Chapter 007: The Appointment in Samarra
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"A merchant in Baghdad sends his servant to the market. While there, the servant encounters Death in the crowd, who makes a threatening gesture toward him. Terrified, the servant rushes back to his master and tells him of the encounter, pleading for a horse so he can flee to Samarra, a distant town, where Death won't find him," Damien heard his mother's voice echoing in his mind once more. Her reflection appeared again, her expression serious as she recounted the story she had shared when his father died.

"Death replies," his mother continued, "'It was not a threatening gesture. I was merely surprised to see him in Baghdad, for I have an appointment with him tonight in Samarra.'"

As days passed, Damien found himself back in his house, offering Christine a place to stay for a while. Meanwhile, Benedict kept a close watch on them, continuing to investigate the case.

"We find the defendant guilty," the jury declared after Damien delivered his statements on behalf of his client, the accuser.

"The court has heard the jury's verdict. This matter is now concluded. Court is adjourned," the judge declared, bringing his gavel down with a decisive thud.

Cheers filled the room as they headed back to their office at the law firm in the heart of London, Christine still by his side. It was another victory, but something didn't sit right.

Their footsteps echoed through the halls as they approached the lobby, where Damien was greeted by the senior lawyer he worked for.

"The CEO wants to see you," Mr. Raman spoke.

With the ding of the elevator, they reached the highest floor and arrived at the office of the head. After navigating a series of hallways lined with rooms for the senior partners, they stood before the door marked: Office of the Chief Executive Officer.

"Here comes the newly appointed associate," the CEO spoke as the door opened. She was already sitting on her table as if she were already expecting him to arrive at that moment. "Have a seat."

"Afternoon, Ma'am," he spoke as he did what was told while his team waited at the sitting room outside. "What seems to be the problem?"

"We've received reports from the police and other law enforcement agencies indicating that a series of violent crimes appear to be connected. The individual who chased you last Saturday seems to be a brutal criminal with a penchant for bombs, female victims, and extracting their hearts," Ms. Raine Watson said seriously, handing the papers to one of her top lawyers.

Damien's eyes widened at her words. Benedict had never mentioned these details, perhaps to help him concentrate on his recent case.

"Unfortunately, this affects our law firm," she continued. "The loved ones of the three recent victims—each attacked two days apart, from last Sunday until this very early morning—are seeking legal assistance regarding these events."

"Why did you call me?" he asked, masking his fear with a confident smile.

"You will work with our criminal defence team to review the cases related to this. We need to be prepared," Ms. Raine replied.

Over the following days, the killings continued, with the police still struggling to track down the elusive killer. Damien worked on his recent cases alongside others assigned based on the CEO's information. Witness accounts varied; some matched the description of the person seen during Christine's kidnapping, while others contradicted it.

As the case dragged on, Damien's hope dwindled, especially when a fellow lawyer sought his help on a case, leaving him to handle all the work after that lawyer spent most of his time romancing his wife. Benedict faced a similar situation, becoming so consumed with pursuing the serial killer that he had no time for his friends.

The memories of yesterday could never be the same, especially as Christine's secret slowly consumed her. One night, after Damien returned home from the law firm, everything changed.

"I need to tell you something important," she said, tears streaming down her face.

"Not now, I'm so frustrated with my partner, Christine," Damien replied irritably, heading straight for his room. "I need to sleep. I've got loads of work tomorrow."

"Just a moment, please," Christine pleaded.

"I said not now!" he shouted. "I've done so much to help with whoever is trying to kill you. My name is at stake, too, as I've stopped taking other cases just to focus on this damned case my lying partner gave me!"

He was about to open his bedroom door when a glass of wine shattered against the back of his head. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Lane," Christine cried, her tears streaming even more. "I had to do this to save you from him. It's all my fault!"

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Author's Note:

The song "How Do I Live" by LeAnn Rimes fits this chapter perfectly. Damien, Benedict, and even Christine grapple with the pain of being separated from their loved ones, reflecting the song's theme of struggling to live amidst profound loss.

Damien longs for the presence of his mother, friends, the support of his deceitful partner, and Christine.

Benedict yearns to reconnect with his friends and build new memories despite the recent grim events.

Christine's desire to save Damien seems genuine, but her actions and last words might be driven by a mix of fear, guilt, and desperation. She could feel that revealing the truth or taking drastic actions might protect Damien from a greater threat she knows about. Her actions might stem from a deep-seated sense of responsibility or a misguided attempt to shield him, even if it means using extreme measures.

The killer clearly seeks something, which is also related to the song. The interpretation of this connection is left to the readers. However, one obvious motive is that, like my friend Musebime wants (see the obvious), he cannot live without indulging in menace and chaos.

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕭𝖆𝖐𝖊𝖗 𝕾𝖙𝖗𝖊𝖊𝖙 𝕿𝖗𝖎𝖔
~ LORAINEJD ~