Gotta go insane to stay sane

Throw myself into both worlds

When she reached the alleyway, the caution tape cut off most of it but luckily, enough space was left untouched for her to scour around.

Seowoo glanced up at the building, the sniper and the boy both nowhere to be seen- it had been a week after all.

"Wait, you look familiar!" One of the detectives began, squinting his eyes at the girl that was in a distress.

She looked up, it taking her a few seconds to arrange her thoughts and identify him.

He looked in his 40s, a nice smile on his lips and she gasped.

"Oh, i was one of the students for work experience at your police station." She began and he clicked his fingers.

"Yes! Did you get into the college you wanted?"

"I took the exams but I'm just waiting for my results, hopefully I can become a detective of some sorts."

He smiled endearingly, nodding his head.

"You'll make a good one, your Brother made a great one- I have no doubts in you."

At the sound of her brother, her smile fell and her chest tightened. Swallowing down the horrid memories, she nodded.

"You never did tell us why you wanted to join, I thought you wanted to become a nursery school teacher?"

"I did...but after Jeongmin died, I realised I had to do something."

"Hm, okay well you keep safe- oh what are you doing here anyway?"

"Oh right, I was going to come to the station anyway but I have to tell you something about the bombing."

↻

They both entered the station, her phone thankfully clutched in her hand this time.

"It's Seowoo!" One voice rang out excitedly, followed by many excited ones.

She identified them as the team she followed during her stay.

"Hi," she bowed respectfully with a smile.

"No time to talk guys, she's here with information." Kang Hyunjo, from earlier stated- leading Seowoo towards the investigation room.

As she walked through the station, her eyes naturally wandered aimlessly until her sight stopped.

Time slowed down, freezing momentarily as she saw a boy who sat emotionless as the detective demanded answers from him.

"Yah Zhong Chenle, you have to answer my questions!" He yelled, slamming a hand on the desk.

Chenle poked the side of his mouth with his tongue, voided eyes burning holes into the detectives own eyes.

He sat languidly, amiss of any concern or fear- his bruised cheek and cuts littering his face seemed far from a bother to him.

Chenle?

Seowoo tried to get a better look at him as they passed but then Hyunjo took a seat next to the detective, motioning Seowoo to sit.

The seat was on the next desk from Chenle and she momentarily froze.

He was a criminal wasn't he?

When she came into view, Chenle flickered his gaze up without a thought but when his eyes met the familiar sight of the girl from the previous week- he tilted his head slightly.

She felt uncomfortable under his intense scrutiny, gulping down her nerves and looking away from him, taking a hesitant seat near him.

His eyes wordless followed her closely as she avoided all eye contact, the day it all unfolded resurfacing in her mind.

"You were reported for suspicious behaviour and this isn't the first time you've been here. What were you doing that day?" The detective demanded to Chenle who remained basically immobile.

"Answer me!" The detective yelled and the boy raised his brow, leaning back in his seat and staring the man down.

"No need to get angry old man." He began and the detective scoffed harshly, fists clenched in irritation.

"I'll lock you in the holding cell- now answer me, were you there on the day of the bombing?"

Seowoo glanced at it all unfolding, seeing how Chenle so comfortably sat, confidence and fearlessness radiating off of him.

"No." He answered bluntly. "I wasn't." He lied so confidently that he could have fooled all but the girl next to him knew he was there.

Stuck in two minds, unsure if she should speak out or not.

"Seowoo, you were there... did you see him?"

The sudden question aimed at her made her heart lurch with nerves, feeling the eyes on her as she swallowed down the roughness gathered in her throat.

"Uh," she began, nerves licking up her body.

"Look at him closely, tell me if you saw him okay?"

Seowoo nodded hesitantly, turning her head to meet Chenle's eyes.

He didn't look scared or worried, instead he sat there with his arm around the back of the chair, leaning back.

"Yeah take a good look Angel."

Their eyes held contact for longer than they should have, his hard gaze holding all she needed to know.

The threatening tone behind his words translating to her.

"So?" The detective pressed and Seowoo tore her eyes from Chenle as the room grew thick.

"No, he wasn't there."