Lucifer of The Silent Killer

Chapter 10 : Tiwaz

Heinrich turned, his gaze locked sharply on the radio transceiver on the table. He slipped the pistol into the back of his waistband and tightened his grip on the long-barreled rifle he was carrying.

The radio crackled again. A few seconds later, the melody of Goldberg Variations filled the room. Classical music Heinrich often listened to while driving, sitting alone at home, or carrying out missions.

Heinrich shook his head in confusion. Only Liv and Sergei knew about his fondness for that music.

“What kind of game is this?” Heinrich muttered, his eyes dark with suspicion.

He stepped closer to the table as the music stopped. He stared at the radio for several moments, then scanned the room. Heinrich was certain someone was watching him, though he did not know who or from where. One thing was clear. Whoever it was knew him well.

“Sergei .…”

Without hesitation, Heinrich grabbed the radio and headed for the door. Just as he was about to open it, he sensed a faint movement outside. Heinrich immediately pressed himself against the wall beside the door, gripping his rifle tightly, ready to strike whoever came in.

When the door opened and soft footsteps drew closer, Heinrich swung the rifle butt into the back of the intruder’s neck. The figure nearly collapsed.

The man spun around quickly, cocking his weapon.

“Erik?”

“You?”

“Damn it.” Jonas rubbed the back of his neck, wincing in pain.

“How did you get here?” Heinrich asked coldly.

“I just followed the trail,” Jonas replied casually.

Heinrich raised an eyebrow, not fully convinced.

“I followed my instincts,” Jonas added, trying to reassure him.

It did nothing to earn Heinrich’s trust. “Did you find anything out there?” he asked, his tone probing. The question was not only about the surroundings, but also about Jonas himself, whose credibility was slowly eroding.

“There’s no one outside,” Jonas answered calmly.

“You’re sure? No guards at all?” Heinrich pressed.

Jonas nodded confidently. “Come on. Morning will be here soon.”

Heinrich said nothing and followed Jonas out of the cabin.

Jonas was right. Outside, the area was eerily quiet. There were no guards in sight. The attackers from the night before had vanished, swallowed by the fog and the pine forest.

A faint glow appeared on the horizon, signaling the coming dawn. Jonas seemed unusually eager to leave the cabin behind, as if unconcerned with Heinrich’s condition.

“They stripped you?” Jonas asked lightly when he noticed Heinrich’s bare torso.

Heinrich did not respond. His focus was divided. He was certain the cabin was not a headquarters, merely a transit point. Then why had they let him escape so easily?

With every step, Heinrich remained alert. Not only to the forest and whoever might be watching from the shadows, but also to Jonas, who was growing increasingly suspicious.

“There’s a small river not far from here,” Jonas said after they had moved several meters away. “You can wash the blood off there.”

Heinrich did not reply. He merely glanced at Jonas briefly before refocusing on his footing and every sound around them.

Jonas noticed Heinrich’s guarded demeanor and smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. Vokter doesn’t operate during the day.”

“You seem to know a lot about their patterns and operations,” Heinrich said flatly.

“I know the Northern Route very well,” Jonas replied without looking back. “That means I know everything that moves within it. Including Vokter.”

“Is Vokter directly connected to Valkyrie?” Heinrich asked as he placed his rifle near a rock and crouched at the riverbank. He washed his hands, face, and the bloodstained parts of his body, revealing his injuries clearly.

“Why are you interested in Valkyrie?” Jonas asked as he stood watching Heinrich.

“I’m just curious,” Heinrich replied shortly, then stood up. Without another word, he turned away from the river, Jonas following close behind.

“What are you really looking for, Eirik?”

Heinrich stopped and glanced back briefly. “None of your business.”

Jonas smiled. “Fair enough. I don’t even know why I’m still accompanying you after what happened last night. You’re not an ordinary man. The way you handle weapons is highly professional.”

“I just enjoy hunting,” Heinrich replied.

Jonas shrugged and said nothing more. He simply followed Heinrich until they reached the road where the ambush had taken place.

When they arrived, Heinrich froze, his expression darkening. “Where are the bodies?” he asked quietly.

Jonas did not answer. Instead, he ran toward Heinrich’s Volvo, which was still parked where it had been left. At the rear bumper, Jonas found a small piece of paper marked with an ancient Nordic symbol.

“What’s this?” Heinrich asked as he snatched the paper from Jonas’s hand. Once again, he was confronted with a strange symbol.

“It’s a rune,” Jonas explained. “Tiwaz. A symbol of oath and sacrifice.”

“You mean?” Heinrich asked, his gaze fixed on the symbol.