The 8th floor

(seven months ago)

City police received a report of a murder inside an apartment building. After a quick move, the police, who entered the hotel surreptitiously so as not to arouse suspicion about them and the woman who died in her apartment. Specifically, she was found dead in the bathroom next to the bathtub.

The appearance of the corpse was extremely horrific, as the front part of her neck had been cut off and all her fingers had been amputated. In addition, there was an amount of water in her lungs, which meant that she had been tortured by drowning.

The police tried to search more widely and question the tenants, but the company responsible for the residential building completely refused to allow the police to enter. In addition, the company paid financial compensation exceeding Four million rubles to the victim's family in exchange for their silence, and they succeeded in doing so.

Later, two months after the first incident, another report was submitted from the same apartment building stating that there was another woman dead in the same gruesome manner, also in the bathroom.

Many investigators confirmed the presence of an unidentified serial killer hiding inside the residential building, so they submitted a search warrant for the residential building to the Public Prosecution for investigation, but the request was rejected because the victim's family waived their rights, after receiving compensation from the company in exchange for their silence.

Thus, the residential building owned by Stars maintained its reputation as the best apartment building, while the police had to struggle to uncover the truth.

But after two additional months, the same report was repeated, and in the same way the third victim was found.

The police's concern was growing, and based on the police's knowledge of the following case, this time they did not request a search warrant from the Public Prosecution, but rather submitted the entire case file at once to the Public Prosecution, where the file was received and work on it began by Federal Security investigators.

(after a month)

A woman was awakened from the middle of her sweet dream by the sound of incessant knocking on her door. She frowned and tried to get out of bed. moved like an earthworm emerging in wet soil, on the bed. After she sat on her legs, she removed the blanket that was wrapped around her body with random movements and then stood up.

Charlotte was so annoyed by the person knocking on her door, she thought of a slew of curses that it was time to finally use them.

"I'm almost here…"

She spoke in a sleepy, low tone as she rubbed her puffy face from sleeping all night. Her long chestnut hair was disheveled, and her light pajamas made her feel cold even though the apartment was rather warm.

"That's enough!"

She screamed angrily because the knocking on her door did not stop with her first sentence, but what Charlotte did not know was that her voice had not reached the knocker before.

"Hmm?"

After her screams, the knocking on the door stopped immediately, which made her surprised for a moment and feel some great relief.

Charlotte yawned as she reached the door, reached out and turned the knob.

"What? What's wrong with you?"

"There's nothing wrong with me, I just want a favor."

The man with a sharp expression answered Charlotte's annoyed and spoiled question. For Leonid, Charlotte was behaving in a different way unlike how she would act after waking up as a conscious person.

Charlotte's eyebrows raised. when she heard the familiar tone of voice. She was still closing her eyes to preserve some sleep for later, but not after she knew who the voice was.

Charlotte opened her eyes urgently, making the light of the corridor hit her black eyes.

"Hey, you…"

Charlotte tried to speak while rubbing her eyes, which were damaged by the sunlight filtering through the windows in the hallway. On the other hand, Leonid, the handsome young man who had recently moved into the apartment next door, kept staring at her.

His sharp eyes were as cold as ice blue. Leonid raised his hand and gently pinched the bridge of his nose as he sighed.

"Take this."

He said this while passing her his sunglasses that held up his silver locks.

Leonid gave Charlotte his sunglasses carefully and gently.

"better?"

He asked in a sarcastic tone, raising the corner of his lips into a cute sideways smile. At that moment, Charlotte heard nothing but the loud beating of her heart. She could feel the heat on her face and see well and very clearly despite her poor eyesight.

"Yes… "

She muttered in a low voice as she looked at Leonid's smiling face. His skin was pure white, accompanied by some slight redness due to the cold weather. In addition, his silver hair covered the side of his forehead, which matched the raised bridge of his nose and jaw.

"Very well, hold him tight and take care of Hunter until I'm back."

Leonid spared no time or effort in speaking to Charlotte, who was still thinking of him. He gently took her hand and put his puppy collar on it, then turned to leave but stopped as usual.

"Do you need anything today, you can ask whatever you want in exchange for taking care of Hunter."

"No!...I don't need anything, thank you."

Charlotte answered urgently while wondering if she should just stare at him or at everything there was to look at.

In return, Leonid shrugged and said in his usual dry tone.

"As you wish, see you later then."

"Bye…have a good day!"

Without any more useless words, Leonid automatically turned around and walked down the hall towards the elevator.

From behind, Charlotte waved her hand, even though she knew he wouldn't see it, but she continued to wave slowly, while her black eyes stared at his back.

She lowered the sunglasses to the middle of the bridge of her nose and entered the Thoughtful mode again.

While her black eyes were looking at Leonid, who was wearing a long black coat, her neighbor came out of the other apartment next door and crept up behind her.

He leaned his hand on the door frame above her, and furrowed his eyebrows as he tried to see what Charlotte was looking at.

Charlotte remained like that until she regained consciousness due to Hunter barking at the person who had crept up behind her.

"What's wrong?"

Charlotte blinked her eyelids for a moment, turned back, and was surprised to see Kaiser smiling at her with a cheerful smile.

"Oh God! What's wrong with you- I mean what are you doing here!?"

"What's the reason for this response? Am I really scary, or are you surprised at how handsome I am~?"

"Sorry."

After seeing Kaiser's cheerful smile and how close he was to her, Charlotte felt a weakness gradually return to her eyes.

"Of course there is no reason for what you said, I was just surprised."

"Oh really, you think I believe you, you're wrong my dear."

Kaiser followed Charlotte into her apartment and leaned against the wall, staring at her as she gently placed the cute husky puppy on the couch.

Today he was looking attractive, wearing a black leather jacket and black jeans with high-top thick sneakers, and the top half of his red tresses were tied into a very short ponytail.

"Come on, there's no need to be shy. Just say it honestly. You're surprised at how handsome I am. Aren't you going to ask why I got up so early, or where I'm going when I look so good?"

Charlotte watched Kaiser, who spoke confidently and with a smirk while showing off his charisma.

She looked at his attractive appearance for a moment and then said softly.

"To me, you look so ordinary."

"How is this!?"

Kaiser immediately became frustrated with Charlotte's response and complained.

"Hey, you're making me reconsider the idea of breaking off our friendship."

Kaiser pointed his index finger at her as she walked around the living room to remove anything that might harm Hunter's safety.

"Seriously, are you serious, am I that normal in your opinion!"

Kaiser continued to growl over Charlotte's head as he followed her into her bedroom, which was in disarray unlike the living room and kitchen in her apartment.

"Charlotte Smith!"

Kaiser called out to her in a serious tone.

"Say something and don't make me look like an idiot while I follow you. Am I that boring?!"

"Oh, well, well. You look great and handsome, but you're not attractive to me. Are you happy now?"

"Sometimes I suspect you're a devil in the guise of an angel."

Kaiser crossed his arms after admonishing her in a soft manner.

In return, Charlotte furrowed her eyebrows.

"I never called myself an angel, I always said I was a bad person!"

Charlotte puffed out her cheeks for a moment as she tilted her lips into a small pout, this was too much for her.

"Believe it or not, I'm the worst evil person you know, Kaiser."

She continued to scream at him, then started pushing him out of her bedroom.

Kaiser was still calm and of course surprised.

"Hey, why am I getting kicked now!"

"I'm not kicking you out. I just want to change my clothes, so get out!"

"You should have asked nicely from the beginning, it's not like I want to look at you while you change."

Kaiser spoke calmly, conviction wafting through his tone of voice. He planted his feet firmly on the floor so that Charlotte couldn't push him out of the room.

When he stopped himself, Charlotte was surprised that she couldn't push him.

"What are you doing now?!"

"I'm still waiting to hear from you. Kindly say, 'Please, Kaiser, leave my bedroom while I finish changing.' Come on quickly, or I won't move."

"What are you saying!"

Charlotte shouted, shaking Kaiser. trying to push him but to no avail. He didn't even move a single step.

"I'm still waiting~"

Kaiser mumbled softly and raised his hand behind his ear, a provocative gesture to annoy her even more.

This movement ignited a spark of anger in Charlotte's chest, causing her to grit her teeth.

"Please, Kaiser-…"

"Wait a minute!"

He stopped her with a quick movement, then lowered his head towards her. This was the most powerful provocative move, as he explained to her the height difference between them, and that he could not hear her voice, no matter how high she reached.

Charlotte narrowed her eyes and thought about using the barrage of insults she had finally gathered on Kaiser now, but she swallowed it down.

On the other hand, Kaiser's smirk widened and he laughed sarcastically.

"Just so you know, I can see how angry you are, behind your innocent features~"

"My features are not innocent!"

"Oh my, are you so stupid? You should have hidden your anger, not your features."

Kaiser's hands covered his face as he laughed, and the echo of that soft, listening laugh was deafening to Charlotte.

"Just stop it, Charlotte. We both know the truth."

His finger wiped away a tear on the corner of his eyelid, then looked at him again.

"Now say what I wanted you to say, preferably nicely."

Kaiser's tone of voice was calm and low, as he gently tapped Charlotte's forehead with his index finger.

Charlotte pouted her lips, then slowly opened them and said in a low voice.

"Please, Kaiser."

She swallowed her pride in one gulp and said in a soft voice.

"Leave my bedroom while I finish changing."