The Ninth Victim

I'm an embalmer at the Southwood Mortuary, gifted with a peculiar sensitivityI can hear the final words of the departed. When an unidentified young woman's desperate cry, Nathaniel Carr... help me... don't kill me! pierced my ears, a chill seized me. It was the exact name of my sister's fianc, whom she had just brought home yesterday.

My family branded me a jealous lunatic, smashing teacups to silence me. As the wedding bells chimed, my sister smiled on the altar, and the groom approached me, a wine glass in hand, his gaze behind his spectacles like a viper's: "I hear... you can speak with the dead?"

1.

I am an embalmer at the Southwood Mortuary. For three years in this profession, constantly dealing with the deceased, my parents considered me cursed, and my sister, Stella, found me an embarrassment. What they didn't know was that I possessed a unique gift: a special sensitivity. At the moment of suturing a body or applying makeup to a deceased person, I could hear their last words left on Earth.

Today, an unidentified young womans body had arrived. She was found wedged in the rocks by the sea. The seawater had distorted her features, and her limbs were already showing the early signs of adRusselld decomposition, a truly gruesome sight. The coroner had ruled it an accidental drowning. But the instant I picked up the powder puff and touched her cold, swollen cheek, a piercing, desperate voice shot straight into my eardrums.

Nathaniel Carr help me dont kill me!

The ring its in his fish tank Im the ninth

The powder puff slipped from my hand and clattered to the floor.

Nathaniel Carr.

That name was all too familiar. Just yesterday, my radiant sister, Stella, had brought her new fianc home. He was a refined gentleman with gold-rimmed glasses, the CFO of a successful company, named Nathaniel Carr. My parents beamed with approval, and Stella preened like a proud peacock, showing off to me about her impending marriage into wealth.

And now, that mans name echoed in the dying words of an unknown woman, a name twisted into a chilling spectral warning.

The ninth

A shiver of dread ran through me. If this young womans words were true, Nathaniel Carr was not only a murderer but a serial killer. And my own sister was about to become his wife.

That evening, I returned home to an atmosphere thick with celebration. The living room was piled high with luxury gifts C Nathaniel had sent them over as engagement presents that afternoon. Mom was holding a pearl necklace to her throat, grinning from ear to ear. Oh, the quality of this! Lets see how old Mrs. Millers daughter next door can compare now. Stella really has a knack for things, unlike some people who spend all day with the dead, bringing back bad luck.

Stella was on the sofa, manicuring her nails, and rolled her eyes at Moms comment. Mom, why bring her up? As long as she doesnt show her face at my engagement party and embarrass me, thats all I ask.

I took a deep breath and walked to the coffee table, blocking the television light. Sis, you cant get engaged. I looked into Stellas eyes, trying to keep my voice steady. Nathaniel Carr is dangerous.

The room fell into a deathly silence. Three seconds later, Stella let out a snicker, as if shed heard the funniest joke imaginable.

Celeste, are you crazy? Whats wrong with Nathaniel? Is it because hes too rich, or because he loves me too much, and its driving you insane with jealousy?

Its not jealousy. My fists clenched, nails digging into my flesh. Today, an unidentified young womans body came into the mortuary. Before she died she spoke to me. She said Nathaniel Carr killed her, that hes a serial killer! The body is in Mortuary Cabinet 3. Sis, just believe me this once, at least look into his background! To make them believe, I had to describe my inexplicable ability to "hear last words" as a "dream" or an intuition.

Suddenly, an exquisite bone china teacup came hurtling towards me.

2.

The teacup shattered at my feet, porcelain shards spraying, one slicing my ankle. Mom had thrown it. She stood up, pointing a finger at my nose and screaming, Celeste! Are you deliberately trying to ruin your sisters happiness? Huh? Youre an unwanted embalmer, spending all day with corpses, has your brain rotted too?

Making up stories about your future brother-in-law? A murderer? Why dont you just say hes an alien?!

Stella stood up, her heels clicking as she strode over, looking down at me. The disgust in her eyes almost spilled over. Celeste, I know youve always been a dark soul. When we were kids, if I wanted a new dress, youd say it would rain and get dirty. Now Im marrying into wealth, and youre cursing my fianc as a killer.

Has your mouth sewn up so many dead peoples mouths that it only spits venom?

Im not cursing you! My eyes reddened with urgency. The young woman said Nathaniel Carr has a ring hidden in his fish tank! Thats proof! If we just check

Enough! Dad slammed his hand on the table. Nathaniel took us to his villa just this afternoon. That huge fish tank has expensive Koi carp, worth thousands! You want us to go rummage through it? Do you want our family to become the laughingstock of the entire city?

Get back to your room! Mom pushed me. Youre such bad luck! What if Nathaniel finds out tomorrow and thinks we have a lunatic in the family? From today on, youre not allowed out, and youre certainly not allowed at Stellas engagement party!

I was shoved into my small, north-facing bedroom. From outside, their joyful laughter echoed, discussing tomorrows hotel menu, debating whether to honeymoon in the Maldives or Switzerland. I leaned against the door, the young womans desperate cry reverberating in my mind.

The ninth

Sister, if you become the tenth, who will be there to hear your last words?

Early the next morning, I slipped out of the house while everyone else was still asleep. I couldn't just stand by and watch Stella walk into danger, no matter how much she humiliated me. I decided to go to the police station or look for clues related to the unidentified young woman. But I had no evidence. Besides the voice in my head, I had nothing. If I went to the police now and said, The body told me Nathaniel Carr killed her, they would most likely send me to a psychiatric hospital. It would only tip off Nathaniel Carr and make him cautious.

I returned to the mortuary. Just outside, I saw a black SUV parked. A man in a black trench coat was crouched on the steps, smoking, a scattering of cigarette butts at his feet. He looked disheveled and fierce, his eyes bloodshot, but his face was remarkably handsome, with sharp, defined features. He saw me approaching in my work uniform, extinguished his cigarette, and asked in a hoarse voice, Are you the embalmer in charge of the young woman in Cabinet 3?

I nodded. Are you family?

The man closed his eyes in pain. Im her brother. Im a private investigator. Ive been looking for her for three months I never expected to find her here. His name was Garrett. Id seen that name in the news; he was Southwoods most renowned forensic consultant, having solved many cold cases, but his sisters disappearance had remained a mystery.

Garrett followed me into the morgue. The moment the white sheet was pulled back, this six-foot-plus tough man instantly broke down, falling to his knees and wailing. Lily its my fault I couldnt protect you

I stood by, watching his unbearable grief, and the impulse within me could no longer be suppressed. This was true love for the departed. Unlike my family, who met warnings of death with only disdain and curses.

Mr. Russell, I said softly. Your sister suffered greatly when she passed.

Garrett abruptly looked up at me, his eyes like a wounded beast. How do you know? The coroner said she drowned

She told me she was held underwater until she drowned. I met Garretts eyes, deciding to take a gamble. The killers name is Nathaniel Carr. The evidence is in his fish tanka ring.

3.

Garrett froze. Any normal person hearing such words would think I was a charlatan. But he didn't. He stared intensely at me, as if grasping at a last straw. Are you certain? Do you know what youre saying? Nathaniel Carr is a rising star in Southwoods business world. If you make false accusations, youll be legally responsible.

Im an embalmer. I pointed to my ears. I can hear the dead. Your sister said she was the ninth victim. If you dont believe me, you can check Nathaniel Carrs fish tank, or look into whether his previous girlfriends all mysteriously disappeared.

The air hung heavy for a full minute. Garrett suddenly stood up and bowed deeply to me.

I believe you. His voice was hoarse yet firm. For three months, Ive investigated all of Lilys social connections. The only one I couldnt get a full background on was Nathaniel Carr. My gut told me he was suspicious, but I had no evidence, no direction. Ms. Clarke, thank you for giving me a lead.

He pulled a black business card from his coat and handed it to me. Regardless of the outcome, I, Garrett Russell, wont forget this. If hes responsible for nine lives, its not just Lily. Ms. Clarke, you know this secret is dangerous. A man like Nathaniel Carr is very perceptive.

I offered a bitter smile. My sister is getting engaged to him today.

Garretts expression instantly changed. Then your sister is in great danger.

I tried to warn her, I said, lowering my gaze. But she thinks Im jealous, and my parents think Im bad luck.

Garrett was silent for a moment, then retrieved a miniature tracking device from his car, designed to look like a simple brooch. Wear this. If youre in danger, press it, and no matter where you are, Ill be there. Youve brought peace to my sisters restless spirit, which makes you my benefactor, Ms. Clarke. If your family doesnt believe you, you can consider me your support.

In that moment, in the cold morgue, I felt a warmth I hadn't experienced in a long time. My own parents considered me worthless, yet this man, a stranger I had just met, prioritized my safety. I accepted the brooch, looking at Garrett. Mr. Russell, if you find evidence, could you please not make it public immediately? I want I want my sister to see that mans true colors.

You want to save her? Garrett asked.

4.

I shook my head, remembering the teacup that had shattered at my feet last night. I want to save myself. Only with Nathaniel Carrs downfall can I shed the labels of lunatic and jealous freak. As for my sister thats the path she chose.

Half a month later, Stella and Nathaniel Carrs wedding proceeded as scheduled. During that half-month, my family treated me like a thief, terrified I would disrupt the wedding. I, in turn, enjoyed the peace, moving into the mortuarys staff dormitory, exchanging updates with Garrett daily. Garretts efficiency was astonishing. Instead of directly searching the fish tank, he followed the ninth victim lead, using his network to discreetly investigate Nathaniel Carrs movements over the past decade.

Sure enough, Nathaniel Carr would move to a new city every year or so, and around the time of his departure, young women would mysteriously disappear locally. While most bodies were never found or were ruled accidental, with the core suspect I provided, all the pieces of the puzzle began to fit.

On the wedding day, Mom specifically called me. Celeste, today is Stellas big day. I know youre feeling unbalanced, but youre still her sister. You have to come today; were taking family photos. If you dont, dont ever call me your mother again!

I looked at myself in the mirror, dressed in a black business suit, and touched the brooch pinned to my collar. Okay, Ill be there. I went, not for blessings, but to bear witness. To witness how this family, caught in a bubble of vanity, slowly descended into an abyss.

The wedding was held at Southwoods most luxurious five-star hotel. The moment I entered, I received countless strange glances. In a sea of guests adorned in evening gowns and glittering jewelry, my all-black attire stood out jarringly, almost as if I were attending a funeral.

Oh dear, is that the younger daughter from the Clarke family who works at the crematorium?

So ill-mannered, dressed like that for a wedding. Isnt she just trying to upset her sister?

I heard she even spread rumors that the groom was a murderer. Clearly, somethings wrong with her head.

Stella, in a custom-made gown worth a fortune, clung to Nathaniel Carrs arm, looking like a haughty queen. Seeing me, her smile faltered, then she adopted a magnanimous, forgiving expression, speaking into the microphone: Thank you all for coming to my wedding. Although my sister, due to her work, has a rather peculiar personality, and even some misunderstandings about me, Im still very happy she could make it. These words made her seem gracious while simultaneously confirming my supposed immaturity.

Nathaniel Carr pushed his gold-rimmed glasses up, his gaze falling on me. That lookcold, slimy, like a snake crawling up my spine. He smiled as he walked towards me, raising a glass of wine: Celeste, isnt it? Stella tells me you have some special thoughts about me? I hear you can speak with the dead?

The surrounding guests erupted in laughter.

Boom!

The last thread in my mind snapped. I sharply looked at Stella, who stood not far away. She was looking over here with a shy, adoring expression, utterly oblivious that in her eagerness to please this man, she had revealed my professional habits and past warnings as amusing anecdotes to curry favor! She had personally handed my ace card into the devils grasp.

Nathaniel Carr watched my pale face, the smile on his lips deepening. He gently tapped my rigid wine glass, producing a sharp clink, like the prelude to a death knell.

Dont be nervous. Im quite interested in bodies myself. If the opportunity arises, Id truly like to learn how those speechless dead people manage to accuse you.

5.

I looked at him, unafraid. Mr. Carr, the dead do speak. And not only do they speak, they also hold grudges.

Nathaniel Carrs pupils constricted slightly, but his smile remained. Oh? Then Id truly like to hear it, given the chance.

You will, I said softly. Soon.

Just then, Mom rushed over, tugged me aside, and hissed in a low voice, You wretched girl, shut up! If you dare to say another word, Ill tear your mouth off! Go sit in a corner quickly, dont be an eyesore!

During the family photo segment, the photographer directed the positions. Alright, bride and groom in the center, parents on either side, sister sister, stand a bit to the side, a bit further. I was pushed to the very edge, half my body out of frame. The moment the flash went off, I saw Nathaniel Carrs hand resting on Stellas waist, his long index finger gently tapping the lace of her wedding dress. It was his habitual motion when looking for where to strike. And Stella, her face beaming with happiness, was utterly unaware.

After the photos, I skipped dinner and turned to leave. Just as I exited the banquet hall, I received a message from Garrett, with an attached image. It was the DNA comparison result from trace human tissue extracted from Nathaniel Carrs villas drainage pipes. Along with a blurry photo, taken through a floor-to-ceiling window, of a shimmering object under the light at the bottom of the huge fish tank. The caption contained only four words:

[The hunt begins.]

I glanced back at the brilliantly lit banquet hall. Sister, your dream of marrying into wealth has come true. But your nightmare has only just begun. I took out my phone, cropped my half-body out of the family photo, then blocked Mom and Stellas contact information. From today, I was the sole witness, and the cold, detached avenger. Since you chose not to believe me, you will bear the price of this sweetness yourselves.

After leaving that nauseating wedding, my life paradoxically became incredibly peaceful. I blocked everyone in my family and moved into the single dormitory provided by the mortuary. Although it was only a small studio, without endless scolding or my sisters condescending mockery, it was paradise to me.

Garrett became a frequent visitor. He was no longer the disheveled, heavy-drinking man; he had shaved his beard, cut his hair short, and regained the sharp, decisive look he wore as a police consultant. But every time he came to see me, he would bring a hot breakfast or some strange but practical small gift, like pepper spray or a miniature voice recorder.

Morning. Garrett placed a cup of hot soy milk on my desk, his gaze sweeping over the makeup kit I was organizing. Work today?

Yes, an elderly man who died in a car accident. I put on my gloves, speaking calmly. His family wants him to have a dignified farewell.

Garrett leaned against the door, quietly watching me work. He never seemed bothered by the smell, nor did he find my job gruesome. This silent companionship brought me an unprecedented sense of peace. When I finished suturing the old mans wounds, and my fingers touched his cold earlobe, that familiar voice did not appear. The old man had passed away peacefully, with no last words. This, in my profession, was actually the norm. Demons like Nathaniel Carr, burdened with multiple lives, were ultimately a rarity.

By the way, Garrett pulled a document from his coat and handed it to me. This is what you asked for. It contained Nathaniel Carrs recent movements, and screenshots from Stellas social media. Since I had blocked them, Garrett had become my eyes.

In the screenshots, Stella showcased the pristine blue waters of the Maldives, with the caption: My husband says he wants to show me the whole world. This is what marrying for love looks like. Below were Mom and Dads comments: Our daughter is so happy! Your mom is envious! And various other relatives praises.

Garrett let out a cold laugh, tapping his finger on the desk. The photos are edited. Nathaniel Carr never took her out of the country; theyve been at his villa in Southwood. He restricted her from traveling, using the excuse of a company IPO audit, claiming her passport was confiscated.