Chapter 4: The Hidden Victim
As the police sirens echoed through the abandoned warehouse, Echo sat quietly in a corner, her hands trembling—but not from fear. From excitement.
She had smeared dirt on her face, tore her own clothes, and even scratched her own arms to look like she had been beaten.
Echo (in a low whisper to herself):
"Pain makes the story real."
One of the girls—still shaken—looked at Echo.
Girl (whispering):
"Why did you hurt yourself? They didn't touch you... you saved us."
Echo smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.
Echo:
"I had to look like you. Victims are heard... monsters are hunted."
She leaned closer, her eyes dark and serious.
Echo:
"You won't tell anyone, right?"
Girl (nervously):
"N-No! I swear. Thank you, Echo... I won't forget what you did."
Moments later, the police stormed in. Guns raised. Flashlights flicking through the warehouse of death.
Detective:
"Hands up! Don't move!"
They froze.
The officers quickly assessed the scene—dead bodies, blood, shattered wood and rope. But no signs of a struggle. No clear murder weapon.
Just scared girls. Including one... far too calm.
They escorted the girls out.
Police Officer:
"Can anyone tell us what happened here? Who did this?"
Girl 1:
"It was dark... we don't know..."
Girl 2:
"They turned the lights off... we couldn't see anything…"
Echo (softly, eyes lowered):
"They were playing loud music. Then... screams. Blood."
The officer looked at her, surprised by her calm voice.
Detective (murmuring):
"No sign of forced entry, no fingerprints, and all assailants dead… this feels like something else entirely."
---
Back in the police van, as the girls were taken for checkups and statements, Echo looked out the window, smiling faintly to herself.
She had fooled them all.
She was both hero and victim.
And no one suspected... that the real monster was sitting right among them.
--