Signs of Murder

Chapter 8

The bloodied letters on the wall burned into Kaito's mind. His own name.

A taunt. A declaration. The killer wasn't just ahead of them anymore—they were looking straight at him.

Reina swallowed hard. "They knew we'd come here. They wanted us to see this."

Kaito clenched his fists. The crime scenes had always been meticulous—clean kills, precise messages. But this one felt different.

"Check the place," he said, his voice sharp. "See if they left anything behind."

Reina nodded and started searching through the wreckage. Kaito crouched beside Takahara's lifeless body, scanning the room for anything the killer wanted them to find.

And then he saw it.

Tucked under Takahara's limp hand—a small black envelope.

Kaito carefully pulled it free, his pulse pounding as he tore it open. Inside was a single piece of paper, handwritten in neat, deliberate strokes.

"You're getting closer, Detective. But the real game is just beginning.

You see, I don't just kill. I correct mistakes.

Takahara was mistake number six.

And you, Kaito Mori, are mistake number seven."

Kaito's blood turned ice cold.

Reina read over his shoulder, her breath hitching. "They're coming for you."

Kaito's mind raced. This wasn't just about stopping the killer anymore—he was their next target.

A ringing sound shattered the silence.

Kaito's phone.

Unknown Number.

He exchanged a look with Reina before answering. "…Who is this?"

A soft chuckle on the other end. Calm. Controlled.

"Good evening, Detective Mori. It's nice to finally speak with you."

Kaito's grip on the phone tightened. "Who the hell are you?"

The voice remained eerily composed. "I am the one who decides who lives and who dies. And right now, Detective… your time is running out."

Click.

The call ended.

Reina's face was pale. "They're playing with you."

Kaito exhaled slowly, controlling the rage boiling inside him.

"No." His eyes burned with determination. "They think they're in control."

He tucked the note into his pocket, standing tall.

"But they just made their first mistake."

To Be Continued...