Chapter Two- Fragrance of blood

Night-time. 11:48 pm.

Bai Yohan couldn't sleep. He had a lot of thoughts going through his head. He was utterly exhausted yet couldn't even get his brain to shut up. He tried for a couple more minutes until he gave up and just scrolled through his phone. After a couple minutes of mindlessly scrolling through, he suddenly got a text message. It was Gillian. He swiftly opened the messaging app and tapped on his message. Gillian's number was saved under, Gillian the clown. The message read:

Gillian the clown: Yohan, are you awake?

Bai Yohan quickly replied.

Bai Yohan: Yeah /(v-v)\ I can't sleep!

Bai Yohan: I'm trying sooooooo hard to fall asleep.

Gillian the clown: I see, I understand why that's the case. You suddenly got a massive case thrown on you.

Bai Yohan was about to reply when another message followed soon after.

Gillian the clown: Why didn't you tell me? About the case you were secretly investigating?

Bai Yohan: Sorry!!!!! I didn't mean to lie! (╥﹏╥)

Gillian the clown: I know you didn't mean to lie; I just want to know why you never told me about it, I can understand the others since they refused to believe you the first time, but you've known me for a long time. I'm just wondering. I don't mean to accuse.

Bai Yohan: … (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

Gillian the clown: ?????

Bai Yohan: Sorry sorry, it's kind of embarrassing. I just thought that you were going to think I was insane or had something wrong in my head because of my theory.

Gillian the clown: Yohan.

Bai Yohan: Yes?

Gillian the clown: I already think you are insane; besides I would have believed you if you told me.

Bai Yohan: What??? C'mon man, why do you think I am insane??? My very own best friend thinks I am insane (´;︵;`)

Gillian the clown: Yohan, you are a 26-year-old man who is literally a Chief detective, who is acting like a 10-year-old. You can make the correlation.

Bai Yohan: Well EXCUSE ME for not being boring. UNLIKE YOU.

On the other side of the screen, Gillian felt somewhat wronged.

Gillian the clown: This is exactly what I mean. Kid behaviour. Have some shame. You're lucky you're speaking to me like that, because if you talked to anyone like that, then they would definitely think you were a mental patient who was on the run. Or worse, a creep.

Bai Yohan: …

Bai Yohan: Sorry (◞‸◟ㆀ)II

Gillian the clown: Don't be sad. I didn't mean to insult you.

Bai Yohan: Me too. I'm sorry for not telling you about it. Also, I didn't really mean the comment about you being boring. (￣ ￣|||)

Gillian the clown: I know, also its best you go to sleep, we have a long day ahead. Also, you need to explain to me everything you have gathered for your case.

Bai Yohan: Yes sir!

With that, Bai Yohan tossed his phone aside and fell into a deep but uncomfortable slumber. He dreamt of the No mercy killer; he, being one of his victims. No matter how many times he blinked his eyes, everything seemed to be too real. Bright red blood scattered the walls; no inch of the room was not covered in blood. The smell of metallic blood and guts was so overwhelming to the point Bai Yohan thought he was going to pass out in any second. This is just one thing he hates the most, the smell of blood. No matter how many times he had to witness incredibly gory scenes in the past, he still cannot get over that disgusting smell. It's impossible for him to not hate it. He does not care if he sees a dismembered body or a mutilated one, it's all the same to him anyway, but the smell is something that just won't leave no matter what he does. It's the only thing he cannot stand in the slightest. Every time he goes to a crime scene, he always covers his nose or puts on a mask to hide that foul stench.

Somehow, in this dream of his, the atrocity of that smell has somehow increased tenfold. Bai Yohan tries to breathe through his mouth, unfortunately for him, the smell doesn't seem to lessen. Bai Yohan tries to free himself from the pole he was chained to, however, the chains were tightened on him so harshly that if this was real life, he would have already broken his arms and his ribs. In that little bloody room, there is no one except the detective.

All alone.

In the eerie quiet.

The walls covered in a beautiful shade of crimson.

The ground painted in more vibrant ranges of scarlet.

That heinous sweet metallic scent.

He hates it with every ounce of his being.

He hates it.

He hates it.

He hates this.

Hate isn't big a word to even describe his hatred for that violation of a smell that was created.

Make it stop.

Make it stop. Makeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstop!!!!

MAKE THIS JUST FUCKING STOP.

He would rather get tortured!

As if his wishes were heard, suddenly, a sharp, burning pain emerged from the pits of his stomach. This sudden affliction placed upon him, made him snap out of his senses and scrunch his face and shut his eyes in pure agony. Why did it hurt so much?! It felt like his stomach was on fire! It felt like something exploded in his stomach! With this sudden realisation, he immediately opened his eyes to see the horrific scene of his intestines out on display. His stomach quite literally exploded!? How in the ever-loving fuck is he not dead yet? His insides were quite literally out of his fucking body, bleeding and pulsating everywhere, making gross and mushy sounds. His face shook in horror. His eyes were so wide open that they could almost pop out. More blood was spewing out from his recent wound, making the pain more unbearable. Bai Yohan screamed at the top of his lungs, voice aching to the point his vocal cords might snap at any given moment. His hellish cries for help could be heard by no one. The more he screamed, the more it hurt, the more it hurt, the more he screamed; it was a never-ending cycle.

His yells were interrupted moments later when he felt a surge of liquid come up his throat. Immediately after, the colourful liquid spewed out from his mouth.

Blood.

More fucking blood.

This time it was worse. Bai Yohan could quite literally taste the sweet metallic flavour of his very own blood. It didn't matter whose blood it was; he absolutely hated it. No matter how many times he tried to spit out the blood out from his mouth, it kept coming and coming. If this keeps up, he might as well go insane!

The pain of a dream shouldn't be this agonising right?!!

Why was this dream so realistic and cruel?!!

....

….

…

News of the No Mercy killer being found dead spread like wildfire, the people were relieved, finally they didn't have to fear coming out of their homes, finally they didn't have to fear any of their loved ones being killed by that vicious criminal. Even with the news of the No Mercy Killer being found dead, the other findings of the investigation were not released, in fear that it might instigate the vigilante to escape. It might also ruin any clues that could be found in the current and previous crime scenes.

Bai Yohan was moving fast, quickly putting all his findings onto a bulletin board and connecting areas that seemed relevant. Dark circles were apparent on his face of him not having a good night's rest. His olive eyes were on the verge of closing for long periods of time every time he blinked. Deep in thought, he didn't notice his subordinate, Gillian, coming into the room. A sudden tap on the shoulder startled him beyond his wits. He quickly turned around and let a sigh of relief before greeting the other. "You're quite late" he stated, trying to hide his previous expression. "I'm just on time, you're the one who is too early." Gillian retorted as he seated himself, waiting for the detective to start showing him his findings.

In several hours, Bai Yohan managed to catch the other up to date with his findings worth several months. "You sure managed to keep every micro evidence you managed to find, it's not an extremely definite case, but it's very potent. Do you have any suspects yet?" Gillian asked while taking a sip of tea. "I had some but I ruled them out as soon as I dug into it further, for whatever reason, no matter how much I try to pry into it, I can't seem to figure out anything about the person who is responsible for this" the detective exhaled before adding "I know their methods and perhaps their reasons, but this person is extremely efficient, nothing is left behind of their involvement aside from the evidence of the victim being another criminal; even then there are no finger prints or alien strands of hair." He put his hand over his temples, looking extremely fatigued. The dark circles under his eyes seemed to become more potent as he ranted, his dishevelled hair was all over the place.

"How about this, since now you have more resources due to this being a high-end chase, we can now go and visit the relatives of the No Mercy Killer." Gillian suggested, trying to dig any source of information they could discover. Bai Yohan thought for a moment and then slowly nodded his head; planning on making their departure soon.

Both individuals, walking side by side were making their way to the home of the mother of the deceased criminal. Gillian seemed the calmer one from the pair. Seeing the nervous state of the other, he decided to try to make small talk.

"Yohan"

"Huh? What is it?" the detected turned his head to look at his subordinate.

"Is something the matter? Why do you look so... off?"

"I-" As the detective was about to say something, he suddenly stopped in his tracks, halting all movement. His face looked rather complicated, trying to come up with words, but failing each time. Gillian also stopped in tracks to stare at the other, to see what was bothering the other individual so much to the point that they looked so lost. In the past, in every other case or work that they had done together, the detective never looked so lost; on the contrary, he was always confident and knew what the next step was without even having to think about it. Even in the most brutal of cases, he wouldn't look so off. Well, all that has happened in the past doesn't matter, what matters now is to bring back the detective from his daze. He put his hand on his shoulder and patted it a couple of times, trying his best to comfort the other to the best of his ability.

"Sorry, I..." He quickly shook his head. No. His reasoning was stupid. He cannot say that he is still disturbed over a terrifying dream. Everyone has nightmares, and everyone gets over them very quickly. Besides, he is a very well-respected detective known for his formidable work and fearlessness for situations, he can't just say that a dream managed to scare him with just the smell of blood. Both had to work with blood, and they were no strangers to anything related to gore. Gillian knew that Bai Yohan didn't like the smell of blood, but he didn't know to what extent his dislike reached to. He always respected the detectives' wishes and helped dealing with the blood most of the time. Bai Yohan didn't want to be seen as weak by his closest of friends. No. He just doesn't let it want to happen. He wants to be someone who is immune to it all; someone who can help others no matter how disturbing the situation is like.

"It's nothing serious, I just didn't sleep well as you can notice, so I'm very sluggish." he added while putting on a slight smile to try to fool the other and stop asking. Gillian's eyes contracted as he frowned, the large scar on the side of his mouth moving slightly along with his negative expression. He turned back around and continued to walk at the previous speed and muttered out a single word "Liar...".

The leftover walk to the home of the mother of the No Mercy Killer was eerily quiet, but strangely harmonious, even if Gillian seemed somewhat irritated by him earlier. The cool autumn breeze calmed Bai Yohan's nerves, like he was being cleansed in a pool of pure and divine light energy. The orange crisp leaves danced around his feet from time to time as he walked, making him smile slightly. His favourite season was spring, however, he also liked autumn very much, it was very calming, and he could always snuggle up in his warm blanket after a long day's work and just enjoy playing video games with friends. Couple more minutes passed and they arrived at their destination.

"Do you feel well enough to go inside and interrogate the lady a bit?" The man with jet black hair asked as his gaze landed on the silver haired man. Even if his eyes held no emotion, Bai Yohan could tell there was consideration for him hidden behind those bottomless eyes. Bai Yohan quickly nodded and motioned the other man to knock on the dark wooden door. Moments later, the door opened and a fairly slim lady with a ghostly expression appeared in front of the two men, staring at them. Her chestnut hair was long, very long, reaching to her knees, her eyes silver dead with grief.

"You are?" She asked in a cautious tone. Bai Yohan took this chance to quickly introduce themselves "Hello, we are detectives that were assigned to the case of your son's killings in the past, we're here to discuss some matters about your son and any information you might have regarding his death." The woman gave a glance at Bai Yohan and immediately looked at Gillian who was dead quiet like his usual self. He usually would let Bai Yohan do the talking in these types of situations. She let out a breath and signalled them to head inside. The next few hours were spent with the lady answering the questions of the detectives, some more complicated than others. From the answers she gave, Gillian and Bai Yohan could immediately tell how deep her hatred was for her good for nothing son who decided to murder and torture innocent civilians for little to no reason. After a while of interrogating, they decided to tell the mother of the suspect who killed her son.

"Killer Killer? I have to commend whoever that is. That person did me a huge favour by getting rid of that bastard child for me, if they didn't, I would be the one behind bars for murder." She let out a scoff as she stared off into the distance, irritation spewing from her tone. This somewhat stunned Bai Yohan, yes, he understood the feeling of people wanting to take justice into their own hands, but it wasn't a good idea since it isn't always a good idea to play God with the lives of people, no matter how good or bad they might be. It's not like he didn't hate the No Mercy Killer, in fact he also did have hatred for him, but he wanted him to atone and pay for his crimes instead of being killed off by whoever this Killer Killer was. Bai Yohan believed that it is better for people to forever repent their actions and continue to be punished instead of getting their lives ended so soon. He quickly shook off the strange feeling and continued.

"Well, do you know anyone who was close to your son? A friend? A lover?" He tilted his head as he continued to write down notes. Gillian sat on his left and was silently listening while adding to his sentences from time to time when Bai Yohan missed something.

"Pfft- As if, that bastard was always alone, and he found it impossible to make any friend because of how he acted. He always thought he was better than others. He even once told me straight to my face about how much of a superior being he was to me since he was much larger than me. His arrogance and narcissism never knew bounds." She scoffed as she rolled her eyes. Something suddenly flashed in her eyes, and she quickly added "Why...? Why would you want to know something as insignificant as that?" She stared straight into Bai Yohan's soul.

Bai Yohan felt a bit nervous but nonetheless continued with his questioning. "It's simple. We're investigating his murder and trying to find out who the Killer Killer is so we can quickly put them to a stop and not play God with people's lives." he stated as he glanced to his left. His sentence just then made something snap in the woman and it becomes apparent that she's very irritated.

"Why the fuck would you want to do that?!" She suddenly bolts up from her seat and raises her voice. Bai Yohan is surprised by her sudden outburst and exchanges looks with Gillian, to see if he is also surprised; unfortunately, he sees no expression other than boredom from the other.

"What do you mean by why would we do that? We're doing this to bring justice, that individual playing 'hero' is very dangerous to be left alone in society." Bai Yohan takes a deep breath as he states. As he exhales, he feels a hand on his shoulder, Gillian is trying to comfort him again.

But he doesn't need comforting! Does he look that pitiful???

"You don't fucking understand you lowlife detective. Why get rid of someone who has saved countless lives??! He killed someone who deserved to die!" She shrieked. The hand on Bai Yohan's shoulder tightened as he looked back at Gillian whose face showed irritation. He was glaring at the woman.

"Ma'am, it really isn't about that! We're just trying to-" He was cut off.

"Do you understand how shameful it feels like to be the mother of a vicious and disgusting creature who decided to kill people for his own enjoyment?? Just who can sleep at night with that kind of knowledge???!!! When I finally find out that bastard was killed, you come along and say you want to find who killed him??? Just what did he do to deserve such good treatment?? HUH?!!!! TELL ME!! YOU BASTARD!!!!" She shouted her last words as her face changed colours several times due to the heavy changes of emotions in short periods of time.

As Bai Yohan was about to say something to calm the woman down, Gillian immediately pulled him up and started to drag him out of the house.

"YOU BASTARDS NEVER PUT THE SAME EFFORT OF THIS SHIT WHEN OTHER PEOPLE DIED!!!!" Was the last thing Bai Yohan heard as Gillian shut the front door and continued to drag the man along the street.

No...

That's not it!

He promises, he does put all his efforts into trying to bring the guilty to justice!

He always tried his best to take any lead from anything that could be found.

He always spent days and nights just analysing several pieces of evidence until his eyes turned red.

That is how he got his position in the first place despite being so young.

Bai Yohan was frowning as he was being dragged around by his friend to who knows where. No matter how he was feeling, he couldn't let his subordinate deal with the situation by himself. He already relied on his friend a lot in the past, he wanted to repay that too, he wanted to be relied on too.