Thirteen CCTV screens filling one wall of the television showed different spaces. Marsha stood in front of them, persistently holding her phone with an unending connection tone.
Her gaze was fixed on Theo and Hyungoh. Each time she checked, light entered the previously dark room. I can’t believe they found it. Marsha gripped her phone tightly.
Hyungoh, who had been staggering momentarily, discovered a pile of letter envelopes on the floor. She dropped her phone downward as if giving up.
* * *
“There’s no indication of where it was sent from.”
Hyungoh carefully examined the outer surface of the envelope that had been at the bottom. The edges were yellowed and faded. An old letter. Hyungoh gently rubbed open the envelope and took out a crumpled paper.
“Is it in Korean?”
“Yes.”
“What does it say?”
Hmm. Hyungoh tilted his head. The writing was blurry, as if written in pencil and smudged in various places. It was already difficult to read, and the thin stroke width made it look so fragile that it seemed like it would fly away if blown on.
Who wrote like this? To hide his uneasy premonition, Hyungoh deliberately grumbled.
Opening another envelope revealed the same condition. Being so old, it would immediately smudge or tear if even a little sweat got on it. I can’t read this. Hyungoh told Theo. Then look at the ones in front rather than the ones in back. Those seem relatively better.
Hyungoh, following Theo’s suggestion, picked up the envelope tied at the very front. Compared to the letters at the bottom, it was certainly much neater and crisper. Is this the most recent one? Hyungoh opened the letter with a tense heart.
* * *
To my beloved sibling,
Are you well? I was surprised to hear news of you all the way from France. I was glad. You’ve become quite a celebrity. Oh, and as you asked, I didn’t pretend to know you, so don’t worry.
I thought I’d write this letter a bit longer. I feel like it might be my last letter. It’s just a feeling. I’m not afraid, nor am I sad. I hope you feel the same. Because the moment something ends is always beautiful.
Beautiful things are beautiful. I’m happy that I can complete that beauty.
I hope you won’t try to get revenge. I don’t resent him. Rather, I feel sorry for him. Because he will never get what he wants until the end. Why does he deny the fact that distorted beauty shines the most?
The criticism of many makes me grow more. Because under that weight, I will become more distorted.
Don’t question my end. If you do, you’ll live a life as desperate as his. I will never disappear. Remember that. I do not disappear.
I think it’s really time. I’ll soon get wings. Although they’re not mine, they should have been.
My beloved sibling. Don’t forget that part of you is me. We were never far apart.
So please don’t hate my little angel. I am no longer connected to it.
I’ll stay by your side forever.
From Maria.
* * *
Theo glanced at the letter over Hyungoh’s shoulder and scratched his chin. I am curious about the content.
“Hey. What does it say?”
“…I don’t know.”
Hyungoh mumbled. I really don’t know at all.
“It seems… strange.”
“What? The content?”
“The content, and…”
Hyungoh read it again. It was content that couldn’t be simply summarized in one line. How to put it, the flow from one sentence to another didn’t match. Is this content something I can understand? I don’t know.
“It’s difficult.”
“The Korean language?”
“…”
“Well, there’s no date written here either.”
“Indeed.”
Hyungoh and Theo turned the letter back and forth and carefully examined the envelope. But there was no date written anywhere. Isn’t that the most basic thing? Theo said incredulously.
“I need to think about this more.”
“Okay. Keep it.”
Theo handed over the pile of letters.
“No, I’ll just keep this one. The others are too worn out to make out what they say anyway.”
Hyungoh neatly folded the letter in his hand and put it in his pocket. As Hyungoh showed signs of leaving, Theo held him back, saying they should look around more.
I’ll just take a break outside for a moment. Hyungoh said, bending his waist. In truth, his physical condition hadn’t been good for a while. He felt like the eyes of his mother in the portrait were following him constantly. His head ached, making him nauseous.
Mother. Why are you doing this?
He nervously fiddled with the neatly folded letter in his pocket. Seeing Hyungoh’s pale expression, Theo finally understood and brought him out to the living room.
Hyungoh sat on the sofa and tried to take out the letter to read it again. For a moment, his vision blurred, and his body trembled as if electrocuted. Please. Let’s not do this. Hyungoh made a groaning sound.
“I’m going crazy, this is so frustrating.”
Why are you doing this? Why? Hyungoh grabbed his hair. Why are you refusing to remember?
Theo tried to gently push the wall closed. Hearing the floor shake, Hyungoh turned around and urgently called out to Theo.
“Don’t close it, Theo!”
“Huh? Why?”
“Didn’t you say we should look around more?”
“You look like you’re about to lose your mind if we look around once more.”
“…”
“Why are you so impatient? We can go back in later.”
Theo looked strangely at Hyungoh, who had rushed over and stuck to the wall. Hyungoh was soon gasping for breath as if it would be cut off. Aren’t you in danger right now? Theo said, poking at Hyungoh’s sweat-soaked hair.
Ignoring his words, Hyungoh glared at the portrait once more. She also seemed to be glaring at Hyungoh.
“I’ll figure it out.”
I will figure it out. I must figure it out. Hyungoh felt as if he would be sucked into her painting. Now, even out of spite, I’ll remember you.
Theo, who had been watching Hyungoh’s solemn face with interest, soon turned his head towards something timidly knocking at the front door. Hyungoh hadn’t heard the sound and continued to glare at the room.
There sure are a lot of people trying to get in since earlier. Theo strode to stand in front of the front door. A frail breathing sound came through the door gap.
“…You’ve really picked a day.”
Theo, who opened the door, discovered Simon sprawled in front of the entrance and spoke calmly. Nothing to be surprised about, you bastard. He nudged Simon, who was crouched down like a turtle and lying flat, with his foot.
“Theo? What’s happening?”
“Nothing, a rat got in.”
Theo waved his hand at Hyungoh, who was approaching the door, and hurriedly closed it. How did you remember this place? Theo, crouching down, asked in an irritated tone.
“Hic, hi… Please save me…”
Simon, with his head deeply buried in the ground, spoke as if sobbing. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die.
“Like a cockroach, your life is tenacious despite the fuss.”
“Theodore…”
Simon took out the arm he had been hiding in his chest and grabbed Theo’s pants. His hand was soaked with warm blood.
Theo, his expression hardening, jumped up and flipped Simon over. There were two holes in his stomach, which had vomited blood. He struggled, choking, as if his airway was blocked due to the refluxing blood.
Theo hurriedly took off his clothes and pressed them against Simon’s stomach. Calmly surveying the surroundings, he could see that blood stains extended from the corner in front of Hunter’s house all the way to the front door.
“Is all that your blood?”
“It hurts, I don’t want to die…”
“Who did this to you?”
“Hic, hihic, I don’t want to die… I’m scared…”
“I asked who did this!”
“Th-they’ve come here…”
“They?”
Simon’s trembling hands and feet gradually stiffened. Soon, Theo was at a loss for words at his cold, limp body.
It’s dangerous here.
Theo’s intuition whispered. Since yesterday, unwelcome visitors had gathered at Hunter’s house. Is it related to Hunter? This situation? After gently covering Simon’s lifeless face with the blood-soaked clothes, Theo took a deep breath and went back into the house.
“Hyungoh.”
“You startled me, why are you shirtless?”
Hyungoh frowned.
“Let’s go.”
“What? Suddenly?”
“Through the back door.”
Theo, who had approached with big strides, pulled Hyungoh’s arm and quickened his pace. Surprised, Hyungoh soon sensed that the situation was ominous. His statement about a rat being at the front entrance felt chilling.
And this smell of blood. Hyungoh looked back at the firmly closed front door. Who could it be? He probably wouldn’t answer if I asked Theo. Is it one of the neighborhood residents? Hyungoh guessed, inexplicably glaring at Theo’s broadly spread back.
“Where are we going?”
“…”
After pondering for a moment, Theo couldn’t think of a suitable place. Should we go out of town? No, if we’re unlucky, we might encounter those who left Simon in that state. Judging by his saying “they’ve come,” it seems like it was a crime committed by multiple people, not just one. It’s better to first hide in a nearby place. Theo sighed as if he had no choice.
“To Ghost’s house.”
