Claudessia city was plagued with criminals, causing the crime rate to reach its peak during the night. However, one area called East Cloud remained untouched by the concept of crime. Perhaps, this was due to the fact that all the residents of East Cloud belonged to the middle class, and there were no notable class differences compared to other parts of the city.

It was well past midnight when Mirana finally dozed off on her cozy couch in her secure sanctuary—A-406, Elmorain apartments, her humble abode. Suddenly, a strange noise echoed outside her apartment door, resembling the sound of someone dragging a heavy suitcase down the hallway. Her heart raced as she sprang to her feet, instinctively reaching for a frying pan from the kitchen for self-defense. Proceeding cautiously, she approached the door, straining to listen for any signs of accomplices accompanying the suitcase-dragging individual. Just then, her doorbell rang, startling her as she let's out a brief, involuntary cry.

Through the peephole, she saw a man standing outside, a delivery boy to be exact, with a large suitcase resting beside his foot. Mirana backed away from the door for a moment, trying to think through her options. She hadn't ordered anything, and it was too late at night for any sort of delivery. She feared the worst, that the suitcase-dragging man was a serial killer, or perhaps a thief. Why would he be so patient, waiting patiently outside her door for her to open it? It didn't add up.

Slowly, Mirana approached the door again, careful to make as little noise as possible. She couldn't call the police or wake her neighbors, they'd think she was crazy, but she wasn't taking any chances either. She took a deep breath and opened the door just enough to peek out. As she did, the delivery boy looked up and smiled nervously. "Um, can you sign for this please?" He held out a clipboard with a signature form.

"I didn't order anything at this hour," Mirana said, still holding on to the frying pan for dear life, her eyes fixed on the delivery boy before her. The young man frowned in confusion, seemingly unfazed by the weapon in her hand.

"I'm certain the address is correct, ma'am," he said, tilting his head. "If you'd like, you can check the package for yourself."

Mirana glanced down at the huge suitcase beside his foot, her eyes landing on the page attached to it with her address scribbled in bold, clear letters. An uneasiness crept up her spine - this couldn't be true. She wasn't exactly a social butterfly with many friends; she doubted anyone would send her such a large package, let alone in the dead of night. The situation was becoming increasingly odd.

Just as Mirana was about to turn down the delivery boy's offer, she noticed the desperation on his tired face. He looked like he was ready to collapse from exhaustion. Despite her reservations about accepting packages in the middle of the night, Mirana relented and took the clipboard from the delivery boy's hands.

As she signed the form, the delivery boy gasped in relief. "Thank you, ma'am," he murmured. "Do you want me to help you put the suitcase inside your apartment?"

"No, thank you," Mirana replied immediately. She didn't want to risk letting a stranger into her house, especially at this hour. "I'll manage on my own."

"Alright then," the delivery boy said with a small salute before turning around and leaving promptly. No good night, no wave, no nothing. He didn't even seem to care that he was leaving Mirana alone with a mysterious package in the middle of the night.

Mirana sighed, realizing that she may not have made the best choice. For all she knew, the suitcase could contain anything from drugs to illegal weapons. But it was too late now.

As Mirana pushed the massive suitcase inside her apartment, she let out a huge sigh. The weight of it almost knocked her back off her feet. She took in a deep breath and gripped the handle tightly as she managed to inch it across the floor. It took a lot of effort, but she finally managed to get it inside her house. Once she had it safe inside her home, she started to inspect it again. It was incredibly large, big enough that she probably could've fit herself inside. There was no indication of who the sender or receiver of the suitcase was, just her own address. This only made her more wary of opening it, especially considering how late it was. She considered waiting until morning to see what was inside the suitcase, but her curiosity was getting the better of her. Despite her misgivings, she decided to open the suitcase and see what was inside.

Mirana crept towards the suitcase with caution, her heart racing. She had to make sure it was safe. It could contain anything, from drugs to illegal weapons, or even a bomb. She took a deep breath and slowly unlocked the suitcase, then carefully unzipped it. Her hands were shaking as she looked inside. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, and her heart raced even faster. When the suitcase suddenly moved and something huge fell out, she let out a scream. Her eyes widened in horror as she realized it was a human body.

"Oh my God!" Mirana let out a deafening scream as she saw a human body tumble out of the suitcase. Her heart was pounding, her hands shaking as she quickly hid behind her couch, gripping the frying pan for dear life. It felt like an eternity as she sat there, frozen with fear, trying to process what she'd just seen. Her eyes were glued to the suitcase, watching as the man's unconscious body lay sprawled on the floor. He possessed a slender physique, long wavy ebony hair, and an impressive height. The suitcase itself was colossal - significantly larger than any other she had come across. It appeared capable of fitting the man's towering figure within its confines.

Mirana approached the unconscious man cautiously, her hands shaking. She had to see if he was still alive, even though the odds seemed slim after being confined in a suitcase for so long. She took a deep breath and summoned all the courage she could muster, walking closer to the man. To her surprise, he didn't move. She got closer, hesitantly placing her fingers on his wrist. To her relief, she felt a faint pulse. She let out a sigh of relief and laid him down properly on the floor. She had to quickly come up with a plan to wake him up. She decided to try clapping her hands loudly next to his ear, hoping that the sound would startle him awake.

However, her efforts proved futile as the man remained unconscious, with no signs of awakening. As she carefully inspected his features, she couldn't help but notice how handsome he actually was. His prominent facial features, combined with his long eyelashes and defined jawline, made him quite the catch. However, as soon as she realized that she had definitely seen him somewhere before, she was left dumbfounded. With a growing sense of urgency, she rushed to her bedroom to turn on the lights and searched through her belongings for the previous day's newspaper. It took her only a few seconds before she saw the paper sitting on her table. She quickly grabbed it and skimmed through to page two, and there he was—Detective Hyde Moriarty, the greatest detective in the country. Mirana's confusion turned into shock as she struggled to figure out what he was doing in her apartment, unconscious, and inside a suitcase. Feeling the weight of the situation, she knew she had to take action immediately.

She quickly grabbed a glass of water and approached the unconscious Hyde Moriarty. She sprinkled some water on his face, and after a couple of splashes, she noticed that his face started to stir. She splashed a few more drops, and this time, his facial muscles started to move. With a gentle pat on his cheeks, she tried to arouse him. "Detective! Wake up!" She said, repeatedly.

He slowly opened his eyes, staring first at the ceiling before fixing his gaze upon her. A small smile etched on his lips as he grumbled in a drowsy voice. "Oh wow! Since when did you turn into such a beautiful woman, Mr. Hadley? It's a sight to behold."

Mirana narrowed her eyes at Hyde's compliment, a hint of skepticism tugging at her. She attempted to convince herself that his words were merely a result of his groggy state, not yet fully conscious. Nevertheless, she couldn't help but be taken aback by how rapidly he seemed to recover from being packed in a suitcase for an unknown duration.

"Detective?" Mirana inquired, but her question received no response. Hyde's gaze remained fixed on the suitcase from which he emerged. Mirana's mind swirled with countless questions about the unfolding situation, yet she struggled to find the right words to clear out her inquiries to the recently awakened man in her home. For now, all she could do was wait patiently, hoping that the Detective would soon be ready to shed light on the confusing circumstances and dispel her doubts.

"It appears I made a mistake with the address, or perhaps my friend provided me with the wrong one," Hyde finally broke the silence. His gaze darted around the house, initially landing on the wall clock, which revealed the early hour of 3:48 AM. He then scanned the interior, taking in the surroundings with a mixture of curiosity and uncertainty.

"But oh! It must be my good luck that I ended up at a place with such a beautiful doctor!" Hyde spoke, exaggerating his hand movements. Before Mirana had a chance to react, he took her hands in his and caressed them gently. Her eyes widened as she tried to steady her breathing, taken aback by the detective's quick actions.

"Sorry?" she quickly withdrew her hands, still reeling from the sudden invasion of her personal space. "How did you know about my profession?" Mirana asked, trying not to let her unease show. As a doctor, she was used to dealing with the unpredictable and unexpected, but this was a new experience for her.

"There are medical reports laying on your table, your white coat is peeking from behind the door that's right behind you, and you have a photo frame beside the front door in which your photo in your white coat is there," Hyde spoke. Mirana, with a hint of surprise on her face, looked at Hyde as he stared back, not minding it at all. He had fallen in love at first sight, but then again, he tended to do that with women almost every day. He was not only a great detective, but also a great womanizer, and his heterochromatic eyes were sparkling with mischief. A sly smile crept onto his lips, making Mirana wonder just how she had gotten herself into this situation.

Mirana's eyes were drawn to Hyde's mesmerizing heterochromatic eyes, his left eye a beautiful, lighter shade of blue while his right eye a striking, grayish blue. As Hyde leaned closer to her, she could also notice the faint scent of his cologne, a blend of pine and leather that seemed to match his assertive yet charming personality. As a doctor, she was used to keeping her emotions in check, but there was something about Hyde that made her heart flutter, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for being attracted to someone she had just met.

Hyde leans closer, bringing his face just inches from Mirana's. "Are you perhaps falling in love with me, Bella Donna?" he asks with a glint of mischief in his eyes, studying her with a careful intensity. His words are like a spell, casting a strange sort of charm over Mirana. She can't help but feel a bit flustered at his bluntness, her dark eyes widening in surprise at the sight of his antics. She knows that she's never come across a man like Hyde before; he's one of a kind, both charismatic and mysterious. It's hard to resist the pull of his charm, even though a part of her is cautious, not knowing his true intentions.

"Detective, I have a serious concern. Are you sure that you are not still under the effects of the drug that got you unconscious earlier?" Mirana's words were firm and filled with concern, and she stared directly at Hyde as she spoke. She could see him walking away from her towards the suitcase, where he had been earlier. His steps were confident and sure, and he had a subtle swagger in his steps. He reached the suitcase and closed it, then turned to face her.

"I can assure you, I am not under the influence of any drug. In fact, I am more awake and aware than ever before, if you hadn't noticed, Bella Donna" he said with a grin, his tone laced with confidence and a hint of sarcasm. He seemed to be enjoying the power dynamic between them, and Mirana found herself feeling a little uneasy under his gaze. She hoped that he would not try anything drastic and that she could keep the situation under control.

"Then may I ask how you ended up here? Did someone perhaps do this to you? Should I call the police?" she asked, clearly concerned.

"You would call the bunch of men who rely on me 99% of the time to solve cases for them?"

As Hyde spoke in a sarcastic tone, Mirana sensed the tension in the air. She was still unsure of what to make of this mysterious man, but she knew that she had to proceed with caution.

"Yes, I can tell you how I ended up here, but before that, may I ask for a glass of water? I was knocked out for some time, and I'm parched." He reached out his hand, almost as though he expected her to simply bring the water to him.

Despite her uneasiness, Mirana's instincts kicked in, and she found herself grabbing him a glass of water from the kitchen. She placed it down on the table, and he took a long sip before setting it down.

"Thank you," he said, his voice a little more relaxed now that he'd had something to drink. "As for how I ended up here, well, it's quite a tale."

"Four days ago, I had the privilege of spending time with my friend, Dr. Steven Carell, a talented medicinal chemist. While we were at his laboratory, he made an intriguing revelation during his research - the synthesis of a remarkable chemical compound. This compound, obtained by combining beta-blockers and propofol, possessed the extraordinary ability to induce unconsciousness in a human for an impressive duration of 72 hours."

As Hyde spoke, he calmly gathered his long dark hair and secured it in a neat low ponytail using a hair-tie that had been conveniently wrapped around his wrist. Mirana listened attentively, completely engrossed in his words.

With an intrigued expression, Hyde proceeded to elaborate on the fascinating properties of the newfound chemical compound. "Interestingly," he began, a mischievous grin playing on his lips, "this compound induces such a deep slumber that the person appears lifeless. However, caution must be exercised, for an excessive dosage can prove fatal."

During their conversation, Hyde's eyes lit up with excitement as he divulged his unorthodox plan. "In that very moment, a brilliant idea struck me. I couldn't resist the temptation and snuck away with a small amount of the chemical from the flask," he whispered, reaching into the depths of his overcoat pocket to retrieve a pair of spectacles. As he delicately slipped the thick-rimmed glasses onto his face, a remarkable transformation occurred, both surprising and captivating Mirana. Suddenly, Hyde seemed less cynical, and his appearance took on an air of intrigue.

"I must admit, I was quite unafraid. My plan involved taking a calculated dosage and presenting my unconscious body as an unexpected gift to my best friend," Hyde continued, his voice resonating with nostalgic reminiscence.

"Upon returning to my home," Hyde continued, his voice taking on a tone of reminiscence, "I took the help of a trusty friend—a deliveryman within my community. I entrusted him with the task of delivering my 'lifeless' body to my dearest friend, Law Hadley, at the address provided." A hint of disappointment tinged his words as he revealed, "Sadly, it appears my best friend has pulled a prank on me, as he has purposefully provided me with an incorrect address. Consequently, I found myself here, in your presence, Bella Donna."

With a final flourish, Hyde concluded his intriguing tale.

Mirana found herself continuously astonished by the unfolding tale, but nothing could compare to the peculiar nature of the man standing before her. She had never before encountered someone who would willingly deliver their own unconscious body to a friend's doorstep. The thought struck her: was he not afraid of the risks involved in such close confinement during transportation?

Curiosity piqued, Mirana couldn't help but inquire, "So, that delivery boy you mentioned earlier—was he actually your friend?" Pausing for a moment, she suggested, "If you'd like, I could call him back. You probably know his number..."

Hyde hurriedly interjected, "Oh, no! I don't believe my friend personally accompanied me all the way to your home. More likely, he dropped me off at the nearest postal service in the North Cloud and from there I was redirected here, like a peculiar package."

As these words slipped from Hyde's lips, Mirana felt an overwhelming certainty that Hyde Moriarty was indeed a lost cause. All the rumors she had heard about him being a complete nutcase suddenly rang true. At that moment, her sole desire was for him to leave her house promptly. She simply couldn't trust someone so unreliable—a person who, despite working alongside the police, would boldly disregard laws in the pursuit of a breakthrough in criminal cases.

"Would you like me to call your friend, Mr. Law Hadley?" Mirana asked in her gentle voice. Hyde shook his head, expressing doubt. "No, I don't believe the number he provided me with is correct either," Hyde replied calmly. Mirana raised an eyebrow, silently questioning the depth of the friendship between Hyde and Law Hadley. Hyde's words seemed nonsensical to her, but then again, that was just Hyde's nature – a mix of unpredictability and cynicism.

Mirana momentarily contemplated the situation, her thoughts filled with a lot of unanswered questions. She pondered how to gracefully suggest Hyde to leave. While she respected the individuals who upheld justice and peace in the city, she also felt uneasy about having the cynical detective in her home. The possibility of encountering unexpected trouble crossed her mind.

Suddenly, Hyde spoke as if he could read Mirana's thoughts. "I understand your concern, and I assure you, I will leave at sunrise," he reassured her gently. "I am willing to leave now, but finding a taxi at this hour in such a secluded area may prove challenging. I appreciate your understanding." Hyde's words were patient and considerate.

"Oh! Well, it's perfectly alright, detective. You can stay here until the sunrise," Mirana said, chuckling nervously. Hyde grinned, satisfied that he had convinced her to let him spend the night. Mirana couldn't help but wonder about one thing. "I don't quite understand," she began. "How did you manage to have yourself delivered in a suitcase at this hour, just to surprise your best friend? Isn't it a bit peculiar to choose such a late hour for a surprise?"

"You see, Bella Donna, I wanted to surprise Mr. Hadley at a time when he least expected it," Hyde explained. "If I had chosen to deliver myself in the morning, it wouldn't have had much of an impact. But if I arrived at this late hour, it would surely terrify him. My friend is quite a paranoid man, considering he holds a high-ranking position in the police force." Hyde stretched out his limbs on the floor as he spoke.

Mirana stared at him in disbelief. As a psychiatrist who worked at a mental asylum, she had witnessed plenty of eccentricities in her life, but Hyde Moriarty was unlike anyone she had ever encountered. If it weren't for his reputation as one of the country's greatest detectives, she might have mistaken him for a mentally ill patient and done everything in her power to treat him.

Hyde quickly made himself at home in Mirana's house, seemingly oblivious to any discomfort he might be causing others. He had a knack for making people feel uneasy while he remained completely at ease himself. "Discomfort" was a foreign concept to Hyde Moriarty.

"I am absolutely famished," Hyde confessed, his hunger evident in his voice. "I haven't had anything to eat in three days. If it wouldn't be too much trouble, Bella Donna, could you perhaps provide me with something to eat?"

Mirana nodded, determined to ensure that her guest didn't go hungry. "Of course, what would you like?" she asked, ready to accommodate his request.

Hyde's response caught Mirana off guard. "Just some milk and bread, please," he requested. Mirana raised an eyebrow, surprised by the simplicity of his demand. Milk and bread hardly makes a satisfying meal, especially after three days without any food. She couldn't help but wonder if that would truly appease his hunger.

"Of course," Mirana graciously agreed, making her way to the kitchen. Hyde followed closely behind, settling himself at the table while Mirana retrieved a loaf of bread and a carton of milk from the refrigerator. As she worked, Hyde attentively observed Mirana's every movement. He couldn't help but find her strikingly beautiful, with her big, round onyx eyes, soft features, and youthful appearance that belied her actual age. His heart skipped a beat when a lock of her hair fell delicately across her face, enhancing her beauty and innocence in his eyes. At that moment, Hyde knew that he had fallen in love with Mirana at first sight.

"I would like a bowl of milk, please," Hyde requested, his voice filled with longing. Mirana met his gaze and nodded, understanding his desire.

"Certainly," she replied warmly, opening the carton of milk and carefully pouring it into a bowl.

She gracefully brought the slices of bread and the bowl filled with milk to the table, placing them in front of Hyde. He observed the food for a moment before picking up a slice of bread and playfully tearing it into small pieces, delicately dropping them into the bowl of milk. Mirana watched him with an amused expression, becoming accustomed to his antic behavior. Curiosity piqued, she wondered what he would do next.

Once all the bread pieces were added to the bowl, Hyde picked up a spoon and began to slurp his unique creation. Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, Mirana couldn't help but ask, "What is this delightful dish called?"

Hyde grinned mischievously at her question and replied, "I call it the Moriarty special." He playfully winked at her, earning a chuckle in response.

Switching gears, Hyde's inquisitive nature took over as he asked, "So, Dr. Mirana Pierce, I believe you work at the esteemed Goodwill mental asylum, right?"

"Yes, I do," she replied softly. "I won't ask you how you figured it out this time, though. You're known as a brilliant detective, and I saw how skilled you are. It's a great honor to talk to someone as amazing as you."

Hyde chuckled at Mirana's compliments. "If you've heard so much about me, then you must also be familiar with the negative rumors that circulate. Before you inquire further, let me set the record straight: those rumors about me defying the laws to solve crimes are indeed true," Hyde confessed, placing his elbow on the table and resting his face in his palm.

He then placed several documents in front of Mirana and continued, "I apologize for my curiosity, but I couldn't resist taking these from the living room table and reading them. They pertain to your patients' medical histories, and it seems that Mrs. Macbell not only suffers from schizophrenia but also exhibits signs of bipolar disorder. The two conditions appear to overlap."

Mirana blinked, trying to understand what he had just said. She watched Hyde enjoying his favorite food while wondering if a detective could really know about mental health disorders. She picked up the reports and read through them once more. Yes, she had studied this before, but now that Hyde mentioned the two disorders overlapping, she realized he was correct.

"Do you have a background in psychology?" Mirana inquired.

Hyde shook his head and replied, "Not really, I just-" Before he could complete his sentence, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air from outside. Both of their eyes widened in alarm, and they swiftly rushed out of the house to investigate the source of the commotion.

"Where do you think the scream came from?" Mirana asked. Before Hyde could respond, there was another loud scream that echoed through the air. Both Mirana and Hyde quickly made their way downstairs in the direction of the sound. They arrived on the third floor, where the lights in apartment 306 were switched on. This was the apartment directly below Mirana's.

Approaching cautiously, they peered inside and felt a chilling breeze emanating from the open door, as if the air conditioning had been left at its coldest setting. Faint sobs could be heard from within. Moving towards the source of the sound, they entered the dining room only to be confronted by a scene so horrifying it defied description. Three lifeless bodies lay sprawled across the dinner table, their heads, necks, hands, and feet individually bound with barbed wire. Each victim clutched a single rose, while the areas where they were restrained were stained with blood, seemingly inflicted intentionally to maximize bleeding.

"Mrs. Peterson!" Mirana gasped, rushing towards the lifeless woman who lay between her 18-year-old son and 45-year-old husband. However, before she could reach out to touch her, Hyde intervened. "Don't even consider touching the body, Bella Donna, unless you wish to become one of the primary suspects in this case," Hyde cautioned, causing Mirana to immediately retract. Her attention then shifted to Cady Peterson, who sat on the floor next to the table, curled up with her knees to her chest, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Cady?! Oh my God! Cady!" Mirana exclaimed, rushing towards the 16-year-old girl and embracing her tightly. "I'm relieved you're safe, Cady!" Mirana said, gently rubbing her back. "Mom, Dad, Jayden!" Cady managed to say amidst her sobs, attempting to free herself from Mirana's embrace. "They were perfectly fine just a few hours ago... and... and..."

Mirana quickly noticed that Cady was experiencing a panic attack, causing her to struggle for breath. As a psychiatrist, witnessing panic attacks was not uncommon for Mirana.

"Breathe, Cady... just breathe," Mirana calmly uttered while gently rubbing her back. Despite her distress, Cady attempted to express herself. "Shh!" Mirana whispered, hushing her, and motioned for Cady to focus on her breathing.

Meanwhile, Hyde casually observed the deceased bodies, drawing nearer to them and examining their faces. "Looks like a couple in their mid-forties and possibly an 18-year-old boy," he remarked.

"Can you please tell me who is responsible for your death?" Hyde asked Mr. Peterson, who was now deceased. Gently grasping Mr. Peterson's jaw, he positioned his ear close to the lifeless mouth. Nodding along as if engaged in a conversation with the dead, Hyde let out a chuckle.

"The deceased has spoken! Yes, they always do!" Hyde cheered, his laughter filling the room. Mirana looked on in disbelief, questioning whether he truly was a detective. Just moments ago, he had warned her not to disturb the crime scene, yet here he was, touching the bodies without wearing gloves.

Hyde's chuckles turned into uproarious laughter, leaving Cady frozen in fear and ceasing her sobs. Something about Hyde's laughter seemed unnatural to her. Who finds amusement in the presence of death?

"Mirana, is he the killer?!" Cady asked in horror, her eyes wide open.

"What?" Mirana asked, taken aback by Cady's panicked inquiry. Cady pointed frantically at Hyde, who was doubled over in fits of hysterical laughter, clutching his stomach.

"My oldest nemesis is back! He's finally back!" Hyde exclaimed loudly, causing both women to flinch at the volume. "He's finally out on a hunt again! I didn't expect our paths to cross like this, The Mimic."

As Mirana observed Hyde's crazed demeanor, she came to the realization that, more than the killer, Hyde himself was utterly unhinged. She silently thanked the heavens above that Hyde was aligned with the police and not roaming free as a bloodthirsty serial psychopath killer. He truly was a figure of terror.

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Can't wait to write more of Hyde's maniac side... I hope you enjoyed the first chapter♡