Xiao Zhan's POV:

I bring the book close to my nose and take a deep whiff of it. Coffee and books always smell great.

I could still hear their laughter outside. Somewhere in my heart I knew I missed this. I have been far too recluse in my own tower that I forgot what it was to have people around me. If Doc was present at this very moment, he'd have been proud of me. But I knew my time was up when I started getting too anxious. Every movement of theirs and I felt the walls closing in around me.

But today was a good start. Maybe I could do this.

Baby steps Xiao Zhan.

So back in my realm, my office, I pick up my favourite book and open the pages to where I had placed my bookmark. My fingers caress the dried up spine of the leaf. I have preserved this for years. It was a gift from my mother to my father. It was a rare four clover leaf. Placing them carefully inside my drawer, I wear my glasses, take a sip of the coffee and my eyes hover over the quote that was written.

Life is not well lived,
If seldom loved.
One's heart is so precious,
It deserves its soul.

I smile at those words. They were written by me years back when I still belived in the concept of love. I was so naive back then. For some tantalizing amount of time I believed that love could cure me. Then I knew it was absolute bogus but yet this book of mine sold millions of copies and I was happy. If people found their soulmates, then I was glad it worked for them.

Taking another sip of my coffee I place it on my work desk when it spills a little and I immediately whisk all the piles of envelopes away from its reach. Finding a rag cloth I wipe them clean and I realise I need to be a grown up and read them out.

Tearing one letter after the other I sigh at the same contents in each one of them. They want me to be attend their book meetings.  They want to reveal my face. As I open another one, my system notifies me of an incoming email. It was when I opened the email I knew my life has officially been tampered.

It was a menacing email.

Dear Xiao Zhan,

I know who you are. You were lucky twice before. But I will find you. This time you won't go back to your precious little home. 

I will strike at eight. Life will be lost. If you can find me, come and we shall play together like before. 

I am waiting for you. 

Yours,
J

We shall play together again?

I am waiting for you.

Darkness closes in and I knew I was very close to loosing my sanity when I hear a knock at my door. Trying to stable my breathing but to no avail I look down at my wrist and I realise that I cut myself with the paper cutter.

Fuck.

Placing it on the table I walk upto the door and as the darkness circles me I open them to find Officer Yibo.

"Officer" my voice is cold and so is my heart.

His eyes are filled with concern but soon they're replaced with panic when he sees blood dripping from my wrist.

"What the fuck!" He yells and is about to take my wrist in his hand when I warn him with a growl "Don't you fucking touch me".

He backs away and raises his hand "What did you do? Did you...?" he pauses and looks away but the question was quite evident. He wanted to know if I hurt myself.

A sharp pain shoots my heart.

My voice was even more colder.

"None of your fucking business" I slam the door on his face and walk back to my desk. Taking a seat I close my eyes and let the blood stain the carpet below.

Would it matter if I loose my life at this instant? Won't everyone be peaceful? What is the use of me living when I...

I slowly raise the sleeves of my shirt and reveal the wrist of my right hand. Various silver marks marr my skin.

Would it matter if I just gave in?

'Xiao Zhan, believe in your self' I can hear Doc's voice. His calm voice. Over coming the urge I pick up my iPad and open the door to find Officer Yibo hovering. His eyes are glazed and his hairs are a tangled mess.

"Follow me" I command and he obliges. As I enter the room, the conversation comes to a standstill when they see me and Officer Yibo. They spring to their feet when they witness me bleeding and I stop on my tracks.

"Everyone" I grit my teeth "please sit down. I don't want anyone to panic. I want you to remain calm" at my plea they take their respective places and while JC was the only one to remain standing, he takes his heat when I shake my head.

The last thing I needed was someone to be near me.

The iPad that I was carrying with me, I place it in front of Chief who picks it up and his eyes immediately find mine "What?” the moment he raises his question, the rest hound next to him and I take a seat on the couch. No one approaches and I was glad until I see Officer Yibo crouch in front of me. He is wearing a gloves similar to the one from before and he whispers "I won't touch you and you know". His voice is earnest and I nod.

True to his words he patches me up and the silence in the room is quite stifling. Once he's done without another word he walks away and I look up to see each pairs of eyes on us and finally JC's. He's the one who looks the most surprised. I knew I would be questioned.

"Zhan" Adrian takes a seat two paces away from mine and questions "When did you get this?"

"Right now" I answer truthfully and smile at Sean when he places a glass of milk in front of me. Taking a sip I welcome the calmness within me.

"Drew" Chief commands "take this to the cyber department and trace the email".

"Yes sir" with a bow he leaves with my iPad.

With the copy of the threat in his email, the Chief probes further "It says we shall play together! Can you elaborate on this?" and I shake my head.

"Who is J?" Jun questions and I shrug.

"Zhan there has to be something you can help us with?" Sean pleads and I realise they were unaware of my identity. JC's parents had sealed all the evidences and reports on me. If anyone were to read or dig about my past, they wouldn't find much materials.

Taking a deep breath I rake my fingers through my hair and I smile sadly. Seems I am repeating this act of mine a lot lately. "Have you heard of Xiao Group of Hotels?" I enquire and they all nod.

JC hauls up a bean bag next to me and takes his seat, with a soft encouragement from him I reveal "I am the sole heir of the Xiao Group of Hotels. Xiao Zhan" I look around and smile when they're eyes widen comically.

"Wait! How could that be possible? We ran a background check on you but could find nothing" Jun probes and I nod.

"You won't find much details on me" I look at Chief and I knew through his gestures he was aware that I have been hiding something "In the year of 1996 there was a case of murder and kidnapping. A boy who had just turned 5 witnessed his parents being brutally murdered in front of very innocent eyes and later he was kidnapped. For two months he was locked up in that hell hole of a place and when he was finally rescued, it became a living nightmare for him" I look around "I was that boy" I take a sip of the luke warm milk and continue "after that, JC's parents brought me up as their own son. They covered up my past cause we heard that the man who kidnapped me was encountered in a shoot out".

Walking towards the window as I see the sun bidding a warm farewell to us for a hope of a new tomorrow, I turn back to my audience and I reveal the fact "He's back. The killer is back. I had my suspicion before but after reading that email, I deduce that it could only be him".

"How?" Chief questions with hesitation and I smile. Removing my shirt I point out to the faded silver mark above my heart "He's a sadist. Loves to mark his victims. Back in my premonition I saw the same mark on that child's skin. At first I didn't believe them but now" I point out towards the mail in his phone "it could be him. I have not stepped out of this house in years. I am a recluse. The only enemy I have out there is that man."

"What does he mean by 8? He's going to strike again?" Sean looks at Chief and I don my shirt back.

"I have a way out" I walk upto them and look at the Chief "Use me as your bait" I try to muster all the confidence in me which I don't have at all when we hear Officer Yibo's voice "Not a fucking chance".

We turn to look at him and I am surprised to see his eyes filled with anger and for some reason they're directed to me.

But before I could react Adrian's phone rings and he answers them and a moment later he yells "What?".

Little did we know that the game was going to be dark. Very dark.