진홍색 그림자 | Crimson Shadows (bbangsaz) [COMPLETE!]

VIII Hidden in Plain Sight

The city was on edge. The string of murders had taken on a life of its own, leaving the public terrified and the authorities desperate. Headlines screamed in bold letters, the same words plastered across every paper, 'The Night Stalker Strikes Again!'

Minji moved through the crowds, blending in effortlessly, her face one of many in the sea of worried expressions. She had learned to navigate the fear, to harness it as a shield that kept suspicion away from her. In the heart of the city, she was invisible.

But the thrill that once drove her was beginning to fade, replaced by something darker, more insidious. The memory of Hanni haunted her, a ghost that lingered in the corners of her mind. Every step she took was a reminder of the love she had lost and the violence that had become her only means of coping with that loss.

The police were no closer to catching her, despite their efforts. She had been meticulous, leaving no traces, no clues. Each kill was planned with surgical precision, each victim chosen carefully, almost ritualistically. But beneath the calm exterior, a storm was brewing. Minji knew she couldn't keep this up forever. The game was growing dangerous, the stakes higher with each passing day.

She made her way to the small café where she and Hanni had spent countless afternoons, the place that had once been a sanctuary now felt like a mausoleum. She sat at their usual table, ordering the same tea Hanni used to drink, her hands shaking as she lifted the cup to her lips.

The weight of her actions was beginning to press down on her, a suffocating presence she couldn't escape. Minji had become a master of deception, but the lies were starting to tangle around her, a web of her own making.

Across the street, she spotted a man watching her. His gaze was intense, unblinking. Minji felt a chill run down her spine. She set down her cup, her mind racing. Had someone finally caught on? Was this man a detective, or worse, a vigilante seeking justice?

But then he turned away, disappearing into the crowd, and Minji let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Paranoia was taking root, and she knew it. The line between reality and the shadows of her mind was blurring.

She paid for her tea and left the café, her thoughts a jumbled mess. As she walked the familiar streets, the memories of her time with Hanni overwhelmed her. The moments of laughter, the tender kisses, the promises they had made—all of it seemed like a lifetime ago.

But no matter how far she had fallen, there was no turning back. Minji had become The Night Stalker, and the only way to stop was to either be caught or to end it herself. The thought of surrendering, of letting someone else control her fate, was unbearable.

As she slipped into the night, Minji knew that she was running out of time. The city was closing in on her, and the specter of Hanni was a constant reminder of the life she had destroyed. The darkness that had once been her ally was now her greatest enemy.

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