The Detective Jr.

Leo lunged toward Mia's lifeless body, but Nicholas stopped him firmly.

"No, this is a crime scene. Step back for now."

Nicholas's calm but authoritative tone left no room for argument. I watched Leo and Marcus, both visibly shaken, before kneeling beside Nicholas to examine the body.

"No signs of struggle… The blood is fresh, and the wound is clean. It's like it was made with a sword," I muttered, my mind racing.

Nicholas straightened, his eyes sharp. "Fresh blood means the killer might still be close."

I nodded, covering Mia's face with a white handkerchief. Rising to my feet, I turned to Leo and Marcus. "Stay with Nicholas. I'll search for the killer."

Marcus frowned. "Why not tell Sir Nicholas first?"

I smiled knowingly. "Because he wouldn't let me go." Before anyone could argue, I slipped out of the room, my resolve firm.

The hallway outside was eerily quiet, the tension in the air almost suffocating. Shadows danced on the walls as my footsteps echoed, each step amplifying my unease. I had to find the killer before they vanished.

A faint rustle broke the silence. I froze, straining to locate the sound. It led me to a side door, slightly ajar. Peering through, I saw a shadowy figure moving swiftly in the garden.

"Stop right there!" I called, stepping into the open.

The figure froze, then turned. A woman, her face hidden under a hood, glared at me with piercing eyes.

"You shouldn't be here," she said, her voice cold and sharp.

"Neither should you," I countered. "What do you know about Mia's death?"

Her eyes narrowed, her tone laced with warning. "You're in over your head. Leave now, while you still can."

"Not until I get answers," I said, stepping closer.

Her gaze softened, though her voice remained guarded. "Mia deserved justice, but you won't find it here. This is bigger than you realize."

"Then help me," I urged. "Who are you?"

She hesitated, then lowered her hood, revealing long, wavy orange hair and piercing pink eyes that seemed to shine in the dim light. "My name is Alina. I was close to Mia. But my truth comes with danger—danger for both of us."

"Why didn't you come forward?"

"Because I'm not real," she whispered. "I'm an illusion, but what I know can still save lives. The killer is here, and they won't stop until their mission is complete."

Before I could ask more, the garden door burst open. Nicholas strode in, his sharp eyes darting between Alina and me as he came rushing around shielded me from Alina. "What's going on?"

"She knows something," I said quickly.

Nicholas crossed his arms. "Then speak."

Alina met his gaze. "Mia's death is only the beginning. If we don't act now, others will follow."

"Then we act together," Nicholas said, stepping into his role as a leader. "No more secrets."

I nodded, but a sudden realization hit me. "Where are Marcus and Leo?"

"I sent them outside for safety," Nicholas said. "Now let's focus. We're running out of time."

The three of us moved swiftly back into the main hall. The echoes of chaos lingered, but we were united now, ready to uncover the truth and bring the killer to justice.

.

.

.

The atmosphere grew heavier as we moved cautiously through the main hall. Nicholas led the way, his sharp eyes scanning every corner, while Alina and I followed closely. Every step was filled with the weight of urgency and danger.

Suddenly, a blast of icy wind swept through the corridor, forcing us to stop in our tracks. The temperature dropped sharply, and an unsettling presence filled the air.

"Victor," I muttered, the chill creeping into my voice.

"Who's Victor?" Alina asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

"My cousin," I said, my heart racing. "He's powerful... and unpredictable. If he's here, it's about to get dangerous."

Before I could explain further, Victor emerged from the shadows. His icy blue eyes sparkled with malice, and frost swirled around him like a living aura.

"Linxi," he drawled, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Still playing hero, I see. You never learn."

"Enough with the theatrics, Victor," I snapped. "What are you doing here? Are you involved in this?"

Victor chuckled darkly. "Involved? Oh, cousin, I am the reason you're here. And as always, you're in my way."

Nicholas stepped forward, his voice cold and firm. "You killed Mia. You won't escape justice."

Victor's expression darkened. "Justice? How quaint. You don't even understand what's at stake."

Before anyone could react, Victor raised his hands, summoning razor-sharp shards of ice that hurtled toward us.

"Get down!" Nicholas shouted, activating his gravity magic to create a dense barrier. The shards shattered on impact, sending icy fragments flying.

I gritted my teeth, adrenaline surging through me. "We can't let him escape!"

"Be careful, Linxi!" Alina warned, her hands glowing as she prepared her light magic.

"I've got this," I said, my voice steady, though the cosmic energy within me pulsed with impatience.

Victor's laughter echoed through the hall. "You think you can stop me? I've embraced my power, cousin! You'll never understand true freedom!"

He unleashed a wave of frost, freezing the walls and floor in an instant. The biting cold stung my skin, but I stood my ground, summoning the swirling stars of my cosmic magic to form a radiant shield.

"Victor!" I shouted. "You are making a huge mistake! Stop it at once then we may forgive you!!"

For a moment, I thought I saw hesitation in his eyes, but it vanished as he sneered. "You're deluded, Linxi. Mercy is for the weak!"

He summoned an enormous ice construct, a towering beast that roared as it charged toward us.

"Watch out!" Nicholas called, stepping in to halt the beast with a powerful gravity field.

"Step back!" I ordered, my voice firm. "This is between me and him. Two families..."

I focused my cosmic energy, a brilliant beam of light erupting from my hands and striking the ice beast. It shattered into a cascade of glittering shards, illuminating the hall.

Victor staggered, disbelief flickering across his face. "Impossible…"

I advanced, my cosmic energy swirling like a tempest. "You've underestimated me, Victor. I won't let you hurt anyone else."

His expression twisted with rage. "You think this is over? I've only just begun!"

Summoning a fierce blizzard, Victor created a vortex of snow and ice that engulfed the hall. "Nicholas, Alina! Hold the shield!" I yelled, channeling my magic to push back against the storm.

Alina's light magic wove with my own, creating a radiant shield that lit up the chaos. "We can't let him get away!" she urged.

"Agreed," I said, determination hardening my resolve.

With a surge of power, I unleashed a concentrated blast of cosmic energy, piercing through the storm and striking Victor. He stumbled, his icy armor cracking under the force.

"Enough!" he roared, summoning a portal behind him. The air shimmered with energy as the gate swirled open.

"No!" I shouted, surging forward, but the blizzard intensified, slowing me down.

Victor smirked, stepping toward the portal. "You haven't seen the last of me, Linxi. Next time, you won't be so lucky."

He disappeared into the portal, the blizzard fading as quickly as it had come.

I clenched my fists, frustration bubbling inside me. "He escaped..."

Nicholas lowered his shield, breathing heavily. "We'll find him again, Linxi. For now, we need to regroup."

Alina nodded, her expression grave. "We have to stop him before he grows even stronger."

Taking a deep breath, I looked at Alina and Nicholas. "You're right. This isn't over. We'll track him down, and when we do, he'll answer for everything he's done."

With renewed determination, we left the shattered hall, ready to face whatever came next...

_To Be Continue_