Inak stepped forward, cane tapping once against the concrete.
The man in the pink suit didn't move... he just stood there, arms relaxed, eyes unreadable. The sun hit his shoulder at an angle, casting a long, crooked shadow across the pavement.
"How can I be of help…" said Inak, calm as ever.
No answer. Just that smile again.
Inak's mind began to race.
'Detective'…? how much does he know?
A flood of moments ran through his head. Every date, every move, all replaying as he tried to track what could've slipped.
—July 27th: Mother's funeral
—July 31st: The seminar. The beginning of B.O.R.N
—August 31st: The rat revived for the first time
—September 1st: Michael on the bridge. The "suicide."
—September 13th: Michael wakes up.
—Today: September 15th.
I need a crack… something. A hole I can squeeze through.
Inak adjusted his grip on the cane.
How much does this man know…? Think, damn it. Think…
Inak kept his expression flat and seemed completely collected.
Then finally, Blugh pulled a small notepad from his coat pocket, flipping it open with one hand.
"September 13th," he said casually. "You were at a corner store that night, correct?"
He jotted something down, but the angle made it impossible for Inak to see what.
"There was a robbery that night," Blugh continued, eyes still on the page. "You were seen in the area. I'm just following up—wondering if you noticed anything… unusual. Anyone acting strange? Suspicious behavior?"
Inak nodded slowly."September 13th… that was about two nights ago, wasn't it? Yes, I did stop by the store. Picked up some coffee and a few supplies."He paused, slightly confused but relieved."But no… I don't recall seeing anything out of the ordinary."
Is this not about Michael? Inak thought. Perhaps I overreacted…
Blugh looked up from his notepad."When exactly were you at the store?"
Inak thought for a moment."Just before midnight, I believe…"
Blugh nodded, still writing on the notepad."Yeah… everything seems fine, I guess. Sorry for wasting your time, Doctor."
Inak gave a faint smile, masking the tension in his throat."No worries. I hope I was of some… minor help."
Blugh nodded and took a step aside.
Then he paused.
"One last thing, Doctor…"
He turned back and looked directly into Inak's eyes."I kidnapped a seventeen-year-old boy named Michael on the West-End Bridge. I keep him in my basement."
He chuckled.
For a split second, Inak's eyes widened. His grip around the cane tightened. Muscles in his jaw tensed—but only briefly. He caught himself.
Blugh grinned. "Relax, I'm just messing around. Have a nice day, Doctor."
He turned and walked away, lighting another cigar.
Inak watched him go, exhaling only when the man turned.
But before he did—he caught a glimpse of the detective's notepad still open in his hand. A name was written across the top:
Fredrick Haswelwalt Inak ~180cm
Note:
Nervous twitch in left hand when startled.
Adjusted his grip III
Avoided eye contact IIIII
Swallowed III
...
Inak clenched his jaw. He was being studied...
Inak rushed to the car and fired up the engine. He drove off fast, tires skimming the road. Blugh watched him from distance, with that same crooked smile. He saw Inak speed off—and grinned wider.
Inak pulled into the store parking lot minutes later. Threw the door open. Limped inside, cane hitting the tile with sharp thuds.
The same girl stood behind the counter.
"Two nights ago," he said, short of breath. "The robbery. How much money was taken? What did they steal?"
She blinked, caught off guard. "I—what?"
"The robbery," he repeated. "September 13th. How much did they take?"
Her face twisted into confusion. "Sir… there was no robbery."
Inak's eyes narrowed.
"You're telling me nothing happened here two nights ago?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, now visibly uneasy. "Sir, I need you to leave. Or I'll call security."
He took a slow breath, trying to anchor himself. "No missing inventory? No police report?"
"No. Nothing like that. You're scaring me."
Inak just stood there for a beat and processed.
Then he turned around. Walked out. Fast.
As the doors slid closed behind him, everything clicked.
Blugh had lied.There was no robbery.It was never about the store.
He was being tested.
Watched.
Measured.
And now… the clock was ticking.
---
Inak reached the apartment, leaning hard against the door as he jammed the key in. It clicked. He pushed it open, nearly falling in.
"Michael!" he shouted. "Michael!"
Then he froze—remembered.The buzzer. He'd left it with him.
His pulse spiked. He rushed down the hall, mind spiraling.
Where to dump the body?The bridge? No—too obvious. Downstream... Maybe there.
He shoved open the bedroom door—
And stopped.
Michael was sitting upright, alive, eyes on the floor.
Inak's throat caught.
"…Michael," he said under his breath.
Michael looked at him
"What's going on?" he asked, his voice low. "Why were you yelling?"
Inak turned away for a second, hand gripping the doorframe as he closed the door.
"They found it…" Inak whispered under his breath, pacing the room now. "I expected this—but not this soon…"
His fingers twitched against his thigh. Every second he stood still felt like a countdown.
"There's someone following me... I have to move. I have to make a move before they corner me first... we're leaving. Tonight."
"I can't let you stay here," Inak continued, his voice tight. "If they raid the place… if they search it, and they find you—"
He cut himself off, shaking his head.
"I can't let them see you..."
As he paced the room, mind racing, Inak kept thinking
where? Where could I move him?
Every option felt risky. Every second counted.
Then—A click in his thoughts.
His mother's house.
It was empty now. Quiet. No one had stepped foot in it since the funeral.
No records. No cameras. No neighbors that cared.
He looked at Michael.
But I can't just have him in the car with me. If anyone sees him... it's over. Everything's done for.
What can I do?
Maybe the trunk... but even that's risky.
No, I need a way to keep him hidden, close but out of sight.
The back seat, covered with blankets? Too obvious if the car gets stopped.
He can't be visible. Can't be heard.
I need to think—fast.
Then his eyes caught the luggage bag placed at the top his closet shelf. The luggage was too small. Even though Michael was a small kid, he still wouldn't fit.
Inak left the room, closing the door behind him. Silence filled the space.
Michael's heart pounded. Fear crept in.
What now? What was going to happen?
He glanced beside him and saw Seraph... his only companion. Tears welled up as he whispered to her, voice breaking.
"I want to rest, Seraph… I can't handle this anymore. Please... can you take my place, just for a moment? I can't do this…"
Tears streamed down his face.
After what felt like an eternity, the door creaked open.
Inak stepped in, holding a large syringe in one hand, and a crumpled wad of tissues in the other.
Without a word, he shoved the tissues into Michael's mouth.
Then he grabbed Michael's arm and injected the needle swiftly.
Michael tried to resist, but his strength failed him. The anesthesia took hold fast.
Inak left the room again.
Michael lay back on the bed, eyes slowly feeling heavier and heavier.
Just before he slipped away, Inak returned—now covered head to toe in a clear plastic suit, a large plastic sheet folded carefully in his hands.
He moved fast. First, he lifted Michael's legs, sliding the plastic sheet beneath his entire body, then covering the floor of the room in a plastic layer.
In his other hand, he held something else—an axe.
Inak raised it above his head, face hidden behind a surgical mask.
Michael caught a glimpse of his eyes... they were cold... and focused.
Then the axe came down.
One strike. Then another.
Michael felt no pain. The anesthesia numbed everything.
His last sight was of Seraph... smiling gently, comforting him as darkness closed in.
His eyes shut softly, surrendering to a warm, endless sleep.
---
A couple of hours passed. The sky had darkened into evening. It rained, a slow and soft rain, it was the first rain of the season...
Inak stepped out of the apartment, rolling a black luggage behind him. The wheels echoed faintly against the wet pavement. He moved slowly, carefully. Once he reached his car, he opened the back door and with some effort he lifted the luggage into the rear floorboard.
Across the street, in a parked car half-shrouded by rain, Detective Blugh sat watching.
He had startled Inak earlier on purpose... not just to interrogate him, but mainly just to nudge him.
To see if he'd flinch.
And Inak did.
He made a move.
And that… that was all Blugh needed.