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Chapter 60: Three days before the darkness
Last Updated:
2024-08-13 04:18:50Related chapters
Between Heaven and Hell Chapter 61
"Rest assured, we’ll keep everyone informed," Zach said, briefly tapping Dryzza's shoulder before leaving the office to follow up Samantha's case with the cops who were stationed near the crime scene—to where she seemingly disappeared. "So, we're still handling that case too?" Sai asked, scratching his head in disbelief. "I thought we were focused on the murdered children this time? Why are we dealing with all of these? Why us?" He waved the white files in frustration, though with a playful tone. "I have no idea," Dryzza replied with a sigh, her eyes shifting to Esmeralda, the senior cold case investigator recently assigned to assist with the reopening of Takumi's case. "Will Mr. Takumi be brought in for questioning?" she asked. Esmeralda merely raised an eyebrow, her disinterest apparent—or so it seemed to Dryzza. It was only after several moments of silence that Esmeralda finally spoke, just as Dryzza was about to take her seat. "Mr. Takumi is uncooperative," she said in a
Last Updated : 2024-08-14Between Heaven and Hell Chapter 62
"Our Cyber Sleuths are already deep into the investigation," Zach remarked as he entered the room, his tone carrying a confident assurance. "It might just be, uh... pranksters?" Dryzza rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Of all people, I didn't expect such a weak theory from you," she retorted. "And you didn't keep us updated—what's the status?" "I've documented most of the findings," Zach replied, settling into his chair. His gaze swept over his colleagues before resting on Dryzza, who sat to his right. "But I felt it was important for you to hear this directly from me." "I've consulted with several spiritualists, and they all reached the same chilling conclusion: those markings are genuinely demonic. This information is already circulating in the public domain. However, something more troubling came to light today. A man approached me at the crime scene, claiming to have seen those very same demonic marks at the site where the children were murdered." Dryzza's expressio
Last Updated : 2024-08-15Between Heaven and Hell Chapter 63
The wind howled through the twisted trees as Dryzza stepped out of the car, the old mansion looming before her like a decaying specter. The moonlight struggled to pierce the heavy clouds, casting eerie shadows that danced across the crumbling facade. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and rotting wood, a stench that seemed to seep from the very walls of Takumi’s abandoned estate. Beside her, Sai shivered, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and anticipation, while Esmeralda, ever the stoic professional, moved ahead with the quiet confidence of someone accustomed to confronting the dark unknown. Their mission tonight was crucial: they had come to the mansion specifically to search for the grimoire mentioned by the man in Dryzza's dream that could help them—however it will. The urgency of their task was compounded by the strange destruction outside—the garden had been widely torn apart by an unknown force from beneath the ground, a troubling sign that something malevol
Last Updated : 2024-08-20Between Heaven and Hell Chapter 64: Two Days before the darkness
"I want you to do something for me and I'd you did it well, with no flaws, I'll get you away from here; you and your child will live a normal life free from curses... Demons." The weight of Kim's words from that fateful day lingered heavily on Jess's mind, the day when Scott's life teetered on the brink of death. Although Scott is still in a fragile state, Jess clings to the hope that he will pull through. The memory of that conversation plays on a loop in her mind, like a haunting melody she can't escape. "Are you suggesting a t-trade?" Jess had stammered, her voice betraying her fear and uncertainty. "Honey, trade is when you're given an option to choose from," Kim had replied with a chilling calmness, her words cutting deeper than Jess had anticipated. Kim's offer wasn't merely an exchange; it was an ultimatum, a demand cloaked in the guise of salvation. Though Kim hadn't approached her since that day, the mere thought of her was enough to send shivers down Jess's spine, remin
Last Updated : 2024-09-07Between Heaven and Hell Chapter 65
"You heartless bitch," Jess whispered faintly, trying to suppress the wave of anger that threatened to surge through her. She couldn't afford to feel such emotions, not with the baby. But Kim’s laughter, soft and mocking, pierced the silence. "Oh, don’t look at me like that," she taunted. "I wanted to meet sooner, but I figured your little mind would need time to process with everything going on. Consider it... my kindness." “Kindness, my ass!” Jess hissed through clenched teeth, her voice low but seething with barely contained fury. “Your kind could never understand something so human, and I pity you for it.” Her words hung in the air, venomous and sharp, meant to pierce through Kim’s pretense. It wasn’t just the insult; it was the truth Jess wanted to wield like a weapon, a blade aimed at the heart of the twisted figure before her. But she knew, deep down, that such a sentiment was lost on someone like Kim, whose cruelty ran so deep it had long since masked any capacity for e
Last Updated : 2024-09-07Between Heaven and Hell Chapter 66
"Home sweet home," Jess murmured softly, her eyes sweeping over the estate with a mixture of nostalgia and wariness. Her gaze was sharp and judging, taking in every detail of the place that once held her childhood. The estate loomed before her, unchanged and yet foreign, as though it was frozen in time but distorted by years of absence and untold stories.She stood behind a slender, ancient tree that had been a silent witness to her youth. It was the same tree that had offered her shade during long, lazy afternoons when life had been simpler, untouched by the darkness that would later creep in. Jess swallowed hard as images flashed before her eyes—memories of a time when everything was still normal, or at least, as it should have been. The echoes of her past stirred unbidden in the cool air, filling her mind with fragments of a life long buried.The rusty gate, once a barrier to the outside world, now seemed pristine to Jess, as if time had reversed itself. She felt as though she ha
Last Updated : 2024-09-07Between Heaven and Hell Chapter 67
[A Preceding Chapter of Chapter 58]The investigation room, though bright and spacious, felt suffocating to Jess. She sat stiffly, the weight of her pregnancy making her uncomfortable in the cold, metal chair. Almost ready to give birth, she found herself trapped in more ways than one. Despite the room's ample space, it felt narrow and confining. Across from her sat Zach, who despite his calm demeanor, was determined to unravel the mysteries he has been detangling ever since. Zach leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on Jess, probing for a reaction. "We already know you grew up at the Takahashi manor," he said, his voice measured but persistent. Jess, she didn't feel surprised at all. After all, she knew this very day would come and for some reason, she's almost thankful she has been caught. Yet, getting her to talk felt like trying to coax words out of a stone; no matter how hard they pressed, Jess remained silent, like a dam holding back a torrent of truth that could fl
Last Updated : 2024-09-17Between Heaven and Hell Chapter 68
[Continuation of Chapter 63] Dryzza followed the young Takumi as he led her through the grand corridors of the estate, his small figure walking confidently ahead of her. Despite his youth, there was something unnerving about his demeanor—something that made her skin crawl. His movements were precise, calculated, as though he knew more than a child should. She could tell from the way his gaze flickered toward her, sharp and suspicious, that he wasn’t entirely convinced of her presence. Yet, strangely, he didn’t call for the servants. He didn’t question her any further. It was almost as if he was toying with her, testing her, and she hated the feeling. As they turned a corner, Dryzza nearly stumbled when a figure emerged from the shadows—a woman in the attire of a servant. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with surprise, and Dryzza’s heart skipped a beat as she recognized her. “Joline,” she whispered under her breath, her voice trembling with disbelief. The servant’s eyes darted b
Last Updated : 2024-09-18
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Tomoya leaned back against his car, his arms crossed defensively as though they might shield him from the piercing gaze of the woman standing before him. Dryzza, a force to be reckoned with even on her worst days, stood opposite him, her face pale, her exhaustion evident. Dark shadows framed her eyes, betraying sleepless nights. Yet despite her weariness, her presence held an unyielding authority that made Tomoya’s discomfort intensify. "What?" he asked, feigning nonchalance, though his mind raced. Knowing Rener had already entered this woman’s dreams made him uneasy. The last thing he wanted was a confrontation with her—it could derail the delicate events set to unfold later that evening. "You tell me," Dryzza snapped, her tone sharp but laden with fatigue. She paused, as if assessing whether she truly had the energy to deal with him. "What are you doing here?" Tomoya smirked, a feeble attempt to mask his anxiety. Pushing himself off the car slightly, he gestured to his ve
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Tomoya dragged himself back home, his mind and body weighted by the events of the night. He didn’t bother dwelling on Jess’s fate if her accomplices realized the grimoire he’d handed her was a forgery. Exhaustion had dulled his senses, and the moral complexities of his choices faded into the background. Reaching his condominium, he allowed the familiar silence to envelop him. He assumed Kathleen was in good hands with Theresa, sparing him one less worry for the night. Collapsing onto the couch, Tomoya felt the day’s tension seep into the room. The empty space around him, although spacious, felt oppressive, as if the walls themselves carried the weight of his secrets. Pulling the grimoire from his coat pocket, he placed it carefully on the table next to his laptop. The book’s presence filled the room with an ominous aura, a silent reminder of his uneasy alliance with Rener. The thought of working with Rener makes his skin crawl. What would Takumi think if he found out? The betr
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Tomoya slumped into the driver’s seat, gripping the steering wheel as his mind spiraled. “Now what?” he muttered, his voice a mixture of self-loathing and panic. He replayed the moment he handed the grimoire to Jess, realizing with mounting horror that he had fallen prey to Rener’s manipulations. His fists clenched as frustration overwhelmed him. “You absolute idiot!” he berated himself, his voice echoing in the stillness of the car. “You trusted a demon. A demon! What the hell were you thinking?!” He kicked the floorboard like a petulant child, trying to vent the storm raging inside him. He was still seething when a movement in the rearview mirror caught his eye. “Holy shit!” Tomoya nearly leaped out of his seat as he spotted Rener, lounging in the backseat as if he belonged there. His calm, unbothered demeanor only added fuel to Tomoya’s anger. “You!” he pointed accusingly, his voice trembling with disbelief and fury. Rener’s dark eyes met his through the mirror, a faint smirk p
Between Heaven and Hell Chapter 83
The hospital cafeteria exuded an almost eerie stillness despite the occasional clatter of cutlery and murmured conversations. Its sterile, fluorescent lighting gave everything a pale glow, and the faint smell of antiseptic mingled with the aroma of cheap coffee. Tomoya sat across from Jess, his body language rigid and unwelcoming. The tension between them was palpable, thick as the silence that had settled around their table. Jess had barely touched her salad, her fork occasionally poking at the lettuce while her gaze remained fixed downward. "How’d it come to you that I would just hand you the grimoire that easily?" Tomoya’s voice cut through the silence, his tone sharp and laden with irritation. His arms were crossed, his posture unyielding. It wasn’t in his nature to entertain vague requests, especially not when they revolved around something as dangerous as Samantha’s grimoire. Jess’s unwillingness to provide any meaningful explanation only fueled his skepticism. Jess shif
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“We clearly severed all ties long ago. Why is he still meddling in my affairs?” Takumi's voice was sharp, laced with an unmistakable irritation, as he slammed a hand down onto the round table between them. The sound resonated through the quiet room, highlighting the tension that had hung since Tomoya arrived. After his strange encounter with Rener, Tomoya had come to Takumi without delay to relay the archdemon’s unexpected proposition. Now, sitting across from his cousin, he could see Takumi’s simmering resentment—a bitterness that seemed to have settled within him long ago. Tomoya managed a wry smile. “I’d never know his true intentions,” he replied with a hint of sarcasm, leaning back in his chair. “But, whatever his motives are, we both know he genuinely cared for you once.” His tone softened as he finished, a subtle reminder of the past that even demons cannot erase. Takumi froze, the sarcasm seeping from his own expression, replaced by something harder to decipher. His ga
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Rener remained standing, merely raising a hand in polite refusal. “No need,” he said, his voice a low resonance that seemed to echo off the walls. “I’m only here for a little pep talk.” “Pep talk?” Tomoya raised a brow, feigning confusion even as his mind raced, grasping for the direction of the conversation. He knew all too well that Rener rarely appeared without purpose, and his visit now only served to confirm Tomoya’s darkest suspicions. “What for?” he asked, his tone guarded. “And in case you’re here to see Takumi-niisan, he’s out.” Rener shook his head slowly, his expression unchanging. “No,” he replied, his gaze sharp, “I came to speak with you personally.” Tomoya’s guard rose, and he decided to press forward before Rener could steer the conversation further. “If you’re here to convince me to stop nii-san from opening the portal, you’ll be disappointed,” he said, his voice cool but unyielding. “Even if you’ve claimed his heart, his connection with Agatha can neve
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In the cool, dim light of the police precinct’s entrance, Tomoya felt his nerves on edge, the weight of his recent discovery bearing down on him. The information he’d unearthed in the police database had made it painfully clear—Jess was no ordinary woman, and her connection to the Takahashi case was undeniable. Though his heart raced with the excitement of finally untangling some of the puzzle, his mind buzzed with the complications this revelation brought. He was drawn here, to this place, by an undeniable urge to confront Jess, yet as he crossed the threshold, he saw no familiar faces among the precinct’s busy, bustling crowd. No sign of Zach, Esmeralda, or anyone else he’d anticipated seeing. It was strange, but he felt a pull towards Dryzza, the detective whose skill had uncovered pivotal elements of the Takahashi case. Her name had popped up so often in his search that he felt almost as though he knew her—though not a face in the precinct was familiar to him. He hadn’t
Between Heaven and Hell Chapter 79
The afternoon had settled into an unsettling quiet. The wind brushed gently, yet coldly, across the cityscape, weaving through empty alleyways and rustling through bare branches as though whispering secrets. The sky was cast in a muted gray, thick clouds obscuring any hint of sunlight and casting shadows across the streets. Distant sounds, a dog barking, a faint siren, echoed faintly and faded as quickly as they came, amplifying the eerie stillness. It was the kind of day where time seemed to pause, hanging heavy with an inexplicable weight, as if something significant were lurking just beyond the silence. From his vantage point on the hospital rooftop, Tomoya watched Esmeralda and Zach as they departed, their figures gradually disappearing into the distance. They had come, as Tomoya knew they would, to speak to Takumi, hoping he might grant them access to the ruins of the Takahashi manor. But as expected, Takumi had refused, his response curt and his demeanor wary. The weight
Between Heaven and Hell Chapter 78
The stillness in the office was unsettling. Dryzza, Sai, and Esmeralda sat in their usual places, surrounded by the hum of electronics and the soft, indifferent ticking of the wall clock. Yet, despite the familiarity of the environment, everything felt different. Hours had passed since they had returned from the Takahashi manor, but the enormity of what they had encountered weighed down the room, lingering in the corners of their minds like an unspoken truth. It was already 8 in the morning, and the sunlight now filtered through the blinds, casting sharp shadows across their desks. But the brightness outside stood in stark contrast to the dark, unyielding silence that filled the room. None of them had spoken since their return. The quiet between them wasn’t simply a pause; it was a protective buffer, a space that allowed each to process the profound implications of the night’s events. Dryzza, usually quick to process and act, found herself staring blankly at her desk, the sig
