The Pandemic Horror

By ANITA A/P SELVARAJAH

Alrik Nolan, a cybercrime investigator, was set out with his team to find the Serial Killer roaming the city. The case was a tough one with more victims falling into the hands of the killer, yet the culprit was clever enough to leave no leads for the police. This went on for a while, with Alrik and his team working hard to get the killer, yet their efforts were unsuccessful until certain things began occurring.

At first, it came as a shock to him that missing items from his home were found at crime scenes. But he is thrown into further confusion, when his girlfriend, Hima Bindhu, informed him of her nightmares with him starring as the killer. And the worst, they always came through with the victims from her nightmares falling into the web of the unknown killer.

Alrik was thrown into self turmoil at this stage, wondering if he was truly the killer or If it was just a mere coincidence that Hima's dreams came to pass but why couldn't he recall killing them If he was truly the one?

• Language: English
• Publisher: ANITA A/P SELVARAJAH
• Release date: Jul 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201859213

Book preview

WORK FROM HOME

(PANDEMIC HORROR)

WRITTEN BY

ANITA SELVARAJAH

BOOK COVER BY

GOKILAVANI SELVARAJAH

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Alrik Nolan, a cybercrime investigator, was set out with his team to find the Serial Killer roaming the city. The case was a tough one with more victims falling into the hands of the killer, yet the culprit was clever enough to leave no leads for the police. This went on for a while, with Alrik and his team working hard to get the killer, yet their efforts were unsuccessful until certain things began occurring.

At first, it came as a shock to him that missing items from his home were found at crime scenes. But he is thrown into further confusion, when his girlfriend, Hima Bindhu, informed him of her nightmares with him starring as the killer. And the worst, they always came through with the victims from her nightmares falling into the web of the unknown killer.

Alrik was thrown into self turmoil at this stage, wondering if he was truly the killer or If it was just a mere coincidence that Hima's dreams came to pass but why couldn't he recall killing them If he was truly the one?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROLOGUE 12

CHAPTER ONE: Finding the serial killer 19

CHAPTER TWO: A date with Alrik 38

CHAPTER THREE: Another Victim 54

CHAPTER FOUR: The Beckham's home 72

CHAPTER FIVE: Aria's visit 96

CHAPTER SIX: Julian's Confession 111

CHAPTER SEVEN: Scared 124

CHAPTER EIGHT: Curfew 136

CHAPTER NINE: Ex-girlfriend 157

CHAPTER TEN: Rand's Territory 175

CHAPTER ELEVEN: Family dinner 186

CHAPTER TWELVE: Hima's nightmares 202

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Urgent Call 221

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Am I the killer? 234

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PTSD 244

EPILOGUE 260

PROLOGUE

20th February 2020

Alrik:

When are you returning home? I asked, staring at the tv screen before me.

Unfailingly, tomorrow, my mom’s voice sailed into my ears. Although her tone was calm, I could still pick on her unhappiness but there was nothing I could do to take it away. It was a result of the pandemic.

She and papa had gone on a vacation to Hawaii before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in Scotland. It was barely a week they left before they were being forced to return to the country as a result of the lockdown set to ensure in the next twenty-four hours and everyone abroad was advised to return home because with the large and scary outbreak of the deadly virus, no one knew when normal activities would resume.

"Everything will be fine mama, and remember, this is just to protect your health and keep you alive and healthy. Surely, after a cure has been found and the virus cured, you can vacate anywhere in the world you wish, ``I told her, trying to comfort her. She sighed from the other end, and I knew she was considering my words.

I’ve heard you, Alrik. I have to go to bed now. It’s 1 am here and we have to be up early to catch up with our flight in a few hours. And please take care of yourself and the house. Also, I know you’re now working from home and I’m not there to tone down your workaholic attitude but please always take breaks at the right time, to avoid stress and overworking yourself, a smile claimed my features.

I will mama. Now go to bed. See you tomorrow, with that, the call ended and I pulled the phone from my ears, dropping it on the glass table close to me, before relaxing on the sofa and paying attention to the news on the tv.

I listened intently, trying to get more information on the virus and how far and fast it has spread but I was disrupted by my phone when it beeped and I glanced at it to see a text from my boss, Silas Zion, the investigation manager at the police department where I work. Excited to know what it was, I quickly took my eyes off the tv and reached for my phone, opening the message to see he’s sent files concerning the new case we’re working on_the case of a child that was sexually harassed and murdered a month ago, before the spread of the virus.

Quickly, I got my laptop from the couch next to me and switched it on, to transfer the files he’d sent for proper assessment and research purposes. Thereafter, I opened the first one but as soon as the image came into view, I jumped out of my chair, at the speed of light, not believing what I’d seen. With a racing heart, and breath coming out in short pants from the dreadful sight of what I’d seen, I stepped closer to the laptop, manning up to view it again. I leaned in till it was within my eyesight and I had the sudden urge to puke, once again stepping away from it and shutting down my laptop, not wanting to set my eyes on the hideous photo.

Yes, my job as a cybercrime investigator could get dirty at times but this particular job won the record of being the dirtiest and scariest job I’d behandling. The picture I saw was the photo of the abused child’s lifeless body. Parts of her body, such as her eyes, toes, fingers, and even her genitals were missing. What kind of a psychopath could do that to a child?

Although I’d shut down my computer, the image was still coming back to me as though it lived in my head and the more I remembered it, the more it grossed me out and the more it made me want to vomit. Unable to hold it in anymore, I ran up the stairs to my bedroom, getting into the bathroom quickly to avoid messing up the floor. As soon as I was at the water cistern, I puked out my bowels, the memory of the dreadful sight still hovering over my head and powering my vomit. By the time I finally stopped I felt empty and deflated, yet, I couldn’t get the terrifying image from my head. Trying so hard not to dwell on it, I decided to wash my mouth and go to bed, to continue with the job the next morning.

I was strolling out of the bathroom when my eyes drifted to my room window that was still opened with the curtain subtended. My eyes landed on my neighbor’s window, with the curtains down but as a result of the light in the room, I saw the silhouette of two people standing beside the window but that wasn’t what had my eyes bulging from the socket. The shadow was strangling the other one with one arm, while the other arm raised an object that I guessed was a knife.

My curiosity getting the best of me, I moved closer to the window, eyes still fixed on the disturbing image. But then it happened so fast that all I heard was a scream of terror, breaking through the quiet night and I saw the dark spot on the curtain. Without being told, I knew something terrible had happened.

My heart went into overdrive, thudding loudly against my chest while I remained frozen in place, eyes riveted on my neighbor’s window where I’d seen the silhouettes but there was nothing there anymore. As if my senses were heightened and investigating what had happened, my eyes suddenly glanced down at the building, to see my neighbor, Mr. Buu with a load wrapped in a duvet thrown over his shoulders. From the shape of what he was carrying and what I’d witnessed from their window, I didn’t need to be told it was a human body.

I continued watching him as he disappeared into a dark corner of the building, not illuminated by light but I could still make out his figure. He proceeded to drop the body. My heart departed from me, blood draining from my face when I saw him pour a liquid all over the body before throwing a match stick on it. He jumped back, away from the raging fire he’d created, stepping into the light, a sinister smile claiming his features. But then, he glanced towards my window and his eyes met mine.

What I saw in them was worse than the picture of the abused child my boss had sent to me.

CHAPTER ONE: Finding the serial killer

25th April 2021

Alrik:

I alighted from my car and strolled towards Amara’s door, ringing the doorbell. Amara was my colleague in the cybercrime investigation department at the police division where I work. Every weekend, sometimes within the weekdays, we met to filter client's data and compile the research we’d done on cases and try to figure out the way forward. Today was one of those days.

A short while after ringing the doorbell, I heard footsteps approaching from the other end just before the door was thrown open, revealing a grinning Amara.

Took you long enough, she rolled her eyes at my unusual tardiness.

Glancing at the watch on my wrist, I realized it had taken me more than an hour to get to her. I’d been home and too lazy to leave but I had to because the new job we were working on was a very interesting one.

Well, I’m here now, aren’t I? I retorted and she shook her head, disbelief masking her features.

I should beat you, but I’ll leave that for later since we have very important and crucial business to handle.'' Without sparing me a second glance, she moved from the doorway, and I followed her into the house, stepping into the living room and closing the door behind me. We’ll be working from the patio," she announced.

Why? So you could ogle your hot neighbor while at it? I teased her, snickering behind