Chapter Two: Blue Eyes

When Duo and Relena got home, they noticed several police cars patrolling the area. "Hmmm, I wonder what's up," Duo commented as yet another car drove past them. "Hey, isn't that your neighbor's house that they're driving to, Lena?"

Glancing at the house Duo was pointing to, Relena said, "You're right, it is. Gosh, I hope everything is okay..."

Both teenagers picked their way through the crowd, where they found Relena's sister-in-law, Lucrezia Noin, being interviewed by one of the police officers. Before they could say anything, however, Relena heard her name being yelled out. Turning around, Relena found herself wrapped up in a strong embrace and heard her name being murmured over and over again in relief.

"Millardo, you're *oof* crushing me!!"

"Sorry Lena, it's just that we were all so worried when you didn't show up before dark."

"You didn't have to call out the military, though! Damn! It's no wonder I don't have a line of suitors chasing after me." Sighing softly to herself, Relena gently extricated herself from out of her brother's confining embrace and stared at her brother in dismay. "Please don't tell me you didn't notify the police about my so-called disappearance. Please tell me I'm right and that this isn't another one of your acts of extreme overprotectiveness?"

Suddenly, a small Chinese man with hair slicked back into a short ponytail approached the group. Dressed simply in loose-fitting khakis and a navy blue polo shirt, he said in a flat voice, "Pardon me sir, but I was wondering if you could spare me a moment of your time? I have a few questions that I'd like to ask you about the girl."

Millardo turned around to face him, resignation apparent in his posture and expression. "All right then. If you'd like to join me over there?" he said, pointing towards a darkened corner, too far away for anything to be overheard, especially by Relena and Duo.

"I wonder what that was all about," Duo commented as he watched the two men walk away.

"I don't know, but whatever it is, it must be really serious because I've never seen my brother so solemn with anything that doesn't deal with mine or Noin's safety. And who's this girl that they're discussing? You don't suppose another one showed up, do you?"

"I think that maybe-"

Before Duo could finish answering, a young blond-haired man interrupted them, "Um, excuse me, but are you Relena Peacecraft?" At her nod, he said, "Great. Some lady asked me to get you for her. I think her name was Lucinda."

"Lucinda? I don't know of any...Oh! You must mean Lucrezia! Can you tell me where she is? Maybe she can fill us in on what's happening." Following the young man, Relena and Duo stared in shock as they saw the normally calm and steadfast Lucrezia Noin looking very distraught and on the verge of tears. Running up to her, Relena hugged her tightly, lending support to the obviously exhausted woman. "What happened Noin?! Did anything happen to you or Millardo? Why are the police here? Someone fill me, PLEASE!!"

After a short while, Noin shakily stood up and ran her fingers through her hair in a feeble attempt to regain her composure. Clearing her throat, she said, "Lena, thank God you're home. Do you remember Adriana Oki, our next-door neighbor's daughter that went missing a couple weeks ago? Well, her body washed up along the shores and the police found it today."

"Oh my gosh, that's terrible!" Relena said, gasping in shock, "How are Mr. and Mrs. Oki taking it?"

"Well, they seem to be holding up but it's tough. I think they're going to stay with a couple of friends of theirs for a while...you know, to get away from all this..."

As Noin's voice trailed off, Relena took Duo aside, glancing behind her worriedly. "I know that murder is always unpleasant, but as a doctor, I'd think that Noin was used to death."

"It isn't that Duo, it's just that Adriana was one of Noin's close friends. When she went missing, Noin went-"

Suddenly, they heard a loud crash and a string of curses that would make sailors blush. "GOD! WHY IS THIS F***ING HAPPENING?! WHY CAN'T ANY OF YOU DO ANYTHING TO CATCH THIS...THIS...MONSTER?! YOU'RE SO DAMN INCOMPETENT! WHAT ARE WE PAYING YOU FOR IF YOU CAN'T EVEN CATCH THE BASTARD RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THESE DEATHS?!" The outburst was so unexpected, both teenagers turned around to find Noin working herself up into a fevered frenzy. Before they could do anything though, Millardo ran towards her and held her quivering body tight, in hopes of absorbing her pain and torment.

"Shhh, it's okay, sweetie. Everything's going to be okay. The police have hired a special investigator who's going to make the bastard pay for his crimes. So, calm down, okay?" Noin buried her head into her husband's shoulder and nodded sadly, remembering the happiness that used to shine in her friend's bright blue eyes...

***

Someplace far away...

"P-p-please, sir, I'll give you anything you want, just let me go. Please?"

The killer looked down at the frightened figure cowering in the corner and laughed gently. "Oh no, Relena, not just yet. You believe in God, right? You being such a pure, religious girl..." As his voice became softer, he whispered menacingly, "Well, then, you'd best begin confessing your sins because when I'm done with you, you'll see St. Peter and the Pearly Gates behind him, staring down at your pretty little face..."

Whimpers of fear gradually rose to agonizing screams of torment so painful, it hurt the dead to hear them. Before long, the shrieks escalated to a huge crescendo, drowning out anything and everything. Then, all was unearthly still and the smell of death permeated the air. And inside the cave, the killer smiled in satisfaction as he watched the girl's blood seep into her silky blond hair...