Psychotic Photographer | J.H

°circa 6

"Bloody hell!" I shrieked with rapid palpitation of my heart. To my horror, I dragged my feet backwards until I bumped my shoulder to someone's chest; increasing the exertion of my heartbeat and whirled around in agitation.

"Miss, it's alright," I focused my gaze to a young man; carrying a genial smile and grasping both of my arms. My once tensed body have gradually calmed down and somehow bobbed my head.

"I was just preparing the dead body for my client's post-mortem photo taking later. Take a seat first," The photographer gestured his hand to the armchair nearby. I promptly took a seat and watched him getting a black kit from the table.

"So, are you here for the memento photo?" He asked.

"Yes Mr. Jung." I replied with courtesy.

He chuckled to my reply and said, "Stop with the formality, just call me Hoseok,"

I showed him a weak smile as he moved near the standing dead body. Hoseok opened the kit and started to brush the lady's cheeks delicately; putting cream blushes to make her face lively and fresh.

"I'm sorry but, could you please wait for the photo? I'm really in hurry setting this up before they come here in few minutes." He informed, finishing touches to her cheeks.

I nodded and replied, "Sure no problem."

As silence ensued between us, Hoseok put the kit back on the table and then his hands went to a metal stand behind the dead body. He was adjusting the clips and clamping them to the back of her waist—keeping the body in standing still. Feeling bored, I looked to my hands; scrutinizing my well-polished clear nails.

"Ms. Lee," He called. My eyes still lingering to my nails and made an audible hum as my respond instead.

"Would you mind if you hold this for a moment?" I shot my head up and saw his troubled look, noticing his hands holding another pair of clips near the nape of her neck; waiting to be held by me.

I stood up and gladly helped him by keeping the clips open, even though I feel uncomfortable near the dead body. My fingers brushes to his as Hoseok raised the lady's braided long hair and instructed me to clamp them gently around her nape. He curved his lips upward as if applauding my well-done deed before he released her hair.

"Who's she?" I asked all of a sudden. He adjusted the clips a bit and walked away from the body.

"She's the recent victim of that notorious serial killer," He replied casually.

Hoseok went to his standing camera as he took a thin glass plate from the table and inserted it inside its back. Intrigued, I neared beside him and watched him peering through his camera. He then looked at me with a grin plastered on his face.

"Do you want to know how photography is taken with this?" I vigorously nodded my head like a perky child.

Therefore, Hoseok explained it to me briefly about the glass plates needed for capturing the view. It will be then coated with a mixture of silver bromide and should be stored until exposure. Thus, generating the plates to appear in negative image and ready for development as a photo.

Not too long, a few of individuals—mostly wearing black clothes entered the room. He greeted them accordingly and motioned his hand to stand beside the dead body; parents on the dead body's left side while the two girls at the other side. Just like what he did to my family, capturing them took several minutes with their expected frowning and emotionless expressions.

When his job was finally done and transported the young lady's body out of his studio, Hoseok immediately went upstairs to claim our memento photo. I was zoning out for a moment before I heard incoming footsteps and saw him with a small package wrapped in brown paper in his hand. He was smiling at first as he comes towards to me but suddenly, he instantly frowned when his eyes shifted to my hands.

Hoseok put the package down on the table and gently held my hands into his. I was totally confused to his bizarre action until he flipped them back; catching a view of narrow scars visible on my wrists.

"I-it's not a big deal I was a little clumsy when I got them." I made an excuse with a half-suppressed laugh although he seems ignoring me.

I noticed his eyes soften for a moment and subsequently he snapped his eyes to me with a cheery smile again on his face. Hoseok released my hands and gave me the brown package like nothing happened.

"I think you should go now or else your mother would be worried about you." He reminded.

I bobbed my head and showed him half-smile before I completely left the studio. On my way to the waiting carriage, I halted myself and glanced back to his studio; recalling that weird scenario with him and creeped me out at the same time.