They thought that Zarod might be a vampire, but the victim's blood was not depleted, and no saliva was detected in the tests and autopsies. It is also impossible for Zarod to be a vampire because of the holes they saw in the victim's front neck or in the throat area, not in the nape or side, where a vampire often bites. He's really not a vampire because the stab he uses in the neck is his sharp nails, which he also did to her, but luckily, it was not that deep.
No one has ever known Zarod's face or his real identity. What they only know is that he wears a black cloak and has quite long dark hair.
Many policemen are desperate to arrest him, but they are also afraid of what he might do. They strengthen their defenses and implement strict protocols that people secure and lock themselves at home every night. There are curfew hours which are before twelve midnight. He also claimed that Zarod does not choose his victims. Whoever he sees at night will get a taste of death from him. That explains why there are no people outside at midnight, and Zarod tried to kill her at the convenience store. First has planned on something, so they are waiting for what will happen tomorrow.
***
It's morning again. First and Second waited to see what Zarod would do next. She is amazed again that the Leaning Tower of Pisa was the landmark that she could see.
*tok tok tok*
"Come in," she invited someone who knocked on her door.
"Good morning, Ma'am. I'll clean the room and change your bedsheet," a chambermaid greeted and smiled at her.
"Oh, all right."
She took a quick shower and left the room to hang out in the lobby while the chambermaid did her work. She is reading the hotel's pamphlet when several people get out of the elevator. The policemen again!
"Good morning, chief. How are things going?" She inquired about the police officer she spoke with yesterday. He is wearing a dark blue tuxedo. His haircut is neat and short. He has a small mustache.
He looks tired. "Another thing has happened."
She frowned. "What is that?"
"Someone died at your hotel again. There were two."
Again? And now there are two of the victims?
"Really?"
"Yes. After all, it's not new. Zarod kills someone almost every midnight, but only one at a time. Now there are two."
She kept asking questions until she had gathered enough information. The one who died the other day was a woman in room 605. No blood spillage was found. Last night's victims were a woman and a man. The woman is in room 505, and the man is in room 405. There is also no blood spilled at the crime scene. It was a clean murder. She locked herself in her room after the chambermaid finished. She talked to First for a moment.
"Three of them died. This can be no coincidence. That monster must have killed them." First concluded.
"Yes, it looks like this is his target area," she agreed with his speculation.
"I assume that this evening, room 305 will be the next victim."
"Hm, that's what I'm thinking too. What are we going to do?"
"Why not protect room 305? You still have your sword here in inventory. We can use it to avert the killings and kill Zarod," he announces his plans.
She nodded. And that is their plan. She will go to bed early so she can stay awake to rescue whoever lives in room 305.
Not long after, it's afternoon.
"To avert the killings, we must avert yourself from being killed."
What First uttered has warned her that they are still on a mission of a possible attack, but defense is more of a priority.
Second went down to the lobby to hang out again. She saw the beautiful receptionist, she smiled at her, and so did she. She approached her to ask questions.
"What can I do for you?" she greeted her.
"Miss, who lives in rooms 805 and 705?" She wonders why Zarod started killing in room 605.
"Pardon me, Ma'am, but that information is confidential." As expected, they are not to give out such information to unauthorized personnel. She didn't know how to reply.
"A man lives in room 805 and a woman in room 705. May I know why you asked, Ma'am?"
"Ah, nothing. Just got worried about the murders that have happened in here." She acted innocently.
"But those two, they haven't come back for more than two days. Surprisingly, someone has been in those rooms lately. Maybe they've come back."
Hmm…
"By the way, who lives in room 305?"
"Why, Ma'am?"
"U-Um, well…" She's contemplating a valid reason to give. "Since I stay in room 205, I'm just concerned about my neighboring resident above me." She hopes her acting skills aren't that bad. "So, can you tell me?" Her nose is getting warm from lying. She can be Pinocchio.
"But Ma'am-"
"I promised the police officers to give out information to them when I knew something."
This one is not a lie. In return for gaining information from the police force, she swore to give them too about everything she knew as one of the hotel's residents, and if she witnessed something.
"If I tell you, will you keep it confidential?" she whispered.
A ray of hope shone. "Sure, you got it!" That was a close call.
"The truth is... I live there," she said softly as if she was too scared that others might hear their conversation. So, she's the one living in room 305.
"Okay? And?" She is waiting for her further response because she looks like she wants to tell her something more.
"The truth is, I-I'm pregnant because I don't have a husband to recognize my child. I ran away from and hid..." She caressed her belly. "So, I thought of staying at this hotel for a while. No other workers or staff here know of my situation."
That was an unexpected response that she got from her. She stared at her pregnant belly, which was not visible when she sat at the reception desk. Maybe she's been carrying her child for about four to five months.
"I'll tell you something too."
"What is it, Ma'am?"
"The reason I asked you who lives in room 305 is that-"
"Hey, Riza, someone's calling!" shouted the janitor I talked with the other day.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am. We'll talk later." The receptionist answered the caller on the hotel phone.
Second left the lobby and mumbled in the bedroom. The receptionist seems busy right now. She'll wait for a better time to approach her. She fell asleep from waiting.