Chapter 1 The Home Of Unending Deaths

Asher's POV

"Oh my God, is that a dead body? I am gonna puke." I choked out the words, shoving my hand over my mouth as I ran for the nearest brick wall, my stomach violently rolling.

This is my second time seeing an actual dead body, and honestly I don't think I could ever get used to this.

"Asher, you serious about this promotion or what?" Mr Connor voice was dry, completely unmoved by my panic.

I forced myself to take a long, burning breath of the cold air, trying to swallow down the bitter bile rising in my throat before I walked back to the scene. I forced myself to look down.

The girl's body was splayed flat on the damp cobblestones. Her eyes were wide, staring blankly at nothing. Her mouth was parted in a frozen gasp, and she looked so pale, like her body had been drained of every drop of blood.

"We need more light over here," I called out, my voice shaking.

Almost instantly, the heavy beams of flashlights cut through the gloom as the rest of the team hurried over. I knelt beside her, my knees sinking into the damp earth. As the light swept over her face, something strange caught my eye. Right along the curve of her throat.

I leaned closer, tilting her chin sideways with two gloved fingers. "Sir...is this a bite mark?"

"Yes, it is," Mr Connor sighed.

He stood up stretching his back with a groan that sounded like cracking dry wood. I stood up right along with him, my legs feeling like lead.

"It's usually like that here," Connor muttered, rubbing his temples. "For the past two months, every fucking day people end up mysteriously dead, with bite marks all over. Body completely drained of blood and no fingerprints of the killer found."

My stomach did another violent flip. What? My chest began to prickled me. It was bad enough this was my first day in Edinburgh, but to be dropped headfirst into a literal horror show? Fuck. I should have stayed in England, this was all my mum's fault.

"So, uh.....who or what exactly is killing people? any guess yet" I asked, trying to keep my voice from cracking.

Connor was already walking away, leaving the forensic team to bag the body. "We don't know yet," he called back over his shoulder, pausing for a second. "Look, boy it's a long story and I am fucking tired. Just go home, I will send you and email of the details."

I nodded quickly, ripping off my latex gloves and tossing them into the trash bin mounted on the forensics van. I practically scrambled into my car, slamming my door shut and hitting the central lock button with a hard smack of my palm.

"Hey!" a voice whispered from the back seat.

"Jesus Christ!" I shrieked twisting around so fast my neck popped, my heart slamming against my ribs in absolute fear.

The dim overhead light flickered, illuminating a smug, familiar face. Jace, my absolute ridiculous excuse for a friend.

"Dude, you scared the absolute shit out of me!" I breathed, my voice cracking on the final word.

"Shush, keep your voice down," Jace hissed, darting his eyes toward the window. "You can't let the detective know I am here, okay?"

"Actually, I should let him know. You faked fever so you wouldn't have to come tonight, mind you, it's my first day here and you abandoned me."

"Okay, okay stop babbling," Jace interrupted, climbing over the console into the front passenger seat and aggressively adjusting the headrest.

"So, how was your first day? Welcome to mystery town, the home of unending deaths," he added, spreading his arms wide with a grin.

I shoved the key into the ignition, the engine roaring to life as I threw the car into drive. I peeled away from the alleyway and hit the dark empty road. It was already past 10:00 pm, and the shadows of the city felt like they were pressing against the glass.

"I can't stay here, Jace," I said, my hands gripping the steering wheel so tight my knuckles turned white.

"Why? Because you found a dead body on your first day?"

"I hate dead bodies," I muttered, staring straight ahead. "Not just that, I have this awful, heavy feeling in my chest about this."

"Give it a rest, Asher. This is why you should have continued your artiste career," Jace scoffed, leaning back and resting his head against the headrest.

I didn't answer. He was actually right, I wanted to just be a simple artiste but here I am living my mum's detective dream and working hard for a promotion.

I stared at the endless stretch of dark road, the blurred silhouettes of the trees whipping past the windows.

The unsettling weight in my chest only grew heavier. I couldn't shake the image of that dead girl's face out of my head. What kind of sick, twisted serial killer bites their victims.

Thirty minutes later, I pulled up to the curb outside Jace's house.

"Hey, you should just sleep over. It's already late," Jace said, leaning his arms on the open window frame with his usual lazy smile.

"No, thank you. I need to unpack." I said.

"Pleaseee," he begged.

"No," I snapped. "Now get your gay ass out of my car."

I rolled up the window before he could reply, putting the car in gear and leaving him standing under the dim glow of the streetlights.

Minutes later, I unlocked the door to my new rental and quickly tossed my keys onto the dusty living room table, collapsing my body to the couch.

I looked around the barely furnished room and my unpacked suitcases sitting like dark shadows near the doorway.

The entire place had an eeriely, hostile vibe to it. I shouldn't have come here. I should just call my mom and go back to England.

RING RING

My phone buzzed loudly in my pocket. I pulled it out, staring at the screen. Jace again. Honestly, was he in love with me? We had been friends for fifteen years and for fifteen years he wouldn't stop the habit of calling me every single night.

I swiped to answer, letting out an exhausted sigh. "What, Jace?"

"Asher!" his voice screamed through the speaker, high and absolutely terrified. "Please help me....please, oh God, help me! Something is in my house......"