After the match, Alex and Ha Rin decided to check Linda's usual parking area, hoping Linda might have returned for her bike.
The moment they turned to the corner, the familiar motorcycle came into view.
Ha Rin stopped abruptly. "Her bike… it's still here."
Alex's jaw tightened as he scanned the surroundings again, as if Linda might suddenly appear from somewhere.
"She's not here." He whispered.
"Then she has to be somewhere in campus," Ha Rin said, frustration creeping into her voice.
Alex shook his head slowly. "I've already checked. The gym, the locker rooms, the courtyard… everywhere."
A tense silence fell between them.
Then Alex looked at her. "Have you seen William after classes today?"
Ha Rin blinked. "No… I haven't."
The realization hit her a second later.
"Oh my God," she held her breath, her eyes widening. "You don't think… he knows where she went?"
Alex's expression darkened. "I don't know. But I don't like this."
Ha Rin pressed her lips together, anxiety rising fast. "We don't even have his number."
Alex exhaled sharply, anger mixing with worry. "If he ran into her… he could've forced her to go with him."
The thought alone made both of them uneasy.
"Alex… let's go to her house," Ha Rin said suddenly, turning to him. "Maybe she've already gone home."
"But her bike is___"
Ha Rin interrupted him sharply.
"She must have taken a taxi, you big idiot!" She scolded.
"Maybe." Alex said, and nodded his head in agreement. Within minutes, they were in his car, driving toward Linda's place in tense silence.
When they arrived, Ha Rin hurried to the door and pressed the doorbell once. There was no reply. She pressed it again and still no response.
Her uneasiness grew. She reached into her bag, pulled out the spare key Linda had once given her, and unlocked the door. They quickly rushed inside.
"Linda?" Ha Rin called but no one answered.
Alex moved through the living room, then the kitchen, and even knocked in her bathroom___checking each room carefully. A few minutes later, he returned__his expression grim.
"She's not here."
Ha Rin's shoulders dropped slightly.
"Oh my__" Ha Rin exclaimed softly.
"What should we do now?" Alex asked, the worry in his voice was no longer hidden.
Ha Rin thought for a moment before speaking. "You should go home, Alex. I'll stay here and wait for her. If she comes back and I'm not here, she might leave again to look for us."
Alex hesitated. He didn't like the idea of leaving her alone, but he also knew someone needed to stay.
"…Alright," he finally said. "Call me the moment she returns. No matter what time."
"I will."
He gave one last glance around the house before heading toward the door.
"See you at school tomorrow," he added quietly.
Ha Rin nodded.
A moment later, the door closed behind him, leaving her alone in Linda's house___ with nothing but the ticking clock and her growing worry for company.
Meanwhile, back at the school, Linda had long since exhausted her voice. She had screamed, pounded on the door and kicked it until her legs hurt. But no one came.
At first, she couldn't understand it. Students were supposed to come in and out of the restroom throughout the day. Someone should have heard her. Someone should have opened the door. But why did everyone avoid the bathroom when she was in it?
"That bastard…" she muttered hoarsely, her throat burning. "How did he even do this…"
Time dragged on endlessly. The air inside the small locked space felt heavier with every passing minute. Hunger twisted painfully in her stomach, and exhaustion crept through her limbs like poison.
Eventually, her strength gave out. She slid down against the wall, her head drooping forward. Without realizing it, she fell asleep.
After a long while, the sound of footsteps stirred her. Linda's eyes fluttered open slowly. Her body felt stiff and weak, her mind foggy with disorientation. She rubbed her eyes, trying to focus, her gaze moving around the dim space.
"…Where am I…" she murmured faintly.
Then the memory returned___William locking her inside. The door refusing to open.
Her heart lurched violently in her chest.
The footsteps outside were already fading.
Panic shot through her.
She pushed herself up and staggered toward the door, hitting it with what strength she had left.
"Help…! Please__ someone help me!"
Her voice came out cracked and weak.
Outside, the security guard on night duty froze. The sound had come from the female restroom.
A chill crawled down his spine instantly.
There were always rumors around the school___whispers that some students weren't normal. That strange things happened at night when the campus was empty. He had laughed them off before, but standing there in the quiet hallway, hearing faint noises from the locked restroom…
Fear wrapped around his chest.
Could the rumors actually be true?
He almost turned to run. Then he heard it again.
"…please…" The voice was faint, but unmistakably human.
The guard hesitated, guilt replacing fear. What if someone really needed help?
Swallowing hard, he forced himself to move forward, each step cautious.
"W-who is there?" he called, his voice trembling slightly as he approached the door.
"Please… help me…" Linda answered weakly from inside.
"Who are you?" he asked, still unsure.
"It's me… Linda… the black girl…"
Recognition hit immediately.
Everyone in the school knew Linda. She was the only black student there__confident, talented, beautiful and impossible to miss.
"Oh!"
Relief washed through him.
He quickly unlocked the door. The moment the door opened, Linda stumbled out, her body swaying. Her face looked pale with exhaustion, and her lips were dry. For a second, she nearly collapsed.
"Hey___careful," the guard said, grabbing her arm to steady her. "Who locked you in there?"
Linda wanted to answer, but the words wouldn't come. Her throat felt like sandpaper, and hunger was making her dizzy.
"My… food… locker…" she whispered instead.
Understanding immediately, the guard helped her walk toward the lockers.
When she opened hers and pulled out her food, she didn't even bother checking it properly. She sat down right there and began eating quickly, almost desperately, even though the taste had gone slightly off from sitting too long.
The guard stood nearby, watching her with concern.
"You should rest a bit," he said gently. "Gather your strength before going home. Don't worry___this matter will be investigated tomorrow."
If you knew who did this, you wouldn't bother investigating. Linda thought silently, bitterness flashing through her mind.
"What time is it…?" she asked.
"Past nine," he replied.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"I'll help you get a taxi," he offered.
Linda shook her head weakly. "No… I have my bike."
After a few more minutes, she forced herself to stand.
"I have to go."
The guard walked her outside to where her bike was parked. She climbed onto it slowly, her body still tired but her mind now burning with something stronger than exhaustion.
Anger!
"Thank you," she told him before starting the engine.
As she rode out of the school gates and into the night traffic, her eyes hardened.
Wait for me, William.
I'll send you to hell.