moon🌙

"What the fuck?" Ni-ki hissed after seeing the message. The three of them stared at each other before hurrying themselves to leave their frat house and off to where you are.

Once they are by the door, Jake was about to reach for the knob and was about to open it when the doorbell rang. The three of them were stoned in their position. Doesn't really know what to do. Their hearts hammered together, ears ringing and the sound of the doorbell echoes inside their minds.

"W-What if it's a trap? That the killer is really not after Evie and Cici...but after us?" Jake gulped, eyes still fixed at the door.

Sunghoon clenched his jaw, "And what if they're really after Cici? I need to go to—" but he was cut mid sentence when his phone beeped for another text message.

unknown: Try to come here and your beloved Cici is good as dead.

"Fuck.." he whispered that made Ni-ki leans to check what's the message about.

The doorbell rang once again that made them turn their heads. The silence that follows after was unsettling, making their senses heighten up, hearts hammering and spine getting chills. Slowly, they back away from the door and Jake has to grab Sunghoon to pull him with them as he refused to move from his position.

A few more seconds and a knock heard from the door this time.

"Jake? Ni-ki?" it was Jay's voice from the other side.

"Sunghoon? Guys, are you there?" he added that made the three of them heave a sigh of relief.

Jake jogs closer to the door and opens the door for them. The two boys appear and they instantly noticed the weird look on their faces. Heeseung furrowed his brows and tilt his head.

"We left already since Jungwon's Dad arrived." Jay says, slowly catching on the weird atmosphere that surrounds them.

"What's wrong?" Heeseung finally asks.

Sunghoon clenched his jaw and eyes dropped down to his phone. He's not so sure how he's suppose to tell his friend that the killer just called him, knowing that another close to Heeseung have their life on close line.

"The killer..." Jake starts, gulping and couldn't find the right words to say it to them.

Prolonging won't help any of them, regardless of the way they say it, the impact and effect will still be the same. Two lives still at risk. They need to think of something fast. Faster than the killer. Ni-ki clenches his jaw, balled his fist as well as Sunghoon.

"They called—"

"They called me." Sunghoon cuts through him.

Heeseung and Jay cranes their neck to look at him, their eyes full of concern.

"W-What? What did they say—?" Heeseung's eyes moved from Sunghoon and down to the phone he was handing him.

He looked confused at first before reaching for it. The messages from the unknown person is what greeted him first.

"N-No..." he mumbled after realizing what situation they are in right now.

Jay leans closer to look at it himself, his stomach drops as he stare at the picture of you and Evie at your sorority house. The message below it was even more sick. The killer is torturing them—making them choose who to save and leave for dead now. He knows how to mentally make them suffer.

The air inside the frat house felt thick and suffocating, every breath catching on fear. The boys were silent after hearing what the killer just told Sunghoon. A lot of things played inside their heads, none dared to speak first. Scared—concern, thorn of what to do.

Sunghoon stood, frozen. His eyes are glued to his phone screen after the last message the killer has sent him. He's thorn, not to who to choose, but to how will he even tell them that his heart is fully decided on savingyou. His eyes looked dazed, staring without a word at his phone.

Heeseung's eyes darted at him, carefully scanning the emotions in his eyes. He's nervous, but at the back of his mind he already had an idea of who his friend will pick.

Jay grabbed the phone from Sunghoon's hand before he could react. His jaw clenched as he read through the messages, disbelief twisting his face. "What the fuck is wrong with this mother fucker." he angrily muttered and even paced back and fort.

He's worried, but out of all, his guilt is getting he best of him. Evie—he's been pinning her down, pointing at her as the killer. He's basically the one that caused this gap between the group, he stirred through the fear, played with suspicion that leads them to this.

Then all of their eyes darted back at his phone when it beeped for another message.

unknown: I don't have all the time in the world, Sunghoon. unknown: Five minutes. unknown: Choose one. unknown: Fail to choose, and both of them will die.

Sunghoon stumbled backward, his hand shaking—he attempts to go out of the house, on the way to you. "No... no, no—"

Heeseung took a step closer, voice trembling as he reached for his friend's arm, "Hoon, listen to me. Don't make any bold decision. If you go there—if you even try, they'll know. You'll put both of them in danger."

Sunghoon's breathing quickened. His mind going spiral. He wanted to move. He wanted to run towards you. The thought of you inside the sorority house, unaware that someone was out there—ready to harm you any time, was eating him alive. He shouldn't have let this to happen. The idea itself was stupid, leaving the two of you all alone.

"He's making me choose," Sunghoon whispers in a broken tone. His voice cracked, eyes unfocused and red. "Between her and your cousin. If I don't make my choice, they'll both die."

The air went still and heavy. Even Jay, who was always sharp, fell silent. It is sick enough that some psycho killer is after your friend-group, now he's making him choose which one to save? That's insane and truly cruel. The killer is playing with them, clearly enjoying each second of misery he puts them in.

Heeseung looked like he'd been punched in the chest. His hands shook slightly, but he forced the words out. "I know what you're thinking. I know who you'll choose. But please calm down for a second... please let's think about this. E-Evie..." his throat felt dry, he cannot continue his sentence.

Sunghoon's eyes filled with tears he refused to let fall. His heart raced, rage and terror clawing up his throat. "How am I supposed to stay here? They're threatening to kill Cici! I can't lose her—No! I can't just sit around—"

Jake stepped in, placing a firm hand on Sunghoon's shoulder. He looked as concern as Sunghoon. "Then don't." he kept his hand rested on Sunghoon's shoulder that made him frown. He opens his mouth, ready to complain but Jake speaks.

"Let us go." he states before roaming his eyes around his friends.

"Jay, you stay here with him. Keep him calm and entertain the killer while we head to the girls." he stated his plan. Jay was quick to nod his head, but Sunghoon stayed indifferent.

"What?" he scowls, not agreeing to the plan. He wants to go, he wants to see you himself, he wants to be there.

Heeseung cut in, already grabbing his jacket. "Jake's right. If the killer instructs that he wants you here, you oblige or else they will get into a more serious situation."

Sunghoon's jaw tightened, but he knew Heeseung was right. His vision was blurring, his hands shaking too hard to even process what's happening around him. All he can think of is you.

Jake nodded quickly, grabbing something to use with defending themselves. "We'll be fast. Keep us updated about the killer."

He grabbed a baseball bat, Heeseung grabbed something long and thick thing he found near him as he exit the room. Ni-ki grabs what's closer to him as well and headed outside. Sunghoon felt pained seeing them leave while he have to remain here, painfully waiting for what's about to unfold.

Another buzz.

unknown: Taking your time, eh? unknown: I'll be honest, I thought this will be easier for you. unknown: I thought in a heart beat, you will have Cielle's name typed. unknown: You've been devoted on showing your undying love for your girlfriend, and now you're hesitating to save her? unknown: Is it because you fell in love with Evie?

Sunghoon frowns in discomfort and curses, "Fuck... fuck!" he screams and turns around to kick the small center table near him.

Jay jolted in surprise and glanced at his friend. He wanted to approach him and ask what's the text messages about, but his mind is clouded with something else. He's worried for you and Evie. He's worried for their friends. He's worried for Jungwon and he's also worried for the two of them. Having the killer sending a picture outside your sorority house doesn't guarantee their safety. This could be a trap if all they know.

"I need to save Cici... I need to save my girlfriend." he mumbles while messing his hair.

Jay spun his head towards him after hearing that, he struts closer to his friend. "Sunghoon, wait." he grabbed him by the shoulder. "Wait for the others. They'll figure this out, don't make rational—"

"Rational?! They're going to kill my girlfriend!" he screams, totally worked up with the situation.

Jay understands what he feels. The ultimate pressure he's currently in after being given the job of choosing which one to live and die—the pressure is heavy. It comes with a tight responsibility and Jay knew Sunghoon will voluntarily carry it if it means you'll be saved. But there's something else that needs to be considered—Evie.

"Evie will be in danger! Let's wait for Heeseung's—" Jay's voice was cut off when Sunghoon shoved his hold off of him, trying to free himself.

"Wait until Cici's in trouble already?! And why are you so worked up about Evie?! You're the one who's been pinning her as the kill—" Jay pushed him by the shoulder with an upset look on his face.

"Are you hearing yourself?! Yes, I admit that I am suspecting Evie, but not to the point where I would want her dead!" and he pushed Sunghoon's shoulder once again.

He stumbled backwards and due to the overwhelming emotions, his knees weakened causing him to fall down on the floor. His head slumped down, phone tightly grasped around his hand. Jay noticed how his shoulders are moving and it was no doubt that Park Sunghoon is crying right now. Jay's beyond surprised, not in a million times does he imagined seeing him shedding tears again. The last time was back when they were still kids.

"Sunghoon..." he whispered and slowly strut his way towards his friend, but he's occupied by the new message he just received.

unknown: 2 minutes.

On the other hand, Evie's quiet while the two of you is laying on your bed. She's been having the worst day, eyes burning from crying too much, nose is red, and hands trembling from... just everything.

"I'm so thankful that you're here for me, Cici." she whispers that instantly caress your heart.

Seeing her broke down and cry about something that shouldn't even happen at the first place is heart breaking for you. She's your best friend—she's more like a sister other than a friend really. You both shared almost every big events of your lives together. Of course you don't like seeing her hurt.

"I promised you before, right? I will always be just here for you." your voice was filled with sincerity and gentleness. Evie was very familiar of it and honestly it sent comfort for her.

But that got replaced instantly as guilt slowly crept inside her chest. After everything that happened— even after the boys has turned their backs at her, you stayed. You're the only one who remained loyal to her, and despite of that Evie's hiding something terrible from you.

She's been holding it for a while—she convinced herself that it's been Sunghoon who's keeping her from telling you, but right now—when she has the time and chance to tell you, she couldn't bring herself to do it. Because you're the only one she has.

The both of you jolt together when you heard something from downstairs. With terrified eyes, you stayed quiet—trying to feel anything odd, or if there will be more sounds. After all that happened, it may be just in your heads or you misheard it. That's not really new anymore.

"Are the girls back already?" you whispered down at Evie.

She furrowed her brows hardly, remembering what Sasha has informed her when she texted her about not coming home tonight. Despite the killings surrounding the whole town, some people just couldn't treat it more seriously. From what you heard, somebody from another one of your classes is throwing a party tonight. Mainly why it's only you and Evie remained.

"Impossible. Sasha said they won't be back until morning." Evie whispers back that instantly made your lips tremble.

Your head went spiral, making up all the possibilities of what could happen tonight. Suddenly, ignoring your boyfriend's texts and calls felt dumb right now.

"Did you lock the front door?" you asked Evie.

She glanced at your direction, "Yes. Also, the boys went with us to double check everything before they left. We both checked it too before heading here... I'm pretty sure it's all locked." she says.

No sounds heard from downstairs for a while and you thought that maybe you really just imagined that sound.

"S-Should we check what it is?" Evie's eyes stares at you, concerned and scared.

You pursed your lips, "Should w-we?"

She gulped, "We can carry some weapons. I mean—it's two versus one technically." she states that somehow ease your mind. She's right.

"O-Okay." and the two of you went to grab something hard to use as defense just in case you really encountered with someone outside.

"Y-You ready, Ci?" she asks while standing right in front of your door.

"N-No." you mumbled, but still standing so close to her.

You are scared, hands sweaty, heart racing like crazy, but if Evie's going to run outside—you wouldn't hesitate to run after her.

She slowly opened the door and the low creaking sound just adds the to eeriness of the situation. She reaches for your hand and held it tightly as you follow behind her. She takes her time, steps careful and light—enough not to alert anybody around the house.

You try to roam your eyes around the second floor. It was quiet, and it doesn't seem like something is out of place. And yet your hearts can't seem to calm down. Chills ran down your spines like as if you're being watched, it was unsettling.

You continued stepping. Slowly. Cautiously. The old floorboards groaned under your weight, the air slowly growing thick making it feel so uncomfortable.

When you reach the top of the staircase, Evie leaned slightly over the railing. The bottom floor was lightened in weak light from the kitchen— the one you both agreed to leave on, just enough to have lights around the house. Everything else was swallowed in shadow.

"See?" you whispered. "It's nothing—"

Creeeeaaaak.

A door behind you slowly opened.

Both of you frozen in place. The sound cut through the air like a blade, long and dreadful. Heart beats raced and hands trembles while connected with each other.

Evie's breath hitched. She turned her head first, her movement painfully slow. You followed—your heart slamming against your chest so hard it made you instantly dizzy.

And there... Behind the half-open door at the end of the hall.

A figure stood. Motionless. Wearing a blank, pale mask, staring back at you. The faint yellow light from the hallway lamp reflected in its creepy mask. Your entire body went cold, mind blanked out, replaced by one single thought—Run.

The masked killer tilted their head slightly, adding to the chilling atmosphere. And then they moved. The door flung open with a violent crash.

You screamed, grabbing Evie's wrist—but Evie stumbled back, panicked. "Evie!" you called out for her.

Evie's eyes are completely fixed at the masked killer, she moved across the floor—dragging, forcing her weak legs to go at the nearest room by her left. She burst inside, slamming her door close.

Even before you can process anything, a slashing sound snap you back to your reality.

"Ah!" you screamed in pain and stumbled back after feeling the slice of a sharp object on your arm.

The killer tries to lunge towards you, but you kick them on the stomach. It was enough to buy some time to hurry yourself back at your room.

Tears stream down your face as the loud bang of your doors closing rings inside your head. Your lock jiggled, multiple times—the person at the other side aggressively trying to pry it open to let themselves inside.

"Please! Stop!" you cried and crouched down, back facing the door to help pushing and holding it off. The continuous bang was traumatic for you.

"P-Please!"

And then silence. You slowly raise your head, trying to figure out if ever the mask killer has left already. The banging stopped in your room and the whole house is terribly quiet. It stopped, like as if it didn't even happen.

Until you heard them again. Banging, knife scraping the wooden door—except it wasn't yours anymore. It was in Evie's room.

"E-Evie..." you mumble under your breath and cry.

You're trembling in fear, but the thought of your friend all alone while the killer is hunting her is eating you alive.

"Evie!" you screamed on top of your lungs then banged on your door. "Leave her alone!" you begged, hoping they would listen.

"Leave us alone, please!"

It didn't stop. You can hear the continuous banging of Evie's door. Her scream echoes all over the house. And you couldn't take it. Without thinking much of it, you grabbed something from your room and reached for your doorknob.

The car barely made to stop before Heeseung was out, as he sprinted toward the sorority house. Rain started pouring hard, the type of rain that blur streetlights and muffle any kind of noises. Jake and Ni-ki were right behind him, hearts racing, lungs burning.

A few step on the front porch and they already noticed that the front door was slightly open—making them stop on their tracks for a while.

Jake's voice trembled, breathless. "Fuck."

Heeseung didn't waste any second and head straight to enter the quiet house. His heart beat thundered in his ears as he pushed through the doorway. The air inside hit them immediately—thick, silent and unsettling.

The first floor is oddly clean, furnitures in their rightful place, no broken things or any sign of force entry. Except for the open door. It made them all hope that nothing bad happened. That you and Evie are just asleep by your bedroom, the killer just playing tricks on them.

"Upstairs." Heeseung mumbled and head towards the stairs without waiting for his friends.

Jake glanced at him, "H-Hee—" but he was already off.

Jake's hands were already fumbling for his phone. "I'm calling the police. Stay sharp."

Heeseung couldn't care more about anything else. He doesn't think of his own safety. He just want to make sure both of you are safe. Every sound was muffled by the deafening rush of his heartbeat. His chest was tight, vision narrowing as he stumbled toward the stairs. "Evie!" he called, voice hoarse. "Cici!"

No answer. Only the echo of his own voice bouncing off the silent walls. It made him feel worst. By the amount of noise he's making, he's pretty sure it alerted all the people inside the house. You two should be reacting by now, and honestly he wished his bad feeling is wrong all along. He silently wished to meet his cousin frowning hardly while asking him what's he doing here right now, but nothing. No Evie, no Cici.

When he made it to the second floor, it hit him harder. Unlike downstairs, glass shattered all over the place, blood splash everywhere and bloody handprints.

Heeseung stopped halfway up the hall, his whole body trembling. "No, please..."

His brain refused to make sense of what he was seeing. He turned around, "Jake? Ni-ki?"but there was no response. He has no clue where they are.

He swallowed hard, forcing himself to take a step forward. His breath came in shallow gasps, lungs felt like its being pressed hardly.

"Evie!" he shouted again, louder this time. "Cici, answer me! Please!"

A sound came from down the hall—a faint thud, like a someone just bumped into something. Heeseung's stomach dropped. It came from Evie's room.

His legs moved before his brain caught up. He ran, every step heavy, his heart crashing inside his own chest making him struggle a bit breathing.

"Evie!"

He reached the doorway and froze.

The world tilted. His breath hitched, and for a second he couldn't breathe at all. Just in time, he saw a figure wearing that familiar black fabric, a mask, going outside from his cousin's window.

His blood boil in anger, but the person was gone in a second. He's about to go after them, until he was stoned at his position.

Evie's room. As far as he remembers, her bedroom is the color green—her favorite, but right now all he can see is the bright color red. Everywhere. Blood on the walls, on the floor, on the once-white vanity mirror. The scent hit him next... thick, sickly, suffocating metallic smell of blood.

And at the center of it all, lying at the middle of the used to be green bedsheets was Evie Lee.

She's lifeless, her hair tangled, her whole body showered with her own blood. Her eyes were wide open—still glimmering with tears that would never fall again.

Heeseung dropped to his knees, he feels like he's being torn from inside out. "No... no, no, no, Evie!" and he tried his best to pull himself and walk closer to her.

He gathered her into his arms, unbothered of the blood soaking into his shirt. "Wake up, Evie, please—wake up!"

He shook her gently, his tears falling freely now, blurring his vision. "You're okay, you're okay—Oppa got you." Except she wasn't. She was cold. Not breathing.

He screamed so loud that his voice shattered through the hall. "EVIE!"

Footsteps thundered up the stairs and head towards their direction.

"HEE—" Jake's voice stopped abruptly as he reached Evie's room. His eyes widened at the scene, trying to process what he's seeing. He roams his eyes around and it stopped right at where is Heeseung.

Jake's knees weakens, "N-No..."

Heeseung's body shook uncontrollably, his cousin's blood staining his trembling hands. "She's gone," he sobbed. "She's gone, Jake—"

A rushing steps came, echoing all over the second floor. Ni-ki appears on the scene and just like Jake, he was stoned at his position after seeing the state of Evie's room. Heeseung's cries are heart breaking.

"Wait—" Ni-ki says as he took a cautious step closer. "Hyung have you seen Cici?"

"She's not in her room?" Jake asks, and glanced at Heeseung's direction.

"I h-haven't checked there yet." he answers, still holding Evie's cold body closer to him—like as if it will help transfer some of his warmth towards her.

Ni-ki's chest rose and fell rapidly. His gaze darted around the room, blood everywhere, shattered glass—until something caught his eye.

The bathroom door. Slightly open.

He reached out, pushing the door open slowly. The dim light flickered above the sink. Just like outside, it's filled with blood. Then he froze.

For a heartbeat, he couldn't move. His body went cold, feet stoned at his position.

"Cici..." he whispered, before rushing forward.

You were there—collapsed beside the tub, your body limp, your shirt soaked through with blood. Ni-ki's knees hit the floor beside you.

He reached for your neck with trembling finger, searching, hoping he can detect a pulse.

And then—A pulse. Weak. Faint. But he felt it.

"Cici," Jake gasped, voice breaking.

"Ni-ki, is she okay?! Tell me!" Jake says as he tap on his phone to call for help once again.

"She's alive! SHE'S ALIVE!"

Jake was already pulling his jacket off, handed it towards Ni-ki to press it against your wound.

"She needs to be taken at the hospital!" his voice trembling in panic as he turned his head toward his Jake hyung, shouting with everything in him. "CALL THE AMBULANCE HYUNG!"

"I already—"

"Well tell them to hurry up!" he hissed.

Ni-ki's hands were stained with your blood, his body shaking as he kept pressure on your wound. "Cici, please—stay with me, okay? Stay with me, please? Help's on the way, baby." he whispers under his breath.

His mind all messed up. He wanted to burst out and hunt whoever did this to you. He cursed loud, punching the wall beside him as he shouted at his Jake hyung once again for help.

Your eyelids fluttered faintly, a weak groan leaving your lips.

"H-Help me..." you whispered.

A tear from Ni-ki's eyes fell, cupping your face. "I'm here already, baby. Y-You're safe now..." he whispered back, trying to give you assurance.

"H-Hoon...?" you tried and before you could say more, your eyes rolled back, and Ni-ki's heart stopped.

He shouted again, louder this time, desperate and hoarse. "HELP! SOMEBODY!"

"Cici?!" a voice echoed throughout the place and even before Ni-ki can comprehend, Sunghoon appears on his view.

"Baby! I'm here now! You're gonna be o-okay..." he whispered, tears streaming down his face.

When he hears the sirens from the distance, he carried your body—Ni-ki's was pushed away unconsciously. Jake told Sunghoon to keep the pressure on your wound and helped him carry your frail body downstairs.

"Stay alive, Baby. Please. I can't lose you." he cries and as the medics rush their way towards him, he tries to get closer but was stopped midway.

"Sir! You need to step back, we have to check her!"

"Please! Save her! P-Please—" he plead, begged, desperate.

Jake holds him back, "Let them do their job, dude."

And as the sirens grew louder, flashing red against the windows, the house that once held laughter and secrets now trembled with screams and the weight of another tragic death.

The rain is still pouring hard—like as if the weather's crying along with their feelings. Everyone's by the hospital's hallway, that starts to be sickening for them. The smell of it stains their noses that make their feel slight dizziness, unsettling yet becoming more familiar for them.

"You selfish bastard!" Heeseung's voice echoes through the hallway as his knuckles met Sunghoon's jaw. The sound was sharp, making some of the nurses turn their heads on their way. Checking what's going on.

"I told you not to make decisions and that we will figure things out! Now... now Evie's gone! She's dead..."

Sunghoon stumbled back, blood smearing the corner of his mouth yet he didn't swing back. He just stood there motionless—taking the blows like he deserved them. His chest heaved, but no words came out.

Heeseung's eyes were red, rimmed with overflowing rage and grief. He grabbed Sunghoon by the collar and slammed him against the wall, his voice cracking under the weight of every word.

"Do you even realize what you did? That was my cousin, Sunghoon!" his voice broke completely.

"Heeseung—" Jake tries to step in and stop him, but Jay grabs him by the shoulder.

He shakes his head once, "Let him." he whispers under his breath because he knew Heeseung kept that inside him until Cici's taken at the hospital and sure that she's on good condition.

Sunghoon's lips trembled. He remained silent, stoned at his position. He didn't say a word, didn't even defend himself. He couldn't even remember what state Evie was when him and Jay arrived the scene, because the second he saw the blood on your shirt, he couldn't think of something or anyone else.

"Say something!" Heeseung demanded, shoving him harder this time, his tears finally breaking loose, letting himself break apart in front of his friend.

Sunghoon's not that heartless. His heart aches seeing the state of him, but he refuses to unfold himself unlike Heeseung.

He's desperate to hear anything from him. He wants him to reason out—he's not sure if he could even take whatever that is that he will say, but having him like this is more painful. "Do you even feel slight guilty for what you did?! Say you regret it!"

But Sunghoon couldn't lie. His throat tightened, jaw clenched as he forced himself to meet Heeseung's broken stare. He clenched his jaw, refraining from breaking into tears. He may not be that fond of Evie but just like the others, she's been around ever since they were kids. They've known each other their whole life.

"I can't." he inhaled, but none of it helped him breath better. "Because its like admitting that I regret that my girlfriend is alive right now."

The silence that followed was unbearable. Heeseung's face twisted in disbelief, then anger, before it turned into pure despair. His grip loosened, hands falling limply to his sides. "You really would've let her die for her, huh?"

Sunghoon swallowed hard, his voice low, trembling. "I didn't want anyone to die."

Heeseung's laugh stings with utter bitterness, wet with tears. "But Evie died," he starts and glared at him. "and it's left on your hands. You did nothing."

He clenched his jaw, "And Cici... she will—"

"Please don't drag her into this. It was me who made the choice. Please leave her out—" Heeseung's grip over him tightened even more.

"Do you feel more relieved now that Evie's gone? That's probably it, right? You intend to get her killed on the first place." He stated that made their friends step in.

"Heeseung, that's enough. I think you're being too much. Sunghoon doesn't have a reason to—" Jay interrupts, but Heeseung whips his head sharply at his direction.

"Yes he does!" he screams, before diverting his attention back at Sunghoon. "He has every reason to get rid of her, specially if she's a big threat to his relationship with Cici." he stated that left the others confused.

"What...? Heeseung you're not making sense man—" Heeseung shoved off Jay's hold over his shoulder.

"Sunghoon slept with my cousin and him being a fucking coward, he insisted to keep it from Cici! Threatening Evie that if she said a word to anyone, he will do something to her."

Everyone fell silent after the revelation. Sunghoon's eyes are kept at Heeseung. He already has an impression that he has an idea about it so this isn't a big surprise anymore.

He stepped back, shaking his head. "You're not the only one who lost someone, Sunghoon. But you wouldn't know that—we're not even sure if you treat any of us as your friends."

He left after that, his footsteps fading down the hallway. Sunghoon stood there, the metallic taste of blood in his mouth, guilt hanging heavily in his chest. He didn't fight back because he couldn't. He deserved it. Every word, every punch.

The hospital at night was even more quiet, the only thing you would hear around the corridor are light steps from nurses going room by room or sounds of medical monitors. A stillness that sends more worried rather than comfort.

Sunghoon sat by one of the benches of the hospital lobby, elbows resting on his knees, fingers laced together so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He was still anxious, the argument from earlier was pushed back behind his mind as his main concern right now is you. He wants to see you already.

He could still remember how you felt when he carries you out of that house. The blood that covers your whole body—it was horrifying for him.

The nurses have informed him that you're already on a stable condition and are now waiting for you to gain back consciousness.

Jay was beside him, quiet. The two of them hadn't exchanged a single word since they sat down and after Heeseung left. He has no idea what's in his mind, but Sunghoon doesn't want to push it.

Jay had a distant look in his eyes, but he couldn't even blame him. Everyone seemed to have been like that these days, lost... grieving.

When Heeseung left, the three of them are silent. None of them initiated to talk or even tries to lift up the atmosphere. It felt illegal for them. Too much things already happened, too many people they lost already.

Jake and Ni-ki decided to check up on Jungwon after knowing he hasn't woke up yet. They made an excuse of running a quick visit, but Sunghoon knew they did that to give the two of them some privacy—Jay and Sunghoon. After all, they're in one circle of friends.

Jake and Ni-ki used to be part of it, but they grew apart for some years and just got reunited for all bad reasons.

Time dragged on without mercy. The clock on the wall moved too slow for his liking.

Jay rubbed his face letting out a strained sigh,  "It's been hours since Heeseung left." His voice full of concern as he looked at the clock once again. "He shouldn't be alone right now."

Sunghoon didn't respond, eyes fixed on nothing, but he nods to acknowledge what his friend said. Jay pushed himself up from the seat, "I'll look for him. Bring him back."

Sunghoon finally turned his head on his direction. There wasn't much else he could say. He wanted to stop him or offer company, but he also doesn't want to be gone when you wake up. And seems like Jay noticed it through his eyes.

"You stay here. Cici will look for you once she wakes up." he says and Sunghoon just nods his head, eyes flashing with a silent 'thank you'.

"Call me if something came up." he informs Jay and just then Jay started going through his pockets.

"I think I lost my phone." he announced.

Sunghoon pulls out his and handed it to him with no hesitation, "Here, take mine. Call Jake or Ni-ki if something came up."

Jay accepted it and nods his head.

"Be careful," he mumbled, his voice barely audible.

Jay gave him one last look before walking off, disappearing down the dim hallway.

A few minutes later, the near elevator doors opens, and Ni-ki stepped out. His hair was slightly damp, hoodie half-zipped, and from afar you can't really tell the white shirt inside him is still stained with blood—your blood.

He saw Sunghoon sitting alone and he joined him silently. For a moment, neither of the two talked. Well, originally the two of them are not so much of a talker.

"How's Jungwon?" Sunghoon finally asked quietly.

"Still asleep," Ni-ki replied shortly, voice low. He can sense the tiredness from his tone itself. "Jake hyung insisted to stay there for a bit."

Sunghoon nodded, eyes dropping to the floor. The silence returned pretty quickly, heavy, that you can tell easily that all these things are taking a toll at them. It was the kind that existed only between people who understood pain without needing words.

Then, without warning, Sunghoon spoke. His voice was calm, but it carried a raw honesty that slightly caught Ni-ki off guard.

"You know..." he starts, fingers playing with the rings on his fingers. "...you're probably the only one who'd understand what I did."

Ni-ki remained quiet for a while before turning to look at him. "Understand what?"

"Choosing her," Sunghoon said, his gaze faraway. "The moment the killer sent me that text—the moment they asked me to choose between Evie and Cielle, I knew it was her I'm going to choose without thinking twice."

Ni-ki's lips parted slightly, but he didn't interrupt.

Sunghoon strained a sigh, his voice trembling now, the emotions he's been trying to hold back from before finally showing through. "Heeseung looked at me like I killed Evie myself. And maybe... maybe I really did." he sniffed, and Ni-ki noticed a single tear falling from his eye.

"I didn't w-want anyone to die," he says, voice barely audible. "I would even pick to save Cici rather than myself."

He rubbed his face with both hands, dragging them down in exhaustion. "You get it, don't you?"

Ni-ki didn't answer, doesn't really know what are the right words to say at times like this.

Sunghoon turned his head slightly, studying him with quiet understanding. "Because I see it, Ni-ki. The way you look at her."

Ni-ki froze. His throat tightened, the words dying before they even reached his lips.

"I've known about it ever since," Sunghoon says. "The way your eyes follow her when she's around, the way you tense up when she's in danger. You think you're hiding it well, but... I know that look. Because I used to wear it around her too."

The two fell in silence, but not in a suffocating type. Ni-ki's head lowered as he looked down at his hands, gripping them together as if a way to steady himself. His heart hammered painfully inside his chest, but he didn't deny it.

"That's why you'd understand. Because if it were you in my place, if it were her life on the line—you will do the same thing. Wouldn't you?"

Ni-ki swallowed hard, his chest tightening. After a moment, he nodded slowly.

"Yeah," he answers. "I would."

For a while, neither of them said anything. The only sound was the quiet pouring of rain easing against the window glass.

Sunghoon didn't brought this up to announce rivalry between Ni-ki and him. That's the last thing he would think of at situation like this. Right now, his main priority is to keep you safe and he will do that by finding someone he can entrust your life with in case he's not around. And that person would be Ni-ki.

"At least I can feel a bit more at ease that someone will keep her safe in case the killer comes for me next." he says and tries to even chuckle to lighten the mood.

Ni-ki kept quiet.

"I have no rights to say this to you," Sunghoon starts, "But if ever I get killed next please make sure that Cici will be safe—"

"Stop saying that." Ni-ki cuts through him. He lets out a heavy sigh. "I will try my best to keep her safe, but you..." he pats his shoulder and stare straight through his eyes. "...you have to survive. We all need to try to survive."

Sunghoon's fell silent, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips—sad, tired, but grateful.

"Survive." he repeated softly. "Yeah."

Somehow, that stirs a small hint of hope inside him. That somehow, they could really survive whatever this is that's happening to them.

When the nurses finally allowed people to see you, Sunghoon didn't waste a second to go. His heart fell when he saw you wearing a hospital gown, bruises all over the face, and expression totally blank. He gulps, and struts closer to your bed.

He knew you're aware of his presence, but still you remained unresponsive. He starts to worry that maybe the guilt of losing Evie is taking the best of you—which probably is pretty reasonable at this time, so he was quick to reach for your hand.

His heart broke when you instantly shove his hold that left him surprise. He looked at you, confused. Slowly, you glanced at his direction with eyes full of... hate? Sunghoon felt like he was losing his mind. No, it can't be. His sweet Cici? Glaring at him? That would be impossible.

"Is it true?" you asked him, voice hoarse.

Sunghoon's still confused. Did you finally learn about the killer making him choose between you and Evie? You can't be mad about that. It was pretty obvious that he will choose you in a heart beat. There's no arguing about it.

"Baby, what's wrong? I don't under—"

"Did you slept with Evie?" your question was like stab straight to his heart.

He cannot respond right away. He was stoned at his position, hands fell on his side lifelessly, stomach churns, lungs pressed uncomfortably as he stare at your tearing eyes.

"I-I..." he starts, tears forming his eyes. "Baby, I can e-explain—"

"What can be an acceptable reason for you to sleep with my best friend, Sunghoon?!" you screamed, voice cracking and tears streaming down your eyes.

You're still not over with the fact that you lost Evie and now you have to know about your boyfriend—who all this time you thought has been very faithful to you, to be sleeping around her. It's too much.

"I cannot believe you! My own best friend?! How can you do that to me!" you continued and Sunghoon can't compose himself. He doesn't know what exactly to say. He didn't thought of the day of you finding out about what he did.

It was seriously a stupid mistake. He got drunk and it suddenly happened, but he knew he couldn't tell you that because it will only make the situation worst.

"I thought you love me—"

"I do, baby! God, I love you so much!" he cuts through and loses his cool. If he manages to keep himself altogether in front of his friends, well not this time. Not in front of the only person he loves the most.

Sunghoon's not lying when he say he loves you. He does and he's certain he could not love another soul apart from you. He was so sure that you are the only one for him. It's just shits happen and he hated himself after that night. If only he can bring back time and undo it, he will have it undo in a heart beat.

"Baby..." he licks his lips, wipe his tears only to be replaced by new ones, "Cielle, please..."

You shake your head slowly, "Leave me alone. I don't want to see your face." his heart broke.

He knows your feelings are valid. With everything that has happened, you're feeling overwhelmed about it, he needs to leave you for a while in order for you to recover faster.

He nods, "Okay, baby. I will be just o-outside. If you need anything—"

"No. I want you to leave me alone from now on, Sunghoon." your tone was firm and cold, he can't even believe he's hearing those words from you.

"P-Please, baby—"

"I'm breaking up with you. We're over."

While Heeseung is having his third beer for the night, ignoring any calls from his friend—basically turning his phone silent by this time, his heart felt empty. It's hurting, but it felt so empty and lost. He doesn't know what exactly to feel, which emotion does he needs to acknowledge first.

After leaving the scene, he headed towards the school gym, trespassing in the university. He does not care at all and he knew his friends will look for him sooner or later. He does not want to be found.

"This life fucking sucks..." he mumbled to no one by himself. He threw the empty bottle of liquor that made clanging sounds that erupts all around the gym.

It echoes. Only a few lights are opened inside, just enough for him to not bump into some of the sport equipments scattered around. This place used to be his heaven. Heeseung loves to play basketball and he's good at it. He's the ace of team and he must admit the sport brings out the thrill in him. But only a few people knew what makes him enjoy this game even more.

Adela...

They all grew up together, and he has always been fascinated by Adela. The way she's very confident in herself, beautiful with a hint of playfulness on her—for him she's the perfect ideal girl. He loves her genuinely and when he finally had the chance to take his shot on this long-term crush over her and succeeded, Heeseung felt like he's floating. He can still remember how he felt that day and how he swears he will get his life straight for her.

After he lost her, he felt like he died with her. The only thing that kept him moving is the fact that justice is not yet served for the love of his life. His friends' life are in danger. He thought to himself, if he can't save his girlfriend at least he could try to save them. But that don't go as planned as well as one by one, he's losing them as well. Even his own cousin. Evie.

Evie who he treats as a sister rather than a cousin. Heeseung is the youngest in his family and he have an older brother. He always wanted a younger sibling and perfectly, his Dad's brother have a daughter who's only a year younger than him. The two of them are really close, having that sibling relationship--which can be summarized with Heeseung annoying the hell out of her.

He lost her today too. And as cruel as it can be, for the two girls he cherished so much, he will be the first one to find their lifeless body, hold them close to him only to feel how cold they are as their blood stain him. It was traumatizing.

Heeseung was about to raise his hand to take another sip from another bottle of beer when his phone vibrates continuously. He furrowed his brows hardly, silently cursing his friends. He's pretty sure its them and he was clear enough when he said that he wants to be left alone. He grabbed his phone and as expected... one of his friends.

"Jay, I told you to leave me alone—"

"How do you like my surprise?" an unfamiliar voice rings from the other side of the line.

Heeseung furrowed his brows, he's pretty sure it was Jay's number he saw on the caller's i.d. Why is he talking to someone who talks with a voice changer?

"Jay?" he asks, hesitant.

But he's sure that his friend won't pull any of this trick. Not at this moment... not when he just lost his cousin.

"Do I sound like Jay to you, Lee Heeseung?" they said, dragging each and every words. He doesn't know, but the way he speaks gives him the impression of taunting.

It's the killer.

"You fucker..." he mumble, filled with anger.

"You killed my cousin."

The other line went silent for a while before a bark of laughter erupts. It was haunting, making every nerves of Lee Heeseung wrecked.

"I know." they said in a delighted tone. "You should've seen the look on her face as I bury my knife deep inside of her. It was cinematic."

"Fuck you! I will fucking kill you, you hear me?!" he screamed on top of his lungs, the veins on his neck strained. "I will fucking hunt you down!"

"Hunt me?" they chuckle lightly, mocking Heeseung. "But you're the one being hunted."

And with that he heard a thud sound from the other part of the gym. Heeseung whips his head on that side, but nothing. He's at the center part of gym and the few lights above him are the only ones open—kind of giving him like a spot light.

The corners of the wide gym are slightly dim, he can't really see clearly if ever there's people hiding behind those sport equipments and that sent chills towards him.

"Ooh, is that fear I see in your eyes?"

"Fuck you. I'm not scared of you."

"As expected," the person from the other line stops for a while, "the ace Lee Heeseung. You're still full of yourself? I thought I already broke you by now."

Heeseung stayed silent, tried hard to keep his senses high, roaming his eyes around to check any subtle movements. He hated that he had some beer, and that he cried a lot a while ago because now he's a little bit dizzy.

A lot of thoughts played inside his mind. Is he going to die tonight? But dying doesn't sound so bad at the moment.

"This is your kingdom, right?" the killer said and Heeseung ignored them. He knows it's his way of taking his focus out of the main task—to spot him somewhere.

"There's only two things that can make you feel thrilled, right? Basketball and girls." they kept on talking, Heeseung kept silent.

"You keep fucking girls left and right, changing them every week... until Adela finally gave you a chance." their tone sharpen, and Heeseung almost lost his cool after hearing Adela's name.

"And the fuck boy Lee Heeseung suddenly turns into a loyal man... What a love story." they mocked and Heeseung heard another thud, but again there's nobody at that side when he whipped his head.

"You started dating Adela proudly without looking back at the girls that you left heart broken? The girls you fucked and played?" they said, voice thunderous.

Heeseung furrowed his brows. He's staying silent, but the things they're saying are getting to his brain. It's like a flashback of the bad decisions they made in their life. Did his friends suffered from this as well? What is this? The summary of all the bad things he did before he dies?

"The fuck are you saying asshole?" Heeseung finally hissed at the killer.

"WHERE ARE YOU!?" Heeseung's voice cracked as he let out a scream, raw and full of angry. He's continuously spinning around, scanning the court, his chest rising and falling quickly.

"Oh, I'm close," the killer whispered teasingly. "So close I can tell you're trembling right now."

Heeseung felt the hairs on the back of his neck rose and slowly he turned, eyes darting at the direction of the two doors and the corners of the bleachers. Nobody was there, but the way the killer whispers every word sends chills to him that he's sure he's just around.

Then he heard another faint clang. From the far side of the court.

Heeseung's hand tightened around the phone, knuckles turning white. "You think I'm scared of you?" he muttered, stepping forward. "Come the fuck out."

"Scared?" They let out a chuckle. "You should be. I've been waiting for this moment. To have my knife stabbed straight to your heart."

Heeseung took another step, his heart hammering. He could really feel it. That the killer is here, that they are near. Watching.

And then, from the shadowed edge of the bleachers, a figure suddenly emerged. Dressed in long black fabric that sways in their every movement. A white creepy ghost face mask covering their face, its shallow black eyes stared right back at him.

Heeseung froze mid-step.

The killer didn't move. They stood there, a few feet away, perfectly still that made the situation even more eerie.

"You really don't learn, do you?" The voice came again—no longer from the phone. It was real this time. Coming from that mask.

For a moment the two of them are not moving an inch, just staring at each other. Then the killer lunged towards him. Heeseung barely had time to react before the two of them collided. The sound of bodies hitting the floor echoed throughout the gym. Heeseung fought back hard, swinging his arm and landing a solid punch to the killer's side, sending them stumbling back.

They stood a few steps away from him before he quickly pulled something out, a flash of metal glinting under the dim lights—a knife.

Heeseung ducked, the blade slicing past his shoulder. He grunted because of the stinging pain, shoving the killer backward and kicking them out, his foot catching their ribs this time. The killer stumbled, but recovered fast and made it back to their feet. The fight was messy, breaths ragged, shoes squealing against the floor.

"Why are you doing this!?" Heeseung shouted, blocking another strike from the killer. He successfully sent multiple slices of shallow cuts towards Heeseung, but that was it. Still no deep blow from them. The killer is quick, but he's an athlete himself. There's no way he would let them kill him that easily. If he will die tonight, he will make sure he will die fighting.

"You really don't know?" the killer hissed, catching their breath, voice shaking with rage. "After what you did?" and he lunges forward once again.

Heeseung managed to grab the killer's wrist, twisting it hard enough for the knife to drop on the ground. He tried to push them away, but the killer slammed into him again, tackling him to the floor. He was too focused on losing their weapon that they managed to push him down.

They wrestled for control, the blade between them, sliding dangerously close to his throat. Heeseung groaned, clenching his jaw, muscles straining as he pushed against the knife, the cold sharp edge trembling inches from his skin.

Then the killer leaned closer to him, and using their low, filled with hate voice he whispers, "You can't just fuck my sister, break her heart, and think you could get away with it easily."

Heeseung froze. His breath hitched. He was not caught off guard with what he said, but more on the person's voice.

That voice— He knew it.

He shakes his head slowly, disbelief and utter denial twisting his expression. "No... no, it can't be—"

The killer tilted their head, almost amused. Then slowly, they reached up and pulled off their mask—finally revealing their identity.

Heeseung's entire world stopped. It wasn't some stranger. It wasn't a faceless monster.

It was someone he knew. Someone who he grew up with, share happy moments with and secrets.

Heeseung's eyes widened, his face draining of color faster. "You—"

"I want you to look at me," the killer said in gritted teeth, eyes burning with hatred. "Look at my eyes when I strip the life out of you."

Heeseung tried to fight back, but his strength was gone. He couldn't get over after knowing who's behind the mask. The knife trembled in the killer's hand as Heeseung kept his arms on defense, then slowly his eyes turn soft while staring at the killer's eyes. It was full of hatred—towards him, towards everything.

Heeseung's lips stretched a little into a sweet smile and tears streams out of his eyes, before nodding his head. "It's okay. I u-understand." he says and completely lets himself be stabbed, straight to his chest.

He grunted in pain, let out a struggling sound as blood starts to pour out of his lips. His brows furrowed closer as his jaw clenched, trying so hard not to make any sound.

The smirk on the killer's face faded, a flicker of unknown emotion flashes to their eyes before it starts heating up. Then he started furiously stabbing Heeseung, continuously—without mercy.

Once. Twice. Again and again.

Each stab was heavier than the last, fueled not just by anger, but grief. Betrayal. Revenge.

At some point, between the stabbing, Heeseung raises his hand and caress the killer's head making them stop mid-air.

"I f-forgive you and I hope you f-forgive me too." he mumbles, barely a whisper before he tries to pull off a smile and finally life drains out of him.

"You have to at least eat, dude." Jake tries to hand Sunghoon a bag of take-outs that he ordered for them. He's been terribly quiet after his visit inside your room. Ni-ki and Jake has to literally drag his ass out of your room when he nurses informed them that you don't want him inside your room.

Sunghoon didn't say a word regarding what happened inside the room, he just remained quiet. Jake and Ni-ki were concerned, wondering what happened between the two of you. They already had a hunch of what unfolded, but still they didn't push him on saying anything. Ni-ki left a while ago, stating that he will be the one to check on Jungwon since Jake has done it for a while.

"Do you think I'm really a horrible person?" his question was so out of the blue that Jake doesn't have a chance to process any of what he just said.

His brows furrowed hardly as he tilt his head with utter confusion. They're in the middle of a hospital hallway, their friends are getting killed one by one and here he is asking this question all of a sudden? He doesn't know where it came from honestly and the fact that its Park Sunghoon that asked it is what's more fascinating. He's usually the type to not give a damn about what other people think of him.

When he saw how dead his eyes looked, Jake lets out a strained sigh before licking his lips.

"Everyone has their bad side. All of us..." he states, words stuck between his throat. "..at some point in our lives we made bad decision. There's always a part of us we refuse other people to see." he meaningfully say.

He has no idea if it was the previous argument with Heeseung or the visit with you that drives him to this state, but regardless he wanted to make him feel better. What he did to save you is not enough for Heeseung to accuse him of being responsible of Evie's death. It's not like he have a choice, either way they all know the killer is hungry to make their kill. They will take whoever is convenient for them.

And the issue regarding him cheating behind you, that's where Jake has nothing to say. He has no stand in your relationship and honestly, he's out of it. All he really want is to catch who's behind all of this, make them pay for all the lives they mercilessly took.

"I can't lose, Cielle. She's the only person that keeps me sane in this world..." Sunghoon whispers, more like a prayer than a statement for Jake to hear.  "I will do anything to keep her." he added and Jake felt instantly bad for him.

Maybe his assumption was right, you figured out about the cheating incident between him and Evie. It must've been hurtful for you and obviously with Sunghoon's state right now, you didn't take the news well.

Jake thinks your feelings are valid. Having your best friend killed in front of your eyes and then not even a day after, you learnt that she slept with your boyfriend. How horrible would that felt like? Of course, you have nobody else to throw your wrath at but at Sunghoon.

The two of them fell silent after that and Jake's eyes unconsciously darted at the wall clock.

"Where's Jay and Heeseung? They should have been back by now." he stated, that caught Sunghoon's attention now.

"Jay hasn't called you ever since he left?" he asks, which Jake answered with a silent shaking of his head.

Even before they can think of calling him, a rushing steps caught their attention. When their heads whips on the side, a nurse—your attending nurse to be exact is approaching them with a frantic look on her face. That instantly made Sunghoon's heart hammered inside his chest. He stood up, Jake follows his action.

"What happened?" he asks promptly.

"Miss Cielle is not in her room." she starts and they noticed how she's overflowing in panic. "I d-don't know what ha—"

"What do you mean she's not in her room?! You're suppose to look after her!" Sunghoon's raging voice roared all over the hallway and Jake has to hold him back from stepping forward the nurse.

She flinched, "I just left to go check other patients for a while and when I went back to her room, i-it was a mess. Her dextrose was forcebly taken off of her, blankets on the floor and..." she gulps, tears pooling her eyes. "...blood. There's a lot of blood." she stated and even before she can continue, Sunghoon's already bolting at the direction of your room.

When he arrived the scene, his stomach drops. You are not inside and the evidence of the abduction was everywhere. Jake follows behind and while he's about to calm Sunghoon down and suggest that they call for the cops, his phone did a muffled 'ting' sound. A text message.

Jake anxiously pulled out his phone from his pocket and his lips trembled at the newest message he just received.

"What is it?" Sunghoon asks, desperate. When he didn't respond to him, he jogs closer to him to see the text message himself and he felt like his world just collapsed.

A photo of you—still in your hospital gown, head down while tied up on a chair. The picture was not wide enough for them to see the background of the place you're in. All they know is that the person who took the picture did that on purpose.

A few messages was sent after the picture.

unknown: Let's play another game.

unknown: Hide and seek.

unknown: Me and Cielle will hide, you guys will seek.

unknown: Clue of our location: Where you guys all reconnected.

Jake grabbed Sunghoon's shoulders as he saw how he's stoned on his position, his hands trembles while he runs them to his then face palms, "Hey," he said, voice shaking.

"Sunghoon!" he pushed him by his shoulder, "You need to snap out of it! If my guest are right, the killer might've took Cici back to campus. You go first. I will just swing by Jungwon's room to meet you there."

Sunghoon didn't even answer but just nodded once. He shoved the hospital doors open and bolted into the quiet hallways, heading straight to the parking lot.

Rain still pouring, turning the roads slick—drenching Sunghoon, but he didn't care at all. The tires of his car screeched on the concrete floor of the parking lot, red lights and rules all disregarded. His hands clenched the wheel until his knuckles whitened. Every breath was ragged, his chest felt too tight to welcome more air.

"Please be alive, baby. Please, Cici, just hold on. I'm coming." he utters under his breath like a prayer.

Jake's on the way to Jungwon's room when Ni-ki answers his phone. "Ni-ki where are you we need—"

"Hyung! I'm heading towards the campus right now. I received a text from Heeseung hyung that he's there." Ni-ki says in a rushed tone, he can tell by how heavy his breathing that he's also in panic.

"Okay! Sunghoon's on the way to the campus as well."

"What? How about Cici?" Ni-ki asks abruptly. He heard that he stopped his tracks and Jake doesn't know how to break the news of your abduction to him.

"Hyung, who's left with Cielle?"

Jake's adam's apple bopped, nervous. "Cici's been taken from her hospital room, Ni-ki. The killer sent a picture of her and I think she's in the campus as well."

Ni-ki's body stiffened at what he heard, his ears rings and he felt like his knees weakened.

"I'll follow after you guys, please be careful—" and the dial tone cuts through the call as the younger one ended it.

Jake furrowed his brows, "Fucking brat." and he continued his steps towards the direction of Jungwon's room. He's about to turn by the corner, when some of the Mayor's men came into his view.

"The Mayor is inside with his son," they informed Jake and his steps halted before eyes darted at the hospital door—Jungwon's room. He can see that a lot of men surrounds the whole floor.

He felt relieved that he's safe. Jake only nods his head and bolted out of there to go after his friends.

When Sunghoon reached the university gates, the campus was as expected—silent. It's almost midnight already and he's so sure that all classes are probably done by now. He didn't bother parking properly, the car stopped with a loud screech leaving tire stains on the road. He was already out the door even before the engine died.

He made a run through the corridors, the contact of his shoes off the marble floor echoes through the dark hallways. He was just about to enter further to the admin building when his steps halted after hearing footsteps. His heart raced but he spun around the corner and nearly collided with somebody.

"Sunghoon!" Jay pants, flashlight beam through the phone he was holding, hand trembling trembling. "I got a text from Heeseung. He said he's here and the killer is after him. Did you receive the text too?" he asks.

Sunghoon blinks, pushing his tears back to his eyes. "N-No," he gulps. "Cici is taken from her hospital room and we believe the killer took her here."

Jay's eyes flashes worry after hearing about what happened. His jaw clenches instantly and their heads spun on the other side after hearing another set of steps approaching. They unconsciously raised their fists, heart beat synching together with the rushed steps nearing their locating.

"Ni-ki!" Jay lets out a relieved sigh after meeting eyes with the younger one.

He pants, but his eyes caught Sunghoon right away and he went straight to him. "Did you found her? Did you found Cielle?" he asked in a very desperate tone.

Sunghoon shakes his head in disbelief.

"W-We need to find her. I c-can't lose her. Please." his broken plea broke his friends.

Jay takes initiative as he noticed that the two are currently too messed up to make decisions. "Then we split up. It'll be faster that way."

They nodded within a second, no arguments. Just pure instinct, fear and want to find their friends.

They all ran in different directions, but with one goal. To catch the person behind all of this.

Jay went through almost each classrooms, and yet still no sign of you or Heeseung. He's grunting, frustration set at high as his feet starts to feel more numb from all the running.

When he turns at the last side of the building, he opens the three classrooms and nobody was there. After checking the last one, he went out and saw the basketball gym. His heart races and eyes locked in on the slightly ajar door.

He curses himself inside his mind for not heading here at the first place. If there's anywhere Heeseung would be, it's the basketball gym. It's his favorite place in the university.

"Heeseung?" he calls out by the door and gently push it open.

"What the fuck..." he says in utter shock.

By the middle of the court, a body is sat down. Jay's eyes dropped at the pool of blood beneath the chair he's sitting on and he panics. His eyes then darted at the person's head is wearing a mask—the ghost face mask. His head is titled to the side in an odd way, and Jay bolted closer to them.

"H-Heeseung?" he calls out, tears starting to pull his eyes.

The moment he reaches his side, Jay felt like his world just stopped. Lee Heeseung's body was full of blood, his whole shirt is soaked with his own blood. When he tries to shake his shoulder, Heeseung's body leans forward—lifeless.

"H-Hyung?" he calls again, and Heeseung would've been smiling from ear to ear now if he heard what Jay just called him.

Heeseung's a year older than him, and yet Jay refused hardly to call him hyung, insisting that they basically grew up together and he's just a few months older. It would've been one of the happiest day of Heeseung's life, only this time he isn't alive to witness it.

Jay stripped off the mask from him and his tears flows nonstop as he saw his pale face, body so cold and there's no doubt that he's already gone.

"Hyung! N-No... wake up! No!" he screams and hugs his friend's cold body. He doesn't care if the blood is all over him, all he wants is to wake up from this dream.

"He said he forgive me..."

Jay abruptly pulled away from Heeseung and searched the whole gym after hearing another voice. His brows furrowed as he tries harder to make out the face of the person by the corner.

"I never said sorry... I'm not even sorry." he says in a chilling voice before stepping into the light, letting Jay have the full view of him.

To say that he was in utter shock was an understatement. His lips tremble as he shakes his head slowly, in denial of what his eyes are seeing.

He's confused, clouded with a lot of questions inside his mind. None of this is making any sense, because why is Yang Jungwon standing a few feet away from him when he's suppose to be in the hospital?

Jungwon tilt his head, one of his hand plays with the knife he's holding. It was bloody, along with his shirt and his face was filled with splattered of blood—Heeseung's blood.

Jay couldn't even recognize him, the look on his eyes. It was blank, distant and cold.

"W-Why? We're friends, Jungwon."

"Friends?" Jungwon's not amused in one bit.

"Friends don't betray each other." he says, voice filled with betrayal before his eyes trailed over to Heeseung. "He betrayed me first."

"W-What? What do you mean?" his voice low, "Why do you have to do this, Jungwon?"

Jungwon tilt his head, "Because he killed my sister."

Jay looked confused when he heard that. He can't even understand what he's saying because as far as he knows his sister is outside of the country. She left to go abroad to study. It was a very sudden decision that she didn't even manage to properly say good bye to them. Jungwon seems to notice the unpuzzled look on Jay's face and that even made his blood boil even more, anger ignites inside him. That's how unaware their group of friends to all the shitty things Heeseung has done.

"Heeseung and my sister has been fucking behind our backs. They hid it from us, because they knew I wouldn't approve of it." he stop to let out a sarcastic scoff, his smile unamused.

"And I have every fucking reason to disagree. We all know how much of a fuck boy Lee Heeseung was. He sleeps around with different girl like a dog in heat." he spat, rudely like as if he wasn't referring to someone older than him.

"It lasted for a while, and during those times my sister thought Heeseung feels the same way. She believed his lies—she fell into his trap. Everything is smooth between the two of them, until Adela happened." Jungwon's jaw clenched and Jay saw it very shortly, the faint pained expression from his eyes. He was quick to mask it off with coldness and hate.

"When Adela finally acknowledges Heeseung's long overdue feelings for her, I was there and I was very happy for him. I even thought to myself that at last Lee Heeseung's whore phase is finally over." he scoffs, but the smirk on his face drops instantly.

"What I didn't know is that the night Adela molds Heeseung's heart was the same night he will break my sister's into pieces." his teeth gritted in every words.

"He broke her so good that my parents has to send her abroad. My stupid father thinks that she's no good for his name, a stain to his good image." he smiled bitterly.

"She didn't last for more than two months out there. She took her own life and my parents," he laughs, but Jay can clearly see how broken he was behind all of it. "...they were too embarrassed to release to public that their daughter has taken her own life. We even flew out and held a private burial for her, they don't even care other than their stupid image."

Jay wanted to feel bad—he does feel bad for him. After all, he grew up with him, he knew his sister well and finding out that she passed away already is heart breaking for him. He could only think of how bad Jungwon felt that time.

But still, it isn't enough for him to do all of these things. His reasons is not valid for him taking lives he isn't even meant to take.

"D-Does it mean you..." he starts, finding it hard to continue his own words. "..you're the one who killed—"

"Killed Sunoo?" Jungwon cuts his words off, the eyes glinting excitement for a while that made Jay sick to the stomach. Just the look on his eyes was enough to tell him that he's completely out of his mind.

The name hits Jay like car in full speed. His breath dragged and he starts feeling dizzy. His mind starts flashing back some memories of Sunoo's laughing face, that cute expression whenever someone's teasing or annoying him, his subtle ways of showing he cares to his friends. Then it brutally switches to the scene where Jay saw Sunoo's lifeless body in front of their frat house.

Jay changed that night, something in him flipped unbeknown to most people around him, even his own friends. That night, not only a friend was taken from him.

His whole body trembles, mixed with rage and betrayal.

"Why?" Jay shouts, voice breaking. "Why would you do that?!"

Jungwon's smirk widens, eyes gleaming under the dim gym lights.

"This is the exact reason why." he stated shortly. Jay was confused at what he's saying, but he continues.

"Originally, I wanted to kill him because he's my biggest rival academically. But then another reason came up."

Jay's chest tightens. "Academically? Jungwon, Sunoo isn't even trying to compete with yo—"

"Exactly! He isn't competing, but he almost got the first rank last semester, remember? I had to do something."

Jay could not believe him right now. His reasons for killing them—his own friends, gets more and more immature.

"You're not making any sense. You don't have to do this."

"Oh, I do." Jungwon cuts in, tone sharp now. "I knew once I kill Adela—to punish Heeseung emotionally, break his heart like how he broke my sister's, eventually all of you will start to get suspicious. Someone would start putting pieces together." he starts and plays with his knife.

"I wanted to eliminate the people on my list one by one, and it would be hard to make my move once I start. I couldn't let them point at me, right? So I made it easier for them to look somewhere else."

Jay's lips part, his mind slowly piecing things together. "Evie..." he breathes.

"Pretty smart." Jungwon smirks. "I know most of you think I'm very busy that I wouldn't notice things around our friend group, but I do. I know about you and Sunoo." the way he looks at him made Jay's heart races.

"I knew about your relationship. And you've always been very vocal of your opinions, you're someone very brave to speak up what you think and I figured you'll be the one I'll be needing to plot things with Evie."

Jay's slowly putting every pieces together. "As expected, the moment Sunoo died you started losing your shit already. You started getting desperate to look for someone to blame for the death of the love of your life. You were so easy to manipulate, Jay hyung."

The words pierce through Jay's chest like knives. His grief turns into fury. He lunges, screaming as he grabs Jungwon by the collar and slams him back into the floor. "You fucking bastard!"

Jungwon laughs in his face, low and mocking. "How does it feel that you're mainly the reason why Evie died?"

He noticed how bad it affects Jay. He smirks, "Wanna know another secret?" and even before Jay can respond, Jungwon already leans towards him to whisper.

And as Jay hears what he whispers, the knife stabs through him. Jay grunt in pain, but his emotions are taken the best of him and Jungwon's taking advantage every second of it. Stabbing, full strike, not holding back and full of hatred.

Jay groaned and cries, but didn't fought back fully.

But Jungwon doesn't stop. He steps closer, relentless, eyes wild and gleaming with something between joy and rage.

At some point, Jay manages to grabe a broken piece of wood from the bleachers and swings it towards Jungwon and it hit him once. When he attempts to stab him again, he blocks it using wood. The sound of metal clashing against wood fills the air. Jay's breath is ragged, his body shaking, adrenaline burning through his veins while his wound starts to bleed even more.

"WHY DID YOU DO THIS?" Jay yells between gasps. "WHY D-DO YOU HAVE TO—" his cries cuts off as Jungwon stabs deeply into his stomach.

Jungwon smiles, tilting his head again. "No offense, Jay hyung."

He pulls away after the state he put Jay into. He's in no condition to fight or even survive the amount of injuries he inflicted him already. He's bleeding to death by now.

He stood up and stares down at Jay with no hint of guilt or regret in his eyes.

"I don't really have a big reason to kill you, Jay. It just happens that you're part of a wrong friend group."

Sunghoon looked like a mad man opening each doors he passes by, empty classrooms, he checked every room his eyes lays on. His heart was a hammering inside his chest so loud that he can practically hear it in his ears, louder than the rain pouring outside.

And then his steps halted.

The only remaining place he haven't checked was the auditorium doors at the end of the hall, a faint light sips from the crack beneath them. Something about it felt pushed Sunghoon to walk closer, pulls him that way. Like a whisper that what he's looking for is inside.

He remembers the text message the killer has sent Jake. The clue was the place where they reconnected. He assumes the killer was referring to his friend group reuniting with Jake and Ni-ki. This is where it happened... after Adela's ceremony.

He reached for the handle, but his hand shook.

"Cici...?" He calls out, more like a whisper.

No answer. Just pure silence and the splatter of rain from outside serving as the eerie background sound, but then he hears it. A faint, soft sob, echoing from the gap.

Without hesitation, he pushed the door open. It creaked loud enough to make his heart stutter. Inside, only the center part of he auditorium glow, leaving most of the corners dim in shadows.

His eyes darted at the person at the very center, head hanging low, tied up. Your hair fell over your face, shoulders trembling with quiet sobs.

Sunghoon's breath caught at the sight of you. "Cici!"

Your head snapped upwards and for a second, your tear-stained face lit up with relief seeing his face.

"Hoon..." your voice cracked in hesitation, pondering if what you're seeing is real or hallucination. "Sunghoon..." you whispered, more to yourself to convince that he is indeed here. That he came for you.

He was already running. His footsteps rushed and heavy. He dropped to his knees to untie the ropes. tying you to the chair. "I've got you baby," he murmured. "It's okay, I've got you." His hands trembled as he worked the knots loose.

When the rope fell away, you collapsed against him. He caught you instantly, wrapping his arms around you. Sunghoon's holding you so tight as if afraid that someone will take you away from him.

His heart broke as he felt your body shivers, your sobs are like knife straight to his heart. "You're safe now," he whispered into your hair, pulling you even closer. "It's over. I'm here."

And then the sound of knife burying deep inside the flesh echoes between the two of you.

He stiffened. His body jerked once, violently. Sunghoon's body froze, unable to process anything.

Slowly, you move away from him, your eyes searched for his. His mouth parted, about to say something, but instead bright red liquid spills out from the corner of his lips.

"Hoon...?" you mumbled, voice trembling.

He looked down, disbelief flickering in his eyes as the color drained from his face. A knife protruding to the side of his stomach and blood spreads warm between you.

He swayed, eyes unfocused, trying to make sense of what just happened.

"Wha—" He choked on his words, coughing out some more blood. His hand reached for your face, shaking.

But the look on your eyes changed, cold, distant—unable to be recognized.

The sobs had stopped. The tears are still there, but your lips—slowly curved upwards. Sunghoon winced in pain, collapsing in front of you.

He tried to lift his head to look at you, his mind filled with so many questions, betrayal and horror of realization. Your eyes glistened under the dim light—but this time not with fear.

"Ci?" he managed to utter under his breath.

You leaned closer, your tone sweet, almost pitying. "Oh, Hoon... you shouldn't have cheated on me."

His vision blurred, the world dimming around the edges. The weight of betrayal hit harder than the pain itself.

fic tag-list:

@mora134340 @drunkinjake @jakesgfff @cara9065 @wonluvvies24 @enhaheart8

permanent tag-list:

The police interrogation room was swallowed in shadows, it's wide and yet you feel suffocated by the pressure and atmosphere enveloping the whole place. After the police arrived and the ambulance to take Sunoo's dead body, you and Evie were assisted to check if you're both okay. It felt like blur as all you can remember was the police asking all of you to go with them.

Evie's slumped on one of the chairs, her hands trembling, streaked crimson up to her wrists. Her blouse was stained, smears of blood trailing across the fabric. Her chest rose and fell erratically, each breath unsteady, choked.

The boys sat quietly, tense, their gazes fixed. There's a lot of questions that are playing inside their minds and none dared to speak it out. The police just finished getting your statements individually and was moved back here altogether. They asked for you to wait. You moved first, breaking through the stiff air, your voice fragile but steady.

"Evie..." You crouched beside her, gently holding her wrists. "It's okay. You're safe now. Just tell us what happened."

Her eyes lifted to yours, watery and panicked. "I-I don't know! I swear I don't—" She bit down on her lip so hard it almost bled. "I just... I heard noises, I was looking for my phone and then—then there was blood."

"Blood where?" Jay's voice was sharp, cutting the room in half.

Evie flinched. Her tears spilled freely, dripping down her chin as she stumble through her own words, "In the hall. By the stairs. It was so dark—I didn't see, and I-I slipped. I fell right into it." She held her shaking hands up like proof, her whole body trembling. "That's why I'm covered in it, I didn't do anything—"

Jungwon's brows furrowed, his jaw tight. "You fell into the blood?" his tone was calm, but it was clear that he, too find some things oddly.

"Yes!" Evie's voice cracked. "Yes, I swear! I didn't even see where it was coming from, it was everywhere! I thought—" She shook her head violently, pressing her palms into her face. "I thought I was going to die back there."

You wrapped your arms around her, pulling her into your chest, hushing her to calm down and that everything's okay. Though, it isn't. Sunoo's dead and the killer got away.

She clung to you instantly, sobbing into your shoulder, her cries raw. "Cici, please—you believe me, right? You have to believe me!"

You stroked her back gently, whispering shakily, "Of course I do. Of course, Evie. You didn't... you wouldn't do that." you answered sincerely. The whole thing was a mess, but it's definitely not her.

But behind you, silence reigned and spread like a wild virus.

Sunghoon's fists were clenched at his sides, his knuckles white. His jaw locked so tight it ached, his eyes fixed not on Evie—but on you, holding her. His chest burned with the urge to drag you away from her, to rip you from her arms. He didn't say it, but the fire in his stare screamed his thoughts.

Heeseung sat in silence, his lips parted like he wanted to speak but couldn't. His eyes are bloodshot and glistening—kept darting towards Evie's bloodstained blouse and her trembling hands. Sunoo's broken body from a while ago shamelessly flashes in his mind. He wanted to defend his cousin, that's what he feels the right thing to do, but his mouth kept shut.

Jay crossed his arms, his posture stiff, gaze narrowed. He didn't buy it. Not fully.

And Ni-ki, leaning against the wall, said nothing. But his eyes—sharp, calculating while locked on Evie, watching every twitch, every hesitation.

Sunghoon finally broke the silence, his voice gravel, low but thick with restrained rage. "You just... fell? That's your explanation for why you're covered head to toe?"

Evie's head snapped up, her tear-stained face contorting in pain. "What do you want me to say?! That I killed him?!" Her voice cracked, desperation tearing through every word. "I love Sunoo—he's my friend! Why would I hurt him?"

The room stilled.

You tightened your hold on her as she shook, whispering, "Don't say that, Evie. Don't—"

But Sunghoon's glare darkened, and though he didn't move, his hand twitched toward you as if ready to take you away from Evie any time now. He will be honest that seeing you this close to her while half of the people inside the room finds her suspicious is bothering him.

The boys exchanged looks—quiet signals, silent accusations, none daring to say it aloud, but it lingered thick in the air: she's suspicious. And Evie knew it. She could see it in their eyes.

Her sobs grew harder, her words trembling, broken. "Please... don't look at me like that. I didn't... I didn't do anything."

But the silence that answered her was heavier than any scream.

The silence pressed down on all of you like a weight. Evie's sobs echoed too loudly in the darkened room, each shaky breath she took is like a reminder of the blood on her hands, the blood none of you could unsee.

You held her tighter, trying to shield her from the accusing stares of your friends, but your heartbeat was heavy, betraying your own thoughts. You wanted to believe her—you do believe her, but the way the boys stood rigid and quiet, made your stomach twist.

The door suddenly burst open and the chief scans his eyes around, trying to analyze anything from each of your expressions. He saw how only one was crying, Evie Lee. His eyes darted straight to her blood stained clothes.

When they interviewed and try getting her statement, all she does was deny everything. Claiming that all she did was try and get her phone to call for help. The next thing she knew she was covered with blood—Sunoo's blood.

"I already told you I have no idea of what happened back there! I-It was pitch black, I heard phones ringing so I stormed outside of the room to get it!" she sobs hardly as the police interrogates her alone.

"You already knew it could be dangerous going outside Ms. Lee, why did you go outside?" he asks. That's the biggest question for them. They just couldn't bring themselves to believe her reasons.

She gasps and looked at them sharply, eyes filled with tears, blouse full of blood—she didn't even mind the wounds she has. Being pinned at this point is what hurts her the most.

The next person they questioned was you, but Sunghoon insisted to be there for emotional support. You're still shaken up from what happened and the police were hesitant to even let him in with you, but they're left with no choice.

"Miss Choi, you said you are the last one to see Mr. Kim alive." he starts and Sunghoon's jaw clenched by the way he starts his sentence.

You nodded your head, fingers fidgeting. He noticed and reached for it, preventing you from causing scratches to your hands.

"Y-Yes. He locked me inside b-before he," you gulped, words felt like it got stuck on your throat. "before h-he went to find Evie. After that I heard noises."  the police officer in front of you scribbles down on his paper.

"What kind of noises?" he asks, not meeting with your eyes.

You blinked rapidly, trying to push back the fresh tears that attempting to come out but it was no use. They stream out uncontrollably.

"L-Like someone's bumping into things, I h-heard Sunoo fighting with someone..." your voice low, every memory you try to remember are like knives straight to your heart. Painful.

"Did you hear Ms. Lee while you're inside the bathroom? Why didn't you get out and help your friend—" his words straight forward, but hit you like a truck.

"H-He locked me! I already told y-you he locked me in so I couldn't do anything about it and now he's—" you cried hard and Sunghoon was quick to pull you back to his arms. His glaring eyes darted at the police, making him feel unsettled.

"How many times do you have to ask that question to her? She's traumatized already. She gave you what you want, now leave us alone." his tone angry, but when he glanced at your direction his eyes softens, trying to shush you to calm down and comfort you.

It was hard to tell what really happened back there having all the lights out and the two witnesses— you and Evie, to be in an unstable state to even provide information well. Some of your statements matches, but it still left the biggest question: Who's the killer?

"All of you are done for tonight. Your parents requested for us to let you go home after the interrogation is over."

After everything that happened, nobody felt safe to go separately and so Jungwon suggested all of you stay at one of their houses that's near the campus. Everyone agreed and plus, Jungwon's father asked some police to guard the premises. He says that the killer may come back so it will better if you're all together. They wouldn't be able to get in because of the tight security.

"We can't waste time pointing fingers. Not right now. Whoever did this, they're still out there, probably planning for their next move." Jungwon finally broke off the deafening silence.

Jay nodded, but his eyes didn't leave Evie. His jaw shifted like he wanted to argue, to demand answers she didn't have. Instead, he muttered, "Fine. But we can't ignore what we've seen."

Sunghoon scoffed under his breath, running a hand down his face, pacing once before snapping his gaze back to you. His stare lingered hard on where you were once again, close to Evie— arm wrapped around her. "Cici, come here."

You blinked, startled. "Sunghoon, she—"

"You need to be safe," he cut in, voice firm, rebuking any chance of argument. His tone wasn't loud, but it was final, sending a chill through the whole room.

Evie flinched at his words, her tear-stained face twisting. "So that's it? You think I'm dangerous now?" Her voice cracked. "You all think I killed him, don't you?"

"Stop it, Sunghoon. Don't push my cousin under the bus just because you can't get along with her." Heeseung finally stepped in between and even walk closer to Evie. His eyes are dark as they stare at Sunghoon, he clenched his jaw the atmosphere turning heavy once again.

"Heeseung—" your words got interrupted when Sunghoon pulls you gently closer to him, his firm hold and eyes still darted at Heeseung.

"My main priority is to make sure my girlfriend is safe." he declared without hesitation.

No one dared to speak after that. The silence was worse than any accusation.

Jungwon finally dragged a shaky hand through his hair, his voice hoarse when he spoke. "We're all walking on a thread right now. The killer's messing with us. If we turn on each other..." His voice broke, his grief for the friends he lost bleeding through, "...we're already finished."

Everything happened too fast. They didn't even manage to cope up on losing Adela and now they're on their second loss.

Evie shook her head, hugging herself once you reluctantly let go to stand between her and the others. "I didn't... I didn't do anything," she whispered again, her tone fragile, almost like she was saying it more to herself now than to anyone else.

The boys shared glances—quiet, sharp exchanges of suspicion, mistrust slipping beneath their controlled exteriors. Jungwon's lips pressed tight, Jay's arms folded like a barrier, Ni-ki's sharp eyes never wavering, eyes panning from one person to another, carefully observing.

Sunghoon's stare softened only when it met yours. "Stay close to me, Cici. Please."

You nodded shakily, torn in half—between your best friend's trembling figure and your boyfriend's burning protectiveness. To prevent any tension erupting even more, you realize that you should just listen to him.

The group didn't argue further. They didn't accuse. As Jungwon decided to call it a day and instruct everyone to take rest, the air between you stayed heavy, poisoned by doubt. Sunghoon pulls you closer to his chest as you let his warmth send comfort to you. It was a very long day for everyone. Maybe the tiredness and frustration also played a big part on making everyone extra sensitive. The wide living room of Jungwon's house that used to be neatly decorated by expensive furniture are now filled with bed mattresses, stating that it would be safer for all of you to sleep in one place of the house.

The mistrust grew like poison ivy, curling into every corner of the room, wrapping around your throats. No one said it outright, but the divide was clear and the longer the night stretched, the worse it became. Every whisper, every sideways glance, every tense silence dug deeper until you felt like any second now, someone might snap.

The killer wasn't even in the room, but they didn't have to be. They'd already won.

They'd made you start turning on each other.

The frat house became a ghost in everyone's memory. No one spoke of the blood-soaked carpet or the thud of Sunoo's body hitting the ground, but the silence around it was suffocating. You try to mend the whole group, the growing wall in between different opinions gets taller and taller, unable to be denied.

Classes still went on. The school halls buzzed with normal laughter and chatter. But for your group, nothing was normal anymore. The two spaces that was left by two important people are never going to be filled up the same way.

At lunch, you sat at the long table, but it felt like a war zone. Evie sat beside you, as always, but her body was curled in on itself, like she was bracing for impact. She grew a lot quieter than her usual self, but you can't even blame her as everyone's just the same. Across the table, Jay's eyes never stopped flickering toward her, sharp and distrusting. Ni-ki rarely looked her way, unless it was with a glare. Jungwon tried to hold neutral ground, but his words were careful, measured. Heeseung was too torn apart to argue, yet his silence carried its own weight of suspicion.

You tried to hold Evie's hand beneath the table, comforting her, but she knew. She felt the wall pressing in from every side.

Finally, one afternoon in the student council's room— it became your frequent hang out place after the dreadful incidents that happened, just the group of you, the lamps low and the air heavy—she snapped.

Her chair scraped back sharply against the floor as she stood, trembling, her bloodshot eyes darting between them all. She couldn't take more of these silent treatment and suspicious glares they're sending her. She's not fully healed from grieving for her friends, from the traumatic experience she'd gone through, and now she's being accused of something she never did. She felt wronged in every way.

"You all think I did it, don't you?" her voice cracked, brittle and raw. "You're not saying it out loud, but it's written all over your faces. From the way your treatment with me changed, your gazes."

No one moved.

Evie's breath hitched, her chest rising and falling fast. She wanted to hear from them that she's wrong, that she's just being paranoid, and yet none of it came. Instead, she was greeted by utter silence.

"You keep looking at me like I'm some monster! Like I pushed him out that window!" her voice broke, tears spilling freely down her cheeks. "I lost him too! He was my friend too!"

"Evie—" you began, rising halfway, trying to dispute the tension, but Jay's voice sliced through the room.

"You were covered in his blood." he didn't stop himself from speaking this time. Evie is his friend, they are grieving and they wanted to give respect to Sunoo that's why as much as possible he stopped himself from confronting her.

From the previous days, he's been dying to tell it to her face. That he's most suspicious of her after that night. A lot of things just doesn't sit right for him, a lot of things aren't aligned to her reasons. He's not that evil, Evie is one of his friends. He grew up with her, all of them did, that's why if any of these are true it would hurt him more than feeling relieved of proving his instincts are right.

The words hit like a hammer.

Evie whipped toward him, her face crumpling. "Because I fell into it! How many times do I have to say that?!" she exclaimed, overwhelmed by emotions.

"The lights were cut off that night and because it was dark, I couldn't see at all then I fell."

Jay leaned forward, his eyes narrowed. "It just doesn't make sense at all, Evie. When Sunoo pulled you and Cici upstairs after hearing there's someone outside, you insisted on leaving." Jay stated, then scoffed with no humor.

"It's either you're just really dumb or you're planning to lure out either Sunoo or Cici." Jay continued, his every word stabs Evie straight to her heart and poisons the other's mind.

"What—NO! I just want to get my phone so I can call for help!" she argued, repeating yet again the same reasons that made them think she's suspicious.

"I n-never ask them to follow me... I was s-scared too." her knees weakens as tears streamed her face. You felt heartbroken for your best friend, but Jay can't feel anything looking at her state.

"But Sunoo did." his tone cold, "He followed after you, to save you. And now he's dead. If you're not really the killer, then it was your fault he died." 

She froze, her lip trembling. "You—"

"Jay!" Heeseung screamed and pushed his friend by the shoulder then stood in front of his cousin.

"Jay.." your head shook slowly, crying as well.

"That's enough, Jay hyung." Jungwon went in between.

Jake lets out a sigh then grabs Jay by the shoulder, "Let's get some fresh air, man." and tried to pull him out of there. Ni-ki's stares lingered through Evie who's now between her cousin's arms, crying hard, before he follows Jay and Jake.

"She's telling the truth," you cut in, your voice firm despite your own shaking. "I believe her. I was there with her—"

That was when Evie's voice cracked again, sharp and jagged.

"Exactly!" she cried, her voice pitching high, hysterical. "You were there too!" her finger unconsciously pointed at your direction with such arrogance.

"Why doesn't anyone look at you like that, huh?!" She turned, eyes wide and bloodshot, staring straight into yours. "Why aren't they suspicious of you?!"

Your breath caught, a knife of betrayal lodging in your chest.

Sunghoon slammed his hand against the table, his voice a growl. "Don't you dare drag her into this."

Evie's tears spilled faster, shaking her head violently. "Why not?! She was there! She was the last one with me—what if—"

Jungwon covered you and faced Evie's direction.

"Evie... it's impossible." he stated coldly, to put stop on whatever she was trying to imply.

"Why not?! She was there too! How come I was the only—"

"Because Sunoo locked Cici inside his bathroom before he comes after you." Jungwon stated calm that left Evie silent.

You started crying and Sunghoon wants to burst out after seeing the tears on your eyes, clearly hurt that after you defend Evie she will say those things in front of you. He stood close and hugs you to comfort.

You stood, your own tears welling, your chest aching. "Evie, I would never—"

"I didn't either!" she shrieked, clutching her chest as sobs tore through her. "I didn't, but none of you believe me. None of you—"

Her knees buckled, and she collapsed into the chair again, her hands covering her face. Her sobs filled the room, echoing too loud against the silence that followed.

You moved instantly, shoving Sunghoon's hold when he tries to stop you. You crouched at her side, pulling her into your arms. She clung to you desperately, choking on her cries. "You're all I have left, Cici. You're the only one who doesn't hate me."

You rocked her gently, whispering, "I don't hate you. I promise, I don't."

But across the table, the boys sat stiff, silent.

Sunghoon's fists were still clenched, his jaw so tight it looked like it might snap. His eyes locked on you—not her—as if silently begging you to let go, to stop defending her, to see what everyone's seeing.

Jungwon was the only one who finally spoke, his voice heavy with restrained frustration. "We're falling apart."

And he was right.

The killer didn't even have to lift a finger. The doubt, the mistrust, the paranoia—it was eating you alive from the inside.

And though you held Evie tighter, whispering comfort into her hair, you felt it too, the fractures deepening, widening, until the group was nothing but splinters waiting to break.

Even before they realize it, the night slowly slipped through, the air cold and thick with cigarette smoke curling between them. They sat behind the building—Jake, Ni-ki, Jay, and Sunghoon—huddled around the single dim light from one single post providing them. It was supposed to be just a smoke break, a breather from the chaos, but it was impossible to breathe easy anymore.

Jay exhaled first, long and sharp, smoke spilling out of his mouth like steam from a boiling pot. "I'm telling you," he muttered, his voice low but heavy, "something's not right with Evie."

Jake frowned, leaning against the cold wall. "Jay—"

"No. Listen." Jay's tone cut through him. "She was covered in blood, Jake. Covered. She left that room when Sunoo already managed to pull them inside for safety." He dragged another inhale, eyes dark and tired. "The next thing she knew, she's covered in blood and Sunoo's dead. You're really telling me that doesn't sound messed up?"

Jake pinched the bridge of his nose, cigarette between his fingers trembling slightly. He didn't want to agree—but he couldn't ignore it either. The image of Sunoo's bloodied body flashing in his head, still fresh and traumatic, the cause of his sleepless night.

"She said she fell into it," Jay muttered, as if saying it out loud could make it sound believable. "Said it was too dark to see anything." he let out a scoff, indicating that he's not buying it at all.

Ni-ki, who had been silent the whole time, tapped ash off the end of his cigarette. "Did you guys know that Jungwon and I found her phone in her pocket?" he said quietly, glancing at nothing.

The three boys snap their heads at his directions, "What?" Jay blurted.

Ni-ki took another long huff, "When we assisted her to the police' comfort room so she can change into clean clothes, the two of us found her phone."

The additional information shook all of them, this just added to the suspicion they're currently feeling for Evie.

"See? If she went downstairs for her phone... why was it already with her?"

The words hung there, unanswered.

Jay scoffed, even louder after they grew silent. "Exactly." He flicked the cigarette away, "She's lying. She's lying through her teeth, and you all still stop me from confronting her."

Jake shook his head. "You don't know that. People panic, Jay. We all did. She could've been disoriented—hell, I wouldn't even remember where my own phone was in a night like that."

"And when Jungwon talked to the police he said they informed him that the lights were cut off from the inside of the house." Ni-ki stated coldly.

Jake was lost of words to say. There's a lot of possibilities, a lot of loopholes, not to mention their unavailability to process everything well after what just happened. That incident left all of them unsettled, unable to sleep or eat properly.

"She's just scared too and having people—

Jay glared at him, jaw tight. "Then what? It doesn't change the fact that Sunoo followed after her and ended up dead then Evie—who was right there—just happened to be covered in his blood? None of it sit right for me."

Silence. The night wind whistled softly through the alley, whispering their unease back at them.

Jake's jaw clenched. He didn't want to imagine it. He just couldn't imagine it. Despite being not close to the group already for years, this is someone he grew up with. It just doesn't make sense for him. She isn't the nicest, yes she can be mean sometimes— but not to the extent of killing somebody, not to mention a person closed to her.

He was denial, but the memory of her trembling, bloodied hands, and her scattered words haunted him.

"She said she didn't kill him," he muttered, unsure if he's saying those words to convince them or himself. "But I don't know what to believe anymore."

Jay turned to him, frustration leaking from every word. "You don't know? Come on, Jake. You saw her. You heard her. She couldn't even explain it straight."

"Enough," Sunghoon snapped, his voice cracking slightly. "It won't help us if we keep on pointing towards Evie. It's scaring Cici."

Jay scoffed, leaning back against the wall. "Well maybe she should be scared, because our friends are dying one by one."

The tension was unbearable—thick, suffocating, as if the very air was closing in on them.

"I'm not trying to break the group, I'm just trying to make sure whoever killed Sunoo doesn't come for the rest of us next. But sure, let's all just sit around pretending everything's fine because it's easier to look the other way."

Jake rubbed his face, exhausted. "We can't start pointing fingers, Jay. That's what the killer wants. To make us paranoid. To make us fight."

Jay looked at him, eyes burning. "And what if the killer is really one of us, Jake?"

That sentence froze the world around them. Jake's cigarette slipped from his hand, falling to the ground. Sunghoon went still. The shadows around them seemed to tighten, like the night itself was listening.

"Don't," Sunghoon said firmly, low and cold. "Don't say that."

Jay stared at the ground, voice quieter now, but sharper. "I just want all of these to stop, I don't want to lose more of my friends." he mumbled under his breath.

"Cici should keep her distance from Evie." he added.

"She's just trying to protect her friend, Jay. That's what Cici does." Sunghoon stated, and even if they don't say anything they know.

Jay laughed bitterly. "And that's what's going to get her killed."

Sunghoon turned sharply to glare at him, anger sparking in his chest. "Watch your mouth."

Jay stood up, brushing ash off his jeans, his voice calm but shaking with fury. "All of us want the same thing—to catch the killer. We need to be more alert and smart. They already won two times, I'm not going to let that to happen again."

He walked away, leaving the three of them under the flickering light.

Jake kicked the ground, the sound echoing in the silence that followed. "He's losing it," he murmured.

Ni-ki sighed, staring at the smoke rising into the dark sky. "No," he said quietly. "We all are."

And Sunghoon, sitting there motionless, couldn't shake the thought that maybe Jay was right. That maybe trust itself had already died with Sunoo. Anyone could be the killer, they just need to catch them. But Sunghoon prayed, unbeknown by everyone else that none of his friends is them.

"Where are you guys heading?" you glanced around when you notice that they all scattered away from each other after calling it a day.

You glanced at everyone with curious look, the tension from previous confrontations lingers—Evie avoided most of the stares. She says she knows to herself that she didn't kill anyone, and so it's not up to her if people will believe her.

"I'll go at our house to get some stuff. I'll meet you guys at your sorority house." Jungwon was the first one to give you an answer. Jay gave him this look before rolling his eyes, sliding his hands back in his pocket.

"Careful, Jungwon. Don't tell anyone where you're heading." his tone is a bit taunting, but we all know he means something about it.

Evie clenches her jaw, but refuses to speak about it. Heeseung sent silent glares towards his direction before gently guiding his cousin towards his car. "We'll stop and get some food for all of us." he says then didn't wait for a response.

Sunghoon's hand soothes the small of your back and started guiding you towards the direction of his vehicle. Ni-ki stood a few feet away, silent and observing.

"Can you give us a lift, Sunghoon? Drop us at our frat house." Jake then approaches closer and you gave him an assuring smile.

"Of course." he nods without hesitation and walks beside Ni-ki.

"You're staying there for the night?" your boyfriend cracks the deafening silence inside the car. The three of them went outside a while ago to smoke, but you're pretty sure they tried to help Jay clear his mind. Though, not entirely sure if any of it helps, you're relieved that a friendship that used to grow apart is slowly being threaded back once again.

"Probably." Jake answers quietly.

You glanced at him from the passenger seat, "Are you sure? All of us will be at the sorority house. You're welcome to spend the night there if you want."

Jake smiles, "I need to catch up with some school works and besides, Ni-ki finds it hard to sleep in new places." he reasons that made you pout.

Slowly, your eyes trailed over the quiet boy beside him. His eyes are already darted at you that slightly caught you off-guard. It was hard to smile nowadays, which is odd for you, since that's the easiest thing for you before.

"Ah, right..." you mumble softly.

Sunghoon cleared his throat from the driver's seat, "If ever you change your mind, you can go later." he says and looked over the two from the rearview mirror.

You may not be able to say it out loudly, but you want them to spend the night. Worried that it will only be the two of them. At least in the sorority house, all of you will be together.

"Sure, thanks." Jake says and he glances outside the window, thoughts all messed up.

He doesn't want to admit it and he's trying so hard to be neutral about the situation, but Jay's words kept flashing back in his mind like a broken radio. No matter how wrong his way of addressing the issue, he cannot fully say that he's not making any sense.

It was already weird that only your group is being the main target of this killer, but why does the killer want the two of them dragged into this mess as well? Not that he's saying that he regrets coming to help, it just doesn't sit right. The fact that they knew how Ni-ki and him used to be part of this circle is already a big deal.

On the other hand, Heeseung lazily pushes the cart towards another aisle and scans the rack of groceries in front of him. His mind kept drifting towards somewhere else.

"I can't believe Jay kept pinning me over this. I really didn't do it, oppa." Evie mumbled, following his steps.

She's been saying it over and over again ever since they arrived. Heeseung felt bad for his cousin, but he can only defend her through words, as he himself struggles to make himself believe that she's indeed innocent.

"He's just scared." he says.

Evie frowns, "Aren't we all?" she hissed at him.

"It doesn't mean you have to blame other people out when you're scared." she added. Heeseung halts his steps then faced her with a furrow brows.

"You tried pinning it to Cici a while ago as well, Evie." Heeseung stated, hand resting at the handle of the cart.

Evie stiffens, eyes fixed at her cousin. The memory from a while ago flashes back to her. Guilt sipped into her system like a poison, there's no stopping it. She remembers how a hint of betrayal in your eyes flickers when she tries to pin the heated suspicion of your friends towards you, when in fact you were the only one to stand beside her besides her own cousin.

She felt ashamed of her own actions, but Evie was just scared. Who wouldn't be? Her own friends—who she grew up with are implying that she's the killer. Not to mention that she isn't the only person with Sunoo that night. All of them knew about it, and yet they're only coming for her? She felt wronged in every way, so she just did the only thing that makes sense. Fight for herself.

Heeseung's strained sigh is what pulled her out of her trance. He shifted his weight, and exhaustion from everything that happened was obvious through his dark circles. She just knew he's not sleeping well ever since Adela died. Well, she's sure none of your friends can't sleep after that.

"Look, Jay's just scared—we all are. You can't blame him, he just want to find who's behind all of this." the way he say those words were calm, she couldn't really tell what's inside his mind.

"Oh, so you agree with him now?" she cut him off bitterly. "You think I did it too, don't you?"

"Evie, no!" he quickly denied.

"That's what you're saying!" her voice raises a bit, getting emotional.

"Stop twisting my words," Heeseung tried to explain, his voice rising slightly, getting desperate. "I just—he's reacting, he lost it. We all did."

But she wasn't listening anymore. Her jaw clenched, eyes glassy with pain. It was clear as crystals for her that him—her own cousin, doesn't believe that she has nothing to do with all of this.

"Save it," she muttered, stepping backwards, disbelief overtook her expression. "I can't do this right now."

"Evie, where are you going?" he asks, after noticing that's she's backing away.

"Don't follow me!" she screams, that made some of the shoppers crane their necks to check what's going on.

Heeseung is unbothered, he lets go from the cart and rest one of his hand on his hip, the other raise to massage his temple. Everyone's a mess, and he hates that the killer is succeeding on breaking them apart. Fear is one of the major factor why their friend group are falling apart. Scared that they could be next, but for Heeseung? He feels like its the fear of accepting the fact that one of them is the killer.

He wanted to go after his cousin and so he left the cart and run outside the supermarket, hands empty from the groceries they planned to get. When he made it outside the store, there's no trace of Evie. The parking lot was empty, no Evie. Heeseung tries to think where she could go, and he's very worried because its really not safe. But he thought she will just go to the sorority house. Despite being worried, he forced himself back inside to go buy the things they need so he can go meet with his friends.

"Is this enough?" you glanced over to your boyfriend and saw him carrying a bunch of pink blankets. His tall and big built felt a bit awkward while showing you what he got from the room upstairs.

A small smile crept into your face, a warm one, the warmest you've ever shown today. A lot of things are happening right now, but at least you have him by your side. Your parents are out of the country, they gave you a call a while ago after hearing of what happened. They wanted to fly back so they can be by your side, but you assured them that you're all right. They were insisting—understandable since you're their only child and to think that you were two people away from murder terrified them. But thankfully, Sunghoon was there to calm them down and assure them that he will be just here for you.

The whole situation going on around the town is concerning, and even if you want your parents going home, you're worried that they'll get themselves into danger as well. After all, its still not confirmed whether the killer is just after you and your friends. What if they're one of your families enemy? It does makes sense since most of your families are very influential.

"Yes, baby. Thank you." you mumbled softly and let yourself melt inside his embrace. His strong arms kept you safe, his lips touching your forehead very affectionately.

"I promise to keep you safe." he whispered under his breath. Your heart aches, tightening, as you pull away from him. When you met his eyes, they look determined. Sunghoon never failed you before. Ever since you guys are kids, he's always kept his promise. He's been very loyal and dedicated with proving himself towards you.

You raised your hands and cup his face, then place a loving kiss on his lips.

"Please keep yourself safe too." you whispered, eyes tearing up just by thinking of him sacrificing himself in order to save you.

He smiles and leans for more kisses, "I promise." and you wish that he'll keep that one as you're also very much aware how he will do everything to save you.

The two of you pulls away after hearing a fake cough, and your cheeks blushed when you saw the smirking Heeseung leaning over the sorority's door. He has his arms crossed while grinning meaningfully towards the two of you.

"Am I interrupting something?" he teased that made you unclasp your hold over Sunghoon like you just got burn by his skin.

"N-No..." you mumbled quickly and flash an awkward smile.

"We didn't notice you arriving. Did you bring all we need from grocery?" Sunghoon asks, strutting closer to his friend.

Heeseung nods, eyes locked over him, his grin still present.

"How can you notice? You're too busy eating each other faces—"

"Okay, let's get it asshole." Sunghoon cuts through his voice and even push his body out from the sorority house.

It was embarrassing for you, and so with blushing cheeks you tried to arrange the living room for your friends. The group is indeed falling apart, there's gap ever since two of your friends died, but you still have faith. You believe in the bond you have between each other. This is just one of trials that the shameless killer is putting you through.

"Who's cooking tonight?" Heeseung asks the moment he made it inside, two hands filled with groceries. Sunghoon follows him, holding two bags in one hand.

"Me. Is that alright?" you smile at him and he lets out a gasp before leaning over the counter.

"That would be perfect. I'm so sick of Sunghoon's cooking." he joked that made his friend shoot him glares, and you chuckling at him.

He sat down at one of the couches while you start to keep yourself busy in the kitchen. Sunghoon helps to arrange the grocery, and you tried to busy yourself finding a recipe to cook. Days have been not great lately, you thought that everyone deserves a decent meal.

"Wait..." you stall your words, then slowly lift your gaze over to Heeseung. He's now busy playing on his phone, your boyfriend still occupied by the groceries.

"Where's Evie?"

Heeseung spun his head at your direction right away, his confused expression flashes through him, fingers abruptly stopping from the aggressive tapping on his phone.

"Is she not yet here? She left after getting upset with me." Heeseung was beyond confused. He doesn't ask for her once he arrived because he thought that she was so upset and went up to her room.

Your heart hammered instantly and worry sips through your mind, "Can you call her? She's not here yet, oppa."

Sunghoon stays calm and struts closer to your direction. He rests his hand at the small of your back, caressing it softly while Heeseung's up to his feet, phone on his ears—calling his cousin. His brows are hardly furrowed.

"Jay and Jungwon..." you softly utter and grab your phone. "Baby, can you call Jay? I'll call Jungwon." you glanced at Sunghoon shortly before proceeding on dialing Jungwon's number.

Jay was not picking up, same as Jungwon. Their phones are all ringing and the longer the call drags, the more anxious you get. A lot of thoughts came rushing in your mind like a heavy, wild wave in the ocean—impossible to stop.

"Evie's not picking up." Heeseung looked at the two of you with warry expression. He clenched his jaw, knuckles turning white from holding his phone hardly. It's going messy once again, and your hand is starting to shake from anxiousness, feeling sick to the stomach.

"Hey," Sunghoon lowers his phone and reaches for your hand. You didn't look at him and just continued dialling Jungwon's number.

"W-Why aren't they picking up?"

Heeseung steps out to contact his cousin, Sunghoon's trying to calm you down. If its a normal day, you wouldn't even find it weird for them not picking up their phone, but after losing two of your friends you can't help but to feel paranoid. Sunghoon leans down, trying to level his eyes with yours while holding your hand, they're warm.

"Baby, calm down." he says in a soft tone.

"T-They aren't answering, Hoon."

"I'm sure they're fine. Jungwon's probably still trying to get the stuff he needed or talking to a police." he cups your face, "Remember? He went there to report some of the things we noticed." he added, that somehow ease your nerves.

"D-Did Jay answered?" you looked at him with hopeful eyes. He looks defeated and slowly shake his head.

"I'll try again." he says and you nodded, agreeing. You rest for your phone by the counter and head upstairs, Sunghoon's eyes following you.

"Where are you heading baby?" he asks, tailing behind you already.

"I'll just check the rooms one by one, just to make sure Evie is not here." you stated. He nods, but follows afterwards. You looked outside the window of the sorority house and saw Heeseung standing by his car, one hand on his hips the other over his ears. He's probably still calling for Evie.

You opened the window, "Hee!" you yelled, catching his attention.

He pans his head, searching for your voice. He waves after finding you, "She hasn't answered yet!"

Your heart races even more and pursed your lips for a while before gesturing him to come back inside the house. "Get inside, please! We will just double check the rooms. I don't want you left outside all alone."

Heeseung obliges, realizing it would be dangerous for him to be outside by himself. Not when there's a killer on the loose.

You and Sunghoon managed to scan every room of the sorority house and yet no Evie. At the end, the two of you head back downstairs. Heeseung's sitting on the couch, fingers tapping on his phone. Sunghoon continues dialling Jay's phone as you head over the bar counter to fetch yours so you can try again on calling Jungwon.

Your brows furrowed, heart races after seeing a missed call from him. Instantly, you dialled his number once again. Mentally cursing yourself for leaving your phone here.

"Yang Jungwon—my gosh! What took you so long to answer—"

"Ma'am?" your brows furrowed and pulls back your phone to check if its the right caller i.d. After making sure it was indeed the correct, it was Jungwon's number. But his phone was answered by a different person.

"This is a medical staff and we found this phone inside the Yang Mansion. Mr. Jungwon is—"

"What happened to him?!" your voice cuts through his sentence that made Sunghoon and Heeseung glance at you with concerned look over their face.

Sunghoon walks closer, Heeseung was about to do the same thing but was stopped when his phone rang. He glanced at your direction first and when he's sure Sunghoon's beside you already, he quickly answered the call.

"We're currently rushing him to the hospital. He was stabbed." he says, and your mind went spiral, ears ringing and knees weakening. Sunghoon has to hold you close to him to prevent your body from collapsing.

The hospital hallways reeked of bad memories and fear for you. The kind that seeps into your skin, that clings to you no matter how hard you breathe. The smell of it makes you feel more anxious, driving more tears to stream down even more.

Jake and Ni-ki burst through the hospital doors, their shoes squeaking against the floor as they rushed down the corridor. The moment they turned the corner, they froze. They saw their friends scattered outside the emergency room. Jake was trying to focus on his back logged school activities when he received a phone call from Sunghoon. To say that they stumble on their feet just to get there as fast as possible is an understatement. Ni-ki was not sleeping--how can he? With everything happening he cannot even close his eyes without Sunoo's body flashing back inside his mind.

Everything shattered right in front of them. Evie's and Cici's cries echoes along the cold hallway of the hospital, adding to the heavy atmosphere already surrounding the group.

You were on the ground, your face buried against Sunghoon's chest, shoulders shaking violently as sobs tore through you. He held you close, one arm wrapped protectively around you, his own jaw clenched so tightly it looked like he was holding himself together by force alone. He hates how these things are happening to them. He's starting to question why them..?

Jay stood a few feet away, eyes red, chest heaving—anger twisting his features into something raw and unfamiliar.

"This—this is your fault!" he shouted, pointing a trembling finger at Evie. His every words filled with certainty and anger. He cannot be stopped, even Heeseung who stand by his cousin stays quiet. "Every single time, it's around you! First Sunoo, and now Jungwon—how the hell do you explain that, huh?"

Evie flinched as if the words themselves struck her. She was on her knees, palms pressed against the cold floor, tears streaming down her cheeks so fast she couldn't even wipe them away. Jake's watching the scene unfold with brows furrowed hardly, they are clueless as to why Evie's getting dragged into this once again.

"Jay, please," she cried, voice cracking. "I swear to God, I didn't do anything! I didn't! You have to believe me!"

"Believe you?" Jay scoffed, his voice breaking somewhere between fury and grief. He start stepping towards Evie and Jake was quick enough to go and hold him back.

"How can we, Evie? You're always there! Every damn time someone gets hurt, you're there!"

"Jay, stop!" Heeseung's voice cut through the chaos as he grabbed Jay by the arm, trying to pull him back along with Jake. "This isn't the time!"

Jay jerked away. "The time? Heeseung, Jungwon is fighting for his life right now! Someone has stabbed him multiple times with the clear intention of ending his life—and you," his finger pointed at his friend, "...want me to calm down?" His voice cracked as he glanced toward the ICU window.

"P-Please... It was not me! I r-received a call from Jungwon and I just head over to his place thinking he needed my help--"

"Cut the bullshit, Evie!" he shouts right at her face.

Jay collapsed on the floor, from the outburst of emotion and also the realization of Jungwon state. He's like a little brother for him already.

"He was trying so hard to protect us, Hee..."

Ni-ki stood frozen beside Jake, his face pale as he looked through the glass panel at Jungwon. The sight made his stomach twist. Jungwon lay there, motionless, his face full of bruises, cuts—some are deep, some shallow. Tubes ran in and out of him, machines beeping in a slow, steady rhythm that sounded too fragile, too uncertain. He couldn't imagine seeing him at this kind of state, he's always been the calm one. Out of all them, Jungwon is the least one to have an enemy.

"God..." Ni-ki muttered under his breath, his voice barely there. "What... what happened to him?"

"The police said someone broke in their house and stab him a lot of times. Jungwon fought for his life, and if it wasn't for one of his Father's man entering to give him something, he could've died." Sunghoon answers in a low tone.

Jake ran a trembling hand over his face, his voice low. "Jesus."

You let out a strangled sob, pulling away from Sunghoon only to collapse back down. "He—he called me," you whispered between gasps. "I missed his call because Sunghoon and I went upstairs to go check on Evie." You broke down again, hands covering your face.

Evie's cries filled the corridor, the sound haunting. "Please, please, you have to believe me! I would never hurt Jungwon. I would never hurt any of you!"

But Jay wasn't listening. His grief had already turned into rage, and his rage was looking for someone to blame. It's hurting him too much.

"You always say that," he spat, jaw clenching hard. "And yet, people keep ending up dead or hurt when you're around!"

"Jay, enough!" Heeseung barked, his voice thunderous. Everyone froze for a second. He's standing right in front of the glass, but his eyes—cold, furious locked on Jay. "You think yelling at her's going to change what happened? You think this is what Jungwon would want?"

Jay's glare faltered, his lip trembling. For a moment, the anger drained, and all that was left was grief. "I just—" He swallowed hard. "I can't lose another one of us." his hand graces his hairs, he sniffs and even how hard he tries to push back the tears they kept on coming out. He felt helpless and angry. He wanted this to end. He's scared, lost and grieving. All of these emotions hitting him hard and all at once.

Heeseung took a shaky breath, palming his face. "We won't. But we need to think clearly right now. We can't fall apart like this."

Evie was still crying on the floor, whispering through her sobs, "I didn't do it. I didn't do it. Please."

You lifted your head weakly, your voice raw and trembling. "Then where were you, Evie? You're suppose to go with Heeseung to buy us food, then he went back all alone. He said you got upset and suddenly left him at the store."

She froze, her mouth opening but no words coming out. It is true, that's no doubt. Evie realized that she's slowly falling in a position that is very hard to defend. If they're suspicious of her before, I'm sure they're not going to let go of it now.

Heeseung looked between you both, realization and worry flickering in his eyes. "Evie..."

"I-I," she stutter. "I needed to clear my head. I didn't think—"

But Jay's hollow laugh cut her off. "You didn't think what? Why do you keep on wanting to be alone when there's a killer on the loose?" his daring eyes are darted at her, leaving her tearing up even more.

"Unless you're the killer and you want to hunt." he added that left a big impression on everyone.

The monitor inside Jungwon's room beeped, a soft, steady rhythm that slowly making you unsettled. It felt like it's louder than all your voices combined.

Everyone turned to the window. Jungwon lay there, fragile and pale, not moving.

The silence that followed was suffocating, slowly dragging you all into the blackhole of suffering. It was so hard watching another of your friend being hurt. Each of you staring at the same sight, realizing just how fast your world was collapsing. How serious things are really getting.

You whispered his name under your breath, your voice breaking once again. Your eyes stings, and your throat hurts from crying too much.

"Please wake up, Jungwon... please..."

And as you pressed your hand against the glass, Sunghoon's arm wrapped you from behind, making sure you know that you aren't alone in this.

"I'm scared, Hoon." you whispered under your breath, only for him to hear. He kisses the side of your head as voice trembled beside you, low and heavy with dread.

"I won't let anything bad happen to you." and he held you closer to him.

The interrogation room was quiet, too quiet that Evie can almost hear her own heart beating so fast and loud. She sat down with her fingers clenched tightly together on the metal table, her knuckles pale. Across from her the Detective assigned for this case, his eyes sharp but tired—someone who'd seen too many nights like this, too many stories that didn't make sense.

"Evie Lee," he began, flipping through a thin folder of notes. "You understand you're not under arrest, correct?"

Evie nodded slowly, eyes unfocused. "Yes."

Honestly, she's so tired of this. She's also starting to question herself, because why does it always ends up with her in the interrogation room?

"We just want to clarify a few details from the statement you've given," he continued, leaning forward. "You said you received a call from Jungwon around 11:00 p.m.?"

"Yes," she answered softly.

"What did he tell you?" the detective asked.

She glanced away, brows furrowed hardly—trying to remember the exact things that happened. It was not easy, as she was in panic that time already. Things are all messed up, but Evie knows if she won't push herself to remember it will be bad for her. 

"At first, there's just silence when I picked up the call." she says, and her face reflected confusion as well.

The detective mirrored her face, "Silence?"

"Yes. Just... heavy breathing." she whispered that sent shivers to her spine.

"Jungwon's breathing?"

"Probably. Because moments later, I can hear him cursing. He sounded... off. Panicked, even."

"Panicked, how?"

She hesitated. "His voice was trembling. He said something about someone trying to break in—then after that more heavy breathing, I think. He was alone, and he sounded scared. I kept asking what was going on but he didn't answer, or maybe because he couldn't talk that time. Then the call just... dropped."

He stayed silent, trying to process the new informations she was giving.

"Why did he call you? Out of all his friends? Are you two that close?"

Evie pursed her lips, trying to think of a reason why did he called her. She isn't the closes to him—they rarely even interact. Then she remembers something.

"Maybe he's trying to go through his contacts one by one? Checking who will pick up..."

"What do you mean?"

"Because I heard he also called Cici, but she missed his call." she stated.

Well it does make sense. Cici goes first in his contact, next is her. Technically Adela was the first option, but... she's gone already.

The detective stares at her eyes for a while before he nods, scribbled something on his notepad. "And what did you do after that?"

"I went to his house," she answered quickly. "I didn't even think. I just fetched a cab and go there."

He looked up. "Where were you again when he called?" he asks.

"I figured it wouldn't be so safe to be alone, so I am at one of the diners nearby." she stated.

"The diner fifteen minutes away from him." he says after puzzling the informations.

"Yes."

He nods his head, "When you got there, what did you see?"

"The house was quiet—I mean considering the time, it was pretty understandable. When I walked in, one of their helpers let me inside. She informed me that Jungwon's at the second floor, left wing."

Evie cleared her throat, "So I went there. But the moment I stepped foot on that floor, something felt off already. The whole floor was pitch black. J-Just like the night S-Sunoo..." she couldn't even finish her own sentence.

The detective notices her struggle so she assured her it's all right. He scribbles down and furrowed his brows even harder.

"What did you do after?"

"I decided to call for help already. I don't want to risk it." she stated. His eyes are strict as they look at her, intimidating and knowing. Evie can feel the chills, but she's determined not to be more suspicious. Not after the last two interrogations she had.

"Then you just found him all bloody?" he asks.

"No," she gulps, "Jungwon actually found me..."

He looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"I was about to go find him, but then I saw him trying to head towards the stairs. That's where I stumbled upon him. He's covered in blood, one of his hand's holding a wound on his abdomen and I can see he's struggling really bad." she shut her eyes, trying to shove away those memories.

"He was limping, and I panicked. When he saw me, I think he felt relieved because that's just when he lets himself collapse on the floor as I cried for help."

The detective's expression didn't change. He closed the folder slowly, resting his hands on top of it.

"Evie, your friends mentioned that you were suppose to go to the sorority house with your cousin. But you didn't. Why the change of plan?"

Evie's throat tightened. "Heeseung and I got into a fight. I thought to myself that I needed some fresh air so I left him." she gulps.

"I was planning to go there already, but then I received Jungwon's call. I was trying to book a cab when he called me."

"You said the call lasted forty-five seconds."

She nodded. "Yes."

"Okay." he says, but his words felt empty for Evie. It felt like there isn't any assurance with it.

"I'm telling the truth," she whispered. "You think I'd hurt Jungwon? He's like a brother to me."

"People say that about victims all the time," he replied calmly. "We're not accusing you—we're verifying what happened. You understand how this works."

Evie shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "No. No, you're twisting it. I went there because I was worried! Because he's my friend and I care about him!"

Detective Min sighed, tapping his pen against the table. "Then help me understand this. You said someone lets you inside their mansion, but none of their helpers confirmed that."

Her heart dropped. "That's not possible—"

"We asked all their helpers," he said, still tapping the table with his pen. "None of them confirmed that they opened the door for you."

Evie stared at nowhere, her breathing turning shallow. "I... That's impossible. Someone really opened the door for me. I c-can't remember who, it happened too fast—"

"Take your time," the detective said, voice low but firm. "You understand how important this details are for this case."

The detective studied her face for a long, quiet moment. Then he nodded slightly, as if making a note only he understood.

"We'll try to get more informations from the people that were inside that house," he said. "That'll be all for now."

Evie buried her face in her hands, shoulders shaking as the door opened behind her and an officer escorted her out.

A few blocks away, while Evie's being questioned by the police, the rest of you sat in a coffee shop. It's warmth doing little to ease the cold pit in everyone's stomachs. The shop was nearly empty; the quiet chatter of strangers only made the silence at your table heavier.

Sunghoon stirred his coffee absentmindedly, eyes lost somewhere on the table. You sat beside him, red-eyed and exhausted, staring at your untouched cup. Jake and Ni-ki sat across, their postures slumped, faces pale. Heeseung hadn't stopped glancing at the door since they sat down.

Jay broke the silence first. His voice was sharp, bitter. "They're questioning her again, aren't they?"

"Yeah," Heeseung said quietly. "They just want her statement to match the timeline."

Jay scoffed, slamming his palm against the table. "Timeline? She's lying. She had to be there before anyone else. There's no way this is another coincidence that she just happens to be there."

"Hey you watch what you say about my cousin—" Heeseung's pissed off and stood up, but Jake was quick to calm him down. Holding him back and shushing him.

"Jay," you said softly, but your voice trembled. "We don't know that yet."

He leaned forward, eyes burning with frustration. "Come on, Cici. She's hiding something. Every time we ask, her story changes."

"She's scared," Heeseung said, cutting in, though his voice was heavy. "We all are. Stop acting like you've never panicked before."

Jay laughed bitterly. "You're still defending her? After everything?"

"Because she's Evie!" Heeseung snapped back, his composure cracking. "Because she's my cousin and I refuse to believe she'd hurt any of us!"

Jake let out a shaky sigh, rubbing his temples. "Guys, stop. Please. This isn't helping."

A heavy silence fell again. The weight of his words hung in the air like smoke.

You pressed your palms against your face, whispering, "I just want him to wake up. That's all I want."

Sunghoon reached out, his hand brushing over yours, grounding you silently. Trying his best to calm and comfort you.

Heeseung exhaled shakily, leaning back in his chair. "The police said they're still reviewing security footage from the area. If someone followed Jungwon that night, they'll find out."

Jay muttered, "I just hope we're not too late."

The table fell into silence again, each of you lost in your thoughts, the steam from the untouched coffee cups fading into the cold air.

You have lost track how many minutes has passed for Evie's interrogation, eventually she stepped out of the police station. Her eyes were red, cheeks streaked from tears she didn't have the energy to wipe them away. She felt empty, drained of all the things happening, all sense of control. The detective's voice still echoed inside her head, haunting her. There's something hidden latched behind his tone.

She wrapped her arms around herself as if to hold her shivering body together and walked, each of her steps gets heavier than the last. The café where her friends waited was only a block away, but it felt like miles. The wind was cold, she's all alone and every small sound from around her makes her feel anxious.

When she pushed the door open, the faint jingle of the bell erupts, making some of the heads--even the one uninvolved, turn. She finds her friends in one table, outside the open side of the cafe. Heeseung was the first one to spot you, he raises his hand and gestures you to come closer. Your head spun to look at Evie's direction and relief flashes through your eyes after seeing her. You stood up, your chair scraping softly against the floor. "Evie," you breathed.

But the others—Jay, Sunghoon, Jake, Ni-ki, and Heeseung stayed seated, only their eyes fixed on her like she was someone they are being cautious for.

Evie swallowed hard. "They—they just let me go. They said I could leave." Her voice was small, trembling. Every word that left her lips feels calculated, like as if she's trying her best not to say anything that can make her situation worst. "They said they'll still need to verify a few things."

Jay leaned back in his chair, jaw tight. "Of course, that's what they need to do. One girl from our university is dead, one is missing, two of our friends dead and now Jungwon's in critical condition." he remained this kind of stare that tells Evie that he's keeping a close eye at her.

You frowned. "Jay, stop."

"What?" he said sharply, glancing at you before looking back straight at Evie. "We're all thinking it. I'm just the one saying it out loud."

Heeseung was quick to send glare at him. "Jay—"

"No, Hee," Jay cut him off, standing abruptly, his chair being pushed back after his move. "You saw Jungwon! You saw his condition! And out of all people, Evie was there again."

"Jungwon called her so she went there." Heeseung argues, but his mind betrayed him for feeling the small doubt over his own cousin.

"Yeah, right!" he raises his arms, "The police said that there's no sign of force entry and nobody sense something odd around the house--meaning whoever did that to Jungwon is familiar in the house." his sharp eyes darted at her--at Evie. "She claimed that one the helpers let her inside, but when the police asked the people in the house they said none of them can confirm it."

"Jay, please!" Evie's voice cracked as tears starts to spill once again. "What I said is the truth—I went there because Jungwon called me!"

Jay slammed his hand on the table, making everyone flinch. "You said that before! You said the same thing about Sunoo! That you were just trying to help him that night—"

"Because that was the truth!" Evie's cries grew louder and you tried to hold her.

"Stop!" you said firmly, stepping forward. "Jay, enough."

He turned to you, his expression raw with grief. "No, Cici, you stop. You weren't there when we found him. Sunoo was dead, covered in blood."

Evie's legs gave out, and she sank to the floor, sobbing quietly. "Please don't do this... I didn't hurt anyone..."

The sound broke something inside you. You dropped to your knees beside her, wrapping an arm around her shaking shoulders. "Hey, hey, don't listen to them. I know you didn't."

But even as you said it, you could feel Sunghoon's stare from across the room—sharp, worried, and furious. He want so bad to strip you away from Evie. He stands with Jay.

"Cici," he said, his tone low but tense. "Don't."

You looked up at him. "Don't what?"

"Don't take her side like this." His voice was strained, like he was fighting himself. "You don't know what she's capable of. You think you do, but—"

You stood up slowly, anger flashing through you. The boys are quite surprised to see you with that expression on your face. It was the first time they had seen you like this. "I know my friend. That's what I know. And what's wrong with you guys? Have you all lost your minds?" and you stepped in front of Evie, shielding her.

Sunghoon sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Cici, it's not about choosing sides. We're all scared, okay? We've already lost Sunoo, and Jungwon's in a critical condition. We can't just pretend none of this connects, we just want everyone to be safe. I want you to be safe."

Jake couldn't just stay quiet. Everyone's a mess and with this heightened emotions none of you can possibly communicate properly.

"Guys! We're falling apart. We have to communicate better with each other." he states, trying to be the middle man despite the growing doubt inside his chest.

"Then say it," you snapped. "Say what you're all thinking."

Jay didn't hesitate. "She's the reason this keeps happening."

The words hung in the air like poison.

Evie's breath hitched. She looked up at Jay, eyes full of pain--betrayal. "You think I'd ever hurt Sunoo? Jungwon? After everything we've been through?"

Sunghoon stood now too, his hands in his pockets but his voice cold. "We will be honest here, Evie. With you always being in the scene after it happened just gives us the idea that you have something to do with everything."

"Sunghoon," you said softly, your heart sinking. "You too?"

His gaze flickered to you—they grew soft, "I'm just trying to keep you safe, Cici." and he was quick to cover it as he dart his eyes back to Evie.

"By turning on our own friend?" you whispered.

"You guys don't have a strong proof that she did it! What if she's being framed? Did that even occur in your minds?"

No one spoke. The tension was thick, the air sharp with words left unsaid.

You took a deep breath, your voice trembling but firm. It was hard to push the tears back, "You know what? Forget it. I'm done talking about this. I'm taking Evie with me to the sorority house tonight. We'll stay there."

Jake looked up in disbelief. "What? No. That's—"

"That's insane," Sunghoon interrupted, his tone rising. "Cici, it's dangerous! What if—"

"What if what, Sunghoon?" you snapped. "What if she's the killer? Is that what you're about to say?"

He froze, his mouth opening but no words coming out.

"I'm so sick of hearing you say those words to her and seeing you give her that look!"

You shook your head, tears stinging your eyes. "We're supposed to be her friends. We're supposed to trust each other. And now all you can do is tear each other apart."

You turned toward Evie, gently pulling her up. A small smile--not reaching your eyes, "Come on. Let's go."

Evie's voice was small, broken. "Maybe I shouldn't. Maybe they're right..."

"No," you said, tightening your grip on her hand. "They're just scared, that's all. But I trust you."

Sunghoon stepped forward, desperation flashing in his eyes. "Cici, please. Don't do this, baby. Stay with us—we'll figure this out together."

You looked at him, your heart aching. "If you can't trust her, then stay away for now. Stop tearing her down. Take a breather. Reflect on what you're saying about someone you've known for years."

He looked like he wanted to say more, but you were already walking out with Evie, the bell above the café door jingling faintly behind you. The boys were left by themselves, none of them could even move to follow. It was like they are nailed on their positions, guilt flashing through their faces.

Inside, the silence was deafening.

Jay sank back into his chair, muttering, "She's making a mistake."

Heeseung rubbed his temples, his voice heavy. "We all are."

Jake glanced at Sunghoon, who stood frozen by the door, staring at the space you had just walked through.

"Let's just... stay at our frat house tonight," Jake said quietly. "It's close to them, just incase. We'll stick together."

Sunghoon nodded absently. "Yeah. Fine."

Ni-ki hesitated. "Do you really think Evie could've done it?"

No one answered. Right after you concluded that maybe Evie is getting framed, it somehow shaken their opinions. Even Jay—who's been very persistent on his point, stayed silent this time.

The silence and cold wind embraces the boys as they headed toward Jake and Ni-ki's frat house. Jay and Heeseung decided to do a quick visit to Jungwon, but they assured them that they will stick with each other and meet back with them together.

Hours later, in the dim living room of the frat, the clock ticked past midnight. The boys were scattered—Sunghoon's staring blankly at his phone, waiting impatiently for you to give him a call. He did called you, but it was already expected for you to ignore it.

Sunghoon's growing more worried now that you aren't answering his calls. He pulls his phone once again and there's still no message from you.

He was just about to try again when the phone suddenly rang. All eyes darted at his phone as the ringtone erupts, defeating the silence that once surrounds the frat house.

Unknown Number.

He frowned, heart hammered, he hesitated for a second, then answered. "Hello?"

Static. Then a distorted voice, calm and cold.

"Hi, Sunghoon." the voice changer made it difficult to tell who they are, but it was obvious that they are taunting.

He froze, jaw clenching. "It is you, right?" his fist balled and his friends are all attentive while approaching closer.

A pause. Total silence, before he hears this snickering laugh.

"Did you guys like my recent surprises?" they say in playful tone. "Kim Sunoo... and then Yang Jungwon— too bad I didn't finish him well." it made Sunghoon boil in anger.

"Listen you fucker," he gulped, "whoever you are I'm going to hunt you even in hell. I will make sure you pay for all you did."

It didn't even affect the caller at one bit as he heard them chuckling from the other side, "Oh... but I'm not yet done with my surprises yet."

"I'm not playing with you—"

"And so am I..." they stall their words before continuing, "I'm serious." then silent again.

Sunghoon clenched his jaw even harder. He felt helpless and he's starting to grow worried for you even more.

"Why don't we play a game, Park Sunghoon?"

"I don't have time to play your stupid games, asshole." he hissed at them.

"Ahhh... the captain of Ice Hockey team—the arrogant Park Sunghoon. Everyone knew him for being rough, but Cielle. What they didn't know is you..." they stall and Sunghoon can feel his heart racing even more.

"... cheated on her. And with her own best friend!" the other person lets out a gasp sound—like they're so shock about that information. Sunghoon felt sick in his stomach and started sweating cold.

"Poor Cielle." they added.

"Don't you fucking get her involve here!" he shouted.

"Oh, but she's part of this Sunghoon." they laugh, "Let's play a game."

The room is dead silent. The others looked concern, but helples.

"I said I have no time for your bullshits! You leave my girlfriend out of your sick—" his words was cut off when the other person just dropped the call.

"What the fuck!" he started brushing up his hair and rummaging through his things, ready to leave and head to your location.

"What did they said? That's the killer, right?" Jake asks, worried.

Sunghoon was about to tell them what the killer just said, but was interrupted when his phone beeped for a message. He unlocked it and one message was there.

unknown: Since you're known for being very selfish, I'd give you a chance tonight.

His brows furrowed as his friends walked closer to peak at the messages as well. He saw the bubble feature, meaning they're typing another message. It stopped and another message appears.

unknown: Pick one.

And then another.

unknown: Evie or Cici.

And his stomach drops, the boys cursing out after reading the message. Even before they can register what's happening, another message received. It was a photo, taken from outside your sorority house. In the picture, he can see the two of you sitting at your bed and talking.

unknown: You can only save one.

fic tag-list:

@mora134340 @drunkinjake @jakesgfff @cara9065 @wonluvvies24 @enhaheart8

permanent tag-list:

The continuous ticking of the clock envelops the whole student council office, serving as the background noise preventing the complete silence to be deafening. Jungwon was quietly doing his part while you're also doing what you're assigned.

A lot is playing through your mind. Making it a bit harder to stay focused. Jungwon has noticed. The way you'll stop from time to time and stare at nothing, releasing heavy sighs, then forced your way back into doing your work. Letting responsibility pulls you away from your dangerous thoughts.

"What is it, Ci?" he finally asks.

It made you jolt and turn towards him. His hand fidgets with his pen, cat-like eyes darted at you with evident worry.

"I'm just...worried."

Jungwon fell silent. Either he's trying to figure out the right words to tell you, or there's just nothing to say for comfort. Because even the greatest liar will fumble at a situation like this.

It made you smile softly at him to ease the atmosphere. The last thing you would want is to spread negative thoughts to your friends. Jungwon's probably have a lot on his plate at the moment. He returns it with a grin, his deep dimples showing.

"Everything will be alright." and he reaches out for your hand, thumb caressing yours carefully.

Except everything is anything but alright, as yet again one person fell to their miserable death.

The rusted metal door creaked when another person from inside the hall went outside. The three boys, now out of cigarettes to hit are busy entertaining themselves by conversing, jumping to one topic to another.

A lighter clicked, Heeseung was playing with it while responding to Jay. The flame briefly lit up, catching their eyes.

Jay kicked at a can. "It's getting cold. What's taking Adela so long?" he slightly complains and scratch the back of his neck.

"Are we really joining the search party?" he added then glanced over his friends.

Heeseung leaned back, "Let her take her time, dude." he came in defense for his girlfriend, "And yes, we will join. Cici will be upset if we ditch it out of nowhere."

Jay just let out a low groan of disapproval, but didn't say anything else after that.

Sunghoon chuckles, finding it a bit funny that his friend has nothing against you, but it died quickly as his phone buzzed in his uniform pocket. Without much thought, he fished it out lazily.

It isn't just one message. Continuous, that picks even the interest of his friends.

"Who's blowin' up your phone this late? Cici?" Heeseung asks, smirking.

Sunghoon didn't answer.

He stared at the screen. A photo. The first one  was blurry. Almost black and white. He squinted his eyes, trying to figure out what it is. It was already odd receiving such messages, not to mention from an unknown number.

Sunghoon rarely gets messages as he's strict on keeping his numbers very private. He likes his list of contacts to be only the people he's really close.

"The hell..." he mumbled, back straighten up.

"You good?"

Another message. Another image. This time, it's clearer. This time, he could see lockers. The edge of a familiar hallway. Another buzz, then followed by another. Each time, much closer. More focused.

"Yo, what's that?" Jay's brows are furrowed in curiosity, a bit worried.

"Some freak is sending me pics from the school hallway."

Jay leaned over, trying to see it for himself. Heeseung joins smoothly as Sunghoon tilted the screen of his phone for them to see. The latest picture showed a door and in red letters reads;

STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICE.

One thought came inside his mind instantly, his girlfriend.

"What the fuck? Is that recent?" Jay asks in wonder. Like Sunghoon, he's trying to analyze what's currently happening.

Another photo. This time it wasn't followed by a new one. It was taken from the window, from outside the student council office and on the picture is a clear image of you inside the room. It was obvious that you're unaware of the presence of somebody taking that picture.

And a message pops up below the picture.

'Cielle looks like she needs some company.'

The three stared at each other and without waiting for another photo, Sunghoon was already running at the direction of the Admin building. He didn't waste another second to head towards where you are.

"Sunghoon! Wait— Something's not right." Jay says, but it was too late. Their friend was long gone.

"What if it's a trap? Who knows if Cici and Jungwon are still there?" he added.

Heeseung opens his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by a loud scream. Not excitement, but more like a bloody murder scream.

It was chilling and obviously from a female voice. It came from inside the hall where Adela was taking her shower.

"Adela..." he mumbles under his breath.

Heeseung was already on the move.

"I'm going in."

"No, wait! Something's really not right!" Jay halts him by holding his shoulder, but he shrugs it off. Mind overtaken by the thoughts of Adela.

Heeseung was already by the door when he glanced over Jay, "Go after Sunghoon! I'll just go and get Adela then we will follow after." he told him and Jay was left with no other choice but to go running to the direction Sunghoon headed.

The quiet hallway of the admin building is now occupied by footsteps. Heavy and rushing steps.

Sunghoon sprints down the dim hallway, his phone gripped tight in his hand, his knuckles white. The photos keep replaying in his mind—Cici.

His heart beats like war drums in his ears.

Fluorescent lights above flicker as he reaches the Student Council Office. The door is closed shut just like in the photo and he didn't waste another second before he bursted his way in.

You flinches and turns sharply, beyond surprise.

"Hoonie?" your tone lazed with confusion.

You're sitting at the desk with a stack of documents, headphones half-on. Eyes are wide with surprise, brows knitted closer to each other.

He took a few strides towards you and quickly scan you throughly, "Are you okay? Did anyone come in here?"

He continued checking your arms, your face—searching for any sign of harm. You didn't have the chance to stop him as you're still curious as to why your boyfriend came rushing in here. As far as you remember, all of you agreed on meeting by the parking lot before 7:30 pm.

"I'm fine—what's going on?"

Sunghoon finally meet your eyes and he saw how surprised, confused and now fear starts flickering towards them. He pursed his lips and quietly dismissed it, trying to ease the tension.

"Nothing, I just got worried." he states and then he quietly scans the whole room. It looked normal, and nobody else is inside besides you.

"Where's Jungwon?" his brows creasing closely to each other after noticing the absence of their friend.

Before you can even answer, the bathroom door inside the office opens.

Jungwon steps out, towel in hand, drying his fingers. He freezes when he sees Sunghoon, and just like you he looked so confused.

"Sunghoon hyung? What are you—"

"Why were you in the bathroom?"

Jungwon blinks, "Because I had to pee?"

"Sunghoon, seriously. What is going on? You're scaring me." and your hold to his arm tightens.

"You were supposed to be with her. Someone's sending me photos. Of her, from the outside window."

He holds out his phone, flipping to the last picture and shows it mostly towards Jungwon. As much as possible, he doesn't want you to get more scared.

"Who sent it?"

"I don't know. It's from an unknown number."

There's a sudden tension in the air. The quiet humming of the air conditioner from the corner seems louder. Even the clock ticks feels sharp.

"Then that means... someone's out there." your voice trembles, head glancing at the direction of the door.

"Did you see anyone in the hallway when you arrived?" Jungwon asks, calm but it's obvious he's bothered about it, just like Sunghoon.

"No, it was empty—"

And then you heard it. Echoes of footsteps from the hallway, like someone is running. They are light, but since the rooms along the hallways are all empty except for this one, it was quiet enough to be heard from inside.

The three of you stayed quiet and freezes. Sunghoon pulled you closer to him in a protective manner.

Then—a faint knock.

All heads snap toward it.

"I'm scared, Hoon." you whispered, tears  brimming your eyes.

Jungwon glanced at you shortly and walks closer. The two of them puts you in between, shielding you completely.

It fell silent for a few seconds and then another knock, followed by another.

"Sunghoon? Jungwon? Cici? Are you guys there?!"

A breath of relief came out from your lips as Jungwon straightly went over the door to open it up for Jay. He looks dead tired and like he run miles, to catch up on Sunghoon.

"Where's Ci? Is she alright?" his eyes pans over you and you nodded to assure him.

He shuts his eyes and threw his head back, catching proper air to fill his lungs. That was a long run, not to mention the dim lit hallways scared the shit out of him.

"Where's Heeseung?" Sunghoon asks.

"He went to get Adela. Let's go meet them half way and get the hell out of here." Jay suggested that everyone agrees.

Though, all of you have no clue that Heeseung has now found his lifeless girlfriend inside the shower. room. Covered and showering with her own blood. His whole world came crushing down as he reaches for his phone, slipping slightly due to all the blood—Adela's blood that covers his hand after he hold her close.

You're fixing your things as the boys guards by the door of the student council office when you hear Jay's phone ringing.

"Heeseung, where are you and Adela? Cici's fine. We will head towards you in— Dude?" he calls out after noticing that all he hears from the other line are sobs. Heeseung is crying.

Jay was stunned. The last time he ever heard his friend crying was back when they were kids, when he lost his toy at a park.

"Dude what happened—? Are you okay?"

"Adela's dead, Jay." Heeseung managed to say between his sobs. "Somebody killed her."

The area by the entrance of your university is now decorated with yellow POLICE LINE – DO NOT CROSS tape. Flashing red and blue lights flood the gates of the school, bathing the students and other bystanders in surreal colors. Officers speak into radios, ushering them away. The air is sharp with tension—and something worse.

Death.

Heeseung stands near the tape, unmoving. His clothes stained by dried blood, Adela's blood. His eyes are fixed on the white sheet just a few feet beyond the barrier.

Underneath it was Adela's body. His girlfriend, the love of his life.

Jay stands at his side, face pale, jaw clenched, like he hasn't took a breath in minutes. Sunghoon stood near you, trying to comfort you. Sunoo covers his mouth, trembling. Evie stands back with wide, tear filled eyes, hugging herself.

You didn't say a word—just steps forward and wraps your arms tightly around Heeseung from the side. Your body shakes, tears running freely, just trying to hold him together when you're falling apart yourself. You just lost someone dear to you.

"She was just laughing with us earlier..."

Heeseung doesn't respond. Doesn't blink. Doesn't breathe. His hands are clenched at his sides, shaking.

"She was wearing that dumb necklace I got her. The one she said didn't match her style." he utters, voice flat and breaking.

"You know she loved you, right?"

Tears shed from Heeseung's eyes. He can't even remember when was the last time he cried.

"I should've checked on her earlier."

Jay cuts in, his voice low and choked.

"Don't. Don't do that to yourself, man. You didn't know."

But it's too late. The guilt is already carving its place in Heeseung's chest. Just thinking that he was just outside where that happened, and still he couldn't help her. He imagined how bad she must have suffered just based on the state of her body the moment he found her. He wonders if she has thought of him, if she wishes of him coming to save her. And yet he didn't.

He felt like he failed Adela, he failed his own girlfriend. And now this is his punishment.

While he's drowning to his own emotions, he noticed two figures emerge from the side hallway, guided by officers to go leave the premises as they conduct investigation.

Jake and Ni-ki.

Still in their jersey, looking as confused as the other people around. They're being guided out after police suddenly cut through their late session of soccer practice.

Heeseung saw how they freeze as they noticed the scene. The tape. The body. Something stirs inside his mind, like a low pressure in the middle of the sea slowly becoming a typhoon. He has no idea if it was the pain of losing Adela or the regret of not being able to do anything to save her, but he diverts his rage towards the two boys.

Suspicion raises inside him, it was unreasonable, a groundless accusation, but he was desperate of answer. Thirsty for revenge.

The group was invited to the police station, some of them still out of it. Jay was declining it, totally unable to find any reason for him to be interrogated. He claimed innocent, just like the rest of the group.

"I told you I was innocent!" he shoved the hold of an officer off his arm. His eyes dark, but you can see that pain still lingers through them.

Jungwon lets out a sigh, "Hyung, they're not saying we are guilty. We should go." he finally spoken up to ease the tension up.

Jay grimaced, still on resistant. Heeseung's quiet, his mind not fully grasping the whole situation just yet. He was the one to find Adela's lifeless body, so it was ruled out that he needs to come with them and give his statement.

"Don't touch her." Sunghoon utters strictly as one officer reaches for Cici. He seems startled and abruptly retrieves their hold over you. He shields you as the police guided all of you towards the direction of their cars.

The white walls of the police station looked intimidating, and the group sat together in the wide, cold room. Their names carried weight in the town, families with power, influence, and money—but tonight, none of that seemed to matter. They were here because Adela—one of their closest friend was found dead.

Each one of you were individually interviewed. The police asked you what you saw, where you at when the incident happened, basically any information they can gather that can possibly be relevant to the case. Once they're done, you are all gathered inside one interrogation room. Sunghoon caress your shoulders as he pulls you closer to him, eyes darkly glaring at the police, when he noticed how your cheeks are wet with tears.

"What did you do to her?" he accusingly asks them, tone low.

The police was unable to say anything, taken aback at how intimidating he looks. Not only that, but he's well known in the whole town. They own a law firm, and if there's anything years in his profession taught him, it would be—one of the most difficult enemy is those who have power or money. Unfortunately, Sunghoon has both of them.

"C-Calm down Sunghoon... they just asked me some question." you're quick enough to stop your boyfriend from lunging towards the poor officer.

The chief of police roams his eyes around the set of students occupying his interrogation room right now, and he couldn't help but to let out a strained sigh. These kids belongs to higher class families of their town. The dark circles decorating the under of his eyes clearly shows the stress caused by the case unsolved. And yet here comes another one.

"I just want to be clear with everyone," he starts. "We're not accusing any of you. We just want your help in order to shine light to your friends murder." the last word taste like poison, difficult to utter.

"Did you not notice any weird people around school today? Anything suspicious, unusual for you..."

"Jeena's Mom." Evie answered, very straightforward. She didn't even hesitate, her face serious.

The police furrowed their brows in confusion. Obviously, none of them expected the sudden mention of her. She's the least person they can think of to be connected with this crime. The poor lady got her daughter missing for days, will she ever really have time to think about anything else, moreso kill someone.

"Evie..." you tried reaching for her with worried eyes. She seems shaken about everything that's going on, clouding her mind.

"I don't think she has something to do with this Ms. Lee—" a cop even tries to reason out on her, but she quickly cuts through his defense.

"No! Think about it. Jeena's Dad works under the company that belongs to Adela's family. She asks for assistance from them, but they simply inform her that there's nothing they could do about it." she gulps, takes in air, before continuing her sentence.

"Maybe she didn't take that so well, and decided to take it all out on Adela." she exclaimed, the nerves on her neck slightly appearing out of desperation.

Evie is hurt, terrified, and lost. She just lost a dear friend, scared that her life—their life is in danger. Who knows what's up next? Or who's next?

All of you fell silent. Suddenly, what she was stating made sense. You don't want to jump into conclusion, especially that its morally wrong to just start pointing fingers to other people without concrete evidence, but what Evie said is also true. Jeena's Mom did went out rage after Adela's father refuses to get dragged into the case. He did gave her money to help, but she strongly refused. She's insisting that some powerful business man takes interest to Jeena and abducted her. Adela's Dad finds it totally impossible, and so he dismissed it and just gave her money to help for the expenses they will face for the search operations.

"Hyung," Sunoo pans towards Heeseung who's awfully quiet. "Have you seen anybody else inside the hall when you went and see Adela?"

He remains quiet, everybody else' attention were darted at him.

"He wouldn't notice. The three of us are at the back side of the building." Jay says.

Sunoo furrows his brows, "What are you doing there?" there's no suspicion lingering on his tone, just pure confusion. Well, they originally planned to wait and watch Adela's practice.

"Smoking." Sunghoon answered, that made you spun to face him.

He's already looking at you and he noticed the slight disbelief flashing through your eyes.

"I just had one stick, baby. I promise." he leaned and whispered.

"Based on the report, Adela was already 8 minutes dead when Heeseung found her." the chief stated, you saw how Heeseung's face twisted at the mention of Adela's name.

"Evie, you mentioned that when you and Sunoo arrived the premises police were already there."

She nods her head. "We went to go get some food."

The police pans his head over to Sunoo. "Where did you eat?"

"Wait, are you suspecting us?" Evie's tone sounded beyond offended. Her bloodshot eyes are glaring straight to the cop in front of her.

She stands up, ready to push forward when her cousin, Heeseung held her. "S-She's like a sister to me! I would n-never..." her sobs overtaken her own words.

"We're just asking questions, Ms. Lee. We understand that you're sensitive right now. You lost a friend, but we're also just doing our job." one cop stated.

Heeseung helped his cousin to sit down. His eyes cold and blank as he mumble comforting words towards her. Trying to help her calm down.

"We ate at a ramen restaurant." Sunoo answered for her, "I can show you the receipt if you want to."

The police diverted their attention to Sunoo and nod their head, dismissing and assuring him there's no need for that. They diverted their attention towards you now.

"And how about you? You said you were with Mr. Yang?"

"Yes. Someone even sent a picture to Sunghoon hyung, that's why him and Jay hyung rushed their way towards us." he calmly explained. He seems the calmest out of everyone, head's still clear but you can see through him. The way he finds it harder to swallow, jaw clenching and eyes dark. He's mad, either with the cops for holding you guys so long or with the fact that the killer is still out there.

"Are we done here now?" Sunghoon cuts through the silence, arms wrapping around you protectively.

"Can we all go now? It's been a long day for us too."

They were left with no choice but to let all of you go, giving short reminders for you to call them if ever something came up— or if you happen to remember anything about the incident.

The next day, the whole school held a ceremony for Adela. Everyone's shocked after finding out about the news. Your friend group stood in front while some teachers, and also Adela's Father gave his short speech in honor for his late daughter. His eyes were blood-shot, jaw clenching, trying hard not to shed more tears. His sweet daughter... He's at rage, heart screaming for justice.

"Heeseung?" the young gentlemen snaps out of his trance when he heard his name being called.

Students pans at his direction, his friends worriedly checking on him. You knew he's also not taking it so well. Not to mention, that some anonymous people starts a rumor that it was him who killed her. None of you believed, of course. Besides that he has a strong alibi of being with Sunghoon and Jay, you all knew how much he loves her. There's no way he could do that...No. It just doesn't make any sense.

You ran your hands on his back and send a small smile to comfort him, "Do you want to go and say a few words?"

Heeseung's eyes dropped on his wrist. The necklace—Adela's necklace that she cherishes are now laced around his wrist.

"It's okay if you're not ready doing it, hyung." Jungwon stated, trying to let him know that you got his back.

Heeseung sniffs before shutting his eyes close, gathering himself. He looked like a whole mess, his hair tangled, you cannot deny the bags below his eyes, a clear indication that the incident didn't let him sleep even a blink.

"It's okay." he shortly replied, before heading towards the platform.

Adela's Dad taps his shoulder before stepping aside to give him the mic. Heeseung roams his eyes around the sea of students in front that came to pay respect for his girlfriend. His eyes looked dead, as he try to look at them one by one. Not to take note of who's present, but to check who's behind Adela's murder. He's searching for any little suspicious thing he could find in them.

"She didn't deserve any of this..." he started, his jaw clenched, eyes turning red. He looked over his hand that was not holding the mic, and his heart twisted in pain. He can still clearly remember her blood splattered all over his hand. It was traumatizing, that's what prevented him from falling asleep.

"Adela died fighting for her life." his voice low, and if it wasn't for the microphone it would be unable to hear.

"And so I will continue fighting for her." he lifts his head, slow and accurate as he send icy stares around everyone.

"I will make sure to make whoever did this to her pay." and his gaze settled over the two guys at the far left end of the auditorium. They didn't break the eyecontact, they didn't shift from their position and just accepted the piercing, accusing gazes he was sending them.

The faint smell of lilies still lingered inside the auditorium—they were Adela' favorite flowers. The flowers from the small ceremony stood in neat vases along the stage, their white petals drooping the weight of grief. The silence after the ceremony was heavy, clinging to the air like smoke, refusing to disperse.

You decided to stay behind to join Heeseung. He hadn't moved from his seat, his knuckles white where they clenched around the edge of the wooden chair. His face was unreadable, too still, too calm for someone who had just lost the love of his life.

But then he stood. His steps were slow at first, dragging across the polished floor of the empty auditorium. His eyes burned as he stopped in front of Jake and Ni-ki, who had stayed quietly near the exit.

"You were there," Heeseung's voice cracked through the silence, raw and venomous. His chest rose and fell quickly, his grief twisting into anger. "Both of you were at school that night."

Jake shifted uncomfortably, his brows knitting.  He looked caught off guard of the sudden confrontation. "Heeseung... we had nothing to do with it. We didn't even know it was Ade—"

"Shut up!" Heeseung roared, his voice echoing through the empty hall. "Don't you dare say her name. Don't you dare pretend like you didn't—" He broke off, his voice breaking. He pointed a trembling finger at them. "You were there! Why won't anyone admit it?!"

Ni-ki's face hardened, his jaw tight, but he stayed silent despite the nonsense accusation he was throwing at them. Jake opened his mouth to say something else, but Heeseung's fury boiled over. He lunged. It happened too fast, none of you were expecting this. You rushed closer to their direction.

The sound of the impact echoed across the whole auditorium as Heeseung shoved Ni-ki down, straddling him, fists pressing into his shirt before sending a punch on his face. His voice tore through the air, hoarse and desperate.

"TELL ME THE TRUTH!" Heeseung screamed, spit flying, his whole body shaking as he hovered over Ni-ki. "ADMIT IT! SAY IT WAS YOU! SAY IT!"

"Hyung!" Sunoo's voice was high-pitched with panic as he rushed forward, grabbing Heeseung's arm. His eyes starts to tear up once again.

Sunghoon held over your arm to stop you from approaching closer before he struts to help dispute the fight. He darted to the other side, trying to pull him back. Jay pressed in too, but Heeseung fought them off with a strength pure anguish.

"Heeseung—stop, please!" Evie's voice cracked, but it was drowned under his outrage.

Ni-ki stared up at him, his eyes blank, startled—not with guilt, and he didn't fight nor resisted. He accepted every blow from him, as he knew that he's under the spell of terrible grief.

"Ni-ki didn't do anything, Heeseung! We were at practice when it happened. Our teammates and coach can vouch for us!" Jake reasons out and help trying to get him off from his friend.

"LIAR!" Heeseung yelled, pounding a fist into the floor next to Ni-ki's head. His body shook violently, veins straining in his neck, his grief overflowing into rage. "You took her from me. You—" His words tangled in his throat, and suddenly his voice cracked again, breaking into something far smaller, much weaker.

Heeseung's fists loosened, trembling where they hovered above Ni-ki. His scream collapsed into a choked sob.

"I just want her back..."

The fight drained out of him, his shoulders collapsing inward as though the weight of the world had finally crushed him. He sagged against Ni-ki's chest, his tears soaking the boy's shirt. His voice was broken glass, cutting and fragile.

"Please... just give her back to me... Please..."

Everybody froze. The only sound in the room was Heeseung's gut-wrenching sobs echoing in the hollow auditorium. His rage had turned into begging, his anger unraveling into a childlike plea for something impossible. It was heart breaking for you, tears streamed down your face uncontrollably.

Sunghoon finally crouched, pulling Heeseung gently off Ni-ki. Heeseung didn't resist this time. You took the step closer to him and pull him into a tight hug. He crumbled into your chest, both of you collapsing in a sitting position as he slowly loses all his strength and his body wracked with sobs. Your heart cracks for losing Adela, and now it finally broken down seeing him like this. The mischievous and playful Lee Heeseung, breaking down hardly in between your embrace.

Everyone stood in stunned silence, nobody knows what to do, the image of him—broken, desperate, pleading with the world to undo the tragedy, burns into your minds.

Justice was never going to bring her back. And Heeseung, more than anyone, knew that.

The week after Adela's death was a blur of whispers in the hallways and eyes that seemed to follow you everywhere. People stared, some out of pity, some out of curiosity, but none of it helped. The group tried to hold on, clinging to each other because you all know there's nobody that can understand what you're feeling but one another.

Jake and Ni-ki has been pulled into the interrogation room after Heeseung's demand for them to be questioned. Hours later they walked out, cleared—alibis solid. That only left more questions hanging, questions that gnawed at Heeseung especially, his eyes hollow every time you looked at him.

Then Thursday came.

The group has no energy to do anything else and despite what just happened, things doesn't halt for all of you. School works doesn't just sit there and get finished by themselves, time is not waiting for everyone to adapt and adjust.

Everyone's still sensitive to be alone so you were all huddled in the student council room when all of your phones buzzed at almost the same time.

Your brows furrowed, reached for it with a slight heaviness on your chest then read it aloud, throat going dry.

'One out—Adela. Who do you think will be next?'

The whole room froze. If the atmosphere was heavy moments ago, now it felt like a bucket of ice was thrown all over your bodies. None of you couldn't comprehend the message that slid your inbox.

Evie's hand flew to her mouth. "Oh my God..."

"This sick bastard," Jay snarled, jumping to his feet, pacing furiously. His fists clenched like he wanted to punch straight through the wall.

Heeseung's phone slipped out of his hand, clattering onto the floor. His face was pale, but his jaw was set tight. He didn't say anything—he couldn't.

And then, another vibration. Another text.

Jay picked it up this time, his brows furrowing as he read.

'See you on Saturday night.'

"What the hell...?" Sunoo muttered. "Saturday? What's with—wait." His eyes widened, darting at each and one of you. "Yeonjun hyung's party."

The realization dropped like a stone into the room.

"No." Evie's voice cracked immediately. "No way. We're not going anymore, right? That's clearly a trap!"

"They want us there," you added quickly, panic rising in your chest. "This isn't just some random threat. This person knows us. They know where we'll be." you continued mumbling, slowly analyzing everything, speaking your mind out loud for everyone.

Sunghoon saw how all of these are starting to freak you out, so he held you closer to him. Hoping his presence will ease the fear you're feeling at the moment.

"Which is why we have to go," Jay cut in, his tone sharp, determined.

"What?" Evie hissed and spun to face him abruptly, her eyes wild out of fear—staring at Jay like as if he just uttered the most hilarious thing she has heard this day. 

"They're setting us up. They want us scared," Jay explained, running a hand through his hair. "But if we don't show up, they'll just come after us some other way. At least at the party, we can stick together, watch for anything suspicious."

"He's right." Jungwon's voice was steady but dangerous. "This freak thinks they're so clever, playing games with us. Saturday, we turn it around on him."

Evie shot up from the couch. "Guys this is insane! You're literally talking about walking straight into a killer's hands!"

"Evie's right," you say, quietly backing your best friend up. Clearly, the boys are very mad, and it's showing through their decisions. They're being reckless right now and it's making you more worried.

"None of us are detectives. This isn't some crime drama or your sick stab movies, Jay." Evie added.

Jay clenches his jaw, rolling his eyes as he glanced away from her. He is stubborn. You knew it ever since you were kids—he has been the hard one to tell off.

"Exactly," Jay said quietly but firmly. "And if we hide away, we'll never know who it is. We'll just keep waiting, wondering who's next. I'd rather fight back than sit around terrified."

Evie's eyes filled with tears, her voice trembling. "And what if 'next' is one of you? Do you even hear yourselves? You're putting your lives in danger."

Finally, Heeseung spoke. His voice was hoarse, heavy with rage and grief.

"Even if we don't go, our lives are already in danger, Evie." He looked up, eyes burning.

"Adela's gone. And they want more of us. I'm not going to let them hurt another one from my friends. If they want Saturday night, then fine. They'll get Saturday night."

The silence that followed was suffocating. None of you could argue with him—not after the way he said it. Your hand reaches out for his, trying to let him know that he's not alone. He never was. His eyes met yours and you can see life already drained out from it. The signature playful look on his eyes are long gone, now it's only sorrow and pain.

Jay cleared his throat, breaking the tension. "Here's what we'll do, the guys will go to the party. We'll keep our eyes open, avoid isolated part of the party, and if anything feels off—we'll catch them. Whoever they are."

"What exactly is off? Because I'm pretty sure we can't just hover somebody just because we think they're the killer." Sunoo interrupts.

"If they're trying to be a creep. Watching your every move, following you around the party, something unusual." Jay explains, and it kind of made sense.

"And you girls," Sunghoon turned toward you, his expression softening just slightly, "you can just stay at a house. It'll be safer. Lock the doors, don't let anyone in. Just stay away from the party."

"What?" you frowned, heart pounding. "You're telling us to just sit out while you risk your lives?"

"Yes," this time, it was Jungwon who answered quickly, cutting off any protest. "This isn't about leaving you out. It's about keeping you safe. Please." his tone plea with slight desperation.

"They're right. We will feel more at ease if we know you're somewhere safe." Heeseung added.

"They're staying in their sorority house?" Jay asks, not you or Evie, but the boys—asking if there's any more better ideas.

"If they're staying out of it, at least one of us needs to stay with them." Heeseung includes. They agreed without hesitation and Sunoo raises his hand.

"I can stay with them. Don't worry. If anything happens, I'll protect them." he suggested, and it was settled.

He also said that instead of your sorority house, the three of you can stay in their frat house instead as it's much closer to the party. If anything happens, it will be easier for the others to come.

Evie looked like she wanted to scream, but the words wouldn't come. You felt your stomach twist—because as much as you hated it, a part of you knew they were right.

Sunghoon placed a hand on Heeseung's shoulder, firm. "Saturday night. We end this."

Heeseung didn't answer, but the look in his eyes was enough. And just like that, the plan was set.

The night of Yeonjun's party came faster than any of you wanted.

The party was already in full swing when Sunghoon, Heeseung, Jungwon, and Jay arrived. Music boomed from the speakers, shaking the walls, and bodies moved in sync with the rhythm under flashing lights. For a brief second, it almost looked like any normal college party—drunk people making out, another one chugging surrounded by their friends, if only Sunghoon and his friends could forget the threatening texts, the funeral only days ago, and the blood still haunting their minds. But they couldn't.

And then they saw it.

A figure moved through the crowd in a Ghostface mask. It stopped for a bit, and in a slow, taunting move it tries to disappear through the crowd.

The sight sent anger coursing through Sunghoon. His jaw clenched, and without hesitation, he shoved through the crowd, grabbed the masked person by the collar, and yanked them forward. Gasps rang out as Sunghoon ripped the mask off, throwing it to the floor.

"You sick fuck," he hissed through gritted teeth, fury blazing in his eyes. "Serious deaths occurred—and you're still pulling this shit?"

The guy beneath the mask froze, eyes wide, face turning pale under the flashing strobe lights. "I-It was just for fun!" he stammered, his voice shaking. "It's a party costume, I didn't mean—"

Sunghoon shoved him back with a hiss of disgust, letting him stumble into the crowd, some of the students stopped dancing as they try to check what's going on. Jungwon was already stood near his friend, calming him down.

"Get the hell out of my face before I lose it."

The others exchanged glances, their stomachs sinking. If people here thought death was a joke... it meant tonight was going to be more complicated than they expected.

"We split up," Jay muttered, scanning the crowd. "Blend in, watch carefully. If the killer's here, they won't be obvious. Not tonight."

One by one, they nodded, disappearing into different parts of the house, pretending to mingle but with their eyes sharp, searching for cracks in the noise and chaos.

Meanwhile, back in the frat house, Evie and you are too scared to be left alone. Sunoo asks you to  rest in one of the rooms, assuring you that the whole frat house is locked and he won't be sleeping at all. He will look after you.

But just having the thought of your friends still out their can't calm your nerves and prevent your mind to not worry. You're not so sure if you'll be able to sleep a blink.

Then, the three of you decided to just hang out, sat in the dimly lit frat living room. The blinds were shut, doors locked, a quiet hum of the TV filling the silence. None of you could relax, though—minds were tethered to the boys.

Evie hugged a pillow to her chest. "What if something happens to them? What if—"

"They'll be fine," Sunoo cut her off, his voice firmer than he felt. His gaze was fixed on his phone in his lap, his leg bouncing restlessly. "They're smart. They'll watch each other's backs."

But his tone didn't comfort you, fingers twisted at the hem of your pajama sleeve, heart tight in your chest. Nobody knew you weren't at the party. The whole campus knows how big your friend group is when it comes to parties like this. If there's a party, expect your group to be there.

Back at the party, frustration built with every passing minute. They saw nothing—no one suspicious enough, no shadow moving where it shouldn't. The crowd was loud, drunk, careless. And the killer? Invisible. Nowhere to be found.

Then—buzz.

Sunghoon pulled his phone out. A message.

He read it under his breath. "Careful boys. It's a crowded night."

Jungwon's eyes are fixed at his phone, jaw clenching tighter. "They're here. The killer is around." he tapped continuously to his phone, sending their group chat a message to alert his friends and he slowly scanned the student filled room.

His eyes dropped at his phone once again, he can see that his friends are now typing response to his message.

Heeseung: Don't you see? They're laughing at us. Playing with us while we stand here like helpless idiots.

Jay: Calm down! You're giving them exactly what they want. We need to keep our minds together, or else they might really outsmart us.

Jungwon lets out a sigh, lifts his head back up to check his surrounding. He cannot see any of his friends near him, they're all spread around the frat house. He did remind them not to go in any isolated place to avoid the killer cornering them. Jungwon felt his heart race, he needs to calm himself down. He can't let any emotions flash through his eyes or face, after all this night should end well.

The boys are still on high-alert, every time a person wearing that sick costume passes by their way, they confront them but it will always just some dumb college students. They all reacted to them pretty similarly, either too scared or too drunk.

But Heeseung's hands were already trembling, his chest heaving with the effort of holding back everything inside.

Sunghoon's gaze swept the crowd again, teeth gritted. Whoever this was—they are watching. And they are enjoying every second. They were all alert, trying to be more cautious of their surrounding, making sure they're not too overwhelmed by their emotions in able to identify which one between these people are the enemy.

Their phones simultaneous vibrations caught all of their attention, making the tension and anxiety get more heavy in their chests.

Heeseung snatched his out first. His eyes locked on the message, and the blood drained from his face. He read every words inside his mind.

'Cici looked cozy in her pajamas.'

The words cut through the noise of the party like a blade. For a second, none of them moved, their world collapsing under the weight of the text.

Jungwon cursed under his breath as he typed a message of everyone to meet at the front of the house immediately, pushing himself on the crowd. Jay dialled Sunghoon's number as he noticed that he hasn't seen the message Jungwon left to their group chat. He too, started to make his way out of this crowded place. His chest heavy in worry for you.

"Sunghoon!" he shouted once he picked up.

"Why?" he can hear the booming music from his side.

"We need to meet outside! We're leaving. NOW!" he instructed.

"What? We haven't even catch the killer—" Jay cuts through his sentence with confused look on his face.

"Didn't you receive the message?"

Sunghoon can feel the weight of Jay's words as he utter them from the other line. His heart beat races and gets even heavier.

"What message?" he asks, starting to push through towards the direction of the entrance where they entered.

Jay doesn't know how he can say it to his friend without getting him worried, but that's impossible. No matter how he tell him about the recent message, Sunghoon will react the same. He will be so damn worried and rush his way to you.

"Jay! What's the message?!" Sunghoon raises his voice this time after not receiving any response from his friend.

"The killer sent a picture of Cici in her pajamas. It seems like it was taken from the outside of the frat house." he announced and Sunghoon's world felt like it stopped.

Sunghoon's face twisted in rage, his veins standing out as he clenched his fists. He didn't waste any second, shoving his way out of that party, adrenaline rushing like fire through his veins. On his way outside, he bumped into one of his friend, Jungwon. His worried eyes darted at him and he pursed his lips.

"They know where she is. They know she's not here." he says, voice cracking.

Jay swore under his breath, panic flashing across his face. Jungwon looked like he was about to be sick. The four of them met each other pretty fast, but when they reached the parking lot, the sight waiting for them made Sunghoon almost lose his mind.

Their car tires—slashed. All four.

"FUCK!" Sunghoon roared, kicking the rubber, even the expensive car itself, until his shoe almost split. His chest heaved, his face twisted with desperation. "T-They're after her! I can't—if something happens to her—" His voice cracked, and he nearly doubled over with fury and fear.

"We'll figure it out, we'll figure it out!" Jungwon said desperately, pulling at his own hair. But none of them knew how.

Then—footsteps, rushing.

Jake came rushing towards their direction, face pale and urgent.

"The killer's after Cielle, where is she?" Jake blurted out, his voice sharp, panicked.

Sunghoon turned on him immediately, suspicion flashing like lightning. "How the hell do you know that?!"

But Jake raised his phone instantly, shoving the screen toward them. The same message glowed there. 'Cici looked cozy in her pajamas.'

"We received this message—"

"We received it too." Heeseung cuts thro

For a moment, silence fell. Tension thick, breaths sharp. And then—relief, bitter and cold.

"Ni-ki's on his way to their sorority house to check on her. I came to let you guys know since I was informed you are here." Jake stated.

Jungwon glanced at him, "Cici's not in their sorority house."

Jake furrowed his brows, "What?"

"They're in our frat house, together with Sunoo." Jungwon answered.

"We have to go there now. We don't have much time!" Sunghoon says and once again kicked over his car. He's so close on grabbing one of the students scattered a few feet away from them and steal their keys to leave.

"My car," Jake suggested in a heart beat. "It's parked down the block. We go—now."

There was no debate. No argument. They all piled into Jake's car, hearts pounding, dread tightening around their throats.

And as the engine roared to life, Sunghoon's knuckles turned white around his phone.

The air felt heavy, suffocating. After that text—"Cici looked cozy in her pajamas" none of you  could sit still.

Your hands wouldn't stop trembling, clutching at your sleeves as if you could hold yourself together that way. Evie's breathing was uneven, shallow gasps escaping her as she stared at the curtained window.

"I can't do this, I can't do this," she whispered, pacing back and forth.

Sunoo looked alerted, roaming his eyes around. Trying to remember if he made sure that every door and windows are locked.

"...did you hear that?" you whispered.

Sunoo's eyes snapped at your direction, "What is it?" he asks.

Evie faces you with terror in her eyes, unable to even utter any words.

"Someone's out there."

Sunoo tries to listen, trying to catch the noise, but it went silent. Too silent that all you can hear was the branches of trees swaying with the wind from outside.

He didn't waste any second anymore then grabbed both your wrists, urgency in his voice. "Upstairs. Now."

Nobody argue, bolted up the staircase, every creak of the steps sounding like a gunshot in the silence. The second floor hallway was cloaked in darkness. Then suddenly the entire house went black. The lights cut off instantly, leaving us you into a suffocating darkness.

"Shit," Sunoo hissed under his breath.

The only light was the weak glow of the moonlight from the few windows. He slammed the door shut and locked it after you made it inside his room, chest heaving.

And then— very faintly, you heard it. Ring, ring.

A phone started ringing from downstairs.

Evie's eyes widened in horror. "That's my phone—" she gasped. "I left it on the couch."

"Don't," Sunoo warned instantly. "Stay here."

But panic had already consumed her. "We need it! We need to call for help!" since due to rush, the three of you forgot to grab your phones.

Before either of you could stop her, she flung the door open and ran down the hall.

"Evie—!" you cried, rushing to follow her, but Sunoo's grip caught your arm.

You froze. A loud crash echoed from below. The sound of glass shattering, furniture moved abruptly. Then a muffled thud.

"E-Evie..." voice cracked, trembling as you fight your way out from him. Your heart screamed for you to go, to follow Evie and to find her, to make sure she was okay.

Sunoo turned towards you sharply, forcing you to look at him even through the tears blurring your vision. "Cici—listen to me. No. You can't."

"We can't just leave her!" your voice was desperate, breaking.

"I'll go," he said firmly, his voice shaking but firm. "I'll bring her back. You stay hidden, you understand? Stay in here."

Even before you can make up what he just said, he's already dragging you toward the bathroom, guiding you into the corner by the sink.

"N-No! Let's go together, Sun! I c-can't let you go all alone. Please!" your sobs are unstoppable, clutching his arm like a lifeline. "Don't leave me please—"

He leaned down, pressing his forehead briefly to yours, trying to calm you even as his own hands trembled. He looked terrified, but the determination of keeping you safe is clear as water.

"I'll go and get her, Cici. I promise. It will be all right."

Your tears spilled fast, vision hazy. With low and trembling voice, you whispered, "I'm scared, Sunoo."

"I know." His voice cracked slightly, but he steadied it. "It will be all right."

And with that, he tries so hard to smile for you. That crescent like eyes.

Back in the car, the boys almost curse Jake out—if they aren't doing that yet—for him to drive even faster. He had broken one traffic light, but he doesn't care. The fifteen minute drive felt like hours.

Jake's car screeched to a halt in front of the frat house. The windows were all dark, an eerie stillness hanging over the place.

"Something's wrong," Jungwon muttered immediately, his gut twisting.

Sunghoon was out of the car before it even fully stopped. "Cici!" he shouted, his voice breaking into the night. "Cici!"

"Wait, Sunghoon—" Jay grabbed at his arm to halt him from taking further steps, but then all of them halt.

Crash!

A window shattered from above them making them all whipped their heads up just as something heavy fell from the second floor, slamming onto the grass with a sickening thud.

They got stoned in their positions, trying to register what just happened.

"NO!" Jay screamed, his face draining of color.

They all rushed over, stumbling on their own feet. Sunoo. His face bloodied, his chest unnaturally still.

Jungwon dropped to his knees beside him, his hands fumbling desperately. "No, no, no—Sunoo!" He pressed his palms against his chest, trying to find a pulse, trying to do something. "Stay with us—please, stay—"

Jay was already sobbing, covering his mouth with his hands. "No—this is not happening. This is not—"

Jungwon leans over Sunoo, he doesn't care if his blood is all over him now. He just wants to do everything he could to save him.

"Somebody call for help!" Heeseung shouted, though none of them can even snap out of it right away. Sunoo's state leaving a traumatic memory in their minds.

Jake manages to pull out his phone using his trembling hands and start dialing emergency numbers to alert the officials about what happened.

"Cici's inside," Sunghoon gasped, his voice raw. He looked up at the house, his face pale, eyes wild with terror. "I got to save her!" he exclaimed and rushed inside, nobody managed to stop him.

"Evie..." Heeseung mumbles his cousin's name and also followed after Sunghoon.

"Wait, hyung—" Jungwon spat, "Fuck!" he curses after failing to stop them. He lifts his head towards the two remaining people outside.

"Follow them inside, I'll stay here with—" Jungwon starts, but Jay interrupts.

"I-I'll stay with him..." he says and kneeled down, hands trembling as he reaches for Sunoo's body.

"Did you call the police and medic?" he asks Jake and he nodded his head.

"Ni-ki's on his way here as well." he stated.

Both him and Jungwon heads inside the dark house. A few steps inside and they're already stepping on something, glasses breaking beneath their feet. The house was pitch-black, the silence eerie after the chaos outside.

"Sunghoon, we need to be careful! The killer might still be here!" Jake manages to see him after he heads out from the kitchen, after he realized you are not there. It was a bit neat, except for a few tools scattered over the floor.

But Sunghoon shook free violently, his voice hoarse. "No—I need to find her. I need to find Cici."

Before anyone could stop him, he bolted through the stairs heading on the second floor, where Sunoo's body fell from one of the rooms. He doesn't seem to even feel a bit scared, there's no hint of hesitating with his heavy steps, each carrying the burning feeling of wanting to find you sooner. It was torturous for him.

Then—movement.

At the end of the hallway, Evie staggered into view. Her hands were dripping with blood, her eyes dazed, confused.

Heeseung froze mid-step. "Evie?"

She blinked at them, trembling. "I-I don't... I don't know what happened."

He caught her before she collapsed, his face torn between relief and confusion. He looked down at her hands, her arms and even clothes are soaked in bright red liquid, blood. "Evie—what did you—what happened to you?" panic looms in Heeseung's voice.

He starts searching for any injuries from Evie, wondering if she has any big wound for her to have this much blood over her. Oddly enough, all she have were small cuts, not enough to cause this much blood. It was clear that this isn't hers, it was Sunoo's.

"I don't know!" she cried, shaking her head, her voice hoarse with terror. "I don't know whose blood this is—I swear—I just—I just ran—"

Suspicion flickered in their eyes, but the urgency of the moment left no room for questions.

"Take her outside," Jake ordered. "Now."

Sunghoon didn't stop, despite the chaos all around the hallway of the second floor. It was still dark and he's stepping onto things he aren't sure what as he search the rooms. His heart pounding, throat tight.

"Cici!" he roared into the darkness, tearing through the hall. He shoved open doors, searching blindly.

His chest heaved, sweat and fear burning through him. Every second mattered.

"Where are you?" he whispered desperately.

And then he pushed open Sunoo's bedroom door—he swallows hardly after noticing bloody hand prints by the door and the silence inside was unbearable.

Your knees hugged to your chest, trembling in the corner of Sunoo's bathroom, the faint smell of his cologne still lingering in the tiled air. Every creak outside made your heart jump, every silence stretched too long felt like something is tightening around your lungs. You wiped at your blurry vision, but the tears wouldn't stop. Your mind replayed the crashing sounds, Evie's scream muffled somewhere down the hall, and Sunoo's last words echoing "I'll go and get her. Stay here."

The doorknob rattled.

Your breath hitched, a strangled sob tearing out of you as you pressed tighter into the corner. "No, no, please—" your voice cracked, muffled against your palms. You covered your ears and shut your eyes tightly, trying to scream, throat feeling strained from it.

The door burst open.

You screamed. The sound ripped from your throat, sharp and desperate, and a hand grabbed your arm making you flare your hands all over the direction. You started hitting whoever that it that grabbed you.

Instead of being hurt by this person, strong arms pulled you closer to them. "Cici, it's me—it's me!" Sunghoon's voice was frantic, breaking through your hysteria.

"Sunghoon?" your sobs stuttered, your eyes darting up at his face. His worried expression blurred in your tears, but his familiar warmth grounded you. You collapsed into his chest, clinging desperately, burying your face against him.

"T-The killer! They a-are here. I heard screams..."

"I've got you. You're safe now. I promise," he whispered, holding you so tight it almost hurt. His chest heaved against your cheek, heart pounding just as violently as yours.

Behind him, footsteps echoed—Ni-ki appeared at the doorway, breathless, sweat dripping down his temple. His eyes darted between you, Sunghoon, and the small bathroom, relief flashing but quickly replaced with a grim set jaw. Sunghoon glanced at him and surprisingly, he didn't look at him fiercely, the overwhelming relief after finding you safe overtaking him.

"I found her. She's okay," he muttered, his voice lower, as if saying it aloud solidified it.

Ni-ki's phone buzzed in his pocket, but he ignored it, focusing on you and Sunghoon. The bathroom felt too small, suffocating with the mix of fear and grief.

"Where's Evie?" Sunghoon finally asked, still keeping you close, his jaw tight.

Ni-ki's gaze hardened, recalling the bloodied image of her in the hallway earlier with Jake and Heeseung when he arrives and before he rushed his way up here. He slightly whispered to Sunghoon, trying hard not to let you hear as you're too freaked out already.

"She's downstairs. The others have her. But... she's not making sense. And there's blood—too much blood."

Sunghoon kissed the top of your head quickly, his voice low but urgent. "We're going to get out of here. I'm not letting anything happen to you." His eyes flicked to Ni-ki, sharp and determined. "But we're not safe. Not yet. We're not sure if the killer's still—"

Ni-ki cut him off, his tone grim. "The killer's still in this house. I can feel it."

The three of you froze at the sudden sound of a floorboard creaking somewhere deeper in the hallway. The air turned icy, silence so heavy it pressed on your chest. The two boys stood near you in a protective stance, until the steps get closer... and closer. Your hold over Sunghoon's tightens and heart hammered inside your chest in fear. Then, Jungwon's figure appeared, a faint light from his phone made your eyes squint.

"You found Cici?" he asks, tone concerned.

Sunghoon and Ni-ki sighs out in relief and nodded, stepping aside to let Jungwon see you. He lets out a heavy sigh before nodding his head in relief, "Take her outside, hyung. I'll just check the rooms by the end of the hall." Jungwon says bravely.

"Jungwon its not safe—"

"I'll come with you." Ni-ki says and didn't even wait for another second to walk towards the direction of the door. Jungwon nods and both of them heads towards the long, dark hallway.

And for the first time since you entered that house, it wasn't the storm of your own heartbeat that scared you. It was knowing someone else was still there—watching, waiting.

Meanwhile, downstairs, the others gathered around the spot where Sunoo's body had crashed through the glass. Blood smeared across shattered on the floor, his motionless form twisted unnaturally on the lawn outside. Jay was on his knees beside him, shaking his head, trying desperately to feel for any faint pulse. His hands were trembling.

Heeseung stood frozen, fists clenching and unclenching, rage sparking like electricity under his skin. "Whoever did this... they're still here."

Evie is sat down by the front steps, tears streaming down her face while staring at Sunoo's lying body. She's confused, scared and anxious. Jake informed them that he already called the police and that they're on their way now. A few steps coming from inside made their heads spun towards the direction of the main door.

"Cici!" Evie exclaimed, relief oozing from her tone after seeing you by Sunghoon's arms as he guides you outside.

"Evie!" you gasped, voice cracking. The sight of her safe—alive—sent a rush of relief so fierce it nearly buckled your knees. You ran to her, clutching her shoulders. "You're okay. Thank God, you're okay."

She nodded weakly, eyes darting somewhere behind you, but she didn't speak. Her lips trembled as if words were too heavy to form.

You scanned the yard, heartbeat thundering in your ears. "Where's Sunoo?"

You searched frantically, calling his name, your voice raw.

"Sunoo! Sunoo, where are you?! It's safe now—you can come out, please!"

Then you saw it and you felt like the world seemed to stop breathing.

A few feet ahead, beside the kneeling figure of Jay, lay a figure—still. The familiar outline of his jacket, the one he always wore even when it was too warm for it. His hair fell across his face, and your chest constricted so painfully you thought it would break you open.

You took one step forward. Then another.

"Sunoo...?" The name came out small. Barely there.

Sunghoon grabbed you by the arm, opted to refrain you from approaching close, afraid that you won't be able to handle losing yet another close to you. "Baby, please..." he begs, jaw clenching and heart silently crying due to all of this happening. The death of his friend finally dawning hardly at him.

You shove his hold off, the first time you ever did that in your life. Everyone stood there, silent. Unable to utter any word as it felt so heavy already, they're unsure what's there to say. All of you are heart broken, confused and mad.

To your dismay, Sunoo didn't move.

The closer you got, the more the world blurred—your legs weak, your hands shaking. When you finally fell to your knees beside him, your fingers reached for his shoulder, desperate to shake him awake. But his skin was cold. Too cold.

The breath left your lungs in a broken gasp.

"No... no, no—Sunoo, please, wake up—"

Behind you, footsteps approached but none tried to pull you away from him. Sunghoon just stood there, watching you while his own heart crumbling.

Evie's sob cracked through the air like thunder. You could hear her fall apart behind you, but you couldn't turn around. Couldn't move.

You stared at Sunoo's lifeless face, your tears falling on his jacket, darkening the fabric. Every laugh you'd shared, every small genuine actions he has done to take care of you, every promise echoed back in your mind.

You pressed your forehead to his chest, as if the closeness might somehow bring him back.

"He locked me in," you whispered through tears., like recalling what he just did for you. "He saved me."

Silence answered.

And in that silence—broken only by the sound of your friends' quiet sobs, the weight of what he'd done crashed down.

He kept his promise. He kept you safe.

Even if it cost him everything.

You tried to smile as you pull away, staring at his pale face. You slowly reached over, cupping his face.

"I-I'm safe, Sun. S-Sunghoon came, everyone did." and your words cuts through their hearts even deeper.

While you're busy crying beside Sunoo, steps from inside erupted. Jungwon and Ni-ki came running outside, on their hands was a familiar black fabric and a Ghostface mask, blood splattered across its pale plastic creepy smile.

"The killer left this," he stated and his eyes darted at your way with worry.

Jay muttered under his breath, stepping beside him. "That's not just a costume anymore. That's proof."

"But why leave it behind?" he added, a shiver creeping up his spine.

"They wanted us to find it, letting us know that they—whoever the fuck they are, killed one of us again and got away."

And as the night deepens, one body lying cold dead, minds confused, the siren of the police that slowly get louder and louder doesn't bring comfort but instead a reminder that you lost another one of your friends.

fic tag-list:

@mora134340 @drunkinjake @jakesgfff @cara9065 @wonluvvies24 @enhaheart8

permanent tag-list:

"She's here again?" Adela says after her eyes caught a lady not far away from the main entrance of their school.

Heeseung reaches out for her while eyeing the same lady. He dropped a kiss on her forehead before gently grabbing her things.

It's Monday again and they're currently trying to kill some time while waiting for the first bell to ring for their first class, when she noticed the same lady that has been coming almost everyday at their school. Like usual, she stood there restlessly while holding a pile of flyers. She looks tired from the lack of sleep and not eating meals properly.

"What's the latest news about the missing girl?" Adela turns her head towards one of her friends.

Jungwon's already looking at the direction of the lady and eyes flashes hints of sympathy. He lets out a low sigh, releasing that heavy feeling he's currently holding in his chest.

"Still no update." he answers shortly.

"Wait, really? I thought they got a lead already." Jay then pinches in their conversation after setting his things down by the ground.

Jungwon glances at him for a while before shrugging his shoulders off, "I heard from my Dad that it's a false alarm and that person is just trying to gain from the reward money."

Some of them frowned at what they heard.

"That's fucked up." Heeseung commented.

Sunoo rolls his eyes, "I can’t believe there are people who would go to such lengths just for money, even trying to take advantage of a situation like that."

Silence stretched around them after that comment, mutually feeling the same disbelief of one people taking advantage of such things.

"Jeena's Mom is here again?"

Their eyes darted at the newly arrived person and slightly their mood lightens up. Your soft, gentle eyes are already darted at her direction.

"Cici!" Evie rushes your way and cages you in a hug which you returned willingly.

You flashed them a small smile before waving cutely at your friends. A man stood behind you closely, one hand resting protectively at your waist.

"Good morning, dude!" Jay greets their friend Sunghoon which he just answered with a quick nod.

"How long has she been there?" you worriedly asks and everyone just shrugs their shoulders off.

"Since four a.m." Jungwon answers that made your heart crack.

"Oh my. I feel so bad for her." you mumbled and Sunghoon's eyes dropped at you.

He sighs and pulls you closer to him. Your eyes remained darted at her direction and honestly, it was a heartbreaking scene.

It's been a week ever since her daughter was announced missing, while her best friend found stabbed to death back at her apartment. The news sets fire to the town people's fear as the mysterious killer seems to be still out in the open. Jeena's body is not found anywhere that left the police to indicate her case as a missing person.

"Where are you going?" Sunghoon asks after you gently free yourself from his hold. His hand sets on your waist and you turn to him with a small smile, eyes not even reaching your ears like it usually does.

"I'll just approach her."

Sunghoon's totally against that idea and it reflects to his face pretty clearly. You already expect that from him since he's always been the protective type of boyfriend. You gave his arm a small squeeze to convince him more.

"I'll be quick." and Sunghoon surrendered as he knew you quite well. It's not like you'll approach her to put on a show or something. You're just genuinely concern, and he knew there's no stopping you when it comes to things like this.

He slowly lets his hand slip off, letting you go. You lean and tip-toed to plant a kiss on his cheeks before heading towards Jeena's mother.

"What is she doing?" Sunoo asks as his eyes follows your figure carefully.

The whole friend group watches from a distance with silence. They saw how you hold her hand and talked to her. Almost everyone in your friend group grew up together and you've known each other all your life. They can vouch that you've been like this ever since you were kids.

Always the kind one that never lets anyone be left out. You're the type of kid that if you see an elderly— or even anyone that's having a hard time, you will try to help. Making them feel worried that people may take advantage of it. Thankfully, Park Sunghoon is there to set clear boundaries for those type of people.

"Why didn't you stop her, Hoon?" Jay stood beside him, eyes fixed at you.

"You know that I can't." he answers, eyes not even blinking from staring at your direction. His stance protective, ready to take action any time he felt like he needed to step in.

Jay silently agrees and just furrowed his brows. "You heard the rumors circulating around that there's a chance that the missing girl could be the one who killed her best friend, right?" he stated that made some of their friends to look over his way.

"Where did you even get that?" Adela asks, starting to feel shivers on her spine.

The missing person news is bothersome already and to twist it that way makes it even worse. Jeena is one of the students in their campus, they even have classes together. And to think that she might have been the one behind the gruesome crime is alarming.

"Just around the campus." he shrugged his shoulders off. "If you think about it, that actually made sense. They said the two were suppose to meet that night, her best friend found dead on her apartment and then she went missing."

"No way. Have you seen Jeena? She doesn't have the guts to do that." Evie commented.

Jay glances at her way, "That's where you're wrong. Never judge the book by its cover, Evie. Sometimes the killer is always the least you expect it to be."

Evie grimaced, "You don't make sense."

Jay groans, "It's because you don't know anything, Evie Lee. If only you watch stab movies you won't be as ignorant as you currently are." he stated with so much sarcasm that made the girl frown.

"Whatever, Jay! That's a fucking movie. None of it is true." she argues, not letting him win easily.

Heeseung smirks while hugging his girlfriend from behind. Adela also chuckles just watching the two bicker. Sunghoon remained quiet, along with Jungwon and Sunoo. He's just keeping an eye on you, waiting for any signal for him to get you back.

"But it doesn't mean they can't take inspiration from it."

"Who would be sick enough to go around killing innocent people?"

"We don't know. That's why we have curfew now, right?" Jay hissed and rolls his eyes after being reminded of that. "Fucking curfew. What are we ten?" he added.

Since the killer is still on the loose, the police officials declared that people should not stay outside the comfort of their homes just until they manage to catch the person.

"But if Jeena really killed Lizie, what's her motive?" Adela tries to bring the topic back.

"I don't know. Maybe she likes someone but Lizie stole him from her?" Evie commented unconsciously.

"That's so shallow." Adela couldn't help but to grimace at that thought. Killing out of a boy? She can't even imagine that.

"Don't let Cici hear you talking about those things." Sunghoon cuts through the conversation making all of them to look at him.

Evie clenches her jaw and cocks her brows at him. "She should know that she shouldn't be helping that girl's Mom. Who knows what her daughter really did—"

"I said don't let her hear about your stupid accusations." he stated coldly that left Evie silent. Her eyes stared back at him, but they are emotionless while looking at her.

All of them grew silent after that and some forced back a smile when they noticed that you're heading back. Sunghoon almost lose it at the sight of your red eyes, cheeks wet from fresh tears.

He pulls you closer to him and kissed your forehead, comforting and consoling you. A pair of weary, salty eyes lingered on the two of you before quietly looking away—so subtle, unnoticed by anyone around..

"The school arranged some search party tonight. We're all going, right?" you then glanced around your friend group after hearing from Jeena's mother what the school had prepared.

They exchanged silent glances towards each other, a little uncertain about the idea. After the tittle-tattle that Jay broke into the group, they're unsure if they wanted to go to the search party. Not that anything is confirmed yet, but the chances are never zero that Jeena may not be the victim at all.

"Uh... I have practice for band later." Jay was the first one to reason out.

Adela and Evie eyes each other and it was obvious that they are hesitant with the idea. They actually saw this ahead, you volunteering for the search party because of your pure heart. On the other hand, they're not really sure about it. Not that they totally don't care about their schoolmate and not bothered about the situation, but they just think it's not a good idea.

Seeing you all worried for her and wanting so bad to help slightly makes them feel guilty.

"Maybe we will just follow after my practice for Ms. EU." Adela says after remembering that the scheduled practice for the pageant she joined was later after class.

Heeseung wraps her arms around her shoulder before smiling at Cici softly, "Don't worry Cici, we will follow to help." he assured you and that actually made you smile with gratefulness.

"How about you, Sunoo?" Jay asks curiously and waits for the boy's response.

He remains quiet and contemplates whether to come or not. Honestly, he have zero intention to. It's not like they are required to join. According to Jungwon, its mostly those who wants to volunteer. As mentioned, he isn't close with the missing girl. He's not even aware of her existence not until he saw her face on a missing poster on their bulletin board. He does feel bad for her, yeah. That's given. But he doesn't want to risk himself out there for someone he doesn't even know. The killer is still out there. Who knows what he's planning next?

"How about you Jungwon? You're going?" Jay asks their quiet friend. He glanced at him and lets out a strained sigh.

"I'm the one who arranged the search party, hyung." He stated that made Adela and Evie shook their heads slightly. "Oh..." he scratch the back of his head.

Well that totally made sense because who else will lead for the arrangement other than the President of the student council himself. After all Jungwon's pretty quick on thinking of solutions for issues, making him very efficient on the position. Not to mention his wide connections having his Dad as the town's mayor.

"Evie, you?" Heeseung turns to his cousin after noticing that she's grown quiet as well.

You glanced at your best friend with hopeful eyes and she glanced at your way as well. She forced out a smile and eyes caught Sunghoon beside you who didn't even spare her a glance. She cleared her throat and nods silently to confirm that she indeed will come to the search party. Evie adores you genuinely. She grew up with you and you're her best friend. If there's somebody that will always choose to understand her, it would be you and that's why Evie can never imagine her life without you.

"It's settled then. All of us are coming?" you asks.

"I have practice tonight, Cici." Jay disagrees and your lips pursed into a pout.

Sunghoon noticed and glanced at their friend, "Move your practice after the search party." he says firmly.

"Dude there's curfew."

His stares remains, "Leave that to me." he assures Jay that left their friend but to agree with the plan.

Their attention then pans towards Sunoo. "How about you, Sunoo?"

He lets out a sigh, "You won't give me a chance to say no, right?" he asks sarcastically to Sunghoon. He didn't answer and instead you smiled at Sunoo.

"I promise that we will stick together all night, Sun. No need to be worried of anything."

Sunoo's eyes softens and nodded his head. It made you happy. At least you guys will all go and do something to help find the missing girl.

While still trying to kill time, the group eventually diverts the topic into something else which Evie is thankful for. This whole Jeena missing girl is starting to freak her out.

"Look at that loser." Jay's voice was taunting as one of your classmate passes by at where your group of friends are currently hanging out.

You saw fear flickering over his eyes at the sight of your friends and it instantly, you're already aware what's about to unfold. He's very harmless and you can remember how nice he is. He was ready to dodge your friend group, trying to reroute himself just to avoid all of you.

"What's up, Flores? Look at that pants. Who does it belong to? Your great grandfather?" Jay stopped him from his tracks and wrapped his arms over his shoulder.

Some of your friends, including your boyfriend whose sitting beside you, arms over your waist, chuckles while watching his friends goof around the poor guy.

Heeseung stood up and joined Jay with the teasing. He took Flores' glasses and the boy was just too scared to even stop him. No words came out from his lips as it shakes out of fear. Heeseung's girl, giggles as his boyfriend wore the glasses instead. He even strike this silly pose that earned another fit of laughters from your friend group.

"Does it suit me, babe?" Heeseung even asked his girl. She smirks and approached closer, wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him for a kiss after answering a flirty 'Yes!'

"G-Give me my glasses." the boy finally got courage to speak up and both Heeseung and Jay aren't too pleased to hear it. They may show an amusing grin, but their eyes grew darker.

"Baby," you turned your head to the side to catch Sunghoon's attention.

"Hmm?" he hummed, both brows raising while he stare softly at you. Attention darted at you, waiting for what you need.

"Can you stop them, please? It's too early for this and besides, Flores is nice." you tried to talk him over it, but his head tilts to the side.

"How'd you know he's nice?" his eyes trailed from your eyes down to your lips and it stayed there.

"W-We worked together on a science project! He's totally good—" your words were cut off after he gave you a peck on the lips.

He flashed you this warm smile, but his eyes looked a little pissed. "Well, Hee and Jay are just joking around. You know friends can joke around, right?" he raised his hand and gently caress your chin using his thumb.

His gaze hypnotized you, making you feel like floating in the sky. The slight yell of disapproval coming from Flores was the one that made you snap to reality. If the scene from before was a little bothering, now its really concerning. Flores is facing Jay's backwards and he got his arm twisted, making Flores wince in pain.

"Who the fuck are you to talk back?" Jay looked really piss and his patience, is not that long for someone to mess with.

You sighed, feeling really bad. Being part of the student body, you know to yourself that you need to do something and not just watch. The students didn't gave you the position just for you to be a bystander. And so you stood up, ready to stop them when someone beats you to it.

"That's enough." his low tone sent shivers to your spine. His tall figure almost covers Flores' from your line of sight.

Jay and Heeseung turns their attention to the newly arrive person. They broke into grins, unamused ones. You let out another sigh, because you knew this won't end well.

"Mind your own business, Nishimura." Heeseung spats at him. The said boy threw him a cold glance before pushing Jay off from Flores.

It made Jay unhappy. You can see it through his eyes and with the way his jaw clenches hard. Panic took over you and you stepped closer trying to prevent a bigger commotion to happen.

Jay was already holding Ni-ki's collar while the latter remained calm and unbothered.

"I told you to fucking fuck off!" he shouts and threw a punch at him.

Students around you stops and the scene is starting to gather some crowd. You went close, trying to stop Jay from attacking Ni-ki. He was down on the ground, but manages to push Jay off from him as well.

"Guys, stop this!" you struggled to even get in between. When you find the right timing, you grabbed Jay from his arm. He was so mad and into it that's why he didn't notice that it was you. He yanked his arm hardly hitting you slightly, causing you to fall down.

You heard some of your friends yells your name as you grunt in pain. Even before you can stood up again, you heard your boyfriend's angry voice.

"Watch it!" he grabbed both of them by their collar and it seemed like it snapped them back to their senses after Jay pushed you.

"If you want to kill each other, leave my girlfriend out of it." Sunghoon's tone was so intimidating that nobody dared to talk after that.

He pushes the two off before walking towards you. Carefully, he helps you to stand up. Your bestfriend stood near the two of you, her eyes flashes worry as she glanced at you and Sunghoon.

"Are you okay? Do you feel hurt somewhere?" his eyes softens with so much worry while checking her thoroughly. You gave him a small smile and nodded your head to assure him that you are just fine.

"Jay hyung," both of your heads craned over the side when someone talked.

Jungwon, also one of your friends and also the president of the student body went in between. "That's enough." his eyes drifted over to Riki who's watching him silently as well, eyes still blank. His eyes then drifted towards your direction.

Sunghoon pulls you closer to him and stared back at him. He kept his stance known beside you, silently declaring something.

"Do you want to be suspended from soccer practice?" his tone sounds challenging. Riki clenched his jaw before ripping his gaze away from you and back to Jungwon, the cut to his lip so evident even from a distant. Jungwon turns towards Heeseung and Jay this time.

"How about you two? I'm sure your coach won't be so pleased hearing you suspended from Basketball practice hyung." he stated and then he glanced towards Jay.

"You want your band to be suspended?" he added and the two glanced away, obviously guilty.

Jungwon's very reserved. You've known him ever since freshmen and the only way to describe him is that he handles things pretty well. Everyone grew silent and you noticed how Ni-ki's friend approaches him to mumble something. Maybe to calm him down.

Just on time, it was saved by the bell because that left them with no choice but to leave each other alone. Adela has a firm hold over his boyfriend while Heeseung piercing gaze darted at the two other guys outside your circle. Jay's doing the same, but thankfully Jungwon managed to make him start walking towards the direction of your classroom.

Evie snapped out of her trance and glanced at your way. She watches how your boyfriend carefully attend to you, making sure that you're all right. She pursed her lips into a thin line before quiet strutting closer.

"You okay?" she asks worriedly.

A smile is what you gave her first, "Of course. Just a small scratch."

"Let's go." Sunghoon holds onto your elbow, oh so gently, before guiding you behind the group. Evie walks side by side with you and just ignore how the students carefully watches. Some of their eyes follows with slight envy, she can feel it.

"I'm sorry, Ci. I didn't notice you are behind me." Jay apologizes right away when you made it inside the room.

Sunghoon sets down your things on the chair beside him as his eyes pierced through his friend.

"It's fine, Jay. I understand. It was wrong of me to come closer when the fight is already heated up." and you even gave him an assuring smile.

"That's why you shouldn't just act up on your emotions, Jay. Use your brain sometimes. Your fist ain't going to save you all the time." Sunghoon says meaningfully and his friend wanted to argue back, but you went in between didn't let any of it to escalate into something serious.

"Baby, you shouldn't talk to Jay that way."

Sunghoon's cold eyes darted your way, "You got hurt because he's being stupid."

Your lips pursed in a pout while staring straight to your boyfriend's eyes. This is not a new scene for you anymore. Sunghoon has always been very protective of you. People sometimes even tells him to loosen up because it may suffocate you, but he doesn't care. He just wants you safe and sound.

"He didn't mean it."

Sunghoon rolls his eyes and grabbed your hand gently. "I don't want to talk about it anymore." He dismissed the argument because he just doesn't want to fight with you this early morning.

The whole day seems pretty normal, except for the multiple missing flyers of Jeena plastered all over the campus. You wanted so bad to continue on your day without worrying so much, but your mind kept on drifting towards Jeena. You aren't that close to her, but the fact that a girl from your university was murdered and now the other one currently missing is totally bothering.

"What do you want to eat?" your boyfriend asks, thumb caressing the back of your hand.

"Anything is fine." he nods and left the table. Some of the guys went as well while the girls stayed sat.

"What time is your practice again, Adela?" Evie asks while she's on her phone, sitting on your other side.

Adela smiles, "After class until 7pm."

"That's perfect, the search party will start by 7:30 pm." you intercept and she nodded her head.

"I thought we have a curfew? How come they started the search party so late?" Evie wonders.

The boys returned quickly and sits down to the vacant chairs around the table. Silently joining in the conversation.

"I actually have no idea. Jungwon said that's what his father suggested as according to him." they all turned towards their friend.

Jungwon shrugs his shoulders, "He says the police will be with the search operation and most of the volunteers are also adults that have jobs throughout the day."

They all nodded their heads as it truly made sense. Once the food is ready, everyone started munching and chatting. Slightly taking their minds off the missing girl.

"Are you guys going to Yeonjun hyung's party?" Jay asks suddenly that made them look at him with confusion.

"Party? I thought we have curfew." Sunoo asks what most of them are curious about.

Jay shrugs his shoulders off. "Their frat house is just near campus and most dorms for students are a few steps away."

Jungwon shakes his head side by side, clearly not amused by it. Adela cranes her neck to his boyfriend. "Are we going?" she asks.

Heeseung smiles and leans closer, "It depends on what costume you will wear." and he cocks his brows once at her with a flirtatious smirk on his face.

Adela giggles before leaning in for a kiss. You look at them with evident worry over your eyes. You completely understand that partying is part of their life already, your life as well. But this is a serious situation. A killer on the loose? Your friends obviously just taking this lightly.

You glanced at your boyfriend who's busy slicing the steak for you. "Why, baby?" he asks right away, his hand soothes the small of your back.

"They're going to the party."

He glanced at your friends and he lets out a small sigh before smiling a little. Sunghoon rarely smiles like this, only for you. Only for his sweet little angel.

"That party was planned even before the incident, love. Maybe Yeonjun hyung felt bad for cancelling all of it." he kisses you on your cheek to try and make you feel better.

"Besides, it will be one night. A lot of people will be there so I doubt the killer would even try to do anything. It's better to be in a large group rather than staying all alone." he stated that slowly made your pout deeper.

"Sunghoon is right! So we better all come." Jay stated too excitedly.

Sunoo rolls his eyes, "I will pass. I have to review for an exam the day after." he reasons out even before Jay can conclude all of you are indeed free that day.

Jay grimaces at the urgent dismissal of his friend.

"Come on, dude!"

"Me too. I will review." Jungwon says that made Jay's frown grow deeper. Heeseung chuckles while watching his friend be so childish to mock and even pursue the other two of coming.

"Evie will go for sure!" Adela, with a confident smile.

Evie raises a brow, "What made you so sure?"

"Because I am going. I'll drive you back home after." Heeseung stated that left her with no choice.

"How about you lovebirds?" Heeseung then pans his attention towards Sunghoon and you.

Sunghoon wraps his arms around your shoulder then tilts his head on your direction.

"Ask her. She's the commander." he jokes that earns teasing through your group.

That made you chuckle and send a playful glare to your boyfriend. He winks and kissed your forehead.

"Fine, we will go too." you surrender that made Jay cheer loud.

"But I will keep an eye on all of you. Nobody's getting too wasted to go home on my watch." and even gestures the 'i am watching you' towards your friends.

Jungwon smirks, "And Mom Cici returns. Yikes." he commented that made you pout.

"I just want everyone to have a great time, but also making sure they are safe."

They all look at you with a knowing smile on their faces. Adela pouts and even sent a flying kiss while Jay is jokingly grasping his chest dramatically.

"We know, Cici." they all say in unison that made you smile. They truly are your treasure. Being an only child is tough, but they made it a lot better.

"I'll be at ease if I'll know you two will be studying together at the frat house. But if anything happens, even the slightest thing, you call." your eyes turned over the two guys that declined the invitation to party.

Sunoo smirks, "Yes, Mom."

Sunghoon chuckles as they continued teasing you and planted a kiss on your temple. He always thought you are the kindest human being and you never failed to prove that to him.

"Anyway, we should probably plan our next trip outside the country." Jay stated, eyes fixed over his phone.

Sunghoon opens a bottled water while listening to his friends, all attention darted at you. Waiting if ever you happen to need anything.

"That's right. I wanted this one bag in Milan." Evie indicates and even excitedly pulls her phone to find the picture of the bag she's talking about.

"Milan, then?" Jay then scans your group of friends for approval.

Ever since your parents had let you to travel by yourselves, you've set a goal to roam the whole world altogether. It was such a cute tradition of your circle.

"When is your sister coming home, Sunoo?" Evie pans towards him.

Sunoo's older sister is currently studying in London. His parents wanted him to join her, but he chose to stay and convinced his parents that London is just not for him. He loves the place, but not to the point that he will be contented to stay.

"I don't know. Maybe christmas holidays?" he shrugs his shoulder off.

Evie then darted her eyes towards Sunghoon. She was hesitant at first, swallowing hardly, "Is Yeji coming this halloween?"

Sunghoon gave her a short glance, "No." he answers very shortly that stings a bit for Evie.

You noticed how she frowns at your boyfriend so you quickly stepped in with a smile, "Auntie and Yeji wanted to go to Japan so they'll be leaving in a week."

Evie forces a smile out from lips before she then turned towards Yang Jungwon. He's focused over his food, meticulously separating some vegetables he doesn't really feel like eating as of the moment.

"How about your sister, Jungwon?" she then asks.

He didn't respond right away and the whole table was just quiet, waiting for his reply. He lifts his gaze and shrugs his shoulder calmly.

"You know her. She's being stubborn and refusing to come home. She's forcing us to fly to her instead." he stated, tone low and obvious that he's slightly done with his sister.

Adela chuckles, "Well, she won't be your sister if she isn't stubborn Jungwon." she commented that earned quiet approval from the whole table.

Jungwon just smiles and tilts his head lightly over the side. "Right."

Jay claps his hand, "Just give me your preferred date for Milan so me and Sunoo can plan it all out." he announced that made the mentioned guy grimace at him.

"Why am I getting dragged into this?" that made everyone laugh.

"Because we need to align the dates to your airlines! Business class, baby!" Jay screams in happiness that made the whole group shook their head side to side.

"You're too excited, Jay hyung." Jungwon left a comment with a smirk to his friend.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Sunghoon's jaw tightens as he utter each words.

Evie's eyes flashes fear, teary and yet she tried to look fierce in front of him. She doesn't understand why she always has to be silent every time she wants to do the right thing. She hates how Sunghoon always acts on what he wants, disregarding anybody else' opinions and feelings.

"No! What is wrong with you?!" she pushes him by the shoulder once— that didn't even cause any damage over the tall guy in front of her.

"I can't take it anymore! The guilt is creeping and slowly eating me alive." tears started flowing nonstop over her cheeks.

Sunghoon's stood stiff as stone, jaw clenched so tight the muscle ticked in his cheek, hands slightly trembling at his sides—not from fear, but fury barely contained.

"We h-have to tell her what happened that night, Sunghoon..." she sobs, trying to inhale as much oxygen she needs to ease the feeling of his lungs thirsting for air.

"She will understand! I know Cici, she—"

"Don't." Just one word, but it cracked the air between them like a whip.

She flinched, but didn't back down. Her eyes were glassy, not from weakness, but the sheer weight of what she'd been holding in for too long. Guilt hung on her like wet clothes—clinging irritably through her skin, slowly suffocating her.

"I c-can't keep living like this, knowing I betrayed someone very special to me." the words stings as it left her tongue, her heart aches as guilt poisons it with no mercy.

He shook his head slowly, the storm in his eyes flickering with a glint of panic beneath the anger. "We won't tell Cielle about what happened. You say one word, and you won't like what I will do to you."

Her stomach turned to ice, the blood draining from her face as her breath caught in her throat. She tried to swallow, but it felt like there was glass in her chest.

He wasn't bluffing. Evie knows that and she saw it in his dark expression, almost cruel. She knew how far he could go to bury it, just to keep Cici from knowing. How it would destroy so much for the two of them.

Her eyes trails off of him and he heard him leaving without saying anything more. Leaving her all alone with her own dark thoughts.

Evie's feelings became worst. She wanted to tear it off, to scream the truth into the open just to feel air in her lungs again. But she was terrified too—terrified of what would unravel once it was out. What they might will lose. Who they will hurt.

She was still lost inside her own mind until she hears the footsteps and soft rustle of a jacket. By the time she realized she wasn't alone, she had already wiped her eyes once, twice, then stopped altogether, tears still impossible to control. Her back stiffened then slowly turned around.

And there he was. Leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed like he'd been standing there a while. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in his eyes. Not pity. Not cruelty. Just... knowing.

Her breath hitched, brain couldn't find the right words to say.

"Are you eavesdropping, Nishimura?"

The said boy almost let out a scoff, but the unbothered look on his eyes remains.

"I was taking a smoke, actually." he says lowly that made her feel instant shame.

Evie looks hesitant, silently hoping he didn't hear a thing, but it was far from impossible.

"How long were you—?"

"Long enough."

It was the way he said it that made her chest tighten. Not accusing, not even curious. Just a straight fact. Like the secret that had been hers and Sunghoon's was no longer just between them anymore. Another soul knew now. A third thread tangled in the already-knotted mess.

Her legs felt weak. The weight of shame, of fear cracked something open inside her that she could yet to hold. "Please," she said, voice barely above a whisper. "Don't say anything."

He shrugged, casually—too casually. "Wasn't planning on it."

But the way he held her gaze, calm and unreadable, made her stomach twist. Was it mercy? Indifference? Is he saying the truth?

"I just didn't expect it to be you," she admits quietly, wiping at her face again, uselessly.

He didn't smile, didn't soften. Just tilted his head. "Secrets have a funny way of pulling in bystanders."

Then, without another word, he turned and was about to walk away, but Evie stops him.

"S-Sunghoon and I aren't cheating behind Cici." she's clueless as to why she said those words or why she attempted to even clear things out between Ni-ki.

"That's what cheaters usually say." he stated that ripped through her.

She blinks, pushing back the tears and tried swallowing.

"I swear— it was just one night! We were drunk and—"

"You don't really have to explain anything to me." he calmly cuts through her words. He was right. She suddenly felt more ashamed and dumb.

He turns away, leaving her standing there, trembling, alone with a heart beating far too loud and a secret no longer safely buried.

"Alright," Heeseung clapped his hands once, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Let's move. Adela's gonna be late if we don't leave now."

"Who's coming with us? Jay?" his eyes darted at their friend right away. He answers with a short nod, looking a bit bored.

Sunghoon pans towards Cici when she gently pull over his uniform.

"Hm?" he asks softly.

"You should go with them and look after Jay. You're in charge of not letting him sneak off to skip the search party."

"You guys act as if like I'm not right here."

"That's literally what's in your mind that's why you refused on joining Jungwon and Cici in the council." Adela teased, that made everyone chuckle.

"Are you sure?" Sunghoon asks softly and you answered with a short nod.

He stares at your eyes for a while before leaning in for a peck on your lips before glancing at Jungwon.

"Look after her for me." he says.

Jungwon nods right away with a small smirk on his lips, "Don't worry. She'll be safe with me."

He nods and the four of them starts heading towards the practice hall for Adela.

You glanced at Jungwon. "Student council dungeon?"

"Unfortunately," he sighed, "Let's get it over with."

"How about you two?"

"We'll just go and get some food real quick." Sunoo answers for the strangely quiet Evie.

You already took notice that she's been out of it after lunch break. She suddenly disappears while the three of you— Adela, you and Evie, were checking out deserts on cafeteria. When she came back, she's off her mood.

Jungwon just gave a lazy wave over his shoulder while Cici laughed, already walking beside him toward the admin building.

Sunoo turned to Evie with a grin. "Alright, our turn. Let's go feed your hangry energy before it kills someone."

"Excuse you," Evie said, mock-offended. "You were the one begging for snacks five minutes ago."

"And now we're both winning," he replied, linking his arm with hers as they headed off.

After three full sessions of the practice, the boys— basically Jay and Sunghoon—eventually grew bored and suggested that they went out to have a few hits of cigarettes. They dragged Heeseung out, forcing him, uttering a quick promise of it just taking a few minutes.

Once outside, the cold breeze of air greets all of them. The occasional echoes of the instructor can be heard from the inside, but out here, around the back corner of the building where the pavement cracked and the air smelled faintly of smoke and dust, it felt like a different world.

"Why are all the lights at the soccer field still lit?" Jay curiously asks.

"They're probably practicing right now." Heeseung answers then his mind drifted over the two guys they encountered this morning.

"Ni-ki still hasn't changed a bit. He's still cocky as fuck." he frowns, jaw clenching. "One day, I will seriously threw him a punch."

Jay cackles, "I already beat you to it."

Their eyes drifted towards the direction of the field, a few faint voices can be heard and a few whistles and sounds of balls being kicked follow through.

"When did the tension between you and Ni-ki started again? I couldn't even remember." Jay says as he kicks a rock on the ground before taking another puff from his cigarette.

"When he started acting a jerk towards my cousin." he hissed.

Jay face lighten up, "Ah right. Dude, you really can't force him if he doesn't like Evie."

Heeseung scoffed, "But it doesn't mean he has the reason to be an asshole."

His friend shrugs his shoulder then pans towards Sunghoon. He's being quiet as usual.

"How about you, dude? You and Jake used to be so close before." Jay asks.

"We just... grew up. No big deal." he answers shortly.

After the conversation, they fell silent. Just taking hits from their sticks of cigarettes, trying to divert their attention to what's really bothering all of them at the moment.

Heeseung exhaled slowly, the smoke from his cigarette curling into the air like a sigh. "It's messed up," he muttered, leaning against the brick wall, eyes fixed on nothing.

Jay scoffed softly, flicking ash to the side. "Gruesome doesn't even cover it. They said she was stabbed, what—ten, eleven times?"

"Twelve," Heeseung corrected, his voice low. "And not randomly. The report said it was deliberate. Focused."

They went quiet for a moment, the silence suddenly too loud. A soft breeze rattled the leaves above them.

"What kind of person even does that?" Jay said eventually, shaking his head. "Like—how do you get to that point?"

"Someone with deep hate," Heeseung said. "Or someone wanting a revenge."

"Or both," Sunghoon added. "But it's not just rage. You don't stab someone twelve times unless you want to make a statement."

The three exchanged glances, the smoke lingering heavier now between them.

Jay's brows furrowed. "But who'd have something like that against her? She was... normal. Quiet."

"Too quiet, maybe," Heeseung muttered, more to himself.

Jay looked over his friend, "What's that supposed to mean?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. Just... people keep secrets. Sometimes the ones you least expect are tied up in stuff no one sees." and his eyes unknowingly darted over Sunghoon.

Sunghoon didn't flinch. Didn't shift. He just met the gaze with a slow blink before slowly taking the cigarette near his lips once again to take another hit. He stayed relaxed, unfazed and refused to let Heeseung through his mind. He's not someone weak to be broken by a mere comment.

But the statement sparks something in him. Making him wonder if his friend knows anything. He didn't feel scared of it, but something shifted deep inside him.

Jay nodded slowly, dragging in another breath of smoke, unaware of the quick tension that builts between the other two. "Could've been someone close. Or someone she knew too well. Maybe it really is Jeena."

"Could've been one of us," Heeseung said, only half-joking, but his tone dropped just enough to leave the words lingering.

Jay shot him a look. "Not funny."

Heeseung broke into a fit of laughter after seeing his friend's reaction. He taps his now tensed shoulder then smiles. "I'm just kidding. What a scaredy cat." he taunts.

"But we seriously need to be careful," Heeseung replied, flicking the cigarette to the ground and crushing it underfoot. "Someone out there planned it. Knew when, where and what to do. That person killed with no mercy and left without a trace. And they're still walking around like nothing happened."

"We just have to keep each other safe." Jay says and smiles warmly to his friends.

Heeseung and Sunghoon agrees quietly and dabbed each other as a silent promise of having each other's back.

It felt like time had slowed—and none of them could shake the feeling that they were closer to something than they wanted to be. Completely unaware of what's about to unfold.

The water ran warm against Adela's skin, fog curling up the mirrors and clinging to the tile walls like smoke. The echo of her breathing mixed with the soft hum of the pipes, the hiss of water hitting the floor.

She was melting through the pleasure of finally showering off the sweat from practice that she failed to notice that the stalls beside her are getting empty one by one. Until it was quiet — too quiet — except for that ever-present drip from the far end of the shower station.

She ran her hands through her hair, trying to clear her head. Practice had drained her. She was sore, tired, and the kind of sweaty that only a long rinse could fix.

Then— tap.

Adela froze, water from the shower continuous on dropping at her.

It was faint. Barely audible over the water. Not a pipe, not a drip.

Something else.

She instinctively glanced over her shoulder, but the fog blurred everything. Just gray-white haze and the sound of her own heartbeat, starting to pick up.

Adela exhaled slowly. "It's nothing," she told herself, reaching for the soap again.

Tap.

Louder this time. Closer.

She quickly turned off the shower so she can hear clearly.

Silence.

Her skin prickled. She could hear her breathing became faster and shallow. She slowly reached for her towel, eyes flicking to the edge of the stall.

"Heeseung?" she called out, trying to sound casual, but her voice cracked. Thinking it must have been him, playing yet another prank on her. After all, her boyfriend's love doing it.

No response.

She pulled the towel tighter around her, stepping carefully out of the stall, bare feet squeaking slightly on the wet tiles.

"Seriously," she said, glancing around the room. "If you're trying to scare me, just don't! I'm not in the mood."

Still nothing.

She hesitated. The thick fog made it hard to see more than a few feet ahead. Her phone buzzed suddenly on the bench by the wall. The sharp sound made her jump. She decided to go and pick it up.

Caller ID: Unknown Number.

She stared at it, heart pounding, then slowly reached for it. The screen was slick against her wet fingers, then she answered.

There was a pause on the line. Then a voice came through— warped, metallic, masked behind a voice changer.

"What's your favorite movie?"

Adela's blood ran cold, but she didn't respond right away. Suddenly, the memory of Jay mentioning the movie stab and how this caller unknown caller starts it with this infamous line, annoyed her. She thought it was his friend making fun of her.

"Is this you, Jay? I swear you're so sick in the head—"

"Jay? This is not him." the caller answers, voice still unfamiliar due to the voice changer.

Fear consumed Adela once again. She didn't breathe.

The line stayed quiet for a beat and she realized that it's probably stupid to stay in line and talk to someone psychotic so she attempts to end the call. Dress in a flash and run towards his boyfriend.

But then, "Don't hang up."

Her heart drops after what she heard. She looked around the shower station again, eyes wide, scanning the fog for movement— for a shadow, a figure, anything.

But there was nothing.

Just the steam.

And the voice.

"Let's play a game, Adela." tears started to stream down her face.

Her hand shook, knuckles white from gripping too hard around the phone and lips starting to tremble.

She wasn't alone anymore.

Tears starts to blur the world into streaks of steam and tile, every breath came shallow and fast. "Please," Adela whispered, voice cracking, "what do you want from me?"

On the other end the voice was flat, and the effect made it sound like it was coming from the wrong end of a tunnel. "We'll play a game," it said.

"I will give three sentences. Two of them are lies and one will be true." the other person's tone sounds playful, excited. "It's easy! All you have to do is say if what I stated is a lie or the truth."

Adela's breathing is still heavy, eyes still scanning the shower area, feeling a lot more anxious as moments passes by.

"If you lie, you die. If you tell the truth... you still die."

She  laughed once, a small, broken sound that turned into a sob. "That's not— that's not a game. That's—what are you talking about? Why are you doing this?"

Silence lingered for a moment like a held breath. Then the voice, casual and precise. "Honestly, no deep reason. Don't take it all against me." they chuckles, taunting.

Her feet moved of their own accord, backing away from the bench, towel clutched uselessly around her. "Heeseung?" she called, hoping his boyfriend will happen to hear her and come save her.

"Heeseung, please save me... I'm scared." Adela sobs, and the other line pause for a bit before she heard a low chuckle.

"Do you think he will still come if he knew about your darkest secret?"

Adela's breath hitched, eyes blinked rapidly and chest tightened. She swallows hard and pushed back that one thought at the far back of her mind.

"I d-don't have a secret."

A sinister laugh erupts from the other line that made her jolt and shake in fear.

"Liar. Everyone has secrets. Everyone lies at some point and you," they stall with their words, "Adela, is a one big liar." there's a rasp under the tone, not quite hoarse, still masked on the voice changer, but it was jagged enough to scrape her ear, making the victim strain to listen even though they wish they hadn't.

She can feel her whole body trembling, not because she's cold from the shower and being almost naked, but out of immense fear.

"Now back to my game! Two lies and one truth." they returned on sounding excited.

"First sentence: Lee Heeseung is not my boyfriend." he stated. 

Her throat tightened. She didn't want to. God, she hated this game. She hated the caller. The sound of their voice crawled under her skin like a parasite. She wants so bad to drop the call, but she's scared it'll end into something more horrible. The silence that followed her hesitation was worse than any threat—because she could feel him listening, waiting, knowing.

"Answer me!" they screamed, demanding.

She flinched hard, the phone almost slipped through her hands.

"Lie!" you yelled back, voice cracking.

The other line was silent for a few seconds before they spoke again. "Good. That's the easiest, by the way."

Adela cursed at the back of her mind, hoping this comes to end already. It was torturous for her.

"Second sentence: I'm a mommy's girl."

She felt her chest aches at the mention of her Mom. Her face almost drains out every emotion. Adela has never seen her Mom again after her sixth birthday. She left. She left her so whenever someone said mom, it wasn't just a word. It was a knife stabbed straight to her poor heart.

With tears streaming down her eyes and slightly clenched teeth, she uttered "Lie." she shortly replied.

The other person giggles, taunting hard. "Ooh, someone's sounding a little bitter." it teases.

Adela felt instantly sick in her stomach. Not only that this person is threatening to kill her, but she's making her suffer mentally. Whoever is on the other line, knew her. Not that it's a secret to the whole town that she has a broken family, but the fact that they target these things says a lot. They perfectly knew which will hurt and break her the most.

"Are you sure about that answer?" they taunt once again, after noticing that she's not responding.

"Yes! Please, stop this already." her voice cracks in between her sobs.

"Next and final question for you, Adela, dear." they seem so calm, feeding through her fear like as if that's what's making them sleep better at night.

"Adela is a fucking slut."

Her lips trembled with a light grimace. They're tone cold, unknowing.

"W-What...? No! I'm not— It's a lie! It's a lie, please!"

They didn't respond. Just pure silence, leaving Adela hanging like a fool.

Panic shot through her. "Please, I'll—I'll tell you anything. Just don't—don't hurt me."

"Tell the truth," the voice replied softly. "Admit it! Admit that you are a slut, a whore! Lee Heeseung was unaware of his sweet little girlfriend fucking around old business men, is he?"

Adela felt like her world stopped after she heard those words, heart beating rapidly that she's so sure it might make her throw up.

"Adela, the self claimed beauty queen in the morning and a mistress at night."

"P-Please... I'm begging you. Just stop—" her knees weakens.

There was no answer from the other line. It went strangely quiet. Only the metallic rasp of the voice, and then, closer now, a sound of something shifting—quiet, deliberate steps that didn't belong to the sterile echo of the shower stalls.

She tried to move faster, heart battering in her ribs. The fog hid shapes, but she could feel the room narrowing, the tiles slick beneath her feet. When a figure slipped out from the steam, knife catching the harsh overhead light for a second, she dropped the phone and it skidded, still connected, the killer's voice a thin thread through the hiss of water.

"Adela!" they screamed, lunging blindly.

She shielded herself at the arm that came for her, fingers scrabbling at the black fabric—at flesh—but the figure was steady, practiced. Every movement calculated. She fought with everything she had, pushing, kicking, a desperate pull on an elbow, nails that raked at hands. None of it was good enough to stop what came next.

Pain came rushing, hot and immediate, sharp and blurring. She gasped and tried to pull away, but the world narrowed to the pounding in her ears and then comes the taste of metal at the back of her mouth that she never thought she's familiar with until this very moment. Blood. Her own blood.

Each time she fell, she got up again, driven by a small, furious hope that movement could save her. And by each attempts of Adela to protect herself from each strike of the sharp knife, it stayed just out of reach, then the strikes kept coming.

Adela took a grip over the person's arm and fiercely faced them using the remaining strength she could muster. She can feel all the painful wound the knife inflicted her, until every bit of her slowly grew numb.

She's slowly losing any care and just have one thing inside her mind. Her eyes stabbed through the masked killer that's holding her and playing with her life.

She wants to know who's behind that terrifying cover, she wanted to know who's fucking with her life right now like they're God.

She clawed at the ground as the masked killer hovered over her—cold, faceless, merciless.

Her trembling hands latched onto their wrist when the knife gleamed in the low light. She twisted, desperate, nails digging into the mask's edge. She poured everything into it until she ripped it off.

Her world stopped.

"No..." her voice cracked, barely audible.

Adela doesn't know who she expects it to be or how the person behind the mask would look like, but she definitely not saw any of these coming her way. The familiar eyes— very familiar if she will be more precise, stared down at her with something unreadable, dark, detached.

Tears spilled before she even realized. "You?" Her breath hitched, ragged. "No... it— it can't be you."

Her weak body trembled and instead of fighting back, she just found herself conceding. Like she fully embraced the truth that this will be her end. Her eyes never left the person in front of her, her mind still refused to accept it.

"Why?" she choked out. "Why are you doing this?"

They raised the knife again, silent.

Her hands shook as she reached out, clinging to their arm, not to stop them—but because she couldn't believe it.

The killer's expression didn't falter.

Her tears blurred her vision. "Answer me! Why?" she screamed, though it came out cracked, fragile, desperate.

The blade hovered closer. Her body shook with both terror and something worse—betrayal that cut deeper than the wounds already on her skin.

And then she felt it, knife stabbed straight to her heart. They didn't miss, with her not even trying to fight anymore.

Her voice collapsed into quiet, broken whimpers. "Why?" she asked again, over and over, as if saying it enough times would force them to give her the truth.

But the silence was heavier than any answer.

Her legs finally gave, grounding out on the cold tile. She collapsed there, breath ragged. Her phone lay nearby and the picture of Heeseung hugging her while they both smile brightly at the camera flashes.

Silence followed, heavy and absolute. The lights hummed, a slow drip echoed somewhere in the stalls. She did not move when it came. Her chest did not rise in the steady rhythm she had once known.

fic tag-list:

@mora134340 @drunkinjake @jakesgfff @cara9065 @wonluvvies24 @enhaheart8

permanent tag-list: