The black cat moved with unnatural agility. Though small, its body was incredibly lithe.
It darted down the street with an eraser carving clamped in its jaws, occasionally leaping onto low walls.
Yueci Porcelain had chased it for a long time, yet never caught it.
The cat seemed almost intelligent, varying its speed deliberately.
Just as Yueci nearly grasped it, the creature would suddenly accelerate, twist its body, and slip through her fingers.
But once it gained enough distance, it would slow down as if catching its breath—giving Yueci a chance to close in again.
Unaware of the passing streets, Yueci followed the cat deeper into the city.
The bustling avenues gradually emptied. Fewer people appeared. Soon, the area felt utterly desolate.
When Yueci finally noticed her surroundings, she stood in a dilapidated residential complex.
The black cat vanished in a flash, disappearing from her sight.
Frowning slightly, Yueci scanned the decaying buildings with caution.
Dusk had long fallen. The old neighborhood lay empty and lifeless.
Not a single window glowed with light. The residents had clearly abandoned this place.
Only dim, widely spaced streetlights offered feeble illumination.
All Yueci saw were dark, skeletal unfinished buildings and hollow apartments.
A black cat held a natural advantage here—its fur blending seamlessly into the shadows.
Frustrated, Yueci pinched the bridge of her nose. Had she wasted her entire evening?
A flicker of crimson flashed in her eyes. The pitch-black scene sharpened into clarity.
Reluctant to give up, she searched the structures for any trace of the cat.
Just as she prepared to leave, a faint *meow* drifted through the air.
Following the sound, Yueci spotted the cat under a streetlight’s weak glow.
Its emerald-green eyes gleamed unnaturally in the darkness.
Noticing her gaze, the cat tilted its head, the eraser carving still in its mouth.
*Plop.*
The object dropped to the ground.
As Yueci moved toward it, the cat leaped away, melting into the shadows.
Yueci ignored its escape. She rushed forward and snatched the rabbit-shaped eraser.
Damp patches marked its surface from the cat’s grip.
Pulling tissues from her backpack, she carefully wiped it clean.
Then she wrapped it securely and tucked it into the innermost compartment—determined not to lose it again.
Despite the absurd chase, she’d succeeded.
*Today’s workout was excessive…*
Yueci glanced toward the distant horizon. Bright city lights and skyscrapers signaled the bustling downtown.
Following that direction would lead her home.
She checked the smartphone Nishikino An had given her. Nearly 8 PM.
No messages from Nishikino An asking why she wasn’t back. *She must be working late too.*
…
*Screeeech—*
*Huh?*
Yueci turned toward the sound.
Someone else was here?
It sounded like heavy wood dragging across concrete.
Frowning, she noted the source: an unfinished building barely ten meters away.
Moving slowly, she crept closer.
Hiding behind the concrete wall beside the entrance, Yueci peered inside.
No lights illuminated the structure. Streetlights barely pierced the gloom.
Cold moonlight mixed with dim orange glow, casting the space in eerie stillness.
Yueci’s pupils contracted.
In that desolation—
A hunched figure stood with its back to her.
Before it sat what looked like a person on a chair.
Biting her lip, Yueci found the scene deeply unsettling.
*Who were they?*
The hunched figure straightened as if finishing its work, turning to leave.
Yueci instantly ducked out of sight.
The footsteps faded. She exhaled softly.
But why had she heard only one person moving?
Stepping inside, she approached the chair.
The figure she’d glimpsed remained motionless.
Up close, the truth struck her.
Her pupils shrank. Her hand crept toward her phone…
Activating the flashlight, the scene snapped into horrifying focus.
A corpse sat bound to the chair.
Female, judging by the chest.
Both eyes had been brutally gouged out. Teeth stuffed the empty sockets.
But what seized Yueci’s attention was the vibrant crimson rose pinned behind the corpse’s head.
Frowning, she circled the chair to examine the skull.
Gently probing, she confirmed her suspicion: the cranial cavity was hollow.
Filled only with dirt.
*Where had the brain matter gone?*
Her gaze drifted to the corpse’s mouth—crudely sewn shut with thick thread.
*That’s where it ended up.*
This murder clearly belonged to the "Rose Killer" series.
Though she’d found no clues at school, fate had led her here.
Yueci mentally replayed the shadowy figure she’d glimpsed from the entrance.
Approximately 180 cm tall. Lean build. Neither fat nor thin.
Distance and darkness had hidden the killer’s gender…
Still, this blurred glimpse offered new leads in a stalled investigation.
Pulling out her phone, she opened the camera app.
Nishikino An had given her the latest model.
At first, she’d struggled with its functions.
But after a quick demonstration, she’d mastered basics like photos, texts, and calls.
She meant to call the police. But staring at the dial pad, her mind went blank.
Closing the app, she opened her chat with Nishikino An instead.
She snapped multiple angles of the corpse.
Sent the photos.
Typing slowly—she wasn’t good at it—she began entering the location name she’d noticed earlier.
No extra words. Just the address.
She didn’t notice the shadow silently closing in.
*Sigh…*
A breath sighed above her.
Before Yueci could react, a hand slammed her head forward.
A sharp sting pierced her neck. Icy liquid flooded her veins.
Numbness spread rapidly. Darkness swallowed her vision. She collapsed.
Her phone skidded across the concrete floor.
The shadow retrieved it.
The screen still showed the chat with "Nishikino." The address field was half-typed.
The shadow studied the contact name, then deliberately backspaced the text.
A new location was typed in its place…
*Sent.*
Seconds later, replies popped up:
「Understood.」
「Stay safe.」
A soft snort escaped the shadow. The screen went dark.
*Plop.*
The phone hit the ground.
