Detective Alex Turner sprinted through the snowy dense forest, the crisp morning air burning in his lungs. He maneuvered through the underbrush with practiced agility, each step a testament to years of rigorous training. The trail ahead was barely visible, but his focus never wavered. Alex's breath came in controlled bursts as he pushed his body to its limits. He reached a clearing and slowed to a stop, bending over with his hands on his knees, catching his breath. The tranquility of the moment was shattered by the shrill ring of his phone. Straightening up, Alex wiped the sweat from his brow and answered.
"Turner," he said into the phone.
"I want you to drop by my office as soon as possible; this is your time to shine," said the voice on the other end, a tone of urgency underlying the words. The call ended abruptly.
Alex began jogging towards Mrs. Stevens' office, his mind racing with possibilities. Even though the thought of being assigned to a case excited him, he felt a pang of unease at the necessity of such a situation. As he got closer to his destination, he began to hear the distant laughter of children. The sound was out of place in the desolate forest and sent a shiver down his spine.
"Not again," he muttered, his pace slowing as the hallucinations began to take hold. He fumbled for a pill, quickly swallowing it with a swig from his water bottle. Gradually, the phantom laughter faded, and he resumed his run, his determination renewed. Arriving at the precinct, he was greeted by a familiar face.
"Hello, dude," said Mark, a young man with an easy smile.
"Hey, Mark," Alex responded. "You wrapped up the job quickly, huh?"
"Nothing special, thankfully. The murderer didn't do much harm," Mark replied.
"At least nothing too bad happened," Alex said, his relief palpable."True, nothing too bad," Mark paused, then added, "I heard you're getting assigned to a case. How do you feel about that?"
"It's hard to explain," Alex admitted. "Do you think that's why she called me in?"
"Yeah, I spoke to her earlier. She said you'd get the job, but since you're still new, you'll have a colleague working with you. Just simple teamwork."
"That's fine. It might be for the best," Alex agreed. "Working with an experienced detective will definitely make things easier."
"You're underestimating yourself, Alex," Mark said. "You've been top of your class since you started. I believe you're one of the few who can handle this perfectly."
"I appreciate the vote of confidence. I hope everything goes smoothly," Alex said, though his mind buzzed with anticipation and doubt.
"Cadet Turner, in my office please," came Mrs. Stevens' voice, sharp and commanding.
"Yes, ma'am," Alex responded, following her into the office. They sat down, and Mrs. Stevens began explaining the situation.
"Here are some documents on the victims and the events," she said, handing him a thick folder.
Alex opened it, his eyes scanning the gruesome photos and detailed reports. "What you're seeing, Cadet Turner," Mrs. Stevens continued, "are photos from a crime scene where a couple was found murdered near Fifth and Elm Street. From our estimates, this happened around midnight two days ago. It was a disturbing sight for the neighbors. When interviewed, nobody reported hearing anything unusual that night. No screams, no sounds of struggle. Nothing. And no witnesses were awake around that time."
"As you can see, the way this young couple was killed suggests the murderer is skilled in human anatomy and butchery," she added.
"What else do we know?" Alex asked. "Do we have any fingerprints or leads?"
"Unfortunately, all we have are assumptions and theories. We know where it happened and who the victims were, but beyond that, nothing concrete. This isn't the first incident, either. There have been four similar cases before this one. The police couldn't make any headway, so it's been handed over to us."
"This seems like a challenging assignment, ma'am. Why me?" Alex asked, puzzled.
"After much consideration, we felt you were the perfect candidate. You're the best student we've had in years, and we trust you to handle the pressure," Mrs. Stevens said."However, we knew it wouldn't be wise to assign this to a rookie alone. Officer Mark Daniels will be your partner for this case. We'll provide whatever resources you need. Do you accept, Cadet"
Alex sat in silence, processing the gravity of the task before him. This was a significant opportunity, a chance to prove himself. The photos of the victims flashed in his mind—a brutal reminder of what was at stake.
"So, what will it be?" Mrs. Stevens prompted.
"Do you accept the responsibility of this case?"
Alex nodded slowly, then with growing confidence, he said, "I do."