C22 Chapter 22

Detective Thompson's voice was firm. "We need to see those poems. Emily, can you get them?"

Emily nodded. "I have them here. The poems are... unsettling."

She read them aloud:

*Poem 1:*

Shadows whisper secrets cold

Others watch, unseen, untold

Eyes in darkness, hearts of stone

They’re not the only ones, you’re not alone

*Poem 2:*

Behind the mask, a stranger hides

A life of secrets, a heart of tides

She's not the one you thought you knew

A shadow self, with secrets true

*Poem 3:*

Eyes in the night, they stalk and creep

Watching, waiting, their vigil deep

In shadows dark, they lay in wait

They see you, but you never see too

*Poem 4:*

In darkness, shadows claim her name

Jules, a heart that's lost in flame

Love turns to ash, to dust and pain

Never unlove, or you feel her pains

The team exchanged uneasy glances. The poems were eerily similar to the killer's messages.

Detective Thompson's face was grim. "These poems... they match the killer's style. We need to dig deeper into Jules' past. Who knew her back then?"

Emily nodded. "I'll look into it. But what does it mean? Is the killer someone from Jules' past?"

Jules' expression was tense. "I don't know, but we need to find out."

The safe house's secure line buzzed. Jules answered, her heart racing.

"Hello?"

A voice whispered on the other end. "They're coming for you, Jules."

The line went dead.

Jules' eyes widened as she stumbled back, the phone slipping from her hand. The room spun around her, and she felt herself falling...

Detective Thompson's voice was distant, "Jules! Jules, what's wrong?"

Everything went black.

When Jules came to, she was lying on the couch, Detective Thompson and Emily hovering over her. "Jules, what happened?" Detective Thompson asked, concern etched on his face.

Jules' head pounded, her mind foggy. "I... I don't know. The call... it was him."

Emily handed her a glass of water. "You passed out. Did you hear anything else?"

Jules shook her head, trying to clear it. "No... just the voice. 'They're coming for you, Jules'."

Detective Thompson's expression was grim. "We're getting you out of here. Now."