Dating : Doomsday- A Helza Shine Story

Pulled the trigger and out came the shot,

Had been waiting for very long…

Maybe there was blood or maybe not,

Pleasure…It just came along.

Maybe I was just hunting a bird down or I was just killing a man.

It is up to you to decide because it has always been a matter of perspective for me.

***

This time I was at this expensive camp for detoxification of body, mind and soul. It was near the Woods where people arranged themselves once in a year to detox their busy lives with the help of nature. It was absurd and I was skeptical of this idea of wasting so much time and money. Obviously, I did not need any such ridiculous camp. I loved my work. In fact, work compelled me to come and join this place for summer.

Michael Swann was a really big businessman out of this camp. His dealings in Information Technology and his innovative progress gave him an upper hand in the market. He was a powerful and a corrupt man. His work on the back mainly included the leaking too much information which is clearly illegal. In fact he became a major sponsor of this camp quite instantly. He was not as such he looked on the outside, cheery and smiley. He was pure evil and business minded on the inside. I was to make sure that Michael Swann never leaves this camp alive. To those who have not yet understood, I work as a professional killer.

According to my sources, he was to crack a major deal with some big businessman who owned him a promise, after this camp.

“A deal that could change the future.” In the exact words of source 312.

Maybe this exaggeration turned me to this horrific camp.

“Ms. Helza Shine here is your ticket to the Woods Station. Have a nice holiday.” said the ticket collector as he gave me my ticket.

“Thank you.”

Being an expert in my work, I can easily tell that places like the Woods were perfect at this time of the year. There are wolves at night and dead silence only disturbed by the howls. I must clear: it was perfect setting for a murder.

My dear readers, I can proudly say that I have never been caught and that makes my work interesting.

When I reached the camp, I could see at least thirty more guests. Look what happens when you don’t choose your work wisely, you need detox!

A girl around my age approached me. I could make out that she was very rich. Her elegant silk scarf and dress gave it away. Of course I was not as rich as her but my career as an advisor to company has been rewarding.

She introduced herself to me as Don Baker. I knew her father, Dr. Baker just as an old man owning a hefty business empire. She clearly wanted some young company as her next few desperate words told me. But I choose my words wisely.

“I am Helza Shine. It is so nice to meet you.”

To blend in, I needed friends and this girl came herself. I hardly miss an opportune moment. I let Don Baker be my friend.

We all gathered in the hall of the camp and the host, Raiz introduced us to the staff of merely five people and our routine in the camp.

***

A few days passed. I was desperate to get out of the horrific place, if only Michael Swann wasn’t late by five days. He was going to pay for my misery in those five days. Don was really into this ‘finding new friends’ thing and was very social. She made me sit with her and different people every day.

A girl named Elena Cruz became a regular member of the gang. She had known Raiz for four years and had been his faithful assistant ever since. She was, to my annoyance, a firm believer in Goodness and positivity in the world. She only spoke about good deeds.

The young boy of eighteen, Bradley Thompson also was a victim of Don Baker’s ‘finding new friends’ thing. It was good for him because he hardly spoke. Don once told me that his parents had pushed him into this camp because nuisance was wanted out of the house for summer.

Michael Swann came on day six. As a major sponsor, his arrival was grand for the camp. After seeing his five star services and Raiz’s arrangements, I can surely say that Raiz (the host) was a senseless slave-in-a-suit with absolutely no honor.

I could not wait for another day because I was so desperate to get out of this foolish place filled with rich stupid people.

That midnight, after Michael Swann was returning from his post dinner walk, I saw the opportune moment. He was completely covered in his black hoodie. His eyes did not follow my trail under his hood and I grabbed him from his neck. He could not shout and I dragged him to the nearest black point (inaccessible from the camp) in the Woods. I left him for a moment to get my brand new handgun but the clever man started running, totally blind by his ‘royal’ hood.

I shouted, “Come on man, this won’t work. Anyways, say hello to Gods for me.”

Then I took aim from my brand new Desert Eagle 50 AE, and fired a fatal shot. It was very dark, so I relied on my ears to hear a thud, a groan and then dead silence. (No pun intended)

It did not seem necessary to hide the body because of the wolves. The second reason was that I already went through so much of yoga that day, I was tired and Michael Swann was heavy.

That night I slept soundly after many days. Next morning was a cheerful one. Nothing could change it. Not the healthy breakfast, not even the annoying care of Don Baker and not the positive talks of Elena Cruz. You won’t believe it but I joined the positive talks!

At breakfast, I bumped into someone and fell so hard that I broke my plate.

A firm hand offered help and a cheerful voice followed,

“Young lady, are you fine?”

I looked up to see the handsome face of Michael Swann. Man, he had me stumped. I had been known to encounter any situation and I was not going to let my reputation go away.

Michael Swann did not look any different from a fine gentleman helping out a young lady. It was a complete business introduction time. He shook my hand and further spoke,

“Michael Swann, Owner of Rickety Industries.”

“Helza Shine, Sir. Thank you for your help.”

“Helza Shine. Are you the same young advisor and company- savior? You are quite famous.”

“If you put it that way, it looks fancy.”

“Right, but aren’t you too young for the job? But I have heard you are good. Nice to meet you”

“It is your generosity sir, I am grateful.”

Then he gave me his business card. I could not help but feel amused that he could cover it so well that too in a few hours. My head was kind of spinning so I went to my room and locked myself in.

I confess that I might have lost control on myself when I laughed like a maniac. It all seemed a dream. A man I shot was not dead and back at the camp greeting me like a fine gentleman. Just to assure myself that I really shot him and it was not a dream, I checked my drawer for my handgun and its bullets. And lo! My brand new, highly expensive, shiny handgun was missing. I searched my entire room but it was not there.

I knew Michael Swann was smart but this fast. I mean he was there just ten minutes ago and he stole my handgun? I really needed to do something. That is the prime evidence against me and I loved that handgun.

I sneaked into Swann’s room. It was easy because he hardly noticed anything. I searched everywhere but in vain.

I was so frustrated at things falling apart for me. I went back to my room and came out only in night for dinner.

Don Baker looked worried. She asked if I was okay. Sometimes her extreme kind of care makes me feel guilty but this was not the time that I could waste. I needed to find the handgun.

I had no idea where it could be. There were around thirty five people at this camp. If anyone saw it, I was in big trouble. It could be anywhere.

That evening I took an evening walk and saw Raiz talking to Elena Cruz. They were far enough for me not to hear anything but they looked nervous.

“This is the end” was the only thing in my mind but I have never given up. I prepared for the whole night. Emergency protocols for the police and authorities; I hardly needed them but they were there.

The dawn brought the shock but not the expected one.

It was a dead body in the hall. Elena Cruz was stabbed. It was not me; I had no idea about the murderer. Yes she was annoying but not worth dying.

The murder weapon was still there. According to my expertise and its position, it was a slow and painful death. As usual the cops were called.

This time however, the investigation was led by two detectives, Dave Wang and his accomplice Rajeev Brown. I was glad that I had already prepared myself with emergency protocols because it was high time.

Dave Wang was surprisingly easy to interpret. This man clearly wanted to achieve Greatness like former famous detectives.

His assistant however, looked more meaningful and serious. Rajeev Brown was clearly a man of honor with dynamic personality. His way of analyzing was impressive. Anyone seeing him would wonder if he or Dave was in charge.

They started their investigation and skipped very common observations. I must mention this that they were not a very effective duo. Dave’s senior ego clashed with intelligence of Rajeev and they often made common mistakes.

Rajeev Brown still caught something important. He said,

“There had been a witness to the murder. Here are marks of leaning against the never dusted windowpane on the left.”

After this, the interrogation was started. The same old questions every authority asks. Long story short I came out clean. They were actually impressed by my faked honesty! And they were so slow that they could only interrogate four to five people.

I was so intrigued by their idiocy that I played a really nice game with them. I called it “Fool’s Dead End”. In this I keep a target and gather around to get some of the target’s belongings. Next I throw them into plain sight near the crime scene. Then the foolish detectives chase obvious clues about the target and go in a wrong direction in the investigation. Guess who was the target? Don Baker

I know, I am a terrible person but I got the time I needed to find my handgun. The remaining day I followed Michael Swann and kept a close watch. There was absolutely nothing. In the evening, I gave up.

Nothing unusual happened till maybe 2 am because I heard a slight click but thought it was a dream, so I went back to sleep. But in the morning when Don Baker knocked my door so hard, then I realized that something was not good.

“Helza open the door. Fast”

“How many times do I have to tell you Don? Please call me Helza Shine. Now, what is it?”

“Murder”

“What another one?”

Alas there was another bloody murder and the victim was none other than Michael Swann. He was shot by my handgun which also lay on the crime scene. My beautiful beast now is an evidence for the dumb detectives. It was worth a fortune! Another thing was Michael Swann. I did not kill him, somebody else did. Who was it and why?

I stood gazing at the dead body even after everyone left except Dave and Mr. Brown. Dave asked me,

“Young lady, why are you seeing the dreadful scene so hard?”

“Sir, this man spoke to me three days ago and I just cannot believe that he died.” I said with my faked tears.

My age always comes in handy but someone was there who was clever enough to say, “You need to get out of here now. Take your tears with you and use them to find the culprit ha!”

It was rude even for me too but to avoid suspicion, I obeyed Mr. Brown. My handgun was found but Michael Swann was dead. Who took it in the first place? If it was Michael Swann then who killed him?

So the best way to clear up things in your head is to draw a mind map. I took a big map of the woods and spread it over the table in my room. I was engaged in it till the evening. Don wasn’t there to greet me at dinner maybe the detectives took my game very seriously.

The morning brought some news. Don Baker was suspected for murder that in the evening it was likely that she would be behind the bars. Don was interrogated for the entire afternoon and in the evening, the cops were called in.

They arrested the murderer who looked at me for last hope but I turned my back.

“Bradley was a nice boy. I cannot believe that he did It.” remarked Don Baker

I replied, “I know, maybe circumstance played a role somewhere.”

***

A few hours back-

I moved to room number 9 and knocked at the door.

“Who is it?”

“Open up lad.”

The door opened and a very sick Bradley Thompson opened the door. His eyes were red from crying and his face was swollen.

He said, “You…get out.”

“Calm down kid.”

“Are you deaf? I said Get Out. I won’t let you kill me or anyone.”

“Just here me out once. I know what I did was wrong…”

He shouted, “What devil are you?”

I lost my cool and shouted back, “You really don’t want to know boy so shut up.”

“Oh I will not shut up. I will tell the police and everyone. You are so dead Helza Shine.”

“You want it the hard way? So here is the deal- either you can walk out of this place free from this entire burden, go back to your cozy life with your family or you can just die. I really don’t want the second option for you kid. You are just too young.”

“I prefer dying than letting you win Criminal.”

“Your choice is so wrong. I won the moment you shot Michael Swann and mind me saying this, Helza Shine never loses. Anyways, Bradley Thompson it was nice knowing you and if you are thinking of calling your family, your phone is with me fella.”

I left Bradley’s room. That day when I went for an evening walk, I noticed a natural deep pit just where I heard the thud and the groan when I shot. The tree in front of the pit had an expected bullet mark and after a little bit scramming, I found the bullet also.

That was how Swann escaped but his so cool and gentleman behavior did not make sense until it flashed across my mind while making the mind map.

The hooded man could certainly be mistaken for Swann. Maybe I made a mistake for someone with the same built. It could have been none other than Bradley as he also took regular evening walks in the Woods and they often lasted till midnight. My shout gave my identity away and miraculously he fell into the pit. The next morning, in my excitement, I did not lock my room which made it easy for Bradley to steal my handgun while I was busy at breakfast. He certainly did that for saving his life.

While I was locked in my room in the evening, he told Don Baker about what happened the night before. The one person he spoke to. This is where everything went wrong. Don Baker who thought she knew me as a very nice person laughed it off like a joke by saying,

“You see, I could make my dad invest his next venture on that one. I know her so well.”

Bradley was a little disappointed and went back with mind set to search for clues. But there was someone else who overheard the last lines of Don Baker- Michael Swann. As they say, a corrupt man is always insecure. He became too insecure and not being able to disguise his disappointment, he shouted his entire business to Raiz, his slave-in-a-suit. A very foolish Elena Cruz heard it all too. Her positive personality was at war and she was stupid enough to threaten Swann with ‘going to the police’ threat.

Raiz dragged her outside and warned her because she was his faithful assistant (when I saw them). She did not give up, thanks to her idiotic attitude.

Michael Swann killed her when she was sweeping the hall all alone but he did not go unnoticed.

Unknown to him, Bradley saw the entire affair. He was on his way back from the Woods where he went to search for my bullet (in vain). He was horrified at the whole thing. A normal man cannot deal with the sight of live murder and Bradley was still a kid of eighteen. It was impressive that he could take it in for an entire day.

After misunderstanding that Swann was my partner, he carefully worn gloves and shot him the next night. My handgun was fully equipped with silencers and muzzles so it was not heard at all instead of a click to me. He threw my handgun and ran away to his room.

If the detectives were quick at interrogation, they might get the culprit of Elena Cruz’s name out of Bradley.

He was not a professional criminal after all unlike me. So it was quite easy to point at mistakes he made with Swann. Even the shot was not a fatal one. The position was just not right, Swann died of losing too much blood but not the shot. I observed the sight for too long to get the details of unprofessionalism.

Actually I was highly doubtful of Bradley being the murderer but it came out to be the harsh truth.

Before he could tell anyone else, he was caught by the detectives after the got some important paper evidence against him.

See, my work is not at all easy. One mistake can change a young man’s life, kill an innocent lady, shut a camp forever and lose an expensive Desert Eagle 50 AE.

At this point my attentive niece once asked, “So what happened to Bradley?”

Bradley got what he chose for. I knew it was the wrong choice for him. He was found dead in his main jail cell where it is said that he attempted suicide.

Or my new source, a person very close to this case killed him and made it look like a suicide. After all Mr. Rajeev Brown was a smart fellow.

“Oh really?” asked my doubtful niece.

How do you think the inefficient duo of detectives changed Don Baker’s arrest to Bradley’s at the last minute? What Paper Evidence that was so important that it gave Bradley’s entire plan away?

Maybe a mind map…It is up to you my dear readers because for me it has always been a matter of perspective.

Love,

Helza Shine.