Snow fell quietly over the city, covering the scars left behind by the explosion.
From a distance, the destroyed street near the Central Police Station looked almost peaceful under the blanket of white.
But beneath that calm surface, the city was trembling.
Inside the temporary investigation headquarters set up at the police station conference hall, tension filled the room like thick fog.
Dozens of officers moved around carrying files, laptops, and evidence reports.
The large screen at the front of the room displayed photographs from the explosion site.
Burned asphalt.Shattered windows.
A deep crater where the mysterious car once stood.
Detective Laura Hayes stood near the screen with her arms crossed.
Her eyes looked tired but determined.
Beside her, several senior officers argued quietly over possible leads.
"We still haven't identified the vehicle."
"No fragments?"
"Nothing usable."
"That's impossible after an explosion that size."
Another officer slammed a folder on the table.
"Then explain it!"
The room fell silent.
Laura spoke calmly.
"The bomber knew exactly what he was doing."
She pointed at the image of the crater.
"This wasn't a random attack. It was a controlled detonation designed to erase evidence."
Captain Reynolds sighed heavily.
"Meaning our killer planned everything perfectly."
Laura nodded.
"Yes."
She looked toward the window where snow continued falling.
"And he wanted us to see it."
The room grew uneasy.
"Wanted us to see it?" an officer asked.
Laura turned back.
"The car was parked right outside the police station."
She tapped the image on the screen.
"That's not just a crime."
"It's a message."
Before anyone could respond—
The door opened.
All eyes turned.
A young man stepped into the room quietly.
He wore a long dark coat over a formal suit.
Snowflakes still clung to his shoulders.
His pale blond hair fell loosely over calm gray eyes.He looked no older than twenty.
But something about his presence immediately changed the atmosphere in the room.
The officers stared at him in confusion.
"Who is he?" someone whispered.
The young man walked forward slowly.
His gaze moved across the evidence photos.
Across the officers.Across the chaos.
Then he stopped beside Laura.
"You're late," she said without looking at him.
The young man replied calmly.
"I prefer to observe before entering."
Captain Reynolds frowned.
"Detective Hayes… who is this?"
Laura turned toward the room.
"This is the consultant sent by PDH."
A murmur spread across the officers.
"PDH?"
"The psychology detective organization?"
"They actually sent someone?"
Captain Reynolds narrowed his eyes.
"He looks like a college student."
The young man gave a faint smile.
"I am."
Laura sighed slightly.
"His code name is Mr. Endless."
The room fell completely silent.Several officers exchanged confused glances.
"That kid?"
"He's supposed to help us?"
Mr. Endless ignored the whispers.Instead, he walked closer to the large screen showing the explosion site.
His eyes scanned the photographs carefully.
Then he spoke quietly.
"The killer is intelligent."
Laura raised an eyebrow.
"That's obvious."
Mr. Endless shook his head.
"No."
He pointed at the screen.
"This is not just intelligence."
"It's arrogance."
The officers looked at him skeptically.
Captain Reynolds crossed his arms.
"Explain."
Mr. Endless walked slowly around the room as he spoke.
"The car appears without being seen on camera."
He raised one finger.
"First point."
"The bomb destroys all physical evidence."
A second finger.
"Second point."
He looked directly at Laura.
"And it happens directly outside the police station."
Third finger.
"That is not coincidence."
Laura's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're saying the killer wanted attention."
Mr. Endless nodded.
"Yes."
He looked back at the image.
"This explosion was an announcement."
"An opening move."
The officers listened more carefully now.
One detective asked,
"An announcement for what?"
Mr. Endless smiled faintly.
"For a game."
The room became silent again.
Captain Reynolds frowned.
"You think a terrorist attack is a game?"
Mr. Endless replied calmly.
"To him… yes."
Laura studied his face carefully.
"You sound certain."
Mr. Endless walked toward the evidence board placed near the wall.
It displayed timelines, victim reports, and photographs.
He picked up a marker.
"Let's begin with psychology."
He drew a circle on the board.
"Most criminals commit crimes for three reasons."
He wrote beside the circle:
GreedRevengeControl
The officers watched silently.
Mr. Endless tapped the word Control.
"This killer wants control."
Laura leaned slightly against the desk.
"And how do you know that?"
Mr. Endless looked at her.
"Because he attacked the police."
He pointed toward the explosion photo.
"Destroying the symbol of authority gives him psychological dominance."
He paused.
"And yet…"
He tapped the empty space on the board.
"He left something behind."
Captain Reynolds frowned.
"What?"
Mr. Endless looked directly at the image again.
"The message."
Laura crossed her arms.
"And what message is that?"
Mr. Endless spoke softly.
"The countdown."
The room went silent again.
"Countdown?" someone asked.
Mr. Endless nodded.
"Christmas Eve."
Laura's eyes widened slightly.
"You think this attack is connected to Christmas?"
Mr. Endless nodded again.
"Yes."
He pointed at the timeline board.
"Today is December 18."
"Exactly one week before Christmas."
Captain Reynolds frowned.
"And?"
Mr. Endless wrote on the board slowly:
7 Days
He stepped back.
"If I were the killer…"
He paused.
"I would plan seven events."
The officers looked confused.
"Seven?"
Mr. Endless nodded calmly.
"One for each day."
Laura's voice lowered.
"Seven crimes before Christmas Eve."
Mr. Endless turned toward her.
"Exactly."
The room suddenly felt colder.
An officer whispered nervously,
"You're saying this was only the first one?"
Mr. Endless nodded.
"Yes."
Captain Reynolds shook his head.
"That's speculation."
Mr. Endless shrugged.
"Maybe."
Then he pointed toward a new document placed on the desk.
"Or maybe not."
Laura followed his gaze.
It was a police report.
One of the officers picked it up.
His eyes widened.
"Detective Hayes… this just came in."
Laura frowned.
"What is it?"
The officer swallowed.
"Another body."
The room froze.
"Where?"
"Two blocks from the station."
"Time of death?"
"Approximately one hour ago."
Laura immediately grabbed her coat.
"Let's move."
Mr. Endless remained calm.
As the officers rushed out of the room, he walked beside Laura toward the exit.
"You expected this," she said quietly.
Mr. Endless looked at the falling snow outside.
"Yes."
Laura asked,
"How?"
Mr. Endless replied softly,
"Because the game has already started."
Outside the building, police lights illuminated the snowy streets.
Ambulances rushed past.
Crowds had already gathered around the new crime scene.
Yellow police tape blocked the alleyway.
Laura and Mr. Endless arrived moments later.
The alley was narrow and dark.
Snow had collected along the walls.
In the center of the alley—
A police officer lay motionless on the ground.
Blood stained the snow around him.
Several detectives were already examining the body.
Laura approached.
"Status?"
The medical examiner looked up.
"Single stab wound to the heart."
Laura frowned.
"Time of death?"
"Within the last hour."
Mr. Endless stepped closer to the body.
His eyes scanned the scene carefully.
Then he noticed something.
A small object lying beside the victim's hand.
He knelt down.
It was a Christmas ornament.
A red glass ball.
Inside the ornament was a small folded piece of paper.
Mr. Endless carefully picked it up.
Laura frowned.
"What is it?"
He opened the paper slowly.
Inside, written in neat handwriting, were two words:
Day Two
The alley went silent.
Laura's voice turned cold.
"He's mocking us."
Mr. Endless looked at the ornament again.
"No."
Laura frowned.
"No?"
Mr. Endless placed the ornament back into the evidence bag.
"He's inviting us."
Laura stared at him.
"To what?"
Mr. Endless looked toward the snowy sky above the alley.
His calm voice echoed softly.
"To solve his puzzle."
In the distance, church bells began ringing.
The sound echoed across the cold city.
December 18.
The first victim had fallen.
And the killer had just announced—
Day Two.
End of Chapter.....