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[Scene – Martin's Offer]
> Martin: "So… what's your decision, James? I can inject you with something that may help you remember. But only if you want. This isn't ordinary. It opens doors some people want to stay closed."
> James: "Alright... do it. Inject me."
Martin nodded slowly. With a soft push, the needle entered James's arm.
Within moments, James's bloodstream pulsed rapidly. His heart raced. The world around him blurred, and Martin looked unusually tall — distorted like a dream.
Five minutes passed.
Ten.
James's body went limp. He drifted off into unconsciousness.
---
[Scene – James's Memories]
> James (inner voice): "Hey... that's me. I remember... that dog… it bit me. I cried, ran to my mom. But she couldn't help. My dad had already lost his job. I couldn't go to school. I had no friends."
His memories grew darker.
> James: "I remember wanting to be a police officer. I believed in justice. Until that night… my father… he stabbed my mother. I was just a child."
> "And I… I grabbed a knife... and I killed him. That's how it ended. That's how it began."
---
[Scene – Awakening]
James awoke gasping. Martin was nearby, sipping from a dark glass.
> Martin: "So… what did you see?"
James explained everything. Every memory. Every horror.
> Martin: "People forget their promises, James. Friends try to help, but they often show you illusions — not truth. You're lonely. So was I."
> "We can't change the past. Not the world. Not society. Their judgment will always be louder than our silence."
Martin glanced out the window.
> "My parents died, too… though, I was raised by others. But even that… some of it is a lie. We both wear masks, James. But remember: when they take something from you, you never really get it back."
---
[Scene – The Piano Killer Returns]
Meanwhile, Lucas was inspecting a new crime scene. It mirrored a previous one.
> Lucas: "Another piano case. Victim crucified. No teacher present at the academy today. Odd."
An employee replied, "Sir, no teacher signed in today."
> Lucas: "Hmmm. Let's bring in everyone who had access."
They tracked down a man named Freddie.
> Lucas: "Where were you last night?"
> Freddie: "At a club. There was a piano performance. For me, art is everything… perfect art."
> Lucas (sharply): "Say that again."
> Freddie: "Perfect…?"
> Lucas: "Just what I thought. You're the piano killer. You murdered five people. Your obsession with perfection gave you away."
Freddie panicked and ran. He dialed Martin on his phone.
> Freddie: "Please, help me. I did what you said. I killed Edward, the mayor's son."
Martin answered coldly.
> Martin: "I can't help you now. You knew the cost."
> Freddie: "You're kidding. I helped you. Now you're abandoning me?"
Martin stared at him through a reflective mirror.
> Martin: "You have a gun, don't you? Were you planning to kill me?"
Before Freddie could reply, Martin hurled a flower vase and leapt forward. Freddie kicked, but Martin dodged, struck him down, and stabbed him.
> Martin: "Unexpected… from you."
He tied a rope to Freddie's neck and dragged him across the room.
> Martin: "Let's hang you where Edward died… poetic justice."
Martin dragged the body to an abandoned building. As the rope tightened, Freddie was hanged under a cracked ceiling stained with blood.
---
[Scene – Lucas's Analysis]
Lucas arrived hours later. The body was hanging, a piece of piano wire woven through the mouth.
> Lucas: "This… this is vampire art. This isn't justice. It's theater."
He looked at Stephen.
> Lucas: "He tried to convince us. Tried to justify his actions. But no… he crucified innocents. This isn't vengeance. This is cruelty."
> Stephen: "These bodies… they screamed until they couldn't. This guy doesn't just kill. He performs."
Now joined by Dr. Jack, Lisa, and Leo, the team examined the patterns.
> Lucas: "Martin was right. These murders… they follow rules. Rituals. Symbols. I need to study more."
Later that night, Martin handed Lucas a warm cup.
> Martin: "Coffee. You'll need it. You're staying up late tonight."
> Lucas (smiling): "Can't say no to that. Smells too good."
> Martin: "Good, right? I'll be leaving. My library employee will stay till 3 AM. I need rest."
> Lucas: "Good night."
Alone, Lucas read through a dusty book:
> "The Killer Who Became a Crocodile."
It detailed a murderer who mutilated his victims and swam through sewer systems.
Another entry:
> "1948 – Yasua Chikins. 40 victims. Murdered with a cross-shaped blade."
Lucas closed the book slowly.
> Lucas (whispering): "How many more monsters are hiding in stories?"
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To Be Continued...