prologue.
january 2017,
JEON JEONGGUK.

his nimble fingers tediously shuffle through heaps of papers and flimsy binders.

bleary eyes are focused through dusty lenses as he sits crouched before a shambolic desk, hands swiftly maneuvering his work. the room is poorly lit, devoid of any light but the artifical glare of a tawdry lamp.

the shoddy plastic clock attached to his wall had struck 1 a.m for what seemed like a mere thirty minutes ago (he hasn't checked), but the eager boy has swathed himself with newspapers and dirt cheap folders to a highly extensive degree to even think about it.

"five?" jeongguk furrows his brows, blinking off the blear that films his jaded eyes. "that... that doesn't make any sense."

his chapped lips curl, and a frown makes its way to his face. there's a pregnant pause that fills the dismal room before something clicks in his mind—and he realizes.

"wait—wait," jeongguk crouches further, languid eyes widening. "i get it! i get it! it was right there all along—"

jeon jeongguk springs out of his seat and hobbles toward his coat rack by the front door, uneven frame struggling due to his limp. there's a vast grin on his face, and he's so enraptured—

his phone rings.

he eyes the screen.

taehyung.

"tae, whats up?" jeongguk picks up, grabbing his rusted car keys from his rack. "why the hell are you calling me in the middle of the night?"

"i just wanted to check on you," taehyung yawns from the other line. jeongguk steps out of his dingy flat, cautiously closing the chipped, varnished door behind him. "you haven't slept yet?"

"i haven't," jeongguk replies, hastily scampering to his flat's cramped parking space. frigid january wind howls by his ears as he buries his chin in his cashmere scarf, the heels of his shoes rushing to his second-hand car. "i had some things to do."

"what could you possibly be doing—" taehyung pauses. "gguk, don't tell me you've been—"

"tae, you don't understand," jeongguk cuts him off. "i solved it, tae. me. i've been trying to figure it out for days, now i found an address and—"

"gguk, i know you've been feeling terrible since the accident but you don't have to prove anything, okay? this—this thing you're doing, it's not worth it—" taehyung stammers through the phone. "gguk, you're not in your right mind. just tell me where you are, please—"

"see you, tae," jeongguk hangs up.

jeongguk heaves a lethargic sigh as he sits in his car, bony fingers clasped around the steering wheel. everyone is treating him like he's unhinged, but he's not. he's fine— he's completely fine. it's not him trying to convince himself that he's okay, he knows for a fact that he is. why does everybody keep telling me otherwise?

"i'm not fucking crazy," jeongguk grumbles as he starts the engine.

while he drives, he makes miniscule movements here and there, eyes darting aimlessly during every red light—his anticipation is growing and growing. he's been trying to work out the enigma—staying up past midnight, living off of cheap coffee, whatnot. his friends are starting to think he's gone deranged, but he's normal—he is normal.

he parks his car at an empty parking space, rushing out hastily. this is it.

the building is a three storey, isolated by a cramped pathway. it's murky by the sides, the pungent smell of gasoline and exhaust hanging on still air. it's an apartment complex, but it's dreary—even drearier than the rat's hole he currently lives in. stagnant water puddles on the pavements and jeongguk's face can't help but contort.

who the hell even lives here?

he grimaces slightly as he looks at the crabbed writing on his hand (nearly illegible—but he was in a rush).

"third floor," jeongguk mutters to himself, the heels of his shoes rising in anticipation. "i'll take the elevator then."

the elevator is the epitome of run-down. the doors are rusted from the bottom, the repugnant brown rising to the top. it's so shoddly made that it looks like its foundation could snap at any given minute. jeongguk wants so badly to take the stairs—but his damn limp. i already had to strain it when i drove.

he presses the button pad.

the lift makes this some sort of noise similar to a crash, and jeongguk winces slightly. what the hell—

footsteps.

there's a heavy pause in the air before jeongguk turns around—

no one.

jeon jeongguk peers at the compact pathway behind him, languid eyes narrowing in sheer confusion. there's an uncanny silence that fills the shabby area—there's no one. was i imagining it?

he turns around to wait for the lift as haphazard thoughts start to run through his head and bony fingers slowly curl in disquietude. he feels uneasy all of a sudden, possibly due to the fact that he's standing at a turbid area past midnight and hearing noises. great.

"c'mon," jeongguk grumbles to himself, eyeing the rust at the base of the lift. "hurry up."

footsteps.

jeongguk turns around—

a dim silhouette stands solitarily in the middle of the confined passage.

jeongguk feels his heart deflate for a split second, but he stands there—he stands there completely still.

"hello?" jeongguk calls out. the man stands a few yards away, a rather vast gap between the two of them—but jeongguk sees him. despite the unlit masonry walls under moonless darkness, the black-lined silhouette forms perfectly in his eyes. "do you need something?"

the man doesn't answer.

"sir?" jeongguk stammers, voice faltering.

silence.

jeongguk could hear the beating of his heart amidst the silence.

pumping.

he turns around.

pumping.

stay calm, stay calm. jeongguk inhales, the feeling of bare fear gnawing at his diaphragm. he jabs a gaunt finger against the button pad again, hoping the lift's doors would slide open. stay calm.

footsteps.

just stay calm. jeongguk's breathing becomes ragged, and he starts to press the button again—and again—and again—

footsteps.

a groundswelling uproar of adrenaline builds up inwardly, and jeongguk's feet are glued to the floor. his insides are screaming red flag persistently, champing at his limbs to run—but he's forcing his finger against the button again—and again—and again—

footsteps.

"help!" jeongguk yells, feeling the puncture of his lungs as adrenaline gnaws on his skin like a galling parasite. "help me, please!"

the footsteps stop.

silence.

jeongguk stays still.

silence is hanging in the air—hanging in the air like the suspended moment before falling glass shatters onto the ground. it's quiet, so fucking quiet—but it's screaming, the silence is screaming—

someone's breathing against his skin.

jeongguk freezes in his spot, the slightest whimper escaping his chapped lips as he once again stares at the lift's rusted base.

he could feel the man behind him grin against jaw. "stay still."

it's the last thing he hears.

_
hi all !

i know this prologue is kind of vague but the story will progress as more chapters are written!

okay so ik ive gone MIA for a long long time but i took this time to improve my writing!
killer killer had a good concept but it hurt to read tbh so pls pls if ur new! dont read it LMFAO!

but im back! this is a preview of my new story and i really planned this out & wrote like 4 different versions so krjdkd i hope u guys will love it but yes it's a shitty attempt at thriller