"How sure are you, is what your face saying?" Mike frowned
"No, I believe you." Rafael said "This is a .22 long rifle bullet. Since we didn't hear a sound, the killer had a gun with a suppressor on it. Guns of this type will be packed with ammo."
"Who are you, Mr. Rafael?" Mike exclaimed
Rafael chuckled, "It's a guess."
"Well, be careful. Strange things happen in Silentvile and the people here aren't normal." Mike sighed
Rafael took off his glasses and looked at Mike with a questioning expression. Mike moved closer to him.
"Well, isn't it odd that the parents of the kids aren't doing anything?" Mike said "If I was a parent I wouldn't take this lying down. Even suing the school and Police wouldn't be enough."
Rafael nodded his head.
"This isn't the first time odd deaths have happened. Although the Mayor hasn't sought outside help nor have they even worried about it." Mike continued
"Then why am I here?" Rafael thought
Alexander and Lucielle were in the school library. They snuck past the sleeping librarian and found the school album filled with photos.
"I found a similar photo. Although...it is different." Alexander told Lucielle
Lucielle tilted her head, "How?"
" The picture in the album is missing a teacher." Alexander told, "This is a class from years ago...."
Alexander's eyes widened as he saw his mother among the students in the picture in the book. He looked through other books and told Lucielle everything as detailed as he could.
"The teacher's name isn't in any book." Alexander frowned
Lucielle had a faint smile, "So he was spirited away and the only ones who will know are in the forest...."
"Come-" voices echoed
Hands crawled out of the shadows. Alexander quickly grabbed the photo the snatched from the man that the hands were after. He grabbed Lucielle and ran towards a window.
The hands grew claws and swiped at the children. The window slammed closed.
"WHO'S THERE!!" The librarian boomed
The hands grabbed the children violently and pulled them down through the floor. When the librarian arrived, Lucielle and Alexander were gone.
Rafael walked down the street. He volunteered to send a message on behalf of the Headmaster to the deceased students' parents. Rafael tried to contact his Boss but it wasn't going through.
"Maybe he's busy?" Rafael thought knocking on the door
"Hello?" a woman answered
Rafael put on a smile, " I was your daughter's teacher and on behalf of the school, I came to apologize. The school will take full responsibility for Catherine's funeral."
He was surprised by the unbelief written on the woman's face. She tried to put on a smile as sweat ran down her brow.
"She's scared?" Rafael thought
The woman replied, "I'm okay-"
"That's a lie." Rafael thought
"It happens...thank you for telling me." She said with reddened eyes
Rafael felt an eerie presence within the house. A pair of eyes looked at him and he felt an oppressive force.
"Ah...it's, my husband." she smiled "He doesn't like strangers."
Rafael observed the woman's trembling hands as she entered the house He heard the clicking of the door being locked and walked away.
"Why don't you go back, Mr. Rafael?"
Rafael turned to a familiar face, the Police Chief, William Nicks.
"Whatever do you mean?" Rafael smiled
William snorted, "No one wants you here and you're snooping around. A bigshot shouldn't be dwindling away in this our little town."
Rafael only nodded and atarting to walk away.
"You don't belong here," William continued, emphasizing his point with a stern look.
"William is the real nosy one right?" a voice laughed
Rafael turned to an elderly woman in the forest with a cheery expression. He walked towards her and she turned her gaze.
"No one will tell you anything here. Something's going on and I think you might help or destroy us." the granny smiled "Either way, it will put an end to it all."
Rafael followed the granny's gaze and saw a man in a hoodie walking into the forest. When he turned back the granny gave him a smile.
"Just be careful....you are always being watched." The granny advised
"Well, I was born for the limelight." Rafael smiled and walked away. The granny looked at Sylvia floating and talking to Rafael.
" Things will be quite interesting in this quiet town." She cackled and walked deeper into the forest
Alexander and Lucielle held their breath while holding each other. Their bodies were covered in slime as something sharp pointed at them in all directions. It was dark everywhere and damp. The ground they sat on suddenly disappeared and they fell down. With terror gripping their hearts, they plummeted into the unknown.
*SCREAMING*
Rafael rubbed his ears, "Syl, talk more quietly would ya?"
Sylvia puffed up her cheeks at the accusation. Rafael crouched into the bushes to the man and he was meeting up with his companions. One man groaned painfully as bandages over his face came off.
"He's missing his right ear. Looks like a recent wound." Rafael thought "Who would have done that?"
Rafael couldn't hear what they were talking about although he memorized any information he could scavenge. From body sizes, heights, and characteristic features. He knew that any small detail could give him the edge he needed to make his next move.
"I've never seen them on wanted posters nor do they have bounties on their head. So who are they?" Rafael thought slowly getting closer
He could now hear them and decided not to go closer. Else he'll be discovered
"So you're saying that brat cut your ear clean off?" A feminine voice went
The man frowned, " Yeah. If I hadn't moved, my neck would have been cut cleanly off."
"Enough, we'll go to that hag's house and see if there are any problems." a gruff voice ended
They walked away and Rafael lay still as if he were a corpse. He couldn't move and something tighten around his neck. Rafael could feel his heart racing as he realized the gravity of the situation; he was in grave danger. It was getting hard to breathe-
Alexandra at that time was looking for Alexander and found a dog sleeping in his room. The paintings' eyes turned towards her and the girl stared back at them. A knife was in her hand and she gripped the handle.