Chapter 1: The Night of the Chestnut Man

The autumn air was crisp and cool, carrying the sweet scent of ripe chestnuts through the streets of Copenhagen. It was a night like any other in the city, with people bustling about, enjoying the evening's festivities. But amidst the laughter and chatter, a sense of unease settled over the crowd gathered in the Tivoli Gardens. The annual Halloween celebration was in full swing, with costumed revelers and thrill-seekers packing the amusement park. Among the throngs of people was Detective Inspector Emil Stubgaard, a seasoned investigator with the Copenhagen Police Department. He stood at the edge of the crowd, sipping a lukewarm coffee and surveying the scene before him. His partner, Detective Louise Bak, nudged him playfully, her bright blue eyes sparkling with amusement. "Come on, Emil, lighten up. It's Halloween. Let the kids have some fun," she said, her voice barely audible above the din of the crowd. Stubgaard raised an eyebrow, his gruff demeanor a stark contrast to Louise's carefree spirit. "You call this fun? A bunch of strangers in costumes, running around like lunatics. And what's with all these chestnuts everywhere?" he asked, gesturing to the vendors selling roasted chestnuts and other treats. Louise chuckled. "It's tradition, Emil. The chestnuts are for good luck. Besides, it's not like we're here to work. We're just here to... observe." Stubgaard snorted. "Observe? You mean, make sure no one gets murdered in front of our very eyes?" As if on cue, a scream pierced the air, followed by a collective gasp from the crowd. A figure stumbled into view, clad in a tattered suit and a grotesque mask. The mask was shaped like a chestnut, with a macabre grin carved into its surface. The figure, known to the locals as the Chestnut Man, began to move through the crowd, its movements jerky and unnatural. Some of the onlookers laughed, thinking it was part of the Halloween festivities, but others backed away, uneasy. And then, without warning, the Chestnut Man stopped moving. It stood frozen, its mask glinting in the flickering lights of the amusement park. The crowd around it grew quiet, sensing something was off. Stubgaard's eyes narrowed. "Louise, I think we have a problem." As they pushed their way through the crowd, they saw that the Chestnut Man was standing beside a lifeless body. The victim was a young woman, dressed in a witch's costume, her eyes open and unseeing. The scream that followed was not part of the Halloween celebration. It was a cry of horror, and it came from the very heart of the crowd. Stubgaard and Louise exchanged a grim look. The night of the Chestnut Man had just turned deadly.