Chapter 1

Everyone was gathered. From grandparents to siblings and friends. The house was full of people, eagerly waiting for the birthday boy, Christoffer Derrick, to arrive. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Derrick, were one of the wealthiest people of Goldfinch, one of the smallest towns in California, recognized for being a target to endless crimes. It was mandatory for people to stay inside at night. The town was rumoured to be cursed. There was no other expalnation to the sickening crimes committed by maksed criminals. From the time the mayor's house had been set on fire, to the time people were violated and killed under the public's sight.

It was 9:40 pm and Christoffer was expected to arrive at around 10 pm for the party. Every guest was grinning with anticipation.

The doorbell rang just as the clock hit 9:50.

"Chris is here, everyone! Gather up!" Mrs. Derrick excitedly announced,

The guests crowded the door, eager to surprise Christoffer. The moment the parents open the door, the guests started singing 'Happy Birthday', but soon fell silent immedietly upon realizing the porch was empty. Mrs. and Mr. Derrick looked down to find a package that had been left on the doorstep. They picked it up, unaware of what the box held. A note was attached to it that read,

"Christoffer says his goodbyes. A very heartfelt happy birthday to your boy who sadly didn't make it to 18. I thought you'd appreciate his ashes to celebrate with.

- The Silent Man"

With horrified looks, they rip open the box and to no surprise, they find the box filled with ashes of their son. The crowd waited impatiently to find out what was going on. With trembling hands, Mrs. Derrick read the note again, hoping whatever she had read before would magically change.

Mrs. Derrick fell on the ground, going completely unconcious. Mr. Derrick screamed for someone to call the police, unable to look back at the package.

A couple of people in the very confused crowd dialed 911. Ambulances followed by police cars arrived at the house not long later, sirens filling the neighborhood. Mrs. Derrick was carried out into the ambulance. The crowd scattered swiftly out of the house. Katherina and Angelina the twins and younger sisters of Christoffer went to into the ambulance along with their mother as Mr. Derrick stayed with the police.

What had happened that night was just a small starter for the silent man. A starter of bigger ones to come. That one was the most insignificant one in his book.

That same night, the police started their--usually unsuccessful--investigation. Mr. Derrick contacted his friend Charles as well, who was in touch with undercover agents. By the next morning, the death of Christoffer was all that was playing over and over on the news. Newspapers were sent to houses with the breaking news of the upsetting incident the night before. The mayor moved the curfew from 8 pm to 7 pm. Anyone out after the curfew was to be charged or even arrested. The town was on edge. The man was everywhere on the news. No one had ever seen him before or heard of his real name. All anyone knew about him was the name he left around. The Silent Man. Or as people of the town tended to call him, the man with no face.