"It has been brought to my attention that peace in this town has been disrupted," declared the Mayor, capturing El's full attention. Finally, the topic everyone had been anxiously awaiting.
El and Seth found themselves at Brommesville City Hall, attending the highly anticipated Council Meeting. The Mayor, visibly flustered, addressed a crowd of fifty people, many of them concerned parents. Despite his attempts at reassurance, fear still loomed in the air. The town was on edge, plagued by the mysterious deaths marked by a symbol on the victims' necks. The killings had become a source of terror for everyone.
"...and therefore, a new and improved security system will be installed in public areas such as shopping centers, schools, government buildings, and parks. Innovative spy cams and CCTVs will be placed in areas not easily accessible to the public. This will help us identify the culprit and make our town safer than ever before."
"Excuse me!" A woman's voice rang out from the back of the hall. Wide-eyed and disheveled, she resembled a stressed-out mother.
"But Mr. Mayor, will that catch the murderer?" Her question captivated the room.
All eyes turned back to the Mayor, who coughed, his face reddening slightly. He attempted to continue, "We will try our utmost to bring justice—"
"Try?!" The woman's anger was palpable, and one of her children began to cry. "We're worried sick every day. My children's lives are in your hands. I'm terrified every time I bring them to school, and I can't sleep at night. We fear for our safety, and all you can do is wait for your fancy cameras to catch the murderer in action?"
Uh-oh. El and Seth exchanged glances as tension gripped the room.
"Ma'am, I appreciate and understand your concerns. However, we need to conduct a thorough investigation first. In the meantime, if you feel unsafe, please stay indoors, and we will notify you of—" The Mayor attempted to calm the situation.
"You have your big, luxurious house to live in, with your servants and bodyguards. But what about the rest of us?" The woman's gaze swept across the room, her child clutched tightly in her arms. "There are four of us crammed into a tiny apartment, barely enough food to feed us all. We can't afford the luxury of safety! What if the murderer breaks into my house?"
"The murderer has not targeted residences," the Mayor stated. "The killings typically occur in open spaces. Please remain calm and allow me to finish—"
"Calm down? How can I calm down? Just because he hasn't broken into houses doesn't mean he won't!" The woman's voice trembled with fear and frustration.
"Ma'am, I understand your concerns," the Mayor continued, his composure strained. "If you stay inside—"
"What now? Hide away like rats from the sunlight? Why don't you take responsibility?" The woman shouted. "You're not doing your job!"
Amidst the chaos, El noticed something out of the corner of her eye. A peculiar figure stood at the back of the room, wearing a brown hoodie. The person almost blended into the equally brown walls and curtains. There was something off about them.
With hands deep in their pockets, the figure shifted their gaze between the security guard, the woman, and the crowd. Their eyes darted back and forth. El's suspicions heightened. Could they be carrying an artifact?
The figure pressed against the wall, appearing uncomfortable, as if the room itself unsettled them. Their searching eyes scanned the area, but for what? El identified the specific spots where their gaze lingered—the places where security cameras were located.
Suddenly, their eyes met El's, and a sinister smile crept across their face. It sent shivers down El's spine. Without warning, the figure sprinted out of the back door, chasing after the distraught woman.
Reacting quickly, El leaped from her seat and followed, ignoring Seth's protests.
"Wait, El!" his voice faded behind her as she ran.
Outside, rain poured down, drenching El's sweater and weighing her down. But she pushed forward, driven by both athleticism and fear—the fear of the next victim.
Her prayers seemed to be answered when she finally caught sight of the familiar brown hoodie. Sprinting one last time, El seized the figure's hood and yanked it forcefully. Surprisingly, they lost their balance and tumbled into the muddy ground. El stood above them.
"Who are you?" El shouted over the rolling thunder. "Hand it over now!"
The figure's eyes locked with hers, widening in fear. Perhaps her appearance, set against the backdrop of thunder and dramatic sound effects, made her seem slightly unhinged. The figure swiftly reached into their hoodie pocket. El took a step back, preparing for a potential confrontation. Were they about to unleash the powers of an artifact on her?
To her surprise, the figure threw an object at El, then scrambled to their feet and fled once more.
"It's all I've got!" they yelled, their voice breaking and trailing off. El was about to give chase when she realized what the object was.
A wallet. Not an artifact.
The figure was merely a thief, not one of The Chosen as she had suspected. Not a very skilled thief, but not her target either.
Disappointment washed over El as she returned to the entrance of the hall. There stood Seth, his face etched with concern and a hint of anger. His expression softened when he noticed the wallet in her hand.
"False alarm?" he nodded towards it.
"Not even," El muttered. Seth shook his head and removed his jacket, draping it over her cold, damp shoulders.
"We'll catch them," he reassured her. "But first, let's get you dry before you catch something worse."
They walked together, turning the wallet in to the Lost Property office.
"Is the meeting over already?" El asked Seth, glancing at the nearly empty hall. Cleaners were sweeping the floor, and she noticed banana peels on the stage.
"Yeah," Seth replied with a frown. "I don't think the Mayor will be holding another meeting anytime soon."
As they left City Hall, they caught a final glimpse of the Mayor, his hand supporting his forehead, his eyes shielded from view.
"I can relate," El murmured.