Chapter 71 - You are still resisting it, my dear Hana

"No, Ji Won didn't come here."

Jung Kwang-soo turns pale when he hears the words on the call. At morning, Bo Ji Won left home for her appointment with her doctor. But, she didn't reach there even now. Bo Ji Won's husband called her later, but she didn't pick up. After some time, her phone turned dead. He became suspicious. He has been calling her friends and relatives. It hasn't been 24 hours yet.

"We are coming."

Jung Kwang-soo has a bad feeling that the disappearance might be connected to the killer. Ahn Hana guesses what might have happened. The change in her eyes is instant. The darkness is swept away by slight concern.

"We have to find Ji Won." Jung Kwang-soo types a text on his phone and sends it to Do Sejin. He can't leave Hana alone in the house. Ahn Hana takes the knife and hides it inside her clothes.

As soon as he unlocks the door, a knife delves into his gut. Jung Kwang-soo looks down at the blood gushing out of his body. The killer is masked, dressed in tight leather clothes. The second stab comes instantly. Jung Kwang-soo turns around and screams, "Ahn Hana, run."

Ahn Hana widens her eyes, but she doesn't run. She clenches the hilt of the knife and charges at the killer. He pushes away Jung Kwang-soo and grabs her wrist. Her hand is twisted until the knife falls down. The killer kicks away the knife and laughs lowly. "My dead Hana, you have gone naughty."

Her body becomes stiff. "I am sorry."

He puts the cloth over Ahn Hana's nose. The As she closes her eyes, he leans closer to her ear and murmur, "You can lie to the world, but you can't lie to me."

Jung Kwang-soo manages to press the speed dial before he closes his eyes.

***

The sound of stifled cries wakes her up. When her hazy vision clears away, her eyes meet Bo Ji Won's eyes. She's tied to a metal chair with an iron chain. Her mouth is taped. Ahn Hana finds herself in a similar situation. But, she's tied with a rope.

Ahn Hana looks around. She finds herself in an unfamiliar place. The sunlight is pouring in through the small ventilation. The floor is clean. How long she has been here?

She glances at Bo Ji Won with her haunted eyes. "Did he hurt you?"

"Did he say something?"

Bo Ji Won shakes her head again. The panic and terror in her eyes are contaminating Ahn Hana's mind. She doesn't want to be frightened. One can't think clearly with a frightened mind. She needs to free herself first.

Ahn Hana didn't think that the killer will take this kind of action. She did everything to fool him and lure him out. She wanted to make him believe that she loved him back. She had been investigating for the past year. She sat down and looked through her memories to find anyone who fit the killer's profile. But, she couldn't think of anyone. She couldn't remember anyone who could be like that. She could have stayed hidden for life, but she was afraid that the killer would find her and her child. Her disturbing thoughts didn't help her either.

There were times when she wanted to embrace the rising darkness inside her.

There is only one reason why she resisted that thought every day. She wanted to protect her child from herself and this killer.

That's why she came back.

No matter how hard she tries, she can't even move her fingers. The daylight disappears. The room is immersed in darkness. She can't see Bo Ji Won, but she can hear her rough breathing sounds. Their hearts are startled when they hear the sound of a click.

The masked killer switches on the lights. Bo Ji Won tries to scream when she sees the killer with a silver knife in his hand. He walks behind her and places the knife on her throat.

"My dear Hana, do you like her more than me?"

"Answer me, Hana." The killer's voice is deep and tranquil.

What kind of answer is right?

Bo Ji Won is looking at her pleadingly.

"You don't want to answer" The Killer sighs. "At least, you aren't lying."

He pushes the knife into the throat. The blood spurts out of the windpipe. Ahn Hana watches her die in front of her. She looks at the bulging belly of Bo Ji Won. Until the last moment, Bo Ji Won has been pleading her to save her with her eyes.

The killer waits for her to react. She doesn't scream or cry. He sees her eyes become quieter. The remnants of light in her eyes is disappearing. Pleased, he cuts away the ropes on her body. She doesn't move or fight. They both know what would happen if she does that.

"You are still resisting it, my dear Hana." He lays her down on the floor. Bo Ji Won's blood is still warm. It soaks her clothes. The killer cuts down her clothes away one by one. She closes her eyes. A single tear rolls out on her cheek.