Chapter 22: The Mysterious Man Whose Name Was His Nightmare

"Is it true that... You murdered the Registrar?"

Emily’s voice was unusually quiet.

Ryan, who had just been taking off his jacket and sat next to her, paused for a moment.

He looked at his younger sister.

Her face wasn’t filled with anger alone. There was confusion in her eyes, along with a trace of fear.

Ryan could understand why.

After all, she had just returned from her first day at a new school, and instead of coming home excited about meeting new classmates or telling him about her teachers, the first thing she asked was whether her brother had murdered someone.

Ryan couldn’t help but smile.

He let out a small sigh before walking toward her.

"Is that what they’re saying?"

Emily nodded.

"Everyone was talking about it."

She lowered her head slightly.

"They said the police came to school because you threatened the Registrar. They said you knew he was going to die and then..." She paused, swallowing hard. "They said you killed him."

Ryan stared at her for a moment before smiling again.

He reached out and gently patted her head.

"They’re wrong."

Emily looked up at him, eyes filled with curiosity.

"Really?"

"Really." Ryan affirmed, giving her a nod.

"I didn’t kill that man."

"Then what happened?" Emily asked.

Ryan leaned back against the couch.

"I only told him that he was going to die in three minutes."

Emily’s eyes widened.

"You just told him that?"

"Yes."

"And that’s why he called security?"

Ryan nodded.

"He thought I was threatening him. He didn’t understand what I meant."

Emily remained silent for a few seconds.

"But you knew he was going to die."

"I did."

"Then why didn’t you help him?" Emily went on with the weighty question that he really believed she would ask.

Ryan’s smile disappeared.

He looked toward the floor for a moment.

The truth was simple... He could have tried. He knew that himself.

But the moment the Registrar called security, the situation had already changed.

Ryan had no intention of forcing himself into someone’s life when that person didn’t even believe him.

Perhaps it was because he was never enlightened on what he could do.

"That poor man was unfortunate enough not to get help."

Emily frowned, but Ryan continued calmly.

"He unknowingly called for his own death when he called the security."

Emily didn’t respond but she simply stared at him, understanding what that could mean.

There was something about the way Ryan said it that made her realize just how strange his ability was.

He didn’t just know when someone was going to die.

He could see it.

He knew when someone’s time was coming.

And somehow, he had known that the Registrar had only minutes left.

Emily eventually lowered her gaze.

"Still..."

Her voice became softer.

"I don’t like what happened."

Ryan looked at her.

"I know."

Emily rubbed her fingers together.

"Nobody wanted to come close to me after the news."

Ryan’s expression changed slightly.

"They were all talking about me."

She paused.

"And they were saying bad things about you."

Emily’s voice trembled slightly as she continued, while Ryan remained silent.

"They called me..." She looked away. "The Murderer’s Sister."

The words hung in the room.

For the first time since she had arrived home, Ryan’s smile completely disappeared.

He could imagine it.

A classroom filled with students... Whispers. People staring at Emily.

Some probably pretending not to stare while talking behind her back.

And all because of something they didn’t understand.

Ryan bit his lips as he moved closer to her.

Without saying anything, he pulled her into his arms.

Emily stiffened for a second before relaxing against him.

"Don’t worry about it," Ryan said softly.

"But..."

"The school will clear the air soon."

Emily remained silent in his arms, while Ryan gently patted her back as he continued.

"You didn’t do anything wrong. Neither did I."

"But people don’t believe that."

He sighed. "They will."

His voice was calm and confident just like it had always been since the day he was fired from the restaurant.

She had been noticing the changes in his way of speech since that day, and had believed that her brother was just trying to act like he was all grown up.

Emily eventually nodded, as Ryan released her and looked into her eyes.

"If they don’t..."

A wry smile appeared on his face.

"They’ll definitely hear from me."

Emily blinked, seeing that expression on his face.

It was the same expression Ryan wore whenever he had already made up his mind about something.

She couldn’t help but laugh a little.

"You always say things like that."

"And I’m usually right."

"You aren’t."

"I am."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

Ryan stared at her.

Emily stared back.

A few seconds later, both of them laughed, the heavy atmosphere in the room finally disappearing.

Ryan stood up and gave her a hand.

"Come on."

"Where?" Emily asked.

"You’ve had a long day."

He stretched his arms.

"Let’s eat."

Emily’s eyes immediately brightened.

"Really?"

"Of course."

"What are we eating?"

"You choose."

"Anything?"

"Anything," Ryan nodded.

Emily jumped off the couch.

"Then let’s go!"

Ryan shook his head with a smile.

’Food really can solve almost anything.’

The two of them left the apartment together.

For Ryan, the incident at Kingsland High School wasn’t over.

He knew the rumors would spread.

He knew people would talk.

And more importantly, he knew that once the story about the Time Seller began spreading, this wouldn’t be the last time someone misunderstood what he could do.

But for now...

He just wanted to have a peaceful meal with his sister.

******

Vitality Hospital.

A completely different atmosphere filled one of the rooms.

Richard Garrison lay on the hospital bed, his entire body covered with bruises and bandages.

His face was swollen, and several bruises covered his skin.

One of his arms was heavily wrapped. The other was supported carefully by the medical equipment beside him.

Every small movement caused pain, and it was as though he could consider ending it than preferring to endure the pain that wouldn’t seem to die down.

Two police officers stood beside the bed.

One of them held a small notebook while the other stared directly at Richard.

"Mr. Garrison."

Richard slowly raised his eyes.

"Can you tell us who did this to you?"

Richard’s breathing became heavier. His fingers tightened against the blanket, as he could still remember that man’s face.

That calm expression.

That terrifying confidence.

And most of all...

Those words...

"People like you shouldn’t have limbs."

Richard swallowed in terror, his eyes dull and shaky.

"I... I don’t know his name."

"His name?"

The officer leaned forward slightly, glaring.

"You don’t know his name?"

Richard shook his head.

"He didn’t tell me."

"Then what did he call himself?"

Richard’s eyes moved around the room, his lips trembling.

"He..."

He paused.

"He called himself my Nightmare."

The words came out quietly, causing the officers to exchange a glance at once.

Richard’s face was filled with pain and anxiety.

He wasn’t pretending, and was clearly still in utter shock.

Utter shock!

’Who was that man?’

’Why had he appeared?’

’How did he know about Michelle?’

’And why had he attacked me like that?’

Richard clenched his teeth.

The memories kept replaying inside his head.

The moment the man walked into his apartment. The moment he attacked him. The ease with which he broke his arms.

Richard had never experienced anything like it.

"Do you have an issue with anyone?" The second officer asked.

Richard hesitated for a moment and surely, there was one person who immediately came to his mind.

Michelle.

But he couldn’t tell them about her.

He didn’t know what would happen if the police started digging into the situation.

And more importantly, he didn’t want to bring Michelle’s case into it.

So he shook his head.

"No."

The officer frowned.

"You’re certain?"

"I don’t have problems with anyone."

It was a lie.

A complete lie.

But Richard had no intention of telling them everything.

He had his own reasons.

The officer wrote something down and then looked back at him.

"Do you remember anything else about the man?"

Richard’s breathing became heavier and he tried to explain.

"He was strong."

"How strong?"

"I don’t know!"

Richard suddenly raised his voice.

"He just..."

He winced as pain shot through his body.

"Argh..."

The nurse immediately stepped closer.

"Please, don’t move too much."

Richard ignored her.

His eyes were filled with anger, as he continued to speak.

"I want you to help me find him."

The officers looked at him.

"I want justice." His voice grew louder. "Justice."

His hands trembled.

"He can’t get away with it!"

The officers could only nod.

"We’ll do what we can."

"Find him!" He shouted.

"We’ll investigate."

"Find him!"

His voice echoed through the room again.

The officers exchanged another glance before turning around and leaving the room.

The moment the door closed, the nurse walked toward Richard.

"Please, try to calm down."

She carefully helped him adjust his position on the bed, but the moment his body moved, Richard’s face twisted in pain.

"ARGHHH!"

The nurse immediately stopped.

"It hurts so bad!"

"I know. Please try not to move."

"ARGHHH!"

Richard clenched his teeth.

Tears formed at the corners of his eyes from the pain. He stared at the ceiling, breathing heavily.

His mind returned to the same question.

’Who was that man?’

’And why did he feel like something far worse was coming?’

Richard didn’t know.

But one thing was certain.

That young man was no ordinary being.