Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace



"Dexter," Melody called out, her voice cutting through the silence as she addressed Dexter. A shiver ran down my spine. Would I have ever called out to Dexter like that in the past?

And how accurately was Melody portraying 'Phoebe Caldwell' anyway?

"Dexter's got to be some kind of fool to think he's got this all figured out so quickly..." I murmured under my breath, taking refuge behind Colin, gripping his arm tightly. Fear was creeping in.

Where were we even?

Dexter glanced over, his gaze landing on me, his brow furrowing slightly before he looked away without a word.

His look was cold, distant.

Clearly, Dexter had made up his mind that Melody was the real Phoebe Caldwell, and I was just some imposter out to get him.

"What kind of lunatic has got us all caught up in this?" Bran muttered, cursing under his breath. "How did this edgy maniac manage to drag us all here?"

Melody shot me a hostile look and spoke up. "The Fitzgerald family's nanny turned out to be a murderer, lurking within the Fitzgerald household for years, completely undetected."

Dexter's expression darkened, clearly another victim of the nanny, Wendy, who had drugged and brought him here.

I hid behind Colin, taking a deep breath.

Wendy...

During my time with the Fitzgeralds, I always felt something was off about Wendy. Wasn't she supposed to be loyal to Damian and Melody? Could she really have been a double agent?

But if she was, what was the meaning behind her telling me the cherry trees on Celebration Street were in bloom?

"Okay, so we were all outsmarted by someone we trusted," Bran acknowledged, pointing at Colin. "He's the mad one, had himself kidnapped on purpose to catch the murderer."

After a pause, he gestured towards me and himself. "So, it's just the two of us fools, knocked out and dragged here."

I didn't correct Bran.

Truth be told, Bran's capture seemed too easy, almost as if he'd let it happen.

So, it was just me who was the fool.

"Help, someone get us out of here."

"Please, save us..."

The unnervingly clean hallway echoed with the desperate banging and pleading of countless voices.

Their calls were growing weaker.

Obviously, many didn't know that the nutrient solution provided for IVs could be drunk to temporarily sustain them.

If they continued to scream, cry, and panic, they'd quickly deplete their energy and blood sugar, eventually fainting from hypoglycemia or even going into shock, before dying from hunger and dehydration.

"Click, click, click." The motion-sensor lights in the hallway flickered on and off.

Fearfully, I stood behind Colin, nervously clutching the hem of his shirt.

Colin reached back, signaling for me to hold his hand.

I quickly grabbed it, our fingers interlocking.

In that moment, the warmth from his palm steadied my frantic heart.

"Where are we? How many people has that madman taken?" Dexter asked grimly, showing no intention of rescuing the others.

"This hallway is so long, with these

cage-like rooms on both sides, obviously filled with people," BranContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

cursed, looking at Colin, questioning whether they should attempt a rescue.

Melody sneered. "Right now, we need to focus on saving ourselves."

She stepped forward, grabbing Dexter's wrist. "The madman mentioned there's food and weapons at the end of the hallway. We should head there first."

I looked anxiously at Colin.

Should we try to save the others, or prioritize our own survival?

Clearly, our energy was limited. My legs were already giving out.

This was a moment that truly tested our humanity.

Leaning against the wall, Bran cursed again. "For the first time in my life, I'm experiencing what low blood sugar feels like... starting to sweat..."

Colin, on the other hand, seemed relatively unaffected.

But holding his hand, I could tell he was starting to weaken too.