Chapter 28: Chapter 28

“Is this your daughter?” Detective Sean asked. Showing her the a picture of a girl. Four year old. Mare took the picture with her shaky hands. And touched it. Tears prickled on her eyes.

“It’s Maeve. My daughter, have you found her.”

“We would find your daughter, I promise. Is there any other thing to identify her with did she perhaps has a mark, this mark on her shoulders?”

He brought out his phone showing her a picture that was taken, when she was out of the street, her face wasn’t seen, since her hair was covering them, and her entire body was bare. She took the phone to have a clear look at the mark on her shoulders.

“It’s..her.”

That was the only word he had to hear. He stood up.

“Why is she naked?” He took the phone from her. And tucked them in his pocket.

“Apparently ma’am, is no longer who you think she is.”

“She’s all grown up in the picture.”

“Not that. She’s...” his subordinate held him back from saying it.

“It’s better she knew. Because we can’t bring her here, once we found her.”

“What is wrong, what happened to my daughter.”

“She’s a demon.”

She blinked, taking a while to comprehend what he said.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“She kills... and she’s wanted by the government. If she’s found she would be killed or trapped for life.”

“No. It’s not possible, he did this to her!” She screamed, trying to jump off the bed.

“she can’t be a demon. It can’t be her.”

“You just confirmed it.”

He sat down. Gazing at Mare as she sobs.

“This is as far as I know, there was a man in this Hans town, Lucas, the famous paranormal researcher. You should know him. She was found in his custody, a witness had said, every night, he hears a scream every night, a girl crying, shouting, he didn’t have the courage to know what they were doing to her, she fled from the environment, it wasn’t quite long, everyone in that same vicinity was driven out of their home and Lucas became the owner of that place from the beginning to the end of it. The girl was chained under his basement. Inside that basement was a lab, which he used to carry out experiment. Inside that basement was where the trace of your daughter Maeve was found. Obviously she was chained there. And made a demon, because she wasn't from birth. She was a normal human, like every other child, there was no default since birth. You could testify to that, this are fact that we have gathered.”

“Lucas?”

She implored.

“Yes, Lucas and his assistant Anika.”

She sniffed.

“Do you recall?”

“Anika, we attended same college but she dropped out and wasn't seen for years. I only heard about Lucas, never seen him once, I don't know why she was taken. By them, why they made her a beast. Why my daughter, haven’t them hurt us enough.”

She hit her chest. And cried.

“Why didn’t them let her be? She was just a child, she knew nothing. I asked you to run Maeve, why didn’t run, why did you let them get you.”

“Where you chased?”

She nodded. The image replays in her head like it was yesterday.

“A huge man, came after us..”

“Did you see his face?”

“I did, he got hold of Maeve, I had to protect her, I cut his cheeks with the small pocket knife Carter gave me.”

“His both cheeks.”

“Yes, then he let go of her, we ran. I had to separate from her. Because if we keep running like that, it would be easier to spot us.”

“I’m really sorry, I promise, if I found I'll bring her to you, so you could see her. Just once.” He felt her pains. He felt that way when he lost his daughter too. She died of leukemia. She was five. Beautiful blonde, he felt his eyes glistened with tears. He had to blink them off. They both lost something.

Then he turned. To her again.

“Did you say you cut his cheeks. It was deep was it?”

“Yes, probably leave a scar..”

He snap his fingers.

Could it be him.

The man they are searching for, the similar description, they had. A scar on both cheeks.

Her eyes lit up. She clasped her hands over his. Not minding the tears dripping down to her mouth.

“You’ll do that for me?”

“I once promised to bring her to you, I'll keep my promise. You could get to see your daughter again. I’ll help you Mrs mare. But you need to get well.”

She nodded severally.

“Thank you.” she squeezed his hands in gratitude. She smiled and wipe her face. With her hands.

“We’ll be leaving now.”

She nodded, as he stood up. She was able to smile again even if it was for only a second.

He was stopped by his ringing phone, he brought it out.

He was gonna call an artist to drew the face. She saw.

He was getting closer to him.

Closer to finding the man behind the mask.

“Hello?”

“Detective Sean, you need to come see this.”

“What’s it?”

“I think she's at it again. But its kind of different from the other similar cases.”

“Go on with the details.”

“Its man, he was found in the woods, at about, 1:01am, his entire body was white, there was no wound or cut up from the stomach, but the blood was drained out. And at the nape of the neck was two dot. And it created a black spot there.”

“Two dots?”

He writes it down, in his note pad.

“Yes. That was the only thing visible, there was no other, wound or cut..”

“What could this mean?”

“I’ve no idea sir.”

Why did the partner change?

He turned to met the curious gaze of Mare.

“Is it?” he asked.

“Its the demon, it's out there again, it actually stopped for a while. And now, I think it's back again. To kill us.”

Mare clamped her hands over her mouth. Muffled her cries. Her eyes spill out tears out of it.

“My baby!” she whimpered.

Detective Sean heaved a sigh.

If there was anything he could do, or a way to help her, he would have done it.

“I need to see him?” she whispered.

“See who?”

“Him.”

She simply answered.

“Who’s him?”

“Albert, I need to see him.”

“Sir Albert.”

She nods.

“Why do you want to see him?”

“Mayb he could help. He was my husband's friend. Know what happened to us, our property and everything, Carter owns.”

Detective Sean nodded.

Albert opened the drawers beside him, and brought out a small frame of his family picture. It was taken years ago. At that time they were happy, Like a family they truly were. But not anymore. This had changed now. He was different. A changed he hadn’t seen coming.

Another frame, a small one, he opened it and brought out a picture he hid behind it. And stare at it. A picture of his friends. The whole three of them.

He was at the right side. Peru by the left and Cartel was in the middle, their hands were linked. Around their shoulders. Each had a bright smile. The picture was old, obviously had taken a long time ago. When they were in their youth. They had come a long way.

He touched the middle one. Cartel.

He felt a pang of guilt in his chest. And quickly pick it back hidden underneath a picture. And shut his drawer.

He placed his elbow on the table, and clasped his hands over his head.

What was wrong?

What had he done wrong.

A lot has gone wrong. And there was no way he could turn back now. No way he could ask for forgiveness from Cartel. It was all done.

He suddenly felt so discomfort on his chest.

He rubbed his hands down it. Maybe because he was feeling guilty. He needed the tea to keep calm, he needed to take it for his own good if he’s gonna be better and more relaxed he needed Peru’s tea.

“Albert!”

“Peru. It’s open.” Just when he needed him.

He was always on time. He opened the door and came in.

“Are you okay?”

“Help me with the tea. I need to calm down. My chest. I don’t know what’s wrong. “

“I’ll prepare them right now. I left some of the ingredients in your study the last time. Did you see it.”

“You left it here?” He coughed. And blood came out of it.

“Albert” he hurried to him. Giving him a small towel.

“I’ll prepare it right away, it would help you.”

He left his side, leaving Albert coughing into the towel, what was wrong, this was the first time something like this was happening. Why was he coughing blood, he felt his heart twisted. And he couldn’t breathe. He opened his mouth wide for air. While he waits for Peru to returned with the tea.

Hitting his chest with his hands. The discomfort was too much, he fell from the chair he was sitting on.

Peru came with the tea. Pouring them into his mouth. He gurgled down. Peru helped him up.

“You’ll be fine.” He poured everything.

His eyes had gone white. How did he had to come in the right time. Just when he was a about dying.

He exhaled, finally breathing again. His gaze was on Peru. He helped him back to his seat. And took the one in front of him.

“What happened?”

Albert only shook his head. He doesn’t know. He’d been so busy lately to care about his health. And whatever this is, he doesn’t know, and how Peru was able to stop it. Was suspicious to him. How did he know what he was passing through. The right liquid to give him, this was different from the usual French tea they had. Or he usually had.

It taste and smells was different.

What’s was this?

Peru smirked lightly. This was the final blow Albert you’re already gone. He almost chuckled but held it within. He would celebrate after all this is done. And he would have to be here when he falls on his feet completely and rushed down to the hospital. Then he would celebrate, then he would, jumped up and touched the sky. He didn’t tell him to be so stupid.

His friend.

Best friend.

His family.

Trash. There’s nothing as that, a man only cares for himself and his family, every one outside is nothing. He wouldn’t be fooled by his fake pretense.

It’s all game over.

Ding!

He won.

Albert saw his smirk. And he almost felt he could collapse again. What was this? What’s is going on, he couldn’t be him. It’s Peru his only friend, the one who understands him. The family he had who stood by him.

Couldn’t stab him in the back.

He couldn’t do it.

He shook his head.

“Don’t worry you’ll be fine. I’ve got you. You want me to info Linda.”

“No, leave her out of this.”

“She’s your wife. She should know.”

“It’s okay, she doesn’t have to know.”

He run his hands over his chest again. And held it. This was strange. The pain. Seized.

“Is something wrong, why are you staring at me like that?”

“It works. I feel relieved. How did you get something like this.”

“Oh, I always have it in handy. It’s good for cold. So I do take it. Most times because of cold. That’s why I always have it around me.”

He nodded and inhaled deeply, leaning on the chair. Without saying nothing else.

Peru who exactly are you?

He had been so blind all along.

Was Linda right?

He shouldn’t have held him so close.

Whatever this is, he would make sure he doesn’t get what he wants.

Even in death.

This was what he got in return. Choosing a stranger over his family.

Peru stood up and stood close to the desk. With his hands on the table.

“You can’t do anything, but do as I say. Now you’re just as...”

He hit his fist on the table and stood up but fell back instantly. Groaning in pains.

“What...” the pains restraint his speaking.

“Let’s forget about what happened today and wait till the day we got to rush you over to the hospital. It’s just few days from now. See ya.”

He laughed and walked out of the study room. Shutting the door.

Albert groaned hit his head continuously on the table.

Peru.