Simon was sitting on the interrogation chair. He had blood on his face, and he wasughing
with blood dripping from his mouth.
Looking weakly at the ceiling, he smiled and uttered, “Relief… I can finally be free.”
Zion stood next to him, overwhelmed with emotions. He had blood on his hands. He attacked
Simon.
Simon seemed to know that he would die. Zion only punched him once, and he started vomiting
blood. Simon was dead. He passed away before the medical staff arrived.
Zion feltpletely numb. At that moment, he suddenly realized that Simon had intentionally
provoked him, urging him to hit him. Simon simply wanted to die.
The surveince camera recorded Zion beating and violently interrogating Simon. Zion would face
consequences for his actions. He would be punished and suspended from his job. All his work
would be temporarily halted.
Once he left the case, the investigation would stall. This would enable the hidden murderer to
continuemitting crimes.
Simon was the chosen sacrifice.
Simon was taken to the hospital with the help of the other officers. Zion left the interrogation room
and started smoking, his fingers shaking. “He… said he was the next one. That bastard could
predict our next move, so he knew Yasmin’s location. But it wasn’t Yasmin he wanted to kill.”
Steven held my hand tighter, looked down, and fell silent. He saw iting, but it was already too
“The one who was going to die was Simon…” Zion found a serious problem. “A murderer is both a
murderer and a victim.”
I was confused and puzzled by his words.
“Simon mentioned he wasn’t asleep back then. He heard a noise and looked out the window. He
saw someone tricking Steven and Simeon into a room, locking them in, and starting a fire. He
didn’t tell the teacher but hid in bed, shivering.”
Simon didn’t expect the fire to spread to the entire floor and trap them in the dorm. It caused many
deaths.
“He had a phobia and wanted revenge on those who caused the fire. He admitted to sexually
assaulting several victims, which made me instantly angry.”
Zion lowered his head, his gaze fixated on his bloodied hands. It was as if his mind had
This isn’t your fault, Rachel reassured.
Zion shook his head. “He wouldn’t reveal who was behind it or admit that there was someone
behind it. But he definitely was not the mastermind.”
Steven confirmed in a soft voice, saying, “He wasn’t the mastermind. He was just a pawn, and
he
was always meant to die in the game.”
“Could there have been perpetrators hiding among the deceased? Perhaps they blended in with
them, just like the movie ‘The Perfect Victim‘ we watched before?” I asked softly.
We had been investigating for a long time, as had Zion. We were all moving in the right direction,
but why couldn’t we find the murderer? Could the three people seen in the video already be dead
and among the deceased?
My words reminded Zion. In an instant, he lifted his head to meet my gaze. “Right… You’re
absolutely right!”
Zion abruptly got up, took a drag from his cigarette, and hurried to the archives room. He nned
to carry on with the investigation. However, after learning about Simon’s death, the authorities
promptly ordered Zion’s temporary suspension.
They also put a halt to the case investigation. Zion and his superior were loudly arguing in the
office, and the sound of banging on the table echoed throughout the empty corridor.
I caught a glimpse of Steven, his face burdened with self–me and guilt. I sped his hand firmly
and uttered, “Steve, this has nothing to do with you.”
Steven cast a nce in my direction before pulling me into a strong embrace.
“Ms. Larson, there’s an update from the hospital that Michael is still in critical condition, but his life
has been temporarily saved. He’s currently being monitored in the intensive care unit, and his life
is not in danger.” The person I left at the hospital called.
Michael wasn’t dead, yet he didn’t regain consciousness either. I stood still in the hall, watching
Rachel pacing anxiously and worrying about Zion.