"I guess this is it," Eunho uttered, sliding his shades down to the tip of his nose. He squinted through the tinted window of the police car in the musty darkness of the evening as Seojin slowed down to a stop on the other side of the road.

"The 27th store down today." Seojin pulled the car to a full stop, jerking the keys out of the ignition. Jiwoo sat in the back, blankly staring out the window at the mundane firearms store. The grim and gloomy building fit in with the rest of the ghostly street. He was still caught in a trance, with the whirlpool of events earlier in the morning waving through his head.

Focus, you idiot; you're working on a case. Jiwoo rotated his head in circles, cracking his neck. They exited the car, crossing the street towards the store. The area should have thronged with people, but it stood as empty as any desert.

"It's locked," Jiwoo said, churning the door handle with a frown on his face. Looking up, a lopsided sign that read 'Open' plastered the clear glass.

"Should we just come tomorrow? No use idling around here," Seojin began, flicking his wrist to check his watch. Eunho argued back, standing ground that it was useless to come around with no luck. As the two bickered back in forth in a restless debate, a scuffling sound grazed the concrete.

Jiwoo snapped his head to the side, but only the stillness of the buildings around greeted his sight. It was an eerie, empty street with a lone lampost flickering a dim light on the road now and then. A stray plastic bag danced in the air, emerging from the dark lane beside the store. Curious, Jiwoo strayed away from Eunho and Seojin to enter the alleyway. He didn't know what to expect apart from a large dumpster bin in the distance. "Wait a second."

 Jiwoo slipped further in the depths of the alley; eyes narrowed at the weary door by the firearms store. The silence pressed in, and all he could hear was the scuffing noise his own feet made down the dank alleyway. Nearing the back entrance, he nudged it open. The door creaked open, winding open a centimeter at a time. It could move faster, but the wood of the door had grown moldy and weary with neglect, and if you pushed it harder, you'd probably push right through the door.

In the room, there was barely any light. A sinister aura enveloped Jiwoo, like wisps of smoke circling him like prey. It was like being watched; at any given moment someone would sneak up from behind him and pounce like a predator. He slightly looked over his shoulder, eyes searching to see if he had any company. Satisfied, Jiwoo slowly entered the pit of darkness that swallowed him into a cave of empty nightmares.

Heaps of boxes were stacked on top of each other, providing only a tight passageway to maneuver. It reeked of strange chemicals that had a burnt character and acrid stench mildly coating the air. I guess this is where they keep the smokeless powder for the guns. Jiwoo pulled up his phone to cast a flash of light in his path. 

The floorboards squeaked with every step Jiwoo took, and he couldn't shake off the icy feeling hugging his shoulders. He could only imagine what the place would look like if it were daylight.

Walking to the east of the storage room, Jiwoo passed by towering shelves. A thin blanket of dust lined the boxes sprawled all over the floor, illuminated by the blaring light of his phone. Keeping his gaze on the ground, Jiwoo halted to a full stop. 

The circle of light shone on a limp, bare foot. 

He was left stunned, like a statue of stone forced to keep that pose. Jiwoo slowly raised the light, and nothing had prepared for him for the obscene view before him.

A nude man was sitting against the aged concrete. His head bent to the side unnaturally, as if his neck had been fractured. The face was completely slaughtered beyond recognition. Muscles and blood were glistening under the faint glow of the flashlight and peeled skin hung loosely. What entirely laced the whole face together was the hollowed-out dents on where the eyes should've been. The bloody handle of a knife lodged deep down in the mouth. It was as if the man was choking on the object.

Velvet, sultry blood was splattered all over his pale body with a violet tint. The liquid was a deep shade, almost the color of an ominous black. It was like thick ink, smeared all over the floorboards and the grey wall behind his back. More blood painted the wall above the man, but it wasn't just any spontaneous myriad of red.

A large symbol coated the wall in red, a different and brighter shade of scarlet that of a bed of roses. A bold line of red circled an intricate design. Four lines spiraled into a curve from the center, almost like an elegant and innocent cover. It was hardly anything close to innocent. Only hiding wicked secrets and dark intentions.

That's when realization struck the crime investigator. That symbol... it's the same one on the leather gloves Eunho showed under the blacklight. Goosebumps spiked his arms and the back of his neck as Jiwoo connected the dots. It felt too much of a coincidence. Like he was a mere pawn in a game controlled by a sinister mastermind toying with him.

He cautiously approached the dead man, trails of blood slowly seeping into the floorboards like a lazy river. Jiwoo kneeled to his eye level, placing his phone in between his lips as he slipped on a single latex glove on his right hand. 

He couldn't believe how close he was to the gore sitting in front of him, but his thirst for answers clouded his mind. He was greedy for clues, something that might explain this mess. With a gloved hand, he touched the man's bare leg, scraps of skin ripped off to reveal muscle and veins, with a pool of blood soaking the wooden floors.

It was then he realized the leg had been detached from the abdomen like someone had cut it with a chainsaw. Jiwoo steeled his nerves, bearing the disgusting and vile mutilation of human body parts. Lurching over, Jiwoo saw his arm intact. But, was caught off guard by the disturbing scene of exposed skeleton and bone with pieces of tendon hanging by a thread. No smell and his skin is still warm; he must've been killed not too long ago.

His eyes faltered down to the man's hand, clamped shut into a fist. With an eyebrow furrowed, Jiwoo reached out to uncurl his bony fingers. A crumpled ball of paper appeared, and Jiwoo snatched it out in a haste. He wasn't sure he was ready for the secrets hidden behind what could be valuable evidence. It's worth a shot.

Jiwoo flinched when he unwrapped the crinkled paper, nearly losing the two pale orbs out of his hand. This is beyond revolting, A pair of bright eyeballs rolled around in his palm, laced with red veins and had muscles rooted to them like it had been ripped out like a plant. A think green film covered the eyeballs, slimy and moist.

He gagged upon seeing the midnight irises boldly stare right through him. Jiwoo winced, gagging as his hand jerked out. The eyeballs jumped out of the paper and rolled away under the nearby shelves. It was then Jiwoo noticed the dim and faint handwriting littered on the note. Words streaked in dull blood that dried a muddy brown, almost like someone used their fingers to paint it on.

Catch me if you can, or you can go fuck yourself and burn in hell.

As if on cue, Jiwoo heard the back entrance slam shut in the distance, the distinct sound pounding the air. 

Shit. 

He jumped back on his feet, eyes bouncing around the room. I'm trapped, I'm fucking trapped in this filthy place. He was played like a damn fool, and now his gamble may have cost him his life. Pacing back and forth, the gruesome dead body sitting in the corner flew out of his mind completely. He needed to think of a plan to escape. No, I can't risk going back there. Who knows how many people could be waiting outside with guns and other weapons.

His eyes snapped wide open when a new idea popped into his head. Scurrying around, Jiwoo searched the place for another entrance that could possibly lead to the front of the store. Found it. In the farthest corner of the storage room, another door appeared. Jiwoo quickly twisted the handle, relief washing over him with the fact it was unlocked. He burst right through, the door flying open and hitting the back wall.

Jiwoo found himself in the main store. Rifles and guns of all shapes and sizes hung on the walls, pistols and silver bullets alike encased in glass display shelves. Jiwoo ran to the front of the store, hoping to find Eunho and Seojin still standing around only to find them walking across the street and back to the car. 

"Help! Please! Get me out of here!" he hollered, banging on the windows helplessly with his fists. Jiwoo tried to open the front door, churning the doorknob recklessly to no avail. He was growing anxious and could feel the darkness closing in on him in the tight spaced shop.

A sudden explosion rocked the back of the store, causing the store to shake as if an earthquake possessed the place. Jiwoo turned around, his eyes lighting up with the bright flashes of light erupting in the distance. By the entryway to the storage room, a pillar of flames and fiery smoke glowed in the shadows. A series of new flashes broke out, lifting and spreading the incandescent flames to pour into the main store.

Crackling flames began to line the floors and walls, mystified by heavy clouds of black smoke wafting into the room. Jiwoo shrugged off his coat, beads of glistening sweat dotting his face. Ultimate chaos choked the room, with fire riling up the place and alarms screaming at the top of their lungs.

Jiwoo turned back to the window, trying to distance himself away from the grappling hands of the flames that tried to pull him to the depths of a scorching hell. "Help!" he screamed, vocal cords ripping to shreds in his coarse throat.

Eunho and Seojin had long noticed the turmoil with the mild explosions bombing the store. Jiwoo watched Eunho run up to the store, dropping his suitcase on the concrete. "Jiwoo!" he yelled, panic striking his face. He banged his forearms on the window, dense vibrations barely breaking through the glass. He rushed up to the entrance, violently elbowing the door with great force.

Is this how I'm going to die?

Jiwoo found it increasingly hard to breathe, whiffs of smoke entering his lungs and muffling his head. He felt hot and lightheaded as if a fever had captivated him. Everything became a distant blur, in and out of focus. Blinking away the searing headache, Jiwoo tuned back to the prosecutor.

"Eunho! Behind you!"

The police car sirened into the desolate night, blaring headlights streaming into their direction. Eunho quickly swiveled around and jumped to the side. Jiwoo stood back, watching with wide eyes as the car rolled closer and closer into view.

He watched the car collide into the entrance, shards of glass falling to the ground. It happened all so fast that Jiwoo was still caught in momentum, gears churning in his mind to process everything.

"Jiwoo! Get out of there!" Seojin hollered.

At the sharp mention of his name, Jiwoo didn't waste another second to escape the hellhole trying to force him to an indefinite prison.

* * *

"How are we going to deal with this?" Eunho paced back and forth in the police station, his breaths unsteady. Jiwoo scoffed, sneering at the anxiety-riddled prosecutor before him. I'm the one who got traumatized here, why are you acting like you've been in war for months. 

"They're fucking gods! Lighting up that damn store on fire!? How did they even know we'd be there. Even if we tried to get CCTV footage it's no use, in the black of the night it's nearly impossible to identify them!" Jiwoo listened to his hopeless rambles, trying to think of answers.

"I don't understand, it's like they're watching us." Jiwoo prodded his fingers on Seojin's desk. We always discuss our investigations in secret, how is it they're a step ahead of us. Not even a step, they're fucking playing with us.

"If I stay here a moment longer I'm going to lose my mind," Eunho suddenly declared, storming to grab his coat from the desk. "I'm going to the hospital, I need an update on that victim. I can't even believe they declined my request to put up security by her room! Fucking hell, I'm about to start a riot here!"

"I'll go with you." Jiwoo stood up from his chair, dusting off his pants. "Besides, Seojin isn't here. I can give my statement later."

"Great, you can go and talk some sense into that stupid head surgeon who thinks it's overdramatic to put some extra guards by the victim's room. Let's go on your hog, it'll be faster than my car with the traffic around."

Just as Eunho left the office, Jiwoo grumbled under his breath about paying for gas and relentless demands spewing from his mouth. What am I, a butler? Just he waits until I knock some sense into him for talking to his senior like that.

* * *

Seohyun dug herself a hole loaded with work. People around her adored her dedication, but little did they know it was a mere pass to occupy her mind. Needles, pills, prescriptions, mundane hospital works sucked her into a void of distraction. Some would snicker and gossip for the lengths she's willing to push through to impress her boss, but it wasn't complicated really.

She just needed a distraction. From all the pandemonium her life had been thrown into. When can I ever take a break from all this madness?

"What's this, miss workaholic?" Dr. Kim chimed as he joined Seohyun by the vending machine. He snatched the clipboard out of her hands. "Oooh, what a packed schedule! I'm so surprised!" His mocking tone was oozing with sarcasm.

"Oh, come on. My shift's about to end tonight. I'll be off early this time." Seohyun laid her hand out in the air, and Dr. Kim returned the board to her. "In other news, how is that victim? She's still unconscious?" Curiosity was nipping at her senses, but she tried to conceal her interest in Kitel. Down opposite the hall was the room where she stayed in, that drew Seohyun in as if it was calling her name.

"Unfortunately, and you want to know what's worse?"

"What?"

"Dr. Jong rejected the request to put security in her room." Dr. Kim frowned, shaking his head as his gaze lazily cast to her room as well.

"Serious?"

He nodded in response, lips tightening to a straight line as he kept his gaze away from Seohyun. Shrugging his shoulders, he shifted his weight from one foot to another. "Well, I tried. Honestly, I'm just waiting for whoever is in charge of this case to come around soon and demand an explanation." A bitter chuckle escaped his lips before turning to leave.

Seohyun arched her head to the side, massaging the stiffness of her neck. Well, the hallways are always busy and packed, so more security does seem unnecessary, just adds to the chaos in here. As Seohyun stood idly by the vending machine, she straightened her stance. Squinting her eyes, she watched in suspicion as Jisu casually slipped inside Kitel's room. "What the hell is she doing in there?"

Shit, what if she tries to hurt her? Kitel isn't her patient either! Oh God, I can't just stand by and do nothing.

Seohyun jogged up to the room, adrenaline inflaming her nerves. "What are you doing here?" Seohyun asked as she burst into the room. Despite asking a question, it came off more like a demand for an explanation. Jisu swiveled around, startled. Eyes wide, she relaxed her shoulders upon seeing Seohyun.

"Ah, it's just you." Jisu gave a half-smile, before continuing. "I'm just checking the vitals of the patient. Dr. Go isn't here so Dr. Jong asked me to–"

"Bullshit!" Seohyun stormed towards Jisu, challenging her with a fierce stare as if she was holding a gun to the bewildered doctor's head, just a finger away from pulling the trigger. "What the hell are you really up to?" she sneered, venom dripping from her words.

"Seohyun, what is wrong with you? Have you gone insane!?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Jisu! I've known you for a long time and don't think I'm blind to all these shenanigans you've been pulling out of your sleeves!" Seohyun was raging with burning fury, the newfound anger somehow satisfying her bottled up grudges.

Jisu unhinged her jaw and looked down at the ground in sheer disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me, bitch," she deliberately mumbled loud enough for Seohyun to hear.

Oh, I'm fucking done playing nice with her. Seohyun swiped her hand up to give out a sharp slap but halted in the heat of the moment.

"What is all this commotion?"

Turning to the entrance, Dr. Jong stood there with an unamused expression. Seohyun curled her fingers to a tight fist slowly, gritting her teeth before lowering her hand.

"Dr. Jong, I–"

"Seohyun, what are you doing? Slapping your colleagues? And in front of a patient? You have no decency. And I expected so much more from you," he reprimanded, steel eyes boring right through her. Seohyun opened her mouth, but no words escaped her lips. She was speechless, stunned. Never in her days of working under Dr. Jong did she receive that cold stare and harsh scolding.

"I'm disappointed in you."

Those four words crushed her inside out, tearing away at all the integrity she had left. That's it, I'm done. She stormed out of the room, pushing past her boss. She dashed down the busy hallways, blinking away the moistness that glistened in her eyes. Her breaths were shaky and rocky like she was rolling down a bumpy road, and she wasn't sure for how long she could suppress the thick lump sitting in her throat. I need to get out of here, I'm done.

"Hey." Jiwoo frowned as someone brushed by his shoulder, causing him to stagger to the side. Turning around with a scrunched up face, he watched as the familiar back of the young doctor raced down the corridor in a hurry. With an eyebrow raised, he wistfully watched her soft brown curls bouncing with every step she took. 

Hello dear readers, here is the very late part 2 of the double update. Honestly, tardiness has been my weakness for a long time, I'm not surprised. But my motto has definitely always been better late than never~ I hoped you all enjoyed the chapter, I've been enjoying this so far honestly. What did you guys think of the beginning? Did it give you chills? I hope I was able to acxomplish that heh. Thank you all so much for your support in this book so far! It's been an amazing journey and I can't wait for what lies ahead! We're halway there guys! As always, please leave comments below! Interacting with all of you is always fun! And please show some love to this book by pressing the tiny star so it can brighten up! Cheers~