"Horror is not a genre, it is an emotion"

                       -Douglas E. Winter

Hoseok, a fragile boy from heart but have a fierce exterior for others suitable for his line of work. Having a single parent who was a crime officer in Seoul Police department, made his choice of career limited but that didn't hinder his desire. He had always dreamed of himself as an invincible cop on whom his father would be proud. He had done everything to surpass all the criterias to enter in Police. Unfortunately, his father passed away before he could see his only son shine like a diamond among others.

Seoul residents were aware about the corruption prevailing in the Police department and other institutions. Law and order was a joke, rules were in the pocket of riches while poor suffer in the broad daylight. But Jung Hoseok wasn't someone's lapdog. He never took unscrupulous ways or bribe, always show rigid character ahead of corrupts.

Jung Ha-joon, his father was a respectable officer who died like a hero, fighting for justice. Martyr while saving people who were stuck in fire as collateral damage caused by some politicians. 

Hoseok wanted to walk on his father's admirable steps, in establishing a unblemished city.

Cases were solved like hotcakes in his charge. Being single and without any family or relatives made him indestructible from the constant threats from his enemies. Lawyers and companies' directors stayed miles away from him or he would ruin their careers with his insane mind.

During a confidential sting operation, operated by him on a big politician, he underestimated the power of his rivals. No news or tabloid showed in his favour instead he was betrayed by his own team and portrayed as a bad cop in media, one greedy for fame and money. Hoseok was held liable for running sting operation without consulting with higher-ups which was ridiculous as they would have never given him thumbs up for it. Magistrate, prosecutors framed and demote him to a barely populated town.

He'd first hand experienced the menacing deeds of lords of Justice  and knew that it would take a lot to stand up against them.

Man-eater Valley wasn't different from Seoul. Seniors were often contacted by anonymous for favours. But the unnerve fact was that their corrupted doings didn't hinder or consult the general public if Kim Seokjin wasn't involved in those cases.

No one could ever badmouth him in this goddamn town. Officer would brush off their claims or would took strict measure to ensure he was unharmed. Kim Seokjin, on a first glance looked like any other ordinary person, doing mundane works and going in and out of town but he held a powerful grip with law. Didn't have much wealth but somehow could bribe cops without really paying.

It was midnight and Hoseok took the night duty to work on his plan. The small station was occupied with one more officer other than himself. He was an old podgy guy who was a typical lapdog of seniors. No sense of shame or pride, would report even a slightest detail.

Hoseok, enter the station after eating the dinner and send him to take his turn. He had only ten minutes to collect some evidence, anything to held against Seokjin, anything to comprehend him more.

He quickly went to action and took out a spare key of Chief cabin which he had stolen in morning duty. Plugging USB in one of the senior's pc. rummaging every drawers and corner, he tried to find something, anything.

The Chief's cabin had many paintings on walls, abstract for all the thing which always made him curious as he knew the Chief didn't hold any knowledge nor interest on art. Tapping every portrait, he thought, would trigger something. Almost huffing in dejection, he abruptly came to a stop when a painting didn't make a single sound, no crackle, just plain heavy thump. Quickly removing it, he was over the joy when it revealed a iron locker which had keypad on front.

Hoseok held his hair in tight grip, to dig out some idea before calming himself. A swift look on his watch and it only left four minutes. He cast a look on the working table and grab a clear adhesive transparent sheet. Lightly patted it on the keypad which was greasy, being touch many times. Small clogs of dirty fingerprints turn visible on sheet, barely but would work as the numbers used often was printed. He instantly put the four digit but it showed error. He couldn't take more chances and looked carefully on the transparent material. What could be the combination? Probing his simple minded boss, it would be- Ahaa 1234, it was too easy. Why didn't he think this before. Opening the locker with victorious grin, he saw the metal locker, packed with large cash and bills, some documents and gold bars. Widening his eyes from the ridiculous amount of gold bar, Hoseok knew the Chief could top on his list of top corrupts. He quickly opened the envelopes, documents and scan them with his phone, saving the documents in his gallery for later use.

Loud crashing from outside, alert him, stealthily he exits the cabin making minimum noise. His colleague was collecting the fallen FIRs file given his hereditary clumsiness.

He instantly texted on the newly made group chat, congratulating his partners in crime for receiving evidence against his uppers. If he wanted, he would have done this a very time ago but he didn't find any reason to go against his seniors or gain any worse reputation but now the dormant intrigued part of him wants to reveal Kim Seokjin's crimes, surfaced.

Everyone had taken their respective seats while sipping coffee or other drinks. The couple narrated their piece of story. First, as they didn't find anything worth or suspicious in Kim Seokjin's file of ancestor and relatives. A normal but prosperous family which has been inhabiting the Man-eater for centuries. They tried to ask the old librarian indirectly and they began to know why the people of this town were adamant to not badmouth Kim Seokjin, showing immense respect to him. His family were very well-known for their sickly sweet nature, hardworking and full of empathy. The long line of family tree was free from any crimes or lies so it was natural for the citizens to trust his family line..

Jimin had informed them about the evidence he gathered which they didn't find shocking as they had already suspect Seokjin for Miss Lee's kidnapping. But the point was to find her which no one knows where to start from. As much as Hoseok wants to barge in Seokjin's house, he needed a search warrant and knew too well that his senior would do anything but not issue it.

Jimin was feeling restless as he knew that his evidence would save him for sometime until they find Lee but the empathy side of him wants to find her. Even if the girl was a stalker, she didn't deserve to lose in oblivion. Jimin decided that he had to do something on his own, he couldn't just let Seokjin do something worse to the poor girl. He didn't want to involved his bestfriends as it was quite dangerous, and he knew Hoseok could not help him with his law and he didn't know Jungkook any better.

He had to do this alone.

~by dork