Stars - Part 2

 Aaron had spent hours in front of his laptop. The screen showed another article about Star-Killer and his evil deeds. This one was trying to show that he was not a criminal at all, but actually a good guy, because every person he killed supposedly had a dark past.

The first man had worked at a power plant that released toxic waste into the environment. Another victim, a security guard, was later found guilty of stealing instead of protecting the property he was assigned to guard. A woman Star-Killer had murdered was exposed for a long history of animal cruelty. None of it had any proof, and the accused couldn't defend themselves from the grave.

Aaron rolled his eyes at the article. People and their obsession with making criminals look innocent was something that always icked him. He looked at the paper star again. 

"Of all the people on earth, you had to choose me? I was having a good life here without any issues. I am not gonna try to find you. I know you serial killers get a thrill out of the chase but I-", Aaron was in the middle of ranting to himself when he heard a loud noise from the apartment below his.

"Star-Killer has made his next move already. Just six hours later, he had claimed another life. The victim was found in an alley..."

The news kept playing loudly. Aaron knew an old couple lived below him and often increased the volume when they found something interesting but this was the first time it ruined Aaron’s mood. He didn't want to do anything with this killer but his curious mind had already spent hours searching for him, and now Star-Killer seemed determined to dominate the news every few hours, which meant no peace for Aaron at all.

He started typing to find the complete news of the recent murder. It was so simple, no torture, no unique way either. The victims mostly had one fatal wound and the crime scene always had at least one paper star nearby, which was how the killer got his name, Star-Killer.

He looked at the paper stars he had made out of curiosity. It was simple: a long paper strip, pull a gentle knot on one side, press it down so it's flat, turn the strips around the knot again and again, tuck in the end to hide it, press in the middle of the edges to give it a 3D look. Aaron grabbed the paper stars and threw them in the dustbin and called it a night.

He didn't want to get involved but his curiosity had driven him to learn everything about Star-Killer, and now staying uninvolved filled him with guilt. Thus, before he could even get himself breakfast, he was in the police station.

The police knew him well, as Aaron had once wanted to become an investigator but ever since he passed the exam, he felt off and didn't want to get in the field. One couldn't keep postponing the start of the job but the perks of a small town were that everyone was close enough to give such favours to close friends. James, his close friend who had made it possible, had been talking to Aaron for half an hour and wasn't giving him any opening to talk about the paper star he came there for. He either didn't get an opening to talk or didn't get to open his mouth after being forced to eat donuts. Downside of hospitable police officers, eh?

Finally, James asked, "Have you decided to finally join us as an investigator?"

"No. Not yet. I came here to tell you something about Star-Killer. It's important-" Aaron was interrupted by James.

"Aaron, I appreciate you coming here to help us but we told you that you can't investigate cases without being an official and can't keep getting information out of us just because you are curious. Join us and investigate all you want." James said firmly, crossing his arms. Aaron was always the curious one but his sudden hesitation of becoming an official investigator was still a mystery to everyone including him.

"What? No! I am not here for that. I came to report something else entirely," Aaron said as his hand went to his pocket to retrieve the star he found yesterday in the pub but before he could hand it, an emergency siren rang that made James stand up quickly.

"Everyone! We need to go right now!" James yelled to all the police officers. He then gave a quick glance to Aaron. "I'll talk to you later. It's urgent."

With that, everyone in the police station ran out except for a few interns. They didn't tell them what has happened but with how they reacted, Aaron guessed that something big probably has happened. 

Aaron was disappointed but he got up to leave. When he reached his car, he found a paper star there again. He scowled as he saw it. Why him? Why couldn't the Star-Killer choose anyone else for his game? He grabbed the star and roughly opened it to see what was written in it.

"Don't bore me by including the police now, Aaron. I can't murder people around to stop you from talking to them always anyway"

The emergency alarm was another one of Star-Killer’s acts. Aaron was furious at how he was being dragged into it and was being targeted like this and how the killer kept mentioning his name in these stars. He knew it was a one-on-one challenge from the killer, one he didn’t want to accept, but no longer had a choice as he knew the killer might pull something like this, yet he had gone to the police anyway. A life gone for no reason at all, something that always filled him with rage and it was a bit on him. It made him feel guilty.

"Oh you sick monster! Fine!" He kicked the tire of his car in rage, "Fine! I won't include the police. Fine! I'll make you my case!"

In the distance, a man sipping his coffee smiled. After all, he had gotten what he wanted. A one-on-one with Aaron.

To be continued....