There is suffocation detected from the examination of her protruded tongue. Jane Doe had been strangled to die before falling from the 5th floor. In the mind of the killer, they make sure the victim stays dead. To keep them silent forever. The killer is fearless, and the death is intended. And they don't intend to hide their deed. A total monster. Certainly, Jane Doe's case swayed my ability to run my work in a split second in an unlikely event. It could be that I pity her. A bright girl is now lifeless. The more I think about it, I'm grateful that in the utmost terrible fate of my encounter with a murder case that could destroy my future 15 years ago, I'm lucky. I got away. I'm unsure why I was destined to be involved in such bad omen events. When I was in college, I was once again bound to a psychopath boyfriend that left me in tremble in certain occurrences, which startled me once in a while. Yet, I'm still here. I have had terrible side effects from the beginning of Jane
When I looked in the mirror, I saw a face plagued by forgotten tragedies, a face that held answers to questions I didn't know how to ask.The remnants of that dreadful day were like shards of a shattered mirror, each shard revealing a piece of the truth I couldn't fathom.It seemed as if the fabric of reality itself had ripped, leaving me alone in a world of half-truths and shadows.Naomi Jang's face appeared out of nowhere in my thoughts, a specter of sadness and loss. I knew she was significant, like a missing puzzle piece, but her importance remained tantalizingly out of grasp. I should have found Naomi; perhaps she had the answer to the missing gap in my mind.Samuel's death hovered over him as well. His absence rang in my heart, and suddenly, amid this darkness, I felt a connection I couldn't deny.Above me the fluorescent lights in the mortuary hummed, throwing an unsettling glare over Jane Doe's body. Her pale skin seemed to be hiding something, her dead eyes communicating secr
Jason was abruptly startled out of the monotony of his drive as a loud, piercing shriek burst over the medical centre grounds. Lana was waiting for him to pick her up from work, and he was standing only a half mile away.He hadn't heard that voice in fifteen years, yet it was forever seared in his bones and memory. He resolved to protect Lana from similar horrors in the future.Still, destiny had its ruthless way of working. Before his very eyes, a man hurled Lana into the rear seat of his vehicle, plunging Jason into a sudden, terrifying reality.It was an apparent attempt at abduction right outside the hospital's forensic department compound!Reflexes on high alert, Jason accelerated his sedan, obstructing the culprit's frantic escape.The sound of twisted steel and grinding gears filled the air as the man slammed his vehicle into the rear side of Jason's sedan. The impact rippled around the property, breaking the tense air.There was a loud crunch as the metal gave way and bent from
"Lana,.."I'm unsure how long I have been lost in that swirling darkness, but eventually, a glimmer of light began to pierce the fog. Faint echoes of distant noises could be heard, like muffled voices underwater. I began to piece together the missing fragment of consciousness."Come on, Lana, wake up." a voice I knew well broke through the chaos in my mind.Struggling against the heaviness, I pry my eyes open. It felt like an eternity before my surroundings came into focus. I was lying on the warm rooftop floor of my high school back in my hometown.The waning sun hung low in the sky, casting its golden rays across the rooftop. These radiant beams played a silent dance and flickered like ethereal flames upon my face. The warmth caressed my skin, starkly contrasting the cold, hard concrete surface beneath me. I remember this scenery, but something was missing from here...A shadow loomed over me, and I strained my gaze to get a clearer view of the figure. The features of the face b
The flight was a grueling ordeal—twenty hours of confinement in a cramped, pressurized cabin. While I'm not a fan of air travel, the promise of going back to my hometown after years of living in Granata kept me tethered to sanity.Jason, his head lolling peacefully against the headrest, was oblivious to the torment that plagued me. I tried to surrender to sleep, but even the podcast I usually listen to when drifting off, a soothing melody at other times, now throbbed in my temples. I clutched my head, the throbbing pain making me considering taking a painkiller the soonest we landed.Desperate for relief, I pushed myself to my feet, the cabin's cramped confines pressing against me like a suffocating embrace. As I stumbled towards the lavatory, Jason stirred, his eyes heavy with exhaustion."Everything alright, Lana?" he asked, his voice a low rumble."I tried to sleep," I replied, my voice a hoarse whisper. "But... perhaps I'll be able to rest better in the hotel.""Alright," he said,
The road to Moon Valley Hill’s town felt longer than I remembered. The winding paths, situated along the rolling hills, were familiar, yet distant—like fragments of a memory just out of reach. Jason drove in silence, his fingers occasionally tapping the steering wheel. He didn’t say much, which was unusual. I stared out the window, watching as the landscape shifted into small, hilly streets lined with old shop houses and modest homes.The town had changed.Some of the old shop houses were now renovated, fresh paint gleaming where decay once was. New buildings stood where empty lots used to be, and the alley that had once felt desolate was now buzzing with life.Still, beneath it all, the place stirred something uneasy in me—a strange mix of nostalgia and dread.Naomi’s house loomed ahead, perched at the top of a set of stone steps. Jason followed me as I climbed the stairs, my heart racing with anticipation. The house looked old, the once-red gate now dulled and rusted, but it didn’t
The drive up to Moon Valley felt like walking into a storm. Jason gripped the steering wheel, following Lana's directions as she pointed out the way, her voice tinged with excitement and something more—hope. He wished he could share that feeling, but the truth sat heavy on his chest, weighing him down.He had never been to Naomi's house. He hadn't needed to go, not after what happened. The stories, the whispers about Naomi and what she had done, were enough. And now here he was, driving Lana toward a past she had long buried—a past that he knew would break her all over again.Jason's thoughts churned as they neared the small, hilly town. He glanced at Lana, who stared out the window with a look of distant nostalgia. She was so eager, so convinced that Naomi was still here, still alive. Part of him wanted to turn the car around, to stop her from opening old wounds. But Lana was stubborn, and if he didn't come with her, she would have come alone. At least this way, he could be there to s
Jason walked further down the path, his phone already in hand, thumb hovering over Jerry's contact. He hit the dial, anxiety gnawing at him. It had been years since the tragedy with Naomi, and Jason wasn't sure how much longer he could protect Lana from the truth.The phone rang once, twice, before Jerry's familiar voice cut through. "Jason. What's up?""Hey, Jerry," Jason's voice was low, controlled. "I need your help. It's about Lana."The other end was silent for a beat, then Jerry's voice came through, soft with concern. "Lana? Is she back in town?""Yeah. She was back yesterday." Jason paused, feeling the weight of the situation pressing harder. "She doesn't remember, Jerry. She's acting like Naomi's still… here."Jason heard Jerry's sharp intake of breath. "She has totally no hint of memories of the incident?""Completely," Jason said. "It's like that day never happened to her. And now she's convinced she'll find Naomi, like everything's normal."Another pause. Jason could almos
The haze lifted slowly, my mind wading through the fog and my body was leaden, limbs weighed down by some invisible force. My throat was parched, and my head throbbed with a dull ache.The muted light of the room seemed to pulse against the drawn curtains, pressing in with an almost suffocating weight. As I stirred, the room felt different. Stale yet eerily pristine. My eyes landed on the bedside clock. The time was familiar, but the date... it didn't make sense.Had I really been out that long?My chest tightened as fragments of the last time I was awake flitted through my mind. Nelson.How will he save me?I shifted carefully, every muscle screaming in protest as I pushed myself upright. The effort made me dizzy, but I was desperate to move, to feel alive again. My eyes fell on my arms, wrapped tightly in bandages. A shower.I needed to scrub away the staleness clinging to my skin, the invisible grime that made my skin crawl.But the bandages...Slowly, I swung my legs over the edg
The room was bathed in muted warmth, the golden light of day now replaced by the dim glow of a table lamp perched on the nightstand. Its soft illumination cast elongated, wavering shadows across the walls, lending an air of quiet unease. The curtains were drawn tight, but the faint hum of the city beyond told me it was night.The first thing I noticed was the weight pressing down on my body. My limbs felt heavy, like they were pinned under invisible chains. The rest of the room was cloaked in shadows, silent and still.I remained motionless, my breathing slow and steady, feigning the deep, tranquil slumber Jason expected. Though the sedative dulled my senses, it hadn’t completely robbed me of awareness. Jerry hadn’t administered a full dose—just enough to stave off another panic attack without entirely obliterating my consciousness.I stayed perfectly still, my breathing slow and shallow, feigning the deep slumber Jason expected. The sedative dulled my senses, but not completely. Jerry
Nelson gripped the handlebars of his motorcycle tighter, his knuckles turning white, its powerful engine thrumming beneath him like a restless beast. It roared through the night streets of Sillas City as he weaved through traffic, the engine’s deep growl echoing off the narrow alleys. Lana's trembling voice replayed in his head, each word etched into his mind.“Crescent Towers… tenth floor—uh, number… 358, I think. … you’re my only hope. You have to help me.”He had hesitated at first, and for a fleeting moment, he wondered if this was a prank. But as the silence stretched after the call ended, guilt and worry gnawed at him.What if Lana truly needed help? The thought left a bitter taste in Nelson's mouth."Damn it," he muttered under his breath, twisting the throttle. The 650cc engine roared to life, propelling him forward with a surge of adrenaline.He couldn’t ignore her, not after hearing the desperation in her voice.Nelson eased his bike into the parking lot, the sound of the ru
The room felt heavy with unspoken tension, the kind that seeped into the walls and lingered like a storm waiting to break. Jason stood near the window, his hands clasped tightly behind his back, gazing out at the city skyline. The glittering lights mocked him, a chaotic reflection of the battle raging inside. His jaw tightened as he exhaled slowly, the sound barely audible over the hum of the air conditioning.Behind him, Jerry sat at the table, methodically sorting through his medical bag. The precise clink of glass vials against one another was the only sound, a steady rhythm in the charged silence.“Jerry,” Jason began, his voice low, almost a growl. “I need your help.”He didn’t look up immediately, but Jason noticed the subtle stiffening of his shoulders. When Jerry finally met his gaze, his expression was guarded, his movements deliberate as he closed the bag.“I’m already helping you, Jason,” Jerry said coldly. “More than I should.”Jason turned, his expression dark. “We’re not
I lay motionless, every inch of my body weighed down by exhaustion. Outside the bedroom door, I could hear them.Jason and Jerry, discussing my condition in hushed tones.I strained to catch snippets of their conversation, words like "dosage" and "observing" drifting through the crack. They sounded calm and steady, but to me, it felt more like they were plotting my imprisonment.Then I noticed it.Jason's phone rested on the seat where he usually sat while keeping watch over me. The screen glowed, a recent message half-typed, abandoned in his haste to follow Jerry. My heart thundered in my chest, adrenaline surging through my veins.This was my chance.Ignoring the throbbing pain in my stitched hand, I dragged myself to the edge of the bed, fingers outstretched toward the phone. I trembled, fighting to steady my breath.My mind raced as I navigated to the contacts list.Nelson.He was my only hope. After the heated argument with Jason days ago, I clung to the belief that Nelson would n
For the next two days, the walls seemed to close in, inch by inch, and despair began to creep into my bones. I had hoped that playing the part, feigning obedience, would give me some space—maybe a chance. But Jason didn't leave the apartment.Still, he stayed, his presence shadowing me with its quiet, unnerving calm.Most meals arrived at the door, delivered with barely a sound, a silent reminder that I was cut off from the outside world. Jason set up his laptop on the counter, working without a word. Though he gave me the freedom to roam the living room, even watch TV, it felt orchestrated. As if he wanted me to feel relaxed enough to drop my guard.I tried to distract myself with the television, flipping through channels for anything that could pull me from this claustrophobic existence, but nothing caught my interest. Every laugh track, every news anchor's voice felt hollow, echoing against the surrounding silence.There was no way out. Every door locked from the inside, every windo
Jason stepped out of the shower, his movements relaxed as he wrapped a towel around his waist, droplets of water clinging to his skin. He noticed immediately that Lana was not in her room, but it only deepened his calm. He knew that there was no possible way for her to get out.He had seen to it. She was safely contained, her every means of connection to the outside world secured or removed. He'd thought through each scenario, each potential escape, and he knew with certainty that the only way she was leaving was with him, to Granata.As he dried his hair in his room across from Lana's, Jason glanced at the clock on the living room wall. The time was nearly up. He needed to change her bandage. He draped the towel around his shoulders, with a steady breath, he padded toward the kitchen, a small smile curving as he found her there, sipping a glass of water. She turned at the sound of his approach, her expression calm but distant, masking the tension he knew was hiding underneath."I hope
My arm throbbed lightly, a raw, stinging reminder of the wound left from yesterday. I winced, testing the movement, but relief washed over me when I realized it wasn't deep enough to slow me down.I needed to move fast, to be quiet. The shower hissed from behind the closed bathroom door, the only sound in the apartment. I took a quick, steadying breath.If there was ever a time to get out, it was now.I padded across the living room, feeling every muscle tense with purpose. When I reached the front door, my fingers went to the lock.I froze.That unyielding panel of numbers stared back at me, unmovable and impassive. I punched in the only codes I thought might work. Birthdays, common combinations, even random sequences. But each attempt ended with a sharp, unforgiving beep. My heart hammered in my chest. He had activated the security locked down system, blinking red with each failed entry.With growing dread, I tore my eyes from the door and cast a frantic glance around the apartment.
I blinked awake, my eyes adjusting to the dim light as I took in the soft shadows of the room. My hand throbbed slightly, wrapped in a fresh bandage.The antiseptic smell lingered, a reminder of how closely Jason had hovered over me. It felt like a weight pressing on my chest, this feeling of being caged. I needed to get away, away from his grip that seemed to tighten with every passing day.I shifted on the bed, letting out a quiet sigh. A warm hand squeezed my shoulder, gentle yet firm. Jason's voice reached me through the haze, soft and careful. "Hey, you’re waking up. I’m here.”Blinking, I opened my eyes, struggling to bring the world around me into focus. My mind felt heavy, muddled, and it took a moment to recognize where I was. Jason’s face hovered over me, a faint, reassuring smile on his face.The sunlight seeped through the blinds, casting soft, crisscrossed shadows over the room, grounding me slightly in its warmth. As I looked around, my eyes caught on the IV bag, nearly d