Chaeyoung.

"My pure, sweet, Chaeyoung, wake up." I softly caressed her cheek and waited for her to heed my call. "Wake up, darling. You must see the surprise I have for you."

She looked terrified as soon as she opened her eyes and realized that she couldn't freely move her limbs as her hands and feet are bound together by cable ties. The more she wriggle herself out of it, the more it dug into her skin and created red, painful marks around her wrists. Jimin sighed at the sight of the shaken girl. He was disappointed. "I thought we were friends, Chaeyoung. Why do you want to leave?"

She forcefully shut her eyes closed, holding her breath, as Jimin's hand made contact with her cheek. He didn't like the way she was behaving and it pissed him off so he grabbed the chair where she was tied to, dragging it forward to where he kept another body on the flat table. "Open your eyes."

She breathed heavily through the cloth that was tied around her mouth, her eyes still closed despite what Jimin told her. He grabbed her face and placed his mouth next to her ear, "If you don't, I'll kill your whole family. Do you want that, hm?"

Chaeyoung couldn't remove the image from her mind so she had no other choice but to do as he says. Tears welled up around her eyes as her shoulders shake from sobbing. Jimin's face was right in front of her, his hand still holding her chin up then he smiled, "Good girl. You're going to do what I say from now on."

"And now for my final present." Jimin walked towards the table and clutched the hem of the drape before pulling it off in a grand gesture, revealing a woman dressed in the same red dress. Her eyes are open but blank as she stared into the ceiling. "I have her an injection so she's paralyzed from the head down. It's not anesthetic. She's not asleep and she can feel everything. It's just something I like to do to keep them from moving around. I don't really like a messy work place, you know.."

He viewed her face, her hair dark brown dangling from the table, "She's now in a state where she doesn't have control of her own body but she can still feel pain and remember everything that I'm about to do to her." Jimin smiled while his finger skimmed the side of her face. "The beauty of science. It's funny though because it can either save lives or end them."

"Well, everyone's got to die at some point, right?" Jimin looked at Chaeyoung. "Don't worry. I'll save you for last." He says and then walks to a nearby drawer. Jimin took something out of it.

He laid the thing that was wrapped in a black leather on the table beside Chaeyoung and unfolded it, displaying a set of instruments in various shapes and sizes. Chaeyoung was not even sure what those things are for but she kept her eyes open. His hands hover over each one as if he was deciding which one is more suitable for and finally, his hands stops over a small blade and attached it to slim stainless handle. Jimin picked it up in a vice grip and brought it close to his face, smiling as he inspected it. He wedged the scalpel between his thumb and index with his middle finger supporting it, just like how you would hold a pen.

"Let's see, I'll need a retractor too." Jimin spoke to himself and went to get something from the drawer again. This time it was small and looked like a tweezer with weird edges.

All the instruments are next to him neatly arranged on a metal tray for easy access. He rolled the sleeves of his shirt up to his elbows and donned a pair of gloves, "I'm very happy you're here, Chaeyoung. You know, I don't really have friends to share my hobbies with."

Jimin took the retractor and placed it securely around her eyes to keep them open, then he picked up the scalpel, turning his head to look at Chaeyoung, "You have to keep your eyes open, Chaeyoung. Remember, it could be your mother or your father who'll be lying on this table next time."

Chaeyoung cried silently, biting on the cloth in her mouth to keep herself from making a sound, her fingernails digging into her palms as Jimin used the small knife to cut open the corner of the woman's eyes. The woman opened her mouth as if she was screaming silently but all she could produce was a sort of dry cry followed by a gagging sound as if she was drowning in air.

Jimin scooped up her eyeball, bringing it up close to his face while the veins still dangle from it, dirtying his shirt with sputters of blood. "I really like her eyes. It's the perfect color."

Chaeyoung felt nauseated, feeling a strong pull from her gut to her throat but it wouldn't come out. It's just sitting there as fresh tears stained her cheeks again while she watched the whole thing unravel before her. How can he be so inhumane?

🥀

Yoongi made his way to the entrance to the building. The National Forensics Service, where he is headed, is at the third floor of the building. He got a call from a friend that works there, saying he's got the results of the specimens he sent to him. Yoongi could've waited for the email but his friend needs to have it authorized by his chief. Patience was never Yoongi's forte so he jumped on his car and headed there right after the call.

"Yoongi's here." Said one of Namjoon's colleague. Namjoon turned his head to the door to see Yoongi's face outside the rectangular window.

A smile bloomed on Namjoon's face when he saw his friend, walking towards the door and pressing the passcode so he can come in. "If only you were this fast whenever I ask you to hang out."

"I don't have time to hang out. I honestly would rather sleep." Yoongi has made it clear a dozen of times before but Namjoon is persistent. Their personalities are polar opposites but they get along just fine. "So you got the results?"

"Yes, here's the DNA results from the needle you sent and over here, is the swab from the victims private part." Namjoon presented Yoongi with two sets of results in his computer and followed up with an explanation, "I did not find any traces of semen from the swab so I couldn't rule out if she was raped. It would be impossible to tell too if you based it on the physical aspect because the victim's private part was severely deformed. You obviously can't tell if there were signs of forced entry."

"So you're telling me this is a dead end?" Yoongi looked at Namjoon.

"Wait. Don't lose hope just yet!" Namjoon smiled and enthusiastically typed something into the computer. "I did find something.. I found an unknown DNA from the needle and an uncommon high levels of a hormone in the victim's body at the time of her death. Endorphins."

"Isn't that pretty common?" Yoongi questioned.

"Yes, it is. Endorphins are more commonly known as Feel Good hormones but it's also like a naturally produced opioid that enables the human body to reduce pain by producing a sense of euphoria which is also the reason why it is highly addictive because it just makes you happy. Imagine riding a roller coaster that only goes up!" Namjoon rambles on like a madman as he shows Yoongi the numbers.

"Normally, it is produced after an exercise, if you eat something satisfying, during and after sex, etc. but it is rarely found in a murder case. Unless they have a weird kind of fetish that converts pain into pleasure." Namjoon added, grinning so Yoongi had to bring his attention back to the topic.

"What do you think caused high levels of this hormone in her body?" Yoongi asked, his brows furrowed as he examines the numbers displayed on the monitor.

"That your job now, Yoongs." Namjoon replied with a shrug of his shoulders, "I've done my part."

Yoongi stood up, "Can you print me a copy of this?"

"What's the magic word?" Namjoon gave him a look that made Yoongi sigh.

"You are a genius." Yoongi spoke in a flat tone while Namjoon cheerfully printed the results and handed it to him. "Thanks Namjoon."

"Anytime, Yoongi. Anytime." He says as he leans back on his swivel chair and watched Yoongi leave in a hurry. Namjoon was left to think for himself, looking back once again at his computer.

🥀

Chaeyoung found her hands untied when she woke up. She looked around and realised that she was being kept in a huge bird cage that had one bed and surrounded by thick metal bars. It was in the center of the room. There were no source of light aside from the led ones on the floor and ceiling that was only lining the walls where the shelves were. She didn't know what the shelves were for, some of them are empty while some had small boxes with writings on it, neatly arranged. However, she couldn't see it well so she wasn't sure if they were names or randoms letters.

She started to look around to find a way to escape, trying to fit herself between the gaps of the metal bars but it was a bit small for her. Maybe if she forced herself through, she could escape. It wasn't a well thought plan but it's the only plan she has so she placed her right leg first between the gap and then slowly inched her lower body into it. The metal bars are putting pressure on her bones, causing the metal to make bruises on her skin, and made it quite painful but she pulled through it.

One by one, she tried to get her limbs out until she was out of the cage with scratches and bruises all over. Her body ached all over as she walked up to the stairs and quietly opened the door. This was not Jimin's house. He must have taken her somewhere else.

Chaeyoung looked around for the exit desperately while limping on one leg, her dress torn apart. All the windows and doors she tried was locked and she couldn't find any keys. A loud engine sound came from outside and she froze for a second and listened carefully. She whipped her head to the sound of the approaching car, panic settling in, and then quickly looked for a place to hide.

She grabbed a fountain pen that she found displayed in the living room before swiftly running towards the kitchen that was next to the garage door. She hid herself behind the counter, crouched down in her bare feet. Waiting.

Chaeyoung couldn't stop herself from trembling when she heard the garage door being opened. She tried to breathe silently through her noise, clutching the pen in her fist and against her chest. The keys were thrown on a table and his footsteps sounded closer, coming into the kitchen. She waited for him to leave to another room before she peeked from the counter, seeing the door.

He went into his study and she waited for him to close the door before she runs for the keys. Stepping out of her hiding place, she quietly tried to open the door. She was holding her breath as she very carefully tried not to make a sound as she twisted the door knob.

Chaeyoung didn't bother closing the door fully before she made a run outside. There was nowhere to go but the forest so she takes that path, running bare footed. Sharp rocks and twigs hurt her soles but it was tolerable. She ran as fast as she could because she knows that he'll find out she has escaped in no time. There is a very high possibility of getting caught.

She hasn't made it that far yet. with her injured ankle in tow, every step is agonizing. She tripped and fell on the ground but she picked herself up again, holding tightly to the only weapon she has in her hand. Chaeyoung was tired and hurting and still running. She didn't know where to go. Wherever she ran, there were no signs of life in the woods, except her. No one to ask help from. The dark is gradually setting in and the cold began to creep into her skin but she couldn't stop running. She was scared to stop.

author's note;
I finally had the inspiration to write this chapter 😅

Anyway, you might've noticed the POV changes. It's intentional and it's not that confusing if you read through it.