10

CHAPTER 9

Y/n pov

Stress is over.

The final exams for my degree are finally over, but last month? It felt like I was drowning in stress. It wasn't just the exam on my mind, but also with that damn red-eyed man haunting my thoughts.

But guess what? I didn't let fear win. That fear? Nothing compared to the future I'm fighting for. I threw every ounce of focus I had into those exams.

You have no idea how hard I studied. I practically transformed into a zombie.

Dark circles, barely any sleep, weight dropping off like I was in some horror movie.What a combination; it made my life feel like hell.

I was surviving on instant noodles and caffeine, and each morning felt like dragging myself up from the depths of exhaustion.

Exams are such a pain in the ass.

Still, I know I gave my best in those exams. At least one stress is off my shoulders now. But until the results are released, I'll need to find a part-time job. I can't rely on my dad's money forever like a spoiled kid.

Suddenly, my thoughts were interrupted by a loud scream. I didn't even need to turn around to know who it was.

"Yah! Finally, this torture is over! Oh god, I feel so relieved!" Yunhee shouted, her high-pitched voice ringing in my ears.

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Can you not scream like that, you loudmouth?"

She rolled her eyes, unbothered, then glanced at my hands, her brow furrowing when she noticed the stack of books. "Wait... did you already clean out your locker?"

I nodded, turning back to pull another textbook from my light blue locker. "Why didn't you clean yours?"

Yunhee shrugged, looking uninterested as usual. "Eh, there aren't that many books in mine. I'll clean it out later," she said lazily, stretching her arms like it was the hardest thing in the world.

I huffed, shaking my head. Typical Yunhee-lazy as ever when it came to cleaning. I could only imagine what her room looked like.

Grabbing my last book, I locked the locker and slipped the key into my pocket, then turned to face her fully. "You're such a slob, Yunhee. Go clean it out; we have to hand over the keys to the department office before we leave."

She groaned, but I pointed at my watch. "It's already five. They're going to close soon."

"Ugh, fine! You're such a nag, you know that?" She grumbled but finally started toward her locker.

Watching her drag her feet down the hallway, I smirked. "Yah, Yunhee! Make sure you actually take everything out this time. I don't want to hear you crying later about missing stuff."

She shot me a playful glare, sticking her tongue out. "I'll cry if I want to, dumb head!"

I laughed, shaking my head as she fumbled with her locker door. Some things never change.

__

After everything was done, I waited near the front gate, glancing at my watch. It was already 6:30 pm, and I sighed as I looked back at the university buildings, taking it all in. This would be the last time I'd see this place as a student. Honestly, I was going to miss it.

In the distance, I spotted Yunhee heading toward me, but she wasn't alone. Jiyoo was with her, chatting and laughing as they approached. I smiled, lifting a hand to wave, and Yunhee picked up her pace, a huge grin on her face.

"Oh, Y/n! We thought we should celebrate since it's our last day here," Yunhee said excitedly. "Come on! Let's go out and make the most of it!"

I looked at Jiyoo, who was smiling just as eagerly, then back at Yunhee. They were both practically buzzing with excitement. "Hmm... so what's the plan, then?"

Yunhee bit her lip, clearly thinking it over, her eyes narrowing in concentration. Before she could respond, Jiyoo chimed in, "What about a club? We could dance, have some drinks, and just enjoy the night!"

Yunhee squealed, clapping her hands. "Yes! That's perfect!"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes, letting out a sigh. "Mm... sorry, but I'm not coming. Clubs just aren't my thing," I said, trying to keep my voice gentle but firm.

Yunhee's face fell instantly, and she pouted. "Why not?" she whined, sounding like a disappointed kid.

I chuckled, giving her a reassuring smile. "It's fine, really. You guys go and have fun. I'm just not interested. But I promise we'll celebrate another day, somewhere we can all enjoy."

The truth was, clubs just weren't for me. They felt suffocating with the loud music, strangers' curious stares, and crowds of people everywhere.

Being an introvert with social anxiety made those places feel like a nightmare. Plus, I wasn't exactly the partying type. Maybe that makes me a bit boring in this generation, but I'd rather skip the scene entirely.

And if I'm being totally honest, I didn't feel like being a third wheel tonight. Watching Yunhee and Jiyoo have fun together while I stood around awkwardly? No, thanks. My single life didn't need that extra reminder.

Yunhee groaned, crossing her arms and giving me her best puppy-dog eyes. "You sure? It won't be the same without you!"

I chuckled, patting her on the shoulder. "I'm sure. Go, enjoy yourselves! We'll have our own celebration soon, okay?"

They both finally relented, though I could tell Yunhee was still a bit disappointed. She gave me a quick hug. "Alright, but you better keep that promise, Y/n!"

"Of course," I laughed. "Go and have a blast for all of us!"

As they walked away, laughing and chatting excitedly, I turned back to look at the university one last time. It was a bittersweet goodbye, but I felt a little relief too, knowing I'd wrapped up this chapter on my own terms.

Author pov

In a dark alley, a black luxury car was parked, the headlights barely lighting up the walls around it. Inside, three men dressed in black sat quietly, watching the alley as if waiting for someone.

"It's already 8 p.m. Why isn't she here yet?" the man in the back seat asked, sounding a bit worried.

Jungkook, sitting in the passenger seat, turned to Jimin, who was tapping his finger on the steering wheel impatiently. "Are you sure this is the way she usually takes, Jimin?"

Jimin sighed but kept his eyes on the alley. "Yes, this is the way she usually comes. We just have to be patient. Is everything ready?"

Jungkook and Suga nodded firmly. Suga, his voice low and serious, added, "Remember, stick to the plan. We can't afford any mistakes."

They fell silent again, each of them watching the empty alley. The quiet was thick, and every second felt longer.

Then, Jungkook's eyes suddenly widened. "There she is," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Suga looked and saw her too. He gave a sharp nod. "It's time."

The three of them got out of the car, moving silently as they took their positions, hiding in the shadows.

She was getting closer, completely unaware of them waiting.

___

Y/n walked down the quiet road, far from the main streets where people usually crowded. It was just her and the empty road. She glanced around, tucking her cold hands into the pockets of her brown hoodie, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling creeping over her.

But little did she know, three men were watching her from the shadows, eyes sharp and focused. She was their target.

And in just a few minutes, her life is about to change forever.

Jimin, hidden nearby, gave a quick signal to Jungkook. Jungkook raised his thumb in response, signaling he was ready. Then, keeping close to the walls, Jungkook began moving toward her.

Y/n suddenly felt like someone was behind her. At first, she didn't think much of it, but her heart started beating faster. She picked up her pace, trying to ignore the feeling. Her breath started to slow, and her body felt tight, like she was in pain. Her legs felt like jelly, but she kept walking faster, trying to get away from the strange feeling.

This is what happens when you have social anxiety, she thought to herself.

But the footsteps behind her didn't stop. They were getting closer, making her feel even more uneasy. She turned her head to glance behind her, hoping she was just imagining things.

But there was someone there.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she started running. Her feet slapped against the ground as she moved faster, but her breath was shallow, and her chest tightened. She felt like she couldn't breathe.

Just as Y/n was about to turn and run, Jungkook was quick enough to catch her. His strong hand grabbed her wrist, pulling her back.

Y/n tried to pull away, struggling to break free. She couldn't even see his face because he was wearing a mask. Her heart raced as she kicked and wiggled, desperate to get away.

But no matter how hard she tried, her strength was nothing compared to his. His muscles were like steel, and she couldn't escape. Every movement felt like her energy was draining away.

Jungkook quickly grabbed a cloth soaked with a strong scent and pressed it over her nose. The smell was sharp and overpowering, and before she could fight it, her head started to spin. Her vision blurred, and she slowly began to feel weaker.

Within seconds, her body gave out, and she collapsed into his arms, unconscious, completely at his mercy.

Y/n pov

With a groan, I slowly opened my eyes, but a sharp pain shot through my head, making me wince.

What happened to me?

I blinked, trying to clear my foggy mind, but nothing around me looked familiar. Panic began to rise in my chest.

Damn, Where am I?

I tried to sit up, my body feeling heavy and unsteady, as if I had been knocked out for hours. The room around me was dark, almost too dark. It felt... creepy. The walls seemed to close in, and the silence was suffocating.

I shivered, feeling like something was off, but I couldn't figure out what. Something was definitely wrong.

Suddenly, memories from a few hours ago rushed back to me, and a gasp escaped my mouth. My body started to shake uncontrollably.

I was kidnapped. And why did they kidnap me?

The strangest part was the relief I felt-they hadn't tied up my hands or legs. It felt odd, didn't it?.

A million questions swirled in my mind, but I knew now wasn't the time to find answers. I just needed to get out of here.

Everything happened so fast that I couldn't keep up. One moment was clear, and the next was just a blur.

It felt like a bad dream, but deep down, I knew it wasn't. What's happening to my life? My mind screamed, but I couldn't find any answers.

Tears began to roll down my cheeks, but I quickly wiped them away. I couldn't let myself break down now.

"Be strong, Y/n," I whispered to myself, trying to gather whatever strength I had left.

I wiped my hands against my pants, trying to steady my breathing. Slowly, I pushed myself to my feet, my legs feeling weak but determined. I stood up, my body trembling slightly, but I forced myself to stand tall.

I turned my neck slowly, glancing around. The only light came from a small, dim bulb in the corner, barely enough to make out my surroundings.

But the smell... it was making my stomach turn. It was so strong and disgusting, I felt like I was going to throw up.

I let out a frustrated sigh and took a step toward the door, hoping to get out of there as soon as possible. But then, something caught my eye. My steps slowed as I frowned, my heart racing. I swallowed hard, my throat dry.

Curiosity pulled me closer, even though my gut was screaming for me to turn around and leave. As I looked closer, the sick feeling in my stomach grew worse.

Then I saw it. I instantly regretted it.

A coffin.

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. But that wasn't the worst part.

T-There was someone inside.

I could see the shape of a person lying there, still and lifeless. My stomach dropped, and panic surged through me.

I screamed.

The sound echoed in the small room, sharp and full of terror. My voice trembled as it escaped, and I quickly stepped back, my heart racing, my body shaking uncontrollably.

What is happening? I thought, my mind struggling to understand what I was seeing.

But I couldn't recognize the face.

I backed away, my legs weak beneath me, my feet unsteady. My body screamed for me to run, but fear pinned me in place.

And my eyes couldn't tear away from the coffin.

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