“I don’t care what you’re after but cut the act. There’s no recing Phoebe for me; nobody can just step


    into her shoes,” Ste said sternly.


    I couldn’t help but smile, warmth flooding my heart. “Ste, when will you finally believe I am Phoebe?”


    Ste scoffed. “I’m out of here. Make your own way back.”


    I nodded and left Nocturne.


    Standing at the doorway, I took in the scene before me. This ce… it’s where I used to get pushed


    around by Dexter and his cronies and harassed by the drunkards.


    It felt like a lifetime ago, yet everything had changed.


    “Snap.”


    Just as I stepped out of Nocturne, I heard something behind me. On alert, I turned to see a figure


    darting out of sight.


    Furrowing my brows, I took a cautious step back, feeling an inexplicable panic.


    Ever since I entered Nocturne today, I felt like someone was watching me. That feeling hadn’t left me.


    Maybe it was because I died once before, but my senses seemed heightened now.


    The night air was cool, and I took a fearful step back. This sensation was identical to when I


    encountered the murderer on Tangle Lane..


    “Snap.”Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Another sound echoed from the alley, where a tall figure in a raincoat held a stick in his hand.


    I retreated in horror, turning to run.


    Whether it was fear or something else, my legs felt incredibly heavy.”


    “Phoebe…” In my moment of terror, I suddenly crashed into a solid embrace. His chest heaved with


    rapid breaths as if he had run to me in a frantic worry.


    There was a faint, pleasing scent about him, calming my racing heart.


    He held me tight, draping his jacket over me. “I’m here… don’t be afraid.”


    I clung to his clothes, looking up to see it was Colin.


    I had no idea how he got out or where he got these clothes.


    ncing fearfully back, the alley was deserted, not a soul in sight.


    Could it have been my imagination? Stress ying tricks on me?


    Colin didn’t speak; he just held me close, his gaze fixed on the alley, icy and intense.


    “How did you get out?” I whispered.


    “I couldn’t… leave you,” Colin murmured, pulling the jacket tighter around me and taking my hand to


    lead me away.


    His actions felt so natural as if we had known each other for ages.


    Looking at Colin’s back, why did he seem so familiar?


    My head began to ache as I rubbed my temples, guiding Colin towards a taxi. “Why aren’t your wearing


    shoes?”


    That’s when I noticed Colin’s bare feet, wounds reopened and leaving a trail of bloody footprints.


    I frowned, gripping Colin’s arm. “You ran out in such a hurry just to find me?”


    Colin looked down, the picture of a guilty child, silent.


    I sighed.


    It turns out that a man with such handsome features can instantly disarm you with a single forlorn


    expression.


    At that moment, I felt my values waver, almost swept away by his striking appearance.


    “Come here, sit down!” I pointed to a bench by the bus stop.


    Colin nced at me, a hint of defiance in his eyes.


    “Sit down!” I said a bit more forcefully.


    Obediently, Colin went and sat down.


    I was at a loss. I hurried to the mall to buy him clothes and shoes and even picked up some iodine and


    bandages.


    When I came back, Colin was still sitting there, as docile as before.


    With a sigh, I looked at Colin.


    Can someone who acts so tame really be a murderer?