The Sinners

Sin: part 6 (d)

Joshua's face suddenly popped into my head. He was alone.

 I gulped, "De-Details?"

"A fisherman found the body in the lake. He reported it on the police emergency number five minutes prior. Says it's a guy in his mid-twenties," Wonwoo briefed.

 After hearing the last sentence, I couldn't help but constantly think about Joshua. It's not him. It can't be him. He's at home. I was assuring myself. Nobody knew he was at my house! He's alive and safe. He is.....he is for sure. 

I felt a strange ache in my chest, but it was no time to get worked up. "Let's go to the location... asap," I ordered. 

On the way, I called on Joshua's contact repeatedly. The phone kept on ringing but was never picked up. I left him texts, but no response. Goddamnit! Where is he?! Why isn't he answering?

My heartbeat was rapidly increasing with every kilometer we were getting closer to the lake. I want to go back to my house right now and confirm he's there.

The dream I got the other day about how someone was carving symbols on his arm, flashed before my eyes once again, leaving a lump in my throat. Unwillingly, all the last time we spent together, his laughs, his sulky pout, our kiss, every scene was flooding my mind. I wasn't able to stop my constant thoughts. Did someone break into my house? In broad daylight? But it's only been two hours since I left. How can it be possible? It's enough time to do a murder though. No way...

 I squeezed my eyes, O Lord! Please prove me wrong, please, please. Anyone but him, please.

"Jeonghan?" Mingyu called.

I gasped, "Y-Yeah?"

"We're here," 

I didn't realize when we reached there. I have to keep it professional. Stick to the rule, Jeonghan— no getting emotional at work. Stay stoic! Even if it's him.

I got out of the car and walked with the others, some locals and fishermen were still there with their nets. I could spot a drenched body lying at the bank of the lake from afar. I broke into sweats, my heart was hammering so hard against my rib cage. I'm feeling like throwing up. How will I be able to handle it if what I'm thinking is true?

No. No. No. No. Please, no. No. Not him. It was the only words in my head on repeat. Usually, I'm the one leading these scenes, but today I was walking with heavy steps behind everyone.

 Seungkwan got there first, his voice gave me hope when he said after seeing the dead, "Who's he?"

With courage, I glimpsed at the face. My eyes shut on their own. I released a slow breath, feeling a burden was removed from my chest. Thank you, thank you, thank you... a small unnoticeable smile came to my lips. Well, there's a dead body in front of me, I should be serious.

"Look, he has the same strange signs on his arm," Mingyu's voice got my attention. 

 I went nearer and observed the corpse scrutinizingly. Oh, poor soul! Murder was done like the previous one, by slitting the throat and inscribing the same language on his arm which means the murderer is the same person, but the letters were looking different this time. ᚠᚩᚱᚷᛁᚠᛖ ᚢᛋ