《Crimson Veil》


 Nightmare

    A pair of hands slowly crawled up Elena''s neck.


    These hands were twisted and cracked like withered tree branches, yet unnaturally heavy and hard, exuding a chilling, hellish coldness, intent on pulling Elena down onto the sofa.


    She couldn¡¯t see the owner of these hands, but she could feel them¡ªdark brown, streaked with faint red lines, like bloodstains clawed from her own skin.


    Outside the window, the sounds of a lively parade or perhaps an old-fashioned wedding filled the air, with drums and cymbals creating a cacophony of celebration. But her surroundings were eerily silent, so quiet that she could hear the thudding of her own heartbeat, as though the entire world was unaware of her struggle.


    Her office was on the nineteenth floor of a high-rise building.


    At this height, no sounds besides the wind could be heard, and from her position, she couldn¡¯t see outside. Even if she could, there was no way such a procession would be passing by on this busy street. Despite still being trapped in the nightmare, she knew with clarity that she was once again experiencing sleep paralysis.


    She knew that if she could just sit up, it would end, but the hands only tightened, dragging her down again. She could almost "see" herself swaying on the sofa like a ragdoll, and that playful mockery sparked a stubborn defiance deep within her, making her resist more forcefully.


    But it was useless! The withered hands had already wrapped around her throat, tightening, tightening, tightening, until she could barely breathe.


    Suddenly, inexplicably, she shouted, ¡°Ave Maria, gratia plena!¡±


    The hands recoiled as if scalded by fire, retreating with a sharp, pained groan. This gave Elena a moment to catch her breath, but before she could rise, the tree-like hands reached out again, this time hesitant but determined, painfully dragging her back into the darkness. Elena was startled, quickly repeating her prayers louder, then summoning all her strength to break free.


    The clock showed 12:45 PM.


    At this moment, Elena West, a lawyer at Silverstone Law Firm, awoke from her terrifying nightmare. There were no signs of battle around her¡ªshe had simply fallen asleep at her desk, and in her embarrassment, she had drooled onto the case files in front of her.


    The timely knock on her door helped her regain her focus, and the person who entered made her relax. It was John, the firm¡¯s intern. She had an afternoon meeting with a new client, and since she was a female lawyer, she couldn''t meet a criminal suspect alone in a criminal case¡ªshe needed a male colleague with her, so John was accompanying her.


    The detention center was quite a distance away, so they needed to leave early to save time in the afternoon.


    As the afternoon sunlight bathed her, Elena felt as though the horrors of her nightmare were a distant memory, belonging to another time.


    After graduating from law school, Elena West had drifted aimlessly for a few years before finally taking the bar exam and becoming a practicing lawyer. Others envied her stable career, but only she knew that she was not cut out for this job. She was careless, soft-hearted, impulsive, and overly emotional¡ªtraits that made her ill-suited for the cold, calculating, and decisive nature of a lawyer. As a result, her performance had been lackluster. Since finishing her internship and starting her career, she had been the lawyer with the lowest win rate at the largest law firm in the city. Had it not been for her mentor, the senior partner who was a former professor of hers, she would have long been kicked out. She was aware that her colleagues whispered behind her back, saying she was only here because of connections, but she could only grit her teeth and bear it.


    For a case as grisly and bloody as this one, the firm usually wouldn¡¯t assign a female lawyer, and Elena had never won a criminal case. However, the suspect in this case had not hired a lawyer, and due to the possibility of a death sentence, the court had appointed Silverstone Law Firm to fulfill this duty. Naturally, since it was a case with no financial benefit, it was assigned to someone like her, a junior lawyer with little experience.


    The case itself was straightforward: the facts were clear, and the evidence was indisputable. The only issue was the mental state of the defendant at the time of the crime. However, the brutality of the crime made Elena shudder involuntarily.


    The suspect¡¯s name was Lucas Graves, 42, a math teacher at a prominent local high school. He lived with his wife, son, divorced sister-in-law, and in-laws. The family was made up entirely of educators, with every adult, except for the 15-year-old son still in high school, working in the teaching profession. Lucas and his wife even taught at the same school.


    According to colleagues, friends, and neighbors, Lucas Graves was usually quiet, mild-mannered, and conflict-averse¡ªan easygoing "nice guy" who was notably submissive to his wife¡¯s more dominant family. But over a month before the incident, he seemed to transform into a different person. He began having intense arguments with his family, even resorting to physical confrontations. His personality, once mild and passive, seemed as though it had been overtaken by something darker.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    On the night of the crime, Lucas got into a heated argument with his wife, and then, using a machete he had prepared beforehand, he brutally murdered her, his sister-in-law, and his in-laws. His young son was severely injured and forced to jump from a sixth-floor window to escape. He remained in a deep coma, with a chance of being left in a vegetative state.


    The crime scene was horrific¡ªblood was everywhere, and the brutality was unimaginable.


    When the police arrived, they were greeted by a disturbing sound¡ªa manic laugh echoing through the room. The living room was drenched in blood, with barely any space to step. Four bodies were seated on the sofa, lined up like twisted dolls. One of the bodies had a head placed on its leg, though it was unclear whether it was its own. Another body had its head hanging unnaturally forward, held on only by a sliver of skin. A third body¡¯s head had rolled off entirely, nearly tripping the officers as they entered. Lucas Graves himself was seated on another sofa, holding his wife¡¯s head and mumbling to himself, ¡°Is it... is it... not... not...¡±


    He seemed oblivious to the officers¡¯ arrival, completely unaware of their presence. It took little effort to restrain him. Afterward, he struggled violently and screamed, ¡°No! It¡¯s not me! There¡¯s a demon... a demon!¡± His desperate cries sent a chill through the neighborhood.


    During interrogation, he refused to discuss the crime and attempted suicide multiple times. When he was saved, he became eerily silent and distant. Although there were suspicions regarding his mental state, experts later ruled him sane. Now, all that awaited him was his trial.


    Rumors circulated that some rookie officers who had witnessed the scene had fainted on the spot, and many veterans who had seen their fair share of crime were visibly shaken. Even now, neighbors of the Graves family didn¡¯t dare leave their homes after dark, a testament to the horrifying nature of what had occurred. Elena didn¡¯t find this hard to understand. She had seen a few photographs from the crime scene, and even just a brief glance at them sent an icy chill down her spine. She had no desire to be involved any further.


    Despite wanting to distance herself, despite the terror gripping her heart, she had to maintain a calm and professional demeanor. She forced herself to go to the detention center to meet the perpetrator of this horrific act.


    Today, she finally understood why people said lawyers were the ones who "dealt with the devil."


    ¡°Mr. Lee, I¡¯m Elena West, your court-appointed defense attorney,¡± Elena said, trying to sound composed, though she still couldn¡¯t bring herself to look him directly in the eyes.


    Lucas Graves sat silently, his gaze fixed on the floor, not responding.


    ¡°As your defense attorney, my role is to protect your legal rights, and I will do my best to assist you,¡± Elena continued, her voice steady as she assessed the situation. John sat to her left, and between her and Lucas was a sturdy table, with a police officer standing nearby. These details gave her some comfort, but she quickly realized that her words, though routine, felt hollow. She had gone through the motions, explaining the defendant''s rights, but it was as if she were speaking to a wall. His lack of reaction only heightened her sense of nervousness.


    This couldn¡¯t happen!


    She was a fully licensed attorney, though her performance had been poor and her win rate low. Still, she couldn''t afford to show weakness in front of an intern like John, especially not in this initial meeting. It was her job to listen, understand, and build trust with the client¡ªhow could she be so flustered? No, no! She had to be strong. With the police officer present, she reminded herself to stand firm.


    This was the first time she had really studied her client, and she could feel the weight of the situation settling in.


    He was thin, almost gaunt¡ªskin and bones. Perhaps it was his natural build, or maybe the lack of sunlight during his confinement, but his skin was unnaturally pale, tinged with a faint bluish hue. It almost felt as if you could see his veins crawling just beneath the surface. He sat there motionless, appearing calm and harmless on the outside, but to Elena, there was something eerie about him. Like his body was buried deep within the wooden chair, his shadow curled in the darkness, as though he were silently watching something. If it weren¡¯t for the company of others, Elena would almost swear she was facing not a living person, but a wax figure from the movie House of Wax.


    ¡°So... can you tell me what happened that night?¡± Elena swallowed hard, reluctantly opting for a direct question, knowing that if she didn¡¯t, she would end up talking to herself until sundown.


    Lucas Graves'' eyes finally shifted. His neck slowly turned, and his gaze, which had been focused intently on the ground, now locked onto Elena. But his reaction didn¡¯t make Elena feel any better. In fact, it made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.


    Did no one notice? The angle at which his neck twisted was unnatural, and though his eyes seemed clear, there was something unsettling about the look in them. Everything about this man screamed abnormal. How could he be deemed fit for trial, for criminal responsibility?


    ¡°I didn¡¯t kill anyone,¡± Lucas Graves suddenly spoke, his voice soft, as though it came from a distant place. ¡°I didn¡¯t kill anyone,¡± he repeated, his whisper growing more insistent. ¡°There¡¯s a demon. It took the form of my family. It lured me. It killed them. It was him! Not me! I didn¡¯t kill anyone!¡±


    By the end of his sentence, Lucas suddenly stood up and grabbed Elena¡¯s wrist with alarming strength.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t kill anyone! It was him! It was the demon! Help me! Help me!¡±


    In an instant, everyone in the room was shocked by his sudden outburst. The police officers who had been present, along with those who rushed in afterward, quickly restrained Lucas, pinning him to the ground. But before he was fully subdued, he screamed at Elena, who had been pushed to the corner in fear, ¡°There¡¯s a demon! Believe me, he killed them! It was him! A demon¡ª!¡±


    His frantic screams stopped abruptly as he was subdued. John, pale and shaking, muttered to himself, ¡°God, this is possession, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Whether it was possession or not, whether her colleagues would laugh at her or her boss, Director Pan, would criticize her for being too easily shaken, Elena had made up her mind. She didn¡¯t want to continue with this case. She wanted out.


    She looked down at her wrists, already feeling the soreness where Lucas had gripped her. It wouldn¡¯t be long before bruises appeared there, dark and heavy. She was certain that those marks were from the grip of something otherworldly¡ªshe had distinctly felt the chilling pressure that had transferred from Lucas to her, like a sinister force she couldn¡¯t shake off.


    This case might not be as simple as it seemed. It wasn¡¯t just ordinary terror she was facing.


    And that was enough for her to decide¡ªshe was out.

 Timing is everything

    In life, timing is everything. If you don¡¯t act quickly, opportunities slip by, and you may never reach your goal.


    Now, Elena truly understood this truth.


    She should have spoken to Director Grant about transferring the case to someone else the moment she got back to the office yesterday. But she hadn¡¯t. And now, this morning, when she found out that Director Grant was away on a business trip, she realized she had no choice but to soldier on. At the firm, no one dared make decisions without Director Grant¡¯s approval, and no one would disturb him while he was away, unless it was a dire emergency.


    Unless she resigned. But she knew that would be a mistake. She would never find another job like this, and she couldn¡¯t betray Director Grant, who had given her this chance.


    Her mind was in turmoil, and last night¡¯s nightmares hadn¡¯t helped. She didn¡¯t know what to do. In the past, whenever she was in such a state, she would visit her free psychologist for some relief. So, she decided to take her lunch break and go see him.


    Thomas Light, 31, was the doctor at the psychology clinic on the 14th floor. He had a tall, sharp appearance, but his eyes were gentle and clear, like a deer¡¯s, creating an instinctive sense of trust. They had become friends after she helped him win his divorce case, and because they worked in the same building. More importantly, his warm, reassuring presence made him a friend she could turn to.


    ¡°Another sleep paralysis episode?¡± he asked, noticing her scattered expression.


    ¡°Psychologists can be so annoying. I should never have told you anything. Can¡¯t you just pretend you don¡¯t know?¡±


    ¡°It seems I was right, then. Sleep paralysis,¡± Thomas Light teased, leaning back in his chair. ¡°But hey, it¡¯s lunch break, and I¡¯m not your therapist right now.¡±


    ¡°You wear your ¡®friend¡¯ title like a badge, part-time ¡®free¡¯ therapist too.¡±


    ¡°Oh? And what else is written on my face?¡±


    ¡°It says that Elena West can do whatever she wants.¡±


    ¡°In that case... fine! I¡¯m taking you to lunch. There¡¯s a Chinese restaurant around the corner downstairs¡ªcheap and authentic. Let¡¯s go!¡±


    He understood her. In fact, understanding others was his job. But for Elena, his care went beyond professional duty; he liked her as a friend. He knew that in crowded, noisy places, she could relax and return to her livelier, more spirited self. It was good for her mental well-being. Her stress had been piling up, especially after she took on the sensational case that had shaken the entire city. He wanted to help her.


    ¡°What should I do? I haven¡¯t been sleeping well lately. I¡¯ve got wrinkles now,¡± she said as they sat in a corner of the noisy Chinese restaurant, eating and talking.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. Statistics show that about 40% of people have some form of sleep disorder. What people call ¡®sleep paralysis¡¯ is just one type of it,¡± Thomas Light reassured her. He did have some unscientific suspicions about her situation, but he didn¡¯t want to frighten her without more evidence.


    ¡°Does that mean I should check my heart?¡± Elena asked, tears streaming from her eyes as the ramen¡¯s spiciness hit her.


    ¡°According to science, sleep paralysis is usually caused by poor sleeping posture, which affects blood circulation. Regular health check-ups are a good habit, but... I hope you haven¡¯t troubled him again, have you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I have.¡± Elena nodded. ¡°It¡¯s not intentional. But whenever things get really bad, I just blurt out that prayer.¡±


    ¡°I told you from the beginning, you¡¯re too sensitive, and you''re easily affected by negative energy. But when you¡¯re pushed to your limits, you do show courage. It¡¯s like you always end up being protected, no matter how bad things get,¡± Thomas Light joked lightly, trying not to give Elena any negative psychological cues. He was genuinely concerned, though. Based on his previous experience, frequent episodes of sleep paralysis and nightmares like Elena¡¯s often preceded something dangerous. She might not realize it, but it always felt like something had intervened to protect her. But this time¡ªwould the outcome be the same as before? Could it be connected to the case she was working on?


    ¡°What are you talking about? You¡¯re a medical professional, not some fortune-teller. Be careful with your stance!¡±


    ¡°You know, about eighty percent of the greatest scientists believe in the existence of God, so science and spiritual belief are not mutually exclusive. Personally, I prefer logical things, but I¡¯m not completely dismissive of irrational phenomena,¡± Thomas responded with a grin.


    ¡°Nice speech. But do you really believe in demons?¡± Elena asked frankly, not concerned about the noisy crowd around them.


    ¡°Demons? Is this connected to your case?¡± Thomas Light raised an eyebrow. ¡°Or are you just guessing?¡±


    Elena hesitated for a moment.


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be discussing the case with someone who¡¯s not involved, but you¡¯re my psychologist, so it should be fine,¡± she justified, then proceeded to tell him everything that had happened the previous day, as well as the feelings she had been experiencing.


    ¡°If you really dislike handling this case so much, why force yourself? It¡¯s not fair to you or to your client. Why not let someone else take over?¡± Thomas suggested. He believed Elena but also knew she was very sensitive, so he couldn¡¯t rule out the possibility that her judgment might be clouded. The best solution, in his mind, was for someone with a strong constitution to take on this bloody case. He also knew that it wouldn¡¯t be hard to find someone willing to handle it, given the case¡¯s public attention. Despite the lack of financial gain, the publicity would be massive. In fact, he had overheard some of the people at Silverstone Law Firm discussing it. They believed that taking on this case wasn¡¯t a bad thing, since it would bring high exposure, win or lose. It seemed unfair that Director Grant had given it to Elena, who many considered to be a ¡°deadweight¡± in the firm.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    ¡°I thought about talking to Director Grant this morning, but then he left on a last-minute business trip. I¡¯m so unlucky! And it¡¯s hard to bring it up now. I feel like I¡¯d be letting him down. Doesn¡¯t he want to nurture me?¡± Elena sighed, slurping her soup without caring about her image. ¡°I¡¯m just so conflicted. Even if I had already spoken to him, I¡¯d still feel like I made the wrong choice. It¡¯s hard to avoid regret when you¡¯re faced with such decisions.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s normal to think that another option might have been better. You don¡¯t need to feel guilty,¡± Thomas reassured her.


    ¡°So what should I do? Should I keep going or give up now?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not about giving up or holding on. It¡¯s about whether you really want to continue. If you force yourself, things will just get worse. Director Grant isn¡¯t gone forever,¡± Thomas said, speaking from the perspective of a friend.


    ¡°But the trial is almost here!¡± Elena said, frustration creeping into her voice. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m leaning toward giving up. Does that make me weak? But I¡¯m really scared of the next meeting. Yet I can¡¯t just do nothing. That would be irresponsible to Lucas Graves and ungrateful to Director Grant.¡±


    Thomas gave her hand a comforting pat. ¡°Why do you even need to meet with him again?¡±


    ¡°Because the last time, he didn¡¯t say anything. How can I defend him without understanding his side? I need to hear what he says about that night and know what kind of legal relief he¡¯s hoping for! Actually¡ª¡± Elena paused, then continued, ¡°I think we should request a new mental health evaluation after the trial begins.¡±


    ¡°I read about it in the news. Apparently, he¡¯s been deemed mentally unstable but not insane. Maybe his outburst yesterday was just an act, trying to manipulate you into helping him avoid punishment?¡± Thomas speculated.


    Elena shook her head without hesitation.


    Yesterday¡¯s experience had been too vivid for her to entertain any idea of it being an act. She rolled up the sleeve that covered her wrist, revealing the deep bruising that was already visible. ¡°Look, this is from yesterday. He grabbed me. With his physical strength, unless he had some kind of demonic energy, there¡¯s no way I¡¯d be injured this badly. Besides, if he was a normal person, how could he be so brutal? And to his own family?¡±


    ¡°The human mind is the most complex thing in the world,¡± Thomas said, gently touching the bruise on her wrist. ¡°When the mind is unwell, it¡¯s much more troublesome than anything else.¡±


    ¡°So, from your professional perspective, how likely is it that he¡¯s faking or has a real mental illness?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just a psychologist! I can handle general mental health issues. But when it comes to mental illness, that¡¯s a different matter. What we call ¡®mental illness¡¯ typically refers to severe psychiatric conditions, like schizophrenia or paranoia. Forensic psychiatry is a specialized field, and the clinical signs are very complex. Just thinking someone has it based on their behavior isn¡¯t enough.¡±


    ¡°I know not just anyone can diagnose that. I just want to know how to prove whether he¡¯s actually ill or not!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s very complicated and difficult. For example, we¡¯d observe his behavior, his cognitive abilities, emotions, even physical condition. We¡¯d also review his family history, his writings, and his behavior during detention. Only then can we form a comprehensive judgment. Another issue is ¡®impulse control disorder,¡¯ where the person has the capacity to recognize their actions but loses control over them¡ªsomething that happens in severe mania or schizophrenia. In such cases, extra caution is required to ensure everything aligns with medical standards.¡±


    ¡°Really? I¡¯ll have to look into that more,¡± Elena said, feeling the weight of the decision weighing on her.


    ¡°Hey, didn¡¯t you say you wanted to quit?¡± Thomas reminded her, almost sarcastically.


    ¡°I do want to quit. But before Director Grant comes back, I can¡¯t just sit idly by. At the very least, I need to lay a solid foundation for whoever takes over.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be so kind.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not about kindness. I still need to keep my job at Silverstone, so I can¡¯t afford to mess things up.¡± Elena snapped back, but then fell silent, thinking about the case. ¡°Aside from his extreme behavior when he was first detained, he seemed to almost accept his guilt. He¡¯s well-educated¡ªhe knows the consequences. Yet, he didn¡¯t try to defend himself. Why did he suddenly become so agitated yesterday, begging for my help? This doesn¡¯t add up! Unless he really does have a mental illness, or¡ª¡± Elena paused, her eyes narrowing, ¡°Or unless there really is something supernatural going on.¡±


    Elena shivered involuntarily as she finished her sentence. Thomas Light noticed her reaction and reached out to tap her forehead, gently bringing her back to the present moment.


    She was too susceptible to psychological suggestions, and that was her biggest weakness.


    She was still questioning the idea of demons and supernatural forces, but Thomas knew better. He had experienced things that defied explanation, things that science couldn¡¯t touch. He knew there were forces at work that went beyond the physical world. To protect Elena, he needed to find a way to help her. He wasn¡¯t sure how to solve this himself, but he could reach out to someone who might be able to. After thinking it over for a long time, he finally made up his mind.


    Only that person could help Elena.


    Though it pained him to ask for such a favor after years of friendship, he couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch Elena sink deeper into this mystery. He lowered his head and wrote down a name on a piece of paper, then handed it to Elena.


    ¡°What¡¯s this? Sebastian Novak¡ªThe Night Walker Bar¡ªaddress¡ª¡± Elena looked up in confusion. ¡°Thomas, what are you doing? Is this your idea of setting me up on a date? What, is he better than you? I don¡¯t want anyone worse than you.¡±


    ¡°Come on, we¡¯ve been friends for years. I¡¯m not trying to introduce you to anyone to mess with you,¡± Thomas chuckled. ¡°Just be careful¡ªdon¡¯t get too enchanted by him.¡±


    ¡°Ugh!¡±


    ¡°Stop acting all huffy!¡±


    ¡°Then why are you even giving me this name? Is he tangled up in some legal trouble that you want me to help with? You know, if it¡¯s a consultation, I can assist, but if it¡¯s a lawsuit, he¡¯ll have to contact the firm. Our professional code of ethics doesn¡¯t allow us to take private cases.¡±


    ¡°Can you at least let me finish talking?¡± Thomas smiled at Elena''s impatience, amused. It was part of what he liked about her¡ªso different from the so-called elite professionals in this high-rise building, with all their sterile efficiency. Elena had a warmth to her, a realness.


    ¡°He¡¯s not in trouble. The bar he owns¡ªThe Night Walker Bar¡ªI¡¯m introducing him to you because I think you should go see him.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying he¡¯s unusually handsome?¡±


    ¡°No. I¡¯m saying he¡¯s clairvoyant.¡±


    ¡°Clairvoyant?¡± Elena blinked, caught off guard. ¡°Is this for real? Or did I hear you wrong? Are you joking?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t hear wrong. I¡¯m not joking.¡± Thomas stopped Elena from reaching out to touch his forehead. ¡°I¡¯m not feverish. Careful! Your scarf fell into the soup.¡±


    ¡°So, why would you suddenly tell me this? Aren¡¯t you the one who hates those street fortune-tellers and so-called mystics? Remember how you used to mock me whenever we watched a movie like this, or when we¡¯d see a street reader outside a temple?¡±


    ¡°I mocked them because I know what a real spiritualist is like.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Really, really!¡±


    ¡°No kidding?¡±


    ¡°I swear on my ex-wife¡¯s name¡ªfine, fine, I swear on my academic reputation.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me sooner?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s the kind of guy who hates being bothered. I was worried you¡¯d start asking him to read your fortune or something. Also¡ª¡± Thomas¡¯ expression shifted, becoming serious. ¡°His abilities are a secret. If it weren¡¯t for this case being so strange, and you being my friend, I wouldn¡¯t have mentioned him at all. If there¡¯s really a demon involved, go to him for help, though there¡¯s no guarantee he¡¯ll agree to help.¡± Thomas looked at Elena seriously. ¡°Elena, can I trust you with this?¡±


    ¡°You can trust me completely,¡± Elena replied, her voice firm.


    Sebastian Novak? A strange name. A clairvoyant? A strange man. Elena couldn¡¯t help but feel a mix of disbelief and curiosity. What was going on here? She wasn¡¯t sure if she was ready to dive deeper into this world of the unknown, but she felt that something¡ªmaybe even someone¡ªwas pulling her closer to the edge of something she couldn¡¯t yet see.