*✿═══════════════✿*
*without the shadow knowing*
*part :*ten*
https://mihraskoduvally123.blogspot.com/2024/07/blog-post_24.html
*✿═══════════════✿*
https://instagram.com/she.is.dream.maker?igshid=ZGUzMzM3NWJiOQ==
https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=o7hsgxz71i40&utm_content=8ex74zs
The inspector stared at the phone in Maria's hand for a moment, sinking into fear.
Her tired face, the fear-filled eyes, and finally, like a tally of disasters, the wordless message she conveyed.
She was a helpless soul swimming in the depths of pain.
The message contained a single word — or was it a code?
> THE ONE YOU TRUST IS THE ONE WHO HIDES.
"This could be another clue, just like the one with the rope, sir!"
Liam said from behind.
"Yes… but now we have to do something different…"
In the inspector's voice, there was not just determination, but also the weariness of it.
---
A different way of investigation… you could say they were already exhausted.
So far, forensics, CCTV, secret notes — everything had been like a repetition.
But now the inspector sought the help of a certain "digital hacker" group — people who operated on the thin boundary between lawful and unlawful.
They were given only a phone number, that message, and the child's visuals — and they had to search using only that.
---
From behind, a truth emerged…
A journey into the darkness, not knowing where it came from or where it would end.
One of the hackers said:
> "This number isn't legacy — they've used a personal signal scrambler. Which means the sender's ID can't be traced.
But… this message was sent through a dark web platform. We can trace an entry point for that."
And now, this investigation was turning towards the dark alleys of the dark web…
---
Liam's suspicion:
"Sir, maybe I'm heading into a completely crazy suspicion… but the first person we should map out — is him."
"No need to hesitate, Liam. Speak."
"I suspect there's someone among our own with two faces… someone who's supposed to be on the security side in this case — but looking at the psychological profile — he might even be someone who's afraid of himself."
---
Finally — they decided that from now on, they could trust no one.
They would hide certain things from others as a precaution.
But still — what if the worst was true?
The inspector went near Maria and said with a faint smile:
> "I'll be back, but this time, I won't go alone. Now, we're up against someone as cruel as they are cunning."
---
At last — the hackers identified the place from which the message had been sent:
> An old psychiatric treatment center — now abandoned, but still with an active internet connection inside, and someone using it occasionally.
---
This was not the end, not even a setback —
It was only the slogan for the collapse yet to come.
---
At midnight, they entered the abandoned psychiatric center with great fear.
Like a glass palace hiding secrets, its eerie beauty stood before them.
When Liam touched the old iron door of the building, a chill ran through his fingers.
The rusty hinges creaked open with a "krrrt…".
Inside, where once there were patients' cries, the smell of medicines, and the footsteps of doctors — now there was only emptiness, dust, and darkness.
Yet it felt as if the smell of a patient still lingered… as if footsteps could still be heard.
The walls, as if untouched by time, were covered with peeling posters, patients' names, doctors' schedules… all rotting away.
The inspector said:
"Don't go alone — each person take a different path.
The three of us will move together… but remember — we have no time to waste here."
---
In the glow of the flashlight, shadows loomed.
As they moved forward, old wooden beds, torn mattresses, and rusted injection needles stuck in the walls appeared like small portraits of fear.
From behind a door to the left came a faint laugh — like a child's, but… with a strange, mechanical tone.
Liam whispered:
"Sir… that's… not a human voice."
---
In the open room before them stood an old television — snow screen — flashing between frames of a video: Maria's daughter… crying.
The child was looking directly into the camera.
One of the hackers called over the radio:
"We've found it… the video isn't live. It's an old recording.
But… it wasn't recorded by a person — it was from the police team's drone camera.
That means… someone has hacked into our internal system."
The inspector's eyes filled with both anger and fear:
"Yes… now it's certain. One of us is playing this game."
Or… they have very powerful help.
---
They walked down the final corridor of the building.
There — on the door of an old treatment room — the handle looked as if it was newly polished.
Liam opened it.
Inside — someone was sitting on a chair.
Face completely covered by a mask, holding an old steel injection, and in front of them a laptop —
They didn't stand up…
But on the screen, a single line appeared:
> TRUST IS DEAD.
And then — the entire building lost power.
Only the flashlights remained.
When they turned back — the chair was empty.
The only proof someone had been there moments ago: a warm injection needle.
---
When they stepped outside, the inspector took out his phone to call Maria.
At that moment — Liam's phone rang.
On the screen: Private Number.
Liam answered…
Inside was the voice of a child:
"Liam, daddy… they're watching us…"
The inspector froze, staring directly into Liam's eyes:
"There's only one child who calls you 'daddy'… isn't Tony your son?"
Liam said nothing and stepped back… into the darkness of dawn.
His eyes were bloodshot, his body drained, yet he walked forward.
---
This is just the beginning — soon, the line between hunter and prey will vanish.
No one knows their goal or who they are — but now they're openly challenging the police.
To them, the police are nothing more than clowns they can't be reached by.
Amid the broken, darkness-covered buildings, Liam wandered like a madman.
The inspector followed behind, offering what little comfort he could.
No one could be seen — only the proof that someone had been there.
Liam ran around, helpless, like a man possessed.
It was a heartbreaking sight — the pain… the collapse… of a father.
*to be continuing*
*✍🏻mihras koduvally*
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
*ISHQE-MADEENA*
◾◾◾◾◾◾◾◾◾◾◾