CHAPTER 6: A LIFE SAVER

CHAPTER 6: A LIFE SAVER

"Let's go, Stan. Still need to go somewhere," Raven said in a cold feminine voice.

Stan smiled crazily at his brother, giving him a warning look as if saying that next time, he would do something worse. Then he walked towards Raven's car.

Steele followed him with an icy look. I have always wanted a sibling, but if I would have this kind of relationship, I'd rather not have one. What they have is so complicated. Is it because they are not humans? Because of their past? Or maybe I just don't understand them.

Raven's car drove away, quickly fading in the dark.

Steele turned to me, his face held no expression.

"Go home," he said coldly.

"Let's talk."

"As far as I'm concerned, we have nothing to talk about, Detective."

Detective.

He already addressed me by my name earlier, what's with the formality?

"I believe we do. Did you really kill those students?"

He just gave me silence.

"Why won't you answer? Should I take that as a yes?"

"If I say yes, what will you do?"

Judging how he just saved me from the hands of his brother, I don't think he is the type who would take human lives for nothing. But like Stan said, he doesn't usually meddle with human affairs. What if he did that only because I have Anna's face? The face of his beloved.

"What did you kill them for? Did they offend you?"

"Shouldn't you be thinking about your safety first rather than other matters?"

Why can't he just answer me straight to the point? I never like beating around the bush. But then, I'm used to cases like this when it comes to interrogating criminals. Most assholes never give in even with all the evidence pointing at them. In this cruel world and in my field, I need to be tougher than rock to survive such cases.

"I'm used to danger. It was nothing new," I said matter-of-factly.

"So, you were okay with it? Should I have left you in my brother's hands, then?"

My forehead creased. "It's not that I am okay with it. I'm just trying to say that I'm fine. Now shall we go back to the topic? We are straying too far."

His face looked like a flawless stone—one that was made from the most beautiful granite. But although rare, it still remains a stone. Cold, flat, and dull.

"I told you. We have nothing to talk about."

"You did kill them, didn't you?"

"Yeah, I did," he nodded. "What can you do about it? You can't put me behind bars. You don't have evidence. And even if you have, it will be of no use."

Of course, because he can easily get rid of it. No doubt why we can't find a single trace that would point him as the murderer.

"Why did you kill them?"

"For one reason. They were not humans."

I was confused. Not humans? What were they, then? Like him? But they had families and lived a normal life, how was that possible...

"They are like us, shapeshifters. They took those kids' bodies to harm people."

Shapeshifters.

I think I've read some things about it from folklore. Like what its name suggests, they are creatures that can change forms, like how humans can shift to animals with supernatural attributes, like how monsters can take the form of humans they prey on. The most popular shapeshifters in books, I believe, are humans turning to wolves—not ordinary wolves, but usually giant wolves with extraordinary strength and have out of the world abilities.

"What kind of shapeshifters are you?"

"I don't think you need to know that part. What's important is, now you know that those two you see as victims are not innocent at all."

"You said they took their bodies? What did that mean?"

"What I meant was they took their forms. They killed the real students."

I couldn't believe something as sinister as that is happening behind the shadows. People are so vulnerable to unknown danger lurking in the dark. I thought criminals with the wildest minds are most dangerous, but this one is on another level. They are far more lethal than what humans are capable of.

"And their bodies?"

"I wasn't there when they did it. How would I know?" he asked with obvious sarcasm.

I sighed and glanced at the dark road. Not even a single lamppost was spared. The only thing allowing us to have a glimpse of light in the dark was the half moon above. I don't think this man with me needs the light, though. Being able to see in the dark must be one of his abilities.

"Do you have a phone?" I asked.

He raised a brow, his eyes slightly narrowing in suspicion.

"I want to go home. My phone is dead and I need to locate this place to call a taxi. Or maybe find a place nearby where I can stay tonight."

He looked at me impatiently as he got his phone out of coat's pocket.

"Be quick. I am a busy person. I have no time for you."

"No time for me? Why did you come to save me when you have no time, then?" I smirked. His phone was already in my hand.

"Don't be too full of yourself. I didn't do it for your sake. I only want to stop my brother's evil doings because he is becoming a real ass."

I shrugged and just looked into his phone. I located the area and found that we were almost out of the city. His brother is really a psycho. After a few more clicks, I gave his phone back.

"I found a place I can stay for the night. This road was supposed to be closed but your insane brother didn't care about human laws. I need to walk from here."

"Good," he said flatly. "Better forget everything you've witnessed here, Detective. And let's not meet again."

How rude.

Just see, you brute. I will always find a way for us to meet until I have the answers that I want. Until then, you can't disappear in my life. I have waited for twenty-two years for this. I can't waste such a once in a lifetime opportunity.

"You are so polite," I said sarcastically. "Anyway, thank you for saving me today even though you did not do it for my sake."

"You are welcome. But if we meet again, I will not spare you. A life saved is a life owed, after all," he spoke in a manner that sent shivers down my back.