The Calm Before the Storm
Alexander Bluestone stood inside the dimly lit armory of the Liverpool Police Department, his sapphire-blue eyes scanning the weapons lined up before him. His fingers trailed over the steel barrels, his expression unreadable. Finally, he settled on a black pump-action shotgun, its polished metal gleaming under the fluorescent light.
Mark Alberton, seated behind his desk, raised a brow. "You're taking this too personally."
Alexander chuckled coldly, loading shells into the shotgun with precision. "They played well. I played better. Now I finish the game." He cocked the shotgun, the loud clack echoing through the office.
Mark sighed, rubbing his temples. "I won't stop you. Just clean up after yourself."
Alexander smirked. "I always do."
He slung the shotgun over his shoulder and walked out without another word.
The Hunt Begins
Back at the detective office, Rose, Darmian, and Madison sat in tense silence as Alexander entered, his movements calculated and sharp. The shotgun rested against his shoulder, his golden pocket watch dangling from his vest, ticking softly.
"Get up," he ordered, his voice low yet commanding.
The three looked at each other but obeyed instantly.
"Where are we going?" Darmian finally asked.
Alexander turned to them, his cold gaze unwavering. "To end someone's story."
There was no further explanation. The three simply followed him into the night.
The Gathering at the Shipyard
The shipyard was vast, the cold wind carrying the scent of fish and rusted metal. Beneath the flickering floodlights, a group of fifteen sailors and dock workers stood in a loose circle near a cargo ship, their eyes filled with apprehension.
At the center of them stood Grim Reaper himself, his dark coat flowing in the wind, his mask gleaming under the artificial light. He stood like a phantom, his presence alone suffocating.
The captain of the ship, Langley, stepped forward hesitantly. "You told us this would go unnoticed." His voice carried a slight tremor.
Grim tilted his head, his mask concealing any emotion. "It did… until it didn't."
One of the younger sailors, barely past his twenties, clenched his fists. "The police are all over this now! That detective, Bluestone, is on our backs!"
Grim chuckled softly. "Then kill him."
The men exchanged nervous glances. Killing civilians was one thing. Killing Alexander Bluestone was suicide.
"He's not normal," Langley muttered. "He finds things no one else does. He plays people like a devil in human skin."
Grim remained still, the weight of his silence pressing down on them. Then, he spoke in a whisper-like tone. "You either eliminate obstacles… or become one yourself."
Langley swallowed hard. Before he could reply—
BOOM.
The sound of a shotgun blast shattered the night. One of the sailors dropped instantly, his body hitting the cold ground.
The group turned in shock.
Atop a cargo container, standing with his shotgun in hand, was Alexander Bluestone. His coat billowed in the wind, his face partially shadowed under his cap. A predator had entered their den.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Alexander's voice rang out, laced with amusement. "Did I interrupt something?"
Without hesitation, he jumped down from the container, his boots hitting the ground with a heavy thud. Rose, Darmian, and Madison stood behind him, but he raised a hand—they were not needed.
The sailors panicked, reaching for their weapons—knives, pipes, and a few pistols.
Big mistake.
BOOM.
Alexander fired again. Another man dropped.
BOOM.
A third one fell, blood pooling beneath him.
In the chaos, some tried to run.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Two more collapsed before they could take a step.
Rose, Darmian, and Madison watched in silent terror. The precision, the lack of hesitation, the sheer cold-blooded efficiency of Alexander's actions—it was inhuman.
Within moments, fifteen men lay dead.
The only one left standing was Captain Langley, his body frozen in place. He barely had the strength to breathe as Alexander turned to him, the shotgun still aimed.
The Devil's Gospel
Alexander took slow steps toward Langley, his eyes gleaming with something far beyond mere anger.
"P-Please…" Langley stammered. "I-I'll tell you everything… I—"
Alexander smirked. "You already have."
Langley blinked in confusion.
"The scent," Alexander explained, casually reloading his shotgun. "The smell of fish at the crime scene matched this shipyard. The blood patterns at the mall? Too precise for random thugs. It was a smuggler's work—someone used to careful cuts and controlled executions."
He clicked the last shell into place and continued, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper.
"You were sloppy, Langley. Your best work of play… was my worst miscalculation."
Langley fell to his knees, his hands trembling. "I-I was just following orders… I—"
"Orders?" Alexander let out a dark chuckle. "Do you think orders erase responsibility? Do you think following another wolf makes you less of a beast?"
Langley gasped, eyes darting around in desperation.
"You wanted power," Alexander continued, crouching down to meet Langley's gaze. "But power without intelligence is a curse. The strong devour the weak. And the fools… become entertainment for the wise."
Langley's lips quivered. "I—"
"Shhh." Alexander raised a gloved finger to his lips.
And then, he straightened, stepping back. The shotgun leveled at Langley's head.
"My worst miscalculation," Alexander repeated, tilting his head. "Your best work of play."
BOOM.
Langley's body hit the ground. Lifeless.
The Aftermath
The silence that followed was deafening. The only sound was the distant crash of waves against the docks.
Alexander exhaled slowly, lowering his shotgun. He turned back to his team.
Rose, Darmian, and Madison stood frozen. Their eyes reflected fear.
Rose, in particular, looked like she had seen the devil himself.
Alexander sighed, shaking his head. "Watch and learn, kids."
Then, without another word, he turned and walked away, his coat billowing behind him.
The three did not move.
They could only watch as Alexander Bluestone disappeared into the night—a man who was no longer just a detective.
He was something else entirely.