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Chapter 56

Chapter 53 The Dead and the Living
“Don’t forget, you’re my student. Ihavea duty to make sure you’re safe. Let’s go, or it’ll be dark soon.
Since Johnathan had put it that way, Sierra didn’t argue. She gotintothe car without another word.
This was her first time in this part of the city.Asshe looked around at the scatteredtrash, the homeless people lining the streets, she turned to Johnathan. Just as she expected, his browswerefurrowed slightly.
Johnathanhada mild case of OCD and a preference for cleanliness. She had noticed it back at his place–everything spotless, arranged with meticulous precision. Even the book she had taken off the shelf, which she had placed back randomly, had been quietly returned to its exact original spot by him.
She had no idea how he remembered the placement of so many books, but his level of discipline was borderline terrifying-
“Mr. Johnathan, don’t go in.Justwait for me in the car,” she said.
Then she turned and walked toward the address he had given her.
A few steps in, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around–Johnathan was following.
“Let’s go.”
His lips pressed into a thin line.
This place made him uncomfortable, but there was no way he was letting Sierra go in alone.
Sierra didn’t argue. She just quickened her pace.
She felt guilty, like she was dragging a god down into the mud.
Soon, they reached Daphne’s home. Or at least, what countedasahome.
Sierra felt a lump in her throat.
Thiswasn’teven a house. Just a flimsy shack put together with whatever scraps were available.
Shehadn’t expected Daphne to have lived likethis.
She knocked for a while, but no one answered.
“Justgo in,”Johnathan’said.
The doorwasburely evenadoor.
Sierra nodded. With a littleforce, she pushed it open.
A wave of rancid air hit her face.
Her expression changed immediately. She rushedinside-
A minute later, she stumbled out, face pale.
Twenty minutes later, the police arrived.
As the one who had called it in, Sierra was taken to thestationalong with Johnathan.
“You again?”
Thefemaleofficer from the morning recognized her.
Sierra forcedaweak smile.
Finished
The officer asked.
Sierra’s mind drifted back towhatshe had seen inside.
The body on the bed had clearly been dead for days. The air was thick 1 with the stench of rot. The summer heat had already accelerated the decay–her corpse was bloated, covered in flies and writhing maggots.
She felt a wave ofnausearising.
The officer quickly poured her acupof hot water. “Take a moment.”
Thanks.”
Sierra took a sip, steadying herself, then spoke.
“I had no direct relationship with her. I just.. I had a former inmate who used to talk about her sick mother, who had been bedridden for years. She was released two years ago. I suddenly thought of it and decided to check in.”
The officer raised an eyebrow, surprised to hear Sierra mention prison.
Buttherewas nothing to hide–it was public record.
Since they were just the ones who had reported the body, and since the coroner’s preliminary assessment was that the woman had died of starvation, Sierra andJohnathanwere free to leave after giving their statements. They were only advised to stay in the city for the time being.
“Areyoualright?”
Johnathan had finished earlier. He handed her a cup ofmilktea the moment she stepped out of the station.
Sierra took it, smiling faintly. “You expected something to be wrong, didn’t you?”
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have suggestedshecheck on it today. And he definitely wouldn’t have insisted on coming with her.
Thad a friend look into it. His people said the son hadn’t been home in days, and no one had seen anyone leave the house for a while.”
Sierranodded.She remembered Daphne had a younger brother,
It was because he had been hit by a car that she had embezzled funds to pay for his medical bills.
According toShane, Daphnehadwillingly let Kason use her in exchange foranearly release and money–only to end up tortured to death
Even in herfinalmoments, she had been calling out for “Mom”
Sierra’s fingers tightened around the cup.
Then, suddenly, she felt a hand cover hers.
She looked up, and Johnathan said calmly, “If you grip any tighter, the cup’s going to break.”
Sierra blinked, then quickly loosened her grip.
Johnathan took the cup from her and checked her hand to make sure she hadn’t spilledanything. Then he asked, “Do you want to find her brother?”
“Thatwould be a huge help. Thank you”
Sierra wasn’t the type tobeoverly polite.
This was something she couldn’t do on her own–so she let Johnathan handle it.
Danhne’s mother was gone. Now only her brother was left
When the Flame of Love Fades