Eun-ji sat there motionless, the sharp edge of the blade pressed against her wrist, the motion of her hand relentless and methodical. Her father stood near her, his eyes filled with shock"w-what are you doing?" He asked a question no one was going to answer only making her look at him with crimson eyes, lowering her gaze, she made a stance to continue only for her to find out the blade was no longer in her hand. He slapped it from her hand, she made a stance to pick it up only for him to grab her hand firmly and unyielding to let go. But she only smiled, a smile eerie and chilling. With a speed and ferocity that was shocking, she grabbed the knife with her other hand, her movement swift and precise. Before he could even react, she plunged the knife into his chest, making him widen his eyes in disbelief, his mouth agape, a question forming on his lips. But before he could, he crumpled to the floor and then the room became silent, the only sound was the thudding of Eun ji's heart. She sat back, clutching her knees, her gaze unfocused and lost. The silence was deafening, broken only by the sound of her ragged breath.
PRESENT DAY
"Eun ji, are alright?" The calm voice, clear and warm made her look into the owner's eyes, she managed a nod and smiled"y-yeah" she said making him nod"why did you kill him?" He asked abruptly, making her flustered"huh?...oh...I didn't like the look in his eyes" Dr. Choi's eyes were searching her face for an explanation, for some sign of understanding. But Eun ji's eyes were blank, her expression distant, as if she were in a trance. "I didn't like the look in his eyes, it was as if he was asking me questions even after been dead" she said, her voice flat and emotionless. And then dramatically placing her hand over her chest, she said "I remember my sweet sixteen birthday, he missed it, I was so hurt" she cleaned her invincible tears making him look at her in disbelief.
08:56 PM
The disturbed old couple couldn't stop themselves from coming to check on their grand daughter but became more worried when nobody was attending to the door.
The security guards summoned by the couple's frantic knocks swiftly entered the premises. With haste, they pried the lock open and on cue trudged in with the old couple.
As they barged into the dimly lit apartment, the air was thick with chilling silent making it seem as if time stood still after their gazes swept over the scene before them. Eun ji sat motionless against the kitchen counter and the lifeless body, a grim reminder of the violence that occurred. They all stood paralyzed, out of her trance, Kang Yoo Mi approached the scene, cradling Eun ji's face in her hands.
"Eun ji..." She whispered, her voice quivering with fear, "what happened?-are you alright? Are..."
But her words fell on deaf ears. As if a veil has been lifted, she stared at her grandma with dull eyes and then smiled.Eun ji's smile, at first timid and unsure turned into a wild crescendo of laughter, filling the room with its manic energy making the air pulse with a deep unease, a sinister aura seeping from her demeanor.
As if burnt with an invisible flame, Kang Yoo Mi withdrew her hands from her face. The echo of the laughter which seems like it's from a distant nightmare ricocheted off the walls and penetrated the audience's soul, making the shock and disbelief they felt earlier turn into a gut-wrenching fear. Yoo Mi turned to her husband with panic and grabbed his collar " Do something, she's...do something" she cried out in pain but quickly cleaned her tears and grabbed him again "we can't let news of this reach anybody or...just do something already!!!" She shouted in exasperation.
*********************
Like an insidious serpent coiling around the foundations of their family's honor, the truth was smothered under the blanket of deception. Shutting up the extra eyes that had seen the events of the night. In a clandestine operation orchestrated by Lee Won Ik, the untimely demise of their son-in-law was dressed in the familiar garb of criminal savagery - a tale of ruthless goons who had descended upon their home like scavenging jackals in the twilight hours. With a daft hand, chairman Won Ik smudged the fingerprint of madness that had once tainted the tale and masterfully wove a seamless fabrication of events. It was spun like a finely crafted silk web, ensnaring all who dared question its veracity.
The fragile façade of a family's legacy was preserved which had been entombed in the maize of lies, deeply buried with Eun ji's atrocious acts.
JULY 17,
The almost gray haired psychiatrist leaned against the mahogany desk, the weight of his words bearing down on him like a laden cloak. His eyes bore into the stony countenance of Won Ik.
"Chairman Lee" he started, his voice hoarse with weary resignation. With all due respect I must stress that the young miss isn't responding to any of our treatments. The situation has become untenable and..."he trailed off, the words catching in his throat.
Won Ik's unflinching gaze held Damian captive, his steely countenance a tangible threat that hung in the air like the promise of a storm.
"Chairman Lee..."he started again "the young miss is showing no signs of recovery, while I sympathize with your situation, I cannot conjure a miracle where there is none"his voice strained with the weight of his convictions "it's like she's retreated into a labyrinth of her own making, refusing to engage with the world around her, it's..."
"Utter blasphemy!" In a chilly voice, Won Ik stated "Up until now she's been home schooled so you said she's retreated into a labyrinth of her own making and refuses to engage with the world around her is utter blasphemy..." His fingers dug into his temple as he massaged the knot of frustration that had taken root there "isn't it your job to give hope when there is none? Eun ji will get better and you will see to it, understood?" Damian Hong clenched his hands in a futile attempt to contain his frustration "that's what I thought I was doing but you don't expect me to continue doing so when she's showing no signs of recovery but you insist on holding my livelihood hostage with your threats and demands " Hong exclaimed, his resistance shattering like glass "I am not a puppeteer, Lee sir, I cannot pull the strings of a marionette who's cast off it's own strings !"