Dexter''s rage was palpable as he jabbed a finger at Colin. "This was all your doing, wasn''t it?"


    Colin remained silent, his eyes sinister, a mocking curl to his lips.


    Provoked, Dexter advanced, ready to throw a punch.


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    I stepped in front of Colin, fury in my eyes. "Dexter, you agreed to the bet, and you lost, fair and


    square."


    From now on, all I wanted was for Dexter to disappear from my life forever.


    Colin wrapped his arms around me from behind, his gaze on Dexter growing icier. "You lost..."


    Dexter clenched his fists, silent, barely containing himself.


    Soon enough, Melody was brought back.


    The police had no right to detain her; it was her freedom to go wherever she pleased. So she had


    been quick to weave excuses.


    "Somebody told me the killer was after me, that I had to get away fast, not let anyone spot me. They


    said there were clothes hidden in the bathroom for me to change into and make a run for it."


    Melody''s voice broke into sobs. "I was so scared I''d end up like Phoebe, murdered and turned into


    some kind of freak show exhibit behind ss."


    With teary eyes, she showed the police an unknown number on her phone. "I got messages from


    this number."


    "You believed some stranger just like that? What if they were the murderer? If we hadn''t found you


    in time, you could be dead!" The officer scolded her sharply.


    Melody turned to Dexter, tears streaming down her face. "Dexter, I was so scared that I just


    believed the messages."


    Her nce at Colin was pointed. "I was so afraid..."


    Clearly, she was putting on a show, trying to pin the whole mess on Colin.


    "Was it you!" Dexter''s anger red at Colin, grabbing him by the cor.


    "And what would my motive be?" Colin asked coolly.


    "You wanted to trick Melody into running off, to make me panic. Then you''d swoop in, find her, bet


    me, all to make me lose!" Dexter spat out angrily.


    Robin sighed in frustration at the side, and even Finn couldn''t bear to watch.


    It was clear Dexter was no match for Colin in wits or deceit.


    Colin, when faced with Dexter''s usations, chose not to exin or defend himself. Instead, he


    made Dexter spell out his supposed motives, knowing that saying more would only lead to more


    mistakes.


    Only then did Dexter seem to realize, his anger mixed with a dawning horror. "You knew I''d bet


    against you?"


    Beyond the anger, Dexter''s eyes held a sh of shock, as if he was finally grasping the extent of


    Colin''s cunning.


    "I have no idea what you''re talking about," Colin said, feigning innocence as he turned to me,


    seemingly pleading for support.


    "Dexter, take your damsel in distress and head on home. It''s gettingte, and we wouldn''t want her


    to vanish again," I said, my voice hard, my hands clenched white as I turned my gaze to Melody.


    "Serial killer victims are usually found in ditches, but I bet there''s a filthy gutter out there just right for


    dumping your body."


    Myugh was cold, my eyes fixed on Melody. "Think you''re worthy of being preserved as an


    exhibit? As if."


    Melody recoiled, instinctively hiding behind Dexter. She stared at me, petrified, without uttering a


    word.


    "Phoebe..." Just as panicked as Melody was Colin, who almost subconsciously pulled me into his


    embrace, hurriedly speaking. "Phoebe, my wound is hurting. Can we go home, please?"


    I snapped back to reality, taken aback by my own words.


    Finn eyed me suspiciously, but said nothing.


    I nced at Ste and Robin, worried they''d misunderstand.


    Afraid they''d suspect I had ties to the murderer, especially since the identity of Foebe Larson was


    quite peculiar in its own right.