Chapter 21 Haunted
VICTORIA
“Victoria, what are you doing?” Mr Thompson yelled, but I didn't listen to him. My heart raced as I ran to the woman's house, the killer's haunting words echoing in my head.
I hoped that nothing would happen to the woman. I hoped he wouldn't hurt her just to scare me.
I pushed the door open, not bothering to knock.
“Lady?" I yelled as I shuffled into the living room. When I received no response, I moved deeper into the room, scanning my eyes over the old furniture and the canvas on the walls, as well as the items placed on the cupboards.
“Lady?" I called again, but still got no response. My head swung towards the kitchen door, and my heart constricted when I caught someone's foot peeking out from the corner of the door.
I gasped in horror and dashed for the door, then carefully pushed it open to avoid injuring the woman who lay on the kitchen floor.
“Lady?" I called as I dropped to my knees next to her body.
I checked her body for any signs of injury, but thankfully, I found none. Her pulse was still there, strong and steady.
I sighed in relief and began to shake her to wake her up.
“Lady? You should wake up, huh?" I whispered.
“Do we need to take her to the hospital?" Mr Thompson asked as he stood over me, staring at the woman with cold eyes.
“I'll try waking her up, and if that doesn't work, we'll take her to the hospital," I muttered.
I clasped my hands together and began to perform chest compression on her, hoping to revive her.
“Lady? You have to wake up!" I sneered and pressed harder.
I sighed and looked at Mr Thompson, who still stood there, leaning on the door jam while eating the woman's sugar cubes nonchalantly.
“Let's take her to the hospital," I raised my head and said.
“Hospital? No, no, not the damn hospital!"
I swung my head towards the woman when she spoke.
“You're awake?" I asked. She opened her eyes and stared at me, the anger from our previous clash still in her eyes.
“Didn't know a brat like you could be nice?" She spat, and my throat knotted.
She pushed me to the side and sat up, groaning loudly while rubbing her ankle.
She suddenly paused and looked up in Mr. Thompson's direction.
Her face heated up, and her eyes flared in fury when she saw him.
“You thief! Get your hand out of my sugar jar before I break it!" She spat.
My lips pressed together as I tried to stop myself from laughing out loud.
Mr Thompson barely showed any reaction. He raised his thick brows and took out his hand, while cupping a handful of cubes.
“Keep that back! Keep it back!" She growled as she pointed at him.
Mr Thompson chuckled and slipped out of the kitchen with the cubes in his hand.
“May you slip and fall!" The woman cursed.
I couldn't hold it in any longer as my lips parted and I burst into laughter.
“What's funny!" The woman growled, and I quit laughing.
“You and your boyfriend are up to no good!” She snapped.
"He isn't my boyfriend!” I snapped back at her af she scoffed.
"Who cares?" She waved her hand as she stood up.
“You should at least say thank you," I muttered, and she paused.
She looked back, disdain scribbled over her face.
“Thank you? I never asked for your help!" She snapped and limped out of the kitchen.
“Such an ungrateful behavior," I hissed and left the house, crossing over to my place.
“I'm sorry I didn't mean to–" my breath hitched, and the rest of my words faded when I saw the book I was searching for in Mr Thompson's hand.
“How did you get that book?” I asked.
Mr Thompson lifted his gaze and raised his brows in question.
"I found it here, isn't it yours?” He asked as he pointed at the table.
I stammered in confusion, embarrassing myself.
"Why can't you speak? What's wrong?” He asked.
I quickly shook my head, my eyes widening.
"Nothing!” I snapped.
With the way he looked at me, I could tell that he didn't believe a word I said.
“I don't know what's going on with you, but you're acting weird, and it's not funny," he muttered, and I shuddered.
He sighed and put down the book, then leaned into the chair.
“You heard about the murder that occurred yesterday, right?" He asked as he reached for a seat for me.
I sat down, trying to hide my trembling hands and knees. That accident haunted me in the back of my mind, and so did those eyes.
“Yes, I did," I muttered in a low voice.
Mr Thompson sighed and clenched his fist, his eyes glaring at the book.
"I'm sorry about what happened. I'm sure it must have been hard since you're yet to come up with a solution,” I said.
"I feel so useless, it's been months and I'm yet to find out who is behind all these. Not even a clue has come our way. This is the first time I am experiencing something like this in a case!” He spat in anger, cursing in low tones.
I was tempted to tell him what was going on in my life, but I didn't. Instead, I fidgeted and kept silent, which was unlike me.
“Should I make you a coffee?" I muttered after hearing several complaints from him without giving a valid response or encouragement.
He stopped seething and looked at me with eyes full of confusion and disbelief.
“Coffee? This is the first time you're prioritizing something else over a detective's case," he muttered, and my chest clenched. I wished he knew this wasn't me.
“I'm no longer a detective," I muttered.
He scoffed loudly in disgust and narrowed his eyes.
“You've changed a lot to something worse. Why are you behaving this way, huh?” His eyes pierced me as he asked.
"I came back as a changed person…"
“Cut me that slack!" He snapped and glanced at his watch.
"I have to get going, my break is over,” he said and stood up, then began to walk to the driveway.
He paused and turned around to face me.
"Is there anything you wish you could confide in me, Victoria?” He asked.
Should I tell him? Will he protect me?
My lips parted, but no words came out.
The killer's warning echoed in my head, and I slammed my lips shut, then shook my head.
He stared at me for a while, perhaps searching for the truth in my eyes, but when he found nothing, he turned around and walked away.
I released a breath that I didn't know I was holding and grabbed the table for support, trying to calm down.
I released another breath and picked up the book, promising myself that everything would be okay someday.
As I flipped the pages of the book, a torn page caught my eye. I paused and searched for the page again, and my heart clenched when I saw it.
I looked at the title of the part that was torn out and felt my heart clench when I saw the words.
“Secret to find a shadow killer," I whispered the words and sighed loudly.
I threw my head back, but felt chills rush down my body. I could still feel the presence of whoever this killer was around me.
I guessed that page had something that would have given us a clue about how to catch him.
But who was he?
I thought of taking it to Mr Thompson, but stopped. If there was someone who could find this killer, it would be me. That was why he was on my neck.
He knew I had the tools to find him. I wished I had seen this earlier before he came along.
But this wouldn't be the end, it wouldn't.
“I'll find you and pull you out of your shadow, I promise you.”