THE PRESENT
The girl walked slowly and steadily, towards the grave in a cemetery,
The grave says-
IN LOVING MEMORY
GABRIELLA TEMPLETON
2002-2025
She said sadly,
Girl- I've gained revenge for you, but it is time for me to go.
I might never see you again.
2 MONTHS AGO.
Natalie was a 19 year old girl who was famously known in her town, Baysides. She could solve mysteries easily, and her smie could light up her house. She was known as "Young Detective".
Natalie has brown, straight hair with blunt bangs. She wears a pink overcoat with a white crop top without sleeves and a blue skirt.
Her bestfriend, Janice always followed what Natalie told her. She was the definition of a loyal friend.
Natalie recieved a call.
Natalie- Hey! What tea did you get toda-
Janice was screaming, and was running towards Natalie.
Janice- Natalie! Natalie! NATALIE!
MS YOUNG DETECTIVE!!
Natalie- What? I heard you.
Janice- The police are outside our house! I don't know what to do!
Natalie- What? Did you do something? Did you ask the police what happened?
Janice- No! I was too scared. I'm sorry.
Natalie opened the door, to ask the police what happened.
There was a tall and slim policeman. Wearing a blue full tshirt and jeans. He also had a gun, just incase. His hair was V-shaped on the back, and his hair on the top was styled as a pompadour, creating a very sharp look.
Natalie- Hi Mr. Policeman, what brings you here? Did we do something wrong? I promise we won't do it again.
Noah/Policeman- No no Ms. Natalie, you did nothing wrong. Also no need to call me that, just call me Noah. The reason why we are here is that, are you in a school called Bayside College?
Natalie- Yes, why? And just call me Natalie.
Janice- Yes, me too.
Noah- Then I've got some bad news. Your teacher named Ms. Samantha Collins has been murdered.
Janice- NO! SHE WAS MY FAVORITE BOTANY TEACHER!
Natalie- MINE TOO! Also, Noah, why are you telling me this and not her parents? I don't think its important for you to tell me right now.
Noah- Oh no, don't get me wrong, we did tell her parents about it before we came to your house.
Natalie- But still, why me?
Noah- That's because we need a master detective's help on these types of cases. The type of murder scene that you will see is soemthing up your alley, Natalie. The murder was in the 'Nicholas Twins' Stadium'.
Natalie- Although I have never done a murder case before, and never took part in a police investigation?
Noah- Yes.
Janice- Oh wow. Natalie if you wanna go you can. Nobody's stopping you. I believe in you, just remember that!
Natalie- Alright Jen (janice's nickname), I appreciate your thoughts. Noah, let's go!
Natalie stepped into the dim main hall of the stadium, Noah trailing close behind. The heavy doors creaked shut behind them, echoing through the vast silence.
Her breath caught in her throat.
There, suspended from the center rig meant for the upcoming monthly magic show, hung Ms. Collins' lifeless body—twisting gently with the air, like some grotesque prop. But this was no illusion.
Blood soaked the stage beneath her, pooling into thick, crimson puddles. The floorboards were stained dark, still wet. Fresh. The metallic stench filled Natalie's nose, making her stomach lurch.
The surrounding walls were splattered—no, painted—with blood, violently flung in arcs. It looked like she'd been butchered by a chainsaw, though no weapon was in sight.
A lone wooden chair sat beneath the body, knocked slightly off-center and drenched in red. The same red smeared up the legs and soaked the seat, like it had been used to prop her up before the final act.
Covering Ms. Collins' head was something even more disturbing—a hollow crab doll head. It sat snugly over her face, hiding every trace of her features and hair, turning her into a faceless effigy.
Her torso bore deep, clean slashes surgical, deliberate, as if the killer has used a big butchering knife. They ran straight through her clothes and into the flesh, but oddly, her outfit wasn't hers. Draped over her usual attire was a neat set of blue preppy-girl clothes, clothing Ms. Collins would never be caught dead in… and yet here she was.
Natalie stepped closer, her eyes drawn to the bloodied digits scrawled across the back of the top in thick, dripping red: 9385.
Taped to her ID, now pinned sloppily to the body, was a small note. Written in sharp, rushed handwriting, it read:
"VG, B09-C, TARGET."
Natalie- OOF. She must have been torchered so much. Nobody could have done this with multiple people.
This is bigger than what it seems.
Any clues? Anything that can be a major help in findiing the murderer?
Noah- Yes, the body's head is covered with a crab doll head, digits on the back written by blood, preppy clothing, and her ID has a note.
Natalie- Show the note.
Natalie read the note and understood something.
Natalie- B09-C, that's my class. What can 'VG' possibly mean?
Noah- Maybe a name? There is 'target' written next to it. Maybe it resembles the next target.
Natalie- Yes, maybe it is.
Natalie recieved a call.
It was her friend, Vanessa.
Vanessa has blue wavy hair, with two low ponytails on the back. She has a preppy style, and she wears blue and white.
She is a cheerful girl, with a life full of positivity.
Vanessa *on call*- I've got some tea to spill. Gabby and Maddy got a dare by Caleb and they-
Natalie- Not right now Vanny, I'm on a case.
Vanessa- What case?
Natalie- A murder case.
Vanessa- A MURDER CASE? WHY A MURDER CASE? WHO DECIDED TO GIVE YOU ONE? THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE! YOU ARE A COLLEGE STUDENT.
Natalie- The policemen apoointed me the case. I can give you the phone right now to the policemen if you do not believe me.
Vanessa- No no it's fine, I believe you. How's the case? How are you gonna solve it?
Natalie- The case is going well, the kill was BRUTAL. I do not know how am I gonna solve it, but I'm sure I will. Eventually. Now I gotta investigate. Gotta go, bye!
Vanessa- Oh bye! Now that's some pure tea to spill.
Natalie cut the call.
Noah and Natalie went to Bayside College to check the class lists. A lot of guards saw them.
Mrs Joanne was the Head Of The Security.
Natalie went inside the Advanced Security Room to meet Mrs Joanne.
Mrs Joanne- Hi Miss Natalie, how may I
help you?
Natalie- I would like to see the class list of B09-C, my class.
Mrs Joanne showed the list to Natalie.
The list showed their roll numbers, names, zodiacs and birthdays.
There were two names in which the initials were 'VG'.
'Vanessa Gurman' and 'Veronica Garcia'.
Mrs Joanne- These are the information according to the conditions you set for me. Anything else?
Natalie- No no, this is all I need. BUT, I'd like to ask you this.
Mrs Joanne- What?
Natalie- Why are the students'zodiacs in this list? And there is no student named Veronica in my class. That is not possible.
Mrs Joanne- Veronica is a new transfer from Spain. Her family moved to the USA with Veronica, so she will study here, in your class. About the zodiacs though, I dont really know. They just made us add them with their birthdays.
Natalie (voice shaking)- So that means the next target is Vanessa. I need to warn her. She's my friend. I can't... I can't let her die.
Her heart pounded in her chest like a war drum as she rushed down the empty street, the evening shadows stretching long across the pavement. The wind bit at her skin, but she barely noticed, her thoughts were spiraling, chaotic.
Natalie's fingers fumbled with her phone, slick with sweat. Her breathing was erratic, shallow. Every step felt heavier than the last, the weight of fear and guilt dragging her down.
She was trembling. Not from the cold, but from the storm inside her.
Her mind screamed one name, and that is Vanessa.
Natalie (whispering)- Please pick up.
She was pressing the phone to her ear.
Her voice cracked with desperation.
Natalie- Please be okay.