The news spread quickly.
The man found dead in the VIP room wasn't just anyone—he was a notorious serial killer. A monster who had murdered countless people, slipping through the hands of law enforcement for years. The police had been hunting him for a long time, but every time they got close, he vanished.
Now, he was dead.
And no one knew how.
---
Woo Joon sat at his desk in the dimly lit police station, scrolling through case files on his laptop. His office was quiet, the only sounds being the soft hum of the air conditioning and the occasional clicking of his mouse. His eyes flickered across images of the man's past victims—gruesome crime scene photos, old reports, and failed attempts to capture him.
Across the room, Ji So leaned against a chair, arms crossed, shaking his head in disbelief.
"I can't believe that scum is finally dead," Ji So muttered, exhaling deeply. "We've been after him for years. And now, just like that… he's gone."
Woo Joon didn't look up. "Tell me about it."
Ji So pushed off the chair, rubbing the back of his neck. "But man… the way he died. His body looked *wrong*. How the hell does something like that even happen? It doesn't make sense."
Woo Joon's fingers hovered over his keyboard. He had been thinking the same thing. The state of the body—the way it had been drained, dried up like an empty shell—was unlike anything he had ever seen. The cause of death was still unconfirmed, and the autopsy report wasn't helping.
It was as if something had *sucked* the life out of the man.
*A demon,* a voice in his head whispered.
Woo Joon clenched his jaw. No. That was ridiculous. He had no memory of what happened in that club, and he sure as hell wasn't about to start believing in supernatural nonsense.
Still, something didn't sit right with him.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps.
Officer Kim, their superior, walked over, arms folded as he observed the two men still at their desks. "You're still here?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Woo Joon immediately straightened and saluted. "Sir."
Officer Kim sighed, waving a hand. "Enough of that. Go home, Woo Joon. You too, Ji So. It's late."
"We will, sir," Woo Joon replied, though he made no move to leave.
Officer Kim shook his head, clicking his tongue. "You young guys have nothing to worry about. Just wait until you're married." He let out a long, exaggerated sigh. "My wife's waiting for me at home, and if I don't get there soon, *I'll* be the next body on the news."
Ji So laughed. "That bad, huh?"
Officer Kim groaned. "Worse. You'll see one day."
With that, he turned and walked out, muttering to himself about married life.
Ji So smirked, watching him leave. "Man, I don't know if I want to get married after hearing all that."
Woo Joon barely reacted, still staring at his screen. His fingers tapped against his desk. The case was closed the killer was dead but for some reason, it didn't feel over.
Something about it felt wrong.
Ji So had been waiting for Woo Joon for over thirty minutes, but at some point, exhaustion got the best of him. His head drooped onto his arms, and before he knew it, he was asleep.
Woo Joon, still at his desk, glanced at him and smirked. "What a dumbass," he muttered under his breath.
Then, his eyes landed on a small spider crawling on the desk.
A wicked grin spread across his face.
Carefully, he picked up the spider and placed it right on Ji So's cheek.
For a second, nothing happened. Then, Ji So's face twitched. His nose scrunched up. His brows furrowed as if he felt something.
And then—
His eyes flew open.
The moment he saw the tiny creature on his face, he let out a loud yell, nearly tipping over his chair as he bolted upright. He swatted at his face frantically, stumbling backward.
"WOO JOON! WHAT THE HELL?!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the nearly empty office.
Woo Joon leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, amusement clear in his eyes. "Relax. It was just a little spider."
Ji So glared at him, his chest still rising and falling from the scare. "Just a spider? Man, you scared the hell out of me!" He ran a hand through his hair and let out a breath. "I swear, you're insane."
Woo Joon chuckled and grabbed his jacket. "Anyway, I'm heading home." He slung it over his shoulder and walked past Ji So, patting his friend on the back.
"See you tomorrow."
Ji So rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, whatever, man."
Still shaking his head, he watched Woo Joon walk off.