Even the perfect mask can crack when someone starts looking too closely.
---
7:06 A.M.
Creed Residence – Kitchen
Silas sits at the kitchen counter, sipping hot coffee. The news hums quietly in the background.
> "...and once again, the infamous serial killer known as 'The Hollow' has uploaded a new video, this time involving a local teenager reported missing just yesterday. Authorities have not released a name, but—"
Click.
He turns the TV off and takes another sip.
His fingers tap against the mug, rhythmic. Thinking.
Too fast.
Three kills in two weeks.
He's making waves. On purpose. But…
He needs to slow down.
---
8:12 A.M.
St. Gabriel's High – Main Hall
The air buzzes differently today.
Students whisper in corners. A few teachers gather near the lounge, murmuring about "curfews" and "missing persons."
Silas walks calmly through it all. As if he doesn't hear the noise.
He passes by two girls gossiping.
"…I heard it was someone from our school."
"No way. Seriously?"
"Yeah. Class 3-C. A second-year. Just vanished."
He doesn't turn his head, but his golden eyes flicker.
3-C… That's Kazuto's class.
---
10:41 A.M.
Teacher's Office
Detective Naomi Kisaragi closes her file and leans back in the chair. She's dressed in plain clothes — sharp blazer, jeans, clean sneakers. Understated but efficient. Her badge hangs loosely on her neck.
"Thanks for the space," she says to the principal, who nods nervously.
"Of course. We're deeply concerned about our students."
She turns to the stack of class lists in front of her.
So far, all confirmed Hollow victims were known to be violent, abusive, or criminal. Hidden crimes. Known only after death.
She flips to Kazuto Mori's file. Bare. Nothing on record. No notes. No flags.
And yet...
A copy of the last Hollow video plays silently on her laptop. Kazuto's terrified eyes. His voice digitized into distortion. Symbols in the corner.
Kisaragi narrows her eyes.
"There's something off here…"
---
12:59 P.M.
School Rooftop
Silas eats alone again. He always does. People are drawn to him — but he never invites them in.
He scrolls through his phone. HollowNet viewership spiked again.
> Top comment:
"Hollow's evolving. The kills are personal now."
He sighs.
They're paying too much attention.
Then his phone buzzes. A message.
> Unknown ID:
"You're not the only one watching."
Attachment: A blurry screenshot of Silas... taken this morning, entering school.
He freezes.
Not from fear.
From curiosity.
Someone is playing a game.
And Silas loves games.
---
3:04 P.M.
Library – After Class
He's at the computer terminal. Searching.
Tracing the message's origin. Hacking through encrypted networks. IPs bouncing through proxies.
The trail stops cold — rerouted through a military server in Finland.
Silas leans back. Smiling a little.
"Cute."
He wipes the trace clean behind him. Encrypts the encryption. Makes it look like no one was ever here.
---
5:46 P.M.
Streets – Downtown
Detective Kisaragi walks through the streets near the school, sipping vending machine coffee.
She reviews her notes aloud.
"Victims: middle-aged drunk driver. Abusive father. Corrupt board member. Now a teenage animal abuser. All scum. No obvious connection."
She pauses.
"No forced entry. No signs of struggle. These aren't random. These are executions."
She stops walking. Looks up at the school's towering silhouette.
"What if the killer's not an outsider?"
---
10:15 P.M.
Studio
Silas sharpens a blade slowly, sliding it against stone in slow strokes.
He's not hunting tonight.
He's watching.
He replays the moment the message hit his phone. Analyzes the image again. The angle. The distortion.
It was taken with a school security cam.
That narrows it down.
He hacks into the school's private network.
One by one, he watches the cameras from this morning.
Then—
He freezes frame.
A woman.
Plain clothes. Standing with the principal. Badge barely visible under her coat.
He zooms in. Enhances. Draws out the name on the lanyard.
> Naomi Kisaragi. Criminal Investigations Division. Age: 32. Status: Dangerous.
---
Final Scene
Silas leans back in his chair. Golden eyes reflecting the screen.
"She's getting closer."
He smiles. This time, not out of amusement.
But anticipation.
He hasn't had a challenge in a long, long time.
---
Final Line:
> "Let's see how good you really are, Detective."
---