Chapter 27: Blood, Tears, and the Hospital Run
The relief Clara had felt just moments ago in the twins' arms vanished instantly as a familiar, metallic sound echoed through the quiet house.
The click of a key in the front door lock.
Lukas and Pascale froze. Clara held her breath in sheer terror, her heart hammering so violently against her ribs that she was afraid it could be heard. The man in the hat was back. He had turned around.
"Damn it, he's coming back!" Lukas whispered frantically, his eyes darting wildly around the room. "Where do we hide? Under the bed? In the closet?"
"Are you insane? There are three of us, he'll spot us instantly!" Pascale hissed, grabbing Clara by the arm.
The front door groaned slightly as it was pushed open. They only had seconds. Acting on pure instinct, Pascale pulled Clara and Lukas behind a heavy, dark velvet curtain that covered a large, floor-to-ceiling window. They pressed themselves as tightly together as possible and held their breath.
Heavy footsteps entered the room. The man in the hat was humming a twisted, monotonous melody that sent chills down Clara's spine. They heard him drop a bag onto the table.
Peeking through a tiny crack in the curtain, the twins risked a glance. The man walked straight toward the photo wall. He stretched out his hand, gently—almost tenderly—stroking the picture of Clara in her wedding dress.
"Soon, my beautiful... soon we will finally be together," he murmured in a deep, raspy voice Clara had never heard before in her life. "No one will separate us again. And that CEO... won't be a problem anymore."
He reached into his bag and pulled out something that flashed dangerously in the dim light. A long, sharp utility knife. With a sudden, aggressive motion, he drove the blade straight into the face of a fresh photo of Min-ho, which he had seemingly just printed out.
A tiny, choked gasp escaped Clara's lips.
The stalker froze mid-motion. The humming stopped. The house was instantly dead silent. Slowly, almost mechanically, he turned his head toward the curtain. He had heard something.
His heavy footsteps moved slowly across the wooden floor. Step. Step. Step. Every sound pierced Clara's nerves like a needle.
Behind the heavy velvet, the air was suffocating. Lukas held his hands tightly over his eyes, praying to become invisible. Pascale clamped a hand over his own mouth, fighting the urge to scream. But Clara knew it was up to her to act. Stepping out from the shadows, she bravely faced the intruder.
The stalker stopped. A twisted, euphoric smile spread across his face as he looked at her. "You... you came. It's so beautiful that you're finally here to visit me."
"Yes, I'm here," Clara said, her voice trembling but steady. "Who are you? How do we know each other?"
The man looked at her, utterly bewildered. "What are you talking about? Don't you remember me? It was two years ago. We were on the same bus. When you got off, you stumbled, and I caught you. I asked if you were okay, and you told me to be more careful. Don't you remember?"
Clara stared at him, horrified by the insignificance of the encounter that had triggered his obsession. "I... I don't really remember. I think I should leave now. I have to get back to work, you see."
"What? You want to leave?" The man's expression darkened instantly. "Please don't go. We're a couple!"
At that moment, Pascale snapped. He stormed out from behind the curtain. "Hey, you psycho! You must have taken a serious hit to the head if you think a polite phrase makes you a couple! She was just being nice!"
"What?! You didn't come alone?" the stalker shrieked.
Lukas, finally finding his courage, stepped out too. "No, she didn't, you freak! And as long as she hasn't shoved her tongue down your throat, you are definitely not a couple! I know her well!"
That was the breaking point. Screaming in rage, the stalker raised his utility knife and charged at Lukas. The impact tore the heavy curtain from its mounts, crashing them all to the floor.
Pascale threw himself into the fray, fiercely protective. "Leave my brother alone, you lunatic! The only one allowed to mistreat him is me!" With a surge of adrenaline, Pascale wrestled the stalker back into the room. Lukas lay dazed on the floor. Pascale spread his arms wide, planting himself like an unbreakable wall in front of Clara and his twin.
But the madman lunged again. In a flash of survival instinct, Clara threw herself into the way. A burning, piercing pain sliced through her abdomen, and she let out a sharp cry.
Seeing the blood, the attacker suddenly blinked, as if waking from a trance. Horrified by his own action, he dropped the bloody knife and fled into the streets.
Pascale caught Clara as she stumbled. "Clara! Oh my god!"
"I'm okay... it's just a scratch," she gasped, clutching her side. But as they both looked down, their hearts stopped. Lukas was still lying motionless under the torn curtain. Beneath him, a dark, crimson pool of blood was rapidly expanding.
"Oh no... Luki!" Clara screamed. "He's hurt! Call an ambulance, quickly!"
Lukas had been stabbed in the lower abdomen. He was pale, losing blood fast, and fading in and out of consciousness.
By the time they reached the hospital, the emergency room was a blur of motion. Lukas was stabilized, hooked up to an IV, and finally opened his eyes.
"Luki, honey... how do you feel?" Clara whispered, leaning over his bed and squeezing his cold hand.
"Sorry, Clara," Lukas murmured, his voice incredibly weak. "I really didn't see that coming... Did you get hurt too?"
"Just a scratch, don't worry about me."
Meanwhile, out in the hallway, a frantic Pascale was on the phone with Mr. Kim.
Back at the filming set, Mr. Kim's hands shook so violently he could barely hold his phone to his ear. All color drained from his face. Without a word to anyone, he dropped his clipboard and bolted toward the parking lot.
Min-ho, who had been watching him closely, immediately ran after him. "Mr. Kim! What is going on? Where are you going?!"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Min-ho, but there's been an accident," Mr. Kim gasped, his voice tight with panic. "Mr. Lukas and Ji-soo are in the hospital. They've been injured."
"What?!" Min-ho's blood turned to ice, followed by a roaring wave of fury and terror. "Why didn't you say so immediately?! We have no time to lose!"
They jumped into Min-ho's car, the engine roaring to life. Min-ho was out of his mind with worry, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. This is what happens when she hangs around with those two identical idiots! he cursed internally. But deep down, the guilt was eating him alive. I should have never let her out of my sight, no matter what she said. This is the last time. Hold on, my Ji-soo... I'm coming for you.