Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 179: The Statue In The Art Room

He stood tall and still among the passing students, like a clear, solitary pine tree. To avoid drawing too much attention, Simon wasn't wearing his police uniform; instead, he had changed into a simple black athletic set. Even so, he frequently caught the glances of the students walking by.

Simon stepped forward quickly, naturally taking the cat bag and the squirrel carrier from Nancy's shoulders. "You're here," he said in a low voice.

Nancy nodded and cut straight to the point. "Where is the crime scene?"

"Second Teaching Building, the art room." His tone was steady as he turned to lead the way.

Nancy followed closely behind. After a fifteen-minute walk, an old building that looked quite aged appeared before them. The walls were mottled, and the paint on the sign for the Second Teaching Building had long since peeled away, giving it a particularly desolate appearance.

The perimeter of the building was cordoned off with layers of bright yellow police tape. Several officers in uniform stood guard at the entrance with solemn expressions. A heavy, oppressive atmosphere hung in the air, as if even the sound of the wind had become cautious.

A crowd of students had gathered nearby to watch, whispering among themselves.

"Oh my god... I heard from the janitor who found the body that the victim's arms were both cut off. It was incredibly bloody..."

"They say she bled out completely. The floor was terrifyingly red..."

"Wasn't there always a rumor that the Second Teaching Building was haunted?"

"I thought it would be better after the interior renovations, but it's even creepier now!"

"Apparently, some classes are still supposed to be held here. Just thinking about it gives me chills. What if something actually follows us home..."

Listening to these fragmented discussions, Nancy's heart tightened. She looked up at the gloomy building, feeling as though the entire structure was shrouded in an invisible shadow. It was the eve of the new semester, and many universities held their opening ceremonies in early September. A campus that should have been full of anticipation and noise was now cast under a macabre cloud.

The thought that a killer might still be lurking somewhere on campus—perhaps even sharing the same space as these young students—made her skin crawl. In such an environment, who could sleep peacefully?

Simon led Nancy past the police tape and up the old stairs, explaining in a low voice, "The Second Teaching Building is an old one. It was closed down for a long time because it was too dilapidated and the facilities couldn't keep up. But since the school expanded its enrollment this year and the student population grew, the administration decided to reopen it. It was recently renovated with updated wiring and new furniture."

Simon's tone grew darker as he continued. "Who would have thought that in the art room, of all places... this would happen."

As they spoke, they reached the second floor and arrived at the door of the art room. Simon stopped and turned to Nancy, his voice dropping even lower. "The scene is quite gruesome, Nancy." Steel yourself."

Nancy nodded. Within the damp, musty smell of the air, she could already detect a faint, metallic scent of blood. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves and remembered to lean down to whisper to the little ones in the bags. "It's a bit scary inside. Stay in there and be good. Don't look. I'll tell you all about it when I come out, okay?"

Before she could finish, Snowy the ermine poked its small head out from the side pocket of her backpack, its black eyes fixed with determination. "I'm not afraid! Take me with you. I can smell things humans can't!"

As it spoke, it nimbly climbed onto Nancy's shoulder, its fluffy tail lightly brushing against her neck. Nancy's heart softened at its persistence. She rubbed its tiny head and turned to the officer nearby, making a polite request. "Can I bring my ermine inside? It has an incredibly keen sense of smell; it might be able to help."

After receiving permission, Nancy put on shoe covers and stepped slowly into the art room with Snowy. The light inside was dim. Forensic and evidence technicians were working silently, and the air was thick with the scent of blood and other unpleasant odors.

The next moment, Nancy saw the scene, and her breath suddenly hitched.

A female corpse was discovered with the lower half of her body firmly encased in white sculpting clay. Both arms were missing from the shoulder down, the stumps jagged as if they had been brutally hacked off. The entire scene had been deliberately staged; at first glance, it looked like a grotesque homage to the famous Venus de Milo statue.

Nancy felt her stomach churn at the horrific sight. She forced down the nausea and quickly averted her eyes, turning instead to carefully observe the surrounding details. Outside the window, several tall camphor trees stood in silence, their dense foliage nearly reaching into the corridor.

Just then, Snowy, perched on her shoulder, reached out with a soft paw to gently pat her cheek. Its pearl-like eyes were filled with worry. "Don't be afraid. I am right here with you."