Chapter 1: A Good Night
Word Count: 3,682
A man woke up, blinking a couple of times, getting a feeling of his surroundings through the pain in his head. It was pitch black, and what he noticed next - that sent a fresh wave of panic and fear - was that he was bound and gagged. He woke up rapidly, adrenaline spiking and helping the process to become more aware, though he still couldn't see. He wasn't blindfolded, but it wasn't natural for a place to be this dark. His arms were held over his head, and he was hanging in the air to where the soles of his feet were just barely touching the ground. He was spread out enough not to be able to move around, though at the same time not spread enough to pull at his muscles to cause pain. He grunted, trying to move so he could get away, why was he here? What was going on? There was a strange noise, like clicking... or... gas. A match was struck and light filled the area. The man blinked, trying to get used to the sudden light in such a dark place. After a few times, he could tell that he was in a cave, that would explain the unnatural darkness and the chill that crept though his body. Then he saw a figure, and if he was scared before, he was triply so now.
There sat a man - or at least it seemed like a man - next to a lantern and flicking a match away. He was in a strange outfit that had so much splattered blood that it was hard to tell what the original color was. But they wore a hockey mask that was like something out of a Friday the 13th movie, but it wasn't Halloween, not even close. They were sitting Indian style on a rock with a large chainsaw resting on their knees as if it was perfectly natural. The man felt like screaming, but was reminded of the gag in his mouth, "Sorry for the gag, usually I don't use such things, but it is Spring Break and you never know what teenagers will come looking around for a fun place to hang out." The man said, and it was almost surprising to hear a normal, if not muffled voice coming from it. The predator stood, picking up the chainsaw with one hand, "Well, let's start then shall we? Try staying conscious for at least a little while, okay?" The chainsaw was started, a loud roar coming from it. The victim's eyes went wide as he trashed, trying to get away, trying to escape the nightmare. The man with murder unseen in his eyes stepped forward.
The chainsaw was stopped, and the man sighed, pulling off the bloody mask, but not taking off the tight material that held his messy blond hair in place and from getting anywhere in the soon to be crime scene. He whipped the back of his glove against his forehead, he was always sweating so badly afterwords. He didn't care about the still hot, sticky blood that got on his tanned forehead. Blue eyes scanned the cave, there were body parts and blood everywhere, it coated everything and pooled onto the ground in random dark puddles. Alfred slung the bloodied chainsaw over one of his shoulders, accustom to it so that he didn't stupidly cut himself with the action. A small grin spread across his face as he turned around, yes his work was done here. He walked out of the cave, placing the mask back on over his face, leaving the body, and the lantern shinning bright. He wondered how long it would take for somebody to find it. Well, at least he felt better. Hm... he was hungry, maybe after he got cleaned up he could go and get some McD's. They were the best. Or maybe make some bacon, oh bacon! That sounded so good! Yes, bacon it was then. He'd have McDonold's for lunch.
The light of a camera went off. Ivan looked over the scene he just got to, there was blood everywhere and body parts here and there. Lung there, part of what looked like the heart over there, torn intestine hanging there. Ivan raised his eyebrows, interesting. Well, it wasn't new, this slasher. Ivan still questioned if a chainsaw was technically part of a slasher's rang of weapons, but it was close enough that everybody was calling it a slasher. About sixteen victims already in the last two years. It was a huge thing that had gotten a lot of media, and on the FBI's top wanted list. The press always was trying to get information on the guy. Whoever it was was dubbed as the Vegas Sevens. All the victims had been people in Vegas, whether visiting or locals - though it was mostly the latter. Ivan went to the little white thing that gleamed when he showed his flashlight on them and went and picked them up. Yep, a pair of dice, one white, one red. Loaded so that they always came up sevens. Ivan put them in one of the evidence bags. Sevens were lucky, and he could only guess that was what the significance was until further proof gave way to a new theory.
Ivan didn't believe in luck. It wasn't luck that caused this bastard to be so hard to catch or so that nobody saw the suspect when they took the victims, nor was it the reason that Ivan, one of the FBI's best was called in. No. It was a toss up between skill and cleverness, and it really pissed Ivan off.
Ivan sighed, rubbing his eyes. He hadn't gotten much sleep since starting the case several months back and that showed no sign of changing anytime soon. Unless they miraculously found something new that would help, doubtful yes, but possible. All serial killers got cocky after awhile, or more relaxed, no matter what, and this one would be no different. Eventually they had to slip up. However, the trick was to catch them before they killed too many more people, not after.
It didn't help that the location that the victims were last seen in and the location of death were both random and usually very far from each other. Still, at least there was mostly a consistency of males, there was only one female to speak of as of yet who had been killed. All were usually over twenty at the very least, and quite a lot of them seemed to have a problem with alcohol, so that pointed towards possibly bars at least, and indeed they were a good place for somebody to find easy targets. However, there were so many bars in Las Vagas and they couldn't keep an eye on all of them successfully. There was also no connections with jobs, hobbies or a common person, and color of hair, skin and eyes varied dramatically. And sometimes they were younger or older. It truly was random and strange at times. But then, that was what made a serial killer. "Hey Boss." Ivan looked to his right curiously to see Toris, one of his team members who had just pulled him out of thought, he smiled a bit at the brunette.
"Hello Toris." Ivan greeted back, looking around, "So, did you find out about the ones who called it in?" He asked.
"O-oh, yes. A handful of teenagers, apparently some of them freaked out and ran off though. They said that they were just coming down to hang out." More like get high and have sex probably. The caves down here were known for that sort of stuff... As well as other more illegal things, or so Ivan had heard, but he didn't care, between ecstasy or acid and a serial killer, Ivan was more concerned about the killer in all honesty. It was hard to find caves in Las Vegas, so these were popular enough. Ivan nodded, stepping out of the cave that smelled terribly of rotting flesh that made him sick to his stomach. He would never get used to the smell, but he was glad he hadn't eaten recently.
He looked up on the main road, it would be hard to carry somebody down the sharply sloped terrain, but that didn't give to much. The kids where standing up on the top, where the police lights still showed and some reporters had found them, but they weren't allowed anywhere near the scene. Ivan skimmed the kids from a distance, just to be sure. He wouldn't put it past the bastard to pretend to find the body. However, none of them looked like they'd be able to swing a chainsaw let alone carry a full-grown man down the steep rocky path. Oh well, he hadn't honestly been expecting it to be some teenager anyway.
"Sir?" Eduard said, coming up to him, he had a camera around his neck for taking pictures of the crime scene, he was the best at it. But what caught Ivan's attention was that he held an evidence bottle in his hand.
"Yes?" He asked the blond curiously, turning and looking at the other, who held the small bottle up. Ivan looked at it before taking it and shining a light on it, it was dark out after all. It was a small vial and had a single strand of blond hair. Ivan blinked, the victim was brunette. Ivan looked up to the teens again. There was a female that was blond, but the others weren't, and her hair was much longer then this one. Still, "Well it may be somebody else." Ivan said, not expecting to get his hopes up considering the location, "But we can hope."
"Well, there was a rainstorm several days ago, if you'll recall." Ivan hummed thoughtfully, remembering the flash flood.
"I see." The caves would have flooded, and the body washed out, so the murder took place after the storm, and the hair would have been washed out too. Ivan smiled, looking at the small hair, it was possible, there were probably over a hundred blonds in Vegas of course, but they had evidence, finally, after so long, "Good. Find out the time of death as soon as you can." Ivan said, "Oh, and get Toris to ask that girl for a strand of her hair." Her hair was long sure, but he wasn't going to let that slide. If it wasn't hers then they were back to where they were before, but if it was... Well then, wouldn't that be something? Ivan put the evidence away safely. Toris was good with talking to people, he was charismatic and for some reason people were just intimidated by Ivan, so the taller usually left the talking up to others unless it had to do with interrogating. Eduard had left to probably go and talk to Toris and get back to what he was doing.
After several minutes of Ivan checking around and helping where he was needed, Toris finally came back with a strand of hair safely in a small container. Ivan laid it next to the other they had found in the cave, but the thickness and shade were completely off. Ivan smiled, feeling almost relieved and a touch happy, "Seems like we may just have something Toris." Ivan sighed.
"I really hope so." The shorter said, smiling as well though, "Also, the estimated time of death was three days ago."
Ivan sighed out at that, three days late to the crime scene. That was not good. "Thank you Toris."
"You should go home Ivan, you seem tired." Ivan blinked slowly, almost in surprise, and looked at Toris curiously, who looked a bit nervous, "Well it's just that, you have been working a lot on this case... So I mean... Yeah, all that's left here is to pack up the body, and that will take a while." Considering how spread out and torn up this one was, Ivan believed that.
"True, but we did just find something, it would seem silly to just leave."
"W-well, I could call you if we find anything, or text..." Ivan tilted his head, was Toris really that worried about him? Ivan smiled at the other, patting his head.
"Alright then." Ivan said pleasantly, not very many people worried about him. He wouldn't exactly just go and sleep, he was a little tired, he would admit that, but it was easily ignored. He didn't want to go really, but Toris was right in the fact that they would just be packing up the body, which would take probably several hours to get all of the parts cleaned up. Though he wanted to look at this first piece of evidence, he supposed that he would be able to look at it later, it wasn't going anywhere. And they would need to compare it to another so it was kind of useless at the moment. So much to get done and yet it seemed like the results would be useless somehow, "You are sure then?" Toris nodded, looking worried.
"Of course, I promise I'll text whatever we find out, if we find anything. You should go get some sleep." Ivan smiled, nodding, it was nice to have somebody worrying over him, as unnecessary as it was. It wasn't like he was going to sleep, but that was alright he supposed, especially if the other was so insisting - and for Toris, he was being very insisting. Maybe they wanted to handle it on their own or take some credit. That was alright, considering how much attention this case was getting, Ivan could do with a little less attention.
Ivan went up the slope, leaving the crime scene and the evidence behind him as he got into his car, sighing as he relaxed for a moment and then started it.
Ivan drank another shot of vodka, ignoring the noise around him in the bar. Of course he wouldn't just go home, he was tired, but he never could sleep very easily on a normal day and now he had more to think about then usual on the case. Like how to take it further. Hopefully the buzz of alcohol and loud music would help distract him until tomorrow when he went back to work at a more reasonable time. Placing the glass down, he sighed out a bit. Right before he was bumped into, which would be normal for most people in a crowded bar, but most people seemed to try and generally avoid him, even in places like this. He didn't know why, "Ack, sorry." Ivan looked up at the apology having to be yelled over the noise to see a blond scratching the back of his neck. Blond hair and blue eyes framed behind glasses, the other looked young, much too young to be in a bar. Ivan nodded in acceptance of the apology, looking back in front of him as the stranger went and tried getting the attention of the barkeeper. Ivan poured another shot of vodka before shooting it.
Wait... Ivan put the cup down and tried remembering every detail of the exchange. No, he was probably just being paranoid, but... Ivan reached into his back pocket. Yes, his wallet was missing. Why hadn't he worn his coat today? That would be physically impossible to pickpocket. Ivan glared over to the direction the culprit had gone. They hadn't gone towards the exit it seemed, which he hoped meant they were still here. Ah, there. The blond had happened to find a seat at the bar (wasn't he a lucky fellow?) and had Ivan's missing wallet open in his hands, looking a bit surprised. Well it did have his police ID in there. Good, most people gave back wallets that belonged to police officers, usually trying to make it subtle so that the victim wouldn't know it was missing, or try and return it for some 'reward'. Instead the blond smiled happily before looking through it and pulling out some of the cash that was in it. Let's see, drinking as a minor (not proven... yet) and theft of an officer. Yes, that could go a long way in court and be a very hefty fine.
Alfred, completely oblivious of Ivan watching, slipped the wallet into his back pocket before waving the bartender over as much as he could with so many people, of course he had to wait awhile before the bartender came, and showed him his fake ID when asked and then ordering just a shot of a popular whiskey for now, paying the bartender as he ordered, he hadn't been there long but he was more in the mood for dancing then drinking at the moment. Not that he wouldn't get a couple drinks as the night went on. When he finally got the drink, he drained the amber liquid, wishing he had some sort of chaser, but he did prefer the taste to other alcohols they served.
Turning around in his seat and hopping up, he forfeited his sear to somebody else as me moved towards the crowd on the dance floor. He hated coming here by himself because it was never as fun, but everybody had been busy apparently. Oh well, he would have as much fun as he could while he was here. Moving a little further into the crowd as much as he could without being squished to death by the grinding bodies, he got closer to the music sorse. He put his hands in his pockets, looking around a bit, everybody already had a dance partner it seemed... Or group. Still, first he listened to the music, wondering at the beat before he got into dancing. Before he had much time to think however, he felt some arms slip around his waist. Wow, never found anybody to dance with that quickly. Never, it just didn't work like that.
Still, he couldn't say he minded as he felt the body move close to him. He could tell that they were a dude, or a really, really manly chick. He'd rather have the guy honestly in this situation, but he wasn't exactly the straightest person in the world. Still, it wasn't a gay bar so it was a bit unusual. Well, beggars can't be choosers he supposed as he smiled a bit and grinded back against the person behind him playfully as they started moving. He didn't actually bottom much, but he supposed that it probably wouldn't get that serious, it was all for fun after all. Alfred felt the strong arms wrap around his waist instead of just holding his hips, feeling warm breath trickle down past his ear and onto his neck. The other was taller then him, he could tell that easy enough. Alfred put his hands on one of the arms as he felt one of them unwind from him as the other held him close. He didn't bother looking around to see who they were, he didn't want to, mostly afraid that they would be ugly.
The free arm trailed across his side and then down to his leg and tailing further behind. Alfred blushed, if they hadn't been taller he would have assumed Francis at this point, but the body was all wrong. He felt a hand slip into one of his back pockets... Oh wait, the wallet. There was a low chuckle in his air as his ass was groped, he jumped a bit, senses going a bit haywire at that, "You know I usually get ones name before I buy them a drink and dance with them." With that the person pulled the wallet out. Alfred blinked and looked up to see the person that he had robbed.
Alfred smiled and leaned his head back against the others shoulder and chest, putting his mouth next to the others ear. "Alfred." He had to say it loudly just for the other to hear even this close, he knew. And he was not going to say his full name, he wasn't an idiot, the guy was a cop, "And you're Ivan. We're acquainted." Though he had seen the full name, Ivan was simple to remember whereas he didn't know what the last name was, Russian probably, the taller sounded Russian. Usually he was able to get out of the bar before the person even noticed their wallet was missing, usually only staying long enough to not be suspicious then go to another bar close by, there were quite a few around after all. Alfred didn't move his head away, considering the other groped his ass, this wasn't as much of an invasion of personal space. Ivan hummed, leaning his head close to Alfred's neck, but not quite close enough to touch it yet.
"I should arrest you for stealing my wallet. And you look much to young to be drinking."
"I'm plenty old enough." Alfred said, "Besides, I could get you on sexual harassment." Ivan didn't say anything, "Come on." He said, coming up with an idea as he pulled away from the other, grabbing Ivan's hand and pulling away from the dance floor. Once they were far enough to hear each other at least a little better Ivan spoke.
"Where?"
"Get more drinks, this is a bar, right? And we're both here to have fun." Ivan shook his head as the blond looked back. This one was strange that was sure, maybe naive, but it wasn't so much the creepy kind, but the cute oblivious way. Well, he wouldn't mind so much.
