Strangers From Hell

Dignified Uncertainty

Making it this far was an accident. Not that he had a plan. Any radical thought was plagued by impulsive actions and inexplicable anger. Navigating his next steps seemed impossible with nothing but a shell left to dictate movement. What even happened?

Jong-woo stood in the area outside the hospital with his arms by his side. His head was tilted upwards as rain began to fall. His eyes were held open as though transfixed by the sky, unfazed by the heavy rainfall cascading down his face. It was raining that night. The night where his life was unfolded, the moment that solidified the knowledge that he had really gone crazy. He couldn't form pictures, only emotions: anger, hatred and pity.

Pity.
He really felt pity for those people?

After all, the deluded gap between his neighbours on the first meeting slowly decreased as the days went on. Jong-woo found himself to have a deeper understanding of them which was a scary but also comforting thought to him. No - he could never be grouped with them, he is nothing like them. The hatred began to rise again.

Well, he thought, they're gone now.

Once again, not acknowledging fully it was the product of his own anger, he remembers now that it wasn't Moon-jo who murdered them, it was him. Though taking responsibility inwardly was enough for Jong-woo.

The recovering of his wounds was not sufficient enough, it only gave him time in the hospital to reflect on what really happened that day. Pushing past his denial led him to question why he denied it, what purpose did that serve, whether or not he should wear it with pride? It would have made him feel sick to his stomach that pride could be associated with the killing of those at Eden Residence long ago or any killing for that matter. But now, he was proud, finding joy in the fact they were gone! The source of the hell he endured is surely gone.

'Um, Jong-w-'

People he couldn't make out rushed past him in the rain, umbrellas covering their faces, not that that mattered anyway. They're just people. The only recognisable thing here was that voice-

'Jong-woo, are you okay?'

Jong-woo didn't turn to look at her but he instantly knew who it was. It was the police officer who was trapped in the Eden Residence. Although the rest was hazy, he remembered her vividly.

'It's Eun-jin, a-are you okay?' she hesitantly repeated.

He saw everything in detail now. From the viciously swaying trees to the floor almost submerged in water. He became sensitive to the pressure of each individual raindrop on his legs and arms as he realised he only wore borrowed shorts and t-shirt in a size too small for him.

The warmth of the area had dissipated with the heavy cloud coverage above, casting no light onto the pavement nor himself. Car headlights were turned on in an attempt to see more clearly but to no avail. The whole pace of the street had changed and erupted into chaos. People are so caught up in their own lives, the state of their hair when they get into work or their soaked jackets they'll struggle to get dry, that they never take notice of those around them.  All Jong-woo could do was focus on everyone else as to not bring to surface his thoughts once again, striving mainly for innate drives to show him the path.

'Yes I am' was simply all he said to her failing to address the look of unease spread across her face. All he took notice to was the umbrella that she held above her head, almost dragging her away as the prevailing winds swept up the street.

Eun-jin knew. She knew what acts Jong-woo had committed at the Eden Residence that night. Even though he didn't bear the teeth bracelet now, she's seen it on and off him for days as though he was deciding whether to wear it or not. Eventhough partially knocked out, the sound of the bracelet was definitely involved in the killing of Nam-Bok. Was it to save her life? Or... she can never be sure.