Page 55 of Outrun The Devil

Olivia's brows furrowed, her steps instinctively slowing as she listened. The name was the same that Xavier had given her prior.

Nathan's tone grew more somber as he continued. "I looked into it. Vincent Blackwood is attached to a few unsolved murders. He's considered a serial killer."

A chill crept down Olivia's spine. "Damn," she muttered under her breath.

"We need to be careful, Liv," Nathan cautioned.

Olivia's mind raced like a frenzied river, torrents of thoughts crashing against the banks of her consciousness. "Give me Ms. Mitchell's address. I'll meet you there."

Nathan didn't waste any time, relaying the address to her. "Be safe, okay?"

Olivia's grip on her phone tightened, his worry was cute but it wasn't needed. "I will. You too."

As they hung up, the weight of the situation hung heavily in the air. The strands of the supernatural and the human worlds seemed to intertwine in ways that Olivia had never imagined.

Nathan arrived before Olivia did. They shared a glance to ensure the other arrived in one piece. The walk to the doorstep was a quiet one.

As they reached the doorstep, Olivia's heart quickened, a mixture of anticipation and trepidation roiling within her chest. With each step closer to the truth, the air seemed to grow heavier, carrying the weight of the unknown. Nathan's gaze met hers, his eyes reflecting the same tension that knotted her insides.

Nathan rang the doorbell.

Ms. Mitchell opened the door, her face stern and her voice cold. She only opened the door enough for them to see her through the small opening.

Olivia caught the terror in Samantha's gaze, and it was clear that they should proceed with caution.”Ms. Mitchell, my name is Detective Olivia Collins, and this is Detective Steele. We're investigating a case related to Vincent Blackwood, and we need your help.”

Ms. Mitchell had been a victim of Blackwood, one of his first ones and she managed to get away. Her case file said he'd branded her. And given that the three victims they had now all were branded with a rune symbol, it made Vincent Blackwood the likely suspect for these three murders.

Samantha hesitated before opening the door fully, allowing the detectives to enter. The musty smell of the old house filled Olivia's nose, and she could feel her skin crawling with unease. She tried to shake it off as she followed Samantha into the living room, where the woman sat down on a worn-out couch.

Olivia and Nathan took a seat across from her, and Olivia noticed the way Samantha's eyes darted around the room as if she was searching for something. “Ms. Mitchell, we need to know everything you can tell us about Vincent Blackwood,” Olivia said, getting straight to the point.

Samantha took a deep breath, and Olivia could see the fear in her eyes. “He... he was a monster,” Samantha whispered, her voice trembling. “He had this... this aura about him. You could feel it, you know? Like he wasn't human.”

Olivia felt a chill run down her spine. “What did he do to you, Ms. Mitchell?”

“He... he... he marked me.” Samantha's hand went to her collarbone, where a faint scar was visible. “He said I belonged to him now. That he would come for me whenever he wanted.”

Olivia felt the anger and disgust rise within her. “Did he ever come back for you?”

Samantha shook her head. “No. But I could feel him watching me. Everywhere I went, I could feel his presence. It was like he was always there, waiting for the right moment to strike.”

Olivia smiled, soft and understanding. “Thank you, Ms. Mitchell, for taking the time to speak with us.” She handed the woman her card. “If you remember any other details that you think might help us, no detail is too small, please reach out.”

It was a quiet walk back to the car but Olivia could feel Nathan’s eyes on her. Was he concerned she would combust? Or was he looking to her for answers?

As they got into the car, Olivia let out a long sigh. The weight of the case was heavy on her shoulders. “What a mess,” she muttered, running a hand through her hair.

Nathan nodded in agreement. “Yeah. And that poor woman. What he did to her is unforgivable.”

Olivia turned to him, her eyes blazing with determination. “We have to catch this guy, Nathan. Before he hurts anyone else.”

Nathan nodded again, a look of concern crossing his face. “But how? He's been one step ahead of us this whole time.”

Olivia leaned back in her seat, her eyes closed in thought. “We have to think like him. Get into his head. Figure out what his next move might be.”

Nathan raised an eyebrow. “And how do we do that?”

Olivia smirked. “Well, first we need to figure out what he's after. What's his endgame? Is it just to kill, or is there something more?” She paused, deep in thought. “We also need to consider the fact that he's a werewolf. He's not limited by human constraints.”