𝘗𝘺𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘊𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩 | 𝘺.𝘫𝘸 𝘹 𝘬.𝘴𝘯

💌 50 - sunghoon

The bell above the door jingled softly as the last customer exited the café.

Sunghoon wiped down the counter in silence, his hands moving, but his mind elsewhere. Across the room, Niki stacked chairs on tables, humming softly to a tune.

"Alright," Niki finally said, pulling off his apron and tossing it into the backroom. "That's everything. You want me to wait for you to lock up?"

Sunghoon shook his head. "Nah, I got it. You can go home."

Niki nodded. "Okie dokie."

Niki grabs his bag and sweater, he heads to the door but stops. "I'll get going now, and also... be careful when you're getting back home."

Sunghoon glanced up. "Worried much?"

He waits for Niki's response to his tease, but he quickly realizes his seriousness.

"Well, yeah. With all these murders lately, especially what happened back at Yeonjun's party? Feels like every week someone new turns up dead. I just hope you're being safe out there." Niki continues.

"I'll be fine," Sunghoon replied with a smirk. "Worry about yourself, I can manage."

Sunghoon lies through his teeth.

In the inside, he's paranoid.

Especially after his speculations on Jungwon.

He can't help that everywhere he went... he's looking over his shoulder, with the feeling of being watched 24/7.

Niki chuckles. "Alright then, see you next week." The door clicked shut behind him.

10 minutes later Sunghoon finishes closing up, flipping off the lights as the cafe turned completely dark.

He shoved his hands into his pockets and stepped out into the chill of the late night air not forgetting to lock the store. The street was quieter than usual but it was calming.

He walked quickly, cutting through side streets to save some time. The route was familiar, even in the pitch black night Sunghoon's path on the way home was as clear as water in his memory.

That is, until he passed a narrow alleyway.

A soft scuffling sound echoed out from the darkness.

Sunghoon paused.

He turned his head, peering into the alley. "Hello?"

...

It was deathly quiet, Sunghoon could practically hear the sound of his heartbeat.

For a few moments, he stared deep into the alleyway, his eyes moved around looking for traces of movement that could have potentially made that sound. Biting his lip, uncertainty kept him standing there waiting for something to come out the darkness and into view under the streetlights. He did not dare to move, feeling his muscles tense up ready to activate his fight or flight.

...

"Hello?..." He calls out again.

There was nothing.

Sunghoon lowers his guard. He takes a sigh of relief, as he scratches his neck.

'It's late... I'm probably just hearing things.' He thought.

He turns away from the alley.

But just as he started walking again,

a sharp rustle.

Then something, someone moved.

Before Sunghoon could react, a figure lunged from the shadows. A gloved hand clamped over his mouth. Another gripped something heavy and metal.

He muffles under the attacker's grasp, panicked he tries to shove his way out but it was no use.

Pain erupts in his skull as the object struck the side of his head.

Sunghoon's world tilted. His vision spun and blurred.

His legs gave out.

Then everything went black.