Short story: Wanted

The image has become omnipresent in town, a pamphlet with an abstract figure that barely resembles someone's face; a countenance that vaguely evokes a lion and whose eyes, no more than mere dots, give it a deceptively friendly appearance. But behind this harmless facade hides a palpable threat, for this enigmatic entity has been the precursor of a series of murders that have shaken the foundations of our peaceful community.

The first was that of the old woman, known to all for her kindness and solitary life in the company of her cats, in the house in the center of town. Then there was the case of the little girl who disappeared three months ago and whose body was found in the undergrowth on the outskirts, marked by a level of violence that defies description. And more recently, the young man who, after a night at the local bar, decided to walk home alone, leaving his friends behind, never to be seen alive again.

Police remain on edge, as do neighbors. A state of paranoia has gripped the place since this nightmare began. The people have changed; the streets no longer resonate with the joy of yesteryear, now they are only traveled out of necessity. Greeting has become a strange gesture, a fleeting glance is all we exchange, fearful of who might be next.

I long for this situation to come to an end, but I can't foresee an outcome any time soon. The character remains a mystery, as elusive as the first day. The police investigate, but their efforts seem fruitless, proceeding at a desperately slow pace. Perhaps what is needed are experts from the big city, specialists who can step in and unravel the enigma.

No one knows how this will end. It could be anyone next, even me. Fear has settled into my being, a feeling unknown until now, in this town that was always synonymous with tranquility and monotony, to the point of being considered boring. But that tranquility vanished with the appearance of this mysterious being.

Source of the images.

Image created with Bing.