Whispers of a Monster

Chapter 7 : Chasing Shadows

Ryan's elder brother sat in the dimly lit chapel, hands clasped, eyes downcast as he murmured a prayer. It had been years since he'd seen his younger brother, yet the concern gnawed at him every day. He called Edward again, seeking any news on Ryan's well-being. Edward assured him, despite knowing Ryan's reluctance to reconnect, "He's doing fine... focused on his cases, as always." The elder brother sighed, a blend of sadness and relief crossing his face. "Thank you, Edward. For being there when I can't. I'll keep praying for him," he said softly, hope clinging to each word.

Meanwhile, Ryan's grandmother was on her own mission. With Evelyn no longer in school, the grandmother felt the weight of responsibility pressing on her. Determined to find work, she approached a high-end residence, hoping to get hired as a maid. But the woman at the door gave her a disparaging look, "We need presentable staff to keep our reputation. I'm afraid you're... not a fit." Dismissing her, the woman handed over a bottle of juice and turned away.

After being dismissed by the woman, the grandmother lingered awkwardly in the kitchen, her eyes drifting toward the open refrigerator. She spotted rows of neatly arranged juice bottles, glancing back to ensure she was alone. Quietly, she took a couple of bottles, slipping them into her bag with a soft smile, thinking of Evelyn. "These will be nice for her," she murmured to herself, closing the fridge door gently just as she heard footsteps.

Disheartened, the grandmother lingered awkwardly until a call came through on the landline. The woman left the room, and instinctively, the grandmother picked up. A voice on the other end asked, "Is the maid still available?" Her spirit renewed, she took down the address and quietly exited.

The address led her to a spacious, unfamiliar home. She knocked, and the door opened to reveal Dr. Sebastian, his gaze puzzled. "I didn't call for a maid," he began, but quickly reconsidered. "Perhaps... my mother did?" She seized the opportunity, assuring him, "Don't worry, I'll leave your floors spotless!" Despite his reservations, Sebastian agreed, leaving her a paycheck on the table before heading out.

The grandmother hummed softly to herself as she dusted each surface, carefully straightening the room, proud of her work. She glanced down the hall and spotted a room she hadn't touched yet. Its door was slightly ajar, inviting her in as if it were no different from the others.

She pushed the door open, balancing her cleaning supplies in one hand as she stepped inside. The air was a bit stale, but she thought little of it. Adjusting her grip on the cloth, she swept her gaze around, mentally planning where to start. As she moved to the far wall, she noticed a faint glimmer from a bulletin board hung near the corner.

Meanwhile, as Sebastian drove through the city streets, a fleeting thought struck him, making him grip the steering wheel a little tighter. The door. A flash of the room he'd forgotten to lock ran through his mind, and a pang of anxiety jolted through him. He pulled the car into a quick U-turn, his pulse quickening as he raced back toward his home, hoping he hadn't made a grave mistake.

Her footsteps slowed as she neared the board. Her brow furrowed when she noticed it was covered with photographs.. each one meticulously pinned, marked with red ink. She tilted her head, taking in the details, feeling a strange unease settle over her as she looked closer. Her hand reached up to touch a photo, her heart beginning to pound as she recognized some of the faces staring back at her.

One of the images caught her breath. A young girl, barely older than her Evelyn. Without thinking, she pulled the photo from the wall, gripping it tightly, her mind racing. Just as she stepped back, her shoe made a soft scuffing sound against the floor. She froze, holding her breath, the reality of what she'd stumbled upon starting to sink in.

Quickly, she tucked the photo into her pocket and composed herself, smoothing her expression. She forced a calm smile, her pulse pounding as she stepped out of the room, hoping that nothing seemed out of place.

Just as she exited the house, A car pulled into the driveway. Sebastian was back.  He stepped out, his expression hardening as he watched her try to leave in haste. "Did you forget something?" he asked, feigning a casual tone. She forced a smile, gripping her bag tightly. "No, no... I've cleaned everything. I'll be going now." She rushed past him, her hands shaking.

As she reached the bus stop, her pulse raced. When she turned, she saw Sebastian's car creeping slowly behind her. She dialed Edward's number repeatedly, but there was no answer. Panic set in. Desperately, she left him a voicemail, whispering urgently, "Edward, I think someone's following me. I'm scared. Please... I'm in the south alley off Victor Street. I have evidence with me. I... I think I might be in danger."

Edward, having just returned from a long shift, saw the missed calls and played back the voicemail. Hearing her trembling voice, he felt a surge of dread. Without a moment's hesitation, he grabbed his coat and bolted out, heart pounding with every step.

Under the dim streetlights, the grandmother ran, clutching the photograph. Her thoughts drifted to Evelyn. "My dear... I have to protect her," she muttered, her hands shaking. But her escape was halted as a shadowy figure in a black hoodie emerged from the darkness, blocking her path.

In an instant, she felt a sharp, burning pain in her side as his blade struck her once, then again. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the ground, clutching her wounds as blood began to pool around her.

Her hand slipped from the photo as her vision blurred, and the man, his face still obscured, picked it up. With a grim smile, he pulled a lighter from his pocket and flicked it on, holding the flame to the edge of the photo. He watched it burn, the image slowly curling and charring.

With the last of her strength, she whispered, "Please... my dear Evelyn...I have to protect her.."
Weakly, she reached for the photo and tried to scream, clutching it to her chest, shielding the remaining scrap with her body even as the flame licked her fingers.

From the alley's entrance, Edward caught sight of the confrontation. He shouted, sprinting forward as the figure turned and fled. Edward gave chase, his footsteps echoing through the silent street as he tore after the hooded man. The chase was relentless, both figures weaving through the narrow alleys and darting across the darkened roads.

But as Edward closed the gap, the hooded man suddenly turned left, darting across a busy intersection. Edward didn't hesitate, following in his wake. He was within reach, his fingers brushing the man's jacket.

Just as Edward reached the edge of a busy road, the hooded figure slipped across. Edward didn't hesitate, pushing himself to keep up, lunging forward in a final burst of energy, when blinding headlights flooded his vision. Tires screeched against the road, and the world spun as the car hit him, sending him collapsing to the ground.

A murmur spread through the gathering crowd as people rushed to his side, their faces blurring in his hazy vision. Voices overlapped, some panicked, some calling for help.

Then, through the fog of pain, he saw a shadow moving on the edge of the crowd.. a figure cloaked in a black hoodie, standing motionless and watching. Edward's pulse quickened as he strained to lift his head, desperate to see the man's face. He fought to keep his eyes open, his vision narrowing, the world slipping away.

But the man stayed just beyond his reach, his face hidden in shadow. Edward's breathing slowed, the last of his strength weakening away as darkness closed in. His fingers twitched in the dirt, struggling for one last grasp at clarity, but all he could make out was the outline of the hooded man, who finally turned, slipping away into the night.

And then everything faded to black.

*a small note : psychopaths do not have emotions whatsoever.* 😈😈😈😈