Chapter 11 - {The Hated Mirror With Your Reflection}

The name hit the air like a curse. Like a confession. And then he felt it. Breath against his ear. Fingers trailing up his neck. A voice, velvet and vicious, whispered behind him: "You said your name… like a prayer." Soo-jin gasped, whirling around No one there. But the scent of cologne lingered in the air. His hands trembled. He backed away from the couch bumping into the wall, heart pounding. He's not here. He's locked up. He's not here. Then A laugh. Soft. Familiar. From the hallway. Soo-jin staggered toward it, drawn like a moth to flame. The light flickered. And standing in the hallway mirror clear as day was Carlos. Shirt open, blood at his collar, smile wide and knowing. "You can't ask me to spare you… If part of you wants to die in my arms." Soo-jin clenched his jaw. "Get out of my head." Carlos, in the mirror, tilted his head. "You let me in." The reflection vanished. Just Soo-jin now shaking, pale, eyes wide with the horror of truth. He slid to the floor, back to the wall, breath shattering. "This isn't happening…" But it was. Because his own voice—his own voice—whispered: "I love him." The station buzzed with low chatter. Detectives passed by with files, coffees, and tired eyes. Another day. Another body. Another mess to clean up. Soo-jin sat at his desk. Still. Silent. Paler than usual. His collar was askew. One cuff still buttoned, the other hanging loose. He hadn't slept. His hands trembled slightly as he tried to write his report. Name of victim: Lee Seung-hwan Cause of death: … Suspect: Unknown. His pen hovered over the last line. Unknown. A lie. His fingers clenched the pen tighter. He looked around colleagues chatting, some laughing, none paying attention. None of them noticed that their star detective was rotting inside. He saw Carlos's face in the glass of the computer screen. Just a flicker. A shadow. "I love him." The thought hit again. And it hurt. Soo-jin shot up from his seat suddenly, knocking over his coffee. The crash silenced the room. Eyes turned. His superior stepped over, frowning. "Soo-jin? Everything alright?" Soo-jin stared at him, unblinking. "No." The honesty stunned them both. The superior frowned deeper. "Maybe you need a break. You've been working non-stop "He's killing them because of me." The room went dead silent. The superior's voice lowered. "…What did you say?" Soo-jin blinked, as if snapping out of it. His lips parted but no words came. A young officer approached hesitantly, placing a file in his hand. "Another body." He looked down. Victim: Kang Min-soo Location: Near Soo-jin's old academy. Soo-jin dropped the file like it burned. Blood roared in his ears. He ran to the restroom and locked himself in. Collapsed against the sink. His reflection stared back sunken eyes, ragged breath. And behind him… in the mirror…Carlos. Smiling. "You can't save yourself from me," Soo-jin screamed and punched the mirror. Glass shattered. Blood ran down his knuckles. Night. The walls were grey. The cot, hard. The lights overhead buzzed dimly and coldly. But Carlos? He was smiling. A newspaper sat open on his bunk. The headline read: "Lead Investigator Kim Soo-jin Hospitalised After Violent Outburst." His fingers traced the photo of Soo-jin's bruised knuckles and distant eyes. He whispered the name like a hymn. "My Soo-jin…" The guard walked past his cell, glaring. "You've got five minutes. Your lawyer's calling again." Carlos didn't respond. Didn't move. His eyes were locked on the photo. He tore it out gently, folded it, and placed it in a small box hidden beneath his mattress along with the others. Photos, news clippings, scribbled words written in his own blood on napkins. A shrine. To him. He stood, rolling his shoulders slowly. Controlled. Relaxed. Like a storm just before it hits. Then he walked to the tiny mirror above his sink. Stared. Practiced. Soo-jin's name on his lips. His breath. His mouth. Then: "I think… he's ready."