The Devil's Claw

Another Horrible Incident

Seeing his father's worried face, "Dad, don't panic, every thing will be alright" said Keith while looking straight into his father's eyes, "Instead of guarding the areas where cameras don't cover, why don't you just install some more cameras?" asked Keith in a calmly serious tone. "Because our fucking security got hacked by someone within our own mansion, no matter how many cameras we install, we are going to be hacked! Dammit!" replied Jason in an angry tone. " I think it is some unfortunate time for Janes, we should face it with patience and courage.." said mother while patting Watson's head who was standing just besides her. "Whoever it is, he will be witnessing hell before he dies, that's for sure" father predicted just before leaving the hall. After the reports of six dead bodies, no other body was found there, and the reports had stopped. But it all had left a terribly bad impact on Janes especially on Micheal and all other Entrusted class carrying out their respective duties there in that mansion. Although there were no more reports of dead bodies, yet the system was used to be signed out and the password kept on changing. Micheal had understood that he needed the world's best hackers there to protect his system from such intruder, as it was recognized to be the first opening for the killer that ultimately led into so many unwanted deaths. Along with it, as mansion's gate got closed and hackers were hired, Janes family came into media's attention which then started launching the news about what terrible things had happened in this mansion and how people from Entrusted class were killed, defaming the name and popularity of Janes. Other Elite families who were on higher ranks than Janes offered their help and support through sending their renowned hackers as well as offering them cameras with more advanced technologies. In this way, within a week, a team of world best hackers was formed and higher technology cameras were now installed everywhere in this mansion after which mansion's gate was reopened and all businesses and duties were resumed. At the same time, in security department, some forensic scientists and analysts were entrusted to work on the message that killer left along with all dead bodies.

After few days...

In the evening, when day's brightness and night's darkness decided to spend some good time together, there was a knocking at Micheal's office. "Yes, come in" said Micheal while he was typing something on his laptop. "Sir, after careful analysis, we've reached some definite conclusions, 1. All people from entrusted class were killed. 2. They were killed in a manner we kill people in Red rooms. 3. Killer used the term '10 seconds' in his each message, which is actually the time we give to victims to say their last words after we've tortured them. As in one of his messages, killer has asked whether 10 seconds would be enough to say last words or not, it was rather a question. 4. Killings undoubtedly were related to cameras being hacked" reported Mr. Floyd. "Who is your suspect?" interrupted Micheal. "Sir... I don't really know.." answered Mr. Floyd in a confusing tone. "I am just asking for your opinion, feel free to say any name" said Micheal. "I think it's someone from security department, because it all started after cameras being hacked" replied Mr. Floyd. "Hm.. You're right, but to me it seems like killer is obsessed with victims of red rooms, and as a revenge, he did the same treatment to people belonging to entrusted class who are mostly the actual participants in torturing those victims" replied Micheal in a serious tone. "You've thought it right Sir! but to be obsessed with torture of victims, killer first needed to see what actually happens in Red rooms, that's why I think whether it can be someone belonging to Entrusted class or someone who already had or cleverly gained access to cameras there like someone from security department with at least already achieved basic knowledge of system there" suggested Mr Floyd. "Hm.. You're right, There will be no more Saturday elite parties so no more entries for new Entrusted class, while the people already included except for members of security department, shall be moved to basement to live there unless the matter is resolved. In basement, provide them with every necessity or even luxuries, they shall do their duties throughout the day starting 8 AM and shall be returning to their apartments located  in basement of mansion every night at 8 PM to their families there, after which all doors leading into basement shall be closed" ordered Micheal. "Yes Sir!" nodded Mr Floyd and then he left to announce the order. 

Just after Mr. Floyd left, Keith knocked at father's office, "Yes, come in". "Dad, I just wanted to share some good news though I know time is being rough on you.." said Keith with sparkling eyes and a wide smile. "What is it?" asked his father in serious tone. "Sir Carl was about to inform you, but I thought it would sound more proud for you if your son himself announces his graduation to you" said Keith with a normal smile. Micheal stood up, "At this age? Graduation at only 11 years of age? Have you completed all the subjects?" asked him in a doubtful yet happy tone. "Yes Dad, Didn't every tutor inform you of my excellence in studies? It was all pretty easy" answered Keith while sitting on one of the chairs in front of Micheal's office table. "That's great, so what my son wants as a reward for this?" asked his father in a loveable tone. "Nothing.. What options are there?" asked Keith in a simple tone. "The whole world can be yours, my son" said father while expanding his arms to give an idea of whole world. "Hahahaha, Dad you're funny" said Keith while standing up from chair to leave, "And you're a Kid" replied his father while typing something on his laptop as he had been typing the whole time during conversation. "What are you typing Dad?" finally Keith asked. "Nothing Kid, just some formal letters to other Elite families for business and trading" replied his father, "Why don't you call them instead of writing 749 words within only 27 minutes?" asked Keith in a simply questioning tone. "Keith my son, it seems like you've graduated yet you haven't learnt any formalities, well it's just completed" said his father, "Yeah I don't like such things" said Keith while leaving the office. Just after Keith had gone, his father had done typing that letter and there he sent it. When he received a confirmation message, which showed him the word count and time duration, then he was partially shocked to see that it was exactly 749 words and 27 minutes as Keith mentioned. "How did he know that....? He kept on questioning and thinking to himself but couldn't find any satisfactory answer because Keith could only see the back side of Laptop, and there was no mirror behind him. 

On next morning.. 

Keith woke up, rubbing his eyes, putting off the blanket, "Why are you here Dad?" asked Keith in a confusing tone because his father would very rarely come to his room and now he was there like waiting for him to wake up. "How did you know that word count was exactly 749 and minutes were 27?" asked his father directly. "Oh that! I could hear your finger typing, with every type voice, my brain kept on counting, and for minutes, with every tic tic of your clock which is as much long as your own height, I was counting minutes" answered Keith with chuckles while pouring water into glass, "So you came there just to count?" asked his Dad, "Who would go to somewhere just to count? Why are you making me laugh at this early morning?" said Keith while laughing. "I'm functionally installed to count things, I don't put an extra effort for this, I thought it was same for all but now I think it's just gifted to me.. Though I don't know if there's anything special in it, but you seem interested, aren't you, Dad?". "Yeah I am, it's rare ability, I want you to use it for benefit of Janes, Won't you?" asked his father. "How do I help you with that?" asked Keith. "In our security department, there is a need for people like you, you can be a good analyst because you observe things very keenly and accurately" suggested his father. "Dad, I can decide that after I visit the department to see what type of task it is.." said Keith in confusing tone. "It is not a problem, my son, I will ask Mr. Floyd to take you on a round to department after lunch" said his father while getting up to leave. "As now you've graduated so it would be good activity for you next". "I hope you're right Dad". For the new highly advanced security system to be hacked, Keith knew that he needed only one visit to that operating system room that could be entirely enough, and after that, his signing in into system would no longer sign out the system operating there. Now whether it was his plan being successful or luck was on his side, no one really knows. 

After the lunch... 

Keith was taken to security department and all functions, cameras and systems were being throughly  shown to him, except for some folders which Mr. Rew, one of the analysts, forbade him from opening, informing him that it contained 18+ content. Keith was observing all necessary information he needed to access into the system again, as he had planned. After the visit, Keith rejected to work in this field, simply by saying that he's not interested. Next day, when the doors of basement were opened at 8 AM for Entrusted class to begin their respective duties, no one came out, because all people living there were found to be dead and their dead bodies were lying here and there, though there were no stains of blood. Forensic scientists later discovered that basement was filled with carbon monoxide gas and all ventilation systems were switched off, leading to suffocating deaths of all those unfortunate people living there.