Host, Please Be Honest! What Exactly Are You?

1... 2... 3 hours went by with Donghai and the rest looking for any clues concerning the matter.

The case was too strange.

Donghai had never seen such a situation where they hadn't even been able to find a single clue for so long.

It was as though the couple they saw were completely different from the ones everyone else knew.

Doppelgangers?

How can things be so different?

Their call histories, computer access, chats, living environment and everything here was too clean.

Sure, clues might pop out later on in the case.

But how was it possible that for so long, they couldn't spot a single thing wrong?

.

So strange...

Tracing the footsteps, patterns and even fallen hairs in the carpet and surroundings, it showed that the couple sat on their chairs by themselves with no forceful actions.

From there, they only sat and stared at each other without moving at all.

"Leader, according to Higgins, the couple should've sat like this for roughly 4 hours," Leah reported.

The chair's feet had sunk the carpet to some extent, allowing them to estimate and judge how long the couple had sat, all the while taking note of the carpet's quality and material.

The information was right before their very faces. But it was just too weird after assessing things.

Why would they sit and stare at each other like this for so long? Or was it a romantic staring competition?

Lying trough. What normal person does this?

If there were any books involved, then that would make sense.

However, their hands and surroundings were checked with no book missing from its shelf.

This meant they sat there not reading, only staring at each other creepily.

This... This...

This wouldn't be a cult thing, would it?

(√0√)

.

Pah!

Leah slapped her cheeks, pushing her stupid thought away.

Everything was explainable by science.

She guessed that the killer they were working with was probably a horror movie enthusiast who somehow pulled everything together.

Maybe the appearance of the victims was due to some chemical exposure.

For now, she, Donghai and many others were leaning on this theory, though they had no clue of what sort of chemical could do such a thing. "Leader, even after getting close to the victims, they didn't get a whiff of anything strange. So it must be something that has a masked smell."

Donghai nodded: "My thoughts are the same as yours. However, we still have no clues as to why this is happening to the couple. They are both retired. So it's unlikely that a coworker or anyone work-related would do this to them. The situation here is peculiar... But as law enforcers, we must crack the case fast. Tonight is bound to be a sleepless one."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

They had so much to do, checking everything, as well as going over surveillance in the area over and over until they found any suspicious activities that could give them a clue on the matter.

Donghai massaged his temples, feeling strangely tired. "What about the couple's children?"

"Leader, we've confirmed all 3 of them. They are all middle-aged civilians, having steady jobs across the country. So they'll have to fly back to assist in the investigations."

"Hmmm..."

A fever?

Donghai felt his body heat up. And soon, his legs began wobbling slightly.

"Leader, are you alright?"

"I'm... I'm fine... Just give me a pain killer."

"Yes... But leader, since we've about rounded things here, we should head to the station first. Before this, you were diligently working on the other Maxwell case. You've had no sleep from that. So I think you need to take a break."

"Mmmm..." Donghai nodded weakly, feeling a little strange about the matter.

.

No matter how he saw it, this wasn't his first rodeo.

He had pulled double shift all-nighters before, and his body had never felt so weak. So what was going on with his body?

Could it be that he had overstressed his 27-year-old body so much that it decided to break down? Would it need time in the mechanic office to recharge and get pumped up for the task ahead?

Donghai thought it should be so, thinking of taking a power nap once they got to the station.

However, just when he was about to leave the couple's room, a child wind caressed him again.

*Pause.*

Donghai stopped dead in his tracks, glancing at the couple.

He felt strange eyes on him just like before!

So was he truly imagining things?

"Leader, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." She replied, shaking his head. "Let's go."

"Right!"

Like so, Donghai finally left the room, missing a most peculiar scene.

Hehehehehe...

Indeed. The night was still young.

.

~Vrrrrmmmm~

The gang drove back to the station, bypassing a few coffee shops, picking up a few bagels and doughnuts for the all-nighter they were about to pull off.

A well-fueled engine would perform the most.

So their first task was to fill up their bellies before getting back to work.

As for Donghai, he headed back to his office, took a painkiller and laid back on the blue couch at the corner.

Sleep. Sleep. He needed to sleep.

The banging and ringing noise in his ears was causing him a headache.

And what was most disturbing was that the overly loud sound of his heart drumming was what smirked him the most.

It was as loud as concert music, overriding his brain.

Dammit!

Donghai massaged his temples and forced himself to rest.

Tick-Tock. Tick-Tock.

The short and long arms of the large wall clock moved steadily.

And soon, it was already 1 A.M.

He had been asleep for 3 whole hours now with no disturbance from his team.

However, at this exact moment, time suddenly froze in place.

Tick!

The clock had stopped singing.

And the sensitive Donghai opened his eyes to the changes in the darkroom.

His eyes began moving, deeply regretting that he had switched off his lights to take a nap.

He felt strange eyes on him again.

Who? Who is it?

Donghai's body was tense!