Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace

“Whatever, you’re not worth it.” Dexter snapped, shaking off my arm and storming away.

I didn’t bother with a response; Dexter was prone to his fits of madness, after all.

I headed into my bedroom to organize and pack for my upcoming study abroad.

Just two months, it’ll fly by: I’ll be free soon, I thought.

Back then, I naively thought that once I left the country two months later, everything would be

over.

But as fate would have it, I still met my end at Dexter’s hands. My life was saved by Dexter, and it was also taken by him. With my last breath, our debts to each other were settled.

The thunderous boom of lightning snapped me back to reality..

I slapped myself, and without feeling any pain, I realized I was dead.

No more needs to live in agony and torment.

The police arrived and took away the knocked–out Colin.

Kyle was whisked away in an ambulance.

I

“Mr. Fitzgerald, any word on your sister?” Robin stepped out of the police cruiser and asked.

Dexter furrowed his brow, “She can’t hide for long.”

Robin didn’t respond, instead bending down to pick up a photograph from the ground.

1

It was the passport photo I had prepared for studying abroad, the one Dexter had shown to Colin.

Robin paused after he stared at the image of me, his brow crinkling as if in deep thought.

We had met before: Robin must have remembered.

“Did someone harass your sister outside the Nocturne Club two months ago?” Robin, a detective, had an excellent memory.

Dexter seemed to recall the incident after a pause, “Right… that happened.”

Robin looked up at Dexter, “The Fitzgeralds hold a prominent position in Sea City. Surely your sister wouldn’t need to resort to that kind of profession, right?”

Dexter’s expression soured, “Officer Robin, Phoebe isn’t what you’re insinuating.”

I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly to myself; he wasn’t defending my honor, but the honor of the Fitzgerald family.

“My apologies. I misunderstood,” Robin said, shaking the photograph. “This picture is clearer

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than those fancy portraits you provided. I’ll take this with me. If there’s any news of your sister. you’ll know.”

Dexter drove off, and Robin spoke with gravity, “Check into the harassment case at Nocturne Club from two months ago. See if there’s any connection to this case.”

“Robin, do you suspect Phoebe was targeted long before this?”

“The perp’s victims were all women who frequented Nocturne and lived lavish and disordered lives.” Robin confirmed with a nod.

I followed silently; there was no point in speaking. Robin couldn’t hear me.

All I could do was hope he would quickly uncover the truth and bring my killer to justice.

“Robin!” Outside the abandoned orphanage, Robin’s colleague jogged over from the car. “You asked me to check on the relationship between Phoebe and Dexter and I found it. They are not blood siblings. Phoebe was adopted by the Fitzgerald family and even had an engagement arranged.”

Robin’s frown deepened; the ties between me and Dexter were more tangled than expected. “Dexter’s publicly known girlfriend is a woman named Melody Burton. He’s been adamant about breaking off his engagement with Phoebe to marry Melody.”

The efficiency of the police was undeniable; they had unearthed so much so quickly.

Standing to the side, my heart felt oddly still.

“Dexter’s friends say that before Phoebe went missing, Melody had a close call with the killer on her way home from Nocturne. But fearing retribution, she didn’t report it. Instead… she chose to have

Phoebe walk the dangerous alleys near Nocturne in her stead,” the officer reported, clearly disgusted by the revelation.

Even strangers would find the story ludicrous, yet Dexter just pressed me into it and he promised to guard my safety.

I laughed hollowly to myself. Now, as an observer, hearing someone’s analysis about my death felt absurd.

Robin’s expression darkened, as he checked the time, “Phoebe’s been missing for over 48 hours. We’re setting up a task force, getting search warrants, and bringing in Dexter and his idiot friends. No one gets a pass!”

My gaze shot up in shock. Was Robin arresting Dexter? Did he suspect him as my murderer? “It wasn’t Dexter. It was Colin,” I tried to explain desperately. It wasn’t about clearing Dexter’s name; I feared the real murderer was still out there, free to continue his vile deeds.