Lines of Deception

Case File Entry #022

Ohm found her crumpled against the base of a tree, her small frame curled into itself as though she were trying to disappear. Her breaths were shallow, her skin pale and glistening with sweat. She had run until her body gave out, collapsing in exhaustion.

Crouching beside her, Ohm checked her pulse—it was weak but steady. Gently, he scooped her up, her limp body light in his arms. The cool night air pressed against his skin as he carried her to his car, her head resting against his chest. She didn't stir, lost in whatever darkness had driven her to such desperate fear.

At the HQ, Ohm placed her in a quiet room with minimal lighting. Her small frame looked even frailer against the stark white of the cot. He turned to his junior officer, Kim, who stood by the door with a concerned expression.

"Kim," Ohm said, his voice steady. "Stay with her. When she wakes up, feed her something and let me know if she starts talking. Keep her calm, and don't push her to answer anything until she's stable."

Kim nodded. "Understood, sir. I'll take care of her."

Satisfied, Ohm left the room, rubbing the bridge of his nose as exhaustion began to creep in. He reached for his phone as he walked through the hall and saw Jake's message: He's eating. Seems okay for now.

The corners of Ohm's lips lifted into a faint smile, a flicker of warmth cutting through the tension of the day. He pocketed his phone, deciding to stop by a cake shop on his way home. Maybe it wasn't much, but it felt like something—a gesture, a small comfort for Nanon.

---

The smell of fresh pastries greeted him as he entered the shop. He scanned the rows of neatly displayed cakes, his mind drifting back to Nanon's quiet gaze, the way he had clung to him the previous night. Ohm's hand lingered over a chocolate cake when his phone buzzed in his pocket.

Pulling it out, he frowned at the unknown number flashing on the screen. He hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Hello?"

The voice on the other end was low, husky, and devoid of emotion. "The person you're trying to save... is the real danger."

Ohm's spine straightened, his grip tightening on the phone. "Who is this? Who are you talking about?"

The line crackled faintly, but no response came. Ohm's jaw clenched. "Tell me who you are."

Only silence followed, and then the call disconnected. Ohm stared at the screen, his heart pounding as unease settled deep in his chest. He tucked his phone away, his mind racing with questions.

---

When Ohm pulled up to his house, the sight of Jake standing outside the gate stopped him. The lawyer's face was pale, his hands shoved into his pockets as though he were bracing himself against an invisible storm.

Ohm stepped out of the car, concern etched into his features. "Jake? Is everything alright?"

Jake hesitated, his gaze flickering to the house before returning to Ohm. "He's... talking. About the murder. The way he says it..." He trailed off, running a hand through his hair. "It's unsettling, Ohm. He says it like he's reliving it."

Ohm sighed, his expression unreadable as he placed a hand on Jake's shoulder. "I'll take care of it. Go home. Get some rest."

Jake nodded reluctantly, his brow furrowing. "You take care of yourself, too. That boy... he's unpredictable."

Ohm watched as Jake walked away, his posture stiff and uneasy. He turned back to the house, the weight of the day pressing down on him like a lead blanket.

---

The house was quiet when Ohm stepped inside, but the silence wasn't comforting. It was heavy, expectant, like the calm before a storm. He set the cake box on the table, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of Nanon.

Then, from the shadows, Nanon's voice broke the stillness. "Do you think I'll kill you?"

Ohm turned, his gaze locking onto Nanon, who stood at the edge of the dim light. His eyes glinted with something unreadable, his posture relaxed yet tense, like a predator waiting to pounce.

Ohm's lips curved into a faint, almost sardonic smile. "I don't think it," he said quietly, his tone steady. "I know it."

Nanon tilted his head, his expression unreadable as he studied Ohm's face. "You know it?"

Ohm's gaze didn't waver. "You're going to be the death of me."

The silence that followed was deafening, charged with an energy that seemed to vibrate in the very air between them. The unspoken words, the weight of their connection, lingered as Ohm stood firm, his presence steady and unyielding.