CHAPTER 11
THE PATTERN
Seyren's POV
"I would very much like to have more freckles than a small dick"
I winced at what I overheard from Liam.
He was at a restaurant with his friend, and I had secretly followed him there.
Although I wasn't too close or too far from them, I could clearly make out their conversation.
Most of what they talked about was typical boy talk, and it irritated me how they ogled girls like total perverts.
This is precisely why I don't trust this guy at all.
I feel like any minute now, he could stir up trouble or cheat on Azara.
"Do you need anything else, babygirl?" asked the woman who treated me to food.
I almost forgot she was with me because I was so engrossed in listening to Liam's conversation.
I didn't know this woman.
She had suddenly approached me and offered to treat me to a meal.
I refused at first, but she was incredibly persistent.
I ended up ordering steak, even though I was already quite full.
"Huh? This is fine, thank you for the treat," I said, smiling.
She gazed at me with dreamy eyes, but I paid no attention to it.
I refocused on Liam, who was now conversing with a girl.
The girl sat next to him, and Liam casually draped his arm around her shoulders.
I quickly took out my phone and discreetly snapped a photo of them.
As I was doing this, I felt something crawling up my leg to my thigh.
Looking under the table, I saw the woman's foot rubbing against my leg.
When it reached my knee, I gasped in shock.
When I glanced at her, she continued eating as if she wasn't doing anything inappropriate.
Despite the arousal I felt, I stood up abruptly.
"I-Iâm leaving now, thank you for the treat," I stammered and quickly left.
I felt nauseous from what she had done.
Even though I was aroused, I would never involve myself with a woman like her.
Outside, I waited and saw a poster on a post for a missing prisoner.
"Missing: Varick Jeon. Reward: 100 Million Pesos."
That's what was written on the poster, along with his picture.
If in recent days people had been hiding because that man was on the loose, now even the bystanders were out and about.
It seems like almost everyone in the Philippines is looking for Red Bull because of the huge reward.
No one's scared that they might get killed. They're all after the money. Whether rich or poor, everyone is driven by the promise of a reward.
Me?
I'm scared of him. I don't know why, but he terrifies me.
While staring at the poster, I saw in my peripheral vision that Liam had left the restaurant and was walking towards the pedestrian lane.
I let him get a bit farther before I started following him.
At any moment, I could call Detective Skyler or Guerrero using the device they gave me.
They could also track me down, so even if I ended up in Batangas without informing them, they would know where I was.
Liam is becoming more suspicious to us, and Detective Skyler is particularly wary of him because he has the blood of a psychopath.
I've been doing this stalking thing since the other day.
Liam is unbelievable; he's always going somewhere and talking to various people.
Like now, he met a guy he knows, and they started chatting on the sidewalk.
I winced again as they lit up cigarettes and began smoking.
Hindi mo yan kina-cool, dude.
Mukha kang adik sa kanto sa nangmamanyak ng mga dalaga.
Even though I didnât want to do it, I did it anyway.
As I walked, my mind preoccupied with my mission, I collided with a man who was roughly my height.
"Oh, I'm sorry," I apologized quickly, but he just brushed past me without a word.
I caught a fleeting glimpse of his charcoal eyes.
He smirked, but I couldn't get a full view of his face due to the cap he was wearing.
That guy looks familiar.
My eyes lingered on the man I had bumped into.
My gaze stayed fixed on him for a few seconds, a nagging feeling of recognition tugging at my mind, before I remembered I was supposed to be following someone.
When I turned to the other side, I cursed myself under my breath because I had lost sight of the guy I was tracking.
I wandered around, hoping to catch another glimpse of him, but in the end, he was nowhere to be found.
"Ahh, Iâm such an idiot," I muttered under my breath, scratching my head in frustration.
I took off my cap and ran a hand through my hair, which I had just cut short in a wolf style that morning because I was too lazy to tie it up all the time.
"Tsk!" I let out a deep sigh and sat down on a nearby bench.
I didn't know where else to go because if I returned to the headquarters, I wouldn't have anything to do there either.
What should I do now?
---
No One's POV
"Detective Skyler!" Anthony's voice echoed down the hallway as he hurried towards the office shared by all the detectives, which also led to Detective Skyler's main office.
"Where's Detective Skyler?!" he shouted as he burst into the room.
"In her office," a detective answered simply.
Anthony headed there, nearly tripping over his own feet in his haste.
"Detective!" he called out just as he opened the door. Skyler, anticipating his arrival, remained unfazed.
"Detective, you have to see this." Anthony rushed over to Skyler, placing his laptop on the detective's desk.
He brought up a video showing Liam in a restaurant with their latest victim, Evelyn Parker, who was found dead.
"An anonymous source sent this to my link. The restaurant owner didnât want to give us this footage because they feared it would ruin their business. Now, perhaps a staff member betrayed them and sent it to me," Anthony explained quickly, then played the video.
In the video, Liam was seen talking to Evelyn Parker.
They appeared to be arguing, and Liam received a slap before the woman left.
Liam followed her out of the restaurant, and the video ended there.
"Look at the time. The victim left the restaurant at 6:30 pm, followed by Liam. Then a witness said they heard a loud scream from the victim's house around 7:15 pm, but they ignored it," Anthony explained, switching the video to a soft copy of statements from their interviews.
"Even if Liam left her after that argument, he remains suspicious because look at this," Anthony continued, showing another video.
In this video, a car parked not far from the victim's house.
Due to the light inside the car, they could see who was inside.
They saw a man in an all-black outfit with a hoodie and a black mask.
The man walked down a path leading to the victim's house.
After a few minutes, he returned, looked around, got into his car, and sped off.
"The car parked at 7:00 pm. Then it left at 7:25 pm. Look at the man, he's body is built exactly the same as Liam. Let me remind you that the killer seemed unprepared this time because he left not just a finger but also the knife used at the crime scenes." Anthony added.
"It's like he's slipping up," Skyler said, and Guerrero nodded in agreement.
"Call Seyren and go with her. Go to Liam Alcantara's house and interview him," Skyler ordered, and Anthony quickly complied.
He called Seyren, who answered promptly.
"Seyren, where are you?"
"I'm at K-Oppa Ramyeon resto. I lost Liam. I canât find him anymore," Seyren replied, her voice tinged with frustration and disappointment.
"Come back here. We're going to Mr. Alcantara's house," Anthony instructed.
"Why?"
"We received CCTV footage showing the victim and Liam together before the attack. Hurry back here."
"I'm on my way! Damn it, wait a minute!" Even though Anthony couldnât see her, he could tell Seyren was panicking from the urgency in her voice.
After hanging up, Anthony waited for Seyren to arrive.
As he stood outside the headquarters, he noticed two stunning women approaching him.
His heart raced, and he felt a wave of nervousness wash over him as he recognized the two Camerons.
He panicked, fidgeting anxiously.
He even breathed into his hand to check if his breath was fresh.
"Hello, Detective Guerrero," Elowen greeted, making Anthony's heart race even faster.
"You know me?! I meanâG-good afternoon, Ms. Elowen, Ms. Azara," he greeted awkwardly, nearly cursing himself for his stammer.
The two Camerons recognized the detective from Skyler and Seyren's stories.
Elowen chuckled, thinking the detective was endearing in his nervousness.
Azara, on the other hand, faked a smile, not particularly thrilled to be there.
She was simply bored at home and felt like she was going stir-crazy.
"Can we come in? I brought food for Seyren. She forgot her lunch. We also brought food for Detective Skyler," Elowen said, showing the two plastic bags of food.
"Sure, Iâll show you the way," Anthony said, leading the way inside.
The two Camerons followed him, and he nearly forgot to breathe due to his nervousness.
As they walked through the corridors, many people turned to stare, surprised to see the two Camerons with Anthony.
Upon entering the room, Anthony cleared his throat, and his team members straightened up upon seeing the two Cameron ladies.
"Team, where's Detective Skyler?" Anthony tried to act cool.
"In her office," answered a police officer.
"Thank you... This way, please," he said, leading them to Skyler's office.
---
Inside the office, Skyler was reviewing some documents when Anthony knocked and opened the door.
"Detective Skyler, Ms. Elowen and Ms. Azara Cameron are here to see you," Anthony announced, stepping aside to let the women enter.
"Thank you, Anthony," Skyler said, looking up from her desk.
"Ms. Elowen, Ms. Azara, please come in. What brings you here today?"
"We brought some food for Seyren and for you as well," Elowen explained, placing the bags on Skyler's desk.
"Seyren forgot her lunch, so we thought weâd drop by."
"That's very thoughtful of you. Thank you," Skyler replied with a nod, glancing at the bags.
Azara, feeling out of place, stood quietly beside her sister.
She didn't want to be there, but she had nothing better to do.
"Is there anything else we can help you with?" Skyler asked, sensing Azara's discomfort.
"Where's the kid?" Azara asked nonchalantly, she's been looking around to find the familiar face of Seyren inside their headquarters.
Elowen and Skyler shared a knowing look, sensing the little worried tone of voice from Azara.
"The kid's on the mission. She's done a great job with her work that I gave another."
"You gave the kid too much work yet there's no case na narinig kong na-solve na." Azara retorted with a mocking tone, sending a glare on Skyler's side.
"What do you mean?"
"Donât think I havenât noticed, Skyler? She's been arriving at work an hour or two earlier than usual ever since she became a detective. Her reason? There's a work na kailangang matapos. At home, she's always stuck in her room and working with some kind of case all in her own even though she's on a day off. Don't you think it's too much? O talagang binabagsak niyo sa kanya ang mga trabaho." Azara's voice was firm, speaking volumes of what she really felt at the moment.
What she felt every single time she saw Seyren buried in reports, even when she was supposed to be relaxing at home, was a complex mix of emotions.
Azara might not show her care for Seyren outwardly and often acted like she despised her very existence, but deep down, she couldn't help but feel a gnawing worry about Seyren's health and mental well-being.
"I thought you hated Seyren?" Elowen asked, her tone laced with curiosity.
"I hate her so much, but that doesn't mean I'm not worried about her. As a human being, I pity someone like her who works so tirelessly for everything," Azara responded bluntly, her words sharp and unfiltered.
She crossed her arms defiantly and locked eyes with Skyler, challenging her silently.
Skyler, however, met Azara's gaze with a warm smile, seemingly amused by the actress's concern.
"Should I assign a bodyguard for you and have Seyren removed from your mansion so you won't have to witness her constant workaholic tendencies?" Skyler asked, her tone carrying a hint of mock annoyance.
Skyler was well-acquainted with Azara's prickly demeanor.
She knew that the actress had a sharp tongue and a bristling attitude that spared no one.
Sometimes, Skyler found herself questioning why Azara's fans were so enamored with her despite her off-camera personality.
Azara was a unique caseâa woman with a challenging attitude off-camera who still managed to captivate a devoted following.
Skyler's words seemed to hit a nerve.
Azara, visibly irritated, approached Skyler and slammed her hands on the table, leaning in close.
"Do you have the authority to cast her away from my house? The house and land that I own? No, you don't. All I'm saying is to reduce her workload before she loses her morale and decides to quit. If she leaves, you'll lose a gem," Azara said, her voice rising in frustration.
Despite her harsh words, there was an undercurrent of genuine concern in her tone.
Skyler, recognizing the sincerity behind Azara's harsh exterior, maintained her calm demeanor.
"Good afternoon to you too, Azara," Skyler said with a chuckle, spinning leisurely in her swivel chair.
"Don't worry, I'm just teasing you. The kid's fine. She has an interview to conduct, and then she'll have her time back. I have a mission for her that will allow her to enjoy herself as well," Skyler reassured, her tone soothing.
Skyler then turned to her girlfriend with a teasing smile.
"Your baby is okay. If you consider her your baby." She let out a playful laugh, enjoying the banter.
"Now, what did my beloved wife bring me? Perfect timing, I'm starving." Skyler's eyes gleamed with anticipation as she reached for the food, grateful for the thoughtful gesture.
"Chill ka lang ate, Seyren's doing fine with her work. Parati siyang nagkukwento sa akin. If you're really worried about her, you could've asked her yourself. Huwag mo lang sungitan at baka hindi ka niya matansya at sungitan ka rin" Elowen joined her girlfriend from teasing her sister.
Azara felt irritated that she wanted to slam their heads on the table but she decided not to react with violence as it could get her in jail.
An actress being in jail is not good for her image. She will gain nothing but shame once she let her intrusive thoughts win over.
"Bagay talaga kayong dalawa. Nakakainis kayong kasama."
"As if you and Liam look good together." Elowen's comeback surprised Azara and made her girlfriend snickered.
Skyler took that as insulting the guy instead of the Cameron woman. She hates his guts for Pete's sake.
She hates the blood that's been running on his body.
She would do everything, like literally every single thing a person could do just to prove herself right.
---
"May nag send na anonymous?"
"Yes" Seyren's brows furrowed as she absorbed Anthony's narrative.
They were currently en route, having just spoken with Liam and inquired about his whereabouts.
To their surprise, Liam was at home resting, contrary to their expectations.
The two detectives had informed him of their intention to visit, and Liam had consented.
"The pieces are falling into place. If he truly is the killer, Iâd be wary of all psychopaths. Whether a killer or not, theyâre all terrifying," Anthony commented, his gaze fixed intently on the road.
"Is it wrong to admire a psychopath's methods? I mean, they meticulously plan their actions, donât they?" Seyren asked, her voice soft and reflective.
She sat in the passenger seat, her attention fixed on the CCTV footage showing the confrontation between Liam Alcantara and Evelyn Parker.
"The intelligence of psychopaths is indeed remarkable, particularly if they were to rise to leadership positions. The world might be a better place if only they had morals. Unfortunately, most of them are cast as demons in this peaceful world," Anthony said with a sincere tone, acknowledging the complexities of their subject.
"Thatâs why, Seyren, you should be cautious about whom you place your trust in. Your trust could become your downfall. Youâd be especially unfortunate if you encountered a psychopath. Theyâre formidable opponents." Anthony warned.
Seyren turned her gaze towards Anthony, her fear palpable in her eyes.
She nodded slowly and turned to look out of the window, her thoughts visibly preoccupied.
Their drive continued in silence until they arrived at the mansion of the basketball player. Liam was waiting outside, as anticipated.
"Good afternoon," Anthony greeted Liam with polite formality.
Liam responded with a warm smile, greeting the two detectives standing before him.
"Sorry for the disturbance," Seyren said sweetly.
Liamâs eyes surveyed her, assessing her from head to toe, before he returned a broader smile.
"Let's go inside. We can discuss things there," Liam suggested, ushering the two detectives into the house before closing the gate behind them.
He glanced around outside before securing the gate.
Inside the house, he repeated the action at the main door, ensuring it was closed properly.
As they moved to the living room, the two detectives couldn't help but scan the surroundings.
When they sat on the couch, Anthony noticed a pair of sneakers hidden beneath it.
He glanced at the basketball player's feet and noted the discrepancy between the shoe size and what he had observed.
"Are you living here alone, Kuya Liam?" Seyren inquired politely as she settled into her seat.
"Yes, I am. My parents have passed away, as has my brother. My sister has moved out and now lives on her own. Would you like some juice?" Liam offered.
"Yes, please, thank you," Seyren responded, her eyes following Liam as he left the room.
She scrutinized his every movement with a mix of curiosity and caution.
"He claims he lives alone, but look under the couch," Anthony whispered, squeezing himself closer to Seyren.
Seyrenâs expression hardened as she looked at Anthony, confusion and concern evident in her gaze.
"Downâ¦" Anthony instructed, pointing to the space beneath the sofa.
Seyren stood and peered underneath, spotting a pair of shoes that didnât match the size Liam had mentioned.
"Whose shoes are these?" Seyren asked. Anthony shrugged nonchalantly.
Hearing the approach of heavy footsteps, Seyren quickly returned to her seat, resuming her previous position with a statue-like stillness.
"This is your juice. This oneâs for you, Seyren, since I know you enjoy lemon juice," Liam said, presenting three glasses of various flavored juices.
"Thank you," Seyren replied, taking a sip.
"Thank you," Anthony said politely, quickly finishing his drink as though he were parched.
Liam settled into the single couch, lit a cigarette, and offered one to the detectives, who declined.
He appeared relaxed and casual.
"You two are no fun⦠So, youâre here to ask me some questions, right? Let me guess, itâs about Evelyn Parker." Seyren and Anthony exchanged glances before nodding in agreement.
"Well, to be honest, Ms. Parker and I were acquaintances through a Bible study group. I only knew her from that context, but if youâre asking about the argument we had at a restaurant, Iâll be honest with you," Liam began, spreading his legs comfortably and resting his elbows on his knees.
His eyes locked onto Seyren, compelling her to maintain eye contact.
"Thatâs precisely why weâre here, but please, share your perspective. Weâre here to listen," Seyren said gently, smiling.
Liam responded with a smile of his own.
"Well, Evelyn and I met to discuss Bible verses as we often did. However, we had a disagreement over the Ten Commandments," Seyren's eyebrows arched in surprise, and Anthony began recording Liamâs account.
"According to the sixth commandment, 'Thou shalt not commit adultery,' which Evelyn found disagreeable and even called 'lame.' I was offended because, as fellow Christians, we should respect these teachings. Weâre both aware of her background, after allâsheâs a well-known mistress to numerous governors and actors," Liam explained.
He straightened up but kept his gaze firmly on Seyren, who was clearly engrossed in his account.
Anthony observed Seyren, who was so focused on Liam that she seemed on the verge of tears from not blinking.
"I raised my voice, which only angered her further, leading to her walking out. I followed and apologized, but she insisted I leave, so I complied." Liam continued.
"But Azara told us you were supposed to go to Zambales for some errands, but you canceled. Can you tell us why?" Seyren asked boldly.
Liam tilted his head and gave a slight smile, exhaling another puff of smoke.
"I had to take care of a close friend of mine. Heâs currently in the hospital. If youâd like, we can visit him. You can verify my log as his guardian for the entire night and day," Liam offered.
"Could you provide us with the hospitalâs name and location?" Seyren inquired with determination.
"Of course. Iâll send you the details. Give me a moment." Liam pulled out his phone and began typing.
Seconds later, Seyrenâs phone buzzed with a notification.
Opening it, she found a message from Liam with the hospital's name and location.
"My friendâs name is Kurt Damzel Vergara. Heâs injured and still hospitalized," Liam said. Seyren nodded in acknowledgment.
They continued with their questioning, and Liam answered confidently and thoroughly.
Despite the intensity of the conversation, Liamâs demeanor remained calm and composed.
"Sorry for the inconvenience, Mr. Alcantara," Anthony said as they concluded their interview.
"Itâs perfectly fine. I understand the necessity of your work. As someone who interacted with the victim before her death, itâs my duty to share any information that might aid in the investigation." He paused, taking glance at Anthony.
"As detectives, itâs your job to catch these criminals and, ideally, bring them to justice. They wonât come forward willingly, unlike Red Bull, right? Heâs the only criminal who flaunted his deeds publicly and became notorious again," Liam said with a hint of humor in his voice.
Anthony laughed at Liamâs comment.
As Liam escorted them outside, Anthony opened the passenger door for Seyren.
She thanked him and got into the vehicle.
"Detectives," Liam called out to them. Seyren looked up quickly, feeling a sudden dizziness.
"Yes, Sir?" both detectives responded in unison.
"Donât you think it would be better if killers targeted each other rather than innocent people?" Liam asked playfully, though Seyren struggled to grasp his words through her blurred vision.
"If that were the case, I might side with the killer. Weâre leaving now. Thank you for your cooperation," Anthony said, sliding into the driverâs seat and starting the car.
The vehicle pulled away as Seyren and Anthony departed.
"Hey, I forgot to stop the recording. I'll just cut it later," said Anthony as he took out his phone and started using it.
"Eyes on the road, Detective Guerrero," Seyren commanded with a tone that brooked no argument.
Anthony chuckled, his fingers pausing over the phone screen, and then he set it aside.
"Our next stop is the hospital he mentioned. Detective Skyler will likely want me to check it out kaya pangungunahan ko na siya" Anthony remarked, stealing a glance at Seyren.
His brow furrowed when he noticed her pallor and the way she seemed to struggle to keep her eyes open.
"Are you okay, Seyren?" Anthony asked, his voice tinged with concern.
Seyren nodded, though her vision was increasingly blurry and her body felt heavier for reasons she couldn't fathom.
"Are you sure? You look pale," Anthony repeated, his worry evident.
His eyes flicked from the road to her face, unable to ignore her condition.
"Eyes on the road, dumbshit!" Seyren snapped, startling Anthony.
Her unusual behavior made his concern deepen.
"How can I focus on the road when you look like you're about to pass out?" Anthony retorted, his frustration mingling with his worry.
"Just focus your damn eyes on the roadâoh shit, someone's crossing!!" Seyren's eyes widened in alarm.
Anthony whipped his head around just in time to see an old man crossing the road.
Despite slamming on the brakes, he couldn't avoid hitting the man.
As the car screeched to a halt, both their minds seemed to reel from the shock.
"Fuck..." Anthony muttered under his breath.
Before he could fully grasp what had happened, Seyren was already out of the car, stumbling slightly from dizziness.
Upon closer inspection, she realized the man they had hit was the same one she had bumped into earlier.
"Sir, are you okay?" Seyren knelt beside the old man, gently shaking his shoulder.
When she turned him over, her eyes widened in shock.
It wasn't just the blood that stunned her; it was his face.
"Verick Jeon," she whispered to herself, just as Anthony emerged from the car.
When he recognized the person they had hit, his face mirrored her shock.
"Oh fuck..." Anthony breathed.
"Hospital! Hospital, fuck, Detective Guerrero, we need to get him to the hospital!" Seyren shouted, immediately trying to lift the old man.
Anthony snapped out of his daze and helped her, despite his lingering shock.
They carefully placed Verick in the backseat and sped towards the nearest hospital.
---
"The patient is okay. He only has a head scrape, but there are no serious injuries. Heâll wake up later; he's just sleeping due to lack of sleep, as indicated by the dark circles under his eyes," the doctor informed the two detectives, who watched the patient with a mix of fear and concern.
The doctor excused himself, clearly uncomfortable being in the same room as a known killer.
"Of all the people we could run into, it had to be a retired killer while we're hunting for clues about the current one. Fate really knows how to play games," Anthony remarked, managing a wry smile that Seyren mirrored.
"You know, since we're already at the hospital Liam mentioned, why don't you check if he's telling the truth? I'll stay here and keep watching," Seyren suggested.
Anthony shook his head.
"Hey, you look like you need care yourself, and you're scared of him, aren't you?"
Seyren narrowed her eyes at him.
"Would you be scared of a killer in his current state? He looks so helpless. Heâs more pitiable than frightening," she said, her tone light but sincere.
Looking at the feared psychopath killer now, he seemed more pitiable than terrifying.
He resembled an old man who could only walk by the roadside with a crutch.
He looked more pitiable than the beggars on the street.
"Besides, I have a gun. He won't be able to fight me even if I don't like using it," Seyren added. She kept convincing Anthony until he finally agreed.
"Okay, fine. Just be quick. Stay here," Anthony said, then left the room.
He walked down the long hallway and took the elevator to the counter where he could ask the nurses about visitors and patient rooms.
While walking through the ground floor hallway, he overheard a doctor talking on the phone.
"I'm not lying, jeez. You're so dumb," the doctor said.
Anthony chuckled, finding it amusing to hear a doctor curse.
He continued down the hallway, missing the rest of the conversation.
"I'm telling the truth, I saw your father with a detective."
"Are you sure he was with that female detective?" asked the man on the other line.
"Liam, just come here so you can find out what's happening," the doctor said.
"Fine, let me in because I don't want to show my face to anyone. They might recognize me."
"Okay."
---
"Kurt Damzel Vergara? He's on the 5th floor, room 27. I'll accompany you," a nurse offered Detective Guerrero.
Anthony thanked the nurse, and they headed to the room Liam had mentioned.
"Good evening, ma'am, sir. I'm Detective Guerrero from Team PhilAct for Crimes. May I interview you briefly about Liam Alcantara?" Anthony said, showing his ID.
The people in the room agreed.
Anthony asked all the questions Liam had told him, and the answers matched Liam's statements.
After the interview, Anthony felt even more confused instead of understanding the situation better.
He returned to the floor where his co-detective and the psycho killer they had hit were.
As he walked, he suddenly heard a loud scream.
He heard it as soon as the elevator doors opened.
When he stepped out, he saw a man in a mask and hoodie running.
Seyren followed, looking disheveled.
"Detective Guerrero, catch him!!" Seyren shouted, but it was too late for him to react. The man pushed Seyren out of the elevator and got in.
Before the doors closed, their eyes met, and Anthony saw the fear in the unknown man's eyes.
"Fuck!!" Seyren couldn't reach the closing elevator in time.
"Fuck, the killer's getting away!!" Seyren panicked and, instead of waiting for the other elevator, she took the stairs.
As Guerrero processed what was happening, instead of chasing, he went to the room where Verick Jeon was.
Upon entering, his stomach churned at the sight.
He slowly entered, holding his breath. His eyes focused on the now-bloody Verick.
When he reached the window, his heart nearly exploded upon seeing Seyren suddenly hit by a taxi.
"Seyren," he whispered.
---
Seyren's POV
As I stepped out of the hospital, the cool night air hit me, and I realized it was already dark.
The street was bustling with people, cars honking, and city lights flickering.
Despite the chaos, the killer sprinted across the road with a sense of urgency, blending into the crowd.
I had no choice but to pursue him, even though my head was spinning, and every step felt like my legs were about to give out.
My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of fear and determination driving me forward.
As I attempted to cross the busy street, I was so focused on the fleeing figure that I failed to notice an oncoming car speeding towards me.
The deafening honk of the horn barely registered in my foggy mind.
Panic surged through me, but my body refused to react quickly enough.
In an instant, I felt a tremendous force slam into me, sending me airborne.
The world spun around me in a disorienting blur of lights and colors.
When I hit the ground, my head struck the pavement with a sickening thud.
Pain exploded in my skull, and my vision began to fade, darkening around the edges.
People quickly gathered around, their faces a mixture of concern and curiosity.
Amid the chaos, I caught a glimpse of the killer.
He had slowed down and was now mingling with the crowd, his face partially concealed by a mask.
As he casually lowered it, revealing a smug expression, our eyes briefly met.
But I couldn't focus on him any longer.
My body felt heavy, and the pain in my head intensified.
The world around me grew dimmer and dimmer until finally, I was engulfed in complete darkness.
"The killer..."
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