Chapter 4

Jackson and Persephone could hear the alarm. The sound pierced the air. Jackson got up quickly to investigate.

"Stay here." He told her.

He ran down the stairs and rushed past Seraph.

"Where are you going?" He asked the Agent.

The alarm was still sounding loudly.

"Jackson, are you crazy?" Seraph called after him.

Jackson was going to get to the bottom of this disturbance.

Meanwhile, Rama was running for his life with his gun at his side. He reached the playground where it all began. There was silence. And the night was clear. The swings on the swing set eerily swung back and forth by themselves. Maybe it was the wind but Rama also noticed that the carousel was slowly spinning around by itself. He could feel a cold wind chilling him to the bone as an ominous fog rolled in. He could hear footsteps behind him and sword slowly being removed from it's sheath. He turned around and was face to face with the most terrifying vision.

"Oh God!" Was all Rama could say.

Standing before was a headless figure in a black Armani suit with what looked like a Japanese kitana in it's right hand. The figure swung at him the kitana and Rama began to run like hell. But it was no use, he was cornered and had no choice but the shoot. He fired his gun, but like a trained Agent program, the figure dodged every shot. It got closer and raised it's sword nearly missing Rama.

Unfortunately Rama tripped and fell to the ground, he was out of ammo and the figure was getting closer. He tried to get up but when he tried to stand he winced in pain. Rama closed his eyes and the last thing he thought about was his daughter, Sati and his wife Charra. His whole life flashed before his eyes and then with one swipe it was all over as fresh blood stained the bricks and his head flew off of his neck. The Headless Agent now had a new trophy as it picked up Rama's head and disappeared into the night.

The very next morning Jackson met with Agents Brown and Johnson. He knew something was up and it wasn't good. He met them at Brown's office. He entered the office and shut the door behind him.

"Please have a seat." Johnson said.

Jackson seated himself.

"Well I was looking on the net last night and to get a little history on the victims." He said as he pulled out a manila envelope from his breast pocket.

He took out the contents and spread them out for his fellow Agents to see. Among the contents were photos of the victims before they were murdered. He pointed to a pointed to a picture of a blonde woman in red.

"Christa Henry, a local lounger singer. He body was found but her head wasn't. She was the first"

And then he pointed to the next picture of an older Asian man who looked like he was in his late 50's with glasses and an apron.

"Will Choi, the second victim found in his locksmith shop. Once again his head was removed and never found."

Jackson produced the last photograph of a young man in what appeared to be his late teens.

"And finally we have a hacker who goes by the name of Kid. He had the misfortune of meeting the killer when he was visiting his family here in the matrix. From what the report says, from an eye witness account in the real world, that when he was beheaded here, his head fell off there too." Jackson said.

"We are dealing with one fucked up program here." Johnson said.

"No shit." Brown answered.

"Did you get any of the locals to talk?" Johnson asked.

"Well from what I gather gentlemen, the fellow programs and humans seem to be quite superstitious and from what I understand, they believe that an Agent program with no head is doing this."

His fellow Agents looked a little perplexed at what Jackson had told them.

"You mean to tell us they believe that an Agent like ourselves..." Johnson began to speak.

"With no head is doing this?" Brown finished.

"Yes, they are saying it's a copy of Smith seeking revenge." Jackson told them.

"Preposterous." Johnson said with a snort.

"I concur." Brown said.

"Well, I can't change their minds, they are dead set on believing that it is a ghost who is committing these murders. Unfortunately last night, there has been a fourth victim." Jackson explained.

"Who?" Brown inquired.

"Rama Kandra. He was found at the original site where it all began with Neo. His head was never found. His body was found early this morning."

"Have you spoken with Agent St. James about this?" Brown asked.

"Yes, she is making the same assumptions as the others who live in that neighborhood."

"Ah St. James, cute but weird." Johnson mused.

"Weird?" Jackson raised an eyebrow.

"Let's just say her nickname was Spooky." Brown said.

"Spooky?" Jackson cocked an eyebrow.

"Uh never mind Jackson. Anyway she's been watching this case closely. We would suggest you work with her on this one."

"Okay."

He was excused by his fellow agents and made his way back to the neighborhood. Agent St. James was waiting for him at the foot of the steps. She was casually smoking a cigarette.

"That's a nasty habit you know." Jackson told her.

"I know, I just wanted to see what humans get out of smoking. So far it seems pleasurable among other things." She said as she took another drag. Her crimson lips wrapped around the butt as she inhaled.

"And besides, I'm not human. So I'm not really worried about the disease of cancer anyway." She said.

Jackson just stood there in silence.

"But if it bothers you that bad, I'll put it out."

She dropped her smoke on the ground and squashed it with her pump.

"So you heard the found Mr. Kandra's body this morning." St. James said.

"Yes."

Jackson noticed that around her neck was a small pentagram.

"What is that you're wearing around your neck, if you don't mind my asking?" Jackson inquired.

"My talisman actually Agent Jackson. It for protection actually." She explained.

Now Jackson knew why the other Agents nicknamed her Spooky.