In a Maze...

Chapter 20

Mark was barely conscious when he was brought to the emergency room. Jinyoung remained outside it, while the other detectives were away, to see that Yong Jungsoo was also sent to an emergency room.

Jinyoung was still shaken by everything that had happened and the image of Mark having been hurt and almost got stabbed. He paced about the corridor not being able to calm himself down.

Both his hands and white shirt were stained with Mark's blood and that traumatised him. If the detective's shot had been just a second late. He dared not imagine what would be happening to Mark now. If ever he lost Mark, he would never forgive himself. Because of his carelessness, not having tried to find out that email could be a trap, they all had been brought to this situation. But even if it had not been now, it would still have been sooner or later that Yong Jungsoo would have attempted to kill him.

Jinyoung took glances at the operation room but could see nothing of the inside. His heart was racing with every minute passed. It was driving him crazy.

After a while, he saw the three detectives walking to him and they stopped before him.

"He'll be okay, Jinyoung-ssi. It's not a life-threatening wound," Hyunwoo said, with a reassuring tone.

"He's lost lots of blood," Jinyoung muttered. He was about to pace about the corridor again, out of restlessness, when he was gripped on the shoulder by another detective.

"Calm down," Seongho soothed Jinyoung, "You've been shocked too. Give your mind some rest."

Jinyoung looked at each of the detectives and could see worry in their eyes as well. But obviously they were stronger than him when facing such kind of situation. He mumbled a 'thanks' and went to sit down on the steel bench nearby. They also seated themselves at the opposite bench and once in a while, glanced at the emergency room.

Jinyoung felt quite encouraged by their presence but the picture of Mark's colourless face and his bloody arm did not escape his mind. When he thought of Yong Jungsoo, his blood was boiled with anger.

How that man could hold grudge and hatred for years, he could not imagine. His cruelty had caused many innocent people to die. Jinyoung had not had much affection for his stepmother and stepbrother but he knew they had not deserved death, for something they had had no knowledge of. He felt sorry for them. Suppose his own parents had been killed; he could not endure even the thought.

And his uncle. He regretted that they had not been in good terms before this tragedy. As for uncle Younghwan, he might have been quite heartless towards his friend back then but what he had had to pay back had been much higher then he had deserved.

After about more than an hour, the emergency room door was slid open and a doctor in his surgery uniform came out. Jinyoung got up to his feet at the sight of the doctor and the other detectives also moved.

"The patient, Mark Tuan," the doctor started and the other four people's undivided attention was on him, "He's alright now. But guests aren't allowed tonight as he's still unconscious."

Jinyoung sat slowly back on the bench, letting out a deep, relieved sigh and his head became clear. The doctor disappeared into the room again and the three detectives came to Jinyoung.

"You should go back home and take a rest, Jinyoung-ssi. I guess, tomorrow, they may allow the guests. By the way, I'm Minsoo, who along with Mark, and Seongho and Hyunwoo here, has been investigating this serial murder case."

They introduced themselves to each other and Jinyoung thanked them for saving Mark.

"Actually, we should apologise to you. Yong Jungsoo was right, we were brainless. You were the only one we kept on our suspect list, even when Mark somehow persuaded us that we could be on the wrong track and you could be innocent. And we kept you under surveillance without your knowledge. We're sorry about that, Jinyoung-ssi," Seongho said.

"At least we could save a victim," Hyunwoo added.

Jinyoung had had no knowledge about him having been under surveillance. The information was new to him, but he felt it was no more of a matter now.

"Maybe, because of the surveillance, he tried to lure me out and kill me somewhere else," Jinyoung mused, "But I don't get why he didn't kill me immediately like the previous murders."

"That's a murderer thing," Hyunwoo said, "He wanted to let someone know how he had killed the people. His pride. And you were the last person to kill and I think, he wanted to savour that time before his last murder."

"Yes," Minsoo agreed, "That's what serial murderers often do."

"Anyway, there's nothing anymore you need to worry about. If necessary, you'll have to testify as the witness. But there's just that. No more suspicions and you can go back to your normal life."

Seongho was reassuring Jinyoung but that 'going back to his normal life' somehow dismayed him. Everything was clear now and he would no longer be an interesting subject in Mark's eyes. Would Mark ever be a part of his life again?

"We're leaving now," Minsoo said, "You'll also go back home, Jinyoung-ssi? Your car has already been brought here."

"I'll," Jinyoung muttered, "Thank you for everything."

"You should say that to Mark," Hyunwoo said, with a smile, "And come back here tomorrow morning. You're the first person he'll want to see."

"Let's go."

Jinyoung left the hospital together with them and they parted inside the car park. On the way back home, he had the mixed feelings of both relief and emptiness.