☘️☘️🗝️🗝️*THE ARCHITECT OF SILENCE* ☘️☘️🗝️🗝️
CHAPTER 9
🍁🍁 JAE IN'S POV 🍁🍁
In class.
I sat.
But still—
I felt it.
That weight.
Like eyes pressing against my skin.
Then—
I locked eyes with Mi Jin.
She smiled.
Not her usual smirk.
Not mockery.
A real smile.
My heartbeat stuttered.
She never smiles like that.
***
*AFTER SCHOOL*
Tae Min ran toward me.
Breathless.
He handed me a letter.
Tae Min: "Are you dating?"
Me: "Yhaa—
Before I finished—
I saw him.
Across the courtyard.
Watching me.
Then—
I ran.
But whoever it was—
Disappeared.
Tae Min caught up.
Tae Min: "What's wrong? You've been acting strange lately."
I scanned the area.
Empty.
Me: "Who gave you that letter?"
Tae Min: "I found it on my desk. It had your name. Should I read it?"
I snatched it.
Too fast.
Me: "No."
I walked away.
But my hands were shaking.
***
*EVENING*
8:30 PM.
I opened it.
The letters were printed.
Cold.
Clean.
> MEET ME AT THE PLACE YOU BURIED YOUR WEAPONS.
> COME ALONE.
> OR I'LL REOPEN YOUR CASE.
> REMEMBER: YOU KILLED KIM HANA.
> IF YOU DON'T COME, TOMORROW IS THE DAY YOU FALL.
My breathing slowed.
Falling?
Never.
I don't fall.
I push.
I destroy.
I survive.
I checked the time again.
8:32 PM.
I didn't even change out of my uniform.
I grabbed my keys.
Got in my car.
Dialed my father.
No answer.
I cursed.
Mother.
No answer.
Of course.
Ridiculous.
Only one person left.
I stared at her name.
*Mi Jin.*
I hesitated.
Then pressed call.
She picked up immediately.
Too immediately.
Me: "I'm going somewhere. If something happens to me, call the principal if you don't want a beating tomorrow."
I hung up before she could reply.
***
🌺🌺*MI JIN'S POV*🌺🌺
The room was freezing.
No blanket.
Concrete walls.
Dim light.
I hugged my knees.
Then—
My phone rang.
Jae In.
Spoiled brat.
I answered.
And smiled.
**
*🪷🪷JAE IN'S POV*🪷🪷
The place.
Silent.
Too silent.
I stood in the center.
My instincts screamed.
Go back.
But pride is louder than instinct.
Me: "I'll be fine."
Footsteps.
Behind me.
I turned.
Nothing.
Voice: "I'm surprised you still came."
Male.
Distorted.
Close.
Me: "Come out."
My voice trembled.
The person laughed.
Voice: "Still pretending to be strong?"
My pulse hammered.
Bang.
Something hit me.
Hard.
The world tilted.
My knees buckled.
Darkness crept in from the edges.
Voices.
Far away.
Then—
Liquid.
Cold.
Soaking through my uniform.
Thick.
Metallic.
Blood?
My blood?
The last thing I heard—
A whisper near my ear.
"You were never the only architect."
Everything went black.
*END OF CHAPTER 9*
THE ARCHITECT OF SILENCE