The sound of the door locking from the outside echoed.
Joan felt a wave of relief. He laid his body down on the bed, trying to endure the pain.
Sena's usual routine before leaving the house was to beat Joan, then lock him in the room so the hostage couldn't do much while he was gone.
"If only the murder hadn't happened…" Joan glanced at the table nearby. On it were food and a drink that Sena had prepared for him.
Rustle. The sound of someone moving came from outside.
Joan turned toward the window. Someone was staring at him from the other side.
"Joan…"
It all started that day, when Jo had just returned from the repair shop to fix his car. Coincidentally, his regular garage was in this area.
On the way home, he glanced at that house and remembered the rumors about the haunted house by the forest.
"Is it true? Should I check it out?"
The boy with the last name Asakura gave in to his curiosity. The house looked deserted and uninhabited, sending chills down his spine.
"This place feels so creepy… I'd better go back."
He should have turned back, but his eyes accidentally caught sight of someone—Joan, a classmate who was rumored to be dead.
"Joan, you're still alive, aren't you?"
Jo grew worried seeing his pale face and the bruises all over the body.
"Y-yeah, I'm still alive," Joan replied from behind the window.
"Come with me to the hospital," said Jo.
Joan shook his head, indicating he didn't want to go. "I'm fine."
******
The sky had gone dark as Arkhan stood in front of the police station.
He stood still, watching people come and go.
"If I turn myself in, maybe the police will find the organization… but they'll definitely still come after me to kill me."
Arkhan reconsidered what he should do next.
"Does Unknown really want me dead?"
Arkhan walked away from the station. He saw the traffic light turn green.
"Is this what he wants?" Arkhan stepped forward to cross the street.
He would've been hit by a car if someone hadn't pulled him back.
"Khan, what the hell are you doing?" said Sena angrily. "Are you deaf? Didn't you hear the horn?"
Arkhan just gave his a blank stare. "Don't worry about me."
He pulled Sena's hand off his arm.
"What's wrong with you?" Sena asked, confused.
Arkhan didn't answer. He kept walking toward his car parked in front of the police station.
"Khan." Sena snatched the car keys from his hand.
"There's a satay stall I always go to nearby. Let's go there and talk while we eat."
Sena immediately dragged Arkhan away from the area. Not far from there, they found a small roadside stall, the aroma of grilled meat tempting their senses.
They sat across from each other on wooden benches.
"Are you going through something or trying to die? Who crosses when the light's green?" Sena teased.
"Nothing," Arkhan replied, turning his face away.
"Why would you want to die? Don't you still have family?" Sena took a bite of the satay in front of him.
"Your family would be devastated. Don't make reckless decisions," he continued, trying to make him think.
"I-I just didn't see the red light," Arkhan lied.
"Yeah, right." Sena narrowed eyes, sensing his dishonesty.
"You're lucky, you know… at least you still have a family. Unlike me."
"What happened to you?" Arkhan asked.
"I once went on vacation with my whole family. We had so much fun playing on the beach. But on the way back, we got into an accident. Only my cousin and I survived, so we've been relying on each other ever since," Sena explained.
"Oh… I'm sorry to hear that," Arkhan said with sympathy.
"Thanks." Sena gave a faint smile in response.