Episode One: The beginning

"If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself."

-George Orwell

♡

"Reylah! " A shrill voice screamed in urgency.

"Reylah! "

In the upper story of the house a woman was bathing in the bathroom of her bedroom. She came out and dressed herself then quickly ran down the stairs to calm the tsunami downstairs.

"Coming, coming." Her soft voice strongly echoed in the house and her stunning hazelnut brown eyes focused carefully on passing through the staircase.

"huuuuhh, Just where were you and what were you doing last night that you had to take a shower bright early in the morning? What made your clothes so dirty?" She sighed and immediately fired questions at her like a rifle.

"Do you know that I will be in trouble with your brother whenever you do this? I had to call your friends, I was so nervous. Don't take such risks again." She continued.

Reylah shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Hannah if only you would stop looking at your phone and actually pay attention, you'd realise I was here way back, I was fixing the sink since it was leaking again. But I don't know how I got ketchup or something red on my clothes....." she trailed off.

".......Anyways you do know I have mild OCD."

Hannah had put down her phone and got up to fill herself a glass of water. "Alright, Alright. Anything you say."

"Ah! Right, Reylah I am going to trouble you to look after the bakery today and it's Jays parents evening today as well. I have other things to do so..." she veiled an apologetic face and urged upstairs after hearing her reply, "Don't worry, sister-in-law, I will do so."

"Alright, now where is this naughty little boy."

Outside in the park, a group of children were playing football.

"Hey, hey. Pass it on here!"

"Buddy over here."

"Here, here!"

"Score! Yayyyyyhhhyyyyy!"

The whistle was blown and everyone sat down to have a rest.

Jay had been the one to score and was now drinking water when he saw his aunt, Reylah, he loves and cherishes his aunt very much.

"Aunt, what are you doing here?" He run towards the tree where Reylah was quietly watching the game in her black coat come to a finish, she was really proud of her nephew who was a natural talent In all kinds of sports and a topper at school. He definitely has a bright future.

"Amazing! My wonderful baby!" She cupped his cheeks into her hands and smiled proudly.

Jay sighed deeply and questioned, "Did mom send you here, for the parents evening?" His face was now donned with a sad expression.

"Jay, can't I come to your parents evening?"

"No, of course you can. I just....'

"Listen, Jay, after mom and dads accident brother and sister-in-law have been working hard to provide for the family and I just arrived 7 months ago from abroad, I want to have the opportunity to be in your life, will you give me the chance to fill up for the times we've missed?"

Jay was quietly processing her words, he knew she was only trying to cover up for the negligence he receives from his parents but he was happy to know someone cared so deeply for him. Of course, he would always give a second chance to his beloved aunt. He smiled and lightly nodded his head.

\*

The police cars were standing outside 'The King's Hotel' whilst reporters were swarming to get information.

A car arrived, what seemed like a undercover police car and a tall, well built man gracefully stepped out. He was enrobed in a light blue armani suit and his shoes were black. He looked serious and handsome. The aura emanating him staged his importance. He paced forth towards the crime scene.

Inside the hotel police had already secured the crime scene with security measures and investigators were bent on finding clues diligently. The scene was as how the criminal had left.

The officer in charge spoke, "Seriously! Can't we get a day of rest? This is already the seventh murder in the last seven months and it is done in the exact same way. This serial killer seems to be a restless beast."

Another questioned earnestly, "I wonder which skillfull investigator is going to solve this series of murder?"

A voice reckoned, "Good morning, sir." It was the man from earlier.

"Good morning" The officer in charge nodded

"Inspector Ryan, reporting."

"I will be solving this case, Sir." He was assigned to this case by the police higher - ups and he was also quite interested in this particular case, the killer was just too intriguing.

"Do you want to have cardamom?" Inspector Ryan offered while putting a cardamom into his mouth.

"No."

"It gives a nice minty and fresh taste to your mouth, you'd need it."

" No, thank you." What was he doing, investigating or promoting people to have cardamom?

"As you wish." Inspector Ryan shrugged his head and turned to the bathroom and said, "Have you guys checked the records of when the shower began and stopped? The killer has cleaned off all evidences he must've also cleaned himself."

"Inspector Ryan, everyone knows that even an amateur criminal makes sure to avoid such s

circumstances." The officer in charge retorted. What was this man thinking and doing?

"Sir. Even an amateur officer makes sure to check this." He wasn't going to let people command him.

Inspector Ryan removed his sunglasses and examined the entire hotel room. The victims body was left like how it was with a conspicuous stab in her heart, blood had been stopped but it was cruel. Extremely heartless. His eyes explored the paintings hung on the wall and commented, "Madness. She is mad."

The officer in charge corrected him, "it is a 'he', what woman has a foot size of 11?"

"Sir. What man adorns bright red lipstick and leaves it on the painting like that? Of course unless he is a transgender."

The officer in charge was dumbfounded, how could he miss the red lipstick be hand the painting?

Inspector Ryan smirk victoriously and calmly put on his shade glasses then he dramatically escorted himself out whilst the rest of the investigation team gladly gave him a way out.

"Aunt, can we go to ice cream parlour, please?" Jay had been nagging Reylah continuously after their appointment with the teacher was over; although he was at the top of his average grades and even second place in the entire school because an annoying, shy and nerdy girl had always taken his 1st position from him, 'One day I will definitely beat that freckled nerd', he was involved in numerous fight that were verbal and had gotten physical. 'Now aunt Reylah isn't happy and she won't buy me icecream'. He pouted, he was definitely going to teach those crybabies a proper lesson. Besides, how was it his fault if they were the one asking for trouble; he was only kindly giving them what they wanted. Aunt Reylah, mom and dad just never understood and would've never understand him. It was so unfair!

"Alright, lets go to Zila parlour?" Reylah knew that her lovely nephew would never mingle in anything that would be bad for him a nd if he did, he must've had a reason. She blindly trusted this scheming 11 year old boy. What she did not know was that her lovely nephew was in the middle of cooking conspiracies on how to get his revenge.

"Yes! I love zila parlour." He exclaimed, happiness and excitement was evident on his face.

///\*/

A black bugatti was speeding on the highway whilst the driver was listening to the radio.

"Today, we have some serious news and concern for all our fellow citizens." The radio sounded as the drivers red - painted nails hit eerily against the steering wheel. She was a woman.

"In the streets of London knife crime has risen exponentially and now we have a serial killer roaming free on the streets. The police found another dead body in The King's hotel and this concludes the seventh murder."

The woman pulled force on the accelerator, she noticed another car that had been following her for quite some time. She was nervous. "Oh God. Don't tell me he is that serial killer?" she panicked and lost control of her car.

The radio yearned to continue, "It is suspected the serial killer is a male, sized 11......."

The turned her car Into a desolate location and slowed down.

"........We strongly advise everyone and anyone to be safe at all times and report anything unusual."

Both car abruptly stopped at a isolated scrap car garage. The wheels screeched and the dry dust flew Into the air creating momentary fog.

"Please! Please, don't kill me. I'll give you anything you want. I still want to live and marry and have children." The woman frantically pleaded with her hands folded, she tried to cry but tears just wouldn't come out. 'Stupid tears!'

The man was dressed in a black armani suit and his hair styled into side part, his shoes were shiny black. He looked stylish and seemed wealthy. His onyx blue eyes were concentrated deeply on the car and completely ignored the pleading woman. For him, she was a nuisance.

His hands reached out to open the black bugatti boot and a man came out; he tried to attack him but was blocked instead he fell to floor with a loud thud. The police were already informed and they cuffed him.

The woman was completely shocked. Dumbfounded. Perplexed. What the hell in the world and heavens was going on?! However the next minute...

"wow! Did I just get saved by my prince charming on his horse- ah! I mean in his car!"

Another man exclaimed, "Indeed, who knows you might just be the woman of his dreams!"

And the remaining crowd nodded in approval.

The police officer handed a pen to the 'hero' and said, "Sir, was this what you came for?"

He replied, "If not, what else. This is important to me."

Everyone at the scene were strucked by lightning and their mouths fell to the floor. What the hell! So much trouble for just a measly pen that doesn't even look expensive?! Was what was on everyone's mind.

The man earlier sighed deeply and remarked, " Even a lady in distress couldn't melt his heart."

"The 767th woman refused." He dejectedly swung his arms to the floor.

"Wait! Is he that Ryder Chanler? Oh, Oh! OMG! He is." She enthusiastically shouted out. He was indeed Ryder Chanler, the wealthy and genius business tycoon.

Ryder was already annoyed when that man had somehow stolen his pen and ducked into a bugatti, he had to chase all the way here to retrieve his precious pen. He was sitting in his car and recalled when *he had an urgent meeting with the principle of Outstanding school when he bumped into a woman who had accidently stepped on his pen. He was irritated, a lot of bad things had already happened today and now God was punishing him further but when he looked at the women his world stopped orbiting. The woman's clear hazel - nut brown eyes showed her innocence and purity, her guilty smile revealed her honesty. He was intensely ogling at her when she snapped her fingers in his face. She started to apologise, "Ummm... I am so sorry... Excuse me?" He was brought back to reality and immediately asked for her name.

"What is your name?"

"What?!" She was confused. Was he going to make her pay some kind of huge compensation for a pen? He looked the strict and arrogant type.

"Listen sir, I am sorry I accidentally stepped on your pen and it broke." The lady rummaged through her bag and handed a pen to him, "I don't know if this is enough but I sincerely am sorry."

And her walking away concluded their short but destined meeting. He smiled*.

After sending Jay home, Reylah set off for the bakery. When she arrived the bakery was extremely busy due to Hannahs amazing talent for business management. The Adams family's head was a renowned psychology professor and his wife had a few successful bakery stores over London. They were no strangers to privileges.

An elderly woman was sitting next to the shop, it seemed she was a homeless and the guard was urging her to go away.

Reylah stride forth and shouted, "Enough!"

The security ward was caught guard and did not realise when Reylah pushed him aside. He was absolutely angered by this woman who dared to behave like this with him!

"What, your gonna shout at me, Reylah Adams, now?" She gave him a threatening glare and moved towards the elderly women, her black coat was now around the elderly woman's shivering shoulders.

"Dear child, your coat must be very expensive." The elderly woman was barely able to speak due to the coldness of the weather.

Reylah smirked and assured her, "Don't worry, that coat has already done it's purpose, it's of no use to me but at least it can keep you warm. Now you keep it." She took some money out of her purse and gave it to the elderly woman however she replied that she was only standing near the shop because she wanted to buy a cake for her granddaughters birthday but this guard wouldn't let her in seeing her clothing.

Reylah thought, 'I should fire this kind of useless guard' and apologised to the elderly woman for the inconvenience instead to express her sincere apology she decide to give her a cake for free.

The store had been running peaceful when a girl cane running into the shop and knocked over Reylah's bag. "Careful, Elizabeth! " Reylah nervously shouted.

The bags content spilled onto the floor like coffee and a very explicit item could be seen. A knife.

Elizabeth gasped, shocked, and ogled at the knife for a very long time before turning her head to Reylah to nervously question her, "Rey-Reylah, don't tell me you are the....serial killer?"

♡

"The biggest suspense of today's life is that you don't know who is 'praying' for you and who is 'playing' with you.

-Annonymous

♡

*-this is when Ryder is thinking back, just in case you guys are confusedd

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