3rd Person's POV.

Kelly's eyes widened as she lowered her gaze slowly to her stomach where the bullet had lodged and was the cause for the constant steady stream of blood oozing from the wound. Kelly dropped to her knees and looked up once again to see the silhouette of a hooded figure, a smoking pistol in his hand.

She could see the faint, but visible glow of eyes that told her he had been injected with the serum. Kelly stared through blurred vision as the dark figure turned and stalked off down the street, disappearing like a ghost, in the fog of the night. 

Kelly fell to the cement, her gaze steady as her breaths slowed and her heart ceased to beat. 

Lily hissed in pain and lifted her head hesitantly, wary of the person who had shot her would be murderer. Even if the person had saved her, who knew who it had been. If it was......

A quick peek at her watch, and Lily's heart stopped. "The 6th." She murmered. This was the day just like two days ago.....and two days before that....and so on. The serial killer was out and on the loose. 

Well, he was always on the loose, but this was the day he decided to go out and kill people. Lily hadn't yet come to a conclusion on why he had chosen every other day to go out and murder. The Cheif had said that some serial killers chose to take times off between kills to 'emotionally cool down.' 

No one was in sight. Lily winced at the pain in her shoulder and she attempted to get up. "Y-You're bleeding..." The boy pointed out. His death grip on her leather jacket loosened as he slowly began to relax. 

Lily nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line. She feared that if she opened her mouth, all that would come out would be whimpers and whines. She leaned on her right forearm,  shutting her eyes as the searing pain shot up her neck and down her arms. 

"Grandpa...." The boy moved out from under Lily and crawled over to his grandfather who lay in the pool of blood, dried blood staining his old, withered lips.

"I-I'm sorry...." Lily choked out the words. Kelly's words rang loud in her ears. Maybe it was her fault. Maybe they were just messing with the old man. Maybe they weren't going to kill him at all...

"It's not your fault..." The boy muttered, sliding his hand lightly over his relative's eyes, closing them. "They were going to kill us anyways..."

Lily sat up and almost blacked out from the blinding pain. A strangled, high pitched groan escaped through her teeth. 

The boy turned to look at her. "You saved us. Thank you." Lily nodded and stood, despite the white light taking over her vision. The boy moved to her, pushing her up as she fell forward slightly. "We should get you home."

Lily was too weak and tired to answer. She held her right hand over her bleeding left shoulder. The boy took her shaking cold, bloodstained hand in his smaller warm one. Lily felt his warmth travel through her body, giving her a little strength. The boy led Lily through the streets to the apartment.

After the first couple flights of stairs, Lily collapsed on the base and let out a strangled breath. "Get up." The boy urged, pulling her arm. Lily nodded and forced herself to her feet once more.

When they arrived the boy dug Lily's keys from her jacket pocket and unlocked her room door. Once inside, he helped her to her room, where Lily collapsed onto her bed, and let her head fall to the side, letting unconsciousness overtake her.

* * * * * * * * 

Lily's POV.

I woke up to the smell of cooking eggs and brewing coffee. Turning my head to the side to take a look at my clock, I groaned. 

1: 30 PM

I was late for work! I sat up with a groan. Pain shot through my wounded shoulder as the events of last night flooded in. The fight, the boy. I coughed violently as my dry throat itched and scratched. 

I looked over at my shoulder to see it had been cut, stitched and bandaged. That boy was pretty skilled for his age, I had to admit. I swung my feet off the side of the bed, and stood slowly, leaning back to crack my back. 

trecking to the kitchen I found the boy in there, pouring coffee into a mug. I leaned my good shoulder on the doorway, observing him. "You're up." He looked over at me, setting the mug on the counter. He motioned with his hand to my tank top I had on. I looked down at it. I was soaked with sweat and dried blood. gross. I smelled too.

"I removed your jacket and shirt last night to clean your wounds, but you are going to have to shower yourself." He grabbed the carton of juice from the fridge and poured himself a glass. I walked over and lifted the mug of coffee to my lips. 

"Thanks." I croaked. He chuckled. "You're the one who saved me." I winced as my shoulder throbbed suddenly. "You saved us both last night." He shrugged. I set the mug down and looked at him.

"You are pretty mature for your young age." He looked up to me. "How do you know?" I folded my arms. "How old are you?" He stared back at me, his brown eyes filled with more maturity than I had seen in most 20-year-olds.

"I'm 9." I almost choked on the juice I had just poured myself and sipped. "Get out!" I swallowed and wiped my mouth with my arm. "Are you serious?" He nodded, his gaze unwavering. 

I whistled impressed and sat on a chair. "I almost forgot....We don't know each other." He nodded and sat opposite me, his feet dangling while mine sat planted on the floor. "I'm Lily." I held out my hand. 

He took in. The contrast in hand sizes was enough to make me giggle, but I held it in. He was like a 26-year-old in a 9-year-old's body. "Ethan." He looked up to meet my eyes. 

I called Natalie to tell her I wouldn't be in. I got back in bed and rested the rest of the day. Ethan came in once in a while to check up on me and patch up my shoulder. I sighed and looked around. My crime board was a mess, my mind was a blank. 

There was only one end my conclusions lead. But I refused to accept it as the truth. Even though the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Dylan was the serial killer....though I didn't have any evidence. 

That's it. I refuse to believe he committed all these murders until I see complete proof he is the one. 

RING!

RING!

RING!

I turned over and grabbed my phone, accepting the call without glancing at the caller id. 

"Hello?"

"Kid, you have to killer yet? Oh, yeah, I'm guessing not since the latest murder is all over the news!" 

Cheif Hanz's loud, booming voice shook my head more than it already was. "Hello, sir. I'm still on the case. I think I may have found the murderer, but I need a little more time to get solid evidence that it is him. You'll be the first to know when I have caught him."

I heard him snort over the receiver. "Kid, I don't want to hear any more complaints. It's have been almost two months. I'm thinking of sending reliable officers." I sat back against the headboard and let out a heavy sigh. "No need for that sir. I'll bring him back in cuffs before the month is through." 

"I sure hope so, Hamato." Hanz's voice was grim. "I want him back in either cuff or a body bag. Remember, a killer can seem like the most innocent puppy, but in reality, on the inside, they are a bloodthirsty wolf."

The line went dead.

I tossed the phone to the side and huffed a sigh. The door eased open and Ethan's face appeared in the doorway. "Hey, kiddo." I gave him a small smile. "What's up?" He opened the door and walked in. "Sorry, I thought you were sleeping." 

I shrugged. "Oh, sorry for disappointing you." I teased. A small grin tugged at his mouth. The first smile I had ever seen. "I'm going next door to my old room to get my clothes and belongings. If that's ok with you...." He shifted his feet, stuttering over his words.

"It's alright, I don't mind you staying here with me." I nodded, smiling. "Go ahead." He grinned and ran up, hugging my waist. I was surprised but patted his head. "Thanks, Lily..." He grinned and raced out of the room. 

I blinked and lay down on my back. I stared at the ceiling and sighed. Dylan was the suspect of a murder. Mass murder. And not just one mass murder. Many. What would happen when I had the evidence I needed to convict him and prove his guilt?

A loud crash reached my ears. I sat up in a flash and strained my ear to listen. A couple shouts made my heart thump faster. 

Ethan!

I swung my feet off the side of the bed, flinging the blanket behind me. Ignoring the throbbing pain in my shoulder, I grabbed my jacket from the rolling chair situated in front of the desk and pulled it on. 

I sped to the front door and opened it to see the neighbouring room's door ripped off its hinges. I gasped in pain as my shoulder brushed against the door post. 

Hissing, I put my hand over my shoulder before going into the hall and heading to the next door room. "Ethan!" I stumbled through the door to see not one. Not two. but four Viper agents inside the room. All armed and two with masks. 

One, a lanky guy with short spiky hair, held his knife blade to Ethan's throat. "Looking for this little one?" He sneered, stretching the scar that ran from under his eyebrow down through his eye, and down to the same level as his nose.

"Now what kid as old as this has such a young, good-looking mother?" I eyed Ethan and quickly scanned him for wounds. I saw nothing, which made my unclench my fists. Slightly.

"I'm not his mother." 

"I know." The scarred guy snickered. "I was there watching his mom bleed to death." Ethan struggled against his captor. His eyes watering. Lily put her hand up to him, telling him to calm down. "Look, whatever you want, I'll get you. just let the boy go. Please." 

His eyebrow arched, smirking. "Really?"

BOOM! CLIFFHANGER!! HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED THIS BREATHTAKING CHAPTER! Let me know what you thought of it in the comments!

~Keziah