𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐟 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 || 𝐭𝐚𝐞𝐤𝐨𝐨𝐤 ✓

EP40: Heartbeats in hiding

Jungkook's presence in the hospital room was palpable, his eyes reflecting a storm of thoughts. The room's ambient quietude was abruptly interrupted by the insistent vibration of Jungkook's neglected phone, resting on the edge of Elvira's bedside table. Elvira, who had been quietly observing him, brought him back to reality.

"Jungkook... your phone," she gently interjected, her voice piercing through his contemplative silence.

Jungkook's distant gaze snapped into focus, his hand instinctively reaching for the buzzing phone as the screen illuminated with urgency. The crackling voice of Lee on the other end pierced through the quiet, delivering news that sent a shiver down Jungkook's spine. "Jungkook, they've found it," Lee's words carried a weight that echoed through the phone. "The investigation team found a decomposed body, buried in Ju Ho's garden. They've taken it for the autopsy."

Surprise and concern etched deep lines on Jungkook's face. He assured Lee of his swift return back to the car shortly; leaving Elvira's bedside with a hurried goodbye hanging in the air. The hospital corridor transformed into a blur as Jungkook sprinted towards the elevator, each step echoing the urgency of the unfolding mystery.

The metallic doors of the elevator sealed him in, and as it descended with a mechanical hum, Jungkook's phone rang once more. Taehyung's name glowed on the screen.

Breathless, Jungkook hastily answered the call, "Taehyung, I can't talk for long. I'm caught up in something urgent-" Taehyung's voice, tinged with fear, cut through the air in a hushed whisper.

"Ju Ho is at our home, and he's acting quite strangely," Taehyung urgently confided, the weight of concern evident in his words. "I'm scared, Jungkook. Please come home quickly."

"Be careful and do not approach him! I'll be there soon."

Jungkook's heart raced as he felt the urgency to get back home. Swiftly moving out of the elevator and heading towards his car, he urgently instructed Lee to drive him home. "Take the shortest route to Blackwood! Quick!"

The realization hit him hard - the killer's pattern had already hinted that the next victim's name would be starting with 'T,' and Taehyung seemed to be at a serious risk.

The weight of the situation pressed heavily on Jungkook as he connected the pieces of the puzzle. His existing suspicions about Ju Ho being the killer now transformed into heightened certainty. Ju Ho's unexpected presence at their home felt more calculated than coincidental. The chilling revelation that Taehyung, whose name aligned with the killer's pattern, was likely the next target deepened the gravity of the situation. The need to reach home became even more urgent, understanding that time was crucial to protect Taehyung and his family from the impending threat back at home.

-

Taehyung continued tending to the warmth of his kitchen, the enticing scents of Taehee's favorite dishes enveloping the air. As he stirred a pot on the stove, the echoes of Taehee's laughter resonated from the bedroom, mingling with the nanny's lively conversations. Jungkook's considerate decision to hire a nanny provided a comforting backdrop, assuring Taehyung that his children were in good hands.

In the midst of this domestic symphony, Jungkook's voice cut through the harmonious atmosphere, but instead of its usual comforting tone, it sounded strangely off-unnatural and creepy. "My doll, where are you?" he called out. Taehyung furrowed his brow, a sense of unease settling in at Jungkook's unsettling tone.

Turning off the gas stove, Taehyung cautiously ventured into the living room, where his confusion deepened. There stood Ju Ho, facing away from him, and Jungkook's voice continued to sound strange and eerie. Was Ju Ho really talking in Jungkook's voice? Because Jungkook was nowhere to be seen.