The next morning, Jasper woke up earlier than usual. He stood outside the building, occasionally glancing over at the building next to theirs. After a while, he noticed that his message from the previous night had not been seen by Mr. Park, their homeroom teacher. He tried calling, but his teacher's phone was off.
Suddenly, he spotted a phone lying in the bushes. The phone was ringing. He picked it up and saw that it was a call from him, meaning it was Mr. Park's phone.
Jasper froze for a moment.
He then used Mr. Park's phone to call the school. When they answered, Jasper asked, "Is Mr. Park there?"
They replied, "No, Mr. Park is not here."
One of them added, "We'll look for Mr. Park and send someone in his place."
Jasper hung up the phone and immediately dialed Jun Ho's number. After a few rings, Jun Ho answered.
"Hey, Jasper. What's up?" Jun Ho's voice sounded groggy, as if he'd just woken up.
"Get down here. We're going to take a walk around the area. Meet me at the front of the building in five," Jasper said, his voice firm.
Jun Ho groaned but agreed. "Alright, alright. I'll be there."
Jasper hung up the phone, pocketed it, and began walking toward the front of the building, his eyes scanning the surroundings carefully. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, especially with Mr. Park missing and the strange events from the night before still fresh in his mind.
A few minutes later, Jun Ho appeared, still rubbing his eyes and looking half-awake.
"You're a real early bird, huh?" Jun Ho remarked, yawning as he caught up to Jasper.
"Just trying to get a better look around," Jasper replied, keeping his pace steady. "I don't like the vibe here."
Jun Ho raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? It's just a study tour, right?"
Jasper shrugged but didn't answer. His eyes flicked over to the neighboring building once again. Something about it bothered him, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"We'll take a look around and figure things out. But don't get too comfortable," Jasper said, glancing over at Jun Ho.
The two walked silently for a moment, the crisp morning air filling the space between them. Both of them were aware that something wasn't right, but neither of them could tell exactly what.
Jun Ho, who had been walking beside Jasper, suddenly stopped and looked at the building next door. "Wait a minute... Isn't that building next door occupied by a different school?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Jasper glanced over at the neighboring building, his gaze hardening. Before he could respond, he spotted something that made him act fast. Without saying a word, he quickened his pace and rushed toward the entrance of their building.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Jun Ho shouted, but Jasper was already ahead, moving quickly through the crowd.
Inside the building, a few students were gathered, talking in hushed tones. Jasper stepped into the crowd, immediately noticing the tension in the air. He approached a small group and asked, "What's going on here?"
One of the students turned to him, looking flustered. "Our phones... they've all disappeared! We have no idea where they went," the student explained, clearly frustrated.
"Wait, what?" Jasper raised an eyebrow, his attention sharpening. "All of your phones are gone?"
"Yeah, we've looked everywhere, but no one's seen anything. Do you still have yours?" another student asked, their voice tinged with worry.
Jasper calmly pulled out his phone and held it up for them to see. "Yeah, still got mine," he said, his tone a bit more serious now.
The group fell silent for a moment, their eyes scanning him, hoping for some reassurance.
"Alright, stay calm," Jasper added, tucking his phone back into his pocket. "I'll check things out. Don't worry, I'll get to the bottom of this."
Jun Ho, now catching up with him, whispered, "What do you think happened? This is getting weirder by the minute."
Jasper looked at him, eyes narrowing as he processed the situation. "Something's off. Let's not jump to conclusions, but we need to keep our eyes open."
As the students continued to discuss among themselves, Jasper and Jun Ho exchanged a knowing glance, both sensing that the mystery was deeper than they had first imagined.
A few young men from Jasper's school, Sungjin High School, leaned casually against the wall outside the building, smoking and chatting quietly. Their uniforms were slightly disheveled, typical for students who felt a bit too relaxed during the study trip. The air was thick with the smell of smoke, but there was something else—an unpleasant, metallic scent that made them wrinkle their noses.
"Hey, do you guys smell that?" one of them asked, glancing around.
"Yeah," another muttered, frowning. "It smells... like blood."
The group exchanged confused looks before one of them shrugged. "Maybe something's rotting in the garbage bins."
Curious and somewhat unconcerned, they walked over to the trash area, figuring it was just another usual, unsanitary mess. But as they got closer, the stench grew worse, making them feel uneasy.
One of them, a taller student with a messy haircut, gingerly opened the lid of the large dumpster. As he did, his eyes widened in shock, and he quickly stepped back, the rest of the group following suit. Inside the dumpster, lying among the trash, was the body of Mr. Park, their homeroom teacher.
The boys froze, their mouths going dry. The air seemed to grow colder.
"Is that... Mr. Park?" one of them whispered, horrified. He swallowed hard, struggling to keep his voice steady. "What the hell happened to him?"
"Shhh," another hissed, panicking. "Don't make any noise."
They all instinctively covered their mouths, looking around to make sure no one had heard them. The body of Mr. Park looked lifeless, surrounded by a pool of dark liquid that had leaked from the wounds. His expression was frozen in a final, terrifying grimace, and it was clear something horrible had occurred.
Meanwhile, Jasper and Jun Ho were inside the building, trying to make sense of the missing phones incident when they suddenly heard an uproar coming from outside.
"Did you hear that?" Jun Ho asked, looking up in alarm.
"Yeah," Jasper said, his eyes narrowing. "Something's going on."
The two of them rushed toward the commotion, moving swiftly toward the place where the noise seemed to be coming from—the trash area. As they turned the corner, they saw the group of students gathered near the dumpster, looking terrified.
Jasper's heart skipped a beat when he saw the looks on their faces. He pushed his way through the crowd, with Jun Ho close behind him.
"What's going on?" Jasper demanded, his voice steady, though his stomach churned at the sight.
One of the students nervously pointed to the dumpster, still too afraid to speak. Jasper's eyes followed the gesture, and as soon as he saw what was inside, his face turned pale.
The body of Mr. Park. Blood.
"Shit," Jasper muttered under his breath. "What the hell happened here?"
Jun Ho's face mirrored his shock. "Is he—"
"Yeah," Jasper interrupted, his voice grim. "He's gone."
The two of them exchanged a look of disbelief. The peaceful study tour they had expected was now a nightmare. Everything had just escalated from bad to worse.
Jun Ho took a step back, his eyes still locked on the body of Mr. Park. "It could be... he's been dead for a while," Jun Ho muttered, the logical side of his medical knowledge kicking in. "Look at the discoloration of his skin, the way the blood pooled... he's been here for hours, maybe even longer."
Jasper, his face still pale, nodded quietly. His sharp mind processed the scene, analyzing the evidence in front of him with a mix of intelligence and cold practicality. His eyes scanned the area, the patterns in the blood, the angle of the body. "This wasn't just some accident," Jasper whispered, more to himself than anyone else. "This was deliberate."
The two stood in a tense silence, the reality of the situation sinking in.
Just as the atmosphere grew heavier, Kyung Ho, Taehyun, Min Joo, and Jin Woo arrived, rushing toward the group with concern on their faces.
Kyung Ho, always the first to take charge in these situations, pushed through the crowd of students, his eyes immediately narrowing as he saw the body in the dumpster. His lips curled into a disgusted grimace as the overwhelming stench hit him. He quickly covered his nose, trying to suppress his nausea.
"What's going on, guys?" Kyung Ho asked, his voice sharp with frustration. "What happened here?"
As he saw the lifeless body of Mr. Park, his expression shifted from annoyance to shock. His eyes widened, and he stumbled back slightly. "What the hell...?"
He covered his nose with the sleeve of his jacket, trying to keep himself composed as the reality of the situation dawned on him. "That's Mr. Park, isn't it?" he said in disbelief, his voice dropping.
Taehyun, who had followed closely behind, glanced down at the body, his face suddenly serious. "This is messed up," he muttered, shaking his head. "We should've stayed inside. Something's not right."
Min Joo and Jin Woo exchanged uneasy glances. They weren't ones to get easily shaken, but the sight of their teacher's lifeless body was a stark reminder of just how wrong things had gone.
"We need to tell someone," Min Joo said quietly, his voice low as he eyed the crowd of students. "The police, the teachers... something."
Kyung Ho glanced around, his earlier bravado faltering as he realized the gravity of the situation. "We don't know what's going on yet. Let's just stay calm and figure out what to do before we panic."
But the tension in the air was palpable. With every second that passed, the questions grew more urgent. Who had done this? And why?
The moment the teacher sent by the other school arrived, the air shifted. He approached the crowd of students and stopped dead in his tracks, his face paling as he saw Mr. Park's lifeless body. His gaze scanned the students and the area around them, trying to make sense of the scene.
Jasper, meanwhile, had been observing the situation quietly. His eyes narrowed as he caught sight of a familiar figure in the distance — the same man who had been discussing something with Mr. Park earlier. The conversation he overheard made him suspicious. Could it be that the man was the last to talk to Mr. Park? If so, he might be the key to understanding what had happened.
The middle-aged man smiled cynically as he noticed the group of students. He turned away and started to leave, seemingly indifferent to the situation unfolding. Jasper, however, wasn't about to let him slip away so easily. He made his way through the crowd, heading directly for the man.
"Hey!" Jasper called out, his voice sharp. "You're the last one who spoke to Mr. Park, right?"
The man paused, turning to face him. He gave Jasper a sly smile, raising an eyebrow. "Are you accusing me, young man?" he asked, his voice dripping with mock amusement.
Jasper stepped closer, his expression cold. "Why aren't you worried? Why don't you seem concerned at all about what's happened?"
The man's smile didn't falter. "My name is Mr. Lee," he said, his tone almost playful. "But don't worry, the truth will come out soon enough. Everything is fine, my young friend. Now, take this." He handed Jasper a tray of food, the same food he had prepared for the students.
Jasper's eyes remained sharp, his mind running through the possibilities. Something wasn't right about this man, and his calm demeanor in the face of such a tragedy only added to Jasper's suspicion. "Why are you so calm?" he muttered under his breath.
Without waiting for a response, Jasper turned and walked away, his thoughts racing. It was clear that Mr. Lee was hiding something, but what?
Soon after, Kyung Ho and the others arrived at the spot where food was being served. They were hungry, but the atmosphere was tense.
"I'll have some kimchi," Kyung Ho said, trying to break the tension with a small request.
Mr. Lee, now with a tray of food in his hands, approached him with an indifferent look on his face. "All the food here is the same," he said nonchalantly, clearly not treating the situation with any urgency. "This isn't a restaurant."
Kyung Ho looked at him, a little annoyed by the man's lack of concern. "You could show some empathy," he muttered under his breath.
Min Joo, standing nearby, gave the man a sharp, disapproving look. "What's wrong with him? He doesn't even seem fazed by all of this," Min Joo grumbled, still not trusting Mr. Lee's strange behavior.
The others silently agreed, the weight of the situation growing heavier with every moment. Whoever was responsible for Mr. Park's death, they were getting closer to uncovering the truth. But for now, the focus was on getting through the day — and figuring out who could be trusted.
The tension in the lobby was thick as the entire class gathered to discuss the shocking events. Jun Ho, with a serious expression, was the first to speak up.
"Think about it," he said, his voice calm but filled with urgency. "Mr. Park's death... and the phones from the other school... all of them disappeared at the same time. It's not a coincidence."
Kyung Ho shot him an irritated look, his patience running thin. "What nonsense is this?!" he snapped, clearly agitated. "You're telling me all this is connected? That's ridiculous."
But Jun Ho didn't back down. His eyes were sharp, his mind working through the puzzle in his head. "I'm just saying it's strange. Phones disappearing, Mr. Park dead, and now that guy... Mr. Lee, acting all calm and shady. It's not normal. Something doesn't add up."
Taehyun, Min Joo, and Jin Woo stood silently, each of them processing the situation in their own way. There was a heaviness in the air, and no one seemed willing to speak up just yet. The idea of someone being involved in Mr. Park's death was difficult to grasp, but the pieces were beginning to fit, even if it felt unreal.
The room was quiet for a moment, the only sounds the faint murmur of the wind outside and the distant hum of the building's ventilation system. Everyone was waiting for someone to break the silence, to offer another explanation, to make sense of the chaos.
Finally, Min Joo broke the silence. Her voice was soft but resolute. "But what do we do now? We can't just ignore this. We need to find out who did this."
Jin Woo nodded, his eyes narrowing. "We need to find the truth. If the phones are tied to all this... then we need to figure out why."
Everyone's gaze turned to Jun Ho. His theory had planted a seed of doubt in their minds, and now it seemed like the only thread they could follow.
Kyung Ho crossed his arms, still skeptical but willing to listen. "So, what now? Do we go looking for the missing phones? Are we supposed to be detectives now?"
"Yes," Jasper said, his voice steady and clear. "We have to find out what happened, who's behind this, and why it's all connected."
The class collectively exchanged uncertain glances. This wasn't what they had expected from their study trip. But with Mr. Park's death still hanging over them, and the strange occurrences surrounding the other school, it seemed there was no turning back.
Jun Ho, determined, added, "We need to stick together. We can't let this slide. It's the only way to get to the truth."
The group nodded in agreement, though the uncertainty was still there, clouding their judgment. They were about to embark on a journey to uncover the truth behind Mr. Park's death — but little did they know, it would lead them into a deeper web of secrets that would change everything.
The tension in the lobby intensified as one of the younger students suddenly broke the silence, his voice shaky but filled with urgency. "What if... what if it happened in that room last night?!"
Everyone froze, their eyes wide with shock. The suggestion hung in the air, heavy with an unsettling possibility.
Kyung Ho muttered a curse under his breath, his hands clenching into fists. "Shiball," he cursed, disbelief and frustration mixing in his voice.
Another voice, more calculated and serious, added to the growing dread. "So, what you're saying is... tonight, they might come after us too? That means... they could be trying to eliminate all of us, to make sure we can't report anything to the authorities."
The words hit like a blow to the gut. The room fell into an uneasy silence, as the reality of the situation began to sink in. The danger was no longer just theoretical — it was right there, lurking, possibly just around the corner.
Jun Ho's face hardened, his mind racing through the possibilities. If this was true, they weren't just dealing with random events — someone was actively trying to cover up something big. The thought that they could all be in danger now, just because they knew too much, made the air around them feel suffocating.
Jasper stood there, his gaze distant as he processed everything. His sharp mind started to put the pieces together. "They can't just erase us," he said, his voice low but firm. "We have to stay smart. We need to find out who's behind all of this, and fast. But we also need to be careful. If they're trying to wipe us out, they'll do whatever it takes to keep us quiet."
Min Joo, her face pale but determined, spoke up. "But how do we protect ourselves? We can't just sit here and wait for them to come after us."
Jin Woo, typically the quiet one, now looked uneasy. "We need to be ready. If we're being targeted, we can't let our guard down. We need to find the truth before they do anything else."
Kyung Ho clenched his jaw, his mind already calculating their next move. "We need to stick together. Strength in numbers. If we split up, we're easy targets."
The group nodded in agreement. The uncertainty had transformed into a palpable fear, but with that fear came resolve. They couldn't let this mystery go unsolved. Whatever danger lay ahead, they had to face it head-on.
Jasper's eyes narrowed as he looked around the group. "We start by finding out everything we can. We need to figure out who's behind this... and why they want us out of the picture."
As they all gathered their courage, a quiet determination settled among them. The stakes were higher than they had ever imagined. Whoever was pulling the strings, they weren't going to stop until they had erased every trace of what happened. But Jasper and his friends weren't going to let that happen without a fight.
That night, the group slept uneasily, the weight of the danger still lingering in the air, but everything remained calm. Even the neighboring building, where they suspected something sinister was brewing, was quiet. No unexpected visitors, no late-night threats—nothing to indicate that their lives were hanging by a thread.
The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the windows, everyone began to stir. A strange stillness filled the air, an unspoken tension that had not quite left. It wasn't until the students checked their phones that they realized the horrifying truth—just like the school next door, their phones had disappeared overnight. The same phones that had been with them just hours before were now gone.
Jasper, still half asleep but already processing the situation, made his way to the group. His eyes scanned the room, making sure everyone was accounted for. To his relief, everyone was still alive. No one had disappeared in the night, no one had been taken. They were all still there, breathing and seemingly unharmed.
"I told you," Jasper said as he walked back to his friends, his tone serious. "The killer must have overheard our plan. That's why they didn't make a move last night. They're waiting for the perfect moment to strike. They've got to be watching us closely."
Jun Ho frowned, taking in the grim reality of the situation. "So, they didn't kill us last night because we were on high alert. They knew we were expecting something to happen. But now they think we've let our guard down."
Jasper's gaze turned cold, his sharp mind working through the details. "Exactly. It's like a chess game to them. They're waiting for us to slip up, waiting for a moment when we're vulnerable."
Meanwhile, in a dimly lit room filled with CCTV monitors, a man in his 40s, wearing a crisp white shirt, sat back in his chair. He exhaled a stream of cigarette smoke, his fingers curling around the cigarette as he flicked through the surveillance footage. His face was partially hidden in the shadows, but the tension in the room was undeniable. He was watching them. Watching the group of students. A small, quiet smile appeared on his lips as he observed the footage. His eyes narrowed with frustration as he continued to watch the students' every move.
"F*cking brats," he muttered under his breath, his voice laced with both irritation and amusement. "They think they can outsmart me. But I'm just getting started. No one escapes my watchful eye."
His fingers drummed against the edge of the desk as he watched them on the screen. The situation wasn't over. The man remained calm, his expression unwavering, his eyes never leaving the monitors. He knew it was only a matter of time before the students made a mistake. His patience would be rewarded. The game was still in motion, and he was in control.
Back with the group, Jasper exchanged a meaningful look with his friends. He could feel it—the invisible thread that connected them to the man watching from behind the scenes. They hadn't escaped yet. The person orchestrating all of this was still out there, waiting for the perfect time to strike.
They couldn't afford to slip up. Not now. Not when everything was at stake. Jasper and his friends knew that they had to stay one step ahead if they were going to survive. The clock was ticking, and every moment brought them closer to the inevitable confrontation.
The game had only just begun. And they had to be ready.
The group was still processing the implications of their phones disappearing when the tension grew even thicker. As the hours passed, the unsettling reality settled in: just like the school next door, their phones had vanished overnight. And the longer they sat in that oppressive silence, the more they realized something much darker was at play.
Jasper, still on edge, paced back and forth as he tried to make sense of the situation. His mind was racing, but the one thing that kept surfacing was the killer's calculated move. Whoever was behind this had a plan—one that was coming into focus with each passing moment.
"Something's not right," Jasper muttered under his breath, glancing over at his friends. "It's too clean. Too controlled. They're trying to isolate us, to keep us from communicating. They want us vulnerable, alone, and without any way of calling for help."
Jun Ho, ever the skeptic, shook his head. "We're not that stupid. There has to be another reason they're doing this."
Jasper's sharp eyes narrowed as he thought for a moment. "The phones weren't just taken for fun. They're tracking us. Every move we make, every conversation we have. They're watching, waiting for the perfect moment to strike again."
The group sat in silence, absorbing the weight of Jasper's words. They all knew they couldn't afford to make another mistake. But with their phones gone, communication was all but impossible. The person pulling the strings was ahead of them, and they were running out of time.
Meanwhile, in the dim room filled with CCTV screens, the man in the white shirt watched the group intently. His expression remained unreadable, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk. He knew the next move was his. The students were unaware, playing right into his hands. As the camera feed flickered, his lips curled into a cold smile. He whispered to himself, "It's only a matter of time before they break."
Back in the school, the group's frustration grew as they realized there was no way to reach out to the outside world. They were trapped. And with their phones gone, their only option was to figure out what came next—before it was too late.
The clock was ticking, and they could feel the danger closing in. Every shadow seemed to hold a new threat. Jasper's mind raced as he searched for any hint, any sign that could help them get ahead of the twisted game they were caught in. The killer was watching, the tension was rising, and they had to be ready.
The disappearance of their phones was just the beginning.
Jasper suddenly left and headed to the place where Mr. Lee was cooking. As soon as he entered, before Jasper could say anything, Mr. Lee spoke up.
"Are you accusing me? Are you going to accuse me again? What's going on?" he asked.
Jasper was confused and replied, "Our phones are missing."
Mr. Lee quickly responded, "Are you going to ask me where your phones are?" Jasper fell silent.
Mr. Lee pointed to the CCTV that was broken and no longer working. "Look at the CCTV above, it's not functioning. That psychopath is watching you," he said.
Jasper answered, "Down below?"
Mr. Lee nodded. "Someone is watching you from that hidden camera. Whatever movements you make, they will be recorded. They stole your phones so all the evidence would disappear. It's like you've vanished off the earth."
"Don't accuse me again, because I didn't kill anyone or steal your phones," Mr. Lee continued. "Actually, before Mr. Park died, I saw him. I followed him to his room. Then, I saw someone kidnap him. They hit his head with a stick, dragged him out, and I followed them. I watched as the person cut open his chest, like they were trying to steal his organs. They cut off his head and threw it in the trash. They only took his body. After that, I ran away. I was scared. Especially since I had just started working here."
He paused, looking tense. "I went to my kitchen. I broke my CCTV so they wouldn't read my movements. Before, many people died. The staff, the teachers, even the students who were on a retreat here. I was demoted. You think I seem calm because I'm hiding something? You're wrong. It's because I don't want my expressions to be read. I don't want to end up like Mr. Park."
Mr. Lee's voice became more urgent. "And remember, tomorrow, if you get the chance, you all need to escape together. I'll help you find clues."
Jasper stood still, absorbing everything that Mr. Lee had said.
Jasper quickly exited and made his way toward the front of the school, searching for his phone. As he walked, his attention was suddenly drawn to Ji Hye, who was sitting across in the neighboring building, enjoying the gentle breeze.
Jasper tried to keep his usual indifferent and unreadable demeanor, walking toward her without showing much emotion. Ji Hye, noticing him, smiled slightly. "I didn't expect to meet you here," she said, her voice soft.
Their conversation shifted toward the unsettling events that had been happening, particularly the death of Jasper's teacher.
Jasper, still maintaining his calm exterior, replied, "My teacher was killed."
Ji Hye's face turned pale with shock. "What? How... what happened?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
The two of them sat down, the conversation fading into a quiet lull as the sky slowly began to turn red with the setting sun. The cool air carried a sense of unspoken tension between them.
After a while, Jasper stood up, his movements deliberate and unhurried. He looked down at Ji Hye, his tone as indifferent as ever, but there was an underlying hint of concern in his words. "Take care of yourself. Make sure your room is locked properly," he said before turning and walking toward the neighboring building.
Ji Hye sat there for a moment, processing his words, before nodding quietly to herself. The silence that followed was heavy, the weight of the situation pressing down on them both. Jasper's departure left an eerie stillness in the air, and Ji Hye couldn't shake the feeling that something even darker was waiting to unfold.