Two Days Later
It had been two days since they received the Email, and no one had mentioned it since. Braylon had tried asking Eryx about it, but Eryx continually ignored him. During these two days, Braylon had spent some time with Alan.
Braylon took Alan to his office, where Alex and Revilla helped care for him. Alan, much like his father, was quiet and obedient—at least, from Eryx's perspective. Revilla, on the other hand, was trying to move on from everything by focusing on her work. For now, she was staying with Eryx.
"Eryx, it's been two days since you received the Email. Why are you acting like this? This isn't like you. I don't care whether you pay attention to me or not, but at least look into the case!" Braylon shouted. His outburst left everyone in shock.
Even though Braylon was his superior, how could he speak to Eryx like that? No one ever dared to challenge Eryx. Eryx, however, wasn't surprised. He rolled his eyes dramatically, having anticipated Braylon's outburst. Taking a deep breath, he locked eyes with Braylon, those crystal-clear eyes he couldn't help but admire.
"I know when to deal with the case. You don't need to remind me. If you're superior, stay within your own limits. Don't ever cross mine," Eryx said firmly. His stern tone made Braylon tremble with pain, his heart aching at the words.
Braylon was left speechless. He just walked away, feeling the sting of Eryx's rudeness. But did Eryx care? Hardly. He was known for his cold and arrogant nature.
"Two days from now, we're going to that village. I don't want anyone bothering me after this," Eryx suddenly announced. At first, they were confused about what he meant, but after a while, his words became clear.
Eryx stood up from his chair and walked toward Braylon, leaning in close. He whispered something in Braylon's ear that made him tremble uncontrollably.
"We'll have plenty of time alone in the village. I'll take care of things then. You need to be there for this mission," Eryx whispered, his warm breath brushing Braylon's ear. Braylon's face flushed instantly. What did Eryx mean by that?
After leaving Braylon momentarily breathless, Eryx walked away with a satisfied look. He really was a cunning fox.
Two Days Later
Everyone was waiting for one person—Braylon. He had just dropped Alan off at Zaneta's house and rushed to his office. Today, they were heading to West Falls Village. They were working independently, as usual, without seeking permission from their superiors. Perhaps their confidence came from solving so many cases successfully.
They had earned their freedom through their success in solving many cases.
Alex was driving, with Revilla sitting beside him. In the back, Eryx and Braylon sat uncomfortably close to each other. Franklyn couldn't join them because he needed to hand over some documents to the chief, but he would meet them at the destination.
An awkward silence filled the car. Though they were all good friends, when it came to matters of the heart, none of them were willing to fully surrender to the pain of love.
Braylon blinked his eyes a few times, fighting off sleep. He had woken up early and stayed up late, enduring countless sleepless nights recently. But today, the exhaustion was overwhelming.
Without realizing it, he drifted off and slumped against Eryx's shoulder. The unexpected contact made Eryx, usually composed and unreadable, tense up. Goosebumps covered his skin, and those familiar feelings surged in his chest, making it hard to breathe. Braylon didn't know it, but he belonged only to Eryx—his obsession.
"This time, I won't let you slip away, Braylon. You'll belong to me, and only me. No one else. You're mine, mine to crave," Eryx thought to himself, consumed by his obsession. He snapped back to reality when the slight weight on his shoulder disappeared.
Braylon had already woken up from his brief nap. How could he forget the scent of the man beside him? The moment it hit his nose, he jolted awake. A bead of sweat formed on his forehead, a clear sign of his fear toward Eryx. Seeing this, Eryx clenched his fists in anger, barely able to contain his frustration.
Four Hours Later
After a long and exhausting four-hour journey, they finally arrived at West Falls Village. It was an isolated place, serene and untouched by the chaos of the city. The natural beauty made it seem almost heavenly to them, a stark contrast to the noisy, fast-paced life they were used to.
When they arrived in the village, the locals gave them strange looks. Since the case had been reported by a teacher, their first stop was the school. Before they could head to the headmaster's office, they were stopped by his assistant. Only Braylon and Eryx had come to the school, while Alex and Revilla went to investigate another part of the village.
"Excuse me, may I know who you are?" the assistant asked politely.
"We're from the Criminal Investigation Department. We're here for an investigation," Braylon replied, showing his ID. The assistant, upon seeing the ID, promptly led them to the headmaster's office. For such a small village, the school was surprisingly large, almost like an elite institution. It seemed odd.
"Sir, there are visitors here to see you," the assistant said, guiding them into the headmaster's room before leaving.
"And may I know who you are?" the headmaster asked, closing the file he had been reading and glancing at them. When they presented their IDs, a wave of nervousness hit him, butterflies swirling in his stomach. Why were CID officers suddenly here?
"How can I assist you, sir?" the headmaster asked politely.
"We received an email from a teacher named James Trice about a missing student," Braylon explained.
"James Trice is a new teacher, appointed by the welfare department to help with the shortage of staff. There aren't many teachers in this school," the headmaster replied in a soft voice.
"Let me take you to him," he added, getting up from his chair and leading them to James's office.
Eryx remained silent the entire time. He didn't ask any questions or say a word. His unusual silence unsettled Braylon, who had a bad feeling about it.
"James, someone's here to see you," the headmaster called out as James stood up and walked toward them.
James looked as young as Braylon and Eryx and appeared quite decent.
"May I know how I can help you?" he asked politely as the headmaster left them alone and walked away.
"James Trice, correct? We're here to investigate the case based on the email you sent," Braylon said, showing James the email he had saved. James remained calm and took a deep breath.
"I wasn't sure if you would actually look into my email, given the number of prank messages you must receive," James said. Braylon found it hard to suppress a laugh but managed to stay professional. He knew he needed to maintain composure while investigating, despite the chill running down his spine.
It was Eryx's intense gaze that unsettled him the most.
"We need to discuss this, Mister…" James paused, unable to recall Eryx's last name.
"I'm Braylon, and this is Eryx," Braylon introduced himself and Eryx. At least the introductions were made. They shook hands and then walked out of the school, discussing what had happened inside.