Chapter 1

"Dr. Mitchell, you need to see this! The bone age doesn't match the degree of weathering!"

The forensic technicians' voices echoed through the autopsy room as my soul drifted in the cold air, nothing more than a wisp of fading mist.

Below me, several young technicians in white lab coats carefully cleaned the skeletal remains, brushing away years of accumulated dirt and debris.

Behind them stood the man I'd once respected more than anyone else in the world—Robert Mitchell, head of the forensic center and the mentor who had guided me through the early years of my career.

"Notify Homicide immediately. The victim died no more than seven years ago. Run a bone marrow DNA test and cross-check the results against the missing persons database."

Robert's voice was as calm and measured as ever, betraying not the slightest hint of emotion. He was as methodical as I remembered, approaching the case with the same precision he'd always demanded from his students.

Yet he had no idea that the skeleton lying on the examination table belonged to the very student he'd once been so proud of.

Then again, seven years was more than enough time for flesh to decay, leaving nothing behind but a pile of bones.

"What a horrible way to die," a young forensic assistant named Ethan Parker murmured as he leaned closer to examine the remains.

"Look at those deep cuts on the ribs and skull. It almost looks like the victim was tortured before they died. Whoever did this must've had a serious grudge. Maybe it was a deal gone bad in the criminal underworld."

He paused, then seemed to remember something.

"Actually, this reminds me of the Scarlet Murders seven years ago. Wasn't Chloe Bennett involved in that case? She was exposed as a traitor after double-crossing the police, wasn't she? What a disgrace to the entire force."

"Enough!" Robert snapped. The hand gripping his clipboard trembled violently for a brief moment, but he quickly regained control.

Another assistant, Oliver Carter, immediately nudged Ethan and forced an awkward smile.

"Sorry, Dr. Mitchell. Ethan's new here and doesn't know the whole story. He didn't mean any disrespect."

"He's not wrong." Robert let out a bitter laugh and slammed his clipboard onto the table.

Without another word, he turned and strode out of the autopsy room, his back rigid and his expression cold.

Just before he disappeared through the door, his voice rang out one last time. "People who betray their beliefs deserve to die!"

The room fell silent.

As soon as Robert was gone, Oliver turned to Ethan and lowered his voice to a furious hiss. "What the hell were you thinking? Didn't you see his face when you brought up Chloe Bennett?"

Ethan looked bewildered. "What did I say wrong?"

"Have you already forgotten what happened to Chloe Bennett? She was Dr. Mitchell's most cherished student, the one he had the highest hopes for.

"But at the most critical moment of an investigation, she betrayed everything she stood for, became an accomplice to a serial killer, and destroyed the key evidence. She disgraced the entire field of forensic science!"

Oliver shook his head and lowered his voice even further. "Dr. Mitchell hasn't smiled once in the seven years since that scandal. Just don't bring her up around him again."

Their words struck me like a bomb going off inside my head. Even as a bodiless soul, I couldn't stop myself from trembling violently.