The Yingdong Massacre: A Detective's Dilemma

Detective Li Hua's eyes were heavy with the weight of fatigue as he stepped into the dimly lit interrogation room. The air was thick with the stench of old leather and dust. Across from him sat a man, his face obscured by the shadows of the dim lighting. His voice, however, was clear and unwavering.

"The victim was last seen entering the old Yingdong village," the man stated, his fingers tapping the edge of the table. "She never came out."

Li Hua nodded, his mind already racing through the possibilities. The Yingdong Massacre had been a topic of conversation in the city for years. The details of the serial killer's spree had been meticulously documented and studied, but the identity of the perpetrator remained a mystery.

Li Hua had been called in on this case because of a peculiar incident. A group of scientists had discovered a way to communicate with a parallel universe, where the Yingdong Massacre had already taken place. The parallel universe's detective, Detective Wang, had been communicating with them, sharing details about the crimes and the killer's methods.

"The killer's MO in your world is almost identical," Wang had explained in his last message. "He has already targeted a victim. If we don't act now, the massacre will repeat."

Li Hua had no doubt about Wang's credibility. The detective had been portrayed as a relentless seeker of justice, someone who would go to any lengths to prevent crime. But the implications of what they were discussing were staggering.

Li Hua's partner, Detective Zhang, leaned against the wall, her arms crossed. "So, we're dealing with a parallel universe's serial killer? How the hell did this happen?"

Li Hua sighed and leaned back in his chair. "The scientists believe there's a flaw in the parallel world's fabric. It allows for some crossover of events and individuals."

Zhang's eyes widened. "And we're supposed to stop this? How?"

Li Hua met her gaze. "We use the same MO the killer did. We target his next victim, hoping to prevent the massacre."

The first victim had been a young woman named Mei, a social worker who had volunteered to help the residents of Yingdong. Her body had been found in an abandoned shack, the details of her death eerily similar to the first crime in the parallel universe.

Li Hua and Zhang had scoured the city, following the same pattern. They had visited the places Mei had been, spoken to the people who knew her. But the killer seemed to be one step ahead. The trail was cold.

Then, they had received a message from Wang. He had shared the location of the killer's next target: a small, secluded house on the outskirts of the city.

Li Hua and Zhang had arrived at the house just as night was falling. The house was old and decrepit, the windows dark and lifeless. They had waited, watching as the shadows of the trees around the house swayed in the breeze.

Finally, they saw him. The killer, dressed in a black trench coat, approached the house. He hesitated, glancing around before pushing open the door. The sound of his footsteps echoed through the house as he moved deeper inside.

Li Hua and Zhang exchanged a look. They had been trained to think on their feet. This was their chance. They stepped out from the shadows, their guns drawn.

"Freeze!" Zhang shouted.

The killer turned, his eyes wide with shock. He lifted his hands, but it was too late. Zhang's bullet found its mark, and the killer dropped to the floor.

Li Hua approached, his gun still trained on the man. "Why did you do this?"

The killer's eyes were filled with sorrow. "I... I was just trying to make the world a better place. But it didn't work out the way I thought."

Li Hua nodded, his heart heavy. "You made it worse."

They had taken the killer back to the police station. As they were placing him in the interrogation room, Wang's message had arrived.

"The killer is under control. The massacre has been prevented. Thank you."

Li Hua had taken a deep breath. "You're welcome. But I still can't believe this happened."

Zhang had shaken her head. "It's surreal. But we stopped him."

Li Hua smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "We did what we had to do. But what happens next? Are we ever truly free from these kinds of threats?"

Zhang had simply looked at him and said, "We keep going, Detective. We keep protecting the world from monsters."

As they left the interrogation room, the world seemed a little less dark. But the shadows still lurked, waiting for the next opportunity to strike.