They thought that Zarod might be a vampire, but the victim's blood was not depleted, and no saliva was detected in the tests and autopsies. It is also impossible for Zarod to be a vampire because of the holes they saw in the victim's front neck or in the throat area, not in the nape or side where a vampire often bites. He's really not a vampire because the stab he uses in the neck is his sharp nails, which he also did to me but luckily it was not that deep.
No one has ever known Zarod's face nor his real identity. What they only know is that he wears a black cloak and has quite long dark hair. Many policemen are desperate to arrest him, but they are also afraid of what he might do. They strengthen their defenses and strict protocols that people secure and lock themselves at home every night. There are curfew hours which is before twelve midnight. He also said that Zarod does not choose his victim. Whoever he sees at night will get a taste of death from him. That explains why there are no people outside at midnight and Zarod tried to kill me at the convenience store. First has planned on something, so we are waiting for what will happen tomorrow.
***
It's morning again. First and I waited to see what Zarod would do next. I am amazed again that the Leaning Tower of Pisa was the landmark that I could see.
*tok**tok**tok*
"Come in," I invited to someone who knocked on my door.
"Good morning, Ma'am. I'll clean the room and change your bedsheet," a chambermaid greeted and smiled at me.
"Oh, all right."
I took a quick shower and left the room to hang out in the lobby while the chambermaid did her work. I am reading the hotel's pamphlet when there are several people get out of the elevator. The policemen again!
"Good morning, chief. How are things going?" I inquired the police officer I spoke with yesterday. He is wearing a dark blue tuxedo. His haircut is neat and short. He has a small mustache.
He looks tired. "Another thing has happened."
I frowned. "What is that?"
"Someone died at your hotel again. There were two."
Again? And now there are two of the victims?
"Really?"
"Yes. After all, it's not new. Zarod kills someone almost every midnight, but only one at a time. Now there are two."
I kept asking questions until I had gathered enough information. The one who died the other day was a woman in room 605. No blood spillage was found. Last night's victims were a woman and a man. The woman is in room 505, and the man is in room 405. There is also no blood spilled at the crime scene. It was a clean murder. I locked myself in my room after the chambermaid finished. I talked to First for a moment.
"Three of them died. This can be no coincidence. That monster must have killed them." First concluded.
"Yes, it looks like this is his target area," I agreed with his speculation.
"I assume that this evening, room 305 will be the next victim."
"Hm, that's what I'm thinking too. What are we going to do?"
"Why not protect room 305? You still have your sword here in inventory. We can use it to avert the killings and kill Zarod." He announced his plans.
I nodded. And that is our plan. I will go to bed early so I can stay awake to rescue whoever lives in room 305.
Not long after, it's afternoon.
"To avert the killings, we must avert yourself from being killed."
What First said has warned me that we are still on a mission of a possible attack, but defense is more of a priority. I went down to the lobby to hang out again. I saw the beautiful receptionist, she smiled at me, and so did I. I approached her to ask questions.
"What can I do for you?" she greeted me.
"Miss, who lives in rooms 805 and 705?" I wonder why Zarod started killing in room 605.
"Pardon me, Ma'am, but that information is confidential." As expected, they are not to give out such information to unauthorized personnel. I didn't know how to reply after.
"A man lives in room 805 and a woman at room 705. May I know why you asked, Ma'am?"
"Ah, nothing. Just got worried about the murders that have happened in here." I acted innocently.
"But those two, they haven't come back for more than two days. Surprisingly, someone has been in those rooms lately. Maybe they've come back."
Hmm…
"By the way, who lives in room 305?"
"Why, Ma'am?"
"U-Um, well…" I'm thinking of a valid reason to give. "Since I stay in room 205, I'm just concerned about my neighboring resident above me." I hope my acting skills aren't that bad. "So, can you tell me?" My nose is getting warm from lying. I can be Pinocchio.
"But Ma'am-"
"I promised the police officers to give out information to them when I knew something."
This one is not a lie. A return for gaining information from the police force, I swear to give them too about everything I know as one of the hotel's residents, and if I witness something.
"If I tell you, will you keep it confidential?" she whispered.
A ray of hope shone. "Sure, you got it!" That was a close call.
"The truth is... I live there," she said softly as if she was too scared that others might hear our conversation. So, she's the one living in room 305.
"Okay? And?" I am waiting for her further response because she looks like she wants to tell me something more.
"The truth is, I-I'm pregnant because I don't have a husband to recognize my child. I ran away from and hid..." She caressed her belly. "So, I thought of staying at this hotel for a while. No other workers or staff here know of my situation."
That was an unexpected response that I got from her. I looked at her pregnant belly, which is not visible when she sits at the reception desk. Maybe she's been carrying her child for about four to five months.
"I'll tell you something too."
"What is it, Ma'am?"
"The reason I asked you who lives in room 305 is that-"
"Hey, Riza, someone's calling!" shouted the janitor I talked with the other day.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am. We'll talk later." The receptionist answered the caller on the hotel phone.
I left the lobby and mumbled in the bedroom. The receptionist seems busy right now. I'll wait for a better time to approach her. I fell asleep from waiting.