Chapter 2

Chapter 2

“Shihan, wait! Whatever you do, don’t hang up!”

I braced myself against the wall, forcing my body to stand up slowly.

Beads of sweat rolled down my forehead. Gripping my phone tightly, I shuffled toward the table, grabbed the pitcher, and gulped down water.

Drinking large amounts of water could delay the effects of the poison.

I had to hold on long enough to save Shihan before I died.

“Shihan, stop right now. Don’t go any further into the park. The person who promised to pay you your wages isn’t waiting for you in there at all.”

Shihan asked in surprise, “Dad… how did you know about my winter break job?”

“I know… you wanted to earn money to treat your dad to a New Year’s Eve dinner… The person who set you up with the job told you to meet him in the park next to the mall after work tonight to get paid. But he lied to you. He’s a fake agent who ran off with your money. He’s not in the park tonight.”

This was what the police had discovered later-why Shihan had gone to the park that night. However, after a rigorous investigation and interrogation, they found that the fake agent had only cheated Shihan out of her wages, leading her on a wild goose chase; he had no connection to the murder itself.

On the other end of the line, Shihan hesitated for a moment.

“That can’t be right, Dad. That boss was introduced to me by a senior at my university. They all seemed like such good people; they wouldn’t lie to me. I’m almost there. Just wait for me. I’ve worked hard for three days. Once I get my pay, I’m taking you out to live it up…”

“Shihan, listen to me! When have I ever lied to you?” I grew frantic, my voice sharpening.

“Okay, Dad, I’ll do what you say.” Shihan’s voice turned nervous. “I’ll head back the way I came and catch a ride home immediately.”

“Wait! Stay exactly where you are. Don’t move. Tell me, what’s the most prominent thing you can see near you right now?”

“There are no lights around here, it’s too dark… Next to me, there seems to be a pavilion and a bamboo grove.”

Shihan’s current location immediately flashed in my mind.

For fifteen years, in my quest to find the killers, I had wandered through this park countless times, day and night. I knew every corner by heart.

“Look to your side and behind you. Can you see anyone?”

“There’s no one around.”

“Good. Face the pavilion, go around the right side into the bamboo grove, and keep walking straight. Move fast, but try not to let anyone hear you. Keep the light from your phone covered as much as possible.”

“Okay, Dad… but what’s going on? Did someone tell you they were going to do something to me? You didn’t get into debt with the wrong people, did you?”

“Don’t ask questions yet, Shihan. Just do as I say.”

I continued to reconstruct the entire layout of the park in my mind.

Shihan had entered through the Southwest Gate. She was originally heading toward the East Gate to collect her money when she was killed along the way.

Fifteen years ago, although the police never caught the killers, they were certain the culprits had entered either through the Southwest Gate like Shihan, or through the East Gate.

Therefore, Shihan could not go back the way she came.

As long as she followed my instructions and cut through the bamboo grove, she would reach a large lawn near the West Gate.

Fifteen years ago, firecrackers hadn’t been banned yet. On New Year’s Eve, there would definitely be many people gathered there setting off fireworks.

That way, she would be safe.

This was the best and fastest way.

Shihan’s hurried breathing and the sound of the wind whistling past came through the phone.

She was jogging.

“Dad, it’s so dark here. I’m scared. Maybe I should hang up and call the police…”

“No! You must not hang up! You have to trust me.”

I didn’t know if hanging up this call-this connection across time and space-would mean failure.

I had to hear Shihan walk safely out of that park before I died.

Just then, my stomach churned.

I spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood, the pain nearly making me black out.

It seemed my time was running out.

Shihan, you have to keep going.

But at that moment, I heard something wrong on the other end of the line.

Shihan’s breathing became even more rapid, but I couldn’t hear her footsteps or the wind anymore.

I asked anxiously, “Shihan, why did you stop running?”

Shihan’s voice came through the phone, faint and on the verge of tears.

“Dad… what do I do… I’m so scared. I’m hiding…

I think… I heard footsteps behind me…

Someone has been following me.

And… there’s more than one of them…”