Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace

Dorian lay slumped in the interrogation chair, his face smeared with blood, a twisted smile on his lips as crimson droplets trickled from his mouth.

With what little strength he had left, he gazed at the ceiling and chuckled. “Free… I’m about to be free.”

Robin stood beside him, a tempest of emotions raging within, his hands stained with blood. He had lashed out at Dorian, and it seemed Dorian had anticipated his own end.

Just one punch from Robin, and Dorian was spitting blood.

Dorian was gone before the medics could arrive, his last breath slipping away.

Robin stood there, numb, realization hitting him hard. Dorian had deliberately provoked him, pushed him to lash out. Dorian had wanted to die..

The surveillance footage showed Robin’s strike, a classic case of excessive force during questioning.

Robin was in for it now. There would be repercussions, a suspension, a halt to all his ongoing cases. And if he stepped away from this one, the investigation would stall, giving the real murderer more time to strike.

Dorian was nothing but a pawn.

“He… he said he was the next target.” As Dorian was wheeled away by hospital staff and colleagues, Robin stepped out of the room, lighting a cigarette, his fingers trembling. “That bastard knew we’d find Melody. It was never Melody he intended to kill.”

Colin squeezed my hand tighter, his gaze dropping as he fell silent. He had figured it out, but it was too late. Property © NôvelDrama.Org.

“It was always meant to be Dorian…” Robin stumbled upon a terrifying truth. The murderer is both culprit and victim.”

I was puzzled. What did that mean?

“Dorian confessed he hadn’t been asleep that night. He heard the commotion and peeked out his window, saw those guys trick Colin and Carter into a room, lock them in, and then… ignite the fire. He didn’t go to the teachers; he just hid under his covers, shivering.”

Dorian never imagined the fire would spread through the whole floor, trapping them in the dorm as well. So many lives were lost in that blaze.

“He was traumatized and wanted to avenge those who started the fire. He admitted to several assaults. I lost it when he provoked me…”

Robin’s gaze dropped to his bloodied hands, his mind having gone blank in that moment.

“This isn’t on you,” Stella said, trying to offer some comfort.

11:07

Chacter 347

Robin shook his head. “He wouldn’t name his accomplices, denied there were any. But he wasn’t the mastermind.”

“Not the mastermind,” Colin whispered. “Just a pawn, a doomed player in the game.”

“Is it possible…. that among the previous victims, there were perpetrators, too? They included themselves in the plan?” I asked softly.

We’d been searching for so long. Robin even longer. We were on the right track, so why couldn’t we find the murderer?

Could it be that the three different people we saw in the videos were already dead, part of the victims themselves?

My words struck a chord with Robin, who suddenly looked up at me. “Yes… you’re on to something!”

Robin sprang to his feet, took a deep drag on his cigarette, and bolted for the records room to continue his investigation.

However, as news of Dorian’s death spread, orders came from above demanding Robin’s temporary suspension and a halt to the investigation.

Robin was still in his office, arguing loudly with his superiors, his fist banging on the table echoing through the empty corridors.

I glanced at Colin, who seemed to be grappling with guilt and remorse.

I took his hand. “Colin, this isn’t your fault.”

Colin looked at me, then pulled me into an embrace.

‘Madam, the hospital called. Dexter’s not out of the woods, but he’s alive, under observation in the ICU,” said my contact from the hospital over the phone.

Dexter was alive but unconscious.

I stood there, somewhat dazed, in the yard, turning to look at Stella.