When Melody had first mentioned that a killer was on her tail, she had no qualms about sending me in


    her stead to lure the murderer out.


    Melody was selfish, and it was clear as day to everyone. Everyone, that is, except Dexter..


    Robin gave Dexter a meaningful look. Was he really that naive? Or was there something her wasn’t


    sharing?


    “Sorry… I, I don’t have a red dress anymore,” Melody stammered, her reluctance to help obvious. She


    just didn’t want to give the cops anything to go on.


    Dexter paused, confused. “But I thought…”


    He remembered the red dress he had bought for her, one that she had imed to adore.


    “That one… it got ruined in the wash. The colors bled so I threw it out,” Melody faltered.


    Dexter didn’t press further.


    Ste’s eyes were rimmed with red, anger boiling within her as she confronted Dexter. “Tell me the


    brand and style of the dress, and I’ll go buy it myself.”


    After a long silence, Dexter finally spoke. “It’s from L&Y’s fall collection, the only long red dress they


    had.”


    Hearing Dexter’s words, my heart ached anew. When I was eighteen, I had asked him for a dress as a


    gift, admitting my fondness for L&Y’s design aesthetic.


    He had agreed, but year after year, the dresses he bought were never for me.


    Ste nced at Dexter, too exasperated to argue.


    Following Ste out, Robin frowned. “There’s something off about this Melody.”


    “Officer Robin, can we please hurry?” Ste barely held herself together as she entered the


    elevator.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    “Please, I need to try. I can’t bear to think what Phoebe might be going through. Please.”


    Robin took a deep breath and nodded. “Alright, I’ll go with you to get the dress, then you’ll leave this


    hotel pretending to be Melody. You can trust me; I’ll keep you safe.”


    Ste nodded, her hands clenched tight. “We have to catch this bastard.


    “Robin, you have to protect her,” I muttered incessantly, knowing full well Robin couldn’t hear me but


    unable to stop myself. “You just have to keep her safe.”


    That evening, Ste put on the same model of dress as Melody, straightened her hair, and left the hotel


    wearing a face mask.


    I followed, anxious and vignt.


    I was terrified she’d encounter danger.


    Ste first stopped at a bar, drinking until she was visibly intoxicated, her hair a disheveled.


    mess.


    To avoid detection and for the sake of authenticity, she really drank.


    I sat by her, my eyes red with worry. “Ste, don’t be afraid, I’m always here.”


    I wanted to be her guardian angel, to protect her, but I was helpless.


    The police had taken every precaution to ensure Ste’s safety.


    Stumbling out alone. Ste made her way down Tangle Lane, just outside the Nocturne Club.


    Click.


    Suddenly, a faint sound came from behind. rvously looked back at the dark corner, trembling with


    fear.


    You see, even as a ghost, I fear the human heart. It’s not ghosts that are truly terrifying; it’s what lies


    within the human soul.


    “Ste be careful” I said anxiously, eyes fixed on the darkness.


    “Robin Robin, where are you?” I shouted in fear, but they couldn’t hear me.


    A shadow darted past, racing into the distance, and the watching officers gave chase.


    A sense of dread washed over me; it felt like a diversion.


    “Ste” I desperately wanted to grab her and run, but it was toote. A figure emerged from the


    shadows. He was dressed in a hoodie that was toorge, pants that revealed a scarred ankle, and he


    dragged a long stick behind him.


    “Don’t… don’te any closer!” I screamed, stomping my feet in terror. “Run, Ste, run!”


    It was the killer, it had to be Colin!


    “No, it’s not her…” Colin’s voice was hoarse as he looked at Ste sitting on the ground. “Not her…”


    He muttered to himself, his eyes bloodshot, his handsome face marred by a chilling coldness.