To my brother Jaehyun,
I apologize for the pain you are going through all alone. As your big sister, I couldn't be there but don't worry, your sister is in another world. We will meet once again. When we do, let's fight the monsters together. Till then grow stronger and focus on being the best. There is enough savings in my account to pay for your lessons and stuff until you are legal. Though I hope you get a good foster home, use those.
Iseul folded the paper cleanly and handed it over to Officer Kavinsky. Her head tilted to one side with a curve forming on her lips. Those dark ebony eyes suddenly became a mirage of her soul. It existed with nothingness and everything, the way she leisurely found herself leaving in the blood-stained hospital gown. Her hands were still covered in scarlet liquid and the eerily straight jet black streaming down to her waist gave an eerie look. The myth of the corridor ghost seems to come true.
Officer Kavinsky followed, keeping an eye on her every moment. People like her plan the escape route as they go. The thrill, the challenge to win and be known as undefeatable was wired in their brain. The cold calculative way. Isuel didn't have to turn to feel the constant stare on her, not just from him but also from the people around him. She looks no better than a patient who escaped from the psych ward.
"This way." As soon as they reached outside the hospital, Officer Kavinsky dragged her towards his police car. Before she was let in, he made sure to put a handcuff over her. The journey was eerily quiet. Iseul remained quietly seated watching the scenery outside the window. The grey clouds had started to form in the sky. The normal gloomy weather for others.
However, for Iseul, the gloomy weather just reminded her of Ryong as if behind those monotone grey clouds was a serpent-like monster, keeping an eye on her waiting for the right time to harm her. Was he riding those clouds, blending into it?
"Can you please stop by the driveway? I want a double cheeseburger, fries and a milkshake." Iseul broke the silence, her face beaming up. Her index finger pointed at the sign.
Officer Kavinsky kept a calm face, nodding to her request. His lips thinned into a line, suddenly the young girl at the backside giving him a tingling feeling. The uncanny vibe was stronger than before. The lavish attitude, not caring about anything just thinking of food now out of any time even made him unsettled.
Officer Kavinsky drove straight to the driveway, ordering exactly what Iseul asked for. Once he received the food, he directly handed it over to her. "Thanks!" She exclaimed, directly devouring the cheeseburger in her hand.
***
"So this was your house?" Officer Kavinsky looked around the rubbles of the destroyed house. The sinkhole was still under construction. They had fixed the bottom but the whereabouts of her mother's body were never found leading to her missing.
Iseul remained quiet, staring into the void. Like a serene portrait of a woman facing her back, watching the destruction. How calm the storm was growing. She finally stepped towards the debris, the sharp objects and rocks stacked disorderly to make space.
"Don't go there. It's dangerous." Kavinsky warned, trying to follow her, but Iseul was lost in her thoughts, like a lifeless body. The ghost of her disappearing into the ruins. Officer Kavinsky tried to enter the ruins when a construction worker called him from behind.
"The place is not safe. There are still earthquakes happening. You shouldn't go." The worker warned.
"There is a suspect in there. I can't leave her." Officer Kavinsky replied, looking back at the derelict wall remnants. In many cases, killers keep a memorandum of their crime and even often visit the place where those crimes happen. If she wanted to come here, there was something in there. He needs to reach her before she even thinks about destroying it.
Officer Kavinsky was about to sprint there when the shadow of her reappeared, holding a booklet. "Here. Destroy it once you guys finish examining it." Iseul handed it over. It was a medium-sized notebook with a royal blue covering. It was almost worn down by the water and stuff. The pages wrinkled up.
Officer Kavinsky stood quiet, opening the pages carefully.
I hate my brother. He shouldn't have existed.
The black ink had been smudged but it was still clear enough to be read. Just one liner and it was the first page of the book.
The atmosphere suddenly turned tranquil, Officer Kavinsky gulped his saliva. His dark brown eyes stared with dilated pupils. Fine lines appear on his face.
"This must be enough proof, right?" Iseul raised her brows, indicating towards the book which remained open in his hand. Her hand resting at her back, waiting for him to process and react.
"Miss Kim Iseul, you are under arrest for the attempted murder of Kim Jaehyun and the murder of Kim Ha Joon. You have the right to remain silent." Without any further delay, he grabbed her arms, putting back the handcuff he had taken off earlier and dragging her to his car.
Iseul remained quiet. Her face remained stern, not letting any kind of emotion seep through the mask of soullessness.
'Breaking News! A teenager turned serial killer! A sixteen-year-old teenager not only murdered her grandfather in the most heinous way, she even tried to harm her younger brother. There are even suspicions of her murdering her mother a few months before this incident.'
News of Iseul spread like wildfire. Suddenly everyone became judged. Some thought she could be called the prettiest serial killer and soon the name 'Pretty Face Psycho' became a nickname for her.
'The hearing of Pretty Face Psycho has finally given. Except circumstantial evidence found there is nothing else to prove her guilty. She has been sentenced to five years in juvie. By the time she comes out, she will be twenty- three years old. Was the sentence eligible?'
***
"Are you guilty or is it all your plan…Nuwa?"