The Unexpected Guest

I found myself lost in thoughts, unable to shake the deep wish to help those struggling in the slum we just saw on the news. The faces of the people we saw lingered in my mind, and I couldn't get them out of my thoughts. Part of me held onto the idea that maybe there was a karmic connection between me and one of the murders that were being investigated. Yet, another part of me dismissed this as utterly ridiculous. This inner conflict and sense of helplessness were overwhelming.

To ease my turmoil, I would tell myself that destiny works in mysterious ways. If there was any link between me and these crimes, fate would eventually lead me to the truth. It was a bittersweet reassurance, offering some solace in the midst of the confusion and uncertainty that surrounded our mission.

My evening check-up had become a routine after 20 days in the hospital. The nurse drew my blood samples and checked my vitals as usual. However, this time, she surprised me by mentioning that I had a visitor, someone new who hadn't visited before. I quickly told her to let him in, curiosity piqued. It felt like a break from the hospital's monotony, and I wondered who this visitor might be and what they wanted to discuss. New faces brought a glimmer of excitement to the otherwise routine hospital days.

After twenty days alone in the hospital, I had developed a curiosity about everything and welcomed any change. So, when a tall man in his late 60s, lean but seemingly fit, approached my bed, I couldn't help but wonder about his visit. He took a seat next to me and extended his hand in a friendly gesture, saying, "Hello, I've heard a lot about you." I shook his hand, grateful for the company and eager to learn more about this unexpected visitor. The unfamiliar face and his words injected a dose of adrenaline rush and brought a change into my hospital routine, which had grown somewhat monotonous.

"Hi, I am Rajesh Shah and I am the one who prepared the files you are reading right now".

"You are the officer who took an interest in mysterious cases and found the connection? OMG! I can't believe I'm actually meeting you".

"Aman called me the other day and told me that you took a great amount of time and interest into these cases, may I ask why?"

"Honestly sir, I don't know but a part of me feels solving these cases if they're especially connected to the ones happening right now would give me some sort of closure".

"Closure for what?"

"That I don't know but I feel like I might be related to at least one of these cases".

"I know you might have a lot of questions to ask me and honestly that is the reason I'm here. Feel free to ask any question regarding these cases and I will help you with what I can"

"What intrigued you or what made you dive into these cases?"

"I worked for National Security and was deployed to Japan. We had the information that the serial killer or the killers on the loose were having a group meeting there. This was after the murders happened in the 1980's. These murders weren't just confined to one particular country or state so it was a matter of who gets them first. Our team was led by one of my seniors and we all used to discuss unsolved crimes and mystery crimes whenever we had time and that is how I got to know about the rest two. We took our time to blend into the environment and they hid themselves in Japan before planning another cruel crime. One day, we got a piece of information about their whereabouts, and with heavy armor and weapons, we captured them.It was not an easy mission that I can confirm.They were first imprisoned for life and eventually were executed to death. I couldn't help but relate these cases to the past ones. And thus this folder, no matter how much I try I couldn't find the connection between all these."

"But I did"

Shocked the officer replied, "How?"

"These crimes happened in different places and at various points in time, yet one common thread is the use of gases and drowning the victims in acid. Mani, my driver, is a massive fan of crime thrillers, and he has a journalist friend whom he pesters about various cases from the past. You've gathered about 75% of the information, but you missed the beginning. These crimes didn't originate in the 1920s; they can be traced back to the 1890s. It all started with a woman who married multiple wealthy men and killed them for insurance money and inheritance. She was arrested by the police but managed to escape from prison. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, she became an inspiration to many other killers.

When she was caught, similar crimes ceased in nearby countries. However, once she escaped from prison, these gruesome acts resumed. I believe what you've encountered isn't just a group of people but a cult with roots dating back a long time. It's highly likely that the murderers you're investigating, as well as the one active today, are part of this sinister cult. The cult's influence seems to have persisted over the years, with each new member carrying on the legacy of violence and secrecy."

As the officer listened, his eyes widened with the realization that this case had far deeper and older roots than he had imagined. The pieces of the puzzle were slowly falling into place, but the full picture remained elusive. He thanked Rajesh for sharing this critical insight and promised to dig deeper into the cult's history to uncover the truth.

"When you put it that way, it is highly possible. When we caught the group, there was a small boy with them. He could be one of the members' sons. He was sent to juvenile detention and would have been released quite a while ago. He is still young and on the loose, and he might be the killer we are looking for now, or he could be the one leading the cult and influencing others to join him. It's a chilling thought, but it makes sense given the pattern of these crimes and the cult's history."

Tarun nods and asks him a question

"Sir, were you there while investigating them?"

"Yes, I was there during the investigation. Some of them knew exactly what they were doing, while others seemed to have no idea. During psychoanalysis, we found that they all suffered from various mental illnesses like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, or they had a troubled childhood or traumatic experiences that scarred them for life, altering their perception of life. Strangely, they had no regret or remorse in their faces. It was as if someone had brainwashed them, and they felt a twisted sense of accomplishment in their actions."

"Sir, why do you think the other writer committed suicide?"

"He probably couldn't bear the consequences of their book. His friend is put in a mental asylum and people are dying because of it. Maybe, it's his way of closure."

"I don't think so, call it a hunch but I feel like the start of these murders is with him. He might be the first victim to die. Imagine a cult formed almost 100 years ago and developed over time. Don't you think they might not know how to portray a murder as suicide?"

"True! I'll see what I can get on this case particularly, here take my card and call me whenever you need answers or help"

"Thank you, sir"

"And get well soon " saying that he leaves.

Tarun all of a sudden felt a sudden churn in his stomach as if something bad was going to happen and with that thought, he dozed off into sleep...