When my brothers body was taken away by the forensic center, I asked Edward Cullen to personally take charge of Jamie Frasers examination. Afterward, I applied for leave from my workplace. The director looked a bit distressed but helped arrange my vacation.
I returned home and took out my brothers photos, had them copied at a photo studio to make a memorial image. In the black and white photo, my brothers face, nearly identical to mine, wore a bright smile. I hung my brothers picture next to our parents memorial portraits in the master bedroom. Facing the portraits of the three of them, I choked back silent sobs.
I went to the bathroom to splash cold water on my face; life must go on, and my brothers cause of death was still unclear. I had to be strong. Edward called to inform me that I should be at the forensic center in the afternoon, as my brothers autopsy was scheduled to begin at 3:40 PM, and my presence was expected.
I checked the time and casually grabbed a coat, leaving the house. From across the street, under a lamppost, a figure in a dark blue robe caught my attention. I was far too sensitive to the style of that robe, as the dismembered A-Family elder had worn the same garment when he first appeared to me in my nightmare. I also felt that all the strange changes in my life began after that nightmarish dream.
The figure in the blue robe stood motionless under the lamppost in broad daylight, and I didnt feel scared. I stood at the street corner, hailed a taxi, and after reporting my destination as the forensic center, I looked out the window. The car hadnt traveled two kilometers when I noticed something odd.
At almost every intersection, there was a person in a blue robe standing motionless beside a streetlight. They hadnt changed positions and stood out from the buildings and passersby on both sides of the street.
I became alert, and after seeing these eerie scenes, I couldnt help but feel apprehensive, despite not being superstitious. At the fork in the road between the forensic center and the funeral home, the blue-robed figure disappeared, giving me the illusion that he had been watching me.
After getting out of the car and entering the familiar operating room, everything was proceeding in an orderly manner at 3:40 PM.
"The deceased is a male, approximately 25 years old, about 180 centimeters tall, with the head missing and明显的 sharp instrument cuts on the neck..."
Edward dictated while the recorder took notes, and I listened attentively, not wanting to miss any information related to my brothers death.
Time ticked by, and I watched as Edward calmly opened my brothers chest cavity, then his abdominal cavity, and began to examine the internal organs.
After what seemed like an eternity, Edward let out a soft "Hmm," and I looked over to see him stop his的操作. "The kidneys are missing from both sides, with no external wounds."
I was stunned and looked at Edward in confusion. "What does that mean?"
Edward shook his head. "Apart from the sharp instrument cut on the head, there are no other wounds on the body, but the kidneys are gone."
"So youre saying my brothers kidneys have vanished?" I questioned, puzzled.
"Thats one way to understand it. I need to conduct further tests; the absence of the kidneys is quite unusual," Edward replied, always meticulous in his work. I fully agreed with his approach.
"Claire, I think your brothers death is very unusual. Let the police handle what happens next," Edwards voice carried a tone of gentleness.
"Teacher Edward, I must find out the cause of my brothers death and the truth. I want to catch the murderer and bring them to justice," I gritted my teeth, speaking fervently to Edward.
"I will help you," his gaze was resolute.
At that moment, Edwards phone in his pocket rang.
"Edward, the two fingers from the dismemberment case that were sent for examination are missing!" The operating room was quiet, and Edwards phone call was audible to my ears.
"Were they the fingers from the A-Family elder?" Edward glanced at me and continued without moving, "What about the person responsible for the transport? Have they been questioned?"
"They said he just arrived at the forensic center, and in the blink of an eye, the samples in the back seat were gone. There were four samples sent for examination, and only the fingers are missing!"
"Alright, Ill head upstairs now. Contact the person in charge of the case immediately and report the situation!" Edward calmly handled the sudden issue.
But I felt that this matter was not that simple, "Can I go with you?"
"You should go home first. Civilians are not convenient to get involved in criminal cases," Edward refused, with a valid reason.
After all, there are strict regulations at work, and I couldnt insist further.
Watching Edward calmly direct the other forensic doctors to continue their work, I was grateful.
Edward apologized to me and turned to leave. I also left immediately, and by then, it was already dark.
I took a taxi and prepared to go home. As I passed the fork in the road between the forensic center and the funeral home, the figure in the blue robe appeared again, standing under the streetlight, and at that time, the lights had just come on, but it was somewhat eerie. I always had a premonition that finding the old mans severed fingers might make him leave me alone, and my life might return to normal.
I told the driver to head towards the intersection where the figure in the blue robe was. The driver asked in confusion, "Thats the direction of the funeral home. Miss, its getting late. What are you going there for?"
"I work there, just drive to that intersection."
The driver didnt say anything more, perhaps feeling that my job was somewhat gloomy and fearing that I might bring bad luck to him.
The car stopped in front of the funeral home, and I got out and headed straight to the main hall. Just as the door closed, I saw a blue figure flash by my side. I took a deep breath and walked towards where the figure had passed.
In the distance, the figure flashed again, and I saw the指示灯 at the end of the corridor – the morgue!
I entered the morgue door, and the left and right sides of the stop were lit with指示灯 according to the number. Due to work, I was not unfamiliar with this environment, but today, I was a bit scared.
The blue figure flashed at the ninth stop, and I thought to myself, "The ninth stop is a special morgue for the bodies of those who have not been claimed or are waiting to be claimed in cases or accidents. What could be here?"
As I entered the ninth stop, the door slammed shut behind me. The bright lights inside made the place seem even colder.
I looked at the ice cabinets on the main wall, my heart in my throat.
Creak – creak –
The sound of fingernails scratching on the metal plate poured into my ear, and I got goosebumps all over my body.
A noise came from a cabinet on the wall, as if something was about to break out of the cabinet. My nerves were taut, and I regretted not bringing someone with me. The door wouldnt open, and it seemed that only by completing some guidance could there be a way out.
The fluorescent light started to flicker again. I came to the cabinet and opened it a crack. A gray eye appeared in the gap. That gray, diffused pupil could not possibly belong to a living person!
I screamed in fright and backed away several steps. The cabinet made a loud noise as I pulled it open.
The cabinet brought out a gust of cold wind. I trembled and saw the A-Family elder from the dismemberment case, lying straight in the cabinet, holding a bamboo slip in his incomplete hand. The bamboo slip seemed to be covered with blood and had two striking words written on it, "Sew Hand!"
"You stay away from me! I didnt kill you; why are you always bothering me!" I shouted hysterically.
The old man in the cabinet opened his eyes sinisterly, and the bamboo slip in his hand got closer and closer to me. The two bloody characters were like sucking me into the cabinet.
"Please dont scare me anymore!" I vented and cried.
The old mans face, covered with stitches, trembled, and he slowly opened his mouth. To my surprise, I found that the lost fingers from the examination were contained in the old mans deep purple mouth!