Lucas immediately called Marcus, his voice tight with urgency.
"Marcus, I need backup—now. Send a police unit to this address."
He rattled it off, already starting his car. Every second counted.
Meanwhile, inside Mrs. Ning's house, the nightmare was still unfolding.
The doorbell rang again.
Mrs. Ning, struggling desperately beneath her husband's grasp, tried to scream—but Mr. Lin clamped his hand over her mouth, silencing her cries. Her body trembled as she thrashed, nails digging into his arm, trying to break free. But he only tightened his grip, whispering in her ear like a snake, "You make a single sound, and I'll kill you right here."
The bell rang a second time, sharp and insistent.
From the other side of the door came a young man's voice:
"Madam? Your grocery delivery is here! You placed an online order, right?"
Mrs. Ning's eyes widened with desperate hope. She tried to kick the floor, to make any sound—but Lin's hand stayed firm against her mouth.
The bell kept ringing, again and again.
"Madam? Are you home?" the voice asked, uncertain now.
Lin's face twisted with irritation. He dragged his wife by her arm into another room, half-pulling, half-throwing her inside before slamming the door. Then, forcing a calm expression onto his face, he opened the main door.
"Please… someone help me!"
The cry came faintly from inside before Lin's glare silenced it.
The delivery boy blinked in confusion. "Sir? I have your parcel. These are the grocery items—"
Mr. Lin's eyes flicked over him, suspicious, sharp. "Give them here." He grabbed the bags, snatching them out of the boy's hands. "Now leave."
"Sir," the delivery boy said, holding out the receipt, "I need the payment first."
Lin froze. "Wasn't this prepaid?"
"No, sir," the boy said, still polite.
Mr. Lin pressed his fingers to his temple, pretending to think. "I don't have any cash right now. Take the groceries back."
The delivery boy frowned. "Sir, that's not possible. Company policy—we can't take returns."
"Then get out of my house!" Lin snapped, his voice rising.
"Not without the money," the boy replied, his tone firm.
That was all it took for Mr. Lin to lose control. He raised his hand to strike the young man—
—but before the blow could land, the boy moved with lightning speed.
With precise, practiced motion, he blocked the attack, twisting Lin's wrist and sending the man crashing onto the floor with a heavy thud. Lin groaned, stunned. The delivery boy adjusted his cap, muttering, "You shouldn't try that again, sir."
But before he could turn away, Lin was on his feet again, eyes burning with rage. He lunged, grabbing the boy's neck from behind, dragging him back into the house. The door slammed shut with a sharp click.
Inside, Mrs. Ning's muffled cries could still be heard through the walls.
"Let me go!" the boy shouted, trying to break free. "If you don't release me right now, I'll—"
"You'll what?" Lin hissed, his grin crooked, demonic. "You think you can fight me, kid? I could gut you open right now."
He reached for a kitchen knife, the metal glinting under the dim light.
"Still think you're a hero?" Lin sneered. "You're just a boy."
He kicked the delivery boy in the stomach, knocking him down. The young man coughed hard, curling in pain—but his eyes stayed sharp, focused. As Lin lifted the knife, the boy rolled, caught Lin's leg, and with a powerful kick, swept him off balance.
Using his taekwondo training, he leapt to his feet and struck again—two precise blows that sent Lin sprawling across the floor, the knife skittering away.
Lin collapsed, unconscious.
Breathing hard, the boy ran to the locked door and kicked it open. Mrs. Ning was inside, trembling, tears streaming down her face.
"Madam, come on!" he urged. "You have to leave—now! That man could wake up any second!"
She nodded shakily, grabbing her purse and phone with trembling hands. But as she reached the door—
A slow, rasping laugh froze her in place.
Mr. Lin was standing again. His head was bleeding, but his grin was monstrous. "Going somewhere?" he growled.
Mrs. Ning backed away, terror in her eyes. "Please… please just let me go. Take all the money you want—just don't hurt me."
Lin's shadow loomed closer. "You think money will save you now?"
He raised his hand to strike her again—but the delivery boy stepped between them, gripping Lin's wrist midair.
"You've done enough," he said coldly. "Try anything else, and I'll call the police right now."
Lin's lips curled into a chilling smile. "Police? You really think the police can stop me?"
And for a moment, in that flickering light, he didn't look human at all.
He looked like something worse.
To be Continued....