Chasing His Rose

14. The Uncanny Coincidence

Nyla

The air was breezy and shifting. I was sitting in my prison and drinking a warm cup of hot cocoa. Zayan was drinking his cup of coffee. His mood...it was silently good and sombre. However, the element of humour was sitting from his stance. I had asked him if I would soon be freed, and he had simply shaken his head with a pitiful smile.

"Not quite." He took a sip of coffee and stared straight, while I sat on his left side-bars and listened with a frown. I pressed my hands against the floor to hear him better.

"This is all circumstantial." He turned his head towards me and met my gaze. "I presented a circumstantial scenario. There were so many ifs. If the medical reports were incorrect..." He placed his cup of coffee and fully turned towards me, folding his hands with a sad smile on his face. Zayan being all serious and mature...it was a worrying sight.

"If you don't have an accomplice if you weren't fast enough...too many what-ifs. Also, I heard the prosecution is going to bring the head of the forest department who will explain how the scars are caused by any animal's attack. You always being there is going to be used as a catalyst. And Asher's death...you were the only one near. So, as I said...we still have some work to do." He gave me a sad smile, watching as I folded my hands around the bars in tension and focus...my eyes attentively watching

"What am I going to do?" My eyes watered, as I looked at him with an earnest and vulnerable expression, feeling so alone and scared.

I-I didn't do it. It was the creatures. I-I am innocent. Zayan s-said he would take care of me.

"We are going to start with the truth." He wrapped his hands around mine. "You have to tell me exactly the whole truth. I know something abnormal is happening. I know you are scared...but you have to tell me what." He encouraged, his voice so tender and coaxing...eyes staring so deep into mine, wishing for me to share. But I couldn't. Not when I was already trapped in a corner.

He would consider me insane, lost and a murderer. My own family had believed my truth I couldn't risk losing my husband when he was the one trusting me-making me feel normal, scaring the creatures away.

"I-I-"

"Nyla, Don't worry," he softly wiped a rolling tear away from my cheek. "I promised I will take care of you. I won't ever leave you. Even if you decide not to tell me the truth, I will stay. But, my little doe with eyes that will be my ruination, I just want you to trust me. Can you do that?" He muttered with a low chuckle, making me crack a smile too.

"I-I can try," I shyly lowered my gaze to the floor.

"Good. Now I want to talk about how offended I am that you decided to drink hot cocoa instead. Once we get you out of here, you are going to brew coffee for us, and then we are finally going to enjoy our coffee on our vacation house's roof. You still haven't been to my favourite restaurant with me, so-"

"Detective Zayan!" A police officer now came rushing in the direction of our prison. "We found the accomplice. The triple z killer is involved in this. We found him!"

"What the heck!" Zayan immediately stood up.

Triple Z Killer? I didn't have any human accomplice. What on earth was going on! The feeling of dread and fear grew intense, as I curiously listened.

Who had been caught by these people?

"Explain." Zayan simply ordered, causing the man to nod in obedience.

"One of our security guards was caught attacking another man. He was carving scars. We took out his information file and found out that he has been working with an alias. He confessed to being the Triple Z killer who is infamous in Seenia Island for being a serial killer who hunts humans, leaves them on the floor and enjoys having people around to check out his hard work. He fled from Seenia Island last year. That would explain how our security cameras stopped working. It was him." The man spoke in a rushed manner. I couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

What an uncanny coincidence!

A serial killer who killed in a similar pattern as found in the Embalian Forest killing had just been caught. The police were thinking he was my accomplice, but he wasn't. He was going to take the blame for the crimes committed by the creatures.

"But how can I be his accomplice when he has already been committing crimes in Seenia Island?" I stood up, too...wanting to clear my name.

"You have claimed there were animal attacks." The police officer turned towards me with sharpness and accusation.

"I-I-"

"That will be all, Zubair." Zayan simply interrupted in a rather cool and composed tone. I looked at him with slight hurt and confusion. The officer simply nodded and headed out. It was strange how people weren't really questioning Zayan spending so much time with me, for being so frank and friendly. Maybe it was the norm.

A pang of discomfort hit me.

"Zayan, why didn't you defend me?" I began complaining once the police officer left. My soul was beating with frustration, the heat of anger making me feel so annoyed. Why didn't Zayan say anything to the officer!

"The court is the place we will defend our case, bella. Not here. There is no point saying this to a low-rank officer." He cooed. working to cool my temper by gently grabbing my hand.

I sighed and then smiled softly. "So is this it? Am I finally going to get out?" I looked at him with a tender expression. My soul felt elated..giddy. I felt like jumping with joy. I couldn't believe the twist in events. Such luck...I felt bad for having someoneelse being accused of my crimes, but that someone was a serial killer. Such a perfect getaway.

"I always told you that you were." He moved the invisible tendrils of my hair away from my forehead. My heart fluttered in excitement. Freedom...finallly! I was going to escape from it all. Finally, the accusations, the constant pain was going to end. I could go home, with Zayan. I could show everyone how I wasn't a complete failure.

This man...he had been so sweet and supportive. He used to annoy me so much, but no one had really put this much effort and trust in helping me. I felt grateful, quite in awe...a man clearly popular among women-so rich and powerful-was the only one who had trusted and helped me out of such a mess. Emotions struck me.

"Thank you." I shyly tugged on the grip on my hand, trying to hide my nervous ways.

"You are most welcome." His intense gaze stayed fixated on me, while I lowered my eyes due to all of the attention.

"Umm...you should stop acting so friendly to me now. We are so close to getting me out. This will start raising curious questions. U-Unless people are used to this behaviour of yours," I spoke awkwardly, stepping away from him. The last sentence had just slipped out. I hated how childish and insecure I suddenly sounded.

What the heck!

I didn't want to sound like one of those clingy wives.

I had no time for attachments and insecurities.

Triple Z had just been caught!!

"You are too innocent." Simply chuckling with amusement, Zayan pinched my cheek and smiled. Immediate embarrassment filled my veins. He had picked on my sudden feel of possessiveness and jealousy. Shoot!

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes, folding my arms to act nonchalant and unconcerned. Though, a smile stayed on my smile. I was super excited and couldn't wait for the next hearing. Yes!

"Women." He then shook his head in amusement and dragged one hand across his face with a mock show of exhaustion. "They have us acting like besotted fools and then still wonder about our loyalty. The audacity." He joked...a smirk appearing on his face. A blush appeared on my face.

This man was insane!

a/n: thank you so much for reading, voting and sharing. Means a lot to me.

Take care.

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