The Algorithm Of Deceit

Chapter Four

She struck the match.

The flames flickered to life, devouring the pieces of Soo-ah she had left behind. She watched as the fire consumed them, the heat licking at the edges of the old letters, the flames curling the fabric of the hoodie until it blackened and crumbled.

The last remnants of her sister—gone.

By the time the fire died, all that remained was ash. Ji-hyun gathered it carefully, placing it into a small urn. A tear slipped down her cheek, but she wiped it away before it could fall further.

She had no more time for tears.The burial site was quiet.

She paid for a small slot, watching as the undertaker placed the urn inside. Beside it, she set the neatly folded flag, tucking it behind the urn. A small framed photo of Soo-ah sat next to it—one of the few she had left. It was an old picture. Soo-ah, grinning at the camera, dressed in her uniform, eyes full of determination. The undertaker sealed the glass over the slot, his expression somber as he turned to Ji-hyun. "I'm sorry for your loss."

She nodded, unable to say anything in return. As he left, she reached out, pressing a hand against the cold glass.

This was it. The last goodbye.

The final place where Soo-ah would rest.

Ji-hyun swallowed the lump in her throat, her fingers lingering for a moment before she turned and walked away. She didn't look back. There was nothing left to see. Ji-hyun's phone vibrated in her pocket. She barely glanced at the screen before answering, pressing the device to her ear.

"Hello?"

Silence.

She frowned. "Hello?"

Nothing.

Then, a soft click as the call was cut short.

Her grip tightened around the phone. Who the hell keeps doing this?

It wasn't the first time. Ever since that night—the night she received the military notice—she had been getting these calls. Always from an unknown number. Always silent.

A cruel joke? A mistake?

Ji-hyun exhaled sharply. Whoever it was, she wasn't in the mood for their games. Stepping out of the memorial home, a small breeze brushed past her, carrying with it the scent of blooming flowers.

Spring was near.

She stared up at the sky, lost in thought. Spring was Soo-ah's favorite season. She used to say it felt like a new beginning, a chance to start fresh. But Ji-hyun wasn't sure she believed in fresh starts anymore. Her thoughts drifted back to the first time she received the unknown call—a week before the soldiers arrived at her doorstep. Back then, she had foolishly thought it was Soo-ah. That her twin had finally reached out after three years of silence. That maybe, just maybe, she was ready to mend the broken pieces between them.

She clenched her jaw. Who would play with her like this?

She wasn't the type to attract attention. At work, she kept to herself, did her job, and went home. No close friends. No enemies.

So who?

Shaking the thoughts from her mind, she made her way to the train station, her movements mechanical, as if running on autopilot. The train rocked gently as it moved, the rhythmic motion lulling her into an absentminded daze. People bustled around her, some chatting, some buried in their phones, others simply staring out the window as the city blurred past.

She barely noticed any of it.

Until—

A ping from her phone snapped her back to reality.

A message.

She glanced down, expecting another missed call notification. Instead, her breath caught in her throat.

"She is not missing in action."

Her fingers went numb around the device. The message was short. Brief. Devoid of explanation. But it was enough to send a jolt of cold fear through her veins.

Her sister.

This person—whoever they were—knew what happened to Soo-ah. Ji-hyun's pulse pounded as she quickly typed back.

"Who are you?"

She hit send.

Nothing happened.

A second later, an automated message popped up on the screen:

"Could not send this message."

She stared at it, dread creeping up her spine. This wasn't just some random prank. The number was untouchable. Untraceable. Even with her skills in hacking, she knew when she had hit a wall. Whoever sent this message... knew what they were doing.

Which meant—

They also knew what she was capable of.

~Hi readers, see you on Tuesday~
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~author~😊