When You Were Here ✅

ㅅLeeㅅ

We were still stuck on who the kidnapper could be. I had a pretty good idea who, but I couldn't be too sure. The last thing I wanted to do was wrongly accuse someone. A knock was heard and Jaehyun had gone to answer it. "Chanhee, is everything okay?" "Yeah. Got a few stitches..." They sat down with the others. "Also, the promise is broken." Sangyeon's face filled with worry. "Who broke it?" "No one. I was the one who snooped around and found out. I pressured them into answering."

Sangyeon sighed and Chanhee didn't look the slightest bit surprised. "Seoho wasn't a bad apple, Sangyeon would know best." He nodded as he fixed his shirt. "I don't believe Seoho owned those drugs. He was framed, I know it." "Sangyeon, who would want to frame an angel like Seoho?" He shrugged. "None of us would fathom doing something like that." Something was missing. An important piece that would make things clearer. "Everyone said a certain 4 were acting suspiciously two years ago. Is it true?" "Yeah. Youngjo, Kevin and Younghoon would sneak off somewhere and sometimes they'd meet up with Eric and go somewhere. Whenever Seoho and I talked to them, it didn't seem like their spirit was there. Just their body."

The piece I was missing. The only thing left was to find evidence to pinpoint the culprit of the kidnappings. Yet there was nothing. And who was to say that the kidnapped ones haven't kicked the bucket? I stood up then walked around the room. "I'm going out for fresh air." I left the room then sighed. I couldn't enter their rooms without the room key. Having them in the room would make things harder. I could ask the staff, but I didn't have a strong enough lie. I was stuck just like back in the beginning. I walked downstairs then sighed. "If there's any supernatural being out there, I could use some help." As expected, no kind of response. What was I expecting?

I wandered around town, asking locals if they saw anything strange the past few days. Most hadn't, and a few who have said things that weren't related to the kidnappings. How was the kidnapper able to move around undetected, especially while carrying a body? "Unless..." It could've been concealed. I decided to ask around again with this in mind. I finally met someone who had seen a person carrying a rather large bag. He pointed me towards where they headed off to. I thanked him then hurried on my way.

Nothing seemed suspicious about the block. It was visible that people lived in every house. Which meant the kidnapper had an accomplice. I couldn't just bring up the person carrying a large bag otherwise they'd get defensive. I decided on asking if they've seen a large bag that I lost. I knocked on each door and was told by one that they saw a person with one enter the first house at some point. I had already asked the person living in the first house and now I needed a way in.

ㄴㄱㄴㄱㄴㄱㄴㄱ

I quietly watched from afar hoping the kidnapper would appear. It was starting to get late after all. I noticed the person had left then left something under the flowerpot. I checked around before heading over to see what it was. "A key!" I unlocked the door then put the key back under the pot. I locked the door behind me then heard pattering on the floor. A small pomeranian appeared from around the corner. I briefly played with it before resuming my search.

I started with upstairs before making my way down. After checking everywhere above, I started to look for a basement. I finally found it then began my descent. I turned on the light and saw the 5 of them wiggling around full of life. I approached Keonhee then removed the tape off of his mouth. "Oh my god, Changmin! It was awful. My back hurts, my arms too. Ugh, my legs are becoming stiff. I undid his restraints then pulled him away from the other four. "We can't release them yet." "What? Why?"

He nodded after I explained my reasoning. We both took the tape off of their mouths. "If you want to get out of here, you're going to have to fess up." I held my phone up ready to record. They looked at each other then at me. "I think you should worry about that later. We'll have company soon." I looked at Keonhee then at them. "Who kidnapped you?" "Juyeon. I don't blame him." I looked at Youngjo who seemed to be feeling guilt. I hid with Keonhee as we waited for Juyeon to arrive.

The sound of footsteps on the floor were heard along with a familiar pattering sound. "Where's Keonhee?" "Don't know." "Bullshit. There's absolutely no way he could've freed himself." I noticed the dog had sniffed Keonhee's restraints then started sniffing around. "Doesn't matter. Sallie will find him." She started to approach us then stopped. I silently pleaded with her to walk away. She tilted her head. I sent her hearts hoping it would convince her. "Did you find him?" Juyeon started to walk over. She then turned around then sat down somewhere else.

"I'm going to convince the group to leave tomorrow and you four will be stuck down here to rot. Just like you let Seoho get locked up to rot." I knew it. Juyeon had picked up Sallie and headed back upstairs. I emerged from the shadows then looked at them. "So, what'll it be? Come clean or rot?"