(Sorry for the delay school has just been hectic for me š)
The police station felt colder than usual that evening.
Safeera Bello stood in the inspector's office, her sharp gaze fixed on Davis as though her eyes alone could force the truth out of him.
"What do you mean by you don't know how my cousin died?" she demanded.
Inspector Davis sighed slowly, trying to keep his voice calm.
"Madam Safeera Bello, you need to calm down."
She rolled her eyes before lowering herself into the chair across from him.
Davis stood and walked toward the window, staring outside at the grey sky.
"I have my eyes on a suspect now," he said slowly. "An unknown woman. She wears a strange mask."
He paused.
"She gives off an aura I've never felt before. In all my years as a police officer, I've never seen anyone like her."
Safeera hissed quietly in annoyance.
Davis continued.
"Before your cousin Humaira went missing, other strange things happened. There was a woman named Akira in Prinna City. She lived with her grandchild."
He tapped his pen against the desk.
"The neighbors said two young boys visited her house. They left peacefully."
He turned to face Safeera again.
"But another witness claimed somethingā¦ unusual."
He leaned slightly forward.
"He said he saw Spider-Man."
Safeera frowned.
"But the female version."
Davis continued.
"She entered Akira's house through the window. Later she left through the door. A neighbor came by afterward and said Akira and the child were safeā¦ but terrified."
His expression darkened.
"Around noon, Haiderāthe criminal we've hunted for decadesāentered that same house."
Davis clicked his pen again.
"He murdered Akira."
The room fell silent.
"Chloe and Humaira both went missing that same day."
Safeera's voice was tense.
"I don't understand where you're getting at, Inspector Davis."
She leaned forward.
"So Haider kidnapped Humaira?"
Davis raised an eyebrow, a thin smile forming on his lips.
"But Haider's body was later found near the abandoned cemetery."
He folded his arms.
"If he kidnapped Humairaā¦ who killed him?"
Safeera's eyes widened.
"Weeks later, Humaira's body was also found in the same place."
She froze.
Davis sighed.
"A witness claims he saw your adopted son Alex pouring fuel on Humaira while she was tied to a chair in an abandoned warehouse."
Safeera began panting heavily.
"This happened while you were on your trip to Sudan," Davis continued.
"But she escaped during a fight between Alex and his friend."
He smirked slightly.
"And that mysterious spider woman was present again."
Safeera's voice trembled.
"Areā¦ are you telling me Alex is behind Humaira's death?"
"Don't jump to conclusions," Davis replied.
"But everything seems connected."
Davis leaned back in his chair.
"There's something else."
He opened a folder.
"When I arrived in Prinna City to investigate Akira's case, our tea maker Malik served tea to everyone."
He paused.
"It was laced with something."
Safeera stiffened.
"I remember seeing Chloe that day. She came to report somethingā¦ but before she could speak clearly, that masked woman appeared again."
Davis looked up slowly.
"She lured Chloe away from the surveillance cameras."
He closed the file.
"Later, Chloe's body was found near the cemetery."
Safeera felt her throat tighten.
"It was staged to look like a wild animal attack," Davis said.
"But it was murder."
He continued quietly.
"Your butler Charles suddenly disappeared around that time."
Safeera looked away.
"And all of this started when Alex began searching for the truth about his mother."
The room felt suffocating.
Davis flipped another page.
"There were also reports of a violent fight on the cliffside near Pruga City."
He read aloud.
"Between the masked spider womanā¦ and a journalist named Manu."
Safeera slowly stood up.
"It's been a long day," she said quietly.
"I just learned about Humaira's death."
She forced a weak smile.
"I won't be myself for a while."
She turned toward the door.
"Show me where her body is."
As she walked out, a single thought echoed in her mind.
If this continuesā¦ they might uncover the truth about what happened years ago.
Behind her, Davis watched silently.
"I must find out what you're hiding, Mrs. Safeera."
Manu's apartment was silent.
The curtains were closed tightly, blocking every ray of sunlight.
The room was a disaster.
Vodka bottles, whiskey, Hennessy, and cheap wine covered the floor.
Manu sat on the ground in her pajamas, her messy bun barely holding together.
Her expression was empty.
Water dripped slowly from a leaking kitchen tap.
She grabbed another bottle of vodka and drank half of it in one breath.
Then she laughed.
A wild, broken laugh.
"The royal bloodline are nothing but weak foolsā¦"
She stared at the ceiling.
"My own mother banished me because of Zanuā¦ because of Aliā¦"
Her smile turned bitter.
"Back then it was just us against the world."
Her voice softened.
"In that tiny roomā¦ with only Aunt Mauja protecting us."
Tears slowly formed in her eyes.
"But she left."
Her laughter returned.
"And now your precious golden child lost to an illegitimate one?"
She smashed the bottle against the wall.
Glass shattered everywhere.
"Why, Mom?"
Her voice broke.
"Why did you abandon me so easily?"
She collapsed onto the floor.
"I loved youā¦"
Her voice faded into quiet sobs.
"You were my everything."
Hours later, exhaustion dragged her into sleep.
Far away in Pruga City, Zanu crawled out of the river.
Her body was covered in wounds.
Blood stained her clothes.
For two weeks she had been drifting through the water, refusing to die.
She leaned against a rock, breathing heavily.
"Manuā¦"
Her eyes burned with rage.
"You crossed the line this time."
She coughed violently, blood spilling onto the ground.
"I swear I'll come back for you."
Her voice trembled.
"You made a grave mistake by not killing me."
She smiled coldly.
"I will erase your name from existence."
She tried to stand.
But collapsed again.
"How did she know Alex's nameā¦?"
Her mind raced.
"Who told her about him?"
Her vision blurred.
Moments later she fainted.
Fishermen passing by quickly rushed her to the nearest hospital.
Under a large mango tree in Pruga village, Charles sat quietly.
He stared at the sky.
"Poor young master Alexā¦"
His voice was soft.
"He must be searching for me now."
He clenched his fists.
"I've been hiding like a coward."
He pulled out his phone and made a call.
Minutes later his son Zafar arrived.
"Listen carefully," Charles said.
"What I'm about to tell you is dangerous."
Zafar smiled reassuringly.
"Dad, we're in this together."
But after hearing the truth, Zafar's face turned pale.
"Thisā¦ this is too much."
Charles coughed violently.
"The white poisonā¦"
Blood spilled from his lips.
"Take care of your grandmother."
He smiled weakly.
"The people of Orahime Palace are monsters."
His body trembled.
"It's a perfect day to dieā¦"
He looked up at the sky one last time.
"Alexā¦ I hope you learn the truth someday."
His eyes closed.
And Charles died with a smile.