Prey and Predator [Ranpo x Reader] + Bonus ✓

11. Scared of the dark

As promised, the detectives which had been present at the crime scene escorted mum and me out and had us taken to an edifice which consisted of various dormitories, some in which they spent the night in themselves. I was split from my mother when she was escorted to the police station for interrogation the next day. Yosano (the woman whom I had found to possess beauteous looks) kept me company during the day, attending to any of my needs as deemed necessary.

'I want to know about the details of the case,' I proclaimed as she returned with the glass of water which I had requested. She didn't seem convinced that I'd handle the report. 'I think I have the right to know.'

'Isn't it too soon?'

'If I have to put this behind me at some point to move forward then let it all come at once.'

She sat down on the bed which I had refused to return to after pulling an all-nighter (unintentionally) and watched me trace circles on the window sill. At this point I didn't care if the impression she'd get from me was that I did not bother with looking presentable - as I supposed I did not look so after not having slept for almost 24 hours - nor that I had only got up from the stool I sat on to answer nature's calling. I stopped caring about others' judgment of me because my mind was filled with other intrusive thoughts, those that managed to keep me awake. My belly rumbled but my mouth was not craving the food which had been left for me on the table behind me.

She began her speech but stopped mid-way and hesitated. 'It may be hard to handle, [Y/N]. Shouldn't you wait a bit longer?'

'All I want is the truth.'

She sighed. Her heels clicked indicating she had stood up and was making her way towards me. When she finally reached the window, she stopped beside me and held out an envelope - those that were often taken to courts containing legal information and evidence for potential arguments. 'We aren't supposed to share this with you, but we knew you would refuse to trust us if you didn't get your hands on that.'

I took the folder in my hands and opened the flap at the top, sliding the various documents stored inside onto my lap; printed text files, handwritten reports, diagrams, profiles on both my father and brother, additional notes added on post-it notes, and yet another envelope, though this one was much smaller, about the size of a printed photograph.

'Those are photographs taken of the scene and your father's corpse. I highly recommend you don't look at those as of yet.'

I listened to the advice and placed the envelope on the window sill, focusing on reading the report provided in the document stack. My father's name, age, blood type, foot size and appearance were some of the details provided in his profile form, persuading me to believe that I was looking at a national health document that bore the patient's details. I focused my attention on reading the report of the murder investigation, this being written in a similar way to the ones I had read before.

Mr [L/N] was reported dead after his wife had walked into their bedroom post finishing her night-shift in a local family business. She didn't hesitate to call the police.

Through a thorough investigation of the body without having it moved from the crime scene, it was identified that the victim had a stab wound present by his chest, along with a cut done by a kitchen knife to his neck. Supposing the culprit had been present beside him on the side which did not bear the other side of the futton, the depth of the cut to his neck suggests the culprit was left-handed, having it dug deep in the direction which indicates so.

The murder weapon - the kitchen knife - was found drying along with the rest of the dishes by the sink, some traces of blood still remnant on both the handle and blade; no fingerprints were found, on either the handle, blade, body or the sink's tap, however, a pair of gloves bearing young Mr [L/N]'s fingerprints on its inside - the victim's son - was found buried between all other dirty laundries in its respective laundry basket of fabrics waiting to be washed. These gloves are believed to have been used to avoid fingerprints being left on the victim's clothes, the murder weapon and any other asset which could easily absorb the individual's identity.