Found... THE BEGINNING

"My loved ones,
The ones I lived for...
From Mum, to all those in the family picture..."

Source: Pixabay

Sergeant Jones put down the note, he didn't need to read the rest of it. After six disappearances he already knew it by heart now. And they were all the same, the same last words left as a final note at the home of all the victims.

Young Charlie was the sixth one now. All boys, all between the ages of twelve and fifteen. All following the same pattern; safely tucked in bed at night, only to be declared missing by morning. And of course, all of them left the very same cryptic note behind...

"Do you think it could be...?" Frank begins to ask.

"Serial Killer?" Sergeant Jones cuts his unofficial partner, and part time private detective short. "Nope. So far, no bodies have turned up yet. For all we know they could all still be alive somewhere."

"What, camping?" Frank grimaces. "I bet you the best wine in my cellar that they're all dead."

"Well, even if I were to ignore the fact of the non-existent cellar and take your bet, I'll still require that you do not speak like that anywhere near the bereaved family. Charlie's missing is all."

When Sergeant Jones gets no response, he looks directly at Frank, "Got it...?"

Frank grunts. "Yeah, yeah. Got it boss"

Sergeant Jones satisfied, places one hand on his hip and takes a deep breath. As he exhales, he seems to reach a mental conclusion.

"Come, let's go reopen all the other cases."

"Yeah... All the other cases..."

...

Young Stephen had been the very first boy reported missing. A boy who had seemed happy and always full of life. He had enough friends and was adored by about everyone who knew him. He had had no reason to run away from home, at least none that anyone could possibly think about. Yet he had seemingly done so, for reasons that were anyone's guess.

Then there was the note he had left behind. The same note the others had also left too. One each year, and this was the sixth in succession. Still, no one was any more wiser as to where the boys had all gone to.

Claire smiled, and picked up the scapel. With practiced precision, she carved out Charlie's heart and placed it carefully in a paper bag next to the body. Then she carved out some raw tissue and stares at it for a few quiet moments, as if waiting for something to happen.

Then with a sort of indifference, she throws it into her mouth. And as she licked her fingers clean, the heart in the paper bag seemed to protest in one short pulse...

THE END

#SladenSpeaks

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Can't seem to find my rhythm these past few days. I honestly wanted to write something for @dirge's horror contest... But

Just enjoy this one...

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