Morning arrived under a pale grey sky.
Snow covered the rooftops and streets of the city like a quiet blanket, but beneath that calm surface the police department was under immense pressure.
Three days.Three attacks.And now the city knew.News channels repeated the same headline over and over:
"Christmas Killer Continues Countdown."
Inside the temporary investigation office, tension filled the air.
Detective Laura Hayes stood beside the large evidence board reviewing reports while Detective Rudra Sen scanned surveillance footage.
And near the window—
Mr. Endless sat silently.A cup of untouched coffee rested on the table beside him.
His eyes were closed.Not resting.Thinking.
The pattern had changed.
That bothered him.Then suddenly—The office door burst open.
A man stepped inside quickly.His breathing was uneven.His uniform slightly disordered.
Laura immediately turned.
"Officer?"
The man swallowed nervously.
"My name is Officer Kris Adler."
Laura recognized the name.
A patrol officer.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Kris stepped forward and placed a folded piece of paper on the table.
"I think… I think I'm next."
The room went silent.
Rudra looked up from his laptop.
"What?"
Kris wiped sweat from his forehead.
"I found this in my locker this morning."
Laura picked up the paper and unfolded it.
Inside were three words written in neat black ink.
Day Four — Tonight.
Below the message—
A familiar symbol.A circle.With a vertical line through it.
Laura felt a chill.
Mr. Endless opened his eyes slowly.
"May I see it?"
She handed him the paper.He studied it carefully.The handwriting.The paper quality.The ink pressure.Everything.
Kris spoke nervously.
"I don't know how it got into my locker."
"You think the killer put it there?" Rudra asked.
"Yes!"
Kris nodded quickly.
"He's been targeting police officers."
Laura crossed her arms.
"Did you tell anyone about this before coming here?"
"No."
"Anyone who might want to scare you?"
"No."
Mr. Endless continued staring at the message silently.Something was wrong.Very wrong.
Laura noticed.
"What are you thinking?"
Mr. Endless spoke quietly.
"This message breaks the pattern."
Rudra frowned.
"What pattern?"
Mr. Endless stood up slowly and walked toward the evidence board.He pointed to the first three crime photos.
"Day One."
"The explosion."
He moved his finger to the second.
"Day Two."
"Officer Dalton."
Then the third.
"Day Three."
"Harold Bennett."
He turned toward them.
"In every previous incident…"
"The message appeared after the crime."
Laura realized it immediately.
"The ornaments."
Mr. Endless nodded.
"Yes."
He looked back at the paper in his hand.
"But this message appeared before the crime."
Rudra scratched his head.
"So what?"
Mr. Endless's voice remained calm.
"That means one of two things."
Laura waited.
"Either the killer changed his method…"
He paused.
"…or someone wants us to believe he did."
The room fell silent.Kris's face turned pale.
"You're saying this might not be real?"
Mr. Endless looked directly at him.
"I'm saying it might be manipulation."
Kris swallowed nervously.
"But what if it isn't?"
Laura stepped forward.
"If there's even a chance this threat is real, we'll take it seriously."
Kris nodded gratefully.
"Thank you."
Mr. Endless walked slowly around the room as he continued analyzing the note.
"Officer Kris."
"Yes?"
"When exactly did you find this message?"
"This morning. Around 7 AM."
"And your locker was locked?"
"Yes."
Mr. Endless tilted his head slightly.
"Interesting."
Laura asked,
"What did you find?"
Mr. Endless answered calmly.
"The killer previously left messages at the crime scenes."
"But this message was placed inside a police locker."
Rudra frowned.
"So the killer entered the station?"
"Possibly."
Mr. Endless paused.
"Or someone already inside placed it."
Kris looked shocked.
"You think someone in the police department did this?"
Mr. Endless didn't answer directly.Instead he asked another question.
"What is your assignment tonight?"
Kris hesitated.
"Night patrol."
"Where?"
"District Seven."
Mr. Endless's eyes sharpened slightly.District Seven.The same zone where the previous attacks occurred.
Laura noticed the change.
"You think the killer plans to strike there again?"
Mr. Endless nodded.
"Yes."
He walked toward the map and placed a new marker in District Seven.
"The killer is maintaining territorial control."
Rudra sighed.
"So the officer might actually be a target."
Mr. Endless turned back toward Kris.
"Possibly."
Kris looked terrified.
"So what should I do?"
Laura answered firmly.
"You're not going on patrol tonight."
Relief flooded Kris's face.
"You'll stay under protective watch."
But Mr. Endless spoke again.
"No."
Laura frowned.
"What?"
Mr. Endless looked at Kris calmly.
"He must go."
Kris's relief instantly vanished.
"What?!"
Laura stared at him.
"Are you serious?"
Mr. Endless nodded.
"Yes."
"If the killer expects Kris to patrol…"
"Removing him breaks the pattern."
Rudra said slowly,
"But that would alert the killer."
Mr. Endless gave a faint smile.
"Exactly."
Laura understood.
"You want to use him as bait."
Kris looked horrified.
"Wait—"
Mr. Endless raised a hand calmly.
"You won't be alone."
He pointed at the map.
"We'll surround the patrol area with undercover officers."
Laura crossed her arms.
"And you think the killer will show himself?"
Mr. Endless nodded.
"Yes."
Kris hesitated.
"But what if he actually kills me?"
Mr. Endless looked at him quietly.
"Then my deduction failed."
The room went silent.Laura sighed heavily.
"You're terrifying sometimes."
Mr. Endless didn't respond.
Instead he looked at the message again.One final detail bothered him.The handwriting.
The pressure on the letters.It was slightly different from the ornament messages.
Very subtle.Almost invisible.But noticeable.
Mr. Endless whispered quietly to himself.
"…someone copied it."
Laura looked at him.
"What?"
Mr. Endless folded the paper carefully.
"This message was written by someone imitating the killer."
Rudra blinked.
"Then Kris isn't the real target?"
Mr. Endless shook his head.
"No."
Laura frowned.
"Then who is?"
Mr. Endless walked slowly toward the window.
Snow continued falling outside.Crowds moved through the streets preparing for Christmas.
Someone out there had tried to manipulate the investigation.
Which meant—
There was another player involved.He spoke calmly.
"The killer is not the only one playing this game."
Laura looked at him seriously.
"You mean the second person from the symbol."
Mr. Endless nodded.
"Yes."
And somewhere in the city—
Inside a dimly lit apartment—
A man watched the news report showing police activity.He smiled faintly.
Then he picked up a pen.And wrote a new message.Day Four — Midnight.
Below it—
The same symbol.The circle with the vertical line.
He whispered softly.
"Let's see which one of us catches you first… Mr. Endless."
The trap for Day Four had already been set.
And this time—
Two hunters were moving in the dark.