❝Aren't you scared at all doing this?❞
❝No, I love taking pictures of them dead.❞
[WARNING: may contain graphic contents, and dark and mild sexual themes.]
|ON-HOLD|
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The timing of the dreary dark clouds today was akin to my sorrowful feelings. Devastated that I lost someone special to me by the hands of a deranged and despicable killer; not daring to move any of my limbs as I gaze out the window—bleakly. After moments of my silent mourning, I brought the umbrella with me and departed off our mansion to Hoseok's studio. Like before, eerie frames of the dead hung on the wall and the musty smell of chemicals lingers around me.
Pacing around his studio, a closed book with a piece paper between the pages—sticking out—caught my attention. I neared to the desk and opened the book bearing the title: Titus Ardronicus. There, the complete names were written in column with a line marked across their names including the persons I knew—my brother, the mistress, and Luella. A twinge of shock and inquisitiveness filled me, arching my eyebrows while gazing down further to the unmarked names until incoming footsteps alerted me.
"Claire?" I closed the book with a loud thud and spun my heels around. The photographer looks surprised to my presence but then faded to concern. "You alright?" Hoseok asked and steadily came close to me.
"Not exactly," I bit my lip and swallowed the lump formed in my throat, remembering the reason why I came here in the first place. "Luella is dead." I informed in a whisper but loud enough for him to hear.
"I know, her parents have already made an arrangement with me for her post-mortem photography. Come; take a seat first while I get some tea." He lightly put his hand on my back and ushered me to the couch as we entered an archway room.
In just momentarily, he gently placed two tea cups and a teapot on the table. He poured a bright amber liquid—Earl Grey—to our fragile cups; the searing smoke of a lovely aroma lightly kisses my face. "What happened to your friend was very tragic," Hoseok commented. His tea cup between his parted lips and grimly added, "Shame, she should've kept her ill-mannered behavior."
The handle of tea cup interlaced to my finger was halted in mid-air as I looked at him with my brows knitted together. "Excuse me, what are you implying to?"
Hoseok put down his tea cup on the saucer beneath his hand and answered, "I meant to say is that, maybe she had an enemy and angered him. That's why she was killed."
"I don't understand, it's the serial killer who murdered her. Does that mean she made an enemy with him?" Instead of verbal response, he gave me a shrug of his shoulders and clueless expression on his face. I sighed silently and resumed to drink my tea. Not long, I traveled my eyes to the desk outside the room and remembered a particular book.
"Titus Ardronicus." I mentioned but also in a questioning tone, hoping he could bring up about the paper inside that book.
"Ah, it's my favorite play by William Shakespeare," He stated. "The tragedy of 14 murdered people," My eyes were still focused to him; encouraging him to go on whilst sending me a subtle grin. "It's just full of hatred and revenge." He conveyed in delight tone, yet his impression of the book disturbed me frankly. At the same time I was disappointed, the fact he did not mention about the paper nor did he display a hint of vigilance. Either he knew I checked it or not, Hoseok was rather amused.
My hunch says that paper is the serial killer's list or could be just a list of dead people needed for post-mortem photography pertaining to his job. However, what about the unmarked names which could've been still alive? Something's not quite right and I need to get out of here.
I put the cup back on the table, leaving it half-full and stood up. "I have to go. Thank you for the tea." My lips curved upwards and began to amble towards the archway of the room.
"In the next three days, I expect to see you again here." He reminded firmly. My heels stopped against the creaky floor and thought what he meant. Right, I was permitted by Luella's parents to take a post-mortem photo with her so I will be here again.
"Yes," I craned my neck back to him and added, "I will." In return, he sent me a placid smile before I proceeded my way out.
Slippery ground and damp atmosphere greeted me as the dark clouds profusely showered the whole area; opening my umbrella to shield myself from the rain and decided to walk on foot back to our mansion. Nora was arranging the flowers in a vase when I came down the stairs from my room with a lengthwise paper in my hand.
"Nora, could you buy all these items on the list. I need that tomorrow morning." My request brought attention to my handmaid as she received the paper from me and subsequently studied the list briefly.
"These are boy's attire, what will you do with these?" She eyed me in bemusement. "You can't lie to me Claire, I've always know you since you were still small so I know whenever you're up to something. Tell me." Pursing my lips and putting up a coy demeanor didn't help me to sway her to overlook my intention. She crossed her arms incredulously and waited for me to speak up instead.
"I'm going to investigate and I need to cover up myself. I have my suspicion of who the serial killer is." I conceded. If ever the serial killer—not knowing his real face—caught me in action, it will be the end of me so I definitely need to dress-up and hide my identity.
"Are you mad?" She exclaimed with apparent surprise.
"I've made up my mind. I won't rest 'till I find evidences to prove who he really is. This is also justice for Luella's death, please Nora." I begged and lightly grasped her arm. She frowned; looking displeased but eventually slackened her expression.
"Fine, but you have to take my young brother with you," She reckoned. I sighed in relief and a kindle of joy sparked within me. "He works in the detective agency and surely will give you his assistance. I cannot allow you to do this risky investigation alone." She placed the paper in the pocket of her uniform.
"Oh and also, please keep this a secret especially to my parents," I plead with a sly grin. Nora narrowed her eyes for a moment but then she nodded her head in agreement. "Thank you." For sure, she didn't like the idea yet Nora still trusted me which I'm grateful for.
When the first light came, I started to dress-up myself in front of a full-length mirror. Wearing a white collar shirt tucked inside my blue vest with golden patterns, red bow tie knotted around my collar, black trousers which thankfully fitted on my hips and black shoes. The last part was putting a brown cap to secure my bound and bulked hair inside. A smile formed on my lips as I feel satisfied to my male version look. Going down the stairs, I noticed a fine young man beside my handmaid; they were having a conversation until I gained their attention in front of them.
"Claire, this is my young brother," Nora introduced happily. He was wearing similar clothes like mine except he has black vest instead and excluded the cap. He gave me a pleasant smile as he offered his hand for me to shake. "Jungkook."
