Arkhan and Sandy walked side by side out of the classroom when they spotted Levan hurrying past them, as if trying to avoid something.
"Where you headed, bro?" Arkhan asked.
"The usual. Got something to take care of," Levan replied quickly.
"Bet it's another order," Sandy teased with a sly grin.
"Please shut up, my demonic friends," Levan muttered as he brushed past them.
His heart was pounding wildly. The message from "Unknown" he'd just received had shaken him—threatening to expose his dark secret, his frequent visits to hotels, unless he came alone to a certain location. Levan couldn't bring himself to tell Arkhan or Sandy. The risk was too great.
With hurried steps, he left the school grounds and made his way to the meeting point: an old, abandoned building on the outskirts of the city.
When he arrived, he froze in place.
"Wait... Isn't this the warehouse where the police found Joan's body?"
The eerie silence and the crumbling building sent chills down his spine. He hadn't seen a single soul on the road leading here.
"I... I've been set up..." he whispered in dread.
ZRRRTTT!
His body convulsed violently. Out of the shadows, the Red Cloak appeared and immediately struck him with a taser.
*****
In a dark room, the figure in the Black Cloak sat comfortably, casually scrolling through their phone while munching on snacks. The sound of movement made them turn.
"Ah, finally awake?" they said coolly.
In front of them sat Levan, tied to a wooden chair, his head hanging low. He slowly lifted his face, still trying to regain his senses.
"Wh-who are you?" he asked, breathing heavily as he looked toward the cloaked figure.
"I'm Unknown. Don't tell me you forgot? Weren't we supposed to meet today?" said the Black Cloak.
"We agreed to meet, not for you to kidnap me," Levan snapped.
"Sorry, but if I didn't drag you here, you would've run away," Unknown replied, standing up and twirling a folding knife in their hand.
"You already know I'm seeking revenge for Jeongin's death. I won't stop until everyone involved pays for what they've done."
"I get it, but that's not my business!" Levan protested.
"Not your business? I found your bracelet at the crime scene—in this house! You were sloppy, Levan." The knife now touched Levan's neck.
"I-I didn't mean to! That night, I was just coming back from a hotel and happened to pass by. I saw Arkhan and Sandy in this house. I went to check, and then—I saw Arkhan stabbing Jeongin! He woke up, but he smothered him with a pillow. Sandy saw me and forced me to help them. I don't know how, but they knew about my secret—and used it to threaten me..." Levan's voice shook.
"My cousin left clues pointing to Arkhan. That's why I started by terrorizing him. But I didn't expect all three of you to be involved!" Unknown's voice rose with fury.
"Sandy never killed anyone! He only got rid of the evidence. And I didn't kill your cousin either!" Levan insisted.
"But you're still part of it. You three made my cousin die."
The knife began to slowly cut into Levan's skin—agonizing but deliberate.
"You all have to pay..."
"A-aaaaagh!! Stop!! I'm sorry!!" Levan screamed, writhing in pain, but the ropes held him tight.
"Sorry? You think that'll bring my cousin back?" Unknown hissed.
The slicing continued. The room echoed with shallow breathing, muffled cries, and the scent of fresh blood.
"Life should be paid with life, shouldn't it?"
Levan was nearly unconscious now. His eyes fluttered, body limp.
"L-let me go..." he pleaded weakly.
"Let you go? You're not dead yet," Unknown said with a cold smile. "You'll stay here until you bleed out. Then I'll throw your body into the furnace, and one more job will be done."