The sheriff leading the most important unit of a major police station in Anacostia found the brutal attack that happened two nights ago disturbingly fascinating. He paced back and forth in his office, lost in thought. A thin cut ran across his eyebrow. He wore a leather jacket and never let a cigarette leave his mouth.
After a while, he decided to call a meeting with his team. Solving this strange murder could earn him a significant reputation.
The team slowly gathered around the table. Once everyone had taken their seats, Sheriff Marco Marello entered the room. He greeted them briefly and took his place.
"There is a new case."
He stood up and walked toward the board.
"I was deeply saddened when I saw the family left behind by our colleague who was brutally murdered last night. I personally requested that this investigation be assigned to us."
Marco scanned his team with a sharp, intense gaze. The room grew more serious. He pointed to a narrow alley on the map hanging on the board and then selected two officers.
"I investigated this alley before. It is usually safe, but due to the recent increase in crime, a security camera was installed there. I want you two to check the area and recover the camera footage if it exists."
"This one's on us, Sheriff Marco."
The two officers stood up immediately and left the room. Marco exited the meeting with fast, firm steps and headed to his office. While walking, he pulled a cigarette from his jacket pocket and lit it.
He sat at his desk, smoking and thinking deeply.
"If I catch that bastard... everyone will hear my name."
He sounded determined, but anger simmered beneath his calm. He picked up a framed photograph from his desk and stared at it with genuine emotion.
"Don't be afraid... no one will ever hurt you."
He wiped the dust off the frame and placed it back in the corner of his desk.
Ethan was still asleep when the alarm rang.
(BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! CLICK!)
When he opened his eyes, he found himself once again beside the pyramids in Egypt. The mist was thin, the air heavy. He saw the Gluttony King standing ahead and walked toward him.
"Why am I here?"
The Gluttony King stared at the pyramids and began walking toward them with slow, calm steps. Ethan followed closely. As they approached, the Gluttony King placed his hand on ancient writing carved into a stone.
"They are after you."
Ethan froze.
"Who is after me? Did they find me?"
"No. But they are close. I do not know where they are, but they must not find you."
"How would they even find me? If you give me your power, I can search for them right now."
"No. I can only give it to you at night. There are two souls in this body, and one of them has no power at all."
Ethan realized he was being looked down on. He turned away, irritated.
"Fine. Then I'll use my own mind."
"Destroy the evidence, Ethan."
The fog thickened. Before Ethan could move, everything turned into dust and sand.
He woke up.
This time, the alarm had not rung. He had woken up an hour early.
He checked the time, quickly put on his black coat, and quietly left the house. Ethan lived in Naylor Gardens. He boarded a bus and reached Anacostia in ten minutes.
After getting off, he walked quickly toward the alley where the crime had taken place.
As he got closer, he saw a police car at the entrance. One officer was sitting on the hood, reading a newspaper. Another was patrolling the alley.
Ethan hid behind a car with an active alarm across the street and observed silently. The wind blew lightly. Ethan searched for what the Gluttony King had mentioned.
"Evidence."
Then he noticed the security camera across the street, pointed directly at the alley.
"If it's working... that's the most important proof," he thought.
He slowly stepped out of hiding and followed the cable connected to the camera. Unfortunately, the cable passed directly in front of the officer sitting on the car.
"Come on... think, Ethan, think."
There was no way he could pass silently.
Just as he was about to give up, an idea hit him.
He grabbed a stone, hid near a building entrance, and threw it at the car he had been hiding behind.
(THWACK!! CRASH!!)
The glass shattered, the alarm blared, and the officers' attention was drawn away for a few seconds.
Ethan rushed out, moving fast and quietly toward the cable while the officer stared at the broken car.
"Hey! Is someone there?"
Ethan found the cable, but the door was locked with a heavy chain.
"I-I can't break this... damn you, Gluttony King..."
"Do what you are best at."
Ethan flinched.
"What am I best at?" he thought.
At that moment, the patrolling officer noticed the security camera and called out.
"Hey! What are you doing? Grab the damn camera footage and let's get out of here."
Footsteps grew closer.
Ethan panicked, then suddenly understood.
He took off his coat, tore his clothes, removed one shoe, placed it under his head, soaked the coat in dirty water, and lay down.
The officers were almost there.
Ethan spotted a sharp piece of glass on the ground.
"Damn it..."
He grabbed it, covered his mouth tightly, and cut his own face. Each cut burned, but he refused to scream.
The officers reached the chained door and then noticed Ethan on the ground.
"Damn it... how long has this kid been here?"
One officer leaned down and nudged him. Ethan turned his head. His face was covered in blood.
"What the hell..."
The other officer kicked him.
"Hey! Get up. Go sleep somewhere else."
"Ah! I-I'm sorry, officer..."
Ethan began to cry and slowly tried to stand.
"Why are you kicking him? Look at him."
"Who cares? Grab the footage and let's go. Get the tool from the car."
As Ethan slowly moved away, the first officer followed him.
"Who did this to you? Your face is covered in cuts."
Ethan sobbed.
"L-Last night... in that alley... they tried to rob me... I said I had no money... then they attacked me with glass."
"Last night? If you know the time, we can check the footage."
"R-Really?... If you take me there, I can find it..."
The officer hesitated, then nodded.
"B-But I'm scared of that officer..."
The officer understood.
"Alright. I'll distract him. You check the footage and leave fast. Don't touch anything else."
"T-Thank you, officer... people like you make this country better."
The officer smiled slightly, handed him the tool, and called out to his partner.
"Hey Joel! Where's that damn thing?"
The other officer walked toward the car.
"Can't even find a tool? How did you become a cop?"
As soon as he moved away, Ethan broke the chain and entered the camera room.
There were dozens of tapes.
He grabbed all recordings from the last three days and ran back.
"There are fingerprints on the door handle!"
Ethan wiped it clean with his dirty coat and ran.
The officer who had helped him realized immediately.
"Shit! HEY! STOP!"
The other officer turned and chased Ethan.
"You take the car! I'll follow on foot!"
Sirens began to echo.
Ethan ran through alleys, but one tape slipped from his hands.
(BAM!)
"Hey! Watch it!"
He collided with a man and fell. Three tapes scattered.
The officer locked eyes with him.
"I knew something was off about you. Stay right there!"
Ethan grabbed what he could and ran.
"I'll find you, you son of a—"
Ethan managed to lose them in the alleys.
"Shit... I dropped one tape..."
He cleaned the blood from his face with dirty water and took a bus back to Naylor Gardens.
He climbed through his bedroom window, changed clothes, hid them, and lay on his bed.
One minute later, his alarm rang.
"This is payback for you, Gluttony King. I don't need you."
End of Chapter 5.