On January 15th, dawn broke over Crimson Peak like a bruise on the horizon. The streets were still empty, with no sounds of traffic or speeding cars. The chirping of birds was the only noise to be heard. The roads were covered in snow; it was a typical winter morning—until a scream shattered the silence.
Within minutes, the once-empty street was filled with patrol cars, their sirens echoing through the area. Curious passersby and nearby residents gathered to see what was happening.
At the entrance of the Golden Z, a well-known entertainment company in the city, lay the lifeless body of Stephanie Gil. The 25-year-old actress, once celebrated for her beauty and remarkable acting talent, now lay on the cold floor of her industry's building. Her face was nearly destroyed: the corners of her mouth were cut, her lower eyelids slashed off, fake eyelashes sewn onto her still-bleeding upper eyelids, and a permanent crown impaled on her head. Her eyes were open, staring blankly at the sky, with crimson stains running from her forehead down to her nose.
Detective Logan Hooper looked at the crime scene before him in disbelief. The city hadn't seen a murder case in over a decade.
"Isn't she the victim from the recent sexual harassment scandal at the Golden Z industry?" Owen William, a police officer and close friend of Detective Hooper, asked.
"She is" Hooper replied.
"Do you think the other party involved in the scandal has something to do with this sudden murder?"