Judge

Based off a dream I had in the afternoon.

    We thought we were being clever. We thought we could always have our fun. We were wrong. It all changed in just the few seconds we were confronted by that monster.

    "How many bodies, this time?"
    "There are over 34. 8 of them students. All the children died from unknown causes."
    "It's just like the others."
    "I feel like I'm gonna puke."
    I walked out of the crime scene with my assistant. I was a private detective who was working on a peculiar case. My name is David Gruff, and my partner is Leon Smith. The case was bizarre and unfortunate for many people. At each time at midnight we would get a report of a mass murder from an anonymous source. Highly likely of the caller being the murderer, but there are no traces of him or her. I started talking aloud to myself.
    "There are always elementary students mixed in with the corpses. The worst thing is the children are always the ones holding the weapons of murder."
    "But how and why could children kill these many adults?"
    "How could you expect to be killed by a child?"
    "Fair point."
    I bumped into someone looking at the crime scene from a distance.
    "Sorry abo-"
    The look in his eyes gave me a chill up my spine. I could feel the blood rush and my heart raced.
    "Sir are you all right?"
    "Yeah, I'm fine. I just bumped into someone."
    "But, sir? We're the only two on the sidewalk."
    I looked at my assistant and then back. It was gone. It?
    We came to our usual cafe to eat.
    "Sir. It's been two weeks. Don't you think we should call it quits?"
    "We still haven't found any leads. Any!"
    "Maybe someone else will take the job?"
    "But if all the someone else thought that way, then no one would."
    "Forgive my rudeness."
    "No, it's alright. I know you're tired."
    We drank coffee, went over facts, and read the newspaper. The person from earlier I couldn't seem to remember. I knew I saw someone eyeing the crime scene, but all I know is that he was there. He was obviously a person of suspicion. Whatever appearance he had, my brain erased it. Almost like it was saying, "Don't get involved". I was more afraid at myself though. Why did I call him an "It"?

    Somewhere else. There are five figures laughing to themselves.
    "Look at them run in circles."
    "It's so funny!"
    "Humans are really foolish creatures."
    "What's the point in finding something you can't see?"
    "We're truly the best pranksters!"
    The five figures vanished. Only someone in the distance watching remained.
    "You consider these pranks?"

    Another day passed and I made no progress with the case. I had no leads or evidence, but I had a person in my mind.
    "That person."
    The one I saw at the crime scene. I should find him. Though every bit of my body trembles when I think about it. I put on my coat and walked out the door.
    "Morning, sir!"
    "Morning, Leon. You seem chipper."
    "I think I may have found some sort of lead."
    "Really!?"
    We went into our office. Leon pulled out a map of the city from the drawers.
    "So far there have been incidents including the one yesterday. One here and here and..."
    He marked all the places where the crimes took place.
    "And if we connect the dots in order of crime date."
    "What the hell is this? A star? A Pentagon?"
    The very sight of it disgusts me. Was the culprit making some sick joke?
    "I'm not saying that demons exist, but I don't think any of these crimes are humanly possible."
    "Then if this is what they're going for then they still have one place left."
    "It's also the last part of the star they're making. Could this be our last chance?"
    "We better leave then."
    We headed off to the apparent place where the crime would take place. It was a deserted office building.
    "This place is big enough for another massacre."
    "That sounds scary, sir."
    "We came here because we didn't have time to lose, but what now?"
    "Who knows, sir?"
    "Where are the children? All the crimes involved them. Actually it doesn't seem like anyone is even outside."
    "That's because no one is coming, sir."
    "Leon? What are y-"
    I felt an intense pain in my back. I couldn't believe it. I was stabbed? By my own partner? I coughed up blood.
    "Leon. The hell are you doing!?"
    "It's just so boring watching you now."
    "What?"
    "At first it was enjoyable seeing you run around in circles, but it got repetitive. Then we thought to ourselves."
    "Our?"
    "What if he were to be betrayed by his partner? What face would he make?"
    "Who the hell are you!?"
    This was clearly not Leon. Also, ourselves? What the hell was going on?
    "You want to know who? We'll show you."
    Leon's body went limp and fell over. I couldn't tell if he was just unconscious. Out of his body emerged 5 shadows. The shadows took the shape of a person. I couldn't quite see their faces.
    "Oh you wouldn't want to look at us Mr. Detective."
    "After all, we only show our faces to people we want to control."
    "Control?"
    I tried to reach the gun in my holster.
    "That's right. We're demons that can control all those who see our faces."
    "That's... impossible!"
    "Has today been normal to you Detective?"
    "Then. Why are you doing this?"
    "Because it's fun!"
    What the hell. Are there other freaks like this? Demons exist?
    "You see we love to see different forms of fear, and nothing was better than the fear of being killed by a child."
    "We were watching you because it was funny, but it got boring."
    "So we took control of your partner and made him betray you! Isn't it funny!"
    I quickly pulled out my revolver and took aim. All of a sudden, I froze.
    "Did you forget what we told you just a few seconds ago? If you look at any of our faces you will succumb to our control."
    "Well at least we can give him a nice ending full of fear."
    My hand slowly moved on its own. I was now aiming the gun at myself.
    "You're all a bunch of freaks!"
    "Agreed."
    "Who!?"
    "Me. Who else?"
    "No one can pass through our barrier without our knowing!"
    "Well I did. Get over it."
    "A human?"
    I caught a glimpse of the person. A chill ran up my spine. It was him. The person from yesterday eyeing the crime scene. The person my brain refused to register.
    "I just got into town and already I'm pissed. You're the lot causing trouble?"
    "Who's this guy? he ain't normal if he got in here."
    "He's been glaring at our faces. Just take control of him."
    "I've... actually been trying."
    "What!?"
    "Just kill him with your hands!"
    "What hands?"
    I managed to move my arm again and looked up. All the demons had their arms missing. They weren't cut off, they just disappeared.
    "The hell!?"
    "I don't know why, but a demon saying hell is funny."
    "Don't you laugh at us!"
    "Why not? You b******s called those killings pranks!"
    I stared blankly as the demons lost their limbs.
    "It doesn't hurt, but why can't we move?"
    "Because I did not permit you to move."
    Next it was their torso that went missing.
    "Your faces repulse me. I'll rid of you of everything except your eyes."
    They no longer had mouths to retort with.
    "Humans can't see demons, but you can still see everything. Your immortality will be your suffering. I will leave your eyes and mind here to do nothing, but watch. Watch nothing, but the flow of time, unable to move at all. Suffer for eternity for your sins b******s."

    We thought we were being clever. We thought we could always have our fun. We were wrong. It all changed in just the few seconds we were confronted by that monster.

    They had no mouths, but I was sure I could hear screaming. The man turned his head to me. I no longer felt the chill I felt before.
    "I tried to use my pressure to prevent you from further investigating, but your will was quite commendable."
    Leon started to regain consciousness.
    "Thank god he's alive. But I need to know. Who are you?"
    He gave me a smile.
    "I'm just a Judge."
    "A Judge?"
    "I pass judgement upon those who interfere wrongly with the human realm."
    He said that so casually. I didn't know what he was, but I was happy. The hell was finally over.
    "I hope you're not thinking it's all over."
    "Huh?"
    "You should know that there are as many demons as there are humans."
    I was afraid, but I refused to succumb to fear again.
    "I want in."

    End