"The prey has taken the bait."A sly smile played on Justin's lips, but he quickly hid it behind his mask of sorrow, restoring his face to one of pain and distress as he turned back.Justin's eyes were filled with tears, streams running down his cheeks, pooling on his chin. His nose was red, and he sniffled between choking sobs."Oh, why are you crying like this? Did something terrible happen to you?" In front of him stood a tall man, wearing a wide-brimmed hat that concealed most of his face. The man was dressed in a thick coat, with gloves on his hands and a scarf wrapped around his neck, his entire figure shrouded in heavy clothing. But despite the man's efforts to hide, Justin recognized him immediately. It was Mars, the serial killer he was hunting."There's nothing wrong, just a little sadness," Justin said, trying to keep his voice gentle and feminine, like a real woman. His plan was to disguise himself as a woman to trap Mars, and he couldn't afford to give anything away.Mars
Even though Justin had a steady psychological disposition, having faced countless battles, hearing Mars sing that way and feeling his rhythmic pats on his shoulder sent shivers down his spine, making him feel extremely uneasy. Justin tried to maintain a steady breath to give the impression he was unconscious. Mars stood beside him, observing for a while before bending down to check. He smiled in satisfaction, his cold eyes filled with calculation.Mars then dragged Justin in another direction. At this moment, Justin “let go” of his body, releasing all his strength, making his body limp like a truly unconscious person. Mars staggered as if “shocked by the weight,” his right foot stepping back two or three times before regaining balance. At this close range, Justin could hear Mars' breathing becoming erratic. Mars adjusted his grip, finding a “more comfortable” position before starting to pull Justin along."This girl looks light, but why is she so heavy?" Mars mumbled as he began draggi
“How many times have you done this?” Justin could have finished Mars off, but he thought it wouldn’t be as interesting. Since Mars had bothered to ask, Justin didn’t mind indulging him with some small talk.Seeing Justin’s calm demeanor and slight challenge in his eyes, Mars felt a mix of surprise and curiosity. This girl seemed different from all the others he had brought here. She wasn’t terrified, crying, or begging for mercy; instead, she remained remarkably composed.This only piqued Mars' interest further. He licked his lips, “How many times, you ask? Don’t you watch TV? They’ve covered my cases extensively. I should be famous by now. You didn’t know?”Mars puffed his chest out, trying to intimidate Justin. At this, Justin chuckled, “What’s your reason for killing those girls?”“I like it,” Mars replied arrogantly. Faced with Justin’s questions, he began to grow suspicious. Could she be an undercover FBI agent? He started to back away, putting distance between himself and Justin.
Mars lay on the floor, his bloodshot eyes glaring at Justin with unwillingness. "You must have another motive," he said, his voice full of suspicion. "You can't possibly be just an ordinary girl."Justin shrugged, giving a light smile. "I told you, I'm just an ordinary girl," he replied, his eyes cold. He knew that admitting anything more would only cause more trouble. Keeping Mars in the dark could help him control the situation better.Mars frowned, his eyes narrowing. "Listen, we can cooperate," he said, his tone softening. "You're smart, and so am I. If we work together, we could achieve so much more."Justin shook his head, without hesitation. "I have no interest in cooperating with a serial killer like you," he said firmly. "You've caused too much pain. It's time you paid the price."Mars was not ready to give up. He changed tactics, his voice becoming more persuasive. "You don't understand," he said. "I have resources and connections you can't even imagine. If you work with me,
Mars listened to Justin's analysis, and fear began to rise within him. It was the first time he felt fear towards another person. Justin's calm demeanor and knowledge of criminal psychology made Mars realize he was facing a far more dangerous opponent than he had ever imagined. Every word Justin spoke cut deep into Mars' pride, causing him to tremble uncontrollably.Outside, the sound of police sirens grew louder, and the powerful thuds of battering rams against the door intensified. They were about to break through, and Mars knew his time was running out. He had no chance of escape without a desperate move.But then, something unexpected happened. Justin, with a determined look in his eyes, injured himself. He used a small shard from the floor to cut a line across his arm, blood seeping through his sleeve. Mars couldn't believe his eyes and stared at Justin in utter shock."Why are you doing this?" Mars stammered, his voice mixed with fear and curiosity.Justin didn't reply. Instead,
Justin woke up with a start, feeling his forehead and back drenched in sweat. He gasped for air, eyes wide open as he looked around, realizing he was in an intensive care unit. The dim fluorescent lights above cast a cold, unfamiliar glow in the room.Around him, numerous medical devices beeped rhythmically, with tubes and sensors attached to his body, particularly his head. Justin felt a deep sense of unease and confusion. He tried to recall what had happened, but his memories were like a foggy haze, unclear and contradictory.When Justin tried to remove the devices from his head, a young nurse entered the room. She was shocked to see Justin awake. "You're awake?" she exclaimed, eyes wide with surprise. "Please stay still. I'll go get Dr. Wyder right away."The nurse hurried out of the room, leaving Justin in bewilderment. He tried to sit up, but the pain from his injuries and the sensors attached to his body forced him to lie back down. He looked up at the ceiling, trying to piece to
But the scariest part wasn't here.Dr. Wyder's expression grew serious as she looked into Justin's eyes and said, "This intentional brainwashing technique is known by only two people in the world."Justin felt as if he was falling into a deep abyss, his mind swirling with fear and confusion. He gasped for air, trying to remain calm, and asked, "Who?"Dr. Wyder was silent for a moment, as if weighing her words. "The first person," she said slowly, "is me."Justin stared at her, inhaling sharply. It wasn't because he thought Dr. Wyder had harmed him; it was the realization that there existed a method known only to two people in the world and kept hidden from the public. The fact that Dr. Wyder knew it indicated she was not an ordinary doctor."The second person," she continued, pausing to take a deep breath, "is my fellow student. His name is Verney. Verney Aydnes."Justin's eyes widened, unable to hide his shock. His heart pounded, feeling as though it were being squeezed. "Verney Aydne
Dr. Wyder looked at Justin, her eyes full of sympathy and determination. "There is a way to restore your memory," she said gently but firmly.Justin felt a spark of hope ignite within him. "What is it?" he began to ask, but before he could continue, there was a knock at the door.A nurse entered, her expression urgent. "Doctor, there are people outside claiming to be Justin's family," she said, her voice filled with concern.Justin immediately sensed something amiss. He knew these were Mozzafiato's people. They wouldn't stop until they found him.Dr. Wyder turned to Justin, her eyes filled with concern. "Do you need help?" she asked, ready to do whatever it took to protect him.Justin pressed his nails into his palm, thinking quickly. He needed to make the right decision. He knew returning to Mozzafiato could be dangerous, but he also needed to face the truth and understand why all this was happening.Finally, he looked up, his eyes resolute. "No, I don't need help," he said firmly. "I