It's not much and not a really interesting update but I hope you'll stil like it. Enjoy reading this chapter :)

The song is Breathe by Lee Hi

Warning: A scene contains a bloody fight so don't read it if you're sensible...

*******************************

The serial killer was still strangulating Arthit, the latter was unable to move to defend himself due to the drug injected in him earlier. Because the younger man was paralysed, the killer had an easy play with him, he enjoyed the game with his second prey in this night. The killer's lips curved up, a bright smile that was too creepy appeared, darkening his face, making him look more scary than he already was. The killer had a mole right beside his nose, Arthit felt like the mole was staring deep into his soul, mocking him and trying to consume him whole. Arthit couldn't breath easily due to the strong hands squeezing his fragile neck, he was gasping for air, trying to provide his lungs with oxygen. His lips turned blue, his vision blurry from lack of oxygen. Tears filled his eyes, they were streaming aside, falling on the ground.

Arthit knew he was going to die. His life flashed before his eyes as if he was seeing a vision. In the moment as he confronted death, he reminisced the important events that happened in his too short life that would end soon. He remembered his older brothers always nagging at him for never listening to them and causing trouble. Sometime he hated P'Knott since the latter never gave him the chance to decide for himself, always making the dicision for him. Even though he always complained about his eldest brother, he had to admit that the latter was always there for him whenever he needed him. He would give him advices that helped him to mature. P'Prem was lenient toward him, he would accept his decision and even help him to convince their oldest brother P'Knott. He was a damn good cook who could work as cuisinier if the had the intention of quitting his hard work as lawyer. His father was seldom home because he just knew the word "work" instead of family. Even though he didn't see his father everyday, he could seek refugee by him whenever he wanted to run away from his nagging brothers. His family wasn't perfect but they were the best family he could ever had and would never want to exchange them with anyone. Now he would never see them again. He was already regretting causing them so much trouble when living together with them. He would miss them. I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Those apologies were for his brothers and father whom he was always a burden to.

His eyes were slowly closing, he was about to lose his conscioness as a dog suddenly barked in the air. The dog ran to them, bitting on the killer's arm. The killer felt pain, he immediately released him from his grips, wagging his arms to free himself from the dog's fangs. There was another person standing some meters away from them, gazing at them. His silhouette showed that he was a man. Arthit couldn't recognize the person since the darkness hide the person's face, more like his identity very well. He only recognised the animal that was fighting with the killer, it was the stray dog he saw a few minutes ago. So you came back... Thanks for coming back... to save me...

However the man who witnessed the scene recognized the person laying on the ground. His eyes widened in shock, his heart beating faster, his mind in chaos upon seeing his life saviour who gave him home in danger. „A... Arthit...", he mumbled faintly, the shock too profound to speak louder. He ran to them, more like to Arthit's rescue.

The killer paniked the closer the young man got to them, he hold out a flick knife, waiving it in the air with the intention to kill the dog attacking him. The killer managed to slice the dog's many time while running away but the dog refused to let him go, sticking onto him with his fangs still clenched against the man's arm. He thrusted the sharp knife in the animal's stomach, it was the final straw for the heroical dog. It was blood soaked, finally releasing the man's hand. The dog returned to Arthit's side, falling to the ground, whimpering in pain.

The young man arrived there. If he did chase after the serial killer, he would had caught him but he decided to help Arthit first, kneeling in front of the shorter man, his hand trembling as he wanted to touch Arthit. The shorter man's breathing was shallow, his face paler than usual, finally he realized who the person in front of him was. Kongpob... He was his only hope he didn't think of earlier when reminiscing about his family. The young man he didn't expect to see before dying, appeared in front of him. He wanted to scream and cry, his mouth moved to say something but the words wouldn't come out. No, it wasn't because the words wouldn't come out but he couldn't speak because of the pain in his neck, the pain spreading in his whole body. He was coughing but the sound even came out faintly.

Arthit wanted to speak but his throat hurted like hell, it was too hard to speak but he forced himself to call out his saviour's name. His throat dry, his voice ruspy, „...Kong... pob...", was the last word he said.

Arthit looked at the dog, the animal wasn't moving. His tears were falling nonstop, he was blaming himself for the dog's sad fate and death. Kongpob sticked his face closer to Arthit. The shorter man was fighting against the weakness but his vision turned blurry, Kongpob was the last person he saw before his teary eyes closed, he fell unconscious.

Kongpob called Arthit's name, shaking him on the cheek to wake him up but the younger man didn't wake up. Arthit was laying on the ground, still motionless as if the light of life left him. The taller man was lost for words, his lips moving to say something but the words wouldn't come out. There were many mixed feelings overwhelming him right now, his heart thumping too fast, his brain raising an alarm, his mind in chaos. He wanted to lift him up but remembered a scene he watched in an action movie before. It explaining that a person with heavy injury in his vertebral shouldn't be moved too carelessly since it could worsen his condition. Kongpob searched in Arthit's pocket for a cellphone since he didn't have one for himself, dialing the emergency central's number, talking to a woman on the other end of the line, reporting her about the accident, an injured man and a possible dead woman. The woman from the central was in high alert, calling for 2 ambulances and police to drive to the scene.

Kongpob touched Arthit's soft cheek, the latter was too cold. The strong wind and the pouring rain were decreasing his body temperature. He took off his leather coat, covering Arthit with it to give him some warmth. He hold his hands over the younger man's face to block the cold rain from falling onto him. Kong cursed himself for not arriving there sooner to prevent Arthit from getting hurt. He blamed himself for that sad situation, hating himself for not listening to the dog sooner. But there was one question swirling in his mind: What's Arthit searching here in this cold weather? He should had been in his bedroom, sleeping safe and soudly but here he was laying on the cold ground, hurt, in pain and unconscious. What actually happened?

He looked to the dog, it was unconscious too, probably on the verge of dying. He caressed at the animal's stomach, patting at him till the animal took its last breath. The rain let the smell of blood reek in the entire alley, it was a strong smell but Kongpob didn't realize it how strong it was since the smell of blood was too familiar to him, as if he was accostomated of reeaking such metalic smell. As if he saw and smelt blood his entire life. Silence returned in the dark alley after the big commotion, Kongpob the only one alive, conscious and unscathed.

****

Kongpob was outside of the emergency room of the hospital they just brought the injured Arthit in, Arthit's cellphone still in his hand. He scrolled through the shorter man's contact list. He had his family on abbreviated dialing in case of emergency. Number 1 was a family member Kongpob didn't expect to be on the first place. It was his oldest brother P'Knott, P'Prem as second and their father as the last one. Apparantly he didn't put them in the order of the person he liked but the person who would help him in emergency cases. Even though he always complained about P'Knott driving him crazy, he trusted him enough to put him on the first place. It showed how much he loved and trusted his family. Unfortunately Kongpob's number wasn't in there. Why should he has my number, you idiot? I'm not his family. He looked up at the white ceiling, mumbling that he didn't have a cellphone anyway so he should stop making a fuss over nothing.

He pressed on number one, following Arthit's list he saved in his contact. P'Knott on the first place meant that he should be the first to contact and inform when something happened to him. It didn't last long as a deep voice answered at the other end of the line.

„Arthit Rojnapat! You're in trouble my friend!", Knott theatened as soon as he picked up the call, yelling at him but feeling relieved that his brother called him. It meant that he was safe and sound so he didn't need to worry endlessly anymore.

„It's me, P'Knott... Kongpob", the younger man answered.

Both of them took a long break, P'Knott not saying anything, he had the foreshadow that something happened to his brother so he tried to calm down first. He took a long deep breath before continuing speaking to Kongpob. „What happened?", his voice was serious but he was breaking down deep inside. If something happened to Arthit then he would blame himself and die out of guilty feelings. He braved himself to listen to the information Kongpob would tell him soon. Of course he swore to himself that he would hunt the stranger Kongpob if the latter did something to his precious brother he raised together with Prem.

There was another but shorter break. This time it was Kongpob who caused and ended the break. „He got hurt... He's in the emergency room in xxxx hospital... I can't tell you every details but you need to come. He needs his family by his side". Because he was an outsider, just a stranger Arthit saved and brought home, he didn't include himself as his family.

Knott just replied that he would be there soon, forcing himself to hang up and gather Prem and their father together to drive to the hospital. Kong heaved a heavy sight before returning in the emergency room. The injured Arthit laid on the soft bed at the end of the floor, near the wall, a curtain seperating him from the other patients. The doctors brought him there to hide his identity and protect him from spectators who were curious why the police brought him here. Unfortunatly Kongpob had to keep distance to the place where they brought Arthit, he wasn't allowed to go there since the doctors needed to treat Arthit without anyone observing and disturbing them. The doctors in charge of him knew him well as a Rojnapat, he was the hospital director's son and the renowned surgeon's youngest brother. Since they didn't want to lose their work tonight, they were bound to treat him with outmost care.

Meanwhile two female detectives approached Kongpob, they seemed agitated and angry for a reason Kongpob was curious about. They pulled him aside to ask and write down his witness report about the accident. He began telling them about the dog that wanted him to follow him whereupon he found Arthit being strangulated by someone. Unfortunately he couldn't see the person's face due to the darkness, the heavy rain and the person hiding his face with a hoodie. The younger one of the detectives heaved a heavy sight, cursing since the witness didn't saw the killer's face. The older detective calmed her down, telling her that they still had Arthit Rojnapat who surely saw the killer's face.

Of course the detectives knew that it was the sadistic strangler's doing but they had to include every possible copycat so they asked why Kong was was lurking around in the darkness even though it was raining. The taller man explained them that he didn't have any memories about his past but was saved by Arthit, the victim. Because he didn't have a family name, the detectives were treating him like a prime suspect now. The whole person named Kongpob was too suspicious for them so they had to think of the possibility that he killed the woman and tried to kill Arthit too because the young Rojnapat witnessed the murder. Kongpob realized they were suspecting him but he didn't care about it since he was only concerned about Arthit. He only wanted him to survive. There was nothing more he wished for right now.

When they asked him about his address and personal data where they could contact him in case of more questions occuring, he fell silent. He didn't have any roof over his head since he forgot his memory and even left the Rojnapat's house to make peace between father and son. He didn't have a place where he was staying now, he dared to give the Rojnapat's resident as his location behind their back. After giving them his statement, the two detectives left him to speak with the doctors in charge of Arthit's treatment, asking them whether the victim woke up. Apparantly Arthit was still unconscious but they were told to let him rest and recover first before asking about his witness statement. Beside his guardian didn't arrive yet, they needed to wait for their permission to speak with him due to him being a minor. The younger detective raised her voice, remembering them that the man killed already five women and a veteran detective of their department. Kongpob who eavesdropped at their conversation, could understand why the detectives were agitated. The serial killer met one of their colleague on the way but ended up killing the detective when the latter tried to confront him as he saw his coat being bloody soaked. He thought it was human blood so he chased after the killer but lost his life on duty. It meant that the serial killer killed six people and attempted to murder Arthit too. It would cause another controvercy and of course Prem would be in the center again.

Kongpob stared at the place where the doctors were treating Arthit, he turned away to avoid looking at that place to prevent himself from going over there. He met the 3 Rojanapat before him. Knott in the middle with Prem and their father beside him. The 3 of them were soaked from head to toes, they were panting, trying to calm down instead of breaking down. No one dared to ask the ultimatum question about Arthit's condition but they had to know about it before stepping to his sickbed.

Knott, the strongest of them, stepped to him, worries written all over his face, obviously he was on the verge of breaking down just like Prem and Mr. Rojnapat. His eyes were filled with mixed feelings, those were fear, worry, sadness and guilty feelings. „How is he?"

Kongpob couldn't tell them straight that the sadistic strangler almost killed Arthit, he knew Prem would be devasted upon hearing the heart breaking news. „It seemed to be the sadistic strangler's doing... Arthit witnessed the murder and he tried to kill him to silence him", there was the painful truth he wished wouldn't had happened.

Prem's eyes widened in shock upon hearing the sad news he didn't expect. His hands were trembling, riven by guilty feelings he stepped a few steps back till he bumped into a patient. Knott and Mr. Rojnapat's attention were on Prem, they were lost for words and didn't knew how to calm him down. When Knott wanted to comfort his younger brother, taking his guilty feelings away, the doctors taking care of Arthit spotted them, walking over to them. They explained the Rojnapats that Arthit wasn't badly injured but his throat and his vocals fords got hurt during the strangulation. He would have difficulty to eat, to breath and to talk in the next few days. Besides the drugs injected in him needed to lose its effect for him to move again. However the problem didn't lie with the physical injuries but with the mental injury he received from the strangulation. He fell into a shock and received a trauma from the accident so he would have to deal with it together with his family. According to the doctors, Arthit would need time to recover both physically and mentally.

Mr. Rojnapat and Knott nodded, both were doctors so they knew very well how trauma could affect a victim's health and life but they would be there for him and support him to recover faster. Their father requested from his colleagues to bring his son in a private room where he wouldn't have to be disturbed by other patients and their relatives. The brothers and the father were allowed to visit Arthit now. Prem hesitated, was scared to see the condition Arthit was in but Knott convinced him that he should visit him. As soon as the curtains went aside, they gasped in shock when seeing Arthit laying there. He was paler as usual, sleeping, the blanket covered to his chest, his neck was bandaged with dressing to hide the strangulation mark and the roman numeral. His breath was shallow but fortunately he wasn't badly injured just like the doctors told them. One could say that Arthit was lucky in the circumstances.

Prem maintained a certain distance between Arthit and him, he blamed himself for the accident that occured so he feared to jinx him if he got closer to him. Knott sat beside Arthit on the bed, caressing his head. Arthit felt the lovely touch, he recongized that touch. Only his family had so much love for him that they would caress him so passionately. His eyes moved, he opened them a moment after, they wandered around. They were still blurry so he didn't recognize Knott sitting beside him. Knott bent down to him, his hand coming closer to touch Arthit. That scene woke up a painful memory in the shorter man, it reminded him of the killer approaching him with his hands and squeezing on his neck. He was traumatized, imagining that the hands would still strangulate him again, he sat immediately up, trying to run back but there were no escape route, his back hitting against the wall. Tears filled his eyes, he pressed his hands together, begging to spare his life, promising that he wouldn't tell the police if he let him live. The picture, Arthit still locked up in the traumatic accident and experiencing the whole painful event again, was too sad to for his family to assimilate. Even Kongpob felt his chest tighten, his heart bleeding in pain for the shorter man. He hated to see him hurt and crying, he felt like his heart tearing and his entire world falling apart. So painful was it for him to watch Arthit losing his mind. Knott retired his hand, Arthit shook, pressing his back against the wall to escape.

„Arthit, it's me... P'Knott", he tried to calm him down but failed miserably with his attempt.

Arthit was still scared at them, wanted to run somewhere safe. Somehwere he wouldn't have to see people who looked suspiscious. His vision turned clearlier, he finally calmed down as soon as he recognized Knott, Prem and his father.

„Phee...", the first person his attention fell on and he mentioned was his oldest brother he always complained about.

Knott took him in his arms, trying to hug him to give him warmth, comfort and assurance that they were there for him but Arthit trembled in his arms whereupon he let him go. His father touched his head, caressing at his soft hair, apologizing for slapping him. He was grateful that he survived the attack that almost took him away from them. Kongpob remained in the back, giving them the chance to speak. However none of them dared to mention about the sadistic strangler. They feared to reopen old wound Arthit shouldn't remember now so they kept silent about that matter. Prem couldn't look him in the eyes, he avoided him whenever Arthit tried to make eyes contact with him. Arthit's eyes fell on Kongpob, he felt relieved when seeing the older man safe and sound. The latter man was his life saviour after all. Kongpob's  lips cruving up into a little smile. It was a bief smile but bright enough to cause Arthit's heart to race for a moment. Even though he couldn't smile back under this circumstance, he could feel Kongpob's sincerity in his smile. It was soothing. Sooth and love were the only thing he needed just now.

„The dog?", he seemed concerned about the dog that saved him too.

Kongpob shook his head, it was a sign that the heroical animal succumbed to his injury. It was a sad reality he had to live with. Arthit felt guilty, blaming himself that the dog died because of him. The animal wanted to save him but died while fighting against the serial killer. The dog's heroical action moved them deeply, they were dismayed about his death too.

„We were worried about you...", Mr. Rojnapat broke the silence to bring a good mood in the atmosphere. He was curious about the reason why he left the house in the middle of the night but he controlled himself to not ask about the serial killer.

„I'm sorry...", he mumbled. „I just wanted...", he was about to mention about Kongpob as the reason why he left the house in the middle of the night. Because the latter left to end the fight between him and his father without bidding proper farewell with him, he went after him to bring him back before anyone would realize his disappearing. But his family would blame Kongpob for the near death experience he went through. Because Arthit chased after him, he got a tragic encounter with the sadistic strangler who nearly killed him. No, he didn't want to give them another reason to hate the man he brought home few weeks ago. He didn't want Kongpob to leave him. „I wanted to have fresh air for a while... I'm sorry...", it was a lie but a good lie to save someone.

However he didn't convince everyone with his white lie that should save a homeless, pitiful Kongpob. One of his brothers didn't believe him, he knew Arthit too well that he could guess when the shorter man was lying. He noticed that Arthit wanted to tell the truth a moment ago but waited after thinking for a while. He was suspicious of both of them. The person was none other than Knott. His eyes wandered around, he looked at Arthit then at Kongpob, he seemed angry for an unknown reason but didn't want to show it and disturb Arthit's recovery. He just scratched at his head crossing his arms to calm down.

On the other hand their father felt guilty, he got the overwhelming feeling that Arthit went outside because of the fight between them. He blamed himself for causing the accident. He grabbed at Arthit's hand, caressing carefully at his hair, showing a sad expression. The oldest man didn't need to say a words but his sons already guessed that the guilty feelings was eating him alive.

„Por, please don't do that... It's not your fault. I went out on my own and met the killer. It's my fault, not everyone's else. Don't blame yourself for what happened to me", his voice was so soft that his father couldn't oppose to him.

Mr. Rojnapat was deeply touched, grateful towards his youngest son who was trying to take his guilty feelings away. He approached him to give him a warmful hug but Arthit suddenly retired back, avoiding the hug. His father's hands who wanted to wrap around his back, put him in high alert. It reminded him of the killer's hands coming closer to him and squeezing against his neck. Prem couldn't understand his rejected reaction but Mr. Rojnapat and Knott did understand the meaning of his rejection. Thanks to their medical experiences, both were aware that he was showing a sign of trauma. Apparantly Arthit would avoid hugging anyone in the time being. One thing was certain: It would be a long road for him to recover, just like the doctors in charge of his treatment mentioned.

****

Arthit was finally moved in a private room just like his father requested from the doctors. He sat on the bed, his back leaning against the wall. Meanwhile his family was outside speaking with the two females detectives. The detectives were there to take his witness report but his brothers declined their visit with the reason that Arthit wasn't in a stable condition to talk to them right now. However the two women were persistent so they were asked to leave the room to talk outside. Arthit was frozen on the spot, his eyes empty from any feelings, as if he was just a human doll without any emotions. His eyes were on the television that was turned on but he wasn't paying attention to the programs. Kongpob was beside him, never taken his eyes from him for a moment. He had to be attentive to react fast in case of the shorter man showing another sign of trauma. Actually he would prefer to talk to him and entertain him so the latter would reveal his bright, cute smile. Kongpob's eyes wandered around Arthit's face, he was fixed on Arthit's porcelain white skin, his big round eyes that made him look like a pitiful puppy, his red lips. Those red lips... They were alluring. Kongpob shook his head, baning those thought from his mind. It wasn't appropriate to think like that. Besides it wasn't like he wanted to lean his lips on Arthit's and kiss him passionately. He wasn't in love with him nor wanted to kiss him so he told himself to concentrate on Arthit and support him in his recovery. Back to the younger man's smile. Yeah he always found Arthit's smile cute to the point that it made him addicted. He was addicted to those smile, he always wanted to see him show his dimple that was contagious, making him smile too.

Due to this simple reason, he was sad to see the usually cheerful young man sitting here in a hospital with strangulation's mark around his neck. He touched at his chest to calm down his restless heart, it hurted there. It was painful to see his life saviour who gave him food, a home and his smile also his laughter to look so sad, hurt and scared. His hands clenched into fist, he hated himself for letting the sadistic strangler escape. He could had chased after him but Arthit could lose his life during that time if he had let him alone in the rain. He didn't regret staying there to take care of Arthit first but he regretted not listening to the dog and coming sooner to his rescue.

Kongpob approached him with his hand but he was reluctand to touch him. Arthit felt lost, no one next to him to help him out of the depth he fell into but he sensed something around him. It wasn't dangerous but more like a light that tried to protect him and take him out of the deep darkness. He saw aside only to find a stranger's hand touching his own hand, caressing the back of his hand, the touch was soft and full of tenderness. His eyes looked from the hand holding him up to the person sitting next to him. Kongpob was there, gazing at him, his eyes revealing the sadness, pain, regret and guilt he was feeling due to Arthit's condition.

„P'Kong... Pob...", it was the first time Arthit called his name after waking up from the accident.

The taller man's world brightened, his lips curved up into a releaved smile. He stood up to stand next to him, holding the shorter man's delicate hand in both of his hands, adoring him for calling and remembering him. Ever since Arthit woke up and talked to his family only, Kongpob felt invisible and lonely the whole time. He felt like casted aside, a stray dog his owner didn't want anymore so he didn't have any choice as to back down but now that Arthit called his name, he knew that he didn't forget him. It let his heart beat hard again, something he was happy about but didn't want to show that the shorter man always gave him joy, relief and took his worries away. Even though he didn't want to be too obvious that a little action from Arthit like calling his name, made his heartbeat accelerated, he couldn't hold back his smile. His smile was filled with many mixed emotions. His seldom smile was a remedy for Arthit, he felt the taller man's presence stronger than before. A precense he couldn't ignore anymore. Arthit did the unexpected, he smiled. It was a little one but sweet enough to make Kong's heart restless upon seeing the smile he missed so much.

„Why did you leave? Did you want to leave me?", there was the question that weight heavily on his mind.

The older man froze on the spot, taking his hands away as if he was backing down, avoiding the question he wished he would had never asked him. Kongpob felt stupid for trying to run away like a little child. He was a grown up man and should had faced the situation instead of running away. But how could he come between father and son? Because he was desperate and didn't want to destroy a happy family, he ended up chosing the wrong way to reconcile them. Arthit didn't let the discussion slide either, he took his hand in both of his hands, not thinking of letting him go yet.

„I saw your notice and chased after you", Arthit finally revealed the reason why he went outside in such late night.

A thougth dawned in Kongpob's head. Arthit lied to his father: He didn't leave the house to have fresh air but he realized his note too soon and chased after him to bring him back. „You followed me?", his mind went in chaos, his heart thumping too hard. It's my fault. Arthit met the sadistic killer because he followed me outside... Kongpob pulled his hand out of Arthit's grip, his eyes wandering on the clean ground that was reflecting their mirrors. The unexpected information he received right now, was eating him whole. He blamed himself for Arthit's pain and injuries. I hurt him... I made him like that...

Arthit realized the mistake he did. He didn't expect his Phee to lose his mind upon hearing the truth so he regretted telling him the reason why he went outside in the night. „Phee?", he went to Kongpob, trying to calm him down but Kongpob wouldn't listen to him. He didn't mean to blame him for the sad experience he went through. Arthit was desperate, didn't knew how to handle the siutation so he just hugged the taller man all the sudden, his arms wrapping around Kong, his life saviour. „It's not your fault, Phee...", his soft voice reached him.

Kongpob's eyes widened in surprise, he didn't expect the younger man to hug him since Arthit feared anyone's approach. Why could he hug him without reminiscing about the killer? However the lovely embrace seemed to help both of them, Arthit felt safe in his arms and Kongpob felt loved in the latter's arms. Both of them were literally helping each other, taking each other's pain away. They were enjoying their closeness, the moment they were alone in their own world. Thump... Thump.... Thump... It was Kongpob's heartbeat. Arthit laid his ear to the taller man's chest, listening closer to the sound Kongpob's heart was making. He admitted that he loved the rhythm it was making, it was playing a wonderful music in his ear. It was more a beautiful art he would love to listen to everyday for eternity. It's strange to think about that man like that, right? I know I'm being dramatic and strange but I want us to stay like that for a long time.

„I'm sorry...", Kongpob mumbled. He could only apologize to him for causing him pain.

„It's alright... I survived, right? You saved me, Phee...", it was the truth Arthit was proud to say. The man he saved a few weeks ago ended up saving him from a serial killer too. He was glad to have the strong and protective Kongpob in his life. Maybe if he didn't meet Kongpob, he wouldn't had run outside to search for him outside. But maybe he could still encounter the killer even if he didn't knew Kongpob but he wouldn't have Kongpob beside him to save him. It was a fate he couldn't deny.

„I didn't do anything... The dog saved you, Arthit."

The door got opened all the sudden, everyone fell in silence when seeing Kongpob and Arthit in such deep embrace, they were frozen on the spot. It was an awkward silence, tension laying in the atmosphere, no one dared to break the silence first. Kongpob ended the embrace to not anger the Rojnapats anymore. Arthit immediately took his arms from him as he noticed the bruning fire in P'Knott's eyes. His eldest Phee would charge at Kongpob if he didn't keep his distance from him. The silence was broken by the two detectives, they stepped in the room.

„We know you're still recovering from your injuries but we need your help to find the serial killer. That man murdered six people and tried to make you his seventh victim too. He would continue to murder innocent people if we don't bring him where he belongs to", the youngest detective threw Prem an angry look. She blamed him for defending the killer and giving him the opportunity to continue taking innocent women's lives. „You're our only prime witness and we can only catch him if you cooperate with us."

„What are you talking about? Why six victims instead of five?"

Only now did the detectives realize that the Rojnapats hide the detective's death from Arthit. Maybe they didn't want him to worry nor feel scared but it was their chance to convince him to help them. Even though Knott wanted her to leave the room, she insisted on explaining the situation they were in to him, telling him that the sadistic strangler killer met one and killed one of their colleague on the escape. They found Anuphap Chantimant's blood and a dog's blood on the death policeman's clothes so they were certain that he was the culprit. The dog's blood came from the same dog that saved Arthit.

Arthit was in shock, he looked to his family. „It is true?"

„Listen to me, Arthit... You don't have to answer to their question..."

„It is true Por?", he repeated the question. As he didn't receive any answer from their father, he turned his attention to P'Knott then to P'Prem. „P'Knott? P'Prem?". Their silence gave him the answer he waited for. They hide such an important information from him. „Why?", he was soft at first but turned louder as they still kept quiet. „Why didn't you tell me about it?"

„Because we want you to stay out of this case!", his Por raised his voice, not because he was angry at him but because he had enough of tragedies. He almost lost his youngest son so he was losing his mind. Who would stil be sane after going through so much like him? It was the second time he had to tremble for Arthit's life. He didn't want to experience the same torture again so he wanted him to stay out of the media's spotlight as much as possible.

„How should I keep myself out of this situation when that damn woman tried to strangulate me?", Arthit's voice raised too.

Everyone fell quiet, they were surprised to hear him say woman instead man. The suspect Anuphap Chantimant was clearly a man but how come the witness mentioned a woman? Did he made a slip of tongue? Even Kongpob was surprised. He didn't see the killer's face but he was sure that the latter had an unusual physique. If she was a woman than she was too tall for a woman. Of course there were some women who were tall but he wasn't sure about Arthit's statement about the killer being a woman.

„Why woman? Wasn't it a man?", now the case aroused the older detective's curiousity.

„No, it was clearly a woman... I will never forget the way she grinned at me while trying to kill me. Her murderous aura and mole beside her nose are deep engraved in my mind. I can't forget her for a minute!"

„Mole?", Prem seemed to came to an idea. He brought his mobilphone out, showing him a picture. It was an image of a man. A man with long, black hairs, yellow teeth, sharp eyes, round face and a mole beside her nose.

Arthit panted while remembering the mole plastered on the killer's face. He stepped back til he bumped onto Kongpob. The taller man's presence let him know that he wasn't under the murderer anymore but by his family and his life saviour, a place where he would always feel protected and safe. „She has the same mole like him."

Prem turned to the detectives, showing them the picture. It was Anuphap Chantimant on the image. „It seems Anuphap changed his face with surgeries."

Now Arthit remembered the woman's tall physique. No wounder she seemed too tall for a woman. Her voice was a little bit low and ruspy too.

„Arthit, it's better if you speak with the detectives later. You have to concentrate on your recovery first", P'Knott mentioned.

„How should I concentrate on my recovery if I see her whenever I close my eyes? She even followed me in nightmares", he touched on his forehead, feeling the headache. „I'll give my witness report", it was Arthit's decision his family didn't want to oppose to anymore.

His family knew Arthit well, he could be stubborn sometimes and wouldn't change his mind so easily once he decided for something he wanted to do so they choose to let him be. But they had to make sure that he wouldn't be in danger again for giving them a statement about Anuphap's new identity. Before the detectives took his witness report, Prem forced them to promise their family that they wouldn't reveal Arthit's identity neither the hospital he was residing in to the media. The killer could come after him again if he received information about his whereabout.

****

While Arthit was telling the exact details of the accident to the detectives, another person arrived in a dark basement after running away from anyone who seemed suspicious to him. The person turned on the light that was hanging on the ceiling, staggering to the dirty sink, turning on the water faucet, cleaning his face with water. He undressed from his clothes, he had to carefully took off the sleeve since he had a bullet stucked in his upper arm. The gunshot hurted like hell, he bite on his lips to not let out a sound.

„Damn detective!", he sweared through gritting teeth. He looked at his body, there were many bite marks on his arms. „Damn mutt!", another curse escaped out of his mouth as he thought about the persistent dog. He threw the knife dirtied with blood in the sink, panting in anger.

All the sudden he remembered the young man he had in his grip but had to let go because of the other man appearing all the sudden. He could had handle the mutt if it was alone but that damn dog had to bring a man to save his seventh victim. They said seven was a lucky number but he was unfortunate with his seventh victim. He wasn't aware that the lucky number seven wasn't meant for him, an evil human being but for Arthit, an innocent young man.

His lips curved up into a smile, he felt his hands still wrapped around Arthit's delicate neck. Arthit's skin was soft like a precious fragile object that could break anytime, it wasn't like my previous victims. I like the desperate, scared and begging look he gave him when I had his life in my hand. It was nostalgic, satisying and lovely. I would have cum if it wasn't for that dog and the other man who appeared out of the blue. Ah, I want to feel him again. That young, beautiful man... Slowly he begab feeling obsessed about Arthit. Not only did he want him but he wanted to take his revenge on the taller man who disturbed him from his masterplan. Arthit, Kongpob and Anuphap would meet again. If not soon than in the future. Surely...

He looked at his reflection in the mirror. The picture of a young beautiful woman with pale skin, a mole beside her nose and an angelic face reflected in the mirror but appearance was deceitful. Deep inside he was the devil itself with an angelic face. An evil smile plastered his face, he couldn't wait to meet the young man again. This time he wouldn't fail to break his neck!

******************************

Ah, did you realize that the stories I updated yet were about Kongpob saving Arthit at the same time? It was on purpose because I wanted it to be similar :D And the dog :( I like him... Feel free to leave comment about this chapter :) And what do you think about the killer changing its gender? She's going to be a badass too