The morning was cold as Legoshi made his way to Louis' office, his mind still heavy with the events of the past few days. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were running out of time. Each disappearance felt like a new piece of a puzzle that, no matter how hard they tried, wouldn't quite fit together. When he arrived at Louis' office, the deer was already there, deep in thought, his posture rigid as usual. But there was a strange air of concern about him that made Legoshi uneasy.

"Legoshi, you're early," Louis said, his voice a bit more strained than usual. He waved the wolf in and motioned to the chairs around the table.

Legoshi sat down, but before he could speak, the door swung open, and a familiar figure entered, his massive frame filling the doorway.

"Gohin," Legoshi said, his ears flicking in recognition.

The Panda stood there with a weariness in his eyes that made him seem even older than his years. He was holding a file in his hand, his expression grim.

"I hope I'm not interrupting," Gohin said, his deep voice tinged with a hint of urgency.

"Not at all," Louis replied, his tone more curt than usual. "We were just getting started."

Gohin stepped forward and placed the file on the table, the thick manila folder landing with a soft thud. Legoshi leaned forward, instinctively sensing that this wasn't just another lead—it was something important.

Gohin's eyes met Legoshi's, and for a moment, the room was silent. Then the lion spoke, his voice low and serious.

"I've been working with the police on this investigation," Gohin began. "And there's something you all need to know. There's a detail that's been kept from the public. Something the authorities are trying to suppress."

Legoshi's ears perked up, his gaze never leaving Gohin's. Louis, too, sat up straighter, his eyes narrowing in concern.

"Something they're trying to suppress?" Legoshi asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Gohin nodded slowly. "Each time a victim goes missing, there's one thing left behind. Something strange. A random organ—never the same one twice. It's always found near the scene, sometimes in plain sight, sometimes hidden, but always with... symbols etched into it."

"Symbols?" Louis echoed, a frown tugging at the edges of his mouth.

"Yes," Gohin confirmed. "They look like they've been carved, but not with any traditional tool. They're intricate, almost ritualistic. It's as if the organs are being placed there deliberately. But why? That's what we don't know."

Legoshi's mind raced. A random organ. Symbols. None of it made sense. Why would anyone do this? And what did the symbols mean?

"I've had my people run tests on the organs," Gohin continued, his tone tense. "They're all from the victims, but they show signs of having been... removed in a way that doesn't match any known surgical procedure. It's too clean, too precise."

The wolf's stomach churned at the thought. Removed with precision... but for what purpose? Why leave them at the scenes, and why carve symbols into them?

"Is it a message?" Legoshi asked quietly, more to himself than anyone else. "A warning?"

Louis leaned forward, his voice sharp. "Could these symbols be some kind of ritual?"

Gohin gave a slow nod. "That's what I'm starting to believe. I think we might be dealing with something... old...very old. Something that's been buried in the city's history. But what I need from you two is to help me make the connections. Find the pattern, because right now, there's nothing concrete. Just a trail of disappearances, a handful of cryptic clues, and those damn organs."

The weight of Gohin's words settled over them like a heavy fog. For a moment, the room fell silent as they processed the new information. A pattern, hidden in plain sight, could be the key to unlocking this mystery.

"We need to go over every case," Legoshi said suddenly, his mind already moving at full speed. "Every disappearance. We need to track where these organs have appeared and compare the symbols. There has to be a pattern we're missing."

Louis nodded, his jaw tightening. "We'll start digging through the reports."

Gohin looked at them both, his expression filled with determination. "I've already asked my contacts to gather any information they can about similar cases in other cities. But this is bigger than we thought. Whoever is behind this, they're covering their tracks well."

Legoshi stood up, his gaze fixed on the table as his thoughts spun in every direction. "Then we need to dig deeper. The more we know, the closer we get to understanding who's behind this. And why they're doing it."

Louis met his eyes with an intensity that mirrored his own. "We will find out. But we have to be careful. Whoever is behind this isn't just taking animals. They're sending a message."

Gohin nodded, his large paws clasped together. "That's why we have to stay ahead of them. If we don't, we'll be the ones who vanish next."

The three of them stood in quiet agreement, each of their minds spinning with the new information. The mystery had just deepened, and the pieces of the puzzle were beginning to fall into place. But the more they uncovered, the more dangerous this investigation became.

As Legoshi stepped out of the office, his mind was set on one thing: finding the missing pieces of this deadly game before it was too late.

...

The streets of the city were a blur as Louis walked, his thoughts racing as he tried to process the conversation that had just occurred.

It had been a week since the discovery of the organs, and the search for answers had yielded little in the way of new information. Each day brought a fresh wave of panic and despair as the city was gripped by fear and uncertainty. Checking the mail for that morning revealed a letter, its edges crinkled and worn as if it had been through several hands before finally reaching him. He didn't need to look at the sender's name to know who it was. He'd gotten one before, after the first Devouring at Cherryton.

Inside was a single sheet of paper, the handwriting sharp and hurried, almost frantic. The ink bled in places, and the words seemed to tumble over each other in a race to be read.

Legoshi,

If you're reading this, then it might be too late. I know what you're thinking—what I've done, how I've behaved. I'm not asking for your forgiveness. I'm not even sure I deserve it. But there's something you need to know.

I know Pina was taken. They took him, Legoshi. And I don't think you or anyone else will be able to stop them. Not in time.

I know, because I've seen the pattern. I've seen the eyes in the night, watching us all. It's not a game. It's not a coincidence. There's a reason we were all drawn into this. And we are all prey. I can feel it in the air, thick like a storm before it breaks. You think you've seen fear, but trust me, it's only the beginning.

I wish I could say more. I wish I could help you. But the truth is, I'm already marked. They've chosen me, just like they chose Pina. You can't outrun this. None of us can.

I don't know how much time I have left, but I can tell you this: don't trust anyone. The ones behind this—whatever this is—are closer than you think.

Take care, Legoshi.

Riz

Legoshi stood frozen, the letter trembling in his hands. His mind reeled, the cryptic message swirling around him like a storm cloud. Riz knew. He knew about Pina.

And now, according to Riz, he was the next target.

But what did he mean by don't trust anyone? What was Riz trying to warn him about?

Legoshi's pulse quickened, a cold chill settling in his chest. The fear in Riz's words, the frantic urgency—it was as if the brear was speaking from the edge of some abyss.

Legoshi glanced out the window at the sprawling city below, the busy streets still teeming with life. Yet, in his heart, a deep sense of isolation began to spread. It was as though the city itself was conspiring against him, the disappearances and the strange symbols.

Whoever was behind this, they were watching. And they weren't finished yet.

With a sharp inhale, Legoshi folded the letter and tucked it into his jacket pocket. He needed to act. There was no time to waste.

The clock was ticking.

He needed answers and Riz, as addled as his mind might hold the key.