Chapter 1: A Shocking Discovery

A.N. This story contains themes some might find disturbing. Reader discretion is strongly advised.

One bright and sunny morning in Horseland, young Bailey Handler and his friends Sarah Whitney, Molly Washington, Alma Rodriguez, Nani Cloud, and twins Chloe and Zoey Stilton were riding their horses through the woods surrounding the place.

"It's a beautiful day to go riding." Bailey sighed happily, smiling.

"I couldn't agree more." agreed Sarah, smiling herself.

Just then, Bailey's horse, Aztec, neighed loudly and slightly reared.

"Whoa, Aztec, whoa!" Bailey commanded as he calmed down his stead, patting the animal's neck.

"What's wrong with Aztec?" Molly asked.

"I don't know." replied Bailey. "He just started acting weird."

Just then, Sarah spotted something in the distance.

"I think I know what's going on." she informed. "There's something up ahead."

The others took notice of this as well. It looked out of place.

"What could it be?" Chloe wondered out loud.

"Let's go check it out." suggested Bailey.

With that, the kids disembarked from their horses and went over to see what had come into their view. When they got closer, they discovered it was a pile of leaves.

"Oh, it's just a worthless pile of leaves." Chloe complained, frowning in disgust.

However, it was then that Alma saw a speck of blue inbetween the leaves.

"There's something underneath." she noticed.

Alma then removed the leaves covering the unknown object, and it turned out to be a blue tarp that was wrapped around something large.

"Oh my goodness!" Sarah exclaimed. "What's that?"

"There's only one way to find out." Bailey concluded. "Help me undo the wrapping."

With that, they carefully undid the wrapping, and what they uncovered petrified them. There, right in front of them, was a human male body. The skin tone and hair color of the body made it clear that it was of someone from South Asia. The ones who were shocked the most where Chloe and Zoey.

"It can't be him!" cried Chloe.

"But it is!" confirmed Zoey.

"You know this guy?" Bailey asked, looking alarmed.

"Yes." answerd Zoey. "That's Amar."

"Amar Achaval." continued Chloe. "He was our father's personal assistant."

"Wow." exclaimed Sarah.

"I'll go get Will." proposed Bailey. "You guys stay here."

"Don't worry, Bailey." Nani promised. "We're not going anywhere."

Bailey got back on Aztec and thundered back to the ranch, where his cousin, Will Taggert, was watching Forensic Files on TV while having a hot bowl of cream of asparagus soup for his lunch when Bailey burst in, looking rather alarmed.

"Will, come quick!" Bailey pleaded.

"What's wrong, buz?" Will questioned as he paused his program.

"We found a body in the woods!" Bailey informed.

Will's eyes and mouth shot wide open at this news.

"Oh my God!" he cried out loud. "I'll call the police."

With that, Will made the necessary call, and sure enough, the local police arrived, and the two boys, on their horses, led them to the scene. With the police was homicide detective Andrew Washington, who just so happened to be Molly's uncle.

"It's good to see you again, Uncle Andy." Molly greeted. "I just wish it was on more peaceful terms."

"Likewise, Mol." agreed Andrew.

Andrew then turned to one of the police officers on the scene.

"So, what've we got?" Andrew asked the officer.

"The victim is a young South Asian male." the officer replied. "Witnesses identified him as one Amar Achaval. The cause of death is yet to be determined."

But then, another officer approached with a plastic evidence bag. Inside was a shell casing, specifically one from a .357 Magnum bullet.

"Found this near a tree." the second officer reported. "It's likely the victim was shot to death."

"Good job, Hargeaves." the first officer praised.

"Thank you, sir." Hargreaves thanked.

Soon enough, the coroner arrived to haul the body away for examination, and as both parties left the scene, the kids all looked at one another.

"I can't believe it." Sarah noted. "A murder at Horseland!"

"This is really shocking." added Nani.

"Indeed it is." agreed Will. "Well, it's getting late, so I think it's time we all headed home."

"You're right, cuz." Bailey said.

And with that, the friends all parted ways, and as they all went to bed, all of them were filled with shock over what had jut transpired.

End Of Chapter 1