Peaceful dreamless sleep halted when Skylar's ringtone, Kiss Me Like the World is Ending by Avril Lavigne, began buzzing quietly around three in the morning. At first, she ignored it but before the song ended, her hand began reaching for her phone and turned off the alarm. Before, she would throw any alarm that had been disturbing her sleep but surprisingly it changed when she needed to take charge around the house while Vincencio still recovering – for her.
"Morning God, thanks for another day and dreamless sleep. But please, help me do my husband's work around the house without messing badly. Amen." Skylar prayed while yawning before getting up and kissing Vincencio's head and whispering. "Rest well. Let me handle the rest."
Skylar doesn't pray much, however, recently, she does, especially around the house. She doesn't want to mess things up badly and to prove to herself that she could do it too. She started waking up earlier than usual and little by little, she started getting used to the household chores without Vincencio's guidance. She went downstairs after doing her morning routine and headed to the kitchen to start preparing their breakfast. She gathered ingredients and utensils that she would be using before cooking. She was proud of herself when she burned their food less than before and did the laundry not overly bubbled.
"That's all set." Skylar proudly said that she cooked bacon, scrambled eggs, sausages, and fried rice without burning them. But her body tensed up when she felt a pair of arms wrapped protectively around her waist and the familiar lips kissing her shoulder.
"That's smells good," Vincencio commented sweetly.
"And I'm proud of it." Skylar added and faced Vincencio to peck his lips before asking, "Why you're up? It's still early."
"I didn't. It's my usual wake-up time." He responded and snuggled in the crook of her neck.
"Oh, it's already five." She said when she noticed the clock in the kitchen and then a beeping sound interrupted them. "That's my laundry."
"Let me and start plating them." He said and kissed her head before he went to their laundry area.
After they had their usual warm breakfast, Vincencio would push Skylar away from the kitchen but at this moment, he was the one who was kicked out since Skylar didn't want him to move too much although he was fully healed and recovered. Skylar wanted to pamper him even just once which Vincencio didn't complain or it might not end well. He let her do her thing since she was already getting used to it. Vincencio opened their television and heard the breaking news around the city where Skylar's ears perked up and went beside her husband.
Today's News Flash Headlines: A businessman, Mr. Choi was found dead in an empty container with four unidentified men in the Black Tower Prison's cemetery.
News Caster: Good morning citizen of Chevalier City, this is Marwen Zinger your caster for this morning. This is another shocking headline for today that we would like to apologize beforehand. Once again, our field reporter, Abigail Santos will tell us what the report is about.
Field Reporter: Morning Marwen, five men were found dead in an empty container within the Black Tower Prison's cemetery. Mr. Choi's body was identified when they saw his card but the four men with him were still unidentified. But the officers said they seem working together.
They showed a secured perimeter around a certain area of the prison's cemetery before showing slightly blurry images of the men's dead bodies. The bodies were half naked, badly beaten, and horribly chopped lay carefully on a spreadsheet of the crime scene investigators. They were doing their jobs, studying the victim's body, and the surroundings and searching for any potential evidence that might be around the scene but everything only lies inside the scene.
Field Reporter: As you can see the investigators were gathering potential evidence around the scene but the area around the container was barely clear only two strong chemical gallons were found. The paramedics tested it and said that the chemical gave me intensified hallucinations inside a locked room or in the container behind me.
News Caster: So, they commit suicide after killing each other? That doesn't make any sense.
Field Reporter: The investigators said based on the scene, Mr Choi beat and killed them to death before ending himself. But they saw the same tainted white rose, it changed everything.
News Caster: Rose Slayer strikes again.
Field Reporter: That's how everyone would say but the investigators holding her case firmly said that Rose Slayer killed the four men but Mr. Choi, was the one who killed himself.
News Caster: How could they say Rose Slayer didn't kill Mr. Choi?
Field Reporter: They said Rose Slayer's tainted rose is usually found on or beside the corpse which is identified the four victims. However, in Mr. Choi's case, it was different.
News Caster: He committed suicide is that what they were saying?
Field Reporter: Yes, Marwen. With the effect of the chemical in the container, they concluded that Rose Slayer made Mr. Choi choose to be either killed or kill himself. And being drugged, he killed himself.
The camera panned back and showed the field reporter, standing confidently, reporting the crime scene while the investigators were busy and police officers were spread out, securing the crime scene's perimeter.
News Caster: That's frightening. So, how about Mr. Choi's connection to the four victims?
Field Reporter: They can't be sure since they still could not identify them. However, based on how they were found, they were just a few feet away from each other, making the investigators conclude their close connection which perhaps through business transactions.
Newscaster: Maybe that could be it since Mr. Choi is a businessman, right?
Field Reporter: Yes, Mr. Choi is a small-time cargo business and this may have happened due to a serious dispute with the said business that led to their deaths.
News Caster: Did the investigators think Rose Slayer had been hired to kill them?
Field Reporter: They said it could be since they noticed a potential change in Rose Slayer's killing patterns.
News Caster: What do you mean?
Field Reporter: This is the first time Rose Slayer killed five men in one night within one container. They also concluded that Rose Slayer might not be just one person.
News Caster: If that is the case then the authority will make a move.
Field Reporter: Yes, Marwen. They wish and hope that the citizens will comply with being careful doing their daily lives while they chase for the suspect. That's it for today's morning news, this is Abigail Santos, reporting.
News Caster: Thank you, Abigail Santos. There you have it, Citizen of Chevalier City. Rose Slayer is still on the loose, so be careful, a citizen of Chevalier City, and good morning.
"I shouldn't be glad that he's gone but damn, I am relief and I can bet the other small cargo businesses were feeling the same way too." Vincencio reacted calmly and in relief, making Skylar smile. She pulled something out of her husband's way without being noticed. "He's been an eyesore."
"You know him?" Skylar wondered as she leaned by the couch's armrest.
"Yeah, he's one of the reasons why got home late. He was an eyesore among small-time shipping business owners. He has been talking, manipulating our words, and being against each other which is quite annoying." He responded with a sigh before amusingly commenting on Rose Slayer's news. "But damn, that's new."
"What do you mean new?" She curiously wondered.
"Well like the news said, Rose Slayer never killed five men in one night specifically in one room. Rose Slayer killed one target at a time which I could say was meticulous and careful. But this incident stated differently." He answered amusingly before adding while shaking his head. "It's a risky bold move for a clean killer, but it screamed how dangerous Rose Slayer could be and I could feel the anger based on how they died."
"That's true. I never killed like that unless everything fell into place but in Mr. Choi's case…there's something I missed. Something I could not recall and I think, it never happened before, right?" With puzzlement, Skylar thought carefully before asking, "How can you say Rose Slayer is mad?"
"Hm, based on the reports from the news, I could tell how Rose Slayer could kill its target. Rose Slayer is a clean brutal killer but clocking itself. But in the news today, I could tell Rose Slayer played with fire and the chemical, it was well thought." Vincencio explained before admitting his impressed with a killer's work. "I think it was still the same on how Rose Slayer killed its target without leaving its tracks despite how they hardly died and for the first time, I could not complain. I think I understand now why you like her."
"Well, I told you, she's one of a kind." She chuckled and kissed his head before continuing her cleaning job around the kitchen, yet, still bothered by something. "But, something is missing…why I can't remember how I killed them?"
***
"Boss Sky," Medina called her worriedly. "SKYLAR!"
"Yeah?" Skylar responded after snapping from her deep thought.
"I've been calling you, are you alright?" She asked worriedly, making Skylar nod.
"Oh, pardon me. I'm thinking something." She faintly smiled before focusing on the meeting she was in. "Where we are?"
"So, about the game event project of SaiRus Corp., they already came up with the release date and they wanted to confirm if we could produce them before the game event is launched?" The team leader assigned to the project continued the meeting.
"What did the production say?" she asked coldly while checking the file before her.
"They all agree and only waiting for your approval." The team leader answered while Skylar thoroughly checked the project reports and updates.
"If there are no other adjustments or changes in the design, then proceed. Clarified everything to the SaiRus Corp. since we need to be on the same page," She answered coldly before reminding them. "…also don't forget to secure everything. Are we clear?"
"Yes, Boss." they all agreed.
"Dismiss." She dismissed them.
When they were alone in the seminar room, Skylar pinched the bridge of her nose before slouching on her chair, lost in thoughts again, luckily, Medina intercepted it.
"Sky, stop thinking." Medina gently said while giving her a cup of chamomile mint tea.
"I can't help it, Med." Skylar responded dejectedly as something went wrong before adding, "This is the first time, I could not recall how I do it."
"It seems to me you've seen the news already." She understood what her boss was saying.
"And you know something?" she wondered coldly, making her nod.
"I can't say it but, I think you better watch the way you do it." She said, not answering what she knew.
"I know how I do it." She replied defensively but Medina already knew that.
"I know that already – we know that but since it escalated, you better check it for yourself." She interjected but sounded serious.
"You make sound difficult to understand." She sighed, sensing something would change once she learn it and it terrified her.
"Well, it does since you still move the same but on the spot, during the process, you're different. It's scary but we're more concerned about your well-being that's why we didn't say anything until you asked." With calmness in her voice, Medina said briefly before adding, "I think it's the right time to know something."
"Am I becoming a monster?" She asked worriedly, making Medina smile.
"You're the only one who could answer that. But Skylar…" She responded and patted her shoulder before leaving assuring words from a friend and loyal follower. "To me, us, you're already a monster on the battlefield and a friend that we wouldn't trade for anything."
"So, changes are really upon me." With a defeated tone, Skylar chuckled weakly.
"Seems like it but don't worry, I kept the records for your sake," Medina assured her.
"All of it?" Frowning, she wondered curiously this time.
"Yeah, and don't give me that look. They were hidden safely." Medina grinned slyly before reminding her boss, what kind of Beta she was. "I'm your hacker and surveillance security, so I have my ways to keep what I know safely hidden from the likes of me."
"You're right." Skylar chuckled amusingly before firmly adding, "Tonight, there's no hunt but all tasks must be flowing smoothly. Are we clear on that?"
"Crystal, Boss Sky." She teasingly winked at her boss who left the seminar room like a cold storm.