The Aftermath of a Reckless Game
Kim Seokjin lay unconscious in a hospital bed, his head wrapped in bandages, his breathing shallow but steady.
The room smelled of antiseptic, the soft beeping of machines filling the silence.
Outside, detectives gathered.
Yeon Woo crossed her arms, her jaw tight as she glanced through the glass window.
"Why would he do this?"
She turned to the officer beside her.
"Is he awake?"
The officer nodded. "He's conscious, but he's weak. Should we proceed with the interrogation?"
Yeon Woo took a deep breath. This wasn't just about Seokjin anymore.
This was about Hye Jin.
And more importantly—
Han Seo Jun.
---
Interrogation Room: Seokjin's Confession
Seokjin sat in a plain white room, IV still attached to his arm, his lips dry and cracked.
Yeon Woo placed a recorder on the table.
"Kim Seokjin, let's make this simple," she said. "Why did you go live that night? You knew it was dangerous."
Seokjin laughed weakly.
"That's exactly why I did it."
She frowned. "Explain."
He leaned back, his eyes dark.
"People love drama, detective. They love a good story. If I had caught the psychopath live on camera… imagine the views."
Yeon Woo's fingers curled into a fist.
"This isn't a game, Seokjin."
"No," he murmured. "But it's art. And I wanted to see her up close. I wanted to see what she would do if she knew she was being watched."
Silence.
Yeon Woo's mind raced.
Her.
He confirmed it.
The psychopath was a woman.
She stared at him. "And you're sure it was her?"
Seokjin scoffed. "I may have been drugged, but I'll never forget those eyes."
Yeon Woo felt a chill run down her spine.
"Who do you think it is?"
Seokjin smirked.
"You already know."
---
A Dangerous Suspect
Yeon Woo left the hospital with one name burning in her mind.
Hye Jin.
But more than that—
Han Seo Jun.
Her gut told her that Seo Jun wasn't just an observer anymore.
He was involved.
And if she was right—
Hye Jin and Seo Jun together were even more dangerous than she imagined.
---
The Live Execution
That night, the entire internet exploded.
A live stream started from Seokjin's phone.
The screen was dark, glitchy.
Then—a masked figure appeared.
The mask was featureless, smooth, almost alien-like.
In the background—Seokjin's muffled screams.
A cold, distorted voice filled the silence:
> "Tonight, I erase love. Love is an illusion. Love is a weakness. And now… it dies."
Then—a blade sliced across Seokjin's throat.
Blood splattered.
The screen flickered.
And then—black.
The video ended.
---
The Police Scramble
Yeon Woo's phone rang immediately.
"FIND HER. TRACE THE LOCATION."
The police worked fast, tracking the signal, scanning CCTV cameras.
Seokjin's address popped up.
They rushed to his apartment, breaking down the door—
And there he was.
Dead.
But something was wrong.
The body was already cold.
Yeon Woo's eyes widened.
"This wasn't live."
It was a pre-recorded video.
She clenched her fists.
Hye Jin had played them.
---
A Perfect Alibi
Meanwhile…
Hye Jin and Seo Jun sat in a movie theater, watching an action film.
Seo Jun leaned back, eating popcorn. "You think they've found the body yet?"
Hye Jin smiled, sipping her soda.
"Probably."
They turned their heads.
Min Jae and Yeon Woo stood at the entrance, frozen.
Their faces were pale—filled with fear, confusion, and disbelief.
Yeon Woo marched up to them.
"Where were you?" she demanded.
Hye Jin blinked. "What?"
Min Jae's voice shook. "Kim Seokjin is dead. Murdered. And we saw the video go live."
Hye Jin's eyes widened in fake shock.
"That's… horrible."
Seo Jun frowned. "Wait, are you saying we did it?"
Yeon Woo gritted her teeth.
"I don't believe in coincidences."
Hye Jin's voice was calm.
"You're saying that while standing in a movie theater with CCTV cameras that show we've been sitting here for hours?"
Min Jae's hands curled into fists.
Yeon Woo's stomach dropped.
She rushed out of the theater, pulled up the CCTV footage, and watched.
There they were.
Hye Jin and Seo Jun.
Sitting in their seats.
At the exact time of the murder.
She replayed it. Again. And again.
The timeline didn't match.
They had perfect alibis.
She felt sick.
"How the hell did they pull this off?"
---
Doubt and Deception
Back at the theater, Min Jae's voice shook with anger.
"She's playing all of you."
Yeon Woo sighed.
She turned back to Hye Jin.
"I'm sorry."
Hye Jin smiled sweetly. "I know it's your job to suspect people, but… you should be careful. You might end up chasing the wrong person."
Yeon Woo walked away, but deep inside—her gut still screamed.
Something was wrong.
But without proof, she was helpless.
As she left, Hye Jin and Seo Jun exchanged a glance.
Seo Jun smirked.
Hye Jin whispered, "Your move, detective."
And the game continued.
---
To Be Continued…