The secrets we keep| 2min

chapter 1

2021

Mrs. Choi's hands trembled as she entered the password to her brother's home, a sense of excitement and joy filling her heart. It was New Year's Day, and the whole family had gathered to celebrate. But as she pushed open the door and stepped inside, her world was shattered.

The living room was bathed in blood, the bodies of her brother, younger sister, and brother-in-law lying lifeless on the floor. Deep scars marred their hearts, a grim testament to the violence that had unfolded. Mrs. Choi's eyes widened in horror as she took in the scene, her mind reeling in shock.

And then, she saw Minho.

Her 22-year-old autistic nephew sat on the sofa, his eyes fixed on a thread he was playing with. His expression was blank, devoid of any emotion. He seemed completely disconnected from the carnage around him. But what caught Mrs. Choi's attention was the blood on Minho's head, a stark contrast to his otherwise pale face. It was as if he had been in the midst of the violence, but his eyes told a different story.

As Mrs. Choi watched, Minho began to make different patterns with the thread, his fingers moving in a slow, deliberate motion. He was rocking in his place, a gentle back-and-forth motion that seemed to be the only thing that brought him comfort.

Mrs. Choi's heart raced as she approached Minho, her mind racing with questions.

"Minho, what's going on?" Mrs. Choi asked, her voice shaking.

But Minho didn't respond. He just kept playing with the thread, his eyes fixed on it with an unnerving intensity. The patterns he was making grew more complex, more intricate, as if he was trying to create something beautiful amidst the carnage.

Just then, Mr. Choi entered the house, His eyes widened in shock as he took in the scene, his mind struggling to comprehend the horror before him. "What happened?" He asked his voice laced with fear.

As Mrs. Choi watched, Minho kept playing with the thread, his eyes fixed on it with an unnerving intensity. Minho's rocking grew more intense, his body swaying back and forth in a rhythmic motion. It was as if he was trying to block out the reality of what had happened, to escape into a world of his own creation.

Mrs. Choi's eyes locked onto Minho, her voice barely above a whisper. "Minho, I think Minho killed them."

2024

A young man dressed in crisp white shirt and black trousers stood at the door of the mental asylum, his heart racing with anticipation. He had heard rumors about this place, whispers of beauty and horror, and he was determined to uncover the truth. He knocked on the door once, and a lady opened it, her smile warm and inviting.

"Hello, I'm Doctor Kim," he said, flashing his card. "I'm here for the inspection of this asylum."

The lady's eyes widened in recognition, and she stepped aside to let him in. "Of course, everyone knows you, Doctor Kim. Please, come in."

As he entered the asylum, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. The building was beautiful, like a grand mansion, with sweeping staircases and crystal chandeliers. But as he looked closer, he saw the signs of decay, the peeling paint and the worn carpets.

The asylum was surrounded by a forest, the trees towering above the building like sentinels. The air was thick with the scent of pine and the sound of birdsong. But despite the peaceful surroundings, Doctor Kim couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

This beautiful place was holding some very ugly secrets because every now and then, a patient would take their own life, their despair and hopelessness becoming too much to bear. The asylum's walls seemed to whisper tales of tragedy and loss, of lives cut short by the cruel hand of fate.

The lady's smile was like a ray of sunshine, bright and cheerful, but it faltered for a moment as she gazed at Doctor Kim's stern expression. "Well, I am Park Hwan Hee, the manager here," the lady introduced herself, her voice confident and professional.

But Doctor Kim ignored her, his attention consumed by the eerie atmosphere of the asylum. He was too engrossed in observing the asylum.

" this asylum is nothing like you've heard," she said, her voice dripping with enthusiasm. "We maintain it very well, and our patients are really happy here."

Doctor Kim's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing through the lady's cheerful facade. "Well, it's for me to decide," he said curtly, his voice like a slap in the face.

The lady's smile awkwardly faltered, and she fidgeted with her hands. "Well, yes, of course," she stammered. "We, uh, we take care of the patients very well here. The rich people come here, their families have a lot of money, and they send them to us. We, uh, we take care of them."

Doctor Kim's eyes seemed to bore into the lady's soul, as if he could see the secrets she was hiding behind her cheerful smile. "I see," he said, his voice dripping with skepticism.

"How many patients do you have here?" Doctor Kim asked, his eyes scanning the room.

"We have six patients here," the lady replied, her smile faltering for a moment.

"Hmm," Doctor Kim responded, his eyes narrowing as he looked around the room.

As Doctor Kim looked around a room his eyes landed on a girl, She was wearing a long frock that reached down to her ankles, and her hair was open and moving freely just above her small back. But it was her expression that caught his attention - she looked serious, with an intensity in her eyes that made him feel like she was seeing right through him.

The girl's eyes were fixed on Doctor Kim, and he could feel her gaze like a weight on his skin. she was watching him with a fierce concentration, her eyes burning with an inner fire.

As he looked at her, the girl began to move towards him, her steps slow and deliberate. Her eyes never left his face, and Doctor Kim felt like he was being drawn into their intensity, like he was being pulled into a vortex of emotion.

"You have three days," she said, her voice low and serious. "Go back now, or you will be killed just like the others who came here."

Doctor Kim's eyes widened in surprise as the girl's words hung in the air. He felt a shiver run down his spine as he realised that something was very wrong here.

But before he could respond, a nurse came running up and took the girl's arm. "Sorry about that," the nurse said, her face flushed with embarrassment. "She's been acting out a lot lately."

The girl struggled and pulled away, her eyes fixed on Doctor Kim. "You have three days!" she yelled again, her voice ringing down the hallway. "Go back now, or you will be killed!"

Doctor Kim watched in shock as the nurse finally managed to lead the girl away, her warnings still echoing in his mind. He felt like he had just witnessed something truly disturbing.

The lady smiled awkwardly and touched his arm. "Ignored her," she said. "She's like that sometimes. Shall we go and meet Mr. Bangchan?"

Doctor Kim nodded his head, still feeling a little stunned from the encounter. He followed the lady down the hallway, his heart pounding in his chest. What was going on here? He had a feeling that he was about to uncover something truly sinister.