𝐌𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 || 𝐉.𝐉𝐊

9• 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐦 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐦

Jungkook was heading towards the Busan Central Police Station along with Jimin, Yuri and a few other cops. The dead body of the hooded man was sent to the forensics.
As he looked out of the window, he saw the closed shutters of local shops. A graffiti pattern on one read, “Beware of your enemies, they might be closer than you think.”

Maybe he was paranoid, but he glanced at everyone who was with him inside the car. Jimin was visibly struggling to control his anger, his fists had become white due the force he applied and Jungkook also observed a few nail scratches. The driver was focusing on the road and Jungkook couldn't even see him well, but the other three cops were talking amongst themselves about all the events. Yuri was still motionless. Numb even. Though, Jungkook didn't try to comfort her this time.

The word of the cops and Yuri was recorded in a file under the case of ‘The Killer’. Jungkook was engrossed in his thoughts when someone tapped on his shoulder. It was Jimin.

“Do you think that was actually not the killer? What if, what if he was? And maybe that's why he died without anyone killing him,” Jimin said with partial belief.

“It was too easy to catch him. If he was actually the killer, he would have escaped with no traces. That's what makes it hard to believe.” Jungkook groaned. He was tired. Tired of everything.

“But what if you're just overthinking?” Jimin asked.

“That's another what if to add to my already long list.” Jungkook smiled. But that smile didn't carry happiness.

“Sorry.” Jimin didn't know what to say. He himself didn't fully believe that hooded man to be the true killer, but he wanted him to be. He wished that the whole case ended right there and they could live peacefully.

They stayed at the police station for a while but soon went home.
The next day, the forensics report was handed over to Jungkook. It was clear that the man had consumed a poison that affected the body slowly but strongly. There were minor details of the change in colour of the man’s whole body due to the poison. Jungkook's faith grew firm. He was nearly sure that the killer was alive and well, planning the next attack. Hidden amongst the commoners.

Home is supposed to be a place where you feel safe. But no one in Busan felt safe, maybe except for the innocent kids who didn't know about the matter. In that fear, time passed.It had been two weeks since Jungkook got the case. Two weeks since they caught the man in Yuri’s house. And two weeks since he died.

Nothing happened.

Everyone was shocked at how easily they caught the killer. Most people began to believe that the killer was actually dead. A sense of relief clouded the minds of people. But as they say, clouds of relief or bliss might be those of ignorance.

Jungkook still stood firm on his belief. The problem was that he couldn't prove it. He had clues about the real killer’s identity. And he was sure no one did. But suddenly, something struck his brain. The pieces of the mirror. They were blackened at some points.

His sudden shift in demeanour left Jimin, who was drinking coffee on Jungkook's living room’s couch, confused. Poor guy was trying to enjoy a Sunday, but till the day his best friend was Jungkook, he wouldn't enjoy any Sunday. That meant he'd never enjoy a Sunday again.

“Hyung hyung hyung!” Jungkook exclaimed as he jumped onto the couch.

“Hyung? Jungkook, are you okay? You- you called me Hyung?” Jimin dramatically widened his eyes and placed his coffee on the table.

“Shut up shortie.” Jimin glared at him.

“Okay so I thought of something. Something related to the killer. He left pieces of mirrors at every place I was. And I have them all. So, what if there's something written on them?”

“They're tiny shards, what would be written on them?” Jimin tilted his head in confusion.

“God, you're so dumb, how did you become a cop?” Jungkook made a disgusting face which caused Jimin to slap him.

“Okay listen. The mirrors are blackened at some places. What if they form a pattern? What if it's a puzzle? What if I find a clue?” he said in a rushed manner.

“Those tiny shits don't feel like no puzzle to me.”

“Whatever, I’ll still try, lemme concentrate!”

“Okay, you C-O-N-C-E-N-T-R-A-T-E and I’ll C-O-O-K,” Jimin said while spelling out the words before moving to the kitchen.

“Make some kimbap for me!” Jungkook yelled from the living room.

“This ain't no restaurant bastard, I’ll make what I’ll make.”

Jungkook scoffed before he went to bring all the pieces of mirrors to the table. He began arranging them in various methods, in various patterns. Nothing seemed to give a message. But he was sure there was something behind those shards. He wasn't going to leave it easily.

He kept trying. One day. Two days. Three days. Soon, a week passed. He found himself on the floor trying to solve the puzzle on another Sunday. This time though, Jimin wasn't there beside him trying to annoy him. By then, he was sure it was a puzzle. And things had started to make sense. He even formed the letter ‘O’ with those mirror pieces.
An hour passed, then two. He was still concentrating. An instinct told him he was going to find an answer. An answer that couldn't wait for another sunrise.

“Hey Kookie, I bought some cookies!” Jimin said in a sing-song voice as he entered the living room. He had the spare key to Jungkook's house and thus entered without ringing the bell.

“I did it!” Jungkook yelled, scaring Jimin.

“What happened brother? Why are you screaming?” Jimin’s face carried a judgemental expression.

“The shards, they were actually a puzzle. I finally solved it.”

“Oh is it? What does it say?” Jimin kept the cookies on the table and went forward to see the mirrors on the floor.

‘Home’ was written on those mirrors.

“Home? What does it even mean?” Jimin was visibly confused.

“That's what I wonder. Home, why is home written on them?”

“Don't think too much, it's not like the dead killer will raid your home. It's been three weeks since he died. Have the cookies.”

“Oh no, this- this can't happen…” Jungkook's voice trembled as he ran towards the main door and put on his shoes.

“Hey, where are you going!?” Jimin screamed before following him.

“Tell me, what happened? Why did you run?” Jimin asked and grabbed his arm to stop Jungkook.

“I knew, I knew the killer was pretending to be dead! I knew that was the calm before the storm!”

Finally an update for this book. I'm sorry to keep y'all waiting.