Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace

People used to say that Colin was a nutjob, obsessed with hoarding animal corpses and then displaying them in glass domes.

I didn’t believe it, but the sight before me was nothing short of shocking. Row upon row of glass domes lined the shelves, each one housing the “corpse” of a butterfly – specimens, they called them

Some were blue, others black, and a few were a kaleidoscope of colors. But it was the dome at the bottom that caught my eye – a cat, looking ever so peaceful, was curled up inside.

Puppies, snakes, hamsters….

“Scared?” Finn’s chuckle held a chill as he saw me stiffen, a sheen of sweat forming on my forehead, “He’s a freak, likes to turn everything he loves into specimens and dolls, trapping them in glass domes. Now you should know how Phoebe died, right?”

Finn was convinced that Colin was the murderer. I’m aware that he took on this case to beat Colin, searching for clues.

“There’s no such thing as a perfect murder when it comes to homicide cases. I will find evidence, and if he did it, I won’t show mercy,” Finn’s voice was heavy with resolve.

He was determined to put Colin behind bars.

“No…Colin wouldn’t kill Phoebe; he said she was the one he loved,” I muttered weakly, my heart racing as I shook my head.

Finn scoffed, “You’re so naive! Foebe, you think I brought you here for fun? I’ve looked into you, and you’re not beyond saving yet. But if you stay with him, you’ll end up dead. Don’t delude yourself into

thinking that by imitating Phoebe, he’ll care for you. The day he cares is the day you die!”

“I won’t believe you,” my hands trembled, and I turned to leave.

But Finn grabbed the back of my collar, forcing me to face those butterfly specimens. “Do your know how these are made? He traps these animals before they’re even dead. When I was fifteen, out of curiosity, I followed that madman here. You know what he was doing?”

He trapped a butterfly in a glass case, watching it flutter its wings; the thrill and excitement in his eyes were terrifying! That was the day Finn was truly scared of Colin.

“He’d say ‘succeed, succeed“, as if trapping and killing the animals he loved was a joyful thing.” Finn couldn’t understand or let it go.

“He’s a total madman,” Finn’s voice was low.

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“I don’t believe what you said,” I pushed Finn away and ran.

But as soon as I bolted from the basement, someone lunged at me with a knife.

03:05

“Ah!” As I closed my eyes, thinking I would face death again, a strong and familiar figure shielded me. Then came the thick scent of blood.

“Freeze!” Finn had followed, and upon seeing the attack, he tackled the assailant to the ground.

Shaking. I opened my eyes to meet Colin’s worried gaze.

“Phoebe.” Colin’s panic was clear as he cradled my face, searching my eyes, “Are you hurt?”

In that moment, I broke down crying, overwhelmed by the fear and injustice.

Colin held me tight, his embrace strong.

“Damn.” Finn cursed, feeling guilty and frustrated as he pinned down the attacker, “Quit the lovey– dovey act; you got hurt, you nutcase.”

Only then did Colin notice the blood soaking his side. He had been stabbed protecting me, yet he seemed oblivious to the pain.

My gaze fell on his wound, and I panicked, trying to cover it, “Colin…Colin, does it hurt? We need to get to the hospital.” Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

But he seemed more worried about whether I was frightened than his own injury.