[Short Story] TRAPPED

Title: Trapped

Character Names: Joon, Mira

Genre: Horror

Description:  

No matter how brave he thought he would be, no matter how tough he thought he would be, he could still felt... fear. The anxious feeling he felt. He kept on running.

The fear that made him couldn’t close his eyes,

The fear that made his body trembled,

The fear that made him shivered with cold sweats,

The fear that couldn’t get out from his mind,

The image of her that he couldn’t forget...

Joon was in fear.

...

Joon was on his way to do his assignment that gave or rather ordered by his senior. He didn’t really care to do the assignment though, but he was more care because he had to do it by himself. In other word, he was alone. He knew it was because he was new in the team, and technically being the junior in his work place. He got bullied in a transparent way; it’s not that he didn’t notice it. It was culture and there’s nothing he could change it. He didn’t say a word, he didn’t argue, he was just afraid he might lose his new job.

Joon looked at the piece of paper in his hand and sighed deeply. “Where the hell is this?”

Joon then just shrugged it off, knowing that he might late with his appointment. He then typed the location address in his navigator and let it process to show it way. In a few seconds, a female voice was heard, and he was ready to drive. 

...

Joon walked out from his car and took his things – briefcase. He looked in front him, an old yet big factory. He looked around him. It was quite empty. It was late after all hence most of the worker might go home already. He still didn’t get it though, why the appointment was was late in night. It didn’t feel... right.

As soon as Joon entered the building, he felt a shivering feeling. It was cold. Ignoring what he felt, he went straight toward the counter. “Excuse me, miss.” He said as he greeted the lady behind the counter. She wore dark blue jacket – probably the company jacket – and he noticed the shiny dolphin necklace that she wore. It felt somehow familiar. “May I know where Mr. Alex’s room? I made an appointment with him.”

The lady tapped here and there, Joon lost interest on it. “It’s B002. You can take that elevator there.” She said and showed to one point – the elevator. 

“Thank you.” Joon bowed slightly and walked toward the elevator.

As Joon was waiting for the elevator, he couldn’t help but felt a pair of eyes was staring at him. It felt like someone was watching him. He could felt it. When he turned behind slowly, there was nothing. He then couldn’t feel it anymore. He raised his eyebrow, confused. “Weird...” he mumbled.

Ting – the elevator sound. Joon noticed the light blinked and the door opened. He didn’t hesitate to walk in. As soon as he walked in, he touch the button labelled ‘B’ and waited for the close to close. 

“Wait!”

As if it was an impulse, Joon immediately touched the freeze button making the door still on opened for the person to come in. It was a... she. 

The person or rather she runs in the elevator with heavy breath. Joon looked at her as he released his finger from the intercom. 

“Thank you, sir.” The lady thanked him. She was beautiful, he thought.

“You’re welcome.” It was silent for a little while as Joon kept his eyes on the blinked light of letters.

“Hey, I never see you before. Are you new here?” The lady then said breaking the cold icy silent. She was being friendly in his thought. 

Joon shook his head. “No, I don’t work here but I’m meeting someone.” He showed his pass – visitor pass – to her. 

“I see...” The lady nodded her head. “I’m Mira by the way.”

Mira. Joon felt somehow shivered knowing her name. Weird. “I'm Joon.” He told his real name. Somehow his mouth was comfortable said it as if he used to it. “It’s quite late. Why are you still working?”

Mira sighed, softly. “I had to since there’s lots of work to be done.”

“Oh, you must be tired.”

“I am but I have no choice.” Mira smiled. “It’s my job.”

Joon fascinated with her somehow. He felt her hard work was beautiful just like the person itself. He thought that Mira was beautiful. The long straight hair till her shoulder, black in colour matched her pale yet fresh face. “Fighting!” he encouraged her. It felt so necessary to do so. It felt that he just had to do so.

“Your floor,” Mira said as the door opened. She was still smiling.

Joon chose to give her his smile. As he walked out from the elevator, he felt empty of all the sudden. Is it because he didn’t want to go? Is it because he wanted to stay by her side? For such a little time, he felt wasted. He should talk more. He should know her more. Can we even see each other again after this?

As Joon bid his goodbye with half-hearted, Mira then said. “Mine level is D, you can come if you want too.”

The elevator’s door then closed and Joon saw the reflection of himself. He then smiled.

...
 

Joon stood in front of the elevator after his meeting with Mr. Alex which was longer than he thought it would be. The old man is really picky. He glanced at his watch and noticed it was pretty late. As the light blink, he thought. Should he go up?

Joon didn’t know how his finger just casually pushed the button labelled ‘D’. Even so, he didn’t really mind. His heart was telling him to go up. Upon arriving at the level, he looked around. It was quite... empty.

Joon walked out from the elevator and started moving, looking for her. It was quite dark considering many of the lights being off. He couldn’t help but to feel a little scared. “No.” He said, shook his head. He had to man himself up. He had to be brave. Man was supposed not to afraid of anything.

Joon then noticed a slightly light from one room not far from his stood. “It must be her.” He then quickened his pace and walked to the room. As he stood by the door, he was hesitated whether to just opened or knocked. He then chose to just opened it slightly and thinking he might had gone to the wrong room. He then twisted the door knob and peaked inside but he saw nothing. There was no one. “Is she already gone?”

“Who’s gone?”

“Whoa!” Joon screamed in shock. His heart beat to its maximum or might be even more and he felt his blood rushed flowed. His head felt slightly numb as he looked behind him carefully and slowly. It’s her. “Mira, it’s you.” He said. “You shock me.” He then touched his chest and felt his heart. He took a deep breath and calm down a little. 

“Scary cat,” Mira giggled with one of her hand covered her mouth. She then walked inside and mumbled something that Joon hardly to hear. “Like always...”

Joon sighed weakly. He thought he was going to die for instant. He never really like with shocking things. “I never knew I have a weak heart either.” He chuckled and saw she was smiling at him. As he walked inside, walking behind her, he looked around. He raised his eyebrow, “Are you the only one who is working?” It was quite dark. 

Mira nodded her head as she stopped in front of her table he presumed. “Yeah.” She then moved a chair toward her table and gestured him to sit. 

Joon sat down and put his briefcase beside him. He looked up at her. “Aren’t you scared?”

 “If I was, then I wouldn’t be here.” Mira then sat down in front of him.

“Well, that’s true.” Joon awkwardly laughed. He glanced at her. Have I seen her before? He wondered a little. She seemed familiar for some reason. He looked around the office. It was quite dark hence he hardly saw anything. Even so, he felt that he had been in the office before. He felt he knew the place.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.” Joon looked at her back. “It’s just, I felt like I knew the place when I never been here.”

“Well,” Mira titled her head. “That’s weird.”

Joon noticed something. “Is that an orchid over there?” he pointed behind Mira. His eyes locked to it even though it was quite dark.

Mira looked to her back and then back to him. She smiled. “Yeah, it is. It a butt-”

“-Butterfly Orchid...” Joon completed her words, eyes still locked to that certain flower. 

“Yeah, how did you know that?” Mira seemed amused. “It’s a little dark over there.”

 Joon shrugged. He didn’t know why either. “I don’t know.” He didn’t actually saw it, he felt it. That’s weird. He then looked at her. He raised his eyebrow. “What’s with the smile?”

Mira smiled. She shook her head. “It felt great talking with you.”

Joon chuckled, “I know right. I thought the same thing too.” He then looked at his watch to know what time it had been. 

“Hey, I have that watch too.” Mira then said, pointed at Joon’s waist – watch. “Look,” she then showed hers.

Joon looked at hers and nodded his head, noticed the watch. Same. “Yeah, it’s the same except yours more feminine.”

“Like a couple.” Mira said, grinned at him.

“Yeah, couple...” Oddly, Joon didn’t seem to like the phase much. It didn’t felt right. He looked at her, looking every inch every part of her. Why did I feel I know her? Her grin, sent shivered to his spine. Did he know her?

“Joon,” Mira suddenly said, cutting him off from his continued staring. “Will you mind staying for a couple of hours?” she asked.

“Wouldn’t I disturb you work?”

Mira shook her head. “If you are, I wouldn’t be asking you that aren’t I?” she giggled. “Beside, you’re actually helping me.”

Joon thought a moment. He didn’t mind stay for awhile but the building somehow give him creepy vibe. Maybe because it’s night. He didn’t know how and why, he by staying would help her but his mind seemed to be set on it’s on. “Sure.” He agreed.  

“That’s great!” Mira clapped her hands, looked excited. She stood up and then said, “I’ll make you some hot chocolate, kay?” She then smiled and dashed to the other side. 

It was dark; hence Joon couldn’t see her probably. “Whoa, that’s fast.” He said seemed a little amused seeing how in a second, he couldn’t see her anymore. He stayed for awhile in his seat but it was starting to get bored. He then chose to look around. “Quite clean.” He commented as he looked at her desk. “She wouldn’t mind if I look around, right?” he mumbled as he glanced around to see whether Mira might be coming back or not. 

After Joon felt so sure that she wasn’t around in any minutes, he chose to look around her desk. He looked at the nearest to his seat which without him having to stood up. His eyes were lingering around. There were files messy placed on top each other. There some sticky notes placed on the broad – pinks, greens, and even yellows with handwritten on it. He noticed the pens and a box of tissues which seem to be slightly empty.

Joon then moved his seat to her chair. He sat and then looked around more. He looked to his left. The part was full of papers and some more files which neatly placed. There were two frames placed side by side the computer. He looked at the photos. It were photos of hers mostly and someone else. It was a man but he couldn’t see the photo clearly. It was somehow blurry. 

Ring-a-rang

A little light suddenly flashed with a light ringtone was heard. Joon looked to his side and noticed it was a phone. The phone didn’t stop ringing and it made he felt a little uneasy. He looked around and noticed Mira wasn’t nearby or nowhere. He didn’t know whether to answer it or just leave it alone. 

Joon felt that it didn’t feel right to let it rang so he chose to answer it for her. The moment he was about to slide the ‘accept’ button, it stopped. 

“Uh?” Joon blinked his eyes, shocked to see what he actually saw. The wallpaper of the phone surprised him. “What the-” he couldn’t even finish his words as he was so shocked, too shock. It was a photo of two people closed together, a photo of her and... him. 

Joon then frowned, confused with it, with everything. His mind started to function. He thought about everything from the moment he walked into the building. The felt was so familiar yet the feeling was weird. Her. Mira was someone that he knew he was seeing her for the first time but why, why the feeling was familiar? She felt so right yet so wrong to him. 

Tong

A sudden sound made Joon felt electricity flow through his spine. He immediately stopped up with her phone still in his hand. He carefully looked around but there was nothing obvious. There was nothing that could make a sound like that. It was dark; the room was quite dark with only one source of light. It gave him a strange feeling, he felt slightly scared.

Joon glanced at his watch. He raised his eyebrow. “For a hot chocolate, she gone far too long.” He said. He thought it was strange. With the phone still in his hand, he made his way to where he assumed she would have been – the cafe.

...

Joon stood in front of the cafe. He noticed there was light yet it was a little dim. He knocked the door at first before saying, “Mira, are you in there?”

It was silent. There was no answer from her. Joon was slowly begun to feel weird. Hadn’t he been loud enough? “Hello?” he asked again. Still, it was empty sound. Why isn’t she answering?

Joon waited at first but he begun to feel tired of the idea of waiting. He felt annoyed. He twisted the knob and tried to enter but stopped. His widen so large that it sting his eyes. His mouth was opened, jaw dropped. The phone that he held dropped down on the floor as his grip was loosened. Shock, he was so shocked. It was something that he knew he wasn’t supposing to witness.  

The cafe wasn’t normal at all. The counter was in a mess with so many things on it, he hardly could guess what it was. He only knew there were small bottles and boxes. There was one big black in colour of one machine. He assumed it a coffee machine but it wasn’t in a good condition. It was worse. He slowly looked up and saw pipes, leaking. 

Joon’s face was tense as he looked down. There was moss all around. Metals, there were broken metal all around on the ground with some attached to cushion. He assumed it was a chair. There was one big wooden round in shape. He thought it was the table that lose its legs. His lips had begun to tremble. The smell was so... awful. 

Joon gulped. He couldn’t bear to walk in the room. He would never have the heart to do so. Why the cafe condition was was so different with the office? Then, it made him suddenly remembered. Where was that young lady? Where was Mira? 

Joon didn’t felt right. He knew he had to leave. He turned around and wanted to just walk out. He didn’t care whether he had to leave her just like that. It wasn’t time to be nice. Again, his heart was like it had stopped from beating. “W-what?” his widen in fear. He had witnessed something beyond his imagination. 

Joon’s hand started to tremble. He began to sweat, cold sweat. His breath was uneven. It was like he was lacking of oxygen. 

Ting

The light suddenly went off. It was dark, pitch dark that made Joon immediately close his eyes. He was scared. He knew he had been acting all tough, thinking that he wasn’t afraid of anything when it actually it was. It was his weakness. 

Even with his eyes closed, he could felt the light been blinking for non-stopped. It was light up and then off. Then it light up again but next it was off. The blinking went on and on, cycled for awhile. He took a deep breath, heavy breath as he then opened back his eyes. 

The room, the office, was something else. It was like he never step foot on it. Joon couldn’t believe his own eyes of what he saw. It was like an abandon office. Papers were all over the place, all crumbled and wet, dirty. Some of the chairs were upside down and others were mostly broken. There wasn’t a single chair that he could see that stood up perfectly. The computers were broken, he could see the screens were split and broken. It wasn’t a great view. It was awfully and it made him felt sick. 

The whole situation was starting to turn weirder than before. Where was the office that Joon had first entered? I should get out from here.

...

Joon took a deep, a very deep breath. As he felt himself ready, he started to run toward a door. He quickly opened it and then carefully looked around the corridor. It shocked him again though. The corridor was nothing like he had walked before. It was old with old pots with died plants and muddy on the floor. Was he in a haunted house now? 

Joon then with his bravest heart, he walked out from the office. He stood in the corridor wondering where would be the exits. 

“Where are you going?”

“Ahh!” Suho screamed with his manly voice, shocked with the sudden voice behind his back. The pressure was strong enough for him to feel heavy. His heart beat, pumped hard that almost made him breathless. Carefully he turned to his back but then he screamed again. “Ahh!”

It was her - the lady that he had been searching for the past minutes. Joon looked at her in fear. “Wh-who are you?” he asked. 

Mira giggled. It was starting to creeps him out. The sound of her giggling wasn’t pleasant to hear. “What are you talking about?” she then walked closer toward him. One step, two steps, three steps. 

“D-don’t come closer!” Joon warned her. 

“Okay...” Mira stopped.

“Who are you?” Joon knowing he couldn’t seem to walk out for a moment, he might just ask her questions. 

“And this place, where is this? Where am I?” he asked, curious. 

Mira giggled again. “What’s wrong with you?” 

Joon then noticed Mira’s lip suddenly curved. She wasn’t smiling but she was smirking. “Don’t you remember who I am?” 

Joon was in silent. What is she talking about? Even when he felt like he was familiar with her, like he had known her but he didn’t remember any image of her in his head. There was no scent of her, nothing. 

“Mi-ra.” Mira said her name word by word, as if wanting for Joon to remember her. He failed to do so and he could tell that Mira could sense it. “Do we had to do this all over again?” her voice sound different as if she was annoyed.

“Wh-what are you talking about?” Joon asked, completely confused with her sudden act. “Should I know you?”

Mira suddenly laughed. “Really... whoa, you’re so harsh.”

“I don’t understand.”

Mira chuckled. “I really had to do this again am I?” Joon really didn’t understand what she was talking about. What did she have to do again? Had it happen before? That’s just so not right. 

“Maybe this will make you remember, just like before.” Mira then pointed her finger toward him. Joon was startled for a second. “Look behind you.” 

Even if Joon didn’t want to look behind, he couldn’t. It was like his head moved on his own. He slowly looked behind him wondering what she could be referring to.

...

Joon couldn’t even remember how many times he had to widen his eyes. How many times he had be shock. The image in front of him shocked him again. Without he realized, he took one step backward. “This...”

“Already remember?” Mira said as she was now stood right next to him. “Like always, huh?”

Joon shifted his head to his left and looked at her. 

Mira carefully looked at him with such a gentle expression. “What did you even kill me?”

Joon couldn’t feel his hands. He moved his fingers and made a fist, letting the blood flow at least. He felt so numb. He slowly moved to his front. The image, the thing or rather it should be called as... human. Once a living being that had already dead. It was her. It was her, lying on the floor with pile of liquids called blood. 

*Flashback*

“Joon,” Mira called for him as she watched him stood in front of her holding a thing that she clearly known – a gun. “What’s this?”

Joon held the gun with one hand as his other hand pulled its barrel. He knew he wasn’t supposed to do it. He knew he had broken the rule but he didn’t care anymore. “You had gone too far, Mira.”

“What the hell you’re talking about?” Mira’s voice sounded a little shaken.

“Enough with the pretending, Mira,” Joon said. He held the gun tightly, felt its heavy weight even he had used holding it. “Where is that girl that I once knew?”

Mira stared at him. “She is still here.” She said. “I’m still Mira!”

Joon shook his head. “No.” He looked to her eyes. “You’re not.”

Mira seemed displeased with the treatment that Joon gave her. Her heart broke even more than it was once broke. Her sad emotion turned to anger. Her eyes slowly a different feeling, he could tell that. She laughed. “I never change.” She said to him. “And even if I did, everything is for you.”

“By killing all of them?” Joon shot a look at her. He knew he wasn’t facing his once dearest friend, but he was facing a criminal. “By killing her?” he asked, his tone was quite high.

Mira smirked. “So it was because of her all along.”

“No, it wasn’t that. The fact that you kill all of them it’s a crime.” Joon tried to maintain his calm. “Why?”

“They all try to separate us.” Mira hand suddenly moved to her back, it was like he was taking something. “Especially...” her voice trailed as she kept on looking at him, never lose contact. “Her,” she smirked, as she then moved her hand and pointed at him, a gun that she took out. 

Joon watched as Mira took out her gun and pointed at him with both had pulled their barrel. Both of them were pointing guns to each other. Joon laughed, felt so unbelievable. “I knew you’re going to bring your gun. That’s why I prepare mine first.”

Mira chuckled. “I see, that’s so nice of you. That’s why I love you.

Joon smiled faded. “Mira,” he said. “I never love you. We can’t be together. Can’t you accept that?” 

“Even after she died?” Mira asked to her sweetness. She tried to sweet talk to him. She loved him and wanted him to be hers. 

“Yes.”

“That’s-” Mira’s eyes gone teary. She held her gun tightly. Her eyes turn red eventually. “Not fair!” she shouted at him, felt so unfair. “I’m the one that meet you first. I’m the one that love you first. How come you choose her?”

Mira had turned insane. Joon could sense that. She had turned to a psychopath that she been rumour to be. He never thought it was true. Now that he witness with his own eyes, she was completely insane. “There’s no reason for it. I just love her.”

Mira laughed. “Are you kidding me?” she then glared at him. “Do you think I’m going to believe that piece of crap?”

“Suit yourself because I wouldn’t love you even after she died.”

Mira’s face slowly turned red. “Then I have to forcefully make you mine because you belong to me and only me.”

“You’re insane!” Joon shouted, completely absorbed by her. 

“Isn’t that what you thought I am?” Mira laughed hysterically. The sound of her laughed echo throughout the empty building. As she finished laughing, her eyes slowly looked at him and her finger moved, she wanted to pull the trigger.

Shot

“Ah!” One was screaming in pain and it was her. Mira screamed as the bullet from Joon’s gunshot right into her. Her body felt weak as a hot crimson liquid flowed out from the wound – fresh blood. Her legs starting to feel numb and weak as she eventually fell down on the ground, laid, held on her bleeding body. With all of strength that had left, she kept his eyes still opened as she looked at him, staring at her. She let out a chuckled, pained his body as she chuckled blood. “Wh-who’s the o-one th-that cr-crazy h-here, huh?” she somehow managed to say.

Joon stared at her on the ground. His emotion had left him the moment he met her in the building. He didn’t feel the slightest of pity. “You gave me no choice.”

Mira’s eyes turned blurry with tears and the pressure, yet she still managed to see him. She smiled as if she didn’t care that she was going to die. “I-It’s o-okay.” She said. “Y-you’re mi-mine fo-forever an-and I-I pro-promise th-that.” 

Joon watched her as she slowly closed her eyes. Her hand that she had been holding to her wound was slowly moved from the spot. Eventually, he knew she had stop from breathing. “Just,” he said, looking at her, his once loving friend. “Rest in peace...”

*End Flashback* 

Joon closed his eyes then. His head was starting to lose its ached as he begun to remember bit by bit the memories that pained him. He took a deep breath before opened his eyes back, hoped that everything was his silly imagination. Even so, it wasn’t. She was right in front of him, looking at him so gently like she used to be when he knew her but knowing that, he also knew, she will turned to someone that he didn’t know - a psychopath. 

“Mira had already dead.”

Mira chuckled. “Let’s just say I’m a ghost. I’m still that Mira just without a solid body.”

“I-I don’t believe in ghost.”

Mira rolled her eyes. “Oh really?” she then laughed. “Care to explain why you hands are trembling now?” she pointed that his trembling hands.

Joon tried to make his hand less trembling that it seem. “I don’t believe this. Whatever you do, it wouldn’t work.” He pushed her away.  He could felt her even though she was a ghost. Ignoring that, with the high feeling of fear, he started to run away from the scene, from the corridor, leaving everything. 

Mira’s glaze turned something different from before. The innocent ye loving eyes had gone and it turned to something called obsessive. She was someone that will do anything in order to get what she wanted till she satisfied. “You can’t get away from me. You can’t escape from me. You can’t escape from your own nightmare,” she smirked.   

...

Joon pushed the exits staircase door and run down the stairs since he was too scared to ride the elevator. Elevator didn’t riddle up quite nice with ghost and horror. He might have trapped in it. 

As finally Joon thought that he had arrived to the ground floor after 4 levels of stairs he run, he twisted the door knob in hurry and wanted to go out to what he presumed should be the lobby, but no, it wasn’t. “Wh-what the heck?” he shouted, cursed in the same time, felt frustrated with the view in front of him.

Joon was sure he had run all way down the stairs of 4 levels but why, why he was still on the same floor? Why he was still on level D? 

“Shock?”

A female’s voice echoed in his ears that Joon pretty much recognized it. He slowly turned behind him, only to found her stood smiling at him. How come she was behind me? Is she... really a ghost?

Mira then giggled. The sound of her giggling pained his ears somehow. “You have done it so many times yet it still amused me.” She stopped giggle and looked at him. “I told you can’t get away from me.” Her tone was childish and creepy in the same time.

This is just a dream, Joon. It is a dream, a creepy dream, a nightmare. Joon was mentally hypnosis himself. Yeah, a dream. I’ll keep on running till I wake up from this.

“Joon-”

Before Mira could continued on with her words, Joon then run toward the exits door and run down the stairs again. He didn’t want listen to her. He didn’t want to hear her. He had enough with her. He could felt his body tense in fear. He was afraid of her. 

...

Joon again arrived on the ground levels after the endless of running. He quickly twisted the knob but then he screamed in shock. 

“Hello!” There appeared of all the sudden, in front of him – Mira. “Are you done running?” she asked. 

Joon gulped. He felt sick. He felt the intense fear building inside him. The feeling was upsetting and un pleased.

“I told you that you’ll be mine... forever.” Mira emphasized the word ‘forever’.

“This is crazy!” Joon refused to believe. 

Mira smirked. “It’s a beautifully crazy.”

“You-” Joon stopped as he watched her. He didn’t notice it was before but her dress was covered with dark spots. He could smell it. It was blood. He looked at her back. “You never rest in peace did you?”

“I will never,” Mira smirked again. “Until you’re mine.”

“Stop this stupid thing!” Joon shouted. “Everything is over. You’re dead.”

Mira laughed hysterically. She laughed too much. She looked insane. She was insane. As she lowered her laughing, she said. “It was never over, Joon, never. This is just the beginning.”

“I refuse to believe that!” The braved Joon had gone a long time ago. All he could felt was fear even though he had a hard time to believe himself. He then pushed her away again, and run off anywhere he could go. Anywhere he could felt safe. Anywhere he could set free from her.

“Haha...” There again, Mira’s hysterically laughed. He could hear it. It was echoed throughout the building. It was loud, too loud. 

...

“Joon...” A seductive voice echoed.

It sent shivered to Joon’s body. It then repeated again and again as he run. It was like massive gunshots that he knew he needed to be away. He needed to get out from this nightmare. He was slowly getting tired with the pressure, with the feeling of fear.

“Joon...” Her voice echoed again.

Joon run as fast as he could. He didn’t care if he felt tired, he needed to run. Looking around, he felt like he was running around in a maze. It was like a rat trapped in its cage. It was like there was no way out.

“Wherever you, I can still find you. So just stop running and come to me...” another echoed. 

Joon didn’t care less about her. He didn’t stop on running and kept on searching for any exits. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wak-

“Gotcha!”

Joon immediately stopped himself from running. A strong upsetting feeling around him, he could felt it. There was a pressure on his body. Hands, he could felt pair of hands wrapped nicely around of him. He knew, he could tell, it was hers. 

“Ah, I love this moment. Hugging you like this.” Mira smiled, she sound happy. 

Joon felt disgusted. He felt like there was something coming up from his stomach to his throat. He felt like puking. He then tried so hard to free himself. He tried to move her arms away from himself.

Mira frowned. She felt tired with his endless reaction every time. Out of nowhere, a knife was in her hand – Joon shocked to see it – she then immediately moved the knife toward him and stabbed him in his stomach, deep.

“Ack,” warm fresh blood out from his mouth. Mira pulled out the knife and Joon touched his wound. It was pain. His eyes were blurry and out of vision as he felt weak. He couldn’t even stand on his own.

“Now, now,” Mira said, smiled. “Just lay on me...” She was smiling, clearly showing her happy face as she put him down on the ground with his head on her lap.

Was he going to die? No, Joon didn’t believe that. He was stabbed by her and the wound was deep. He could felt a strong pain but his energy drain little by little yet it didn’t make him out of focus too much. He felt like he was taking an injection. 

“Don’t worry, you aren’t going to die, not in this world.” Mira then said.

Joon blinked his eyes, surpassing the pain he felt. “Wh-what do you m-mean?”

Mira was still smiling as she stroked his hair. “We had been doing this forever. You run, I catch. In the end, we will be together. I don’t care if its cycle in this world as long as you’re here with me.”

“That’s-” Joon stopped. The numb he felt on his brain lessen. He started to think. The factory, the building, it was familiar because he had been there. It was the place where Mira had used to work and it was the place where he met her, his dead girlfriend. 

Mira was his close friend so he used to visit the factory. He was rarely visited it until he met her, the new worker. He got attracted to her and eventually fall in love. He came by everyday till most of the workers knew him. The butterfly orchid. It was the orchid he had gave to her. It was to show how he loved her. His symbol of love. Everyone was happy with it, his relationship with her except one. Mira. It made Mira turned crazy because of her undying love for him which he didn’t realize it. The jealousy that Mira had felt, she turned it to a murderous plan. Every single person that supported his relationship, she attacked or even killed them, especially her. Joon didn’t know. He didn’t notice. It was until he investigated the case, all evidences showed toward her. 

Joon couldn’t believe at first. Mira was like his sister. Hence he wanted to clear her name. He chose to sneak inside her house and what he found was unbelievable. There was one room full of his photos all over it. On the floor was full of photos of many people. He recognized them as his friends, the ones that had been killed. What shocked him more was one photo hang on the wall with knife attached to it. Red marks all over it, showing how hatred Mira had felt toward his girlfriend.

Tears was begun to slowly out from his eyes. Joon refused to believe all of it. “Cra-crazy...” he said. “It’s crazy...” it was a nightmare. It was something that hunted him down. He didn’t want to continue on dreaming. Wake up, he wanted to wake up. “Let me go!”

...

“Hahaha...!” He screamed hysterically. “Go away, bitch!” he screamed again, endlessly. 

“Kris?”

Kris snapped from his thought. He turned to his side and unfolded his folded arms across his chest. “Oh, Jim.” He smiled.

Jim smiled, forced himself to be cheerful as he could ever since he walked into the building. 

“What are you doing here?” Kris asked him. He raised his eyebrow. “Shouldn’t you been on field?”

Jim chuckled. “If I were, I shouldn’t be here am I?” he watched as Kris laughed, sensing his stupid humour. “I just finished mission yesterday. Today is my rest day.” He glanced at the room beside him, covered with large window, he looked through it. “Besides, it’s been awhile since I visit him.”

Kris let out a small laugh. He didn’t feel right to laugh somehow. He leaned against the window wall and rested his head upon it. He glanced at the guy that was trapped inside.

“How is he?” Jim turned toward the window as he noticed the full attention that Kris gave to the guy inside.

Kris let out a sigh. “As you can see, he is still the same.”

Jim tried to smile but he felt so sad that he ended up making hot tears in his eyes. He put his left hand on the window and stared at the guy, his brother. “How are you, bro?”

Jim took a deep breath and then continued on saying. “I’m fine, Joon. I live well.” The tears were never dried up. “I had become a top agent like you, brother.” He said as if he was talking with him. “I’m sorry that I rarely visit you.” The tears were becoming many and many by seconds. He couldn’t hold his feeling. He felt so sad, too sad. “I was busy.”

 

Kris watched as Jim cried in front of him. He wanted to comfort the latter but he was sad as Jim was. 

“I still couldn’t believe you become like this.” Jim bit his lip. He watched as Joon took something on the pile of things. A sudden anger hit him. He punched the window. “Why, Joon?” he asked. “Why did you become like this?” he asked. “Answer me, please...” the anger soften and he was pleading for an answer.

“Go away!” Joon screamed again. He ran around the room and screamed again. He was insane.

Jim’s leg felt weak and eventually he was on his knees. “Oh Joon...” he cried. 

"Jim!” Kris was startled with Jim’s sudden behaviour. He squatted down beside the crying brunette. He sighed as he hugged the younger one. Jim always lose his control every time he went to visit Joon. “Let’s pray that he could get out from the nightmare that he created.” He softly patted Jim’s head to calm the latter down. He was saying all of that, when the reality was he wasn’t so sure about it. He wasn’t sure whether Joon might wake up. He could only hope for it.

“I have this gun. I can kill you!” Joon screamed again.

...

“He was trapped within the nightmare he had created and yet only he could break himself from the prison of nightmares.”

Joon that once a top agent. People love him because of his kindness and caring act. Never did he knew, his behaviour would make his friend – Mira – turned crazily in love with him. 

Mira couldn’t seem to get Joon loved her, she was frustrated. She bolted it down inside her, her pain. It was until she couldn’t stand it anymore when Joon were eyes on eyes of her new colleague. They fall in love and were in a relationship. Joon was starting to drift away from her life and she hated it. She was starting to lose her sane mind as she hated everyone that in her way, supporting the couple. She ended up killed all of them and her.

Joon, after knowing the truth, ignoring the rule and law, he met her face to face. They met. They argue. He killed her. As he watched her died, he was starting to lose his mind. The image of her, the sounds of endless gunshots were floating around inside his head.  He turned blind. He was blind between the reality and dreams – his nightmares. He was insane.

THE END