Bullet Memory

The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a dim light over the abandoned countryside of Texas, where the old factory stood in ruins, a mere shell of its former self. The charred remains whispered of the horrors that had taken place within its walls. Just two hours after the fire had been extinguished, the forensic team arrived, flanked by two detectives tasked with uncovering the truth behind the tragedy.

Detective Dani Rodriguez, a man of mixed reputation, stepped out of the police car with a nonchalant swagger that belied the weight of the situation. At 34, he was known as one of the most corrupt officers in the state, a puppet to the crime syndicate that had claimed this land. His companion, 24-year-old Victoria Lindelof, had recently transferred from Houston, bringing with her a fervent commitment to justice that contrasted sharply with Dani's apathy. She was determined to make a difference, and the sight of the factory reduced to ashes ignited a fire within her.

As they approached the scene, Victoria donned her goggles, scanning the debris for any sign of life. Dani, with a cold smirk, remarked, "Poor couples. What did you do to deserve this?"

Victoria's heart sank as she replied, "The body is so badly burned; we can hardly recognize anything."

Dani shrugged, dismissing her concern with a wave of his hand. "Yeah, case closed."

"What? We are supposed to send this body to post-mortem, aren't we?" she protested, her voice rising with incredulity.

Dani laughed, a harsh sound that echoed in the empty space. "You're new here, aren't you? The body is unrecognizable. Do you even know what that means?"

"Does it matter?" Victoria shot back, her determination flaring.

Dani leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "You will understand soon. Do you know about the crime syndicate?"

Victoria nodded, her resolve strengthening. "Yes, I'm aware. I will learn whatever I need to do."

With that, Dani smiled at her, a smile that felt more like a warning than encouragement. As they wrapped up the scene, Victoria's mind raced. She would not let the case close without uncovering the truth.

Meanwhile, in another part of town, Hunter sat in his room, the news playing in the background. The report about the factory fire had consumed his thoughts, pulling him into a dark spiral. He didn't even notice the six missed calls from his sister, Rachel, until a sudden hand landed on his shoulder, startling him.

"Rachel? You're here? What are you doing here?" he gasped, turning around defensively.

Rachel hit him lightly in the stomach. "Loser! Do you forget things easily? I brought your ID card!"

Hunter furiously apologized, grabbing the card from her hand and pulling her into a hug. "Thanks, sister!"

She pouted, crossing her arms. "Just thanks? How mean, brother."

"Don't worry; I'll treat you soon," he promised, ruffling her hair before rushing out the door to catch his lecture.

As he sprinted toward Rosemary University, thoughts of the fire haunted him. He arrived at the campus just in time, scanning his ID card and entering the grounds. The university's towering white buildings loomed overhead, a stark contrast to the chaos of his thoughts.

In the canteen, he spotted Lexi, a black-haired girl with an infectious smile. She was standing there, sandwich in hand. Hunter approached her, wrapping his arms around her from behind.

"Hey!" he exclaimed.

"Hunter! You're late again!" she scolded, elbowing him lightly in the stomach.

"Ouch! That hurts, babe!" he groaned, feigning injury.

"Do you know what time it is? When will you be punctual?" she asked, hands on her hips.

"Sorry, babe," he replied, flashing her a sheepish grin.

After finishing their meals, they headed to class, taking the elevator to the third floor of the main building. Their classroom was designed to accommodate 70 students but only had about 27 seated at this hour. Hunter and Lexi slid into the back, eager to gossip and use their phones.

Soon, a short, white-haired man entered the room. Professor Alex Michigan was known for his dry delivery and serious demeanor. He wasted no time, diving into the day's topic, the psychology of the human body, before shifting to discuss the recent news surrounding the factory fire.

As he spoke, Hunter felt his heart race. Something about the case didn't sit right with him. Lexi, however, was nodding off beside him, her dislike for the professor's teaching style evident.

"Class dismissed!" Professor Michigan announced, jolting Lexi awake.

"That was a great sleep," she yawned, stretching.

"Yeah, sure it was," Hunter replied, though his mind was still racing with thoughts of the factory fire and the crime syndicate.

After class, Hunter walked Lexi home, exchanging small talk as they went. When they reached her house, she yawned again and complained about the day. "That was a hella boring day."

"Sure it was," Hunter said, smiling as she pinched his cheek. "Call me once you get home, okay?"

"Sure, babe," he replied, giving her a wave as he turned to head home.

Yet, as he walked, a nagging feeling crept over him, as if he was being watched. He looked over his shoulder but saw nothing. "You need rest, Hunter," he murmured to himself.

Unbeknownst to him, a sleek black BMW sat in the shadows, where a sharp-faced man in a red suit and black goggles observed him intently. Liu Xiang was biding his time, waiting for the right moment to make his move.

When Hunter finally reached home, he found the gigantic brown door ajar, which surprised him. He guessed his mother was outside watering the plants. Inside, he found his father, Oliver, sitting in the living room, glued to the news.

"Not again with this bullshit," Hunter muttered under his breath as he took a seat.

"Back already, Hunter?" Oliver asked, glancing over his shoulder.

"Yeah, what's up?" Hunter replied, trying to shake off the unease he felt.

"Just checking on you," Oliver said, returning his attention to the screen.

Before Hunter could head upstairs, his mother, Amy, interrupted him. "Hunter? We need to talk."

"Of course, what is it?" Hunter asked, sensing the seriousness in her tone.

"Make sure you and Rachel stay at home today and be good siblings. Your father and I have some clients to meet, and we won't be back until tomorrow morning."

"Where are you guys going?"

"Just some important meetings," she replied, her expression softening. "I trust you to take care of your sister."

"Don't worry, Mum. I'll make sure we don't do anything silly," he assured her, feeling a sense of responsibility wash over him.

Amy smiled and hugged him tightly. "Now get dressed and freshen up. I'll arrange lunch for us."

Once in his room, Hunter changed quickly, washing his face and lying down on his bed. As he closed his eyes for just a moment, a horrific vision flashed before him—a scene of multiple gunshots, blood spilling, and screams echoing in his mind. A child's terrified face haunted him, and a teenager with a gun, covered in blood, sent chills down his spine.

With a gasp, Hunter shot up from his bed, heart racing. What was happening to him? The images felt too real, too close to his own life. He needed answers, and he needed them fast. The factory fire was just the beginning of something much bigger, and he was determined to uncover the truth.