The Box (A Twice AU)

Path 2 - Use the gun, Jeongyeon [2nd out of 3 endings]

Nayeon looked back and forth between the water rushing, the gun on Jeongyeon's waist and the door. She approached the taller girl and hugged her.
"Jeongyeon. What do you think?"
"Do you have any idea?" Jeongyeon asked her.
"I do. But you won't like it." Nayeon whispered.
"I'm willing to try anything at this point." the younger replied.
"Okay." Nayeon said. She took the gun from Jeongyeon's waist and put it in her hand.
"What?" the cop was puzzled.
"You want to find out who took us? There's only one way we can."
"Nayeon, you're speaking in riddles."
"Do you remember what the voice said in the beginning on what would it take for that door to open?"
"Find and kill the murderer. But neither of us are."
"The other one, Jeong."
"What other one?"

Jeongyeon's eyebrows knitted in confusion. Nayeon patiently waited, the water reaching their waist already.

It was a few moments before Jeongyeon realised what Nayeon was implying.
"No. No. No. Fuck no! I would RATHER DROWN here than do that!" She adamantly refused.
"Jeongyeon, you want to bring the true killer to justice? THAT monster outside, is the true killer here for what has been done. KILL ME and you get to that person, bring them to justice in whichever way you prefer."
"I- I can't Nayeon. You're sacrificing too much. I'm supposed to protect you!" Jeongyeon shouted. Nayeon held Jeongyeon's cheeks.
"Listen to me"
"No."
"BABY! LISTEN!" Nayeon shouted. "YOU MUST! WHOEVER THAT ASSHOLE IS! PUT A BULLET TO HIS HEAD FOR ME! BUT BEFORE THAT, YOU HAVE TO LET ME GO!" she explained.
"Nayeon. Please don't make me do it." Jeongyeon was in tears. "I can't. I just found you. I can't. I can't kill you." she has her eyes closed, tears flowing. The water was almost to their neck.
"Baby." She heard Nayeon's voice near her ear. "Sometimes, decisions aren't ours to make."

BANG!

Jeongyeon let lose her emotions as she opened her eyes and saw Nayeon, blood oozing from her chest and hands holding the gun in Jeongyeon's hand. Despite it all, Nayeon was still sporting her reassuring smile. A smile that made you feel secure and safe. Yet Jeongyeon felt nothing but pain and hurt.
Nayeon's body slumped and floated on the water. Jeongyeon held onto her and cried. She heard the metal door opening but she didn't care. She had aspirations, dreams involving the girl now lifeless in her arms. Something she never thought possible until she has met her, and now she was lost...

She looked at the figure standing at the door in disdain.
"You. Of course it was you. I should have known." She sobbed before she raised her gun...



[a few days later]


Mina watched the news on the hospital bed, they were found by police a few days ago. All tired, almost dead and starving. In a few weeks, Chaeyoung and the others will be buried. Next to her were Sana, Dahyun and Jihyo's bed.
Sana and Dahyun were sleeping, but she and Jihyo were wide awake. Alert for any news concerning Jeongyeon and Nayeon. Eventually, something caught Mina's interest.

"Body of cop and professor found dead next to each other." The headline went.
"The bodies of Professor Im Nayeon and renowned cop, Lieutenant Yoo Jeongyeon were found dead next to each other as police investigated the location of the event now called by many as 'the Red Room Incident'. Professor Im was found to have a bullet wound on her heart and Lieutenant Yoo was found shot in the head. The bullets found were shot from the gun found in the scene, a Glock 19 9mm pistol. Police are still investigating whether the gun was fired by someone else, or a case of mutual suicide. More of that, stay tuned here on News 9"

Mina closed her eyes in sadness.

Jihyo was just saddened by it all.

Their survival was a farce, and their freedom came with too much trade-offs.

Where do we even go from here?

//END