."

Brendon let out a long sigh, rubbing the back of his head. "Fine."

The woman winked before turning on her heel and striding down the alley, disappearing into the city's shadows.

Brendon watched her go, his hands tightening into fists.

Ridgecliff was rotting from the inside.

And he wasn't sure if he could fix it.

---

A Message from Sofie

Just as he was about to leave the alley, his pocket vibrated again.

His phone.

He hesitated before switching it back on.

A message.

From Sofie.

"Look at it quickly."

Attached were four screenshots.

Brendon tapped on it, his brow furrowing.

A chat log.

Between Bradley Norman and Jacob Williams.

Brendon's eyes narrowed.

This could be it.

A missing piece of the puzzle.

He turned on his heel, already making his way back to the library.

It was time to figure out what the hell was really going on.