asylum°nct dream

asylum - eleven

  Everyone gathers in the assembly area during the early, breezy morning of the 5th day of summer camp.

  Confused students grumbling about how they should be doing lake activities by now.

  "Some of you may already know why you all are called for assembly this morning but, most haven't. Late at night yesterday, we have lost a very kind and loved student, friend and brother, Kim Junho," the teacher announces using a wireless microphone.

  His voice rings through the speakers and reaches the students' ears, arising shock- pain to those who were close to him.  

  "He was found below the peak of a hill outside of camp area. He must've slipped as he was taking photos but, due to being too far from camp, no one could hear him.
  "We will take this morning to say a few words for Junho and pray for his goodness," the teacher continues. 

  They all began to give kind words and prayers to the beloved student before they all start to pack their belongings to return home- camping cut short due to the accident.

-

  Mei Lien slowly puts back her folded clothes in her luggage when she suddenly, halts- mind running.

  Knock, knock.

  She turns and sees her uncle who is in his work uniform from his meeting with Junho's parents. "You okay there, lass?"

  Lien nods before quickly stuffing the rest of her things and zipping her bag. She walks out the lodge with her uncle.

  The two of her sisters are already in their uncle's car- buses all already departed.

  "Penny for your thoughts?" The uncle of the three asks the older twin.

  The girl who is sitting behind the passenger's seat shrugs, knowing that her uncle is looking at her using the view mirror. "Nah. It's nothing."

- - -

  "You did it in the end, huh?" Mark asks when they all returned from their short school trip.

  Jaemin sighs. "I didn't want to. But, he was going too far."

  Jeno flops onto he couch, feeling worn out and stiff from the long bus ride. "You did it quick."

  "Yeah but, you're worse," Donghyuck scoffs. "Wonryul just asked for Xing's number and you poisoned him to death. You even tortured him first."

  "I say, what Jeno hyung did was right. The sooner, the better then, voila! Less things to worry about. Jaemin hyung should've did the same," Chenle comments, sitting cross-legged on their fluffy carpet of the living room.

  Jaemin nods. "Yeah, I wanted to but, it's kind of fun thinking back on all his tries to get close to Mei Lien. It's funny."

  "And now, we have to handle it. You guys know the drill, the police will try to investigate first so we gotta make something up to cut their work short," Mark says.

  Jaemin turns to Jisung who's lying on one of the couches, curled up into a ball- sleepy. "Jisung, you know what to do. I'll give you an example of Junho's handwriting for you to copy just like how you did with copying Xing's handwriting last time."

  Jisung lazily nods before flipping to his side and burying himself inside the blanket Renjun just draped over him.

- - -

  "Here you go, hyung," Jisung says and passes an envelope to Jaemin with a title on the front, death will.

  Jaemin takes the letter inside and compares the font with Junho's handwriting in his exercise book that Jaemin took.

  The resemblance is uncanny.

  He slides the letter back in and seals the envelope securely before pinching Jisung's cheeks. "Good job, Sungie-ah!"

  The latter pulls away and scrunches up his nose in slight annoyance before walking back into his room and shutting the door.

  Jaemin's eyes glint and he pulls on the hood of his black hoodie and wears his black mask- heading towards the door.

-

  Junho's house is currently vacant since his parents are both still out, handling his cremation.

  Jaemin easily enters the house by picking the lock before heading upstairs to Junho's room.

  It's silent and lifeless, just like its owner.

  Jaemin takes out the letter from his pocket and inserts it in between the books arranged on Junho's study desk.

  Grinning wickedly. Heartless.

- - -

  The three sisters and their uncle sit at the dining table, having a nice family dinner.

  All of them eat in silence when Mei Lien decides to break it. "We just moved in the school and I've already heard a lot of stories about it. Now, something actually, did happen. I was just friends with him."

  Mei Lien feels an unknown sense of guilt in her heart and her grip on her fork tightens as her hand shakes.

  Her sisters and uncle comfort her when something about what she said crosses Joon's mind.

  "What things have you heard about the school?" He asks.

  Mei Lien plays with her noodles, not really having an appetite. "Just some rumours. But, I'm not sure whether they're true or not. One of my classmates told me about this story about a girl, Seolla, who was popular.
  "Then, she broke up with her boyfriend and got all depressed and mad. In the end, she was found hanging in her room with cuts all over her body."

  Taejoon coughs and starts choking on his noodles. Mei Zhen quickly passes him his water.

  "Well, that, is very unfortunate. Which friend told you this again?" Taejoon questions while wiping his mouth.

  Mei Lien finally, inhales a single strand of noodles. "Jaemin."

- - -

  The line on the other end rings and Taejoon anxiously taps his foot on the floor of the balcony while holding his phone up to his ear.

  Cold is the late night and the sisters are all fast asleep.

  "Hello?" The other line picks up and Taejoon's head instantly, raises.

  "Hey, Jongmin. It's me, Taejoon. About the case from 2 years ago, the case about Seolla, the student, I think, we need to revive it."

  "What? Why?"

  "Because, I think I might have found a suspect."

  "Why would you think that? Did you find evidence?"

  "Not for sure but, we kept all the details of the crime confidential yet, someone from the school knows that she had slits all over her body," Taejoon explains.

  Taejoon's friend, Jongmin, gasps and raises from his bed, suddenly, awake. "But, that's impossible! We only told the public that she hung herself! Even, her parents wouldn't say anything about it! Who is this suspect?"

  "I believe it's Na Jaemin, Seolla's ex boyfriend."