Chapter 5: First Victim
Naomi, her parents, and Calvin were gathered in their living room, shock and confusion etched on their faces. The news of Madison's body disappearing from the morgue had left them devastated and bewildered. Naomi clenched her fists, trying to hold back her tears.
"I can't believe this is happening," Naomi's mother, Linda, whispered, her voice trembling.
"First, they take her life, and now they take her body?"
Thomas, Naomi's father, shook his head in disbelief.
"Who could have done this? And why?"
Investigator Abner stood before them, his expression grave.
"I have a few theories, but nothing concrete yet. My primary suspicion is that Rowan and his family's influence might be involved. They could be trying to prevent the autopsy."
Calvin frowned.
"But why would they do that? It doesn't make any sense."
Abner sighed.
"They could be trying to cover their tracks, make sure no evidence points back to them. But without Madison's body, it's hard to prove anything."
Naomi wiped her tears away, her face set with determination.
"We have to find out what really happened to Madison. We can't let them get away with this."
---
Meanwhile, in the heart of the city, the neon lights of a bustling nightclub flashed brightly, casting colorful reflections on the rain-soaked streets. Inside, the air was thick with the sound of pounding music and the murmur of voices. People danced and laughed, oblivious to the dark presence lurking among them.
Miguel, one of The Gold Bachelors, stood at the bar, a confident smirk on his face as he scanned the crowd. He was looking for his next conquest, someone to distract him from the growing unease that had settled over him since Madison's death.
His eyes landed on a stunning woman across the room. She had long, flowing hair and wore a dress that clung to her curves in all the right places. She noticed his gaze and smiled, a seductive glint in her eyes.
Miguel downed the last of his drink and sauntered over to her, his swagger unmistakable.
"Hey there, beautiful. Haven't seen you around here before. What's your name?"
The woman smiled coyly.
"I'm Vanessa. And you?"
"Miguel," he replied, leaning in closer.
"What do you say we get out of here and go somewhere more...private?"
Vanessa's smile widened, her eyes glittering with something dark and dangerous.
"I'd like that."
---
They arrived at a nearby hotel, and Miguel wasted no time in getting a room. As soon as they were inside, he turned to Vanessa, his eyes hungry with desire.
"Why don't you show me what you've got, babe?"
Vanessa's smile turned sinister as she began to undress, her movements slow and deliberate. Miguel watched, his anticipation growing. But then, something strange happened. Vanessa's hands reached up to her face, and she began to pull at her skin.
Miguel's eyes widened in horror as he watched the skin peel away, revealing the face underneath. It was Madison.
"What the hell?" Miguel stumbled back, his heart racing with fear.
"No, this can't be happening!"
Madison, her face twisted in a grotesque mockery of her former beauty, stepped towards him.
"Did you really think you could get away with it, Miguel? Did you think I would just disappear?"
Miguel screamed, trying to run, but Madison was on him in an instant. She grabbed him with unnatural strength, her fingers digging into his flesh.
"You took everything from me. Now it's my turn."
---
Outside the hotel room, the sounds of the nightclub continued unabated, but inside, a gruesome scene was unfolding. Madison's eyes glowed with a malevolent light as she tore into Miguel's flesh, her hands working with savage precision. His screams filled the room, but they were drowned out by the music and the thick walls.
"Please, no! I'm sorry!" Miguel begged, his voice choked with pain and terror.
Madison's laugh was cold and devoid of mercy. "Sorry won't bring me back. Sorry won't change what you did."
She reached into his chest, her fingers finding his beating heart. With a vicious pull, she tore it out, blood splattering across the room. Miguel's screams faded into gurgles as he fell to the floor, his life draining away.
Madison stood over him, her prom gown stained with blood, her expression one of twisted satisfaction. She watched as the light faded from Miguel's eyes, his body twitching in its final moments.
"One down," she whispered, her voice a chilling promise. "Many more to go."
---
The next morning, the hotel staff made a grisly discovery. The room was covered in blood, and Miguel's mutilated body lay in the center, his chest cavity hollowed out. The scene was so horrific that one of the staff members fainted on the spot.
Police sirens wailed as officers and detectives swarmed the hotel. Investigator Abner arrived at the scene, his expression grim as he surveyed the carnage. He had seen many things in his career, but this was something else entirely.
"Jesus," one of the officers muttered, his face pale. "What kind of monster could do something like this?"
Abner shook his head. "I don't know, but we need to find out. This is just the beginning."
He turned to the officer. "Get the forensics team in here. I want every inch of this place examined. And find out if there are any security cameras. We need to know who was in this room last night."
---
Back at the Parker household, Naomi and her parents were still reeling from the news of Madison's missing body when the phone rang. Thomas answered, his voice heavy with exhaustion.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Parker, this is Investigator Abner. I have some disturbing news. One of the boys involved in Madison's case, Miguel, was found dead this morning. It's...it's bad."
Thomas's face went pale. "What do you mean, bad?"
Abner hesitated. "He was brutally murdered. It looks like someone...someone took out his organs. It's a mess. We're still investigating, but I thought you should know."
Thomas relayed the information to his family, their faces reflecting a mix of horror and confusion. Naomi's mind raced, trying to make sense of it all. "Do you think this has anything to do with Madison?"
Abner sighed. "I don't know. But I promise you, we're going to get to the bottom of this. Stay safe, and if you hear or see anything unusual, call me immediately."
Naomi nodded, her heart heavy with worry. "We will. Thank you, Investigator."
As they hung up, Naomi turned to her parents and Calvin. "This can't be a coincidence. Something is happening, and we need to figure out what."
Calvin nodded, his face set with determination. "We'll find out the truth, Naomi. For Madison."
---
In the shadows of the city, Madison watched from afar, her undead eyes glowing with satisfaction. She had taken her first step towards vengeance, and there was no turning back. Rowan and the rest of The Gold Bachelors would pay for what they had done, one by one.
With a sinister smile, she disappeared into the night, her next target already in her sights. The time for retribution had begun, and she would not rest until justice was served.