Reborn with my killer's looks-Chapter 45: pigs in a pen

Alessia Cardoso sat perfectly still in the upstairs closet, her brother’s hand covering her mouth. His other arm held her tight against his chest.

She could feel him shaking.

Below them, heavy footsteps moved through their home. Men in suits with weapons drawn and scary voices.

"Dr. Mr. Cardoso & Dr. Mrs. Cardoso." One of them spoke like he was ordering coffee. "We know you plan to go public with.... what you found at St. Helena."

Alessia’s father’s voice was calm despite the dire situation. "People deserve to know what happened there."

Her mother spoke next. "You can’t silence everyone. The truth will come out eventually."

"Maybe. But not from you."

Alessia tried to pull away, she tried to scream.

Alexis’s hand pressed harder over her mouth and his arm tightened around her shoulders.

The sounds that followed were brief.

Her mother’s voice cutting off mid-sentence and something heavy hitting the floor.

Alessia shook violently and tears streamed down her face.

Alexis held her tighter. His jaw was clenched so hard she could hear his teeth grinding.

The footsteps came again, then the doors opening and closing and finally slamming shut.

The sound of engines came from outside.

Alessia finally broke free from her brother’s grip and bolted out of the closet.

She flew down the stairs, her feet barely touching the steps.

The living room furniture was overturned and there was blood on the walls

And in the center of it all were her parents.

They were holding each other. A single spear had been driven through both of them at once, pinning them together even in death.

Alessia tried to scream but it got caught in her throat.

She ran to them and dropped to her knees, her hands hovering uselessly over their bodies.

Alexis stood at the bottom of the stairs.

He wasn’t crying, instead his fists were clenched at his sides and he was shaking beyond grief.

"If I’d been stronger," he whispered. "If I wasn’t just some weak Achusoi then I could’ve saved them."

Alessia sobbed into her mother’s shoulder.

She heard footsteps and her head immediately snapped up.

The door opened and two men stepped back inside, grinning.

"Forgot something," one of them said.

The tears stopped coming from Alessia’s eyes and her mouth was left wide open, unable to make a sound.

The men looked at her, then at Alexis and their grins only widened.

Alessia’s eyes snapped open and red light bathed everything.

She tried to move but couldn’t. Her limbs felt like lead.

The room swam into focus slowly.

She was on the ground and the cold concrete pressed against her head.

They were bodies around her. Some were unconscious, others injured and all of them motionless, packed together like livestock.

Someone groaned nearby.

Alessia tried to speak but her mouth wouldn’t move

"And they call us pigs. Look at them now... huddled on the ground like it’s a pen."

A male voice came from above followed by laughter.

Alessia’s eyes filled with tears she couldn’t wipe away.

She couldn’t move, nor could she scream. All she could do was lie there and listen to footsteps circling the room.

"Please, Someone. Anyone....."

"Help!!!!"

The television in Atticus Cross’s room played the news on low volume the next morning.

"multiple Virelia Institute students reported missing overnight. Authorities believe this is connected to the recent string of disappearances plaguing the campus." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

The news anchor shuffled her papers.

"What’s particularly concerning is that all victims are confirmed Toppler students. No Achusoi have been reported missing. The Arcanum has declared a state of emergency and advises all students to avoid traveling alone after dark."

The camera cut to footage of Virelia’s campus, now crawling with security personnel.

"We urge everyone to remain calm while the investigation is ongoing. More updates as this story develops."

Atticus lay motionless in his hospital bed, machines beeping steadily beside him.

His eyes were open and his breathing was even, yet he gave no sign he’d heard anything at all.

Huey sat on a bench under the colonnade back at Virelia, biting into an apple and scrolling through the same news report on his phone.

The video replayed the anchor’s concerned expression and footage of campus security.

He turned off his phone and pocketed it.

"Cross."

Huey looked up.

Calvin stood a few feet away with a hardened expression.

"Alessia’s missing," he said.

Huey swallowed the bite of apple. "I heard."

"You heard?" Calvin stepped closer, lowering his voice. "People are saying she was one of the ones taken last night. Have you been able to reach her?"

"No."

"And you’re not worried?"

"I don’t want to jump to conclusions," replied Huey calmly.

Calvin stared at him. "You’ve been seen with her a lot lately. People talk, and the Arcanum’s going to want to question anyone connected to the missing students."

"I figured."

"So keep your guard up." Calvin crossed his arms. "The Trinity and the Golden Chalice are doing what we can, but this is bigger than we thought."

"I know."

Calvin studied his face for a long moment. Then he nodded and walked away.

Huey watched him go.

Then he took another bite of his apple.

Milo’s phone buzzed and she answered on the second ring. "Yes?"

"We need to talk." The leader’s voice came through. "Now."

Ten minutes later, Milo stood in the dimly lit meeting room alone except for the figure at the head of the table.

"I heard you specifically targeted Alessia Cardoso," the leader said.

"Yes."

"Why?"

Milo furrowed her brows.

"Because she’s close to Huey Cross. I want him to suffer before I kill him. I’ll take away everyone he cares about, one by one."

The leader leaned forward slightly. "Do you know who Alessia Cardoso is related to?"

Milo hesitated.

"Her brother is Alexis Cardoso. One of the most well-connected individuals on this campus. If he decides to investigate her disappearance, he will find us. And when he does, everything we’ve built falls apart."

"Fix this," the leader said. " Or suffer the consequences yourself."

Milo stood there for a moment before leaving the room with her jaw tightened.

"I joined them to get my revenge," she muttered. "And Now they want to ruin my plans?"

She turned and walked toward the exit.

"Like hell I’ll let that happen."