Unnatural Causes Apr 2026

He examined the lungs first. They were clear—no signs of the fluid buildup you’d expect from a failing heart. He moved to the stomach. The remains of an expensive steak dinner were there, half-digested. Nothing looked out of place until he reached for the liver. It was slightly enlarged, with a peculiar, faint yellowish hue that didn't match the boy’s age or health records.

He spent the next six hours in a fever of methodology. He ran toxicology screens that most labs wouldn't think to order for a "heart attack" victim. He looked for rare alkaloids, synthetic derivatives that mimic natural enzymes.

As he turned off the lights and locked the morgue door, Elias felt the weight of the day. His job wasn't just to find out how people died; it was to give them back their voices for one last, honest moment. In a world full of noise, the dead were the only ones who never lied. Real-World Inspiration

"You weren't supposed to die today, were you, Leo?" Elias whispered.