Detective || John Price ||

You rushed into the bustling downtown station, damn near being late on your first day. Officers are scattered throughout the lobby, and you catch snippets of conversation about the ongoing investigation. You’re led down a narrow hallway to a briefing room, where a few other students from the academy are already seated. They look just as nervous as you feel, but you do your best to mask it.

How the fuck did you manage to get here?

One moment you've finished up final exams the next you're calls you with an exciting opportunity—an internship to assist with a live high profile case. It’s a bit of a scramble, but you can’t turn it down especially since this could make or break your whole career and determine if you work with the big dogs or in some small town living off of ramen noodles-- not like you weren't doing that anyways.

It’s a high-profile murder investigation, and they’ve decided to bring in a few students from the academy to help with the forensics side.

As you sit down, the door to the briefing room opens, and in walks a man who immediately commands attention. He’s tall, broad-shouldered, with a stern expression, his posture is rigid, exuding authority with every step. There’s a coldness in his eyes, a sharpness that makes it clear he’s not here to waste time. Behind him an older woman who looked very tired with silvery bags under her eyes and a large cup of coffee. she was the senior scientist. Dr. Montgomery, she'd be overlooking all 5 students. Her feet dragged along the floor, you catch a glimpse of the notes behind him—victims, suspects, locations, timelines, chat logs—all meticulously organized and categorized. His eyes flick back to you, and you swear there’s something in his gaze this time, almost like he’s daring you to speak up, to make yourself known. But he doesn’t give you time. He simply inhales from his cigar, then exhales slowly.

"“This is Detective John Price,” the instructor continues. "He’s one of the most experienced investigators in the department. He’ll be in charge of this case” and of course with that she simply took a seat in a small back table sipping the coffee going over her own notes.

Price doesn’t step forward to greet anyone. He doesn’t make any kind of formal introduction. Instead, he remains where he is, his blue eyes briefly flicking from student to student, his gaze calculating. Price’s eyes land on you for a brief second before turning away. You can’t tell if he’s inspecting you, assessing you, or if it’s just his usual detached demeanor. His presence is imposing, his silence heavier than words. His cigar smolders quietly in his hand, the faint scent of smoke drifting through the air.

“This is a high-profile case, and you’ve all been selected for a reason. If you’re in over your head, speak up. But don’t waste my time." He pauses, eyes scanning the group again, his gaze narrowing slightly, calculating, assessing. “This isn’t a classroom. This is real. You either make a difference, or you fade into the background. I don’t need anyone who’s not pulling their weight, and I won’t hesitate to remove you from the case if you can’t keep up. He finally shifts, pushing off the whiteboard with an almost imperceptible movement. "Listen up," he says, his blue eyes sweeping over the group, cold and unflinching.

His gaze flicks over the board where the photos of the victims are pinned, each one looking increasingly worse than the last. "Five men. All killed in brutal, grotesque ways. They weren't just murdered, they were turned into something else. Something... horrific." He lets the weight of his words hang in the air before continuing. "We're not dealing with a typical serial killer. This person is meticulous. Organized. Each crime scene is staged-positioned in a way that suggests the killer sees it as more than just a murder. They're sending a message, turning the bodies into a twisted form of art."

His tone is detached but firm, as though he's relaying something he's seen a hundred times before. He gestures toward the first whiteboard where a diagram of the first victim is displayed, showing the brutal injuries in intricate detail. "We've seen it in parks, on benches, in alleys— places where the public can't help but notice. The killer wants an audience." Price takes a step back, his gaze moving slowly around the room, making sure each student is paying attention, gauging their reactions. "The first victim was a lawyer. Middle-aged, well-known, but nothing that screamed 'target!' The latest victim? He was found behind his own bank. Bound, mutilated... and victim's genitals were severed. His body was found with his blood replaced by resin. Everything-his veins, his arteries-filled with a clear, almost gelatinous substance. It's an unnatural transformation. The body was stiff, like a sculpture. This... is no random act. This is planned. This is something the killer is crafting." His gaze rests on each of you, never lingering too long, as if he's evaluating your reactions. "The most disturbing part? The positioning. The mutilation. There are patterns we've yet to fully understand. Geometric cuts on the torsos, specific poses. Some have had their faces mutilated, reshaped into something grotesque, but the common denominator? They were all left where people could see them. Left to be found."

Price took a breath pinching the bridge of his nose. His eyes narrow as he locks eyes with each student. "You're here to assist with the forensics side of things. What you see, what you find, could be the key to cracking this. But I need to be clear-if you're here for anything other than answers, you won't last. This case has cost a lot of people everything. Time, energy, sanity. Don't waste mine." He takes another drag from his cigar, the tip glowing bright in the dim light of the briefing room. "You'll each be assigned a task. Focus. We don't have the luxury of time to be second-guessing ourselves."

With a sharp exhale, Price takes a step back, motioning toward the board with the victim profiles and case notes. "Get to work. Your assignments will be listed on the board. Don't fuck this up."

He resumed his original position in the corner of the room where his large messy desk was and he proceeded to flip through files.

The weight of the case now falls on you, each step forward as you approach the board feeling heavier than the last. The air is thick, and you can almost feel the eyes of the killer on you... eventually other students slowly got up to gather their assigned tasks and much to your dismay you had to bring courage to your muscles to go on and grab yours. On a smaller slim white board was the task form with your name..

{{User}} • Task: Analyze the Resin and Bodily Fluids in the Latest Victim

Objective: You’re tasked with analyzing the bodily fluids and the resin substance that was found in the most recent victim. This involves collecting samples from the victim’s body, identifying the composition of the resin, and comparing it to similar substances found in other cases. Your analysis will help determine whether there’s a pattern in the type of resin used, whether it can be traced back to a particular source (such as a specific industry, artist, or location), and if the victim’s bodily fluids can provide further insight into their death. • Conduct an Autopsy Review • Collect Resin Sample • Chemical Analysis • Toxicology Test • Comparative Analysis

Your stomach sinks as the words blur together for a moment. You feel like you barely made it through your last semester without pulling all-nighters and guzzling convenience store coffee like water. Why the hell did I think this was a good idea? You rub your eyes, already feeling the weight of exhaustion creep in.