#Case032 – 「Runaway II」

“Let me go!!”

Soojung was frantic in fear. She randomly punched the person that had taken her by force with her remaining energy in her body.

She didn’t want to die.

Especially if she been killed by Kim Himchan.

“You monster!!” Soojung yelled as she felt a pair of arm caught her tightly until her head stumbled onto her attacker’s chest. Her hands were now been trapped – and she even didn’t have much energy left to push the figure away.

All she could do was to cry; and hope for a miracle to shine upon her.

“Soojung sshi!” The grip became much tighter than before. “Please put yourself together!”

Soojung stunned. This voice...

It wasn’t Himchan’s voice.

“It’s me.” The man then released Soojung’s frail figure and faced her. He took away his cap just to make Soojung could clearly see him.

And as soon she saw the visage – she couldn’t help but to surprise.

“It’s me, Moon Jongup.”

Soojung’s eyes bulged. It seems that there was a miracle despite all that happened. She then quickly hugged Jongup tightly and cried as much as she wanted to.

 “Jongup sshi. I’m so scared...”

Jongup stiffened by Soojung’s sudden reaction upon knowing who he was. But then, he slowly patted Soojung’s back before broke the hug.

As their business wasn’t over yet.

“We need to go-“

TAP

“I got you.”

A sudden attack came from Himchan’s dagger made Jongup swiftly pushed Soojung away. The attack was so close to them; and he knew better that their hideout wasn’t safe anymore.

“What just-“ Soojung was totally turned speechless.  There wasn’t any voice could came out from her parted lips as she finally could see Himchan from afar – coming near to them – and realized back to their current situation.

“Let’s go!” Jongup hurriedly took Soojung’s hand in order for them to run away from their death.

Grim Reaper.

Himchan ran in his fast speed towards the direction which he threw his dagger and he suddenly could felt his blood boiling in rage as soon as his eyes captured another figure beside Soojung.

He clenched his fists. A name soon entered his mind.

“Moon Jongup.”

It’s his game with Soojung; and one more person would be just nice to fit in for entertain him; as he really want another player in his hell game.

The more, the merrier.

Moreover, he hadn’t finished his last game successfully.

He smirked. It seems that Jongup had even tried to be knight in shining armor for Soojung – and he couldn’t let both of them get out from his game alive.

No. He won’t let that happen.

“How lucky.”

SCREECH

In the distance, there were many cars entered the basement parking inside Lotte Mall through Gate D with its siren sounds echoed the whole area; and the whole scene were already beamed by the red lights.

One by one car were soon filled the area, and with a black sedan car right in the front to lead all of them. All of the cars then parked their own car in any empty spots in the parking area after the black car stopped in the midway – as a lifeless figure could be seen from afar.

“Oh my goodness.”

Gunwoo came out from his black sedan together with Mr. Han beside him. He quickly ran towards the bruised physique just to meet an enormous bad odor lingering in the air.

Blood’s strong scent.

Gunwoo moved several steps forward; up until he found a girl lying down on the cold floor. Her face was really pale; and her dress was drenched with blood.

Her own blood.

Gunwoo took out a handkerchief from his shirt and closed and nose with it as he made another steps closer towards the body. Besides looking towards her, he was also eyeing for anything suspicious near her.

He found nothing.

The package was gone.

He shifted his eyes towards the new Madman’s victim that he could easily tell by the killing way that he had did to most of his victims and then there was something struck his mind.

This girl. He knew her.

“Song Jieun?”

“Perfect!” Himchan clapped his hands while eyeing both Soojung and Jongup in awe. He sniffed out and smirked. “What a surprise to see you again, Moon Jongup.”

Jongup softly pushed Soojung behind him before he faced Himchan. “It’s also a surprise to see you again, Madman.”

Himchan scoffed. The boy in front of him was quite different from before after all, as he could see the sparkle in Jongup’s eyes.

Maybe Jaekyung’s death had changed him after all.

“Well...” Himchan then stepped closer towards Jongup with most careful. “...you should die in the first place, Jongup ahh.”

As soon as he finished his sentences, he lurched forward towards Jongup with his dagger tightly in his grip. Meanwhile, Jongup as if ready for any attack; he swiftly held Himchan’s wrist hard, and he even put more force to simply pushed Himchan away with all his might.

But, Himchan wasn’t an easy person that Jongup could win over. Himchan was also trying his best to pierce his dagger into Jongup’s flesh – as he should die.

“DIE!!!”

As Jongup felt an enormous energy came from Himchan; he held up one of his feet and kicked Himchan’s stomach, which finally made him stumbled backwards.

And his dagger was finally free from his grip.

Himchan cursed under his breath. He spit out blood from his mouth before glanced towards Jongup with hatred. “You rotten child! Is this how you repay me?”

Jongup panted heavily. His shoulders were heaved up and down. But he still could manage to glance towards Soojung – and he could see terror in her eyes.

“I know that I owe you a lot of things – but my soul, my life isn’t one of the options to repay you back, Himchan sshi.”

Himchan snorted. “Who cares with your life...” Then, he shot a hateful look towards the trembled Soojung. “...and her too? Both of you guys are parentless; and I’m the one who took care of you. This beast.”

Himchan hitted his own chest to indicate him as the beast that he referred to. He knew more than anyone else how he could turn into this form – Madman.

“So, I’ll kill both of you!!!!”

Himchan was just about to take back his dagger and attack Soojung when Jongup had already aware of his tactics; and even made the first move to stop him.

Blood splatted.

A groan could be vividly heard in Soojung’s ears.

She opened her eyes slowly. The dagger; it had somehow succeed to taste blood again as it pierced through Jongup’s left arm.

“Jongup sshi!!!!”

“Argh.”

“Next turn.” Himchan turned to face Soojung that was still stood by leaning her back to the wall while made small steps backwards as her legs started to malfunction.

“Is you, Jung Soojung.”

Soojung’s tear could once again escaped her eyes, right before Jongup kicked Himchan hard from behind and made him fell down. Soojung almost screamed upon the scene that she witnessed when Jongup once again took her hands and led them away from Himchan.

As far...as possible.

Soojung felt the wind softly touched her bare skin and with her hand clasped tightly in Jongup’s hand – her eyes could capture several light beams from afar.

Red light.

“Will these are still the light that shines upon us?” She silently whispered a prayer in her heart. “I need your mercy. Please save us.”

“Detective Lee?” Mr. Han held Gunwoo’s shoulder which made Gunwoo flinched for a bit. Mr. Han had already eyed Gunwoo’s behavior ever since he looked towards the body and found out that there was something had somehow bothered his officer.

“Are you okay?”

Gunwoo weakly nodded. “Yes, I am. But...maybe no for someone else.”

Mr. Han couldn’t help but to furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. “Who is it?”

Gunwoo opened his mouth slightly to say something before one of his subordinates came between him and Mr. Han.

“Detective Lee! We’d found two injured people!”

Gunwoo and Mr. Han looked to one another and exchanged glances. Then, Gunwoo turned his focus back towards the person. “Where are them?”

“Here. Let me show you.” His subordinates then escorted him to some way through several police cars before he’d saw two figures from afar.

They’re badly injured; he could tell it. But what even made him surprised was when his eyes fell onto Soojung’s face.

“Jung Soojung sshi!” Gunwoo quickly walked to her and he could see her blood that drenched almost her whole right shoulder. “What happened?”

Soojung gave a weary smile while looking towards Gunwoo. “I’d just encountered with the greatest thing in my life.”

“Don’t say that...you’d encounter him?” Gunwoo eyed Soojung with concern. “Madman?”

Suddenly, there was a loud moan near him and Soojung which made them turned to see the person’s condition.

And, another surprise for Gunwoo.

“Moon Jongup sshi?” Gunwoo gasped as soon as he looked towards Jongup’s left arm. But then, his mind could recite something.

“You don’t need to know me. Please hurry.”

“No wonder....”

“Detective Lee.” Soojung suddenly tugged Gunwoo’s jacket to obtain his attention. “I really need to tell you this. Madman is actually-“

“Jung Soojung sshi. Enough with the talk.” Gunwoo held Soojung’s hands and smiled reassuringly. “You need to go to hospital. And so Jongup sshi too.”

“But-“

“You two!” Gunwoo called for two of his subordinates that were walking towards him. “Bring them to hospital now.”

“Yes, Detective!”

Gunwoo sighed. He took deep breathe before he scanned his surroundings. The police’s forensic team had already arrived – and Jieun’s body had been sent to mortuary for autopsy.

“Detective Lee!”

Gunwoo shifted his eyes towards his friend, Mr. Han. “So, how was it? Found him already?”

Mr. Han panted heavily and let out a sigh. “I’d just receive the report from both of the Team...and seems that he’d successfully escaped.”

Gunwoo clenched his fist tighter; and even his face swelled with anger.

“Damn you, Madman!”

A big splash of water were splattered almost everywhere near him as soon as he raised his face from the sink; but he didn’t even bother of it, even for a bit.

He looked towards his reflection on the plane mirror. His eyes focused towards his facial appearances, before it ran down until his bruised abdomen that could be seen clearly after he’d open his bloody shirt.

“What a brat.” He scoffed and then shifted his gaze to a package near him.

His hand slowly took a suit and also a necktie that came along in pair from the package. He smirked.

“I never thought that she will have such a great taste in this after all.”

He wore it carefully on his body and buttoned it as neatly as he could. Then, he took the necktie and swiftly tied it across his collar. Then, with his own hands he combed his messed hair and once again; he looked towards his image on the mirror.

A memory replayed in his mind.

He saw how the girl that once was her girlfriend simply pushing the love of his life like she was garbage. And he even witnessed it right from his car’s black box; the part where the girl that he loved the most been attacked mercilessly.

And those reasons...were more than enough for him to kill her.

He then took a dagger that he’d cleaned it before with his sparkling eyes. He sniffed the metal part of the dagger before he put it into a paper bag from his latest suit just now.

“It’s all indeed her fault...” He patted his own shoulder. “Why she even harassing my precious Eunhwa in the first place?”

He once again smirked. And he made his final touch; he wore his sunglasses on.

“It’s okay.” He looked towards his own reflection. “You already did a great job, Kim Himchan.”

Gunwoo searched almost everywhere for him – Madman – as he didn’t ever want to let go of the serial killer for the n^th time, when he’d even near him for this time.

He must capture him no matter what.

And he would send him away to the jail by his own hands.

He walked pass several store and duty-free shops but to his dismay, he found nothing. As give up had never existed in his life, he held his walkie-talkie closer to his mouth.

“Team Alpha. Team Alpha. Have you found him yet?”

A buzz sounds could be heard for a second before a reply came in.

“Team Alpha speaking. We’ve not found someone like him so far.”

Gunwoo cursed. Just how Madman could simply run away – when the police had already occupied every exit space of this mall?

He massaged his temples; tried to figure out where Madman would be hiding.

KTAK

“Lee Gunwoo.”

“Kim Himchan.” Right at that moment he set his eyes on Himchan that came out from the washroom, Jieun’s dead body image straightly entered Gunwoo’s mind.

And he couldn’t see the surprised reaction on Himchan’s face.

Meanwhile, Himchan simply put the paper bag in his grip to his back so it could be hidden from Gunwoo’s sight before he smiled. “What are you doing here?”

Gunwoo’s face slightly stiffened as his eyes were looking to Himchan’s face.

It was hard for him to say it.

“I’d several things to do here. But, Himchan.” Gunwoo halted his sentence for a second. Then, he sighed. “I need to tell you something.”

Himchan raised his eyebrow. What was it could be? “Sure. You know that you can tell me everything, don’t you?”

Gunwoo nodded. “Firstly, I’m sorry.”

Himchan stunned as soon as he heard Gunwoo’s apology to him.

“Gunwoo ahh...it isn’t your fault.”

“Song Jieun. She is your girlfriend right?”

Himchan simply nodded. He eyed Gunwoo carefully while his grip to the paper bag had been tightened.

“So, they’d found her.”

“Yes, she is.” Himchan answered innocently. “Why- I mean do you meet her by chance before? I know that she could be boastful at times, but she is-“

“Kim Himchan.” Gunwoo cut Himchan’s sentences. His expression seems depressed; and even his stern eyes were glistening.

But he had to...tell his friend about it either now...or later.

He had no choice.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why you keep saying sorry? I’d said before-“

“She’s found dead in basement parking area Gate D, Level 2. She’s becoming the latest victim of Madman.”

TAK

Himchan’s grip loosened; and made the paper bag fell onto the ceramic tiles of the mall with a thud. He looked shock, and remained speechless for several seconds.

“Wh-what did you say? Gunwoo yah...” Himchan then held both Gunwoo’s shoulders and shook it. “She’s dead?!”

Gunwoo once again nodded. And his gaze fell. “I’m sorry.”

Himchan stood rooted to the ground while tears were beginning to roll down his cheeks, leaving glistening trails mapping a full extent of his sadness.

His fake tears.

“It can’t be true...” Himchan tried to hold himself. “Why her? After Sooyeon – why must Jieun? Why?”

Gunwoo muted himself and could just look towards Himchan who was already on his knee and let out silent sobs. Soon, Gunwoo hugged Himchan and his back; as he felt guilty as he was the one who to be put in blame for every Himchan’s tears.

Gunwoo knew better that he was determined to capture Madman – more than anyone else – as he didn’t want Himchan in such despair once again – but it was too late.

It’s just...too late.

Himchan hugged Gunwoo’s tighter and continued his act with his copious tears keeps streamed down his cheeks. And without Gunwoo realized; a smirk formed on Himchan’s face in between his tears.

As he’s actually happy...that Jieun was dead.

His marionette was gone, in his own hands.

Petite_Star's Corner : Feel free to give comments for this chapter. Thank you~ :)

And in this chapter, there wasn't any Eunhwa's part - I know; but this chapter was actually focused on Soojung and Jongup's runaway from Madman to be frank xP

So, here is the answer for each and every questions lingering around the last chapter~

Do it excites you so far? Or even it bring you some nightmares already?

However, this journey are still having a long way to go, so please bear with it ne? xD

Thanks for your love and supports all these times, dear my lovely readers! *hugs*