/simu/ - Simulacrum

>>315
>March 2nd, 2017

>The sun rises over New York City, bathing the city in the rays of light, and revealing the scene from the previous night.

>Before long, the alleyway is closed off, the typical police tape blocking the path into it, with police officers and cars forming impromptu barricades at either side. While a few onlookers try to get a peak beyond the barriers, they are quickly moved onwards by the officers.

>With the cordon effectively established, another police car pulls up, this one an unmarked vehicle, and two men step out, one old and experienced, the other one much younger than him, and clearly lacking experience.

>The two men make their way beyond the police line, seeing the carnage from the previous night, the younger of the two heaving when he sees the bodies, earning a chuckle from the older man.

"It's alright kid, that reaction just shows you've still got a heart. . ."

>The older man looks around quickly before flagging over one of the police officers.

"So, what're we looking at exactly?"

"Multiple homicides, all the victims were involved in drugs somehow, attacker appears to be smaller than them, judging by the. . ."

>The officer indicates at one of the arrows

". . .the arrows, maybe a meta?"

"Let's not be hasty. No need to involve the Meta-Wranglers yet, we can handle a good old serial killer."

>The younger man speaks up.

"We probably should though, I mean, they said to in the ac-"

"This is a police matter, if they want to come for our turf they can try. No, this looks like a regular serial killer to me, police matter."

>The older man indicates to one of the arrows.

"Take one of those in and bag it up, kid, can't be too many places that sell arrows like that in the city."

"Couldn't they have just bought it online?"

"Nah, something like that? They'd want to pay for it with paper, too easy to trace otherwise."

"If you say so. . ."

>>317
>March 2nd, 2017

>The morning sun shines through the window of a Brooklyn apartment, its rays shining down on the occupant, a young woman who looks to be no older than her 20s.

>Suddenly, an alarm goes off, disturbing the woman, who groggily groans and slams her hand down on the clock making the sound, silencing it.

>Satisifed, the woman turns around and murmurs something in her sleep.

>Then, another noise interrupts the woman - the sound of someone knocking of her door. This noise manages to rouse her, pulling her out of bed and slowly over to the door, her journey only stopped to move a chair from a small dining table so that she can reach the peephole.

>With a yawn, the woman looks through the door to see her visitor is someone she recognises, the building's superintendent, and she wearily opens the door on the latch so that she can talk through it.

>With a yawn, she addresses the man:
"Yeaaah?"

"I got a leak on the next floor, so I'm gonna keep it quick - you got a pet in there?"

>Something rustles in the apartment, and the woman's ear twitches as she strains to hear what moved, before looking back at the superintendent.

". . .no?"

"Look, I ain't gonna get mad if you do, I get it, y'know? But the building rules say no pets, even if you do own your place."

>The woman hears the rustling sound again, and looks back into the apartment, then back to the man when she sees nothing.

"I don't though. . ."

"You won't mind if I have a quick look inside then?"

"Sure. . . I guess. . . Lemme just get this chair out've the way. . ."

>With another yawn, the woman pulls the chair aside and opens the door, stepping aside for the superintendent to enter.

>The superintendent looks around the room for a moment, taking it in. . .

>As he does so, the woman tenses up as she feels something touch her shoulder, and a voice whispers into her ear:
"Kill him, he knows too much. . ."

>Shaking her head to dismiss the voice, the woman calls out to the man.

"No pet, right?"

>The superintendent shrugs.

"Fair enough, can't see any signs of any pets. . ."

>The superintendent gives the room a final scan, noticing that a window leading out to the fire escape is open.

"Ah, y'see, that's why they reported it, said that window's been open at night."

"Oh. . . right. . . that's for me, I've been getting too hot at night - not hot enough to turn on the air con though. . ."

>The superintendent shrugs.

"Not my business, just making sure you're not breaking any building rules. . ."

>Wasting no time, the man makes his way out of the apartment, turning back around to face the woman.

"It's a bit messy, but no sign of any pets, give me a call if you get any problems, ok?"

"Okay. . ."

>The woman shuts the door behind the man, her stance and facial expression immediately dropping as soon as the door is locked. . .

>>367
>The lighting in the room appears to dim as the voice speaks up again.

"You should have killed him. He knows too much."

"He hasn't done anything. We said we'd only go after guilty people. . ."

"Or those who know our secret, he knows too much."

"He doesn't know anything, he thought I was keeping a cat or something."

>The voice is silent for a few moments, and then the darkness recedes.

"I will find more targets for later."

>The woman sighs and picks up a remote from her messy coffee table, turning her TV on to the news to play in the background while she grabs some coffee.

"The individuals, known to the police, were found dead at. . ."

>Armed with a freshly brewed coffee, the woman yawns and sits down, changing the channel.

"The NYPD has released a statement on the incident, confirming that they currently believe that the suspect was not a Meta-Human. . ."

>With another yawn, the woman switches away from the news, bringing up a children's cartoon.