Strawberry Cake [EDITING]

🍰【t h i r t y n i n e】🍰

Jaemin let out a sigh as he pulled the key out of the admonition and looked at Renjun. He had explained the situation earlier to Renjun and the older was now sitting in his spot, looking out the window even though they had already arrived.

"Renjun, let's go. Jisung's waiting." Jaemin suggested softly. Renjun turned to look at Jaemin, hot tears rolling down his face.

"Jaem, what if he's dead..." He whispered, his voice hoarse. Jaemin felt fear, anger, sadness, among other emotions bubble in his chest at this sentence and he shook his head, sending the thoughts and emotions back to their little locked box where they belonged.

"No... Chenle's not dead. I won't believe that." Renjun nodded at Jaemin before unbuckling his seatbelt, the two getting out and making their way to the front door.

They only had to knock a couple of times before the door swung open, revealing a terrified-looking Jisung.

"Come on... You need to see this." Renjun nodded and walked in, Jaemin following close behind. As they made their way through the house, he noticed how it looked so strangely old. Everything looked like it had been used for a couple of years, not like he had just moved in.

Jisung led them up the stairs and down the hall little ways until they were in a room. It seemed like an office of sorts. A large desk sat against the wall, above it was a corkboard, pictures taped and pinned on the board. News articles, diary entries, photographs of people in parks and restaurants all stuck on the board, threads of red string connecting many of them. Renjun stepped towards the board, reaching out as he approached to brush his finger on one of the photographs.

"What the hell is this?" Jaemin asked softly. Renjun shook his head.

"I don't know.." Renjun answered. Jisung stayed where he stood in the doorway, simply watching the two look around.

"It ends on March 29th.." Jisung muttered. The two turned to look at Jisung who swallowed thickly. "I-I looked... He stopped trying three months ago... A-and I think I know why." Jaemin and Renjun exchanged a glance before looking back at Jisung.

"Why?" Renjun asked. Jisung walked in hesitantly and picked up a notebook off the desk, opening it shakily and flipping through the pages before finally stopping on one. He cleared his throat.

"March 30th, I found one of his men. I found one of the men who has been involved in the taking of patients from the hospital in Beijing. His boss has a workplace here in Korea where he sent the patients. He seems to show interest in things involving the manipulation of the human mind. When I found him, he offered me a position. I told him I didn't want to be involved but, he threatened to harm my family if I didn't. He informed me that my cousin, Renjun, was recently involved in the life of a boy by the name of Lee Jeno."

"This man told me that they need Lee Jeno as part of an experiment of sorts involving the boy's mental capabilities. They say he is dangerous, that he killed his own parents and needs to be captured to keep others safe. I don't believe them, however. I have reason to believe this boy is innocent, being blamed for something he didn't do."