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"the best secrets are the most twisted."

— Sara Shepard —

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[ 3RD PERSONS VIEW。]

Breathlessly, Renjun stumbled forward, eyeing up at the house that carried demise. Windows were shut, muffling the loud dark sounding classical music that came from the grand piano.

Gulping he reached out to the gates, seeing light coming from behind the yellow curtains. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the gate.

"Oh? Renjun?"

Startled, the teenage boy jumped back, a hand on his chest as it went up and down. Back pressed onto the metal bars, he avoided the woman's strong gaze.

An eyebrow raised, "What are you doing here?"

"M-Mrs. Choi!" he exclaimed awkwardly, giving her a limited wave, "I was just- um-"

"Hmm?" Mrs. Choi tilts her head slightly to the side, "Ah! You thought this was your house, didn't you?" she chuckles before stretching her arm out to pat down his hair.

Renjun forced a smile upon his lips, not daring to look into her eyes, "Y-Yes! Right. You're right. If you may excuse me–" he uttered out.

Mrs. Choi backed away and Renjun let out a relieved sigh, his shoulders slumped as he walked back to his own residence, thinking of a new way to talk to Haruka.

With Mrs. Choi already home, it seemed impossible to talk to Haruka, especially after both sisters warned them already.

As he walked through the front door, forthwith his mother greeted him with a hug. "Renjun! I heard about Hanmi– are you okay? Are your friends... aren't you supposed to be with them?" Mrs. Huang bombarded him with consecutive questions.

Renjun cupped his mother's cheek with his hand to assure him they were fine, "I'm fine, they're fine."

Mrs. Huang sighed in relief before pulling him into the house, "I swear- is this an accident or- or it's back..." she rambled on, capturing Renjun's heed.

"What are you saying, mom?"

An apologetic smile plastered on his mother's face, still, it couldn't hide her terrified expression. "The copycat ghost, Renjun. I don't want to conclude Hanmi's death as an attack from the imitator, but–"

Renjun shook his head, "Don't worry, that's what we're trying to do... we're figuring out this whole situation."

"Renjun... it's dangerous..." Mrs. Huang trailed off, "I don't want you to end up like the other victims..."

"I won't end up like them, mom. I'll be careful, I promise." he engulfs his mother into a hug before heading to his room.

Trudging into his room with a face voided stoically. He had certainly enough of all the chaos that has been happening. They had just lost another friend, this was going too far.

He shot a look at his window before sliding it open, backing away when cold winter grazed his skin abruptly. The blue curtains flowing, catching a glimpse of the darkened hair girl who was playing the piano mindlessly. By the tone she was playing in, it depicted a rational emotion, somehow she felt worried and distressed.

She had thrown the small radio she found a while ago, leaving it broken on the floor, loudly whirring, battling with the sounds of the piano.

Renjun took a deep breath before pushing himself up the perimeter of his window, extending his foot to reach Haruka's. He steered clear from looking down, knowing his pounding heart would intensify.

The drop was dangerous and could lead him to serious injuries. Rounding up all the courage he had within him, he loomed forward, reaching towards the rims of Haruki's window, only to fall back from lack of support.

"Shit–"

Anxiety arises in him, his rapid heartbeat dropping, eyes closing tightly shut, preparing himself for the fall.

But it never happened.

As if time had stopped, he was confused. Wasn't he about to fall?

Reopening his eyes, his mouth parted slightly seeing Haruka holding onto his arm, still, her face held a stoic look. How can she be so calm? Or she's still hiding her feelings?

Haruka pulled him inside her room, the boy gasping for air as he dropped onto his knees. "T-Thank you! Oh my God- I thought I was gonna die."

"I saw it through."

Renjun furrowed his brows, peering up at her, "What?"

"I felt like someone was watching me play again and I glanced to check who it was– I saw you... with color," Haruka said.

Renjun tilts his head, pupils dilated as he pointed, "Your eye... it's..."

Consciously, Haruka slapped her hand to cover her exposed left eye, avoiding his gaze with a nervous demeanor. She walked towards her piano, grabbing the eyepatch that laid on top before wearing it.
"You saw nothing."

Renjun shook his head, not bothering to bring it up. "We found the cassette tape– Haruki told us to find you."

Haruka nodded, "We're going to find the copycat."

"But wait," Renjun pressed his lips together, a bit hesitant, "Do you think there was another killer...?"

Haruka froze, squinting her eye at him, "What do you mean?" her voice sounded hushed, something in her mind dying to be unbarred.

"I just- Mark told us something awhile ago, about Ahn Yura. He overheard Mr. Ahn talking to Yura on the phone... turns out... she was fired from being a detective. I'm thinking about digging through some old newspapers again but like I'm not su–" his sentence was cut off as Haruka placed a hand on his shoulder, realization hitting her.

"Hanmi... died today... right?" Haruka trailed off, trying to piece it all together.

"Mhm," Renjun nodded.

"Hanmi's the second victim then."

"Of what?" Renjun's face perplexed, what his mother told him resurfacing.

"Of the copycat..." Haruka stated, "The first was my sister... I'm not sure– don't really have much evidence, but I have a hunch."

"But the thing is... Hanmi seemed like she was in trouble– like something was bothering her! Mark said something about Hanmi mouthing him the words 'Help me' but... why?" the blonde-haired boy grunted, ruffling his hair in frustration.

Haruka let out a short chuckle, "That's why..."

Confused, Renjun averted his gaze onto her, "Why what?"

"That's why I've been seeing her after school a lot, hours when almost all students went home except the Student Council... Ahn Yura was blackmailing her..." Haruka recalled, remembering what she overheard a few days ago.

Haruka was ready to go home, thinking about stopping by the convenience store for a bit when she heard an argument coming from one of the classrooms, specifically, the council room.

Her eyebrows knitted in confusion, knowing well that Haruki's friends have already gone home or either went to each other's house again. She leaned closer, trying to identify who's voice it belonged to.

Yura, she could easily recognize the detective's voice from its sensible tone. Hearing the way she provoked the student with her definitely sounded like Ahn Yura. Ears perking, she listened more, only for the conversation to stop.

Haruka moved away and hastily left, not wanting anyone to spot her eavesdropping. Glancing back quickly, she saw Hanmi walking out, looking wretched and tormented.

"Oh shit- so Hanmi was the one that told Yura our location... this is so messed up." Renjun heavily sighed, "If... Yura's preventing us from knowing more about the six victims... then maybe–"

With an unsteady voice, he made eye contact with Haruka, "Maybe she's connected to the six victims, maybe that's why! And the fact she was fired says something, right?"

"Or worse..." Haruka mumbled, "She's the killer herself."

— • • • —
I'm curious about this...

does colors of death scare you or give you chills at some point? 👀
cause damn I dreamed of something
similar to it-

-jibin