章節 20: CHAPTER 20
"Officer Landon, I heard that you've released that psycho?" Damien asked with displeasure as he walked out from the police station with Juliet.
Juliet was hiding in Damien's arms as if she was terribly frightened.
Damien took off his coat and put it on Juliet's shoulders lovingly. Then, he held her in his arms and asked, "Are you cold?"
Juliet gently nodded.
"Mr. Coleman, someone has bailed him out. They also mentioned that should your friend have any questions, feel free to give them a call. They would compensate for all the medical expenses as well as any other losses." Zion passed the name card to Damien.
Damien looked at the name card. Then, his glance changed.
He frowned and asked, "Ignatius Black?"
The Black family…
I stared at Damien dumbfoundedly. Did he just mention the Black family?
The Black family was the wealthiest and most influential family in the business industry in Huma.
Even the Coleman family could not be compared with them.
However, how did a member of the Blacks end up growing up in an orphanage and turning into a psycho?
I couldn't help but tremble when I thought of Dexter's true identity.
Did he manage to get away from all those murders he had committed thus far because he was a Black?
So, someone had been cleaning up the mess for him.
What should I do now? Where on earth was my body? Would the truth about my death even come to light?
"H–he was a Black?" Juliet was dumbfounded too.
After a long silence, she eventually found her tongue. "I've never heard that there's a psycho in the Black family."
"Three years ago, Mr. Black Senior's eldest son, eldest grandson, and granddaughter were killed in a car accident. His youngest son was the only family he had left, but he was azoospermic."
"Since the youngest son was infertile, there is no chance of an heir," Damien said in a low tone while he frowned.
"Which means this psychic is a bloodline of the Black family. Otherwise, Mr. Ignatius wouldn't care so much about such a psycho."
"You think so?" Zion smiled coldly. "If he really cared about Dexter, he wouldn't have let him wander around like a homeless person. He's just making sure the bloodline of the Blacks won't die."
Damien kept quiet. He wasn't interested in the Black family, nor did he want to get involved with them.
"Since you've finished questioning, you probably should focus more on the murderer instead of Sophia." Damien opened the door of his car and let Juliet in.
Apparently, he was particular in every detail when it came to taking care of Juliet.
"Juliet and I are getting married soon, I bet she'll show up at our wedding." He was quite certain about it.
I scoffed, knowing that Damien planned to lure me out at his and Juliet's wedding.
"Congratulations to you two then."
Zion glanced at Damien meaningfully. "Hopefully, this was all just Sophia's prank. I do hope she'll attend your wedding. Then we'll know she's safe and sound."
"Yeah, keep dreaming…" I stood aside and taunted Damien. I would not show up at his wedding. Never ever.
Damien got into the car and drove off.
I stood there feeling rather lost. I did not know where I should go next.
Perhaps I was what was known as a "lost ghost".
A soul which had no idea where to go after death."
"Where are you, Sophia?" Zion suddenly asked as he raised his head and stared at the sky.
I turned around and looked at him with a smile. "I'm dead, but I don't know where my body is…"
"Officer Landon! We've got another case!" Phil came out of the police station, and ran toward Zion panickedly.
"Another female body was found at the Godrey River. Same MO… The victim wore a red dress and often wandered around at night. She was sexually assaulted before she died of suffocation," he said.
Zion frowned and threw away the cigarette in his hand. "Damn… that bastard!"
He was furious that he uncontrollably smashed the trash can next to him. He was feeling pissed that the murderer was still at large because of his incompetence.
So many innocent women died because he couldn't catch the murderer.
"The victim's face was completely skinned, thus we can't identify her," Phil said.
Zion finally calmed down and stood there in silence. "Let's go take a look."
I followed Zion worriedly. According to my last memory, the murderer had indeed abducted several women.
I remembered seeing a few ladies in red quivering at the corner before I died.
"There are survivors, Zion! There are still some survivors! Go to that abandoned orphanage! Search the orphanage!" I anxiously yelled at Zion while I followed him.
Someone was still alive. The murderer only killed a person every once in a while. And before he killed, he would first abduct a person.
So there must be survivors!
"Zion! There are survivors!" I shouted as loud as I could, hoping that he could hear me. However, it was all in vain.
We were like people in two different worlds. He couldn't even feel my existence.
"This might sound weird but we found another Sophia's belonging on the body. The victim was wearing an earring on her left ear."
"We've confirmed that it was the earrings that Sophia was wearing on the day she went missing," Lily reported to Zion when she returned from the scene.
"Is it possible that we're heading in the wrong direction? Maybe the murderer isn't a male, but a female? Or maybe it's Sophia Milford?" Lily told Zion her suspicion.
Zion remained silent.
I tried to explain to him, but it was no use. They couldn't hear me crying or shouting.
I wondered why the murderer was putting my belongings on the victims after he had killed me.
First, it was my bracelet; now, it was my earring.
What the hell was that lunatic trying to do?
I followed Zion to the Godrey River. It was a remote area that was some distance away from the abandoned orphanage.
Obviously, the murderer had dumped the body into the river. Then, the body floated downstream and was found in such a desolate place.
I stood by the river and saw that body covered in white cloth. I couldn't help but cover my eyes in fear.
Yes, even when I was dead, I was still as timid as ever.
"That's Sophia's earring alright. The last body had Sophia's bracelet, and this one had her earring. What is the murderer trying to say?" Phil was puzzled.
"Lily might be right. Maybe the murderer is Sophia Milford! Even if it isn't her, she's definitely part of it."
"She's now missing, and her friends insist that she's still alive. So maybe she pretended she was missing, but the fact is, she's the killer or accomplice!" Phil said angrily
"I heard that Sophia Milford was in love with Damien Coleman. They said she would do anything to get married to him."
"Perhaps she knew the murderer. So whenever the murderer kills someone, she intentionally leaves her belongings on the victims so she could provoke Damien and Juliet?" Lily said as she walked to them.
I stared at Zion helplessly and shook my head desperately. "No, it wasn't me. I did not."
Zion remained silent for a while, and then he said, "Get an arrest warrant for Sophia and put her on the wanted list."
The last hope I had been holding onto shattered in a blink of an eye.
I sarcastically glanced at the officers who were standing before me. Then, I turned around and left helplessly.
Not only did they not believe in me, but they even slandered me and planned on arresting me.
I wondered if they would feel guilty for their suspicions when they found my body.
Anyway, that was not important to me anymore.
No one in the world would believe in me.
No one believed that I was dead.
And no one believed that Juliet was the one who got me into this.
All of them believed in Juliet.
I went back to Hamforth Residence, where I used to stay with Mom and Dad before their accident.
We might not be considered wealthy in Huma, but we were a happy middle–class family.
Before I was 18, I used to imagine I was the happiest little princess who had a beautiful life with my parents and a wonderful future ahead.
However, everything had been ruined.
I could never go back to how things were.
As I wandered on the street in despair, countless cars ran through my soul. But I couldn't care less.
I never thought that I would fall into the pit of despair after I died. I was even more desperate than I was alive because I couldn't even end my life when I was a ghost.
"Sophia… Sophia, where are you? Please… come back to me."
I heard a faint cry coming from the entrance of my old home. A thin figure was squatting at the door and kept making calls.
I stood under the streetlight. My body trembled when I saw who it was.
That was Violette, my childhood friend and bestie.
Violette tried to get through my phone over and over, even though the phone was no longer reachable.
"Sophia, please don't scare me. Don't scare me," she kept murmuring.
Her voice sounded hoarse after a long cry, yet she couldn't stop repeating, "Sophia, please don't scare me. Come back to me, Sophia."
I squatted next to her helplessly. I wanted to hug her, but I couldn't.
"Violette, I'm here. I'm right here…" I said to her in tears, "Don't cry, Violette. I'm here."
However, Violette couldn't hear me.
"Sophia, I'll find out the truth. I promise you I'll find out the truth and avenge you," Violette promised in her hoarse voice.
I had a bad feeling about this. Violette was the only person who really cared about me, so I couldn't let anything happen to her.
"Violette!" I followed her and screamed her name in worry, but she didn't look back.
She wiped her tears and made a call on her phone. "Have you found it?"
"The police found another body today. The body was wearing Sophia's earring. The police couldn't identify the victim, but they'd confirmed it wasn't Sophia through DNA analysis."
As Violette studied medicine, she had a friend in forensics. Hence, she could easily find out about the investigation.
"Put me in touch with Zion Landon. Tell him that I've been going out during nights for quite some time, and I'm willing to be his bait to lure the murderer. Ask him to contact me. If he won't, I'll do it myself." Violette sounded determined.
"Are you out of your mind?" I shrieked at Violette, thinking that she must be crazy.
She shouldn't mess with that murderer!
章節 21: CHAPTER 21
Zion never expected Violette would use such a reckless plan to force him to meet her. Therefore, he was furious when he entered the coffee shop at the corner of the street.
"I understand you're anxious to find your friend, but you're using the wrong way!" Zion frowned as he lectured Violette.
"Then tell me what's the right way to do it? Should I just sit and wait for you cops to solve the case? You're taking too long!
"How desperate Sophia would be by now if she's still waiting for someone to rescue her!" Violette lost her temper and yelled at Zion.
Zion didn't seem happy as he rubbed his eyebrows.
"I know how you feel- "
"You don't know a damn thing about how I feel!" Violette interrupted Zion.
Zion glanced at Violette in silence, feeling speechless.
"If I didn't report to the police that Sophia was missing, no one would've reported it! You cops wouldn't even have started investigating."
"Sophia has lost her parents. She has no one but me! If I don't do anything, she'll… she'll be gone for good." Violette's eyes had reddened as she clenched her fists fiercely.
I could tell that she must be terribly upset right now because her body wouldn't stop trembling.
"Violette, please, don't do anything reckless…" I begged her not to go. She should forget about me and live on without me.
However, Violette seemed to have made up her mind. She wouldn't give up before she found me.
"Don't take the deal, Zion. Turn her down!" I cried, begging Zion not to accept Violette's proposal.
Zion pondered for a long while. Then, he said, "Sorry, but I don't know you, nor Sophia. I only learned from Damien and his friend that Sophia isn't a good person, if not vicious-"
"That's bullshit!" Violette shouted furiously.
"Those people are all devils! Fucking bastards! They've got a lot of nerves to criticize Sophia! They're the ones who have been hurting Sophia!"
"Damien Coleman's a rapist! You're a cop, aren't you? You should arrest Damien Coleman! Go arrest him now!" Violette frantically pushed Zion as she shouted in tears.
Zion was a little at a loss. He probably didn't know how to calm down a lady.
When Violette cried, I couldn't help but cry with her.
"Zion, you're a cop, so you shouldn't believe that most people would tell the truth. Sophia isn't the person they described. I can prove it to you." Perhaps she had vented enough, Violette suddenly calmed down.
Somehow, she seemed scarier now than when she was frenzied.
"What do you have in mind?" Zion asked.
"Tomorrow night, I'll wander around the alleys in a red dress. If one day isn't enough, I'll keep wandering for two days, three days until I lure that lunatic out."
Violette clenched her fists tight. She was so agitated that even her breath was shaky.
"What kind of friend is Sophia to you? Why would you risk your life for her?" Zion was a bit irritated, so he went to the smoking area for a cigarette.
Violette smiled weakly. "You want to know more about Sophia? Follow me. I'll bring you to a place where you can understand the real her."
Zion remained silent and followed Violette.
I quiddy followed them.
"Sophia was a top student. She always got first place in our class."
Violette drove Zion to the Hamforth Residence, where I was born and raised.
She knew where my house key was hidden since this place used to be our little hideout when we were students.
Sophia was beautiful. She had been the campus belle of our school." Violette took a key out from a shoe, opened the door, and entered the house.
There was a photo hanging at the entrance of the living room. It was a beautiful artistic photo of me, taken when I took part in a ballet performance when I was 18.
I was wearing a white tutu, posing like a swan spreading its wings in the photo."
"She was so beautiful." Zion nodded his head as he glanced at that photo.
"After her parents had died in the car crash, their company went bankrupt and owed a lot of money. Sophia didn't need to bear those debts. But she still paid them off with her parents' death benefits she had claimed from the insurance, without keeping a cent for herself."
Violette took a box out of the drawer. "After we went to college, Sophia would hand me the money she received from her scholarship every year."
"We would donate the money to help the children at welfare homes. She said the children would be so lonely without their parents."
Bang! The door suddenly opened.
Dexter stood at the doorway, breathing heavily. His eyes were all reddened.
I was standing at the entrance, looking at him in disbelief. Wasn't he taken away by the Blacks?
No, that wasn't the point. The real question was, how did Dexter have my house key?
Violette was shocked to see Dexter too. "Who are you?"
Zion's first reaction was to press Dexter against the wall. "Why are you here?" "Sophia… Sophia!" Dexter shouted for Sophia in his shaky, hoarse voice.
Zion furrowed his brow and released Dexter.
Dexter turned and immediately started running. He signaled for Violette and Zion to follow him.
In a panic, I wanted to stop Violette.
"Violette, don't trust him," I pleaded. "He's a murderer. Don't go with him!"
But Violette saw this as a good opportunity. She was desperate to find me.
"Stop right there," Violette demanded. She chased after Dexter and urged him to stop.
I was in a state of panic and started to follow them. I shouted at Zion, "Please, follow them. Ensure her safety."
Zion snapped to his senses and joined the chase. He and Violette followed closely behind Dexter.
Dexter seemed to struggle with his movements. It was evident he was running with all his might. Blood streamed down his slender calves. It was a harrowing sight.
His pants were both short and tattered. It seemed they were scavenged from somewhere.
I couldn't help but wonder about Dexter's background. If he was indeed from the Black family and they treated him well, I wonder why he would be left to wander without directions.
I knew nothing of Dexter's upbringing. Nor did I wish to empathize with a serial killer. Regardless of his past, murder is indefensible.
"Are you injured?" Zion inquired. His brow was furrowed as he grasped Dexter's arm. "Where are you taking us?"
Alarmed, Dexter wrenched his arm free from Zion. He stumbled to the ground, then rose and continued his escape.
His shoes were missing. The soles of his feet bore horrific scars reminiscent of severe burns. I watched in shock as Dexter stumbled every few steps. I wonder what horrors he had endured.
"What happened to his feet?" Violette gasped in horror.
She observed Dexter's determined efforts to rise after each fall. His feet were severely burned. Each step he took must have been agonizing.
What was driving him to endure such pain?
"They're burn injuries," Zion concluded. He approached Dexter after another fall. He offered a hand and waited for Dexter to accept help.
However, Dexter hesitated. It seemed he was already accustomed to solitude.
Once back on his feet, Dexter resumed his painful journey. Bloody footprints marked his trail.
Violette was puzzled. "How did he burn his feet?" she wondered aloud.
"I had my suspicions about him," Zion confessed. He spoke with a heavy heart. "I believed he might be the murderer and conducted my own investigation."
Zion's admission took me aback. To think he had suspected Dexter all along.
"He is the murderer," I insisted. "You must investigate further!"
"Dexter's life has been filled with hardship," Zion reflected. "Raised in an orphanage, he was never acknowledged by Mr. Black Senior. Mr. Black Senior never considered bringing him into the Black family fold."
"Perhaps it's karma that Mr. Black Senior's lineage has ended with him. Now, he turns to Dexter, the grandson he once shunned."
Zion followed behind Dexter. He lit the cigarette and pondered the cruel irony.
"A servant from the Black household confided in me," Zion continued, "Dexter resisted his new life with the Black family. He frequently attempted to flee. His reclusive nature and quick temper made him difficult to manage.
"To prevent further embarrassment, Mr. Black Senior resorted to extreme measures. He crippled Dexter, confined him, and treated him like an animal. All this to ensure the continuation of the Black lineage."
Violette covered her mouth in shock. "So, his injuries…" she began. "Were they inflicted by Mr. Black Senior to prevent his escape?"
Zion's response was a silent, pained look.
In the eyes of the wealthy, Dexter was not a person but a tool for reproduction. Once he fulfilled his purpose, he could vanish from Huma forever.
I followed behind Zion. My emotions were conflicted as I observed Dexter.
"Empathy for a murderer is misplaced," I muttered hoarsely. "However pitiful he may be, his victims deserve our sympathy more."
Dexter's motives were unclear to me. I was uncertain if he had accomplices. But with Zion present, I felt a measure of safety.
After what seemed like an eternity, Dexter led us back to the abandoned orphanage.
The sight of the dilapidated building sent shivers down my spine. It was here, in an old alleyway, where I was drugged and abducted.
Was Dexter about to reveal the site of his crimes?
"What's here?" Zion demanded. His voice was tense as he surveyed our surroundings. Dexter paid him no mind. He pushed open door after door. His search was frantic yet fruitless.
I was skeptical of his intentions. I suspected that it was an act of madness. But then, we found something on the second floor in a deserted dormitory.
A figure in a red dress stood before us. The silhouette was eerily familiar. The figure seemed lost in thought as it gazed out the window.
I was breathing heavily, and my body trembled uncontrollably. Was I staring at my corpse?
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