Blood and Ink

"There are more than a thousand copies of Rubaiyat in this world, and they hold no power—they are simply poetry books. The real issue lies with the original copy of Rubaiyat, the one penned down by Omar Khayyam himself. Based on credible evidence, it has been established that ever since its inception, the original Rubaiyat has harbored an extraordinary, almost supernatural force within its pages. Whoever reads it is inevitably affected by these forces, though the impact varies depending on the individual.

"It is widely believed that within the verses of Rubaiyat reside both spiritual and malevolent powers. The nature of the power that manifests depends entirely on the desires harbored within the reader's heart. You might find my words hard to believe, but Rubaiyat is far from being an ordinary book of poetry. It conceals dark, hidden shadows. When you encounter these shadows while reading, they do not merely fade away. They seep into your soul, influencing your thoughts and actions in ways that defy logic and rationality. In essence, Rubaiyat has the ability to make a person see things beyond normal human perception, compelling them to uncover messages that were never explicitly written within its pages," Clark explained, his voice laced with an eerie certainty.

He then continued, "When Rubaiyat began to unleash sinister energies and awaken satanic ideologies in the minds of vulnerable individuals—driving them to commit unspeakable atrocities—the wise and learned men of that era came together to form an ancient order known as The Watchers. Their sole mission was to retrieve and safeguard the original Rubaiyat, ensuring that it never fell into the hands of those with fragile spiritual convictions. The Watchers took an oath to keep the original Rubaiyat hidden from the eyes of the world for eternity, knowing full well the chaos it could incite if misused."

Clark exhaled deeply before continuing, "But despite their unwavering dedication, history has witnessed multiple instances where Rubaiyat slipped from their grasp, only to trigger widespread bloodshed and destruction. Each time it was lost, The Watchers were forced into intense, often brutal battles against the followers of darkness—those who sought to wield its power for malevolent purposes. It appears that the original copy of Rubaiyat is cursed, never remaining in one place for too long. Every few decades, it vanishes without a trace, leaving behind a grim trail of death and violence, until The Watchers eventually manage to reclaim it—only for the cycle to repeat once more."

Both Jason and Kate sat in silence, absorbing Clark's words. They wanted to dismiss his story as mere myth or superstition, but after everything they had witnessed since discovering the first fragment of Rubaiyat in Ryder’s coat pocket, they couldn't afford to be skeptical.

"So, if I understand this correctly, The Watchers are convinced that the killer possesses Rubaiyat and is receiving messages from it, instructing them to commit these murders?" Jason asked, his brows furrowed in thought.

"Yes, without a shred of doubt," Clark affirmed, his expression grave.

Jason exchanged a glance with Kate before nodding. "Alright. We've gotten the answers we need. Now, once I verify that everything you've told us is the truth, I'll get rid of the contract paper."

Clark's eyes narrowed. "You promised to hand it over to me."

Jason smirked slightly. "And I will. Just not for a few days." Without another word, he took a step toward Clark and, with the back of his revolver, struck him firmly on the forehead. Clark’s body went limp as he collapsed to the floor, unconscious.

Kate sighed. "He'll wake up in the morning. Let’s go."

As they climbed into the car and drove away, Kate turned to Jason. "How did you figure out that Clark was being manipulated by a museum manager to steal artifacts?"

Jason kept his eyes on the road, his grip firm on the wheel. "I knew Clark wouldn't talk unless we had some leverage over him. So, I started digging into his past. That’s how I came across his contract with smugglers."

"Do you think Clark was in on the smuggling operation?" Kate asked.

Jason shook his head. "Nah. Clark’s not the type to get involved in anything criminal. He’s the kind of guy who thrives on admiration and recognition. People like that usually steer clear of shady dealings because they care too much about their reputation."

"So you used his fear of ruining his image against him," Kate concluded.

Jason nodded. "Exactly. After tapping into his calls for the past few weeks and digging into every detail of his history, one thing became crystal clear—Clark would never willingly do anything to tarnish his name. That’s why I knew the contract paper was my best bargaining chip to get him to spill the truth."

Kate let out a thoughtful hum but quickly shifted gears. "Forget about Clark. What I really want to discuss is the connection between Lowan Box and Darrel Luke. If The Watchers’ research is correct, Lowan Box is our prime suspect. But if that’s the case, how does Darrel Luke also match the killer’s description?"

Jason tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "That’s exactly what’s been bothering me."

Kate didn’t hesitate. "Because I believe that Lowan Box and Darrel Luke are the same person."

Jason's head snapped toward her, his eyes widening in surprise. "You really think so?"

Kate nodded confidently. "It’s pretty simple when you think about it. When you chased Darrel Luke after the massacre of the Yarrabura people, he completely vanished. Not a single person in Adelaide had ever heard of him. At the same time, The Watchers exhausted every possible resource trying to track down Lowan Box, but they came up with nothing."

She continued, "How is it possible that both men just disappeared without a trace? The answer is simple: they never truly existed. At least, not as individual people. Lowan Box and Darrel Luke were fake identities, crafted for a specific purpose. Once that purpose was fulfilled, he discarded them like old clothes and assumed a new identity."

Jason’s jaw tightened. "That actually makes sense. This person—whoever they really are—must be a master of deception. He used different personas to carry out his plan: obtaining Rubaiyat, summoning Baphomet, and selecting his victims to satisfy his devotion to Satanism."

Kate nodded. "Exactly."

Jason exhaled sharply. "Then the real question is—what’s his true identity? Who is he beneath all these disguises?"

Kate’s voice was steady. "That’s what we need to find out."

Jason shook his head in amazement. "I have to admit—this killer is an absolute genius. He has fooled countless people, slipping through the cracks of society without leaving a trace. Even now, he continues to deceive those around him, and no one has managed to see through his facade."

Kate agreed. "He’s undoubtedly a brilliant strategist."

Jason’s eyes darkened with determination. "But no matter how skilled he is, no matter how many masks he wears—one day, he will slip up. And when that day comes, we’ll be there to expose him for who he truly is. That day is coming soon—I can feel it."

With that, Jason pressed his foot down on the accelerator, sending the car speeding toward the police station. There was no time to waste. He needed to gather every piece of information available on Lowan Box, Juan Luu, and Darrel Luke. And more importantly, he had to determine whether Juan Luu was yet another alias in the killer’s deadly game of deception.