Evil Within

CHAPTER 25

The dim glow of a single bulb flickered erratically, casting shadows across the barren, cold room. Mira groaned softly as her consciousness stirred, her eyelids heavy and her mind sluggish. As her vision cleared, the realization of where she was hit her like a thunderbolt.

Her breath quickened, and her chest heaved as she looked around. Bare walls, scattered tools, and a damp, musty smell surrounded her. Panic surged through her veins as fragmented memories began to return—the quiet alley, the sudden grip of an unseen hand, and those eyes. Cold, calculating, and merciless.

She gasped loudly, her cry echoing through the room. Her body jolted forward, only to be yanked back by the cold, unyielding chains binding her wrists and ankles to the chair. The metal links bit into her skin as she struggled, each movement producing a harsh rattle that reverberated in the confined space.

“No, no, no!” she whimpered, tugging at the chains with all her might. Her wrists burned from the friction, but nothing gave way. The chair didn’t budge. The chains didn’t loosen.

Her gaze dropped to her torn clothes, her trembling fingers grazing the bruises and faint cuts on her arms and legs. The marks told a story she couldn’t remember, one that made her stomach churn.

A suffocating silence enveloped the room, broken only by her own labored breathing. For a moment, it felt like she was alone, as though the monster who had brought her here had vanished.

But then, she heard it—a faint shuffling sound from beyond the heavy door. Mira froze, her pulse hammering in her ears. The noise grew louder, closer, until the door burst open with a deafening crash.

A figure loomed in the doorway, tall and ominous, their face obscured by a mask that reflected the dim light in haunting gleams. The mask was featureless, save for a pair of hollow eyeholes that seemed to swallow the light, giving the impression of an empty, soulless gaze.

Mira screamed, the sound tearing from her throat with a raw desperation. Her voice echoed through the room, a futile plea for help in a place where none would come.

The figure stepped forward, each movement deliberate, predatory. They said nothing, their silence more terrifying than any words could have been.

“Please,” Mira sobbed, her voice breaking. “Please, let me go. I won’t tell anyone. I swear—”

Her words choked off as the figure stopped a mere foot away from her, their masked face tilting slightly, as if studying her.

Tears streamed down Mira’s face as she looked up at them, her vision blurring. “Why are you doing this? What do you want from me?”

The figure remained motionless, their head c****d in eerie silence. Then, slowly, they raised a gloved hand, producing a knife that gleamed ominously under the flickering bulb.

Mira’s heart nearly stopped. “No! No, please!” she screamed, her voice hoarse and frantic as she thrashed against the chains, the chair clattering against the floor.

The figure didn’t move closer. Instead, they dragged the blade across the armrest of the chair, the sharp edge creating a piercing screech that sent shivers down Mira’s spine. It was a sound of control, of power—a reminder of who held it.

Mira’s sobs turned into hiccuping breaths, her strength waning. She slumped in the chair, her body trembling uncontrollably.

The masked figure leaned down, close enough that Mira could feel their cold breath against her cheek. In a low, distorted voice that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once, they whispered, “You’re not ready to leave yet.”

With that, they stood upright and exited the room, slamming the door shut behind them.

Mira was left in the dim light once more, her sobs echoing through the empty, desolate space. She didn’t know how long she had left or if she’d ever see the outside world again. All she knew was that she was trapped in a nightmare with a monster who thrived on fear.

The dull murmur of voices in the station was interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps. Two policemen approached Sophia Green’s desk, their faces grim as they handed over the latest patrol reports.

Sophia flipped through the pages, her eyes scanning for anything, any small detail that might provide a lead. The weight of the situation bore down on her as she read the words that confirmed her worst fears—nothing. No body, no witnesses, no suspicious activity.

Her grip tightened on the papers as she set them down with a frustrated sigh. She pressed her fingers against her temples, willing herself to think. The fourth abduction in a series of unsolved cases, and still, they were chasing shadows.

“This isn’t good,” Sophia muttered to herself, her voice tinged with exhaustion.

Agent Andrew James appeared at her side, his expression equally grim. “Nothing from the patrols?”

She shook her head. “Not a damn thing. It’s like he’s mocking us, staying one step ahead every time.”

Andrew leaned against the edge of her desk, his arms crossed. “The media’s already swarming outside. They’re going to rip us apart for this.”

Sophia’s jaw tightened. The press and public were relentless, demanding answers she didn’t have. And now, with another young woman missing, the scrutiny had reached a boiling point.

Before she could respond, the station doors opened, and the noise from the media outside grew louder. Flashes of cameras lit up the evening as Chief Donovan stepped out to address the growing crowd.

Through the glass, Sophia could see him raise his hand to silence the reporters, his face stern but weary. The chief was a seasoned officer, known for his no-nonsense demeanor, but even he looked drained under the pressure of the case.

“Chief Donovan!” a reporter shouted. “Any updates on the Mira Williams case?”

“What are the police doing to ensure public safety?” another demanded.

“Is it true this is connected to the other abductions?”

The questions came rapid-fire, but Donovan maintained his composure. “At this time, we can confirm that Mira Williams is still missing, and our officers are working around the clock to locate her. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately. As for connections to other cases, we are exploring all possibilities.”

It was a carefully worded response, offering just enough to placate the crowd without revealing how little progress had been made.

Inside the station, Sophia’s stomach churned as she watched the scene unfold. She knew the chief’s carefully measured words masked his frustration—frustration with the killer, the case, and perhaps even her.

As Donovan reentered the station, the tension in the room thickened. His eyes swept over the agents, finally landing on Sophia.

“Agent Green,” he said, his tone sharp but not unkind.

Sophia stood immediately, her hands clasped in front of her. “Chief.”

He motioned for her to follow him into his office, closing the door behind them. The room was quiet, save for the faint hum of traffic outside.

Donovan leaned against his desk, his arms crossed. “Sophia, this is the fourth abduction. The media’s breathing down my neck, the public’s terrified, and we’re still grasping at straws. What’s going on?”

Sophia looked down for a moment, collecting her thoughts before meeting his gaze. “I know how this looks, Chief, and I won’t make excuses. We’ve been doing everything we can—tracking leads, following patterns—but this guy… he’s smart. He knows how to cover his tracks.”

Donovan studied her, his expression unreadable. “Smart isn’t invincible. You’re one of my best agents, Sophia. If anyone can catch him, it’s you. But time’s running out, and every second we lose could cost another life.”

Sophia’s chest tightened at his words. “I understand, sir. I take full responsibility for the delay, but I promise you, we’re closing in. I won’t let him slip through our fingers.”

The chief nodded slowly, his voice softening. “I trust you, but you need to deliver. This department can’t take another failure. Neither can the people counting on us.”

“I won’t let you down,” Sophia assured him, her voice firm despite the doubt gnawing at her.

As she left the office, the weight of his expectations settled on her shoulders. The stakes had never been higher, and failure was not an option. She returned to her desk, her mind racing with possibilities.

Somewhere out there, Mira Williams was waiting for someone to save her. Sophia vowed she wouldn’t let her down.