As the streetlight reached the end of its life, it flickered and then surrendered to darkness. Hyun-seong trailed behind Detective Ahn and Detective Kim, his breath barely audible in the quiet night.
Within the GPS-marked circle, seven low-rise buildings loomed, devoid of any signs of life. Their shadows cast an eerie atmosphere over the deserted streets, reminiscent of a ghost town frozen in time.
Detective Ahn led the way, his flashlight cutting through the darkness like a beacon. With a silent gesture, he signaled for them to proceed, the anticipation palpable in the air.
The rusty latch of the weathered glass door groaned as it reluctantly gave way, adding to the unsettling ambiance of the abandoned building they entered. Its interior had already been explored once, yet it remained shrouded in mystery, devoid of any signs of recent human activity.
Ascending the stairs, they moved with caution, each step carefully measured to minimize any noise. The building comprised five floors, each one holding its secrets within the darkness.
Detective Ahn, wielding a taser gun with practiced ease, scanned the upper floor with a vigilant eye, his expression grave with purpose. He gestured for silence, his index finger pressed against his lips, halting Detective Kim and Hyun-seong in their tracks.
With bated breath, they listened, straining to catch any sound amidst the oppressive silence. And then, a faint whisper reached their ears, barely discernible but unmistakably human, emanating from the top floor.
Se-young’s eyes narrowed with determination as he signaled to Detective Kim, a silent command to retreat to the first floor and radio their colleagues for backup.
“Got it,” Detective Kim responded with a tight-lipped nod, his actions swift and purposeful as he retrieved a walkie-talkie from his pocket before disappearing down the stairs, his movements urgent yet executed with a practiced quietude.
Left alone with Hyun-seong, Se-young’s gaze met his in the dimness of their surroundings, a silent understanding passing between them. With a nod from Se-young, Hyun-seong proceeded cautiously, following his lead as they ascended towards the fifth floor.
As they drew closer, the voice from beyond the firmly closed door grew clearer, uttering a familiar name: “Kang Jin-won…!”
Though muffled by the barrier, the recognition sparked a cold fury within Hyun-seong, a sense of betrayal cutting through the stillness of the night.
Sensing his tumultuous emotions, Se-young exchanged a meaningful glance with Hyun-seong, his hand subtly motioning for restraint. They both knew that patience was their strongest ally until reinforcements arrived.
Suppressing the urge to confront the source of their anger head-on, Hyun-seong held back, his resolve tempered by the icy calm of their surroundings, enveloped in a tense silence that hung thick in the air.
***
Simultaneously, within the confines of the office, Jin-won meticulously lit the third candle, its flickering flame casting dancing shadows against the heavy blackout curtains, ensuring no sliver of light escaped to the outside world.
Yi-soo remained bound to the chair, her eyes locked in a steely glare directed at Jin-won. It had been at least seven long hours since she had regained consciousness, the passage of time a murky blur in the darkness of the room. Dawn or morning remained indistinguishable to her.
With a deft flick of his lighter, Jin-won ignited the wick, casting a dim glow across the room as he rummaged through the black bag nearby. Inside lay a meager assortment of provisions—bottles of water and some bread. He offered a bottle to Yi-soo, his tone almost casual.
“Ah, open your mouth.”
Despite the bottle hovering near her lips, Yi-soo remained resolute, her refusal to yield evident in her unwavering gaze. Deprived of sleep and sustenance for hours, her defiance remained steadfast, showing no inclination to accept whatever liquid he offered.
Observing her defiance, Jin-won chuckled softly before settling into a nearby chair, his demeanor shifting from casual to unsettlingly affectionate as he regarded Yi-soo with an eerie intensity.
“You really won’t eat? You’ll be in big trouble if you keep resisting like this.”
“Stop talking nonsense and untie me right now.”
“Your words seem to be getting shorter… Unfortunately, I can’t untie you just yet. It’s a simple promise, but you’re not as rational as I thought. Are you the type who prioritizes pride like your dead sister?”
The mention of her sister ignited a fierce response within Yi-soo, her composure wavering momentarily as she defended her honor.
“You… dare not mention her name in your mouth.”
Despite the mental fortitude that had sustained her thus far, Yi-soo’s endurance was tested in the oppressive darkness, the isolation and uncertainty pushing her perilously close to her breaking point.
It wasn’t just the suffocating darkness that sent shivers down Yi-soo’s spine; it was the looming presence of her captors, each one possessing the chilling authority to end her life at any given moment.