The First Follow
Hyejin trailed the boy from the couple with practiced precision, her footsteps light and deliberate. He seemed unaware of the predator lurking in the shadows, his attention focused on his phone.
From the other side of the street, Seo Jun watched. He had been following Hyejin for the past few days, his curiosity growing with every encounter. Something about her was off—her demeanor, her movements, the way she always seemed to be watching others.
As Hyejin rounded a corner, Seo Jun quickened his pace. His eyes narrowed when he saw her stop and observe the boy from a distance. She was too still, too focused.
"What are you up to?" Seo Jun muttered to himself.
The Second Encounter
The next day, Hyejin was back on the trail. She had rehearsed this in her mind, mapping every step. The boy was her prey, and she was ready to strike.
But as she moved through the crowded street, her sharp eyes caught a familiar figure reflected in a shop window—Seo Jun. He was following her again.
Her jaw clenched, and a dark fury bubbled inside her. He's ruining everything.
Hyejin quickly ducked into an alley, her mind racing. No, not anymore. Not any later. Seo Jun, you have to die.
She pulled a small blade from her pocket, its edge gleaming in the dim light. Her fingers tightened around the handle as she stepped out of the shadows. Seo Jun, oblivious, was scanning the street, looking for her.
A Deadly Confrontation
"Seo Jun," Hyejin called, her voice cold and sharp.
He turned, startled. "Hyejin? What are you—"
"Why are you following me?" she demanded, her eyes narrowing.
Seo Jun hesitated. "I wasn't following you. I just—"
Hyejin took a step closer, the blade concealed behind her back. "You just what? Thought you'd spy on me?"
Seo Jun could feel the tension radiating from her, his instincts screaming that something was wrong. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, a voice called out.
"Seo Jun! There you are!"
Hyejin froze, her grip on the blade tightening. She turned her head slightly to see a tall boy approaching— Seo Jun's friend, Park Dae Hyun.
Seo Jun glanced between Hyejin and Dae Hyun, the atmosphere instantly shifting. "Hyejin, what are you doing here?" Dae Hyun asked, his tone curious but cautious.
Hyejin slipped the blade into her pocket, her expression neutral. "I was meeting a friend. What about you?"
Dae Hyun shrugged. "Just hanging out."
Hyejin's eyes flickered with irritation. "It's none of your business," she snapped before turning and walking away.
Hawk observing a wounded bird. Kim Byung Ho walked briskly, occasionally glancing over his shoulder, unaware of the silent shadow pursuing him. Hyejin's heart pounded, not from fear but from the thrill of the hunt.
Her mind raced with plans. Byung Ho was no saint—known for his violent tendencies and criminal activities. To her, he wasn't just a target; he was a perfect canvas.
Hyejin's New Target
Later that night, Hyejin sat in her dimly lit dorm room, her thoughts racing. Byung Ho was still her priority, but Seo Jun had crossed a line.
He's watching me. He's getting in my way. If he keeps this up, he'll become my next masterpiece.
She opened her notebook, sketching the outlines of a plan. Her art had always been a reflection of her thoughts, and this was no different.
The Seeds of Connection
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Min Jae sat across from the first victim's daughter, Choi Yeon Woo, at a quiet café.
Yeon Woo's hands trembled as she sipped her tea. "I still can't believe my mom's gone," she whispered, her voice breaking.
Min Jae reached out, his hand covering hers. "I know how hard this is. My father was... a complicated man, but losing him left a hole in my life too."
Yeon Woo's eyes met his, their shared grief creating an unspoken bond.
As their conversation deepened, they discovered more commonalities. Min Jae's dream of becoming a doctor stemmed from his desire to heal others, to make amends for the destruction his family had caused. Yeon Woo, on the other hand, had resolved to become a police officer, vowing to bring justice to families like hers.
"We'll make a good team," Min Jae said with a faint smile. "One healing, the other protecting."
Yeon Woo nodded, determination shining through her tears. "And maybe together, we can stop whoever is doing this."
Seo Jun's Growing Obsession
Back in his apartment, Seo Jun sat in the dark, scrolling through photos he had taken of Hyejin. Each image captured a moment—her intense focus, her chilling smile, the way she seemed to move as if the world were hers to control.
He couldn't stop thinking about her. She was unlike anyone he'd ever met. Beautiful, mysterious, and utterly terrifying.
His phone buzzed with a message from Dae Hyun.
"Hey, about that Kim Byung Ho guy—you were right, he's trouble. Got into a fight just last week. Be careful around him."
Seo Jun's jaw tightened. He didn't know how, but he was certain Hyejin was connected to Byung Ho. And he was determined to find out why.
The Third Victim
Kim Byung Ho was drunk, stumbling out of a bar in the early hours of the Night.... Hyejin watched from the shadows, her expression blank but her eyes alight with cruel intent.
This time, there would be no interruptions.