“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
The Mozzafiato people had finally arrived.It was Ricard and Etham.Over the years, Justin had always felt that Ricard harbored a dislike for him, always treating him with a cold and distant attitude, occasionally throwing in sarcastic remarks. The one person Ricard truly listened to and revered was the King. Ricard was domineering and treated everyone with disdain, especially Justin.Why did Ricard reserve such special hostility for Justin? Lately, Justin had begun to understand.Ricard was filled with jealousy and resentment.Justin hadn't realized it at first, but now that he knew, it would become Ricard's weak point.As for Etham, he was someone who followed the King’s orders, likely tasked with monitoring and controlling Justin. Etham was like a pawn of the King, a spy. But Etham didn’t seem completely corrupted by evil. He could still be tricked by Justin, occasionally showing signs of helplessness and hesitation. Etham could still be saved.Ricard and Etham arrived with a large
Ricard looked at Justin, surprised by his calmness and determination. "So you agree to return?" Ricard asked, his voice still filled with doubt.Justin nodded, his eyes never leaving Ricard. "Yes, I will return. But make sure everything is ready and does not affect my health."Ricard breathed a sigh of relief, but remained serious. "We are prepared. A specialized plane is waiting and has full medical equipment and accompanying doctors."Etham, despite being scolded to his face, still worried about Justin. "Justin, are you sure? If you don't feel well, we can wait."Justin looked at Etham, smiling gently. "I'm fine, Etham. Thank you. Let's go back."As Ricard and Etham walked out of the room to arrange everything, Dr. Wyder approached Justin's bed, her eyes filled with worry and seriousness. "Justin, I know that you want to return to find out the truth, but be careful. Mozzafiato is not a safe place for you right now."Justin looked at Dr. Wyder, feeling sincere care and concern from he