Crimson Ties

Vince approached the witnesses, a middle-aged couple standing near the edge of the scene. Both appeared uneasy, the man's hand resting protectively on his wife's shoulder. They exchanged quiet words before falling silent as Vince neared.

"I'm Detective Vince Kane," he began, flashing his badge. "You found the body this morning?"

The man nodded. "Yes, we did. I'm Matthew Doyle, and this is my wife, Maeve."

Maeve offered a polite nod, her arms crossed tightly. "We're out here every morning for our run," then Matthew added. "Same time, same route."

Maeve chimed in, her voice quieter. "But this morning was different. We saw him, and at first… well, I thought he might just be sleeping. You see that sometimes in the park."

"Did you notice anything unusual before today? Anyone hanging around this spot or acting suspicious?" Vince asked, keeping his tone level.

Matthew hesitated, glancing at his wife before answering. "Not really, but here's the thing—this guy… he's not usually here. We've seen him before, but he always sleeps on that bench in the middle of the park." He gestured vaguely toward the distance. "He's been there for weeks, maybe months."

Maeve nodded. "That's right. Always the same spot. But today, he's here, in this corner. It's strange."

Vince frowned slightly. "So he was always in the middle of the park. Did you ever see him with anyone? Friends? Another vagrant?"

Both shook their heads. "No," Maeve said firmly. "He was always alone. Never talked to anyone, at least not that we saw."

Matthew added, "We didn't think much of it before. Figured he just kept to himself."

Vince's mind worked through the details. If the man had a routine, sleeping in the same spot every night, why had he ended up here, in this corner of the park? And where was the other vagrant he'd met last night, the one who had guided him and Chloe?

"Alright," Vince said, his tone contemplative. "You've been very helpful. If you remember anything else, no matter how small, let me know."

The Doyles nodded, visibly relieved that the questioning was over. As they stepped away, Vince's gaze shifted toward the bench in the middle of the park, the spot where the victim usually slept. Something didn't add up.

Back to the center of the park, his steps slowing as he approached the bench where the vagrant had once been a fixture. The area was eerily quiet now, devoid of any signs of last night's investigation. No trash, no footprints in the soft earth—just an empty bench and the whisper of leaves in the breeze.

He scanned the surroundings, letting his eyes sweep over the nearby trees and bushes. The scene seemed ordinary, too ordinary, as if someone had gone to great lengths to erase any trace of what had happened.

Something nagged at him—a feeling he couldn't quite shake. He stepped closer to the bench and glanced up at the towering oak tree next to it, drawn by the way its branches cast irregular shadows in the sunlight. That's when he saw it: a faint, dark stain near the trunk, just above head height.

The bark seemed oddly discolored. Vince squinted, stepping back for a better angle, and then it hit him—a streak of crimson, blending into the rough grooves of the bark. Blood. Hidden in plain sight.

Perhaps it was the way the sunlight had caught the edge of the stain, casting a faint glimmer, or the instinct that something about the tree was out of place.

He pulled out his pocketknife and carefully scraped a section of the blood-stained bark into a small evidence bag he always kept handy. He sealed it tightly and held it up to the light, the crimson streak vivid against the clear plastic.

Walking back toward the taped-off area, he found Johnson. "Got something," Vince said, holding up the evidence bag. "Blood on the tree near the bench. Might want to send this to the lab."

Johnson nodded, taking the bag with a gloved hand. "I'll get it logged and sent over to the crime lab."

"Good," Vince replied, his voice steady. "Make it a priority."

Saturday, October 12, 2024

Solara, Solstice, Bog Bay City

Chrysalis Academy

The cafeteria buzzed with chatter, the clinking of trays and utensils blending into a dull hum. Hannah Kensington sat at the far end of a long table, absently picking at her sandwich. Her chin rested on her hand, her gaze unfocused as she stared out the window. The bright day outside only seemed to mock her boredom.

Since the kidnapping, life had taken an oddly uneventful turn. Her parents, usually relentless with their expectations, had eased up. No extra lessons, no late-night studying. Just school and more free time than she knew what to do with. She sighed, feeling the weight of monotony pressing on her.

"Uh, hi… Hannah, right? Is this seat taken?"

Hannah turned, her bored expression lifting slightly as she recognized Chloe Mitchell. They were in the same class, though Hannah had rarely paid her any mind. Chloe stood there holding a tray, her voice soft but carrying a trace of nervousness.

"Sure, go ahead," Hannah replied, shrugging nonchalantly.

Chloe slid into the seat, offering a tentative smile. "Thanks. It's kinda crowded today."

Hannah gave a faint nod, taking another small bite of her sandwich without much interest. The silence between them stretched for a beat before Chloe broke it.

"So, uh, how've you been? You know, since… everything?" Chloe's voice hesitated on the last word, clearly alluding to the kidnapping.

"I'm fine," Hannah said flatly, though her tone softened a bit when she saw Chloe's earnest expression. "It's… over, I guess."

"That's good to hear," Chloe said, a little more confidently now. She glanced down at her tray, fiddling with a fork. "It must've been terrifying."

Hannah smirked faintly, a hint of dry humor creeping into her voice. "Yeah, it wasn't exactly a vacation."

Chloe let out a small laugh, and the tension eased slightly. "I guess not. By the way, I don't think we've properly introduced ourselves. I'm Chloe Mitchell."

"Hannah Kensington," she replied, offering a brief but polite smile.

"I know," Chloe said with a small chuckle. "We're in the same class, after all. But you always seemed… I don't know, busy?"

Hannah arched a brow, her tone dry but not unkind. "That's one way to put it."

Chloe nodded, taking a bite of her food. "I guess you're not as busy now, though? With, you know, everything slowing down?"

"Yeah, my parents eased up. It's… weird," Hannah admitted, surprising herself with the honesty. "I'm not used to having this much free time."

"Well, maybe that's a good thing," Chloe offered. "Gives you a chance to breathe. Do something fun, maybe?"

"Fun?" Hannah echoed, a faintly amused smile tugging at her lips. "Not sure I know what that is."

Chloe grinned. "Well, if you figure it out, let me know. I'm not exactly an expert either."

Hannah chuckled softly, her posture relaxing. For the first time in what felt like ages, the conversation didn't feel like a chore.

Their quiet was interrupted by a sudden burst of noise from a nearby table.

Both girls turned their heads to see a commotion unfolding in the center of the cafeteria. Lena Mori, the shy, bookish girl known for always carrying a thick novel under her arm, was cornered by three familiar faces—Avery Dawson, Talia Ramirez, and Riley Whitmore.

Avery stood at the front, her hands on her hips and a smirk plastered across her face. "Seriously, Lena, another book? What is it this time? 'How to Make Friends in Ten Steps'?"

Lena clutched her book to her chest, her knuckles white, but she didn't reply. Her eyes darted to the floor, avoiding the trio entirely.

Talia leaned against the table, her trademark scrapes visible on her elbows. "C'mon, don't just stand there like a statue. Say something!" Her voice was loud enough to draw a few curious glances from nearby students.

Riley, as usual, said nothing, her sharp eyes fixed on Lena like a hawk watching its prey. She crossed her arms, her quiet presence somehow more intimidating than the other two combined.

"Aw, don't be shy, Lena," Avery continued, her tone mockingly sweet as she tugged lightly at the strap of Lena's bag. "What's in here? Snacks? Ooh, or maybe a secret diary?"

Lena stumbled back a step, her voice barely a whisper. "Just… just leave me alone."

Chloe frowned, setting her fork down. "Should we… do something?"

Hannah tilted her head, watching the scene with an unreadable expression. For a moment, it looked like she wouldn't answer, but then she sighed. "They're always like this. Avery's got too much free time, and Lena doesn't fight back."

"But it's not right," Chloe insisted, her tone firmer now.

Before either of them could act, a teacher stepped into the cafeteria. Spotting the trio, she cleared her throat loudly, her voice cutting through the noise. "Avery, Talia, Riley—what's going on over there?"

Avery straightened up instantly, her smirk vanishing as she shot Lena a quick glare. "Nothing, ma'am. Just talking to Lena here."

The teacher didn't look convinced but didn't push further. "Back to your seats. Now."

The trio dispersed, Avery rolling her eyes dramatically as she walked off, Talia chuckling under her breath, and Riley trailing behind them silently.

Lena stayed rooted in place for a moment, her shoulders hunched, before quietly slipping out of the cafeteria with her book still clutched tightly.

Chloe let out a sigh. "Poor girl."

Hannah shrugged, her expression unreadable again. "She's tougher than she looks. She has to be."

Chloe glanced at her, surprised by the comment, but didn't say anything. Then she hesitated for a moment before standing up with her tray. "It was nice talking to you. Maybe… we could do it again sometime?"

Hannah tilted her head, studying Chloe for a moment before nodding. "Yeah. Maybe."

"Cool," Chloe said, her shyness giving way to a warm, friendly smile. "See you around, Hannah."

As Chloe walked away, Hannah remained at the table, her sandwich forgotten. She stared at the empty spot across from her, the faintest smile lingering on her lips.

She'd never given much thought to making friends—her world had always been about impressing her parents. But for the first time, she felt… lighter, like the tiniest crack had opened in the wall she'd built around herself. Maybe this new chapter wouldn't be so bad after all.