Lines of Deception

Case File Entry #029

The night air was crisp and eerily quiet as Ohm strode through the empty streets, his heart pounding in his chest. He had been searching for hours, but Nanon was nowhere to be found. Each step felt heavier, the tension in his chest tightening.

Ohm turned into a narrow alley near his house, retracing every possible step Nanon might have taken. That was when he saw them—his slippers, faintly illuminated under the pale glow of a streetlight.

The familiar worn soles made Ohm's chest tighten. Nanon had taken them in his hasty escape.

Clutching the slippers, Ohm's gaze darted around the alley. That was when he noticed it: a faint stench of decay lingering in the air, sharp and putrid. He followed the smell, his hand instinctively moving to his holstered gun as he tracked it.

The trail led him to a decrepit, abandoned hut tucked away at the end of the street. The flicker of dim light from inside sent a chill down his spine. Ohm's instincts screamed danger, and his heart thundered as he approached.

Inside the hut, the air was thick with the stench of decay and boiling water. Nanon sat slumped in a rickety chair, his wrists tied tightly behind him. His head hung low, his breath shallow, his face pale with exhaustion.

Mew stood before him, a steaming kettle of water in hand. His twisted grin and wild eyes painted the picture of a man unhinged.

"You ruined everything," Mew snarled, his voice sharp with rage. "Our perfect operation, our balance and my appetite. You think you're a hero?"

Nanon flinched as Mew raised the kettle, the boiling water sloshing precariously. "You made me desperate, boy. But don't worry... I'll clean this mess myself. Starting with you."

He tilted the kettle, letting a stream of boiling water hiss onto the floor near Nanon's feet. The steam rose in angry tendrils, making Nanon recoil instinctively.

"You clean the meat before you cook it," Mew muttered, his tone sing-song. "Make it nice and pure and tender for the feast."

He raised the kettle higher, ready to pour it over Nanon.

A deafening gunshot rang out, shattering the tense air.

Mew screamed in agony, dropping the kettle as he clutched his arm. The steaming water splashed across the floor, hissing angrily as it spread.

Ohm stood in the doorway, his gun aimed steadily at Mew, his expression cold and unrelenting. "Step away from him," he commanded, his voice sharp and low.

Mew staggered, his wild eyes darting around the room. With a guttural cry, he lunged toward the boiling water, plunging his head and shoulders into the kettle. His screams were inhuman, echoing through the small hut before falling silent.

Ohm holstered his gun and rushed to Nanon, his hands trembling as he knelt in front of him. He worked quickly to untie the ropes binding Nanon's wrists, his voice soft but firm. "Are you hurt?"

Nanon didn't respond immediately. His wide, tear-filled eyes met Ohm's, his expression a mixture of disbelief, fear, and something fragile.

"You," Nanon murmured, his voice trembling. "I thought..." His words trailed off, his breath hitching as he struggled to hold back tears.

Ohm's chest tightened as he placed a steady hand on Nanon's shoulder. "I'm here," he said gently.

Nanon's resolve broke, tears streaming down his face as his body trembled. He collapsed forward into Ohm's arms, clinging to him like a lifeline.

Ohm held him tightly, his voice low but steady. "You can't do this. You can't leave like that. How will our family be complete without you? Mintra and I... we need you. Our family is incomplete without you."

The words hit Nanon like a tidal wave, his sobs growing louder as he buried his face in Ohm's shoulder.

Ohm gently lowered Nanon to the ground as he turned to Mew's unconscious, semi-burnt form. His jaw clenched as he pulled out his handcuffs, securing Mew's wrists behind his back. Reaching for his phone, he called for an ambulance and backup, his voice cold and detached.

As he ended the call, Jake appeared in the doorway, his face pale as he took in the scene.

Ohm glanced at him, his expression softening. "Take him and get him out of here. Don't let anyone see him. Hide him somewhere safe."

Jake nodded and moved to help Nanon, who hesitated, his tear-filled eyes flickering to Ohm.

"Go with him till I find you," Ohm said softly, his gaze steady and unwavering. "I promise."

Nanon allowed Jake to guide him out of the hut, his steps unsteady.

As the sound of sirens grew closer, Ohm stood alone in the aftermath, the weight of his choices pressing heavily on his shoulders. The lines between right and wrong blurred further, but as he looked at the rope burns on Nanon's wrists, the only thing he was certain of was that he couldn't let him go.