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Somi and Nora stumbled out of the club, laughter spilling from their lips, the town of Mmiri seemed to hold its breath, the cool night air offering a sharp contrast to the pulsing energy they'd just left behind. The two girls clung to each other, slightly unsteady in their short dresses and high heels, their movements playful and carefree.

"Ah, Somi," Nora teased, tossing her head back as her hair fell over her shoulders. "You're such a buzzkill!"

Somi laughed, her grey eyes sparkling under the dim streetlights, her beaded choker catching the light with every movement. She pulled Nora closer as they navigated the quiet street, their laughter echoing through the stillness. "Says the girl who was whining to leave early and almost fell off the dance floor," she shot back.

Nora giggled, resting her head on Somi's shoulder as they walked. "Hey, it's my job to be crazy! Besides, this is your last night here before you run off to the big city and leave me behind in this dull town."

Somi's laughter faltered a little, and she sighed. "Oh, don't start, Nora. We're not having that conversation tonight." She wrapped an arm around her friend's shoulders, squeezing her tight. "Anyway, didn't you say Uche was in town? You're missing out on some quality time with your boyfriend."

Nora wrinkled her nose. "Uche can wait. This night is about us. I won't be seeing you after tonight..." Her voice trailed off, and she looked down, suddenly serious.

Somi tried to shrug it off, forcing a playful tone. "Stop being so dramatic! It's not like I'm moving to another planet. I'll be back to visit."

Nora stopped walking and turned to face her, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "It feels like you're leaving forever, though." She grabbed Somi's hands, her grip firm. "But what about him? Are you really going to leave without saying anything?"

Somi's smile faded, her expression turning wistful. The mention of that person brought a dull ache to her chest. She tried to avoid Nora's eyes, but her friend wasn't letting it go. "Are you sure about this?" Nora pressed, concern lacing her voice.

Somi swallowed, nodding, but before she could respond, Nora pulled her into a tight embrace. They stood there, holding each other in the middle of the empty street. Somi felt the warmth of Nora's body, and for a moment, she let herself lean into it, fighting the lump in her throat.

Then, as if the sky was mirroring their emotions, a low rumble of thunder echoed above them, and suddenly, rain began to fall in heavy sheets.

"Ahhh! The rain!" Nora shrieked, laughing as they both dashed under the awning of a nearby shop, water dripping from their hair. They stood there, breathless, trying to catch their breath when Nora's phone buzzed. She pulled it out, a smile creeping onto her face as she read the message.

Somi raised an eyebrow, giving her a knowing look. "Let me guess... Uche?"

Nora grinned, her earlier worries momentarily forgotten. "Yep. He's on his way to pick me up." Her tone was light, but she shot Somi a glance, as if gauging her reaction.

Somi just smiled, though her thoughts were elsewhere. The rain beat down on the empty street, and she realized that tomorrow, she would be gone—leaving everything behind. The thought made her stomach twist, but she forced herself to push it away.

A sleek black Range Rover pulled up moments later, its headlights cutting through the rain. Uche stepped out, his tall frame outlined by the streetlight as he smiled at Nora, his eyes lighting up when he saw her.

"Miss me already?" Nora teased as she ran into his arms, the rain forgotten as they embraced. Uche chuckled, planting a quick kiss on her lips before nodding at Somi.

"You'll be back soon, right?" Uche asked, his voice friendly but casual.

Somi shrugged, trying to keep her tone neutral. "We'll see."

Nora, noticing the change in Somi's mood, opened the car door but paused. "Come with us," she said, her eyes pleading. "We can drop you off at home."

Somi shook her head, her wet hair clinging to her face. "No, it's fine. I want to walk. I need to clear my head."

"But—" Nora protested, looking up at the stormy sky. "It's raining, Somi. Come on, you shouldn't be walking alone in this weather."

Somi gave her a small, tired smile. "Nora, I'll be fine. It's barely ten minutes to my place. Besides, the rain isn't that bad anymore."

Nora hesitated, biting her lip as she glanced at Uche, who was waiting patiently in the driver's seat. "Okay, but promise you'll call me when you get home?"

"Yes, Mum," Somi teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Nora chuckled softly, though her concern remained. With one last wave, she got into the car, and the sleek vehicle disappeared down the street, leaving Somi alone.

She stood there for a moment, letting the rain soak into her skin as she watched the car fade from view. The night was quieter now, the town almost eerie in its stillness. Somi took a deep breath, the cool air filling her lungs. Tomorrow, everything would change. She would leave Mmiri, the memories, the unspoken words, and that person who didn't love her the way she had hoped.

"You have to move on, Somi," she whispered to herself, though her voice was drowned out by the sound of the rain.

As she started walking, her thoughts swirled like the storm above her. The streets she had known all her life seemed foreign now, as if the town itself was bidding her farewell. She passed familiar landmarks—the old church, the market square, and the small park where she and Nora had once spent entire afternoons dreaming about their futures.

But as she neared a shadowy alley, her footsteps faltered. Something felt off. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and she instinctively glanced over her shoulder.

A figure lurked in the shadows, barely visible in the rain. Somi's heart skipped a beat.

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The peaceful town of Mmiri woke to a nightmare as the shrill police sirens echoed down the narrow streets. What was once a tranquil morning had turned into a scene of chaos. Behind a rank-smelling dumpster in a shadowy alley, the lifeless body of a woman lay twisted in an unnatural, grotesque position. One shoe was missing, the other dangling from her left foot. In her stiff, cold hand, a pearl necklace—now dull with tragedy—hung limp, its broken clasp barely holding it together.

"Fuck!" Detective Nonso muttered under his breath, rubbing a hand over his smooth, bald head. He stared at the horrific scene with a mixture of dread and fury. He wasn't tall, but the intensity in his sharp eyes commanded respect. Beside him, Ebi, his younger partner, stood frozen, his face pale, unable to tear his gaze away from the body.

"Why... why do you think they took her eyes?" Ebi whispered, as if speaking any louder might make the nightmare more real.

Nonso shook his head, his jaw clenched. "Hell if I know." His gaze shifted to the growing crowd behind the police tape, the onlookers eager to capture the macabre sight with their phones. His frustration flared. "Oi! Get them to stop taking pictures!" he barked at a nearby officer, who scrambled to clear the scene.

Ebi crouched down by the body, his face twisting in disgust as he examined the victim's face—or what was left of it. "This... this is starting to make me sick."

A shrill ringtone cut through the tension. Both detectives turned toward the sound, noticing a phone lying just a feet from the body. The screen lit up with a caller ID: MY NORA.

Nonso hesitated, glancing at Ebi before pulling off his glove and answering the call. He placed it on speaker. "Hello?"

"Somi!" came a frantic, familiar voice. "Somi, you're going to give me a heart attack! What happened to calling me in ten minutes? It's been over a couple of hours, and I've been trying to reach you! I was worried sick!" The voice on the other end trembled with a mix of irritation and concern.

Nonso swallowed hard, his heart sinking as he prepared to deliver the news. "Ma'am, this is Detective Nonso Iziekwe," he said softly, his voice professional but tinged with the gravity of the situation.

A pause hung in the air before the voice returned, this time colder, cautious. "Who are you? Why do you have Somi's phone?"

Nonso sighed. "I'm afraid I need you to come down to the Neo-Light District. There's been an incident—"

"The Neo-Light District?" The voice faltered, panic creeping in. Before Nonso could continue, the line went dead.

Ebi exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "That's going to be one hell of a conversation when she gets here." He said as the body was lifted onto a gurney and wheeled away.

Just then, an officer approached, guiding two women toward the detectives. One was elderly, her white and grey hair fighting to be more noticeable as she walked, and the other was heavily pregnant, her face pale and tense.

Nonso approached the pair, greeting the older woman with a respectful nod. "Good morning, Mama. My name is Detective Nonso, and this is my partner, Detective Ebi." He flashed his badge, as did Ebi. "Can you tell us how you found the body?"

The younger woman spoke up, her voice shaking. "I'm Temi. My grandmother and I run that shop over there," she pointed weakly to a small convenience store just a few feet away. "We live upstairs, and we take the trash out here every morning. I was working inside when Mama took the rubbish out... and when she didn't come back right away, I got worried. I went to check on her and found her sitting on the ground, just... staring at... at her." Temi's voice cracked as she struggled to recount the events. "I called the police immediately."

Nonso nodded sympathetically. "Was the body already... like this? Eyes missing?"

Temi nodded, eyes wide and haunted. "Yes... I—I think that's what freaked Mama out the most. I mean, this town... Mmiri hasn't seen a murder in years. This is... this is horrifying."

Nonso softened his tone. "Thank you for telling us. Where's your husband?"

Temi stiffened, her hand instinctively covering her pregnant belly. "I don't have one," she replied curtly.

Nonso met her gaze, sensing the tension, and handed her his card. "If you or your grandmother remember anything else, or if you need anything, please don't hesitate to call. Officers will be stationed here for your protection."

Temi took the card, her hands trembling. The detectives gave a few final instructions to secure the scene before Ebi's phone buzzed in his pocket. He stepped away, his voice low as he spoke into the phone. "Hey... yeah, you need to come down to Mmiri. It's bad. I think... I think he's here."

Ebi was about to hang up when a sudden commotion broke out in the crowd. A young woman, frantic and disheveled, pushed through, her voice rising in panic as she tried to break through the police line. "Let me through! I need to see her!" she cried.

Nonso recognized her voice immediately from the phone call. "Nora," he whispered under his breath. Ebi rushed over, gesturing for the officer to let her through. She ducked under the tape, her wide, tear-filled eyes frantically scanning the scene.

"Where is she? Where's Somi?" Nora's voice wavered, the tremble in her hands making it clear she already feared the worst.

Ebi stepped forward, his tone gentle but firm. "Nora, I'm so sorry. Your friend... she's gone." He paused, allowing the words to sink in. "We need you to come with us to the mortuary to identify her."

Nora's legs buckled beneath her as the full weight of the truth crashed down on her. Uche, her boyfriend, rushed to catch her, his own face pale and stricken. "No, no, this can't be real," Nora sobbed, shaking her head violently as she clung to Uche's arm. "I just saw her few hours ago! She was fine. She was..."

"I'm so sorry," Nonso murmured, his heart heavy with the familiar weight of grief.

Uche's face tightened with resolve as he gently pulled Nora to her feet. "We'll come with you," he said quietly, though his own voice shook.

Nonso nodded, leading the way. The air around them felt thick with sorrow as they made their way to the mortuary. Behind them, the alley still buzzed with police activity, but the dark, unsettling energy of the crime lingered, refusing to let go.

As they neared the building, Ebi's phone buzzed again. He checked the message, his jaw tightening as he read the words.

"He's definitely here," he muttered to himself, feeling the cold chill of dread crawl down his spine.

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"No!" Nora's scream ripped through the Motuary corridor, her anguish cutting through the sterile silence like a blade. She collapsed to the floor, shaking uncontrollably, her body overwhelmed by grief. Uche, her boyfriend, was at her side in an instant, cradling her in his arms as nurses rushed over with a wheelchair. They gently guided her to a nearby ward, where a nurse administered a sedative. Within minutes, her trembling subsided, but her despair still lingered in the air.

Nonso and Ibe followed closely, watching as Nora's unconscious form was placed on a bed. They had seen this reaction countless times in their careers—grief too heavy to bear, emotions too raw to process. Yet, it never got easier. Every scream, every tear tugged at the threads of their humanity, leaving behind a shadow of their own helplessness.

As Uche reappeared from the ward, his face a mask of exhaustion and sorrow, he gestured for the detectives to join him in a quieter corner of the hospital. His eyes, red from holding back tears, met theirs as he slumped into a chair.

"Detectives, if you don't mind," Uche began, his voice breaking slightly as he ran a shaky hand through his hair. "What's happening? How could this...?" His words faltered, the reality too painful to voice.

Nonso and Ibe sat down opposite him, exchanging a quick glance before Ibe leaned forward. His voice was calm but firm, knowing they had to push forward despite the tragedy. "We're sorry for your loss, Uche. We know this is difficult, but we need to ask you a few questions."

Uche nodded, his eyes distant as he replayed the last moments he had spent with Somi. "I... I just don't understand how this happened. It was supposed to be a normal night."

Nonso leaned in, his tone steady but insistent. "When was the last time you saw Somi?"

"A few hours ago," Uche responded, his voice barely above a whisper. "Nora and Somi went out. We all met outside the club Dionysus in A-District. It was her last night in Mmiri—she was moving to Lagos tomorrow for a new job. They were just celebrating, nothing unusual."

"And then?" Nonso pressed gently.

"Nora wanted to leave early," Uche said, rubbing his temples as if the memory was physically painful. "We offered to drive Somi home—me and Nora—but she insisted on walking. Said it was only a ten-minute walk and that the rain wasn't heavy enough to bother her. We... we let her go."

Nonso's brows furrowed. "A-District, you said? But Somi's body was found in the Neo-Light district—miles away."

Uche blinked, confusion clouding his face. "That can't be. She said she was heading home. She lived near A-District... how could she have ended up in Neo-Light?"

"That's what we're trying to figure out," Ibe interjected, his voice tinged with urgency. "Did Somi mention anything strange that night? Any arguments? Was there someone watching her, following her?"

Uche shook his head, lost in the impossibility of it all. "No. She was happy. Excited about her new job. Nothing was wrong."

Nonso sighed deeply. This didn't add up. A-District was across the town from where Somi had been found, and by all accounts, the boat services that ran through Mmiri's channels had already shut down for the night. Without access to the boats, how had she travelled such a distance?

"Uche," Nonso said, his voice softening as he reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a card. "We're going to need to speak to Nora when she wakes up. She might remember something that could help us."

Uche nodded again, taking the card with shaking hands. "I'll tell her."

The detectives stood to leave, but before they could walk away, Uche spoke again, his voice strained with guilt. "You don't think... it was my fault, do you? That we didn't drive her home?"

Nonso paused, turning back to face him. "You couldn't have known what would happen, Uche. Don't blame yourself."

But as they walked toward the hospital exit, Ibe muttered under his breath, "Nothing about this is sitting right with me."

Nonso nodded in agreement, "Yeah, me too. Let's get back to the station."

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Outside the hospital, the streets of Mmiri lay quiet under the faint glow of streetlights, the usual hum of nightlife dampened by the recent rain. The town was small, its pulse slow—perfect for keeping secrets buried. But now, with three bodies in as many weeks, the calm was shattering.

As they drove back to the precinct, Ibe's phone buzzed with a message. He glanced at it briefly and frowned. "It's from Captain."

"What does he want?" Nonso asked, not taking his eyes off the road.

"He's asking for an update. Says the press is already sniffing around about the murders."

Nonso cursed under his breath. "We can't let this leak. If people find out we might be dealing with a serial killer—"

"I know," Ibe cut in. "Panic will spread like wildfire."

Just then, Nosos's phone rang

"Details," the chief's voice barked through the phone, sharp and unyielding. Nonso didn't flinch, already anticipating the urgency behind the words.

"She's the third victim in a week," Nonso began, his tone flat but grim. "Each body we've found has been mutilated in a specific way. The first victim's tongue was removed, the second had their heart taken, and now..." He hesitated, feeling the weight of his next words. "Somi's eyes were taken. It's the same M.O. across the board—clean cuts, no struggle. This guy knows what he's doing"

The silence that followed was heavy, the chief clearly taking in the severity of the situation. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter. "We can't ignore the ritualistic aspect of this, Nonso. The pattern is too calculated. As It's escalating, we need to consider every angle. No matter how disturbing."

Nonso nodded, even though the chief couldn't see him. "I agree. Ibe and I have been combing through the victims' backgrounds, trying to find any connection. But so far, nothing solid. They seem random—no shared circles, no obvious ties. We'll keep digging. But Chief..." His voice softened. "It's not just the murders. People are on edge. If this leaks, if word gets out that there's a serial killer on the loose..."

"Panic," the chief finished for him, his sigh crackling through the line. "I know. It's already starting to leak, Nonso. I've had reporters chasing my ass around since this morning. It won't take long before they connect the dots, especially if we're not ahead of this."

Nonso's grip tightened on the phone. The last thing Mmiri needed was a town-wide panic. 

"Do what you can to keep it quiet," the chief continued, his voice hardening. "But above all, you need to move fast. I don't need to tell you what'll happen if this killer strikes again and we're still chasing our tails. Work quickly, Nonso, but work smart."

"I hear you, Chief," Nonso replied. "We're on it."

"And Nonso," the chief's voice dropped, a rare note of personal concern creeping in. "Watch your backs. "

Nonso didn't answer immediately. He could feel the unsettling undercurrent. He swallowed hard. "We will."

"Keep me posted," the chief said before the line went dead.

Nonso slipped the phone back into his pocket, his mind already racing. Back at the station, He glanced around the station, the buzzing activity of officers and detectives, the radio static punctuating the tense atmosphere. Everyone was moving fast, but were they fast enough?

Just then, Ibe entered the room, holding two cups of coffee. He set one on Nonso's desk with a small thud. Nonso leaned back in his chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "We need to work fast, or else we're going to have a full-blown panic on our hands."

Ibe took a long sip from his cup, grimacing at the taste. "So no pressure then," he said dryly.

Nonso managed a tight smile. "None whatsoever."

Ibe grabbed a chair and pulled it up to the desk. "So where do we go from here? We've combed through their backgrounds twice. Either there's something we're not seeing, or this guy is just picking them at random."

"It's not random," Nonso said firmly, his eyes narrowing in thought. "The body parts he's taking—tongue, heart, eyes—it's too specific. There's meaning behind it. We just need to find that out."

Ibe sighed, tapping his fingers against the edge of the desk. "What if this guy's working off some kind of pattern, like a belief system or... I don't know, some twisted ideology?"

"It's possible," Nonso mused. "But what's the endgame?"

Before Ibe could respond, the phone on Nonso's desk buzzed. He picked it up, his eyes narrowing as he listened to the voice on the other end. "Uh-huh. Alright. Got it. Thanks."

He hung up, looking at Ibe with a grim expression. "The autopsy report just came in."

"And?" Ibe leaned forward, his interest piqued.

"They found traces of a rare herb in Somi's body—something that's not native to this area. It's commonly used in ancient rituals, specifically ones involving sacrifices."

Ibe raised an eyebrow. "Sacrifices?"

Nonso shrugged, but the pieces were beginning to fall into place. "It's very possible. It would explain the body parts. Whoever this is, they're not just killing people, They're collecting."

Ibe frowned, his mind racing with possibilities. 

 "If we can figure out the pattern, maybe we can stop him before he takes the next victim." Nonso said, his voice low.

Ibe nodded, already grabbing his coat. "Let's check in with forensics, see what else they've found. If this is ritualistic, we need to know everything about that herb and its significance. It might be our only lead." As they stepped out into the rain-soaked night, the dullness of the grive-stricken air felt like a ton of weight on them.