Reborn in the Enemy's Embrace

Eason suddenly stood up and looked at Dexter.

"According to our plan, the culprit will take action when the police announce that the victim is receiving emergency medical treatment."

"But if the serial murder cases and this mutilation case were done by different people, why would something happen to Juliet?"

Eason walked around.

"Say, the killer was going to reveal himself. But now, the killer of the serial murder cases has appeared.

Do you still think both cases were not done by the same person?"

Dexter remained silent for a while before speaking.

"No... Something’s not right with the timing of Juliet’s disappearance. Somebody did that on purpose."

Somebody had taken advantage of Juliet to confuse us.

"Everyone is trying to connect the mutilation cases to the serial murder cases because the perpetrators are victims too. All the cases have many similarities, but they just look like deliberate imitations."

Zion shook his head because something still didn’t feel right.

"Juliet’s disappearance may have just been a coincidence that occurred with the serial murder cases and mutilation cases."

Violette, too, shook her head.

"There’s one key thing about the serial murders. Back in the orphanage days, the killers abandoned the bodies at locations that were related to water sources."

"Huma has an ancient tradition whereby after evil doers die, they will be tossed into the water to cleanse their sins."

"The killer of the mutilation case didn’t hide or destroy the evidence but took advantage of stray dogs to destroy the bodies and the scene, leaving the police with no trace of clue," I added my analysis.

"Even if the police did find anything, the killer was also a victim who was left with no choice. In the end, they would choose to commit suicide anyway, and the clue would end there."

Both cases must have been executed by different people.

"The culprits behind both cases are having a silent duel," said Eason solemnly.

The killer of the mutilation case wanted to mislead the public, shifting all the blame onto the culprit behind the serial murder cases.

The more skilled one would emerge as the winner.

"I’m leaving. Don’t look for me." Eason walked to the door, then turned around to look at Dexter. "Hey...You can calculate, right? Why don’t you try to figure out where Juliet Is?"

"The murderer always leaves clues at the scene of the last crime. I calculated Juliet’s whereabouts once, and the clue disappeared. If the murderer is taking action again, that means she’s just unlucky,"Dexter said.

This time, Dexter had no plans to rescue Juliet.

In truth, he could not calculate it anymore.

Since the murderer’s plan had been disrupted, he might have decided to kill at random.

If Dexter could calculate even random occurrences, he would be extremely dangerous to society. In fact, he should just focus on trying to win the lottery for a living.

Eason grudgingly replied, "Fine, I’ll search on my own!"

Dexter remained silent.

After Eason left, Dexter looked at Zion. "Somebody is trying to lure the police away. Juliet may be an accomplice or bait to lure the investigation team away."

"I’m guessing that the killer of the second mutilation case may come to the hospital to destroy the evidence."

Zion paused, then exclaimed in realization, "You’re right! I’ll head over now in case Phil needs an extra hand."

As Zion left, Violette left with him.

Dexter looked at me with red eyes and hung his head low.

He carefully drew closer and tugged on my sleeve.

"Sophia..."

When I looked at him, his tears began to fall and landed on the back of my hand.

I wondered if he was a crybaby.

"So.. you suspect Martin is related to the mutilation case, which was why you agreed to Eason’s suggestion to be admitted into the asylum."

"Then, you helped Eason lure the murderer?"

I felt angry and frustrated as I wondered how much he had been hiding me.

"Sophia... I’m not suspicious of Martin. Martin and Dax are just good tools to take advantage of..."

Dexter leaned on my shoulder as he sobbed. "I suspect Peter."

I paused.

Truth was, I could guess Dexter’s suspicions–because I was suspicious of Peter, too.

But after all, it was no pain, no gain.

Dexter wouldn’t allow me to approach Peter.

I wondered if Dexter volunteered to be admitted into the asylum so that he could find clues. "Did you find anything?" I asked softly.

"He’s good at brainwashing. He’s talented. He’s skilled in psychology, hypnosis, and using chemicals,"

Dexter whispered.

I gasped and grabbed Dexter’s wrist in fear.

"You shouldn’t have messed with him..."

He continued in my ear, "But I found his weakness. His daughter..."

I glanced at Dexter. "His daughter?"

"During my time in the asylum, I observed that Peter, despite being obsessed with studying his patients, disrupted the consultation sessions three times because of a phone call."

"Every time, he’d smile. The caller ID was ’Sweetheart, and judging from the voice, it was a little girl who should be under 13 years old. She would call him ’Daddy," Dexter whispered, his voice gradually turning cold.

"Sophia... I’ve investigated Peter. His ex–wife gave birth to his eldest daughter two years before you were born. She was born with a serious genetic mutation and was a special child."

"After a few years, there was no news about her. Rumor has it that she died."

"Meanwhile, his youngest daughter was born after he married his current wife. She should be 13 years old now."

Dexter stood up straight and looked down at me. "Sophia, something’s off about Peter."

I looked up at Dexter for a long time before saying, "Before I lost my memories, was there something that I came to find out? Did I tell you about it?"

Dexter avoided my eyes and looked downward.

"Peter may be related to the mutilation case. I suspect he’s trying to kill the witnesses."

He was trying to get someone else to do the dirty work.

Thus, Dexter had been tracing the clues.

"When did you begin suspecting Peter?" I asked as I looked at Dexter warily.

It seemed like Dexter’s understanding of Peter was built over time. It was as if he had planned to be admitted into the asylum as an opportunity to investigate Peter.

Meanwhile, Peter’s interest in Dexter seemed to also be part of the plan.

Dexter lowered his head in a panic. He kept avoiding my questions.

I wondered if he was worried that I’d find out or if I would be upset.

"Dexter, there are some things that I must find out. Not remembering and not knowing may not be beneficial to me. It may put me in further danger."

I believed I deserved to know the truth unless Dexter did not trust me.

"After your parents died from the accident, I’ve been investigating... I Investigated Peter and who was related to him..." Dexter finally came clean that he had targeted Peter since long ago.

Under the disguise of being homeless, he had been secretly observing and investigating. He kept putting clues together in the process.

We returned to Dexter’s villa after leaving the hospital.

Ewan summoned the family doctor for our daily treatment and IV drips.

After everyone had left, Dexter brought me to the basement.

As the motion–sensor lights came on in the basement, the microcement interiors were almost speckless.

On both sides of the three–foot–wide walkway were glass display cabinets that had been embedded into the walls. Inside, countless butterfly specimens were on display..

As I looked at the butterflies, my fingers felt numb.

The specimens... looked so alive. It was as if they would come to life at any time.

"Do you like specimens?" I asked warily.

I suddenly recalled how Eason said Dexter was crazy.

When I died, my body was made into a specimen, after all.

I felt a fear that came from deep within.