Wren wore a hat before heading outside in the afternoon heat. It was her mother's hat. Her mother used to be obsessed with hats, if she remembered correctly.
She thought of heading out by the backdoor since her aunt must be in the bookstore. She stepped out quietly for she knew what would happen if she got caught.
You created so much chaos today and now out for another walk? You need to get a hold of yourself, young lady! Yeah, that's what she would say...
She thought, while subconsciously hiding her wounded hand in her pocket, burying deeply.
She wore a beautiful light green cardigan which matched with her dark sap green skirt. She headed out of her backgate and was greeted with the shopkeeper's loud voice.
"Owh Wren! Going somewhere?"
She nodded awkwardly.
"Oh well, Happy Walk then!!!"
"Oh, thanks." She realized her voice was drained of energy. She gave a polite smile and left.
It was a long way, to the destination in her mind.
She noticed the police who were patrolling the town. Their faces carried a carefree look.
The murderer almost disappeared into the thin air... And it was even debated in the newspaper that he was a Dolv and he would not try to mess things up again. Even Orion said the murderer must have had one goal of avenging someone and totally not to become a serial killer... All these reasons mean one thing.
He won't kill another.
Yeah, that explains the casual face.
She continued walking, changing alleys every few minutes. Her mind was never silent.
And yet, it doesn't explain the calmness of the town even when everyone knows the Dolv is still here. We can't be completely sure that he won't hurt another during his stay in this town.
Why is the Dolv even living here for? Shouldn't he have escaped the town after killing that journalist that day?
If what Orion says is true, then the Dolv was avenging someone. OH BUT NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT THAT.
She froze in the middle of the empty pavement.
Society doesn't know he was avenging someone.
Society will ask evidence from the Dolv to justify his actions. And evidence means...detectives.
The day after the murder... I was visited by two people. The maroon guy and Sameul. Both of them needed a detective.
If Sameul is kept in the second suspect, then the top suspect is the maroon guy. That day, maroon guy asked me about the detective sign board, and I said it might be...
me.
I lied.
I lied.
I lied.
To him, I am a liar.
She felt her chest ache and her breathing ragged. Liar. She was the liar. To the maroon guy, no, to the Dolv. Because the Red Scorpion won't be so dumb to not know she was lying.
She had deceived the Dolv with her clever talks that day in the library. He really did get tricked. Because later on, when the Dolv most probably spyed, he must have noticed that the real person that was getting the 'mr. detective' attention was her brother.
That's how he knew that the girl had played him.
He despises me and he left a note...right on the window of MY room. MY ROOM.
She felt her eyes become wet.
"Hah-
ah-
I-I can't..."
She couldn't breathe normally.
The note that called me a liar... It was no prank.
Her lips trembled as she tried to force a smile. She couldn't smile properly because there was no reason to act so calm.
No...Calm down, Wren. Nobody is targeting you. No Dolv, no RS.
Her eyes wandered around, scanning her surroundings with panic. Was she being watched?
Now, more worries came over her. Most of the streets were empty because the townspeople had put themselves in literal lockdown out of caution and maybe fear from the past.
So, nobody would know if someone were to hurt her.
Her shivering arms hugged herself, the fingers digging deep in both shoulders. She could hear her own panicked breathing.
She needed to get home.
Now.
NOW.
Do I go by the main road or by the alleys, she asked herself. The main road, she finally thought. There were more possibilities of getting a policeman on the way.
She turned around and walked briskily, sometimes sprinting then instinctively slowing down, not wanting to attract attention.
She pulled her hat down with a gulp, hoping nobody would see her face.
As Wren continued walking, she froze when she saw a block on the road. A board stuck nearby, signaling with a red arrow to take the alley just left of the main road.
Why...
She made a fist, holding back her emotions before taking the narrow path.
Let's hope I don't meet any of our suspects...
She let out a long controlled exhale. There was no need to be so dependent on the police, right?
Then she sprinted through the walls, panting lightly as she was not athletic enough.
Sh-Should I go slow to save my energy in case I have to fight?
No...No! I have to keep going. Reach home faster. Orion. Orion. I don't want to die, Orion.
She saw the end of the narrow path, connecting to a wider street just ahead. And by luck, she could even hear footsteps approaching around the corner!
A hopeful smile drew over her face. She was not alone anymore.
But then...
"Sameul..." She muttered under a breath, unaware that her plan was to be as silent as possible.
She lowered her head, well-known of the fact that her half-shadowed face would be completely hidden for a tall guy like Sameul.
She did try to take a small peek, though, her eyes appearing from under her hat like a little curious animal.
Luckily, he didn't look back at her and Wren felt like she was seeing his real self.
A distant yet exhausted expression.
His eyes... calculative, but soft.
She held her breath as they were almost about to pass when she saw Sameul's leg freeze on spot.
"Wren."
He had finally noticed her.
She didn't look up at him and instead, lowered her head till her chin almost touched her neck. She briskly walked past him, when suddenly she felt a light pressure on the top of her hat.
Feeling like her hat was about to be taken off her, her hands pulled its edges instinctively, making the hat fold a little.
"Pft—"
She gasped as a realization hit her the moment he laughed.
First, she realized how ridiculous she looked as the hat almost folded to cover her ears and reach the jawline.
Secondly, Sameul had given her a head pat.
Pursing her lips, she turned to look at him with furrowed eyes.
But he was already a distance away, for he hadn't stopped walking even for a moment.
His suppressed incomplete laugh was still audible.
But he was out of her sight as the path was curving.
Wren tightened her fists, letting out a long forceful exhale.
Sam, he—
He—
This guy...
I hate him.
She stood alone for a moment, taking a breath of fresh air before she headed home.
She watched the branches above her head waving with its leaves. The green leaves clung to the thin brown body, occasionally slipping and falling down.
Wren fixed her hat.
Sam. He must be gone far now...
She thought as she realised the time she had spent just standing. It wasn't much, but would be enough to reach a distance if she had kept walking.
Maybe she would have even reached home by now, the way she was in a rush some minutes before.
The way she was scared of encountering someone...
Maybe the Dolv. Maybe Sameul.
Yes, she was scared of Sameul with the suspicion of him being a RS agent, just like Orion had said.
But he didn't hurt me.
At least, for now.
I was afraid of nothing.
Somehow, that guy had calmed her in a way she had never expected.