SHOT IN THE DARK
Chapter Two
Rain poured from the oppressively darkening sky, and dripped and slipped off Lawson's windshield wipers as he skidded around corners in his haste. Beside him, the Commissioner stroked his mustache nervously, muttering every now and again while glancing out the window. Hilda was curled up in the back, hands deep within her coat pockets.
She was worried. Constantly she reminded herself that they were on their way to catch the greatest serial killer of the century. There would be accolade, and there would be the satisfaction of knowing the world would be a safer place now the fiend was behind bars. But still, she worried.
It wasn't because the Jigsaw Killer, whose real identity was apparently Keelan Makepeace, could get away; backup was on the way, and the castle would be surrounded. It wasn't because there was a possibility any of them would get hurt. They were all trained officers, and could deal properly with any situations that might arise.
To be honest with herself, she couldn't even name the fear that heightened with every minute. All Hilda knew was that the same fear was affecting her companions as well. Commissioner's nervous twitching spoke to that, as did Lawson's constant staccato tapping on the steering wheel. Additionally, a part of her suspected the fear had something to do with the fact that Alfendi had gone on ahead.
Hilda tried to reassure herself by checking first her make-up, and then her gun. Oddly, these usual routines did not bring the comfort they usually, so she tried staring out the window at the passing scenery. But Lawson drove too fast for her to see anything, and the gloom of night was deepening by the second. Idly she wondered how Lawson knew the way to Forbodium Castle, but decided he had probably received instructions from someone earlier.
A minute or so later, Lawson abruptly took a sharp turn down a tiny, bumpy country lane. "We're nearly there," he muttered, slowing down a bit as they jolted over ruts. Forbodium Castle loomed into sight, massive, black, and crumbling. With a jerk of the steering wheel and a slam on the brakes, Lawson ground to a halt in the muddy driveway, right next to Alfendi's abandoned car, which stood silent and empty, and driver's door ajar.
Lawson, Hilda, and Commissioner scrambled out of their car, and ran up the cracked marble steps as quickly they could, partially to avoid getting wet from the pouring rain, but mostly because that unnamable panic was growing greater by the minute. After Lawson pushed open the great wooden doors, they dashed inside, and were swallowed by the darkness of Forbodium Castle.
Darkness had never bothered Alfendi, for it was in the shadows that lay the secrets he so loved to discover. Now, facing darkness itself, Alfendi was nearly ecstatic. He stood on top of the West Tower of Forbodium Castle, wind thrumming in his ears, rain pooling at his feet, and his gun pointed at Keelan Makepeace. Never had he felt so alive.
"You wouldn't shoot me," muttered the Jigsaw killer in a harsh grating voice, his own gun trained on Alfendi. Unlike Alfendi, who stood tall and straight, the serial killer was hunched over, head bent, eyes in shadow.
"Oh really?" Alfendi sneered, unwavering. "You think I would hesitate to take out the murderer of so many? Do you think me WEAK?!"
The Jigsaw Killer only smirked faintly, one side of his long mouth twitching upwards. "I think you naïve. Do you really imagine all police officers are good guys? Do you really think I'm the one who committed all those crimes?"
"I—what?" Alfendi hesitated for only a moment, his gun dipping slightly. Then a loud noise rang throughout his ears, and he stumbled, feet slipping in the puddles. Downwards he fell, slowly, as the world tilted and grew hazy.
A heavy weight settled on his chest as he lay, sprawled, on the wet ground. Water seeped into him, and blood poured, mingling with the rainwater. Then the world burned up in a blaze of pain, leaving Alfendi to wonder dimly how he could go out in flames while the storm raged above him.
A/N: Thank you, BrandishNo.2P, for your review, and I do hope you don't cut off my tongue. I'd hate to be an Avox. And thanks to my readers; remember, reviews/follows/favorites give me great joy. Pip-pip!