Fun fact, the title of this chapter was gonna be the title of the book until I changed it last second haha. Please vote & comment!
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Even though there's been no sign of April these past couple of days, this whole situation is still disturbing.

I've spent three nights in a row protecting Jiho in my arms as he sleeps, unable to properly sleep myself... Not to mention that I'm still carless. Hopefully the repairs can be completed soon because trains are not for me.

With Phoebe having taken Jiho to school and Hoseok now at work, I enter our clinic in a tweed cardigan and matching pants, overshadowing my bandages and healing scrapes with the usual preppy attire. I'm on probation as a result of my lateness and inability to complete Thursday's session, but that's better than losing my job I suppose.

"Well well well, if it isn't my favorite Doctor." Dana leans against her office door that stands beside mine. The steamy mug in her grip matches the one she's holding out to me, "Perfect timing. I just whipped these up."

"Thanks, I could use one." I lifelessly take the coffee into my palms. Dana follows me into my office and comfortably takes a seat on my couch while I set up the room with exhaustion.

"So, any update on the 'April's after May' situation?"

"Well," I sigh. "There's been no sign of her since the car crash and porno email which is a good sign. Also social services haven't turned up yet so I'm hoping that Jiho's teacher was just bluffing, but who knows... It's paranoia-inducing either way. I went to the police station like you said and reported her though."

"Have they issued a restraining order?"

"Hopefully. I gave them her address but it turns out she's been using a fake identity this whole time. You should've seen how the officer was looking at me. He thought I was crazy... Heck, everyone thinks I'm crazy."

"Well... You did run off from a car crash and hysterically shout about how a woman who looks like you, but isn't you, is after your husband."

"Dana, I'm NOT imagining this. Do people seriously think I trashed my own car and hurt myself? There really is a psycho nanny named April who's out to get me!"

"I know, I know. I believe you girl, but others probably won't. At least she hasn't terrorized you again. I guess your face finally scared her off."

Dana's shoulders hitch when she hiccups a chuckle against the porcelain of her cup. I meet her with a poker face before she surrenders.

"Kidding. Just take this as a lesson not to hire somebody without doing an excessive background check in the future. I know your job is to help people but you can't welcome everyone, May."

She's right... I'm so used to seeing the good in those who are deemed 'crazy' that it's impacted how I see others outside of work. I guess you can't trust everyone...

⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢
➽───── 3pm ─────➤
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Phoebe waits patiently outside of Jiho's kindergarten as the last few kids of the day take off with their families. Child by child, the entrance becomes more deserted and yet, still no sign of the adorable 4-year-old. Ultimately, Phoebe approaches one of the teachers standing out front.

"Hello young lady. You've been waiting a while. Who are you here to pick up?"

"Hi, yeah I'm here to pick up Jiho Jung. I'm his second cousin, Phoebe."

"Jiho Jung? He's not in my class but I'm pretty sure his mom already came for him. The first kid to be picked up, actually."

"Oh. May didn't tell me she was getting him today... Uh, okay. I'll just check with her."

Phoebe doesn't hesitate to unlock her phone and dial my number. Despite preparing for a session, I immediately answer the call and balance the device between my ear and shoulder while writing.

"Hey Phoebe. How's Jiho?"

"I was about to ask the same thing."

"What do you mean?"

"He's with you, isn't he?"

My hand pauses and eyebrows furrow.

"Phoebe, this isn't funny. Where's Jiho?"

"I don't know! I've been waiting at his school for ages but they said somebody already picked him up. They described you."

"No I'm at work and so is Hobi—" Those words cause me to immediately freeze.

It's her.

She touched...

My child.

"May?"

*Beep.*

It takes mere milliseconds for me to aggressively abandon my papers and desk chair. Dana overhears the slam of my office door and pokes her head out of hers, watching with concern as I urgently bolt through the main corridor of our clinic.

"May? May!"

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➽───────❥───────➤
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Meanwhile, Hoseok remains sat at his desk like any other ordinary day at the office. His button-up shirt and tie match the warm mocha tones of his coffee, as well as the autumn leaves gently falling outside... But expectedly, an executive stops by his desk.

"Jung, you've got a visitor."

His forehead creases, "A visitor?"

"Yes. We've spoken about this Jung. No visitors at the office."

The confused stir fails to fade from Hoseok's features after his colleague walks away. The faithful husband then slouches in his seat, his fingertips massaging his eyebrows in preparation before two hands are already rubbing his shoulders from behind.

"It's okay, don't get up. I'll come to you."

"April, this madness has to stop. Seriously. Don't make me—"

The moment Hoseok attempts to look back, his breath hitches when April suddenly aims a knife at his stomach, letting the pointy tip poke his shirt teasingly. Hoseok looks down, trying his best not to move as April speaks in his ear.

"Look, I know we had our fight baby, and I'm sorry I got so mad at you in your car the other day... It's not your fault that you wanted to keep me hidden. It's that brainwasher, May's."

"You're one delusional bitch."

"Um, no. I'm the bitch holding the knife. You 'ought to remember that."

"You wouldn't kill me," Hoseok sneers. "You're too obsessed to kill me."

April snorts at his bravery before clenching her grip and redirecting the knife to Hoseok's lap, pressing its blade lightly against his length.

"I've done everything for you. I'd give anything for you. Heck, I've put more time and effort into learning about you than your stupid wife has... But no. No matter how much I matched your ideal type, you never gave me a chance."

"What are you going on about?"

"I've always wanted you Hobi... Even before you were this saint of a husband. When you were a player and a party boy, I still saw the good in you. But you just had to reject me back in middle school for that stupid bitch in History class because she had bigger boobs! It may have taken 12 years, but I finally have you. And if I can't have you, nobody can... So try me. Tell me I won't slice this knife right now, or kill you for that matter. I dare you."

Hoseok looks down once more. This time, with tense breath.

"Just tell me what you want."

"Here's what you're gonna do for me. You're gonna tell your boss that you've got a sick relative and that you need to leave. Then you're gonna get in my car."

Hoseok scoffs.

"So you're going to slice my dick off if I don't?"

"Nope." She shrugs, "Something will happen to Jiho if you don't."

"Nice try. Somebody already—"

"Picked him up from school? I know. He was so surprised to see me, it truly warmed my heart."

Any doubt in Hoseok's face and posture shifts into immediate unease, compelling April to grin.

"Shall we get going?"

With no other options, Hoseok practically holds his breath and glares at the psycho as they both slowly stand up and make their way to the elevator, letting its silver doors enclose on their faces...

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➽──ONE HOUR LATER──➤
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One missed call turns into two... Two missed calls turn into four. No matter how many times I ring Hobi's phone, there's no answer.

The moment I reach home, the front door slams at my palm as I pace from room to room in search of my son. The security panel hasn't been activated but that didn't stop her from slashing something sharp through our wedding portrait, the tear conveniently split between my husband and I.

"APRIL IF YOU'RE IN MY HOUSE I SWEAR TO GOD!"

The fury in my veins seems to only burn hotter in every room I tear apart. Simultaneously, I unlock my phone and raise it to my ear.

"000, what's your emergency?"

"H-Hello? I'd like the report a kidnapping. It's my son, I—"

"Okay ma'am, stay calm. How long ago did you notice your son's disappearance?"

"About 20 minutes ago. And I know who did it but I don't know where..."

My words dissolve at the tip of my tongue upon suddenly noticing my bedroom that's been completely trashed. Our broken mirror trickles glass shards while my wardrobe itself looks as if it's been raided, littering my clothes across the bed and floor. Unlike mine of course, Hoseok's remains pretty tidy.

"Hello?"

I unconsciously tune out the operator when slowly walking toward my wardrobe. Strangely enough, nothing seems to be stolen...

There's only one empty hanger...

"Hello? Miss?"

I hang up and run back downstairs in flee of my own home. After locking the door behind me, I quite literally run down the street to April's house, knocking against her door aggressively despite no car being parked outside.

"April?! APRIL! You've taken this too far! I swear if you don't open this door I'm gonna BUST it down!"

There's no answer.

"April!" *Thud thud thud!* "Open up!"

More seconds of silence pass by in the form of an empty day's breeze. The pent-up impatience becomes too much, and it's clear that I'm not gonna bust down this door with my shoulder alone. So in an alternate of events, I pick up a nearby rock and toss it through her kitchen window. *Smash!*

This isn't me. None of this is me... But she has my literal baby. I have to match psycho with psycho.

My head ducks over my crouched body when I carefully creep through the small hazardous space. Judging by the empty ambiance inside, there doesn't seem to be anybody home. There's nobody in the kitchen, nobody in the bathroom... Nothing.

Where is she?

*Crunch*

I freeze and peer down at the crushed texture beneath my foot. They're... Untaken pills. I slowly pick up the box and read its label.

Clozapine? These are pretty intense drugs used to treat severely schizophrenic patients when other medicines don't work well. It's no wonder why she hasn't been taking these... The side effects of Clozapine are too great, like myocarditis or decreasing white blood cells. Not to mention that it's banned in several countries after killing many patients in Finland. I don't know any doctors who recommend this...

I don't blame her for not taking these, but it goes to show how severe her mental condition is. And if she's not taking any medication right now, then there's no telling what she might do...

Looking up from the box, my attention inevitably gravitates towards the familiar closet door that remains locked like last time. I can't help but squint with furrowed brows before slamming my fist against the wood. "April!"

Of course, nobody answers... So I slam my side into the door repeatedly.

"What! Have you— Agh! Done with my son!"

At the final thrust, a metallic snap clangs and the door surprisingly breaks off his hinges. I quickly push the obstruction aside, but nothing could prepare me for what I was about to see...

It's... A shrine. Despite the closet's narrow formation, April utilizes the space by decorating the walls with images of Hoseok and stamping them with red-lipped kisses, as well as drawings of her killing me and marrying Hobi. There's also a woven doll with button eyes, stitched lips and a rope noose around its neck. Its patches of short red hair strike a resemblance to me, but what doesn't are the various pins that stab its head and body.

The more I look around the room, the more I'm haunted by its aura. This girl is truly sick... Wait. There's one image that crowns the door like an artifact at the museum.

It's the signature portrait of Hoseok and I at the altar. The same one we have hung at home. Only, April cut out a picture of her face and plastered it over mine.

It's all coming together now. The drawings... My raided closet... This picture...

She stole my wedding dress.

Oh my Gosh.

...She's going to recreate our wedding.