The Officer
Horrifyingly SHINee: A Collection
Minho had been living in the same apartment complex for almost his entire university career. Nothing out of the ordinary ever happened there, or rather he never noticed.
The young student didn't have time to waste, his seven years preparing to be a doctor wasn't going to be for nothing. So it didn't surprise him when he got in the elevator one night, that the person who followed him on didn't look familiar.
The man had dark hair and wore dark clothing, but that was all he noticed. Not that he could say much considering his outfit was much the same. They both said nothing, choosing to stand in opposite corners of the small metal box.
Minho had a fleeting moment of uncertainty when the elevator stopped on his floor and both he and the unknown man got off.
They both walked down the hall, stopping next to twin doors.
The man gave him a brief nod before pulling a key chain out of his pocket and unlocking the door.
Minho's keys were already in his hands, and something in the back of his mind told him to throw the deadbolt as soon as the door closed behind him.
Tossing his bag by the corner desk, Minho his stereo and cranked it up.
He debated over left over rice and kimchi or left over rice and kimchi. Doing a sniff test, he tossed one container and started to warm up the other. Next door his neighbour a slasher movie. Envious of what sounded like a fantastic sound system, Minho turned up the volume to drown the sound out.
Then he ate, making a face at the should have been out of date food, and deciding to do his homework the next day, went to bed.
He slept fitfully, blaming the food when he finally dragged himself out of bed at eight am. Which frankly was way too early for a Saturday.
He had just started on his essay when there was a knock at his door.
Deciding he was comfy, he elected to shout instead of answer the door. Anyone important would have text before coming over.
"Who's there?"
"It's the police." The voice made Minho freeze.
"Hold on I'll be right there!" He shouted, shoving things off him.
"No worries sir, I just have a quick question."
Minho settled, it was a good thing his apartment was small. "Anything." He called back.
"Did you notice anything strange in the building last night? Anyone maybe?"
Minho thought about it, except for the man in the elevator he didn't notice anything. He debated mentioning him, but decided against it.
He didn't know his neighbours anyways and really didn't want to get involved with anything that could take time away from his important study time.
"I wasn't home most of the night, I had class and when I got home I just ate and went to bed." A flash of guilt went through him, like there was something he should mention but he just wasn't.
"Nothing at all?" The voice was determined, almost dangerous sounding making Minho relieved at his decision.
"No, nothing."
"Alright then, sorry to disturb you this morning. Have a good day." Foot steps signalled the police officer's retreat.
Shrugging, Minho thought about the weirdness of it for a moment before getting back into essay writing.
He didn't emerge the entire weekend and when Monday rolled around, he decided that even though he didn't have class he would go out. A reward was in order for not getting distracted and actually finishing the essay a week before it was due.
Throwing on a sweater and stepping into his shoes, Minho opened his apartment door to find a huge collection of police officers and paramedics.
Staring at the confusion that was just outside his door, Minho stopped short.
He was just about to give up on his outing and go back into hiding, when he was spotted by a paramedic who pointed him out to an officer.
"Excuse me son." The officer said, holding out his badge and identifying himself, "Do you live here?"
Minho nodded, wondering how he had missed their arrival, contributing it to his extra long shower that morning.
"Can I speak with you a moment?"
Confused Minho agreed and led the officer into his apartment.
"Can you tell me what you were doing Friday night?"He glanced around Minho's tiny home.
Still confused and feeling like something wasn't quite right, Minho answered the question the same way he had Saturday morning."Just like I told the officer Saturday morning."
"Saturday morning?" Shock infiltrated the officer's voice
"Yeah, when the first police officer came asking if I heard anything Friday night."
"Can you wait just one moment please?" Clearly it wasn't really a question, so Minho just nodded.
A few moments later, he reappeared. "No officer spoke to you Saturday morning, there was no one even in this vicinity until this morning when the landlady called saying that your neighbour hadn't showed up to pay his rent and she thought something was wrong."
Minho felt all the blood drain from his face.
"What did the officer ask you? What did he look like?"
"I don't know, he told me not to bother opening the door." Minho felt stupid now, "He just asked the same questions you did, was anything not normal."
He thought of the man in the elevator.
This time, he told the officer in front of him what had happened.
Taking a deep breath, the officer spoke slowly, looking Minho directly in the eyes. "Well son, I do believe you are incredibly lucky."
"Why?" He sure didn't feel it at the moment.
"Recently there has been a spike in murders in the area. It hasn't been publicised so not to cause panic, but sometimes anywhere between and three apartments on a floor in a building like them, have had all their occupants found murdered."
"What?" Minho gasped, staring in horror at the man in front of him.
"We believe it to be the work of a single man. He picks a building and an apartment, entering it late at night, killing everyone inside before returning the next morning to question the direct neighbours."
Minho remembered the man next door, how he hadn't looked at Minho once while on the elevator.
"Then what?"
"If the neighbour answers the door and recognizes him or says they heard or saw something, he kills them. So far only one other person has escaped the man with his life. Both of you only talked to him through your door."
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Happy Halloween!
I say it today since I'm celebrating it today, but to all of you who celebrated yesterday, I hope it was a happy day too!
Did anyone catch the hint that someone was being murdered in the apartment next door?
Comments, questions, ideas?
Until tomorrow!
Kat
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