Pieces of Him

Chapter 1

Scarlett Avery's POV

I was fidgeting my toes as my lower lip curled in between my teeth, waiting for the heavy traffic to be over. I think I have been stucked in this jam for about thirty minutes now.

I'm starting to get bored with the slow movement of the bus that I'm riding, even with the loud gossips of those seated next to me that are all just about the serial killings going on lately. I think they are alarmed upon knowing that a serial killer is lingering around our city. Well, I am as alarmed as they are too, but I trust the police that they will catch the suspect very soon.

My concern for today is my nephew.

"Ugh, this can't do," I shook my head as I decided to get off my seat and leave the bus that I am riding.

I must not be late. My very arrogant little nephew is waiting for me from the police station. A freaking police station! I heard that he was involved in a fistfight outside school hours. And for heaven's sake, he's only 14 years old!

Where did he get that violent attitude?

Well, as if that a psychiatrist aunt like me wouldn't know? Of course, I knew that the boy got that bad attitude from his Dad—my deceased brother.

I sighed.

I don't even know anymore what to do with that Oliver kid. Ever since his father died, he became like that—a rebellious high school kid. Sometimes I feel pity over his kind and busy mother. She can't get hold of her son.

I ran my way towards my destination. And curse these heels for not being cooperative!

I'm guessing that I looked totally haggard now. The sunlight is causing my forehead and neck to sweat abruptly. My wavy mid-cut hair that is all tied up tightly on my head is now slowly starting to lose grip as pieces of my hair strands are now invading my face.

That boy is dead when I see him.

After a minute of walk-running, I finally reached the police station where Oliver is in right now.

Catching my breath, I entered with a sweet smile on my face. Well, I should still look presentable and neat after all that running in broad daylight. I caught the attention of some of the officers inside—especially the one who seems to be waiting for me as he immediately eyed me from head to toe.

"Good morning, doctor Scarlett. Having a bad day huh?" He walked towards my direction with a welcoming smirk on his face.

He stood about 5'8 foot tall, broad shoulders, white skin, clean-cut hair, dark eyes, high nose, and rounded lips. He looks very manly which actually suits his profession as a police officer.

I rolled my eyes upon seeing him, "Witnessing your face makes my day even worse," I teased back.

He put his one hand on his chest and acted as if my sharp words offended him.

"So feisty woman. Come on, Oliver is waiting for you,' he said,

following it with a laugh and signaled me to come to follow him.

"Thank you for taking care of him, Theron," I said while walking alongside him.

"No problem Scar, I'm actually enjoying your presence here. It's not every day you meet your old friend at work," he answered.

I smiled at what he said.

Theron James Fabroa, or should I say, police officer 1 Theron James Fabroa, a very dear friend of mine. He is passionate and trustworthy too that's why we are close.

As we head towards Theron's table and working place, I saw Oliver sitting on Theron's seat. He looks very comfortable and unbothered by his surroundings as he is busy checking the files on the table, acting as if he is Theron.

"Hey, brat! Your pretty aunt is here to pick you up—holy cow Oliver, don't touch that!" Theron immediately pulled Oliver away from his table to stop him from meddling with his stuff.

The kid just laughed with Theron's reaction and ran towards me. I immediately wrapped my hands around him when he suddenly hugged me.

"Hi, Scarlett Avery! Indeed, you are my pretty aunt! You're looking extra beautiful these days, Scarlett," he exclaimed and giggled.

"Oh no Oliver, you can't bribe me with your petty and insincere words, not today." I pulled him away from me, and that's when I fully noticed his face.

"Oliver Fernandez, what the hell did you do to your face!"

I could feel the upwelling anger inside me. I tilted his face upward, downward, and sideward for me to have a better look at his face. He is full of bruises! I could also see blood from the side of his lips and eyebrows. He winced when I touched his cheekbone.

"A-Aww, I'm fine, Scarlett, my wounds are not that serious." He tried to flash me a sweet smile but it turned awkward instead.

"I'll deal with you later," I warned.

I released a heavy sighed before sitting on the chair across Theron's table, expecting him to explain things to me. Oliver is sitting beside me with a gloomy look on his face, his head is lying low, which means that he's guilty of his crimes—well he should be.

Theron explained to me what happened, he said that while on duty, he tangled across a bunch of teenagers in the street. They are wearing uniforms and are having a tough and rough play, and that's fist fighting. He said that he noticed that Oliver is part of the riot and so, without a second thought, he meddled in.

Oliver, you rascal!

My mind is occupied with thoughts on how will I tell Oliver's mother about today's incident when suddenly, a commotion started. Three police officers barged in, they caught everyone's attention. They are dragging a single and defenseless man, his hands are handicapped as those hard metal rings are tightly wrapped around his wrists.

But why do they have to do that to him? Poor guy.

"Officers, I told you I didn't do anything!" Everyone's gaze landed upon the man when his voice echoed throughout the room. He sounds so eager to prove a point.

I watch that man as the officers guided him seated across the table of another officer—the table beside Theron's. I saw how that man sighed with full of frustration.

Hmmm, what could he possibly do for them to arrest him?

He's tall, the outlines of his face, especially around his jawline are strong and sharp, his eyebrows are dark and semi-thick, and he is wearing a rounded glasses, a light blue button-down shirt that fits him so well. He has a high nose and a mixture of pink and red thick lips. Judging by his appearance, I could tell that he's charming and handsome. His broad shoulders and slightly pumped chest made him look even more attractive.

I didn't even realize that I was already scanning and eying that man.

"What's your name, sir?" I heard the officer beside our table asked. He is now interrogating that man.

"Cedrick," the man answered while two other officers are standing on both of his sides, pinning him down roughly to his seat. It looks painful.

"Cedrick what?"

"Cedrick V-Valle," He flinched as I saw that the officers tightened their grip on his shoulders.

I sighed in pity.

"And why did you try to assault the man earlier?"

My forehead wrinkled with what I just heard. Did he assault someone? Well, he doesn't look like the type to do so.

"I didn't assault anyone! I don't even know what you're t-talking about—ouch!" he defended but he was interrupted when an officer hit the back of his head.

"Moron, you're in a police station, stop shouting," he scolded, well he has a point but is it really necessary for him to hit a completely defenseless guy? I mean, I could already see how he struggles to put his hands in one place. It is obvious that he's uncomfortable and in pain due to the tight grip on his wrists and shoulders. They shouldn't have hit him.

As far as I am bothered with how rough they are keeping him, I believe that it is not my concern to meddle in. I just kept my silence and diverted my attention back to Theron instead.

But it's still not right to hurt him—Argh damn it, I can't help it! Without any hesitation, I jumped out of my seat and confronted them.

"Good day officers, could you try not to be violent with him?" I smiled as nicely as I could, afraid that they might get offended.

I saw Cedrick raised his head to look at me, and when my eyes met his deep gaze, I flashed him my sweetest smile.

"Excuse me, but who are you?" The officer in charge of the interrogation asked.

"I'm doctor Scarlett Avery Fernandez, I'm just concerned with how tight those handcuffs are wrapping him. Plus, could you refrain from hitting and hurting him, please? He's a human too you know, he doesn't deserve to be hurt," I explained.

Those officers exchange gaze with each other, they must've been wondering why am I even stepping in.

"S-sorry doctor, it's such a shame for you to witness that," It looks like the officer in charge was embarrassed. He signaled the other two to loosen Mr. Cedrick's handcuffs as per my request.

"T-Thank you for considering," I thanked. I could feel the awkward atmosphere brought by what I just did.

I just went back to my seat to finish what Theron and I needed to discuss. However, after that event, I can't help but feel an unknown chilling sensation inside me, my subconscious mind is telling me that someone is staring at me intently.

Why am I feeling this? Well, nevermind.

"Scarlett, thank you very much for coming for me today! You're the best aunt!" Oliver hugged me when we finally got out of that place, he is smiling from ear to ear, acting unusually sweet today.

I rolled my eyes at him. I know he's only acting like this towards me because I did him a favor. Well, at least he knows the word 'gratitude'.

"Yeah kid, this will be the last time, understand?" I warned.

He grinned widely, satisfied with my answer as I saw a hint of triumph in his eyes.

"Let me make it up to you, aunt Scarlett. I've saved enough money so I can buy your favorite coffee, macchiato right? Wait for me here!" Too late for me to even utter a word, he had already run away from me.

"Oliver!"

"I'll be right back with my token of appreciation, Scarlett! Wait for me!" he enthusiastically shouted while waving his hand at me.

A small smile escaped my lips. My favorite coffee is mocha, but I appreciate the thought. Okay, I forgive him.

I just stood there in front of the police station, waiting for Oliver to come back. What's taking him so long?

"Phew, pretty much got away with that," a deep man's whisper caught my attention, the voice is coming from my behind so I looked behind me. And to my surprise, the voice came from the man earlier, Mr. Cedrick Valle.

When our eyes met, he gave me a meaningful smile.

"Doctor," he called.

He was smirking when he walked towards me, and he stopped when we are about half meters away from each other.

"Thank you for what you did earlier, doctor," he added, staring deeply into my eyes that kinda gave me an uncomfortable feeling. And why does it seems like he's a different kind of person right now? He looks different.

He had removed his glasses, his eyes became dark and his voice sounded a bit deeper than before. And the way he looks at me right now, it's sharp, dark, and intimidating. He's not like that a while ago.

"Uhh," I tried to step back to distant myself from him because I'm a bit uncomfortable with how close his body is to mine, he looked at the space I made in between us.

I gulped. There is something in the way he is eying me, but I can't explain it, all I know is that it is making me uneasy and speechless all of a sudden. His stares are like daggers piercing through my eyes.

My sight landed on his wrists and I see that there were no handcuffs anymore, however, reddish marks are visible there that serve as proof of how rough and tight those wrists have been cuffed.

"W-Welcome, so they have released you? That's good." I cleared my throat. "Don't forget to put a cold compress on your wounds, Mr. Cedrick, that will reduce the pain," I reminded.

And for a minute, he looks kinda stunned and confused, "Cedrick, huh?" he whispered as he licked the bottom of his lips and chuckled lightly.

"Uhm, isn't your name Cedrick?" I asked. I can clearly remember that that was the name that he said earlier.

"If that's what you heard I said, then do believe it that way," he answered.

"O-Okay?" I awkwardly smiled at his answer although it's a bit weird. No, actually, he himself is being weird!

"Hmm, thank you again for helping me back there, doctor." He took a step closer to me and before I could even react, his hands had already traveled to my ear.

My eyes widened as I felt my body stiffened to his touch. He moves so swiftly, I didn't even see that coming.

The way his hand touched my skin brought chills to my system. I was too shocked to even react or stop him. He is too close to me, I could already feel the warmth of his breath in my ear.

And that's when he whispered something in my ear that made my heart beats fast, "I hope this won't be our first and last encounter doctor Scarlet Avery Fernandez." I heard him smirked as he blew some air in my ear, causing my shoulders to react in motion.

"...I will look for you."