The Devil's Night

Dr. Lee's Office

"Elaborate on the Devil, Yuno," Dr. Lee encouraged, her voice gentle.

Yuno's eyes drifted, lost in thought. "It was... a night that changed everything."

Flashback: April 14, 2016

Yuno, 9 years old

"It was the night of April 14, 2016. 11:30 PM. Dad wasn't home. My brother Gordon had just returned from high school for spring break."

Excitement filled Yuno's voice. "It was Mom's and Dad's anniversary. Mom was expecting Dad to come home any minute." She made a cake and placed candles on it. She also prepared Dad's favourite chilli.

Suddenly, a knock at the door shattered the anticipation.

"Mom rushed to the door, happy... but it turned into tragedy." Mom's voice barely audible, trailed off into a scream. A gunshot echoed in the hallway.

Gordon's Perspective

I hid Yuno upstairs, grabbing a knife from the kitchen counter. My heart raced as I positioned myself behind the wall, watching the door.

I peeked around the corner, my stomach churning. Mom lay on the floor, blood pooling around her. She was blabbering with pain. She was shot in her stomach.

A tall, bulky figure loomed over her, knife in hand. A black mask concealed his face only his mouth and eyes visible.

"F*** you b*tch!" he spat, kicking Mom's lifeless body aside.

Rage ignited within me. I gripped the knife tighter, my mind racing.

As the killer entered the living room, I sprang into action. Knife in hand, I leapt onto his back, swearing under my breath.

"Die you f***er!" I yelled, attempting to stab his neck.

The blade sliced through the skin, but not deep enough. The killer screamed, cursing, and grabbed me, slamming me onto the table. The cake Mom had made for Dad's anniversary shattered beneath me.

Pain shot through my side as the table collapsed. The killer's gun lay nearby, dropped in the scuffle. Before he could retrieve it, I kicked him in the face.

The killer's eyes blazed with fury. "You'll pay for this, brat!"

He charged, and I fell upside down, my head spinning.

That's when I saw it - the bull symbol on his jacket.

My heart sank. I knew I wouldn't survive this.

Desperate, I grabbed the chilli Mom had made for Dad and hurled it at the killer's face.

He shrieked, momentarily blinded.

Seizing the distraction, I started carving the bull symbol on the wall with shaking hands, my knee throbbing in agony.

The killer stumbled, gun in hand, eyes streaming from the chilli.

"You...you little..." he stammered.

My anxiety spiked. This was it.

The killer's gaze locked onto me, gun raised.

Time slowed.

Three shots echoed through the room.

Pain exploded in my chest as bullets ripped through my flesh.

My vision blurred.

Blood sprayed the wall, mingling with the carved bull symbol.

My hand slipped, the knife clattering to the floor.

As darkness claimed me, I knew I'd done it.

The symbol would tell the story.

Upstairs, Yuno's Perspective

I peeked through the bannister, trembling.

Gordon's body crumpled, blood pooling around him.

The killer's face twisted in rage.

My heart shattered.

"Gordon, no!" I whispered, horror-stricken.

The killer's eyes scanned the room, ensuring his work was done, and after this, he left with his gun.

"Dad came home at 12," she continued, tears streaming down her face. "He screamed, holding Mom's lifeless body... Yui. Then, he saw Gordon... He was frozen in fear."

Yuno's voice cracked.

"He yelled my name three times, sobbing... Yuno, Yuno, Yuno. When he saw me, he started crying, hugging me, saying 'I'm sorry I wasn't there'."

The memory seemed to shatter Yuno's composure.

"After Mom's and Gordon's funeral... Dad was arrested for corruption," she whispered.

Dr. Lee's expression turned sympathetic.

Yuno's body shook with sobs. Dr. Lee enveloped her in a warm hug.

"It's okay, Yuno. I'm here."

As Yuno's tears subsided, Dr. Lee handed her a tissue.

"Let's get you settled. Amelia will take care of you."

Amelia nodded, helping Yuno stand.

"I'll make sure she takes her medicine regularly," Amelia assured Dr. Lee.

As they left the clinic at 11 PM, a nurse approached Dr. Lee.

"How's Yuno's recovery status?" she asked quietly.

Dr. Lee smiled.

"She's been in treatment for six years. Progress is slow, but I'm optimistic. With age, she's starting to open up. She's grown up a lot."

The nurse nodded.

"Still, it's remarkable she's sharing her story now."

Dr. Lee nodded.

"Yuno's resilience is inspiring. I'm confident she'll heal, given time and support."

-----

 Officer Serge drove home from duty while listening to country music. As he turned a corner, he spotted Sasha sitting on a bench, cigarette smoke curling into the night air.

He parked his car and approached her.

Sasha noticed him and smiled weakly. "Hey, Serge. Sorry for ignoring you today."

Serge sat beside her. "No worries, Sasha. What's bothering you?"

Sasha exhaled smoke, her eyes narrowing. "It's the case from April 14, 2016. I don't think it's truly closed. The killer's death doesn't add up."

Serge's was curiosity piqued. "What makes you think that?"

Sasha leaned in. "Rayner's reaction this morning... He was hiding something. And you? What brought you to his office?"

Serge said, "I had files on the case. Just reviewing some details."

Sasha's eyes sparkled. "Did you solve it?"

Serge chuckled. "I don't solve cases, Sasha. I arrest criminals. A detective cracked it."

Sasha laughed, smoke dancing around her.

Serge's gaze turned serious. "Where does your sense of justice come from, Sasha?"

Sasha's expression softened, cigarette smoke wafting upward. "Everyone should have this sense, Serge. Justice is what keeps us human."

Serge's eyes locked onto hers. "Not everyone shares that conviction, Sasha."

Sasha's gaze turned nostalgic. "I get my sense of justice from my father. I grew up in a wealthy family with two sisters and no brother... My mother passed away during my little sister's birth."

Serge said I am sorry.

 Sashas said, "It's okay."

 Where are your sisters now? Serge asked. Sasha said, "They are happily married and have children." Serge smiled.

Sasha's voice softened. "As the eldest, my father instilled strong morals in me. He taught me to stand up for what's right, even when it's hard."

Serge listened intently, intrigued by Sasha's story.

"What about you, Serge?" Sasha asked, her eyes sparkling. "What do you think of justice?"

Serge pondered, his expression thoughtful. "I don't know... Maybe it's a law of nature – what goes around comes around. What a person does will eventually happen to them."

Sasha's eyes locked onto his, a smile spreading. "You're kinda right."

As the night wore on, Serge glanced at his watch. "It's getting late. You won't find a taxi at this hour. May I drop you home?"

Sasha nodded, gathering her belongings. "Yeah, Glasgow streets howl late at night."

Serge drove Sasha to her apartment, the city's nightlife fading into the background.

As they arrived, Sasha turned to him, smiling. "Bye, Serge. Thanks for the ride."

Serge chuckled, returning her smile. "Anytime, Sasha."

With a wave, Sasha disappeared into her apartment.

Serge drove off into the night, lost in thought.

The encounter with Sasha had stirred something within him.