The Mystery of the Double Death

I couldn't believe what Adara had just told us. She had been kidnapped, beaten, and nearly killed by the guys I murdered. On top of that, I almost killed her in a fit of rage. And now, someone had leaked photos of her supposed corpse online, as if they wanted to erase her existence.

"Well… the rest was you," Adara finished speaking, her voice hoarse. She had multiple bruises all over her body, and several shallow cuts on her face. It was obvious she was weak and exhausted.

"Photos of your supposed corpse were just leaked online," I exclaimed, my tone filled with indignation and concern.

"What?" Adara gasped, her eyes widening. Her voice cracked between disbelief and fear. "They told me the news had declared me dead, but… I don't understand. Why would someone do something like this?" Her gaze drifted into the void, as if trying to convince herself that all of this was just a nightmare.

Luca, who was sitting in front of her, spoke up:

"Maybe we should check the morgue. We might find a clue about who did this to you or how they did it," he suggested, a determined look on his face.

"Good idea. I'll drive," I said, grabbing the car keys.

"And me?" Adara asked, terrified, looking at Luca for reassurance.

"You're coming with us, of course. We can't leave you alone, Adara. Whoever wants you dead already knows your captors didn't finish the job. You'll be safer with us," Luca responded with a reassuring smile.

Adara nodded, though it seemed like every movement cost her great effort. We headed to the back of the cabin, where the car was hidden under a faded tarp, covered in dry leaves. The night breeze stirred small swirls of dust while insects sang in the distance—a subtle chorus that made the silence even more oppressive.

"This is the car?" Adara asked, stopping a few steps away.

"Yeah, and it still runs… more or less," I replied, yanking the tarp off. A cloud of dust rose, forcing us to step back as the rusted metal reflected the dim moonlight.

Adara took a step back, her eyes scanning the car up and down like it was a trap.

"Is it safe?" she asked, her tone a mix of distrust and resignation.

"Safer than staying here," I said, opening the driver's side door. The creaking sound echoed in the night. "And believe me, now's not the time to be picky."

She glanced toward the forest, as if considering running. For an instant, fear flashed across her face, but there was something else too—hesitation, like she was debating whether to trust us or not.

"Adara, I know this seems crazy, but we're not leaving you alone. Not now," Luca said, stepping closer to her, his voice firm but calm. "If you stay, we don't know who will find you first. With us, at least you have a chance."

Adara clenched her jaw, her gaze lost somewhere in the distance. Finally, she sighed and crossed her arms.

"Fine, but if this piece of junk explodes, it won't be my fault," she muttered, cautiously stepping toward the car.

Luca opened the back door for her, making sure she got in first. I watched from the driver's seat, starting the engine with a rough growl that vibrated through the air.

"Come on, get in. I promise it doesn't bite… much," I joked, though my tone barely hid my exhaustion.

Finally, Adara sat in the back seat, her gaze drifting to the window, watching as the shadows of the trees danced with the breeze. The glass was slightly fogged, but that didn't stop her from trying to decipher the depths of the forest. Luca settled beside her, shutting the door with a firm click. Adjusting the rearview mirror, I glanced at both of them and said:

"Alright, buckle up. This could get interesting."

As we drove down the narrow road covered in fallen branches, I heard Luca speak up:

"Let me see your wounds, Adara. You need to treat them properly, or they'll get infected," he said, his tone filled with concern. We had a first-aid kit in the car; Luca still couldn't shake his old human habits.

"Alright, Luca. Thanks for helping me," Adara murmured softly, clearly exhausted. He had saved her life, and even if she wouldn't say it out loud, she owed him.

As Luca carefully checked her injuries, his usual relaxed personality soon emerged.

"Lian, pass me one of those lemon candies you always stash in the glove compartment. Adara needs something sour to wake her up," he said, a small grin tugging at his lips.

"What? No. They're mine, I bought them," I protested, gripping the steering wheel without taking my eyes off the road.

"Oh, come on, don't be stingy. Give me one, or next time, you'll be doing your own laundry," Luca retorted playfully, like he had already won.

"Fine, but just one," I grumbled, opening the glove compartment and tossing him the bag without looking back.

"Thanks, generous soul. See, Adara? Even the grumpiest guys have a soft side," Luca remarked, handing her a candy with a wink.

The car's engine roared, filling the silence of the night as we sped down the side road. Adara sat in the back, hugging herself, staring out the window. Her reflection was distorted by the dirty glass, and though she said nothing, her expression spoke volumes—she was lost in thought.

Luca, sitting beside her, tried to distract her with casual conversation, but she only responded with monosyllables or brief nods. I didn't blame her. After all, she had just discovered someone had faked her death and that a photo of her supposed corpse was circulating online.

"When we get there, we need to be quick," I broke the silence, keeping my eyes on the road. "I don't want to stay in the morgue longer than necessary."

"Are you afraid of corpses, Lian?" Luca asked with a teasing smile.

"It's not that," I huffed. "But being surrounded by dead bodies is never pleasant."

"Not even after everything we've seen?"

"It's not the same, and you know it."

Luca shrugged.

The morgue wasn't far. As soon as I parked the car in a dark alley, we got out cautiously. The building was a gray block, with only a few lights on inside. The air smelled of humidity and cheap disinfectant.

"Alright, we need to get in unnoticed," I whispered, scanning the area.

We sneaked through a poorly locked side door and moved down an empty hallway. The morgue's metallic cold seeped into my skin, and the hum of the refrigerators filled the silence. The place had that distinct scent of formaldehyde and death that clung to the throat.

Luca went straight to the records, flipping through files quickly. Meanwhile, I approached the bodies covered with white sheets. Each step I took echoed on the tiled floor.

"Here it is," Luca whispered, pulling out a file and skimming through it. "Adara Rossi, 24 years old, stretcher No. 13. Cause of death: suicide by a gunshot to the heart."

Adara, who had been silent until now, slowly stepped forward.

"That's impossible…" she murmured, her hands trembling. "I… Am I here?" She touched her body, trying to confirm she was still alive.

I turned toward the row of corpses. Something was off. I lifted the sheet covering the body labeled with her name.

And there it was.

Lying before us was an exact copy of Adara. But it wasn't her.

A changeling.

Adara's breath hitched, and she covered her mouth.

"What… what does this mean?"

Before we could answer, we heard it.

A soft noise. Barely a scrape against the tiled floor.

We weren't alone.

"We need to go," I said in a low voice, shutting the file.

Luca tensed. Adara swallowed hard. Behind the door, silent footsteps broke the stillness.

The hunt wasn't over yet.