Dark Secrets

Chapter 19: Do You Tell Them the Truth? (2 of 2)

“Do you want the truth officers?” I uttered. “It’s not that I predicted the incident or I’m involved with death of my fellow classmate. That truck always drives on that road every afternoon.”

“So, you were familiar with the plate number because you always see that truck passing by that road at a definite time?” Detective Kim questioned me.

“Yes, I see it almost every day but I only pay attention to it’s last three numbers and not the whole plate.” I responded.

“Then how will you explain the warning you gave to the victim?” Detective Song continue to doubt me.

“Knowing the nature of guys who gets playful when they’re on a bus, she must’ve assumed that the victim will put his head out from the window.” Pluto said. “Desa is a nursing student so she’s capable of predicting social behavior, even Dean Kim here, can do it.”

“I agree, they’ve been classmates since March and predicting someone’s behavior for a nursing student isn’t impossible. I was a nurse before and I know if my patient has done, doing or about to do something stupid.” Dean Kim explained.

“I’m just good at observing people officers.” I said with a faint smile.

“Very well, Ms. Ha.” Detective Kim smiles at me. “We came here to thank you personally for the cooperation with the case. We didn’t come here to question your integrity. Thank you, Student Desa Ha.”

“Why do I feel that you’re hiding something?” Detective Song still not convinced with all the statements he got.

“Song Sion-ssi?! Will you stop reading crime novels that isn’t good for you.” Detective Kim eyeing at him. “I’m really sorry about this guy, he’s out of the line most of the time.”

“Well, Officers if there’s nothing else that we can do for you? I’m letting these students to go back to their classes.” Dean Kim said.

“Ah yes, sorry if we interrupted your class, Ms. Ha.” Detective Kim scratching his head. “You two look good together.” referring to Pluto who’s standing beside me. “We’re leaving first. Thank you, Dean Kim Tae Hee for welcoming us in your office.” he bowed at the Dean.

“Before I leave.” Detective Song come at Dean Kim. “Are you still single Kim Tae Hee-ssi?”

“I already have a husband and child.” Dean Kim answered him directly. “Aren’t you leaving yet?”

“Oh. I thought I finally found the mother of my future children.”

“Detective Song! Do you want to walk to the station?!” Detective Kim gesturing him to leave the Dean alone.

“I’m coming.” Detective Song walked past by me with doubtful looks in his eyes.

“I didn’t know you already have a family, Dean Kim.” Pluto uttered.

“That’s a lie. I don’t want to involve myself with cops.” Dean Kim said.

“Dean, can I go back to class now?” I asked politely.

“Oh sure, go ahead. You must be startled when I had to make a broadcast.” she patted my back. “You’re a lucky girl to have a boyfriend like this guy. I wish I have someone like him too.”

“Dean, he’s not actually my …” I got snatched from Dean’s arms.

“Dean, I’m taking my baby to her class now.” Pluto cut me off.

He’s dragging me out from the Dean’s office as he put his arm around my shoulders like I’m really his girlfriend.

“Don’t you think you’re going overboard with your lie that I’m your girlfriend?!” I took his arm away from me.

“Then tell everyone that we’re fake lovers.” he said coldly.

“I’ve done that but no one believes me because of your reputation.”

“I already told you, I’m keeping you until graduation.” smirking.

“Am I an object that you can keep and dispose whenever you want?”

“No, there’s something about you that makes me think that we have a connection. You’re actually the first girl that piqued my interest aside from the girl I met before when I was a young boy.” he said.

“Connection my foot.” I sneered at him.

“By the way, that incident. You had a premonition about it?” giving me a serious look as we walk at the corridor.

“That was a rebound, an aftereffect when I saved someone’s life from death on that day.” staring blankly ahead. “I saved Detective Kim’s pregnant wife and death bounced back to that student.”

“I see, you bought time for that pregnant woman in exchange of that student’s life. Only one life for two lives that you saved that day? Is death that generous when you cheated on him??” he uttered.

“What do you mean??” I haven’t thought of that possibility but he has a point, those two lives I saved can’t be paid by only one.

The next day, after my dance practice with Pluto along with the other crew members, when I came to the social welfare classroom everyone is still talking about the incident.

Apparently, not only him died that day but also his parents along with his younger sister who were all caught up in a car accident.

“Four lives in exchange of two?!” I mumbled as I sense that most of the people in the classroom are looking at me.

“She didn’t panic that time, right?” classmate A said.

“She even assisted that pregnant woman to get a cab to the police station.” classmate B answered.

“I heard that she told them the plate number, she was sitting at the back, how could she possible see that??!” classmate C added.

These people don’t know a thing about me but they keep on talking like they wanted me to hear everything they say about me.

They’re not blaming me nor telling that I’m a freak but I’m already down with the news about the lives lost that day and yet these people keeps on talking about crap.

As soon as the class ended, I got out from the room immediately without a care on what would they say about me anymore.

I just wanted to get out and stop hearing those ridiculous murmurs.

When I saw Pluto and Diso standing together at the hallway, I come to Pluto and cry at his chest like a kid telling other kids to my father.

“What happened? Who made you cry like this?!” Pluto patting my back. “Tell me their names, I’ll make them pay for bullying you.”

“Don’t be absurd, no one bullied me.” sobbing as I embrace him in my arms. “You were right, death didn’t take one life that day. His parents as well as younger sister also died at the same day.”

“You know it’s not your fault, right? You only did what you think is the best thing to do at that moment.” he’s consoling me.

“But I ruined death’s plan that’s why he came with a vengeance by taking those four lives.” continue crying in his arms.

“Desa, stop blaming yourself. You can’t save everyone lives no matter how hard you try, you’re only human.” he pushed me away slightly to look at me properly. “Look at me, you did well, saving those two lives.”

“But that woman will die too eventually, I only saved her baby.” I said while holding back my tears.

“Still you bought her some time to give birth and be a mother. She won’t experience everything if not for you. You did well, Desa.”

“Pluto is right.” Diso uttered on the side. “People die everyday there’s nothing new about that, it’s just a matter of time. What you changed is only time but you’ll never prevent death from happening.”

“Diso-sunbae.” I never seen him so coldhearted before but what he said were right. “You’ll be a doctor but you talk about death like it’s a normal thing.” I laughed at him as I wipe my tears. “Well, it is typical but it doesn’t sound right from someone like you.”

“Because doctors are supposed to save people lives.” Diso handing me his handkerchief. “But we’re not God, death is inevitable.”

“I know that but …” wiping my face with his handkerchief.

“Desa if you’re going to work in a hospital in the future you can’t be that weak. To save lives you must concede death too because they are the beginning and the end.” Diso wiped my tear with his thumb.

“You heard the future doctor, future nurse.” Pluto reacted. “Look what you’ve done to my shirt, please tell me these are just tears.”

“Does it look like a snot from my nose?” blowing my nose in the handkerchief. “I must be out of my mind to come to you crying like a kid. But you were like my Dad when you asked me who made me cry. Even making those people who bullied me pay.” I laughed at him.

“Because you came to me like you were bullied.” Pluto scratching his head as he averted his gaze somewhere else.

“What are you two huddling here anyway?” calming myself down.

“Remember when I told you that the mark on Pluto’s neck would be fatal when he encountered another entity with so much hatred.” Diso said. “That’s the reason he needed your help so bad.”

“It’s around Gangnam area. When I was driving back home late-night last Sunday. I don’t know what exactly happened but it felt like I’m caught by a hook and took me to an old shop, a butcher’s place.” Pluto telling his story. “It was closed because the owner got arrested for murdering people and their bodies were found in his storage room.”

“Are we dealing with a vengeful spirit here or something else?”

“Vengeful spirits can make people under a trance but we can’t confirm it yet, so we’re doing a preliminary inspection tonight.”

“Uh-huh. And you’re telling me this because you want me to come??”

“Up to you if you want to join or not.” Pluto said. “It’s not an official mission of SOS anyway, but we could use your eyes to see.”

“I’ll go after my shift at Caracciolo.” I agreed to join them.

Pluto dropped me off to the restaurant before he went to the HQ to prepare for the things we might need later, and that’s iron and rifles with salt bullets.

After my shift at 10pm, Diso picked me up with his brother’s car.

Troye and Alessia also know about the mission so they came along.

Diso volunteered to drive because he wanted to experience the same thing that Pluto experienced.

“It’s a long hook. Just the same hook that is being used in towing a car.” I can see the chains that put Diso in a trance to drive on the way to the butcher’s shop.

“Gosh, I hate this stinking scent.” Alessia covering her nose.

“Fresh meat.” Troye uttered. “This butcher, he’s a cannibal.”

“How did you manage to get off from his hook, Pluto?” I asked.

“I heard a voice called out my name and it was so loud that it was deafening to my ears.” Pluto replied. “This is the alley to the shop; we’ll walk from here.”

“I see a lot of dead bodies here and they’re all cut into pieces like meat.” holding onto Alessia’s arm.

“Yeah, and that stinking smell makes me puke right now.” Alessia vomited at the side.

“That butcher, he knows that Diso isn’t alone.” Troye uttered.

“He’s standing in front of his shop.” I told everyone.

“I can see it too.” Pluto said.

“Huh?? Where I am?” Diso woke up from the trance but when he looked back at us, he suddenly gets pulled by the butcher’s hook.

“Diso!!” Pluto run after him immediately as we followed him from behind. “Diso! Where are you?!”

“In the shop!” I shouted when I saw the silhouette of the butcher.

“It’s locked.” Alessia checked the door.

“Desa helped me to pour the salt in front of this shop.” Troye said.

Pluto opened the lock using some wire like he’s some kind of a thief.

When we got inside the shop, we heard Diso shouting for help but it was too dark that we can’t see anything at all.

Troye turn on the flashlight and the first thing I see is the horrible face of the butcher standing in front of us that’s why I make the shot in an instant because of shock.

“Somebody, help!” Diso crying out for help.

“The sound is coming over there!” Alessia pointed her flashlight to the direction but the butcher come running towards her. “AAAHH!”

Pluto make the second shot his rifle and the butcher disappeared again in an instant.

“F*ck!” Alessia covered in some slimy liquid. “That psycho!”

“Are you alright?” helping her to get up.

“Yeah, I’m still in the game don’t worry.” Alessia wiping her face.

“Help!!” Diso continue shouting on top of his lungs.

“Diso!” Pluto walk off first towards the storage room.

We see Diso hanging like a meat on one of the hooks and about to be sliced into pieces in just a few turns if we don’t do anything and think fast on how to released him from the hook.

The electricity in the shop isn’t working so it’s all on to that butcher who’s controlling the machine.

“You three cover me, I’ll go to Diso.” Pluto commanded us.

Our salt gun isn’t working to immobilize the butcher, he’ll just disappear for a while and appear again to attack us.

“Desa.” Troye leans on me. “He’s coming at me, when he does, make sure to pull his hook.”

I don’t know if I can pull the hook or I’m the one who’ll be pulled but when the butcher came at Troye like her said it’ll come at him, I hold onto the hook and pull it with all my might.

But just like I predicted I’m the one who got pulled towards the butcher who’s smiling evilly at me when I see his face up close.

“Let go, Desa.” Troye uttered as he jumped on to the butcher’s shoulders and tie its head using his own chains.

Troye put the chain on one of the hooks to hang the butcher.

If not for the moonlight from outside I won’t see everything in action because Troye did everything in a flash.

While the butcher is struggling to get off the hook, I see a lot of hands coming out from the floor, trying to get hold on the butcher’s body and all he can do is kick them with his feet.

“You got nowhere to go but down to hell, butcher.” Alessia said as she stands beside me. “They all want to devour him.”

“I guess doing some military exercises isn’t that bad.” Troye dusting off his hands. “I could see the admiration in your eyes earlier Desa, but please don’t fall for me, I don’t like girls.”

“Haha. I think I want to pursue you from now on, Troye.” watching the butcher’s hook burn after the souls dragged the butcher down.

“I thought I was a goner back there.” Diso walked towards us while Pluto is assisting him.

“Nah, it’s not your time to die yet.” I responded. “I don’t see anyone of us dying tonight.”

“Let’s go, I don’t want to stay in this filthy place anymore.” Alessia said. “I really could use some shower right now.”

“Maybe we can make some money in here. I see a signage outside that this place is for sale but no wonder no one wanted to buy it.” Troye said. “What do you think VP?”

“Well we can talk to the owner tomorrow and tell him that this place is no longer haunted, he only needs to get it blessed.” Pluto said.

“Desa I’m sleeping over to your place.” Alessia clinging onto me as we walk towards outside. “I can’t go home looking like sh*t.”

“Sure. How about you darling, you want to sleepover too?” teasing Troye. “You’re so amazing tonight.”

“I think I’ll pass. Desa you’re scaring me don’t be like that.” Troye getting away from me. “Pluto, Diso, please take away that woman.”

“Baby, who are you calling Darling?” Pluto teasing me back.

“I’m not your baby!” I yelled at him.

“Sweetheart, you can come to me anytime.” Diso uttered.

“Diso-sunbae, not you too.” shaking my head. “Does hanging upside down gave you a brain damage?” walking along with everyone.

-End of Chapter 19-