Mallory's body wasn't as disgusting as Jason's. Looking at it still gave Sean an unpleasant twist of sorrow and pity. Azhir stood beside him with his arms crossed, quietly observing yet his expression remained blank. Dead bodies typical for you? Sean mocked in his head.
For a closer study, Azhir crouched down. Behind them, Daniel and Oleg stood, partly scanning the area for threats and partly to catch a wiff of an indication of Azhir's guilt.
"She's dead." Azhir said flatly. Her throat had apparent marks. There weren't many bruises on her body either. Like Jason, her eyes stared at the sky. The watch on her wrist remained intact.
Daniel's lip quivered as he kept his gaze on the soil, not daring to own the consequence of his cowardice. His eyes traveled between Oleg's righteous fury, Sean's regret and Azhir's lack of a reaction.
"All you saw were red eyes?" Azhir questioned lightly.
Daniel nodded. "Yeah... I only got a glimpse. I didn't want to keep my head turned for long."
Who the hell has red eyes on this island? Oleg's eyebrows curved downward in concentration. If anyone had crimson pupils, Oleg would've noticed subconsciously.
More doubts boiled to the surface in Sean's mind.
"Azhir, can we talk?" Sean kept his sight on the corpse, not wanting to betray any hint of supposed scheming or presumed guilt. Azhir peered over his shoulder then nodded.
The duo moved further from Oleg and Daniel, but they lingered in their line of sight. Although Oleg believed being left out of the loop would only raise any suspicion for them, he let it happen. Involving himself would only prolong this whole chase and maybe even lead to another body.
Far enough to where they wouldn't be overheard, Sean spoke in a lowered voice.
"Red eyes..." Sean glanced back.
"We need to know what the heck we're dealing with. The only one I know who'd do that on this island, without drawing attention is you." Azhir sighed.
"Khata."
"What language is that?" Sean asked. It sounded somewhat familiar.
"I'm ignorant to what language the word belongs to. However, that's what that program referred to people like me often." Azhir admitted with no shame.
Sean glanced at the body once more then back to Azhir.
"What does that imply?"
"The red eyes are merely a trait. Essentially, people like me are much more capable physically. It would explain how Mallory and Jason were killed without weapons."
"What about mentally?"
Azhir kept silent. From Sean's limited experience, he concluded that khatas apparently had poor self-discipline. Observational ability and structured vocabulary conveyed that at the least, Azhir wasn't stupid.
"But... your eyes right now aren't red."
"... When did you see them turn crimson?" Azhir asked as if learning for the first time himself.
"Yesterday when you... confronted Zuri. And when..." Sean rubbed his neck as he pieced the puzzle together himself. "Do you have any way to see if you're the only one here?"
As expected, Azhir shook his head slowly. Sean gulped.
"If the color for the windows to the soul is the key, how do you exactly invoke the change?"
"... perhaps..." Azhir rubbed his chin.
"Strong instinct. Uncontrollable desire. Even a flight or fight response may do." His explanation hinted at a theory rather than a provable fact. Perfect. Sean grunted
"I assume khatas don't have a specific sex requirement?" Sean asked a rhetorical question. In essence, it meant that the suspect could be anyone. However, one particular individual had Sean's absolute priority.
"Zuri. We need confirmation."
"Specifically, her?" Azhir tested.
"Can you recall where you exactly know her from?"
"An event sponsored by the program that I was a part of for majority of my life. I'm not at liberty to speak about what transpired at the event but Zuri was possibly present. It's a vague memory."
"That raises my interest."
"I'm all ears." Azhir listened.
"Whatever you know about Zuri or better said, what you know about the event that you and Zuri took part in tells me that she's most likely someone like you."
"You honestly believe that Zuri has an unstable nature?" Azhir's doubt congealed Sean's tactic.
"It's not out of the realm of possibility. Our main priority should be to figure out all the khatas on this island. That'll narrow down suspects. What we'll need to do is to isolate one by one, starting with Zuri.
"Apply enough pressure to her, and she'll react like any normal person." Sean sensed Oleg's patience dwindling and Daniel's curiosity peaking.
"In simple terms, rough her up a bit?"
Sean tempered his reaction and the two began walking back.
"Intimidate. Don't hurt her. All we need is confirmation, then we can make an educated strategy."
Azhir laughed and rolled his shoulders.
"Well then, call me Watson."
~
Water bottles. A couple energy bars. Three MREs. Tim figured he wouldn't require too much for the scouting he'd undergo. Yesterday, he thought insanity crept in. That flash of what appeared to be crystalized blood in Azhir's eyes.
If only I could use something as a weapon. The tent poles?
Tim gulped down a bottle. The suction force caused it to crinkle and shrink. Releasing with a satisfied sigh, Tim set his sights ahead.
"What are you doing?" Lily emerged from the tent, standing near the flaps. Tim grimaced and peered into the tent. Through the small opening, he saw Kaitlyn resting in her sleeping bag soundly.
Because of Mallory's murder, Kaitlyn couldn't sleep by herself, so Lily offered to ease the tension and provide comfort. Kaitlyn's momentary sobs made it hard for him to sleep.
"I'm going to see what the bastards are up to. I can't keep this up for long, Lily." Tim chugged another water bottle then threw it near his backpack.
"The next victim could be me, Kaitlyn, even you."
"So, you're going to leave us alone? You don't even know who the murderer is and you're going to abandon us?!"
"You and I know exactly who it is. We just don't know if he has a helper."
"That's a load of horse crap!" Lily stepped out further and let the flap close completely. She held Tim's gaze, but his eyes darted elsewhere.
"Isn't the whole reason why we're sticking together to have a better chance? Three heads are better than two." Lily restrained herself from committing a vain assault.
"This isn't a normal killer. For Jason, there wasn't a damn weapon and if we trust what Daniel and Sean told us, there wasn't a weapon there either. We can't stay here and do nothing, cooking up theories every night while we lose people one by one.
"I've got to do this."
Before Tim could escape, Lily grasped his forearm and attempted to pull him back.
"Are you seriously going to walk out on us?!" Lily growled.
"You think this is some kind of noble sacrifice?! Is this your way of committing suicide and screwing us too, selfish prick?!"
Tim's eyes widened, then abruptly narrowed. Tim tore his arm free and creating distance, glared at her.
"I have to do this on my own." Tim's tone emanated finality as he walked off.
~
Sean settled in his hiding place, ears perked up and eyes constantly scanning. Truthfully, he hardly could come to terms with the fact that he was now working with the man who threatened to kill him.
However, his plan required unconventional methods of securing the desired outcome, an outcome everyone would appreciate in the end. He loathed the use of force to coerce but asking wouldn't achieve anything either.
Thanks to Azhir's hyperacute hearing, they pinpointed the specific area where Zuri and Oleg resided. Eventually, she'd have to separate for a bathroom break or some other purpose. Azhir leaned on a tree, unable to locate Sean precisely. Good.
In view, Zuri strolled. Hair swishing back and forth. Distinctly, Sean noted a ring she wore on her forefinger.
Once she stopped, utter confusion influenced her expression, but it was quickly masked with lightheartedness.
Azhir stepped out.
"Wonderful day we're having." Azhir greeted in a cliche manner. He didn't smile. Regardless, Zuri's demeanor shone with calm amusement.
"Yeah... No deaths last night or this morning so that's good." Zuri spoke with relief. Shouldn't she be surprised or stammering? Sean leaned in an inch.
"How are you holding up after..." Zuri let her voice trail off as her eyes met the ground. Azhir approached Zuri.
"To be honest, I wasn't acquainted with Mallory for long." Azhir's tone remained consistent. "I came for you." Could you at least pretend to care somewhat? Even if Azhir faked his concern, at the least Sean wouldn't feel disgusted at his lack of empathy.
"You came for a confession?" Zuri's smirk widened an inch, pupils exuding an inviting aura. Unimpressed, Azhir closed the distance.
"I actually came because I thought there's something you wanted to tell me?" Azhir lowered his eyes. Zuri nearly tensed but retreated a pace.
"Uh... what exactly...?" Zuri leveled her breathing.
"We've met before, haven't we?" Azhir flashed a small disarming smile. No... The Demonic Trinity... when he smiles... A chill crept across Zuri's skin at the gesture of hospitality.
Zuri recalled the performance he demonstrated at the past event, leaving a sharp impression on a plethora of new recruits and overseers alike. The only one that outdid him was a girl about five years older than him.
"No... I don't think we have." Zuri lied to preserve her life.
"But I do."
Zuri flinched at the subtle shift in Azhir's tone. Instead of indifference and calculated mind games, his pitch carried a predatory playfulness. Now his smile showed white.
Instinctively, Zuri threw out her hands for a shove, but Azhir caught her by the wrists.
"Why do you girls always do that like it's going to help?" Azhir taunted.
"Let go..." Zuri spoke barely above a whisper, vocals straining with... fear?
"I have to say, you've piqued my interest. Seeing you now and remembering that event.
Goodness you've really grown into a more capable woman."
Zuri grinded her teeth upon hearing Azhir's derisive praises.
"Show me those beautiful gems."
"Let go!" Zuri's pitch heightened as she found her defiance and struggled. Abruptly, her eyes narrowed and Azhir noted the change, but it lasted for a millisecond as she successfully separated herself. Determined to extract more evidence and confirmation, Azhir lightly launched forward and shoved Zuri to the ground.
"I was wondering why you seemed set on Sean since all this started. Now I think I'm starting to understand."
"You don't understand shit! You're crazy!"
"I'll take that as a compliment." Azhir approached slowly.
"You may not remember me, but I've heard of you and I've observed how you operated. Without question, you're a prime suspect and you'll have to do a lot of convincing to prove me that you're not responsible for these circumstances."
I told him not to hurt her! What is he doing?! Sean nearly leaped out of his hiding spot.
Azhir towered over Zuri. In her gaze, fear and trepidation warred. She dug her fingers in the soil, eyes squinting, deliberating on whether to flee or stall.
His ears twitched.
Heavy breathing. Azhir shifted to Oleg charging. With a roar, Oleg bent down to tackle him but swiftly, Azhir allowed Oleg to arrive and at the last second, pivoted then struck a knee into his side.
Oleg tumbled and rolled before forcing himself to stop.
"We're talking." Azhir said, coldly.
Oleg winded a fist. Azhir inched his head right and hooked his arm around Oleg's connecting knuckles to his chin.
Collapsing on his side for a couple of seconds, Oleg only saw pitch black. He wheezed and coughed.
After a glance in a random direction, Azhir nodded.
Sean took the signal and ran. He wasn't worried if he'd be heard considering Zuri was solely focused on Azhir and Oleg could hardly focus at all. Upon conception, Sean assumed this plan would've been extremely successful, but he didn't conjure any contingency.
Realizing he'd only invite more parties, Azhir revealed a cryptic smile briefly toward Zuri as he walked away. Zuri refused to pursue him. That'd only give him another opportunity to acquire whatever he desired from her. Denying him the satisfaction seemed to be the correct option.
Coughing violently, Oleg flipped onto his back to suck in a mouthful of air to reinvigorate his body. Cautiously, he raised himself and his eyes searched briefly for Azhir.
"Are you hurt?" Oleg asked sincerely.
"I'm... fine. He didn't do much." Unknown to Zuri herself, her breathing was frantic and her body trembled uncontrollably. Voluntarily, she mediated to center herself.