The Map of Death

The Map of Death
Sarah's POV

A flurry of sparks burst from Agent Santos's computer screen.

As the FBI field office filled with smoke, I leaped back from my desk. When the fire alarm began to blare, it wasn't The Organization playing a prank.

"What happened?" I shouted over the cacophony.

Santos reached for a fire extinguisher and sprayed the computer that was smoking. "Our database of supernatural crimes was just breached by someone. They destroyed the entire system.

Slowly but visibly stronger than the day before, Elena emerged in the doorway. "They are aware that we are following them."

"Who is tracking whom?" Coughing from the smoke, Santos inquired.

"The Hunters," said Elena. "I've been identifying them all over the country with Sarah. There is someone who does not want us to see everything.

Santos waved the smoke out of her face. "Before the computer died, how many did you find?"

I took my notebook out. "Fifteen states with twenty-three active killers."

"Twenty-three?" Santos gazed at me. "That isn't feasible. For years, my team has been investigating crimes involving supernatural forces. We may have found eight confirmed cases.

Elena slumped into a chair. "Only the clear-cut cases were being examined by your team. Sarah is able to spot patterns that you missed.

"What kind of patterns?"

I showed Santos my list after opening my notebook. "The Hunters don't kill at random. They target particular demographics.

"Like who?"

"Reporters are looking into missing people. excessive questioning by police officers. local history being studied by college students. I flipped the page. "Anyone who might unintentionally find evidence of supernatural activity."

Over my shoulder, Santos read. "They're cleaning up witnesses."

"Exactly. They're also following a pattern. I took out a map of the United States that I had annotated with red dots. "Observe."

Santos looked at the map. "They're heading from east to west."

"Like they're following something," Elena continued. "Or someone."

Santos tallied the numbers. "This is amazing work, Sarah. How did you quickly identify all of these cases?

I looked at Elena. We hadn't explained to Santos our paranormal relationship or how Elena's ability allowed me to see things that others couldn't.

I lied and said, "Just good detective work."

Santos didn't push it, but he did look suspicious. "All right, so there are twenty-three murderers. What should we do next?

Elena got to her feet with difficulty. "One by one, we stop them."

"One at a time?" Santos gave a headshake. "These murderers are dispersed throughout the entire nation, Elena. While we sit here talking, people are dying."

Elena muttered, "I can only assist Sarah with one case at a time." "I'm still too weak to divide my focus."

My heart fell. Elena was correct. Despite her increasing strength, she was still far from reaching her maximum potential. She was barely able to assist me in tracking down one Hunter, much less twenty-three.

"So we have to choose," I replied. "We must decide which murderers to target first and allow the others to continue their murderous rampages."

That choice felt like a crushing weight. More innocent people would perish with each Hunter we failed to stop.

Santos took her phone out. "Perhaps I could assign additional FBI agents to—"

"No," Elena interrupted. "Supernatural killers are beyond the capabilities of regular FBI agents. They'll simply end up dead."

"So what do you recommend?"

Elena remained silent for a while. "We give priority. Which cases are the most urgent, Sarah?

I took another look at my notebook. Every entry stood for individuals in peril and families who might lose a loved one.

"Homeless Veterans are the target of a Hunter in Denver. In the last week, he has killed four people.

"What else?"

"A Miami college professor has been killing students who study local folklore. So far, five people have died.

Over my shoulder, Santos leaned. "How about this one? Arizona's Phoenix?"

I went through the entry. Catherine Mills is a woman. Families who move into homes with a supernatural past have been the victims of her murders. Three families—including children—were killed.

My hands began to shake. Kids. The same way Tommy had nearly died.

"That one," I said. "We stop her first."

Elena gave a nod. "Why her over the others?"

"Because she is murdering children. Additionally, because..." I took a closer look at my notes. "Because she is speeding up." Six months ago, the first family was murdered. Three months ago, the second family. Last week, the third family.

Santos noticed, "She's getting bolder."

"Or more desperate," Elena continued. "What's unique about the homes she's targeting, Sarah?"

I turned to my notes. "Unexplained deaths have occurred in all three houses before. disappearances, accidents, and suicides.

"Haunted houses?"

Perhaps. However, why would a hunter target families who are relocating to haunted homes?

Elena's silver eyes brightened. "Because she's doing more than just murdering the families."

"What do you mean?"

"The supernatural energy in those homes is what she's consuming. She is strengthening herself by using the deaths.

Santos reached for her car keys. "Then, before she kills again, we must stop her right away."

"It's not that simple," Elena stated. "Catherine Mills isn't working alone."

I gazed at her. "What?"

"Sarah, I sense it from our connection. Catherine is in a relationship. Someone who has been assisting her in finding the appropriate homes."

"Another Hunter?"

"A worse thing. Someone who has access to police reports, death certificates, and real estate records. Elena had a worried expression. "A member of the police force."

I felt sick to my stomach. "She's killing families with the help of a cop."

Or someone posing as a police officer. similar to how Chief Morrison was taken over by The Organization.

Santos examined her weapon. "In any case, we must reach Phoenix before Catherine murders another family."

I took another look at my notebook. While we concentrated on one, twenty-two other Hunters continued to kill people.

"How long will it take to stop Catherine, Elena?"

"If everything goes according to plan? Two days.

"And how often does everything go perfectly?"

Elena smiled at me sadly. "Never."

I quickly calculated in my mind. It takes at least two days to stop one hunter. Stopping all twenty-three would take us nearly two months at that rate.

In two months, how many innocent people would perish?

Santos saw my face. "You can't save everyone, Sarah."

"Elena once told me the same thing."

"That's accurate. There are instances when you must decide who will survive and who will not.

I detested the fact that she was correct. I detested having to watch others perish while saving others.

My phone rang. Unknown figure.

I responded over the speaker.

"Detective Chen." It was a man's voice, composed and businesslike.

"Who is this?"

"Someone who has been following your Hunters investigation."

Elena's eyes widened. She motioned for me to continue his conversation.

"What investigation?"

"Detective, don't act foolish. In the last week, you have found 23 active killers. Very good work.

My blood became icy. "How do you know that?"

"Because we have been keeping an eye on FBI correspondence. Agent Santos is not as safe as she believes.

Santos reached for the telephone. "Who is this? How do you get into our systems?

"Agent Santos, you ought to be more concerned about the murderers you're not pursuing."

"What do you mean?"

"There are 23 Hunters on your list, but it's not complete."

Elena hurried to her feet. "How incomplete?"

"Elena, you've only recognized half of them. There are actually 577 active supernatural killers in the country.

I was ill. fifty-seven murderers. Twenty-three was more than we could manage.

"What do you want?" Santos made a demand.

"To present you with a proposal. We will provide you with the locations of five additional Hunters if you cease your pursuit of Catherine Mills.

"Why would we make that deal?"

"Because Catherine Mills is a bait. To entice you to Phoenix, she has been murdering families. You will be entering a trap set especially for Elena as soon as you get there.

Elena's face turned white. "What kind of trap?"

"The type that will murder you and give The Organization your last bit of strength. As we had always intended.

There was a pause in the line.

The voice went on, "You have an hour to make a decision." "Let Catherine Mills kill another family and save Elena's life, or pursue her and lose Elena forever."

"That's not a choice!" I shouted.

"Detective Chen, it's your only option. Because we've been tracking the one person Elena cares about the most, while you've been tracking Hunters."

"Who?"

"Tommy, your nephew. He is currently enrolled at Phoenix Elementary School. A field trip to the science museum.

My heart ceased to beat.

"Tommy dies if Elena visits Phoenix. The Morrison family will perish tonight when Catherine breaks into their new home if Elena doesn't travel to Phoenix."

Santos took hold of my arm. "It's another trap, Sarah."

Perhaps. However, what if it isn't? I glanced at Elena, who had fear in her silver eyes.

"I can't let you choose between saving Tommy and saving innocent strangers, Sarah," Elena said softly.

"Then what do we do?"

Elena's face hardened. "Everyone is saved."

"How?"

"By separating. To stop Catherine, you and Santos travel to Phoenix. I'm going to Tommy's school.

"You're still too weak to fight alone, Elena!"

"I'll need to gain strength quickly."

A text message buzzed on my phone.

"We have fifty-six minutes to make a decision. Make an informed decision. -The Hunter Network.

I gazed at the message, then at Elena's anxious face, and finally at the red-dot-covered map.

We had less than an hour to figure out how to save my nephew, stop a supernatural killer, be in two places at once, and avoid falling into a trap that could permanently ruin Elena.

And in the back of my mind, I kept thinking that even if we were successful, we were still giving The Organization the advantage.

"Elena," I said slowly, "what if this is all part of the plan to keep us apart?"

"What do you mean?"

"What if they wish for us to part ways? What if Tommy's school or Phoenix aren't the actual traps?

Elena's silver eyes grew wide with comprehension.

"Where is the one location where they know we wouldn't anticipate an attack, Sarah?"

We exchanged increasingly horrified glances.

"Here," Santos muttered. "They want us to leave the FBI office wit
hout any protection."

The lights went out.

We could hear dozens of footsteps circling the building in the darkness.

And a voice that chilled my blood.

"Hello, Sarah. Catherine Mills is this person. I appreciate how simple you made this.