Sample #2

This sample delves a bit more into the mystery of the main protagonist, introducing another level of the paranormal within the setting. I chose to keep it vague to avoid spoilers and create suspense.

The rain hammered down on the roof of the small building. The cheap metal shack barely provided any shelter at all, it was surprising that even a homeless man would try to stay in here. I stood over a pile of cold flesh that used to be a man, his now lifeless body seemed bloated and slightly discolored. He really did look like a drowning victim, yet, there wasn't a drop of water inside the shack, aside from the streaks of drying water that barely showed on his skin. It appeared that water had been leaking from several of his orifices, including his eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and I gathered other locations I didn't want to think about.

It was a little difficult to gauge or estimate his age, but, he was definitely younger than me. How does a man find himself in such a situation? All alone in the world without a penny to his name and nowhere to go. I supposed being alone, I already had that step covered. A soft sigh escaped my lips as I crouched down to take a closer look. He looked healthy, albeit filthy, aside from the obvious. There were very few ways this could have happened, and none of them were good. I hated to do it, but, I had little choice in the matter.

"To solve an impossible riddle, one must embrace the impossible."

A smokey voice whispered in my ear, the sound sending a scraping sensation through my skull and down my spine. The alcohol usually seemed to quiet the voice, but, never enough. I inwardly told the voice to shut the hell up, that I didn't need it's help to solve this case. I could hear a strange sort of spastic hissing that I could only imagine was the damned thing laughing at me.

"Need I remind you of our arrangement, Liam? You get your second chance at life in exchange for..."

I grit my teeth and responded, this time out loud.

"I know. You don't have to keep bringing it up." I snapped at the disembodied hitchhiker.

That same sort of hissing followed before that blessed silence returned. My gaze rolled over the waterlogged corpse before me, and I began to wonder if I really could solve this without it's help. After all, this was no ordinary murder. Even the mysterious cause of death aside, something felt wrong. Something was missing. Like, a feeling that should be here, but it just isn't. The body seemed so...empty. Wait...

"Ahhh, now you're getting it, Detective." The voice whispered softly.

"Yeah..." I began solemnly, swallowing hard at the thought and it's implications.

"...there aren't any traces of his spirit. It's just gone."