Chapter 1
-Two years later
A harsh scream broke through the silence, and the shrill that was sent down the backs of those who heard it, would haunt them for nights on end. As she faced her fate, the woman looked up into the eyes of her tormentor. As she watched in terror, she saw the cold, black, emotionless eyes drill into her. The one who stood over her, drained of all essence of who he was, reach and drew his gun.
Slowly, he pointed the gun at her. In an instant, two flashes went off. Screaming, the woman crumpled onto the ground. Blood sprayed on her, as the assailant grunted in pain. Clutching his bloodying wrist, he dropped the gun which had fired when he had been shot. He looked in the direction of where the shot came from, and saw the two cops running up to him.
In a rush of thoughts, the man judged the height of where he was on the plaza roof top. Calculating the damage it would cause him, he jumped over the banister and down the three floors to the street below. With a jarring sensation through his legs, he ran off, leaving nothing but an occasional drop of blood.
* * *
“Firstly, what’s your name?” inquired Inspector Davis, handing a paper cup, filled with coffee, to the woman and taking a seat next to his trainee, Junior Inspector Daniels. She was shakily shocked sitting across the table, in front of the inspector. Stuttering, she said,
“Marie Sharbolt.”
“Okay Marie, I need you to tell me what happened, and why that kid was holding a gun to your head?”
“Well,” Marie started, while clutching the coffee, “I-”
“Davis!” called another cop from the balcony. “Boss wants you.”
“Sorry miss. Please tell Daniels what happened.” Davis apologised while turning to run up the stairs. Inspector Matthew Davis knocked on the glass door of his boss’s office, and went in.
“So what happened? Why was this man trying to kill you?” Jr. Inspector Daniels asked Marie calm compassionately. All Daniels received in reply was a mocking shake of the head, while Marie took another sip from her coffee. As if it was any ordinary day, Marie said,
“I’m going to the bathroom,” got up, and walked away.
Returning down the stairs, Davis saw Daniels sitting alone.
“Where the hell is she?” Davis exasperatedly asked his trainee.
“She just went to the bathroom boss. You all right? What did the boss tell you?” Marie returned, looking clam and collected, as if she had just come from a visit with a friend, instead of how most people are after being held at gunpoint by mysterious lunatic.
“You may go.” Davis said to Marie.
“What!” Daniels stuttered, not sure if he had missed a big revelation.
“Thank you, Inspector Davis.” replied Marie, and left.
Confused and demoralised, after being rejected what would have been his first big case, Jr. Inspector Daniels queried his superior.
“Why did you let her go? We have a psychotic man loose on the streets looking to kill this woman. And you jest let her go, as if there she was just visiting!”
“There was nothing I could do.” Davis said keeping clam, waiting for Daniels to finish his rant. After receiving nothing but an unbelieving stare, Davis continued. “Your new, and most people who are a lot more senior to you, and even to me, don’t know what I’m about to tell you.”
“And what’s that.”
“Have you ever heard of the Master Middle Minor?”
.