(INT. BUSINESS COMPLEX - DAY)
"Find another way out!" a man bellowed, his voice nearly drowned by the roar of the flames. Smoke curled through the air like claws, and screams of panic echoed down the burning corridors. People ran in every direction, eyes wild, some helping others, some simply trying to survive.
[NEWS REPORT - VOICEOVER ON THE TV]
"A devastating fire broke out at the XXX Business Complex earlier today. Over a hundred individuals were rescued, but at least twenty remain trapped on the third floor. Authorities are still battling the blaze."
Amid the chaos, a girl, no older than fourteen, rushed to the scene, her face streaked with soot and panic. She grabbed the arm of a fireman.
"Have you seen my dad?" she pleaded, her eyes wide with desperation. Without waiting for an answer, she darted toward the inferno.
"No! Please!" she cried as strangers pulled her back, her sobs rising above the crackling fire.
Near an emergency exit, a man was guiding people out with practiced urgency.
"Come this way! Hurry!" he called, catching an injured boy by the arm. The boy's arm was badly burnt, but he seemed numb to the pain.
"Where's your friend?" the man asked.
"I... I don't know. I can't find him."
The man didn't hesitate. "I'll go back in."
"I'm coming with you. I think he's in the office," the boy said, determined.
"You're hurt."
"I can manage. We don't have time."
The man hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. But we soak ourselves first. Come on."
They dashed into a restroom, dousing themselves with water. Then, without another word, they ran back into the fire.
Inside the scorched corridor...
"See anything?" the man called out.
"No! He's not here. Maybe the next room."
They pushed through a scorched door, coughing from the smoke.
"He's here! Help me!" the man shouted.
The boy knelt by a limp figure. "Ben! Wake up!" His friend's face was burnt, but still recognizable.
"Cover his nose with this!" the man handed him a wet towel.
Then the boy froze, noticing something beneath his friend.
"There's blood... What happened here?"
The man's eyes darkened. "This wasn't an accident."
The boy turned to him, stunned. "He's my father. Why? What happened?!"
"We need to move. Now. We'll be trapped if we stay."
Dragging Ben between them, they raced out of the room as the ceiling groaned above.
[NEWS REPORT - NEXT DAY]
"Ten have been confirmed dead in yesterday's blaze at the XXX Business Complex. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing."
[15 YEARS LATER - EXT. PXXXX RIVER - DAY]
A decomposing body, encased in hardened cement, was discovered in the murky shallows. It was the sixth such body found in the MXXX MXXX area.
[INT. POLICE STATION - DAY]
"Do you think you could do better?!" the Police Chief roared, slamming his fist on the table. His officers stared, stunned.
"We've been investigating for months. No witnesses. No clues," the Lieutenant replied, defeated.
"Then dig deeper! Use your damn heads!" The Chief stormed out, the door banging behind him.
One officer sighed. "You alright, man?"
"Just frustrated. Maybe the Chief's right... maybe we're useless."
"No, don't say that. We've done everything we could. Whoever's behind this... they're a ghost. But we'll find them. I swear."
"You never change," the other officer chuckled.
"Hey, did you hear? We've got a transfer today," Detective Truman said, changing the subject.
"From the U.S., right? The Chief seems to respect her."
"Didn't expect a woman to join our squad. Hope she's easy on the eyes," another joked.
"Don't start," someone muttered. The group laughed.
"Inspector! We've got a report!"
"What is it?"
"Body found in an abandoned building. No ID yet. Locals say it's been there a few days."
"Let's move."
"Also, we received another email... from him."
"Where?"
"Same spot as the last."
The Inspector's face tensed. "Unusual. Let's go. Now."
[EXT. ABANDONED BUILDING - DAY]
A crowd had gathered in front of a decaying house, whispers buzzing like flies. Inside, the body lay in the kitchen, the stench unbearable.
"Who found it?" the Inspector asked.
"A group of teenagers. They came looking after residents complained about the smell."
"How old are you kids?"
"Fifteen, sir. We're tenth graders from Saxxx Poxx National High."
"Why come here?"
"My mom has asthma and got sick because of the smell," one girl explained. "People say this place is haunted, so no one wanted to check."
"You did good—but don't ever do it again. This is dangerous."
He took their contact information and sent them home.
The coroner approached. "No clues, no fingerprints, nothing. Whoever did this cleaned up."
A tall woman with sharp eyes and wavy hair stepped closer, her gaze scanning the scene.
"This wasn't just him," she murmured. "It's them."
The Inspector turned. "And you are...?"