As we still have a few minutes until midnight. Everyone runs back leaving Mina alone in the swimming pool, Kyungjun holds my wrist as Seungbin and Jinha follows.
"Go hide somewhere else!"
He pulls me from the arm as we run leaving Seungbin and Jinha behind. We pass many hallways, "hey, is this place far? It's too reckless then!" Kyungjun ignores my call and still climbs through the stairs one floor after another as I frown and try to catch my breath and follow him from behind and keep up with his speed at the same time.
'We won't be there on time!'
We arrived at the roof's door. I go inside as I see no cabinet or old closet, but just a big space. I scowl as I turn back to look at him while my heart speeds up.
'Did he trick me?'
He shut the roof door with a force as it gets slowly closed by the moving metals attached, "fuck." he slides his hand through his front pocket "fuck." then his shirt's pocket as he searches for something. "fuck!"
School bell rings*
I notice the edge of a white card from his pocket as I see his body fall to the ground, and my eyes shut close.
beep*
I open my eyes and wake up in one swift move, I check my body then sigh in relief as I hear the sound of birds. I raise my hand to cover my face from the burning sun. Yesterday's midnight, my heart dropped and fear took all over me, blinding my vision thinking Kyungjun were a mafia for a second. I totally forgot he voted Wooram out for a second.
I look around to see where Kyungjun is, and I find him in front of the door laying down.
"Oh, no, no, no!"
I quickly run to him as I kneel and run my hands through his body to see any blood or injuries, then stop as I lock eyes with him smirking.
"Are you done yetــ ouch!"
I smack a vital point over his chest, Of course I learnt it for my writings.
"How did you make it in time?" I drop my body further to the ground and I feel the wrinkles over my forehead.
Kyungjun doesn't answer as he stares at the sky.
"I didn't."
"But the door is locked, right?" I check the door, "That's weird." then check him again, "Anyways, I owe you. Thank you."
"Of course fucking you are."
As soon as I hear him swearing my smile drops as I remember his personality.
"Let's meet the others. Move."
"The morning comes."
"Shin Seungbin was executed by the mafia."
"Shin Seungbin was a citizen."
"The doctors have used their skills on Beak Eunha before midnight."
Kyungjun got straight away as he tried so hard to conceal what I have readen from his face in one second just before.
Sadness, confusion, mixed with fear.
He pulls the white card closer to the automatic lock as we hear the sound of it opening, pushes the doors wide open that it hits the sidewalls and dash downstairs as I follow behind.
My shoes squeak as I stop just round the corner and join the crowd. I go next to Eunha as she walks to me the moment I meet her, we both stand in a meeting point as we face the scene ahead, Shin Seungbin laying on the floor inside the arcade room. I cover my heart with my left hand.
"Hey!" Yeonwoo walks to Jinha as he comes in much, much later with his top nowhere to be seen. "Did you kill him?"
"It wasn't me. I didn't kill him." Jinha pleaded. "When I woke up this morning, that's how I found him next to me."
No one says a thing in return.
"It wasn't me!... Really! it wasn't me."
After a while, I follow Yoonseo inside as she studies the details of the scene, she takes pictures of footsteps and then Seungbin again. She kneels after she is done with her phone and presses a few times over his body and sees the few stabs over his stomach. I grimace.
I wait for her to finish as I sit over my knees beside her. As soon as she goes outside, I cover Seungbin with the cotton white sheet in my hands as I tap over his shoulders with the tip of my fingers gently and mumble, "sleep well."
I stand up to go outside and meet Yeonwoo and Eunchan, "you guys are okay?"
"We're fine," Eunchan says as I feel from his tone that there is a but. "We saw Jinha this morning in the bathroom, he was washing his shirt off from blood in a hurry."
"You did?"
"Yes, I was there too!" Yeonwoo speaks.
I look at the ground as I hear Yoonseo next to us as she speaks to Jeongwon, "Seungbin was stabbed a few times when he was killed, why take it that far?"
"Don't talk about that, no one wants to know or hear these things during these times. Come on, let's go." She grabs her arm as Yoonseo continues, "I think he was stabbed even after death. This is morbid!"
"Let's go." Jeongwon slowly pulls her away from the scene.
"I'm leaving too. Where are you going Yoonhwa?" Yeonwoo asks when they notice me not following them, "you guys meet Eunha first, I have a thing to do."
"Fine. If you're in danger, text us!" Eunchan raises his voice as we get farther from each other.
"Okay! And stay away from the main kitchen's food! Eat only processed food for now."
"Will do!"
'If Jinha is really the mafia. Why would he still be cleaning the evidence till morning? Till we are all awake? He should have done that already since he has a good six hours for him to complete whatever he's completing. It doesn't make any sense.'
I go back to the roof and stand across the edge line of what separates the stair's landing tread and the rooftop area. I touch the door's handle and move the door away from touching the sidewalls to close it as I witness its front panel.
I notice traces of multiple failed attempts of intrusion. Huge sharp lines that are marked over the door, 'What weapon is this?' The locker's left upper edge is fractured and broken and spots of mud of shoeprints are shown as well.
'Wow, someone really wanted to kill me badly.'
'Or Kyungjun.'
'Or both. All are understandable.'
My body shivers as I pull my phone and take pictures. I'm a fast-learner after all. I learned a thing or two from Yoonseo.
'Yoonseo if we end up in the same class again, I will vote for you as a class president.'
After I finish, I search for both Kyungjun and Jinha as I see them going to Jinha's dorm room to grab another shirt to wear.
"May I come in?" I knock at the opened door.
"I really didn't do it!"
I can see Jinha is in a panicked state as he circles around. Once he sees me he heads straight to me, but is blocked by Kyungjun's arm to stay near him instead.
"Seungbin was dead in a blood pool. Then my body was covered in blood. I was shocked."
"It really wasn't you?"
"No!"
Jinha bites his nails as he looks at us, "They look like they were suspecting me, right?"
"Righـــ
"In this game, everyone doubts the others." I cut off Kyungjun. "Don't pay it attention. Just focus on coming out clean."
"What should I do now, Yoonhwa?"
"We can search for a proof."
"Can you find a proof?" Kyungjun asks.
"Where Seungbin is, there are bloody footsteps that probably have your shoe marks." I look at Jinha.
"I swear I didn't do it!"
"When there is a murder, it takes time for a body to form a pool of blood. I doubt the killer would stick enough for it to happen. Normal people would feel ashamed or guilty especially the more they are closer to the victim, making them leave as soon as they're done. By this logic, you should not have stepped over the blood pool back then leaving marks behind. Of course, that's only one narrow potential out of many."
"I like it! Makes perfect sense! Now, tell the others the same thing!"
"What if he was there long enough for it to happen?" Kyungjun asks in a flat tone.
"Then he would be a madman who enjoys secret power displays. Which isn't Jinha's personality at all."
"Jinha, bring me back my lighter."
"Huh? Yes! Yes, And you guys don't stop thinking, okay?"
Jinha leaves the room in a hurry to search for Kyungjun's lighter, the same lighter I see in kyungjun hands right now. Kyungjun lights a cigarette and takes his leisure time for that long inhale.
"You buy that shits you just said?" he blows the smoke out, "Fuck's sake, cut the crab in front of me."
"You are right, I don't."
"Then why waste your fucking time with this bullshit?"
"Because even though I don't fully know his identity, I still believe in him. Do you really think he would be able to do that? The killer stabbed Seungbin multiple times!"
Kyungjun breathes in his cigarette once more. "And your proof is what? what again you just said, right now?" he snaps his fingers in the air to try and remember in mockery then sneers. "That's right, his personality." he stops then continue, "Pretty much fucking convincing." He blows out another smoke. "The others might believe that shit though based on their dumb asses."
I sigh and then walk towards Kyungjun one step after another, getting closer to him while not looking away from his eyes and neither does he. I take the cigarettes from his mouth as he still parts his lips slightly and stares at me waiting for my next move. I stub it into the desk's surface he is leaning on and say, "if you don't care so much about Jinha's case as you act, then why would you be so nervous to the point you end up pulling your cigarettes?"
He doesn't reply as his eyes almost flicker.
"That's aside, check this."
I show him pictures of the rooftop door. He straightens up his position and grabs my phone with focus as he knits his brows and zooms in."They are from the rooftop door as you can see, these shoe marks have different drawings than the ones next to Seungbin's."
***
"So you are telling us you guys found these footprints in the rooftop's door?? Yeonwoo asks as he checks the photo in the picture again.
"Yes, high chance the mafia left his footprints when the light was so weak and dim, I bet they didn't notice the faint mud footprints as it was night time."
I say as we all gather for our first meeting of today. Everyone starts to check the photos in the picture one by one as they take turns back to their seats once they're done.
"What if it's an old print?" Junhee asks.
"Who else would make sure to break a door in the middle of the night in the retreat centre?" I replied back.
"What about if someone did it just to open the door for a better hideout?" Eunha asks.
"Honestly," Jeongwon says, "between waking up next to a dead body and finding this print, doesn't the former serve as a more valid evidence?"
"How so?" I frown.
"Yes, we still have Yoojoon when he wakes up next to Jisoo too," Eunha adds as she secretly steals a glance over Yoojoon.
"It's not me! What about Yoonseo and her ghost dragging story? The shits are creeps."
"Then we have Jinha next to Seungbin, what a mess." Jeongwon adds as she pulls her head back.
"This fucking conversation isn't going anywhere." Kyungjun raises his voice as everyone becomes quiet.
"Everyone. Shoes off. Now."
He adds, "if you disagree, we will count this as if you have a thing to hide from us."
As we take turns for Kyungjun and Jaongwon to compare each single side of a shoe given by us in order, Eunha gives hers as she says. "Mina turned out to be a mafia last night, right? Who did she choose again?" Eunha looks at me as I try to remember.
"Next!" Kyungjun says.
Yeonwoo gives one pair of his shoes as he slides his glasses to the back,"I don't think she voted for anyone yet."
"Next!"
Eunchan gives his single shoe up in turn and stands in one leg raising the other feet from the ground. "Then we're back to a dead end again."
"Next." Jeongwon says.
'Can I tell them about how Mina told me she doubts Yoojoon, or will this open the talking direction to the point where I was with her during the kitchen time meal. Won't it be suspicious?' But does that mean that yoojoon really didn't do it? I look at Jinha's face as he bites his nails.
It's been a while since the last 'next' I decide to turn over to check the discontinuation reason.
I follow Kyungjun and Jeongwon's whereabouts with my eyes as I see them with complete focus with this specific pair they hold in their hands. They keep staring at it back and forth, between it and the picture.
Kyungjun drops it and throws a punch to the owner without further due.
"You fucker! You wanted to kill me last night, right? you motherfuck!"
He punches Dabeum again as he falls to the ground and he starts to kick him multiple times, "you scumbag! You darn mafia!" Yoonseo tries to stop him as she pulls him away, I did expect him to stop but he pushes her instead!
"Kyungjun-ah!" I say.
Thank goodness Junhee catches Yoonseo in time.
"Let's vote for him now! You are fucking finished you scum loser!"
He brings his phone up but Junhee takes it away from him, "will you keep doing whatever you want?" Kyungjun laughs instead, "give me my fucking phone right now, you piece of shit." but Junhee puts it behind his back instead as he continues with no break, "if you keep acting like this, like bossing and kicking people around according to your own whims however and whenever you want, we will vote you out. " Kyungjun glares at him then he faces the group that is gathered.
Their eyes didn't succeed in hiding the hatred and feelings of injustice at him.
Yoonseo says, "Shall you calm down now, please?"
Kyungjun gets closer and locks his eyes with hers, "This fucker's footprint," he hit Junhee's shoulder once, "was on the rooftop's door, my hide out door." hits him twice, "can you even see how fucking all of you are brainless right now?" He then pushes him one last time as Junhee tries to hold his stand and glare back.
I take the phone from Junhee's back, "I do see the footprint as quite strong evidence, I don't know what else you guys need." I look at everyone's face and continue, "if this wasn't enough then let's separate for now and meet tonight again so we have the time to think or search for better evidence."
***
"You wanted to see me?" Kyungjun came inside the room after I texted him in a private chat.
I met him after half an hour from this morning's meeting. I stride to him and raise my both arms in the air as I give him a good push to the back aiming on his shoulders.
"Have you crazy bitch finally lost your mind?"
"Just wanted to give it a try to know why you like hitting people so much. Now that I have done it. It does feel good."
"Yoonhwa!"
"Kyungjunah!"
I breathe in, "If I was the game master I would definitely pick you as a citizen because I know god damn well how you would do a horrible job in it,"
"I don't have time for this shit!"
"The mafia must be all joyful thanks to you, thinking of how an easy win this round must be."
I see Kyungjun back as he heads outside, "Do you even want to live?"
He stops.
"Hell yeah. It's fucking obvious.You really lost your shit."
I cross my arms, "I didn't ask if you want to survive," I lower my voice, "I asked, do you want to live?"
'After this game.'
He doesn't answer.
And I get my answer.
'How did I miss that fact since the beginning? I should have known better since I have known him since middle school. I should have connected the dots much sooner.'
"We had the upper hand with this evidence, but you just ruined our shots with it and turned it against us!"
I turn my back as I prepare to leave the place.
"From now on, don't expect me to work with you. I remember I owe you once, so don't worry about that."
I close the door behind.
From the beginning, we did have different inner motives and methods. I do want to see my family so I need to find out another proof about who to vote next. We don't know the mafia count so I'm not sure how far ahead we are in this game. Who are the participants so far?
'There's me, Eunha, Eunchan, Yeonwoo. We also have Junhee, Yoonseo, Jeongwon, and Dabeum. Then Yoojoon, Kyungjun, and Jinha. Confirmed citizens so far are me and Kyungjun. Possibly Yoonseo and Yoojoon aren't when Mina talked about them. The rest, unknown.'
I just need to find evidence for that one suspicious person who I might think is a mafia for sure. He keeps sticking out like a sore thump from the start of this game, but how can I convince the others when literally everyone is blinded by him? Even I did.
'He's a tough one.'
Let's go back to the basics, once I get too close to the picture I get so lost by the details that I forget what I am even looking at. Let's zoom out. Since the beginning, we do know that we're in a game that is set in a way that makes sure we're lost. Would the makers, from this perspective, make Jinha a mafia?
Hell no.
His simpleminded personality, and short temper will make him an excellent citizen that falls as a scapegoat shortcut win road for the mafia.
'Where am I?'
I look around as my feet take me to a further place than where I intended.
'I think I lost my way back to the cafeteria.'
I check the hallways I'm in and I think I'm on the second floor, I haven't explored that floor that much. I walk through the rooms as I open a staff room I guess randomly to check their inside, I turn on the light to check what's in to only see a bunch of other desks.
Have I seen something before I opened the light or am I seeing things?
I close the room and walk as I clap my hands behind my back once then move it all around me in the front, I press my lips as I wrinkle my chin to check another room out of little stimulation.
The small white lamp sticked inside the roof's wall in front of the entrance of each room only shed lights over the doorknob leaving the doorframes on both sides with black shadows sticking out, the windows who are covered from the inside shutters give away, whether a room is light on from the inside or off, from its gloomy dusky dim. This room's light must have been on for so long that the lights flicker, I can notice that even from the outside. It goes on and off. On and off.
On and off.
And just like the buzz insect moth that I saw on day one, letting go of the repeat doom cycles and stepping into her ruin to be burned by the fire, I decided to go in.
'Let me see what's inside.'
I put my hand on the door knob and I push it back and it opens and I step one step into the pit of black that ate the entire room. I scowl over the place and change my mind and I close the door. Then I try to open the one just next to it.
"It's locked."
I jump and turn sharply by the sudden voice I hear to find a person behind me.
"Dabeum, you scared me! From when you were here?"
I walk through the rest of the hallways as I get nearer the dead end of it. I glance over Dabeum who quietly follows me and for some reason my body aches me to run. I try to ease my nerves as I randomly go to the left and try to open a room that actually opens once I press the doorknob!
I run to the back straight away, as I scream towards Dabeun, "It's a ghost! Let's run away from here!" Then I stride backwards to the stairs. Of course there is no ghost. I just made that up to run without alarming Dabeum that I don't trust him or rubbing him off the wrong way. My body strikes it's full speed as I feel the adrenaline rush through my red heated face, the beats of my heart increase faster like tumbling drums in my chest as I feel that Dabeum isn't running with me, but running to get me.
This time I shout from the bottom of my heart as I go down the stairs to see shadows on the second floor as I look behind me for a second, I see Dabeum's tall figure stop. like a statue gawking his eyes at me between the strands of his hair that cover his face. Standing still across the stairways without even stepping in the first tread to continue his run after me. His not moving limbs mesh with the darkness that lurks the floor, diluting the lines of his body frame as it's lost and consumed by darkness.
"What's wrong?" I see Eunchan with Yeonwoo going around me as I reach the lower floor and I slow down to catch my breath for a reply, "oh! I'm so glad to see you! I'm happier than ever during my whole stay here."
I stretch my back to look sideways to find Kyungjun in the same floor far from us as he gets downstairs the moment our eyes meet with his hands in his pocket as he scoffs in annoyance and leaves.
'And now he hates the sight of me, cool.'
"Are you okay?"
"I think I am a bit tense. I keep seeing things. Where's Eunha?"
"We are heading to her at the cafeteria."
It was much later that day that I told Eunha, Eunchan and Yeonwoo to not leave each other's company for the meantime. I depart with Junhee to search for evidence as Yoonseo and Jeongwon say they have a place to check one last time together. It was time for me to face him and talk to him all alone, I can't prolong that any further.
"Any other updates?"
"Nothing so far," Junhee answers in one breath.
We go through the freezer to check the bodies for another clue out of the desperation we find ourselves in because of the current limited time we're in, always circling back to that place.
"Why would the mafia kill these people so quietly and harmlessly then suddenly go on a madman behavior for a stabbing? Same with the fingers we have seen here, Don't you find this too contrasting?"
I fight my urge to let out a disgusted sound as I reach the finger part, but I make my point reach Junhee. I walk my hands through the items around the freezer as I search for anything, a weapon, a blood that could give away a mafia's hurt or have an injury somewhere. I turn to where Junhee is from behind when he doesn't answer.
"Junhee?"
"Eh, oh. Yes, you are right. I don't really know, Yoonhwa."
I almost frown over his behavior as I don't dive in to continue my search right away, but slowly take my time and turn my back once again after I stare at him for a couple of seconds.
I go near the bodies this time, braver than the previous time to check them up close. I try not to see the face area as I consciously avoid looking into their eyes. I don't want to meet one's pleading eyes without a soul staring into me again. According to the announcement, some were mafia. Did the mafia have a fight between them again?
'Hmm, Wait, what is this?'
"Let's leave." Junhee says. After a moment of silence. I heard crisp crunches from his shoe steps and his voice much clearer. He must have turned around to my side as I gave him my back. "Yoonhwa?" He then calls me much calmer. I hear his footsteps making sweep sounds coming nearby me and I feel the chilly breeze of the room that suddenly comes as if the room temperature rapidly drops, my body's hair stands as my eye's catch this item in one's dead fist.
"Yoonhwa."
Junhee says with his cold and low voice, I don't miss the hint of unfamiliar distance.
"The place gives me the creeps." I stand in one move from my squad position so I fall towards Junhee as he holds me. "Ouch! I must have been seated for too long. I can't feel my numb legs."
"Did you find anything?" I ask as he still helps me to adjust my body and stand once again.
"No. You?" he says.
"Not a single thing, let's go meet Yoonseo and the others."
I finally step away from him and away from the horrible scene near us as well, I turn one last time towards the piles of bodies stacked over one another. Towards a certain closed fist.
"Let's go now, Yoonhwa."
"Sure."
I come across Yoonseeo, Jeongwon and I see Dabeum outside the freezer. "Anything?" Jeongwon asks us as we head out. "Except for the cold, nothing at all." I reply back. "And you?"
I honestly expect nothing as I crouch my back before the replies come but then Yoonseo surprises me. "Well," then she stops when Jeongwon and Junhee look at her. I don't miss their glances as I look back at Yoonseo, "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"
"No, it's just that,"
"Yoonseo, we just talked about this." Jeongwon says.
"No, it's fine I can lend an ear for anything right now." I glanced at her.
"Well, it's about a message I received personally,"
"What message?" I cross my arms and frown.
"It disappeared now, but it was something about finding the host."
"The host? What host?"
"I think it's maybe the game maker? Or someone in here that might lead us to the game maker?"
"That's important news, no?" I ask Jeongwon, Junhee, and Dabeum as they look at the floor or elsewhere.
'Maybe that's the hidden task and skill they once mentioned through the update announcement.'
"We didn't want to alarm the others, since you have seen exactly what happened when she told the ghost story. She almost got herself killed."
Junhee looks at me with a face that looks like he wants me to keep my mouth shut as well.
I didn't know he cares that much for Yoonseo.
"I did see a ghost," Yoonseo says, "and I saw it again when I got the key for this mission."
"Then did you get any hints about that host?" I ask her.
"No, nothing." She looks down.
"And have you found out what that key is for?"
"No, not yet."
"Then you can keep searching. You might receive messages again later about hints or I don't know, so you keep an eye on the messages and start taking screenshots of them once they pop in case they disappear again."
"Okay! I'm sure we will find a way out of here soon, I can feel it!" Yoonseo answers with determination as she lights up when she finds a new task.
"So, who will you vote for tonight?"
I ask after a moment of silence.
"Isn't it obvious? Jinha woke up next to the body." Dabeum says.
"Next to Seungbin." I correct not a second later as he catches my glare at him.
"We still need time to think." Junhee says.
"Yes," Yoonseo adds as I notice her looking at Dabeum for a second.
"If midnight time comes and Jinha's didn't come out of it with a good excuse," Jeongwon doesn't continue but I catch what she means.
"Then I will take my leave to search." I quickly nod to them as they do the same and I leave them be as I step out.
"Eunha!"
I stop in front of Eunha, Eunchan, and Yeonwoo in one of the hallways.
"Eunchan and Yeonwoo too, let's meet elsewhere more privately. I have a plan."
We all move to Eunha's dorm room and sit in the ground across from each other. I fidget with my phone as I keep swirling it staring into the distance.
"From how it seems, Jinha will be picked for tonight." Eunchan says.
"Jinha will pick Dabeum. And Kyungjun as well." Eunchan says.
"What about you guys?" Yeonwoo looked at us.
"I think it's Jinha." Eunchan says, "what if the mafia took off Dabeum's shoes and pressed them to frame Dabeum as well?"
Eunha nods at what Eunchan says.
"I will pick Jinha's too." Yeonwoo at last joins them as he pushes back his glass. "And you, Yoonhwa?"
"Dabeum."
If someone did press them on, the pressure of the lines of the shoeback would be different. Much more obvious and stronger on purpose. Besides, shouldn't the mafia find any excuse to bring this matter up first the moment they wake up before we do if they really want to frame someone so fast?
"Does that mean Jinha will be out?" Eunha lays her arms on the table in one motion.
From my guess, Yoonseo will vote for Dabeum, Jeongwon will vote for Jinha, and so will Dabeum.
Junhee and Yoojoon are left, and their votes will decide who will be voted out. If Junhee picks Jinha then it's a dead match regardless who Yoojoon picks.
"Eunha,"
"Yes?"
"You remember that Yoonseo's birthday was on the first night, right?"
"I do remember, why ask?" Eunha answers as she leans back with a confused face about the sudden topic.
"Have you heard what birthday present Junhee brought Yoonseo? I'm sure the girls talked about this previously."
"Yes, Somi saw the present and made a fun but jealous remark that everyone saw through it except Junhee. Yoonseo back then didn't say a gift so Junhee prepared for her a small book figure keychain. He didn't think twice about it, she said."
Eunha replies half the time kitting her eyebrows towards me and the other half stealing glances over Eunchan and Yeonwoo who I catch them shrugging. She clearly doesn't understand why such a question is asked now, but still does her best to answer me with great details. Maybe out of gratitude and belief?
"Just like how I remember it too." I say.
'Something like this did happen. I heard it while passing in the hallways by Somi's and her group.'
"Do you know if he gave it to her?"
"No, since he asked Yoonseo one last time and she did tell him about a novel instead, but I doubt he gave her any of them since the night has come," she stops for a second, "And the game has started."
A memory flash when I find myself in the dark bluey freezer storage space, squatting next to the piles of soulless bodies as I look at one's fist clenching hard what you can call a small item. I couldn't understand how a sleepless person could hold such an item with such force. I remembered what happened to Kyungjun that night. What he did to the door as he might have woken up a few seconds after the bell to close it. There's no way a kind mafia could find a way to close the door from the inside and then put back the white card in his hand right after. So it means he closed the door himself. He did woke up a few seconds after the bell. It occurred to me that, what if we do have these seconds where we can control our mind for a bit? I wonder if this happened to the body I saw too. Holding what you can call a tiny book keychain in its fist.
Junhee is a mafia.