The ground crunched under Viktor's feet as he scanned the empty field around him.
It was normal on all accounts. The sky was its usual gray and the grass grew correctly, according to the season. The only hint of uncertainty was the faint chirp of sirens.
Viktor was a decent detective. Well, he must've been doing something right considering he was working for a pretty high end company back in New York. He'd been called into this small town for an investigation the local cops apparently couldn't handle.
"What're we looking at?" He asked, making his way into the crime's center, before he saw it.
The body.
Now, Viktor wasn't new to this job. He'd worked for the police for quite a few years since he was 18 and had been a detective for around five years. He'd seen many dead bodies around Manhattan. Whether they're from burns, pills or just plain murder.
This however was new and it definitely wasn't his average corpse.
The John Doe was covered in crimson blood that oozed from his chest, and his sockets that once housed his eyes were now soulless and empty. His entire body had been distorted into an horrific, unrecognisable mess.
The body was pinned against the electric fence, limbs spread like a starfish.
"Jesus," he muttered, stepping towards the body. He couldn't break his composure, especially in this kind of workplace, but in no way was this normal.
"What do you think happened?" One of the other officers from this small town asked him, eyeing the fence curiously. "Electric shock?"
Viktor turned his attention to him. "What kind of electric fences have you been around?"
There were a few deer far across in the field. They watched the men with cold calculated looks. The animals weren't used to this many people around. This place wasn't exactly a tourist attraction.
He took a few steps closer to the body. That's when he noticed the bones. Whatever had killed him had definitely gotten the job done. His stomach and chest were torn open and his rib cage and organs stuck out, and poured onto the once green grass.
What was most notable was what wasn't there at all. His heart. It looked as if it had been torn straight out of the body's warm hold.
"No, something attacked him first," Viktor decided. "Then he got pushed into the fence."
"Was he shot?" One of the detectives asked. "Or stabbed?"
Viktor shook his head. "Bones don't break like that without machinery," he informed them. "It must've been some kind of animal."
"But what kind of creature leaves marks like that?"
"No creature I'm familiar with."
Stepping away, he took sight of the view around him. Just a regular patch from forest to farmland.
The woods around this area were usually luscious and full of life. Viktor recalled his father taking him and his other siblings there. Joined by the maids, they would have picnics here. His father, Ernest would sit and write in his notebook while Viktor entertained and played with his younger brother and sister. The maids would tell them not to run too far from the picnic sight and be back for food. They'd always come back.
There were usually animals here too. Foxes, squirrels, hawks, owls, even the occasional coyote.
Now the forest was quiet. Other than those distant deer, there wasn't a single chirp from any species of bird or a call of any mammal. Just the cold wail of the wind.
Whatever killed this man, was not from these woods. No animal could make these kinds of marks. The man must've been pushed up against the fence, once the creature had already wounded him.
The fence was dented back harshly, letting any animal close enough in the farmer's field be able to walk free.
They were clearly out of their comfort zone. Viktor rubbed his temple. He couldn't mess this up. He was in charge of these people. He'd been called in specifically for this job. The police here were used to much tamer crimes.
"Secure the perimeter," he ordered. The men nodded. He sighed, tearing his eyes away from the body. "And call for the EMS."
Viktor gazed down beneath his feet.
Footprints.
Two different sets to be exact. One clearly representing the man, with clear enough prints to be zigzagged. The other larger, bare foot with long sharp toenails that dug into the dirt. A trail of blood followed the prints.
"I'm gonna have a look around," he announced, making his way out of the clearing.
Viktor took a breath before continuing on, following the slightly faded blood trail. He eventually stopped near a small clearing. The blood was gone. The larger prints stopped too but the smaller ones continued. He made his way through the trees before coming across a cabin.
The lights were shut off and it oozed an eerie quiet.
The trail of blood had stopped a few paces away, but the human footprints started straight from the cabin.
It was then he realised who the corpse was. Of course it was him. The old ranger who lives here. Him and Viktor's father were quite close. He remembered the older man would often be around at the manor when he was younger.
Viktor's heart ached for the old man, unsure how he'd break the news to his father.
They weren't close anymore since Viktor had moved to New York. While his father loved the quiet community of the country, Viktor had always longed the bustle and excitement of the city.
There was a ringing from his phone. His eyebrow arched as no one usually called him during work. Or at all. To tell the truth he had very few friends. Even in New York. His co-workers found him cold and uncaring. It didn't matter to him either way. He had his job. He didn't need anyone anymore.
"Hello?"
"Viktor, is that you?" A slightly accented voice spoke.
"This is he," he responded. "Sorry, who is this?"
"It's Olga," the voice responded. "I'm so sorry to tell you this but… your father passed away last night."