Hulk : The Thunderstrike

Rose Garden District.

Not far from the Chicago Police Station, Mathew's home was located in the community.

Because of Antonia's intimidating physique and intense demeanor, Mathew refrained from raising his voice during the journey. Yet, an uneasy feeling crept into his chest.

He couldn't shake off the impression that Antonia was watching him intently, as though seeing right through him. It was unnerving and inexplicable.

However, Mathew consoled himself by recalling how meticulously he had handled things. There were no loose ends—nothing to implicate him. Surely, this unease was a result of Antonia's imposing figure rather than any actual danger.

Yes, that must be it!

Comforting himself with this thought, Mathew masked his fear with a show of irritation and defensiveness. Still, he dared not lose his temper with Antonia and the officers trailing him—Sam, Shaw, and two other detectives.

His daughter, stella, walked alongside them. She was distraught but occasionally glanced at Antonia with a mixture of curiosity and fear.

"Antonia, you see how things are, right?" Sam muttered as they entered the stairwell of Building B. "This is the reality of police work in neighborhoods like these—dealing with domestic troubles and frustrated citizens. Your size and intensity are bound to intimidate people."

Antonia gave a faint smile but didn't respond. His thoughts were elsewhere. This wasn't just a domestic case—it felt like the prelude to something far darker.

"Yes, Master, you're absolutely right," Antonia said dryly, nodding absentmindedly.

Sam frowned, sensing sarcasm but unable to confirm it.

"Hmph," Sam grumbled. "Young people today… I'm just trying to prepare you for the future. Someday you'll have to handle these situations on your own!"

Sam was about to continue lecturing when he noticed Antonia's expression darken.

Antonia sniffed the air, his features tightening with concentration.

The smell of blood.

The odor was faint but unmistakable—human blood. It was the same scent he'd detected on Mathew earlier, but now it was stronger. The closer they got to the seventh floor, the more pronounced it became.

Antonia's unique scent recognition skill, a gift from a mysterious system, allowed him to pinpoint the source of the smell with precision. It was coming from several locations: the seventh floor, a trash can downstairs, a sewer, a septic tank, and the corridor itself.

"Master," Antonia muttered, his voice low and grave, "something isn't right about Mathew. Be cautious."

Sam's eyes widened. He'd come to trust Antonia's instincts completely. The young officer's ability to connect dots and his uncanny intuition had already proven invaluable.

Antonia continued trailing Mathew silently, his sharp gaze never leaving the man's back.

The Seventh Floor

They reached the seventh floor, where Mathew paused and took out his keys.

Antonia's mind raced as the scent of blood reached its peak. A grim realization struck him: the clues were forming a timeline in his mind.

The bathroom floor. The gas stove. The wok in the kitchen. The toilet. The sewer. The septic tank. The trash can.

The pieces of a horrifying puzzle fell into place, painting a vivid, gruesome picture of what had occurred.

Mathew unlocked the door to apartment 701, pushing it open with a frustrated sigh.

"Well, go ahead," Mathew muttered bitterly. "Take a good look. Let's see if you find my wife hiding in here. I've searched this place top to bottom already."

His tone was laced with sarcasm, but his body language betrayed a flicker of unease.

Antonia stepped into the apartment, scanning the room with an unwavering gaze. His eyes darted to the kitchen, the bathroom, and then to the trash can in the corner.

Mathew flopped onto the couch, feigning indifference. "So, officer, what now?"

Antonia ignored him, his face heavy with the weight of his deductions. He finally turned to Mathew and spoke with quiet gravity.

"Mr. Mathew, I have good news for you," Antonia said, his voice devoid of emotion.

Mathew frowned, confused by the sudden shift in tone.

"I've found your wife," Antonia said, locking eyes with the man.

A tense silence fell over the room, the air thick with anticipation and dread.

To Be Continued...

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