The Murder House Chapter 10

"Marcus, found it! Found the scooter key! Come closer—I'm opening the door."

Trembling voice. I couldn't stay calm.

Shaking, I pressed my eye to the peephole.

The remote control in my hand was soaked with sweat.

As soon as he stepped forward and triggered the motion-sensor hallway light, I could aim.

Knock him out, open the door, drag him inside. One smooth operation.

But...

When the hallway light came on.

A giant eyeball appeared in the peephole.

He was pressed against the door, looking inside.

I staggered backward, tripped, and accidentally pressed the remote.

The tranquilizer sprayed out.

Not a sound from outside.

Dead silence. I didn't have time to put on slippers—barefoot, I crawled back to the peephole.

Damn it!

He stood perfectly fine at the door.

Hands behind his back, seemingly holding something.

I'd failed.

Killing the murderer, avenging my sister—it was far harder than I'd imagined.

But I refused to give up.

Why!

I needed to know why he'd been so cruel to my sister.

She was so sweet, never hurt anyone, kind as a flower.

Yet someone deliberately murdered and dismembered her.

Something felt wrong. Why had the killer chosen my sister?!

Single women, women living alone—they were everywhere. Why my sister!

The hallway fell silent.

Heavy rain pattered, thunder rumbled.

The loud sound of fingerprint scanner failure.

I gripped the axe with both hands, moving my lips.

Another fingerprint failure alert.

Since moving here, I'd changed to a fingerprint lock.

Just so the killer's prints would be captured on it.

Hanging by a thread.

I struggled to maintain my psychological defenses.

Eyes fixed on the motionless door.

The killer couldn't possibly know the code.

The more he tried, the happier I was—because the upper part of the fingerprint lock had a camera that could capture his image.

Even if he was covered up, at least it could photograph his eyes.

Then I could take it to the police, run it through the system, and identify the suspect.

Me and the demon, separated by a single door.

If he truly broke in, I wouldn't even have time to call for help.

{Fingerprint unlock... successful...}

...