{Reader's POV}

"Miss (L/N), now that your injuries have healed, the task force and I have decided that it's high time you go back home."

The officer with sandy, brunette hair stood next to my bed as I held the music box in my hands. I radiated a warm smile and nodded my head, delighted by his words. "That's wonderful, Stan... What's the catch?", I said and caused the officer to tense up in his position. He chuckled at my worried response and struck suspicion in me.

"Well, as you know, we still haven't caught the criminal at large yet and you're still in danger... With that being said we've made arrangements to put surveillance cameras on your street. That and we've taken the liberty of installing an "emergency button" in your house."

I stared wide eyed at Officer Stan and gripped the box in my hands more tightly. My eyebrows began to twitch and it took every fiber of my being to not shout angrily at this man. "Well... At least you hadn't decided to install cameras INSIDE my house. That would have been ludicrous! Ahaha...", I replied, conscious of my foul mood I was trying so hard to disguise.

Officer Stan noticed the high pitch in my voice and—me not being a very good liar—he let out a heavy sigh, aware of my displeasure. "You may not think this is necessary, but it is Miss (L/N). We simply cannot allow a slip-up. We promise to apprehend this murderer and bring you back to your normal life. I swear it on my badge." The officer's words left me speechless.

He held so much ambitious and determination in his words that for a split second I actually believed him. However, as I stared down at the music box I held so tightly in my hands, I knew his vows were in vain.

There was no stoping him.

From my encounter with the monochrome clown last night, I knew that all too well. From the very start I knew something was wrong about this whole ordeal... That something wasn't fitting in with the big picture. This clown... He wasn't human or merciful.

He was... I don't know what he is to be honest.

"Alright Stan... I believe you. I have full trust that you'll save me from him. I know you can do it."

With that a roar of laughter exploded in the room.

I lowered my head and felt the corner of my lips twitching. I was trying to suppress my defeat as the clown cackled inside the hotel room. Of course, the Officer hadn't heard his mocking laughter or noticed the pained look on my face. "That's right. Put your faith in me and you won't regret it... Now! I say we should celebrate, hm? I'll bring a bottle of the finest wine to your room and call all the officers to come and join us!", the Officer boasted loudly and with a lively spring in his step, he left the room.

I let out a heavy sigh and out of the corner of my eye I stared at the door and its bleakness. Then my attention went back to gazing at the horrific, beautiful object that laid in between my (S/C) hands.

"What a load of bull crap! Hahaha!!!", the clown rose from his seat and proudly strutted toward the window to no doubtfully watch the Officer ride off in high spirits. The clown stuck out his tongue and used one of his claws to pull down one of his lower eyelids to taunt the man.

If he wasn't a psychotic murderer I would have laughed at his childish antics.

"Wait until I stuff that saggy chest of yours with my finest lollipops! Teehee!~", the clown mumbled his sinister plans under his breath and pressed his claws up against the window with a gleeful smile. I shook my head and gazed down at the music box. I still couldn't believe I had found this thing to be lovely.

"Hey. Why are you making that face?" A half-angry voice echoed through the room and as I raised my head I noticed a frown on the clown's pale face. I gazed at him and wondered why on earth he only wore black and white. "Oh... I'm sorry, I was just thinking about something." The clown withdrew from leaning on the window to fix his posture.

He sent me a curious gaze and for a second I forgot he was a killer. In this precise moment he almost seemed human as he stared back at me in annoyance. Almost like a teenager with a sweet tooth.

"Heh..", I half-laughed and felt myself give a faint smile... But then I realized what I had done. I quickly covered my mouth and noticed my eyes widen like saucers. The clown's expression changed and he suddenly looked bored.

"Ugh... Why did I have to get stuck with a woman who can't even laugh properly..? I knew I'd have to atone for my crimes sooner or later...but now? A pity", the clown muttered bitterly under his breath as he walked over to his seat again. He laid his lean body on the couch and I watched as his legs dangled off the armrest. He sure was big.

"Why do you keep staring at me? I get it, I'm handsome but honestly it's starting to get annoying—and this is coming from a guy who spends his life around kids all day!", the clown said with a raised eyebrow and for some reason it sent a fiery blush to my cheeks. "S..Sorry... uhh..", I suddenly paused and tried to look away when I realized I couldn't call him 'Clown'.

"Jack. For the hell of it, just call me Jack... We're going to be stuck with each other for a while so might as well..", the clown grumbled under his breath and I gawked at his casualness. "Uhhh.. Okay, I guess that goes for me too... Call me (Y/N)." Jack nodded his head and I relaxed when I noticed his calmness.

For the last couple of days I have been fearing...this guy? Now it all kinda seemed funny.

"What exactly are you thinking?" A low whisper echoed in my ear and I jumped at the sudden contact. I instinctively gripped the box in my hands and stared up to find Jack standing a mere inch away from me. Our noses were barley touching to say the least.

"W..What?", I asked.

The clown furrowed his eyebrows and scanned over my face as if whatever answer he was looking for was there. "You seem awfully comfortable around me...", he paused as he turned his gaze to look at the box my sweaty hands were clutching for dear life. He snorted at my trembling state and a smirk soon graced over his face.

He positioned his hand on the bed and cornered me from escaping. He leaned in closer and grinned devilishly as he saw the fear in my eyes. "Have you forgotten who I am? The name's Laughing Jack Cupcake and the kids I've murdered know it very well. Wanna know why?", he said menacingly as he raised his clawed hand and gently cupped my neck.

"I can demonstrate if you want. Don't think these little scratches are the only thing I can do! Hahaha!!"

I flinched at the sound of his demonic laughter and slammed my eyes shut as I anticipated the worst. However, nothing ever came and I ended up opening my eyes to find no one in front of me.

My eyes widened and I breathed out a heavy sigh as my free hand clutched my pounding heart. The other gripped the music box as it began to slip out of my hand from all the sweat.

"That's strike one. Two more strikes and you're out!", the clown chuckled from his seat and crossed his arms behind his head. I stared at him with a pained expression and regretted the moment where I found this funny.

"Oh perk up! If you want me to leave so badly, all you have to do is hand over that box and accept the excruciating painful death I have planned for you! Hehe~!" I leaned back in my bed and rested my head against the wall. I let out a sigh as the clown laughed at his own words, probably knowing that my stubbornness was nothing more than an act to stall him before the final moment of my demise.

"I won't. I don't care if I have to carry this thing to my grave, but I refuse to die at your hands—uh claws", I muttered under my breath and sent a frown toward the clown's direction. He furrowed his eyebrows and let out a frustrating scowl.

"Miss (L/N)..! I'm sorry to bother you, but... Uh, Officer Stan got stuck in traffic and he won't be able to escort you home. B..But! He sent me instead, soo... Get your things ready because we're leaving now..!", a timid man's voice rung from the other side of the door and both the clown and I's expression changed to confusion.

I got out of my bed and, still holding the box to my chest, opened the door to find a young man dressed in a policeman's uniform. He smiled nervously and stood a good distance away from me. Jack stood up and walked over to where I was standing.

He looked over my shoulder and gave a low grunt. "Oh look, they sent the errand boy... Not much fun there..." I smiled and ignored Jack's rude comments as I faced the young Officer. "O..Oh! No, that's fine, I had already packed so there's no need to wait. Let's go." The man nodded his hand and I allowed him to enter the room.

He grabbed my luggage and smiled as I watched him walk out of the hallway. "There kinda heavy... You sure you don't need any help..?", I asked with genuine concern as I followed the young Officer down the hall. He shook his head and continued walking.

"That's alright! I may not look like it, but I'm very strong Miss", he said and the moment he began to struggle, Jack snorted.

As we entered the elevator, the man set down the luggage and pressed the floor below us. "Sorry to ask, but I noticed you've been holding on to that box since I got here... You must be really attached to it... Even Officer Stan noticed... Why is that?", the man's words sent my stomach churning and I forced every one of my facial muscles to form a pleasant smile.

"I..It's because..! It was given to me by the child victim's parents and ever since they all died... I feel like if I hold this close to me, then I'm keeping them alive in my heart... Kinda silly, huh?"

"Sure is."

Jack stood behind me and his comment sent my eyebrows twitching.

"No... Not at all. I get it, I think it's kinda cute..", the young Officer said with a genuine smile and sent my face heating. Even if it was a lie, I couldn't believe he actually thought I was cute. No man has ever complimented me before.

As soon as the elevator dinged and the door slid open, my body was roughly shoved out into the hallway. My eyes widened and I stared at the Officer with a wry smile. I chuckled nervously as my blush heated more from the embarrassment.

Jack first stepped out of the elevator and crossed his arms with a smirk on his face. "Whoops, now he thinks you're a weirdo—my bad!", he said tauntingly and I almost growled at his childish words, that is until I realized the Officer was still staring at me.

"Hehe... Why did you jump like that?", he asked with a smile as he carried my luggage again. I shook my head and walked beside him with my blush still evident on my face.

"I..I slipped..! Heh..."

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