The rain was falling heavily on the roof, as a rather large dog was barking in the direction of the apartments window. The television that had once been playing an old 1950's movie was now playing nothing but static. The tall light that stood in the corner of the living room was tipped over while the light flickered from a cracked bulb. The couch was pushed over as though there was a struggle, and blood was smeared on the walls. A tall black figure stood in the center of the room, a smile placing itself on their face. The figure slowly turned to face the kitchen where it had written on the wall in blood: He is only the first of many. The figures smile grew wider as it reminisced the events that had just happened, before making it's way out the third floor fire escape and disappearing into the night.
The torso of Isaac Huffman lay in the bedroom, his arms and legs were placed in the bathtub and his head was sitting in the sink staring at the wall where the figure had written their warning. Isaac was a good man if you asked his friends, but his ex-wife would have to disagree. She would tell you that he was a monster who had a victim complex, he would never own up to his mistakes, which was one of the many reasons Mrs. Huffman had left. His friends would tell you the opposite, that he was a good man and a wonderful husband, but the bitch got in the way. The truth was Isaac was everything but nothing at all, he had a steady job he hated at a firm that his father in-law got him, he began despising his ex-wife when he caught her with another man in their bed, and he would go out with his friends three times a week and come home completely drunk from looking for the answers through alcohol.
As the night passed and the day began the rain began to fall harder, thunder and lightning crashed through the sky and the sound of sirens cut through the storm the closer they got. In the passenger seat was Detective Margret Babble, a short woman with a rather large temper. She and her partner, Henry Brute, who was in the drivers seat, were the best detectives that had graced New York City. Henry pulled the car over to the side of the road and placed it in park. He looked over at his partner giving her a nod. She nodded in return before opening her car door and running out and across the street where their chief sat waiting for them.
"What do we got?" Margret yelled as she walked up towards the building.
"Isaac Huffman, divorced, body parts scattered." Chief Matthews stated, keeping his emotions at bay.
Henry and Margret both nodded before pushing past their boss and up the few flights of stairs to the third floor. Apartment 302 was now taped off with the yellow caution tape, a small crowd gathered in the hall trying to get a sneak peak into the apartment where Isaac's remains lay. The pair quickly ducked under the opening in the tape and briskly walked into the living room. They stood taking in the scenery in front of them, their faces remained cold. Henry and Margret were immune to crime scenes such as this one, they frequently worked them.
"Babs the kitchen." Henry turned to his partner, trying to keep his voice steady.
"What about it?" She asked focusing on the blood pooled in the carpet.
When Henry didn't answer she moved her gaze to the kitchen. Her eyes landed directly on the head in the sink. She followed the gaze of the eyes to the wall across from the head and let her mouth fall open slightly. This was a first for her, she had never seen a warning message at a crime scene, let alone a severed head pointing to it. She quickly composed herself before turning back to her partner who shared a reaction. Henry had begun to make his way towards the kitchen, while Margret moved to the bathroom. The photography team had just shown up and started going from room to room.
Outside in the ally behind the apartment, the figure sat blending in to the brick walls behind it, watching every move made by the cops. It watched Margret as she picked up the appendages of Isaac and examined them. A smile creeping back on it's face, this time showing it's yellow jagged teeth. The figures heart started racing as the events replayed in its mind, remembering exactly every rip, muffled scream and satisfied noise made merely hours ago.
The torture was the figures favorite part of these rituals, it would place little cuts on the victims with their talon like nails, then push deep into them to feel the blood accumulate under the fingers. It loved feeling the sadness of the victims flood the body, it loved tasting it in the victims blood and hearts.
The figure watched Margret intently as she examined the arms and legs. She wouldn't find any DNA from the thing that did this or surgical incisions, instead she would notice the parts had been ripped clean off the torso. She could tell by the small pieces of flesh and tendons dangling off the body slightly.
"Babs find anything?" Henry yelled causing her to flinch.
"Just some arms and legs." She yells back before placing the arm in the tub and walking out to her partner.
"We have a sick son of a bitch running around." Henry whispers to her as she appears beside him.
"No shit, whoever did this is strong enough to rip arms clean off." Margret said while turning to face Henry with a concerned expression. "Have you seen the torso yet? Heard its in the bedroom."
Henry shook his head and started making his way towards the room, Margret followed quickly at his heals. As they walked in they saw the torso laying in plain view, tucked into the bed. The once grey bed sheets were now a deep shade of crimson. The pair walked towards the bed and pulled the comforter down reveling the upper part of Isaacs torso. There was a hole in the center, the skin and muscle was pulled to the side and the bones protecting his heart were smashed to a dust like material. His heart was gone.
"Has anyone found his heart?" Margret yelled from the bedroom.
Beside her Henry stifled his laughter, he knew she was trying to lighten the mood, though there was no lightning this disturbing situation. A series of no's flooded the apartment only causing Margret to let out an angered sigh. This case was going to get to her, she could feel it. There was no evidence for her to follow, it would just be a lot of worthless investigation of Isaacs family and friends that lead to a dead end and way too much paperwork. The pair stood there staring at the torso, Margret had her arms crossed against her chest while thinking of where to start, while Henry was trying to come up with a way to tell his husband about this without going overboard on details.
"This is going to be near impossible to solve." Margret breaks the silence while turning to her partner.
"Yeah, there's no prints so far or anything. We should start with his friends and family." Henry stated.
"I'll take the friends, you have a better time with the wives."
"Deal."
They shake hands sealing the deal before turning to leave the crime scene, allowing the other officers to finish there. They make their way back to the car and get inside. Henry puts the car in drive and sets off to the station, they had to get information before they went to speak to everyone.