Doodlebug | Beomjun, yeongyu |

Chapter no. 14

"Oh my God," he croaked, the words barely audible over the rising din.

"Beomgyu, stay calm!" Taehyun's voice snapped him out of his daze. But calm was the last thing Beomgyu could be He pushed through the crowd, his eyes glued to the still figure sprawled outside.

A collective gasp resonated through the classroom as the gruesome scene unfolded before them. A girl, her once vibrant clothes now stained crimson, lay motionless on the ground. Blood pooled around her. 

As the details came into focus, a choked sob escaped Beomgyu's lips. "Ashley Choi," he whispered, his voice thick with despair. The note, the frantic fear in his chest, it all clicked into place in a horrifying epiphany. The killer had struck again, and this time.

The once sterile classroom was now a scene of chaos. Grief, horror, and sheer terror hung heavy in the air. Beomgyu, his legs wobbly with despair, leaned against the wall, Yeonjun appearing beside him in a flash, his arm a silent anchor in the storm of emotions threatening to drown him.

"We never thought it could be a possibility," Taehyun's voice cut through the fog clouding Beomgyu's mind. "This changes everything."

Beomgyu nodded mechanically, the simple act of lifting his head feeling like an insurmountable task. He fumbled for his phone, his fingers clumsy with shock. But before he could dial Kai's number, the classroom door slammed open. Principal Park, his face grim and drawn, entered the room, followed by several police officers.

"We're placing the school on lockdown," Principal Park announced, his voice tight with contained emotion. "No one is to leave until we've conducted a thorough investigation."

A wave of murmurs rippled through the classroom. Lockdown. Again. The word hung heavy in the air, a grim reminder of their precarious situation. Beomgyu sank deeper into the wall, the crushing weight of despair threatening to consume him. Ashley, vibrant and full of life just yesterday, was gone. The playful banter, the shared anxieties about exams, all replaced by a chilling silence.

"Taehyun, yeonjun, beomgyu and soobin, please step outside with me," one of the officers barked, his gaze sweeping across the room. Beomgyu flinched, his heart skipping a beat. Why did they want them?

Soobin, pale-faced and trembling, reached out a hand to grip Beomgyu's arm. "Beomgyu, it's okay," he whispered, his voice barely a tremor. "We'll be fine."

But Beomgyu wasn't so sure. A knot of dread tightened in his stomach. What did the police want? Did they suspect something? His mind raced, his already fragile sense of security crumbling under the weight of suspicion.

As the four boys followed the officer out of the classroom, Yeonjun cast a worried glance back at Beomgyu. Their eyes met for a fleeting moment, a silent exchange passing between them. Fear, confusion, and a flicker of something else – a determination to see this through, together.

The hallway felt sterile and cold, a stark contrast to the simmering cauldron of emotions Beomgyu carried within him. They were led into a small, cramped office, where two other officers sat behind a cluttered desk.

"Have a seat, gentlemen," one of the officers gestured towards the chairs opposite them. His tone was curt, his eyes filled with suspicion. "We need to ask you a few questions."

Beomgyu's throat constricted. Questions? About what? A wave of nausea washed over him. He stole a glance at his friends, their faces reflecting his own fear and confusion.

Soobin, his face ashen, choked out a question, "So, Beomgyu's next?"

The officers exchanged a grim look. The younger one, a flicker of concern replacing suspicion in his eyes, spoke, "We thought we'd let you play this serial killing game for your satisfaction, but you guys are going too far."