The Midnight Paradise Effect

Jin hurried through the streets past several civilians. The local bus began to close it’s door but Jin quickly reached it tapping on the plastic window. “Please let me on!” The doors opened letting him quickly pay.

He looked at all the other passengers, of course older than him or way too young to be in school. He smiled and quickly took an empty seat exhausted. His hand dug in his backpack for his cell phone, it was currently eleven forty-five in the morning. He managed to take the time to look at last night’s crime scene images which he clearly took without Chan-gyu’s permission.

Jin eyed them very closely. “I don’t see anything that catches my eye. Nothing seems to stand out, but there must be something.” He whispered to himself looking for a clue, maybe like a satanic symbol? He later turned to an image of blood splattered on the ground still looking for clues.

“Mommy what’s that?” A little girl asked pointing to Jin’s phone.

The lady turned to see blood on Jin’s screen and gasped. “Nothing you should be seeing!” She quickly covered her baby’s eyes.

Jin gave a quick apologetic head bow before covering the phone up by pulling his high school blazer over his head and his phone. “Hmm…” He reviewed the contents and gasped. “That’s strange.” He tapped for a closer look in the reflection of the deceased man’s eyes. A type of strange symbol was embedded in the man’s cornea.

The bus made an abrupt halt making Jin’s head impact roughly with the seat in front of him causing him to drop the phone. “Shit!” He pulled the blazer off his head.

“What’s going on?” Some passengers complained.

An Ahjumma passenger looked out alarmed and pointed. “Look out there, there seems to be another riot!”

Jin stood up and walked towards the front of the bus to take a look.

The little girl managed to get out of her seat and grabbed his phone looking at its contents, especially the deceased man’s images. “Daddy?” She questioned recognizing the victim.

There was a handful of people constantly throwing punches and kicks at each other in lifeless motions while a smile was plastered on their faces and blood rushed between their bodies and faces. It was very odd and hard to watch, especial with creepy brainless smiles. They soon began to run after common people attacking them. “We need to get out of here!” The bus driver instructed wanting to reverse but the whole street was packed with traffic and running civilians.

Jin turned back to get his stuff but was met with an immediate slap in the face. “How dare you! Why would you have this on your phone?” The woman stared at him angry and in tears while holding her daughter tightly beside her. “He was my husband.”

Jin nervously stepped back snatching the phone away from the woman’s quivering hand. “I-I’m sorry, I gotta go!” He grabbed his jacket and backpack exiting out of the bus running along with the rest of the crowd. Many people spoke nervously and all at once.

“They are going to kill us!”

“We should find a place to hide!”

Jin dialed his hyung’s number. “Please pick up!” He urged, but got sent to the voice message tone. “Shit!” He stopped running and looked back at the psycho like beings with large grins on their faces. “What the hell is it that makes them this way, so creepy and violent?” He wondered observing as how they caused chaos and attacked others mercilessly.

The way to the Seoul Police Department was the way the bus was headed but now it was completely blocked because of the sudden riot. What do I do? Where do I go? He turned his gaze to an open alley of many passages. Find a way around? He ran through the crowd into the alley. “Hopefully I don’t get lost.” He turned to the direction he knew was closest to the Police Dept.

Jin panted very hard but he still kept running forward hearing the sound of buzzing from his phone in his pocket. “Ugh!” He stopped to catch his breath and take a glimpse of who the caller was, hopefully it was his brother.

The caller ID showed Park Mi-ri. He settled his heavy breathing, “Hello?”

“J-Jin?” Her voice sounded off and scared. “W-where are you?”

Jin raised a brow in concern, she has never spoken this way before. “I am headed to the Police Dept. to go see if my brother is okay...Mi-ri what has gotten into you? Why do you sound…” He didn’t know how to put it, “you sound very strange. Is everything al-”

“Everything is just fine Romeo!” Jin’s eyes widen in surprise to hear Nam-joon’s voice on the other side. There was a silence between them.

Nam-joon chuckled. “What is it Romeo? Cat's got your tongue? You didn’t expect me to hang out with Mi-ri honey? Ever since you left we have grown closer.” His face got closer to her’s while she just turned away in distaste. “Hell, it even looks like she is falling for me. Don’t be surprised if she doesn’t hang around you any more after today.” Nam-joon caressed Mi-ri’s cheek a bit while she roughly took the opportunity to push him away.

“Never!” She screamed.

Nam-joon laughed snapping his fingers. “Grab her.” Yoon-gi and Ji-min forcefully pulled her to sit next to them on an old couch.

“Shut up sweetheart you are starting to annoy me.” Jung-kook stood from behind her and pressed a hand roughly against her mouth.

“Yeah we are getting along just fine. Isn’t that right honey?” He turned the phone to Mi-ri who just muffled into Jung-kook’s large hand. “We’ll talk to you later Romeo we are about to have fun without you.”

“Wait–Mi-ri!” Nam-joon hung up. “Nam-joon you stupid motherfucker!” Jin let out a frustrated kick throwing a circular garbage can.

It rolled off until a foot stopped it. “Nam-joon? It seems like we have a common enemy.” Jin turned to the voice to see an oddly dressed man with a baseball bat in hand with six other guys around him.

“Who are you?” Jin stepped back defensively or at least getting ready to run. They look like gangsters.

The leader chuckled. “That’s an easy answer, Block B baby.” He raised his arms to his sides and made a small bow before grabbing the trash can including the lid and sitting on top of it.

Jin nodded slowly. I think I recall hearing about them. “My brother is a cop.” They all eyed each other and began to laugh.

“Hmm, is that so?” The leader chuckled. “Jin Choi is it?” Jin looked down at his blazer’s name tag.

“Yeah what do you want?”

The leader looked around just to make sure no one else was around. “I wanna make a deal with you kid.”

Jin furrowed his brows confused as to where this is going. “What kind of a deal?”

The police officers constantly scattered around the office preparing themselves to end the nth riot that has started in the past two weeks.

“Oh Jesus, riots and riots and just when you think it is over–more riots!” The chubby officer complained.

Chan-gyu began to put on his gear while observing the officer’s back and forth. “This will not be enough man power. I believe we need the FBI to aid us in calming it.”

“I may agree with you on that.” The other officer continued. “But this job certainly isn’t paying us to think. So just grab your gear and let’s go.” He walked off.

Chan-gyu sighed rubbing a side of his neck feeling a sense of pain. I don’t need a break, what I need is to work. He convinced himself letting his restless side get the best of him, always. He turned to find himself locking eyes with the strange girl once again, this time she had worry in her aqua like irises.

Chan-gyu turned away unsettled by her gaze. Why does she keep looking at me? He hid last nights and this mornings murder cases in his desk securely while he was off on duty. “Officer Choi and Officer Kim,” The Commissioner began but paused. “Where is Officer Kim?”

“He went out to participate in eliminating the riot sir.” Chan-gyu reported.

“Well tell him to get his fat ass back here because I want you two to precisely work on the vampire cases.” The Commissioner brought a hand over Chan-gyu’s shoulder. “This case is especially one you need to solve, it could possibly promote you to detective. Work hard on it Officer Choi.” He bowed to the Commissioner.

While Chan-gyu passed the jail cell a hand quickly caressed his neck. Chan-gyu flinched away from the touch startled by the odd girl. She seemed hurt to see him flinch away like that but he continued to ignore her and headed out to find his crime partner.

“Officer Kim!” He called out to the chubby officer who was about to get in a cop car.

“Hyung!” Chan-gyu shifted quickly to see his younger brother running over to him. He touched his neck expecting it to ache but surprisingly not a feeling of pain was felt anymore like it did previously, strange. “Hyung!” Jin smiled brightly. “Are you going to go stop the riot?”

Chan-gyu nodded. “No I have to focus on my case, wait what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in school?!” He quickly grabbed his brother by the collar.

“Pfft, he wasn’t kidding when he said his brother was a cop.” The Block B leader stood nearby doing a few tricks with his baseball bat waiting on Jin.

Chan-gyu raised a brow. “Zico?” His grip on his younger brother’s collar tightened. “What are you doing hanging out with the Block B leader and especially bringing him here?!” He snapped.

Jin chuckled nervously. “Oh you already knew him? Of course, well they are a whole different issue I will fix later but right now I have to tell you something about the murders!” He raised his phone up to Chan-gyu’s displeased expression. “I found something!”

Chan-gyu quickly pulled Jin along through the front entrance. The girl noticed them and quickly followed pursuit across the whole jail cell until she reached as far as the cell could let her. She sighed frowning while bumping her head several times against the bar.

“What do you mean you found something?” Chan-gyu whispered clearly unamused by his brother’s meddling.

Jin noticed the girl earlier. “Hey what is up with her? When we came in she got really excited.” Almost like a puppy, Jin thought.

Chan-gyu snapped his fingers in front of his brother. “Yah, focus away from the weird girl. Now tell me what you found out.” He urged.

Jin smiled taking out his phone and going through the images where it has the victim and closed in on his eyes. “Don’t you see a foggy symbol both eyes are trying to make out.” Jin became disappointed when Chan-gyu raised a concerned brow.

“Jin, are you trying to tell me this could mean some satanic ritual?” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Are you even sure?”

“I can most definitely figure it out if it is! Come on, let me help hyung!” Jin urged. “And if it isn’t satanic then I at least narrowed down the possiblities for you.”

Chan-gyu sighed. “I’m taking a lot of risk having you work on this case too.”

Jin chuckled smacking his hyung’s arm. “It’s because we are both very smart. Plus detective work is something we are meant for.” He smiled.

Mi-ri sighed watching Ji-min try to understand how to play chess while Jung-kook dominated. “Ji-min,” Jung-kook sighed, “this is like my nth checkmate. When are you going to give up?”

“A-ha!” Ji-min exclaimed brightly. “Now I get it, rematch!” Jung-kook sighed again.

Mi-ri looked around at the semi-dumpy place. “Is this where you guys like, hang out or something?”

“Yeah pretty much.” Ho-seok answered nervously rubbing the back of his head. “Does it bother you?” He asked very concerned over her opinion.

“I don’t like it.” She crossed her arms. “It’s...not my kind of place. What usually happens around here?”

“Oh nothing just practice.” Ji-min answered.

“For what?”

Jung-kook slammed a fist down on the wooden box Ji-min and him played on. “God, will you just shut up! Girls ask too many damn fucking questions.”

Mi-ri challenged the short-tempered boy. “Well I am bored. What did you expect? So who is going to answer me?”

“We practice for turf wars and we also do like drug negotiations around Seoul, so this is pretty much the hideout.” Jung-kook punched Ji-min in the arm.

“You moron! You really need to know when to shut the hell up!”

Mi-ri chuckled rolling her eyes. “So you guys are like Block B wannabes?” Everyone paused and looked at her with a poker face before looking angry.

“Easy guys!” Ho-seok tried to calm them down. “Block B is a well known gang, we are barely getting there.”

“We are way better than Block B.” Ji-min retorted.

“Yeah we are working on it.” Ho-seok continued to explain. “We are known as BTS, or what girls like to call us Bulletproof Boy Scouts or just Bulletproof, the Boy Scouts part is because we barely just started marking territory around here. We are slowly making our way to the top.” He spoke proudly.

Mi-ri nodded. “Wow, you guys actually have a goal with this gang thing. Well, good luck. One more question though,” Jung-kook groaned, “what is Nam-joon’s deal with Jin?”

They all just looked at each other in silence. “Well?” All of the boys shrugged.

“They may of had a past for all I know.” Tae-hyung answered her while entering the room with a white face mask on.

“What are you doing?” Yoon-gi noticed Tae-hyung. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready for a fight?”

Tae-hyung scoffed. “I am, but I am focusing on finishing the fight gorgeous and without future pimples.”

Mi-ri tsked. “They are flower boys.” She murmured. “Wait, what fight?”

The door busted open with Nam-joon entering grabbing a metal hand clasp on a table adorned with several weapons they have accumulated over a few months. “Guys it’s showtime.” He grinned.

Everyone stood outside where there was nothing but construction site. Jin stood with Block B and Mi-ri with Bulletproof. This was definitely a show down.

Jin tugged on Zico’s shirt. “Okay I brought you to BTS like I promised now help me get my friend back.” He urged in a whisper.

Zico pushed him aside. “I believe you have someone my little scrawny friend here wants back.”

Yoon-gi pushed Mi-ri in front with Nam-joon. “Oh looks like Romeo came back to claim his Juliet, for a minute there I thought you bailed.” He chuckled having so much fun. “You know it was a shame. Me and Mi-ri over here, we were just getting to know each other better that’s all.” He turned to her. “Right?” Nam-joon grabbed her by the jaw and forced her head up and down, she pulled away but he caught a good grip on her blazer. “But right now it isn’t about these two little sweethearts.” He tossed her aside.

Mi-ri yelped as she hit the floor. “Mi-ri!” Jin quickly ran towards her and helped her up pulling her away from danger.
“No, it is about me and you.” Nam-joon pointed to himself and then to Zico with his index finger. “Bang!” He pretended to shoot Zico with his finger, Zico could only smirk.

“Well,” He cracked his knuckles, “Should we get this over with then Nam-joon? I have other gangs to dominate.”

Nam-joon gave out a bitter chuckle. “Let’s see what you got!” He got ready in a fight stance and the rest of the members began to ready their weapons as well.

“What are you waiting for?!” Zico shouted.

Jin gulped pulling on Mi-ri’s hand. “Come on let’s get out of here before this gets ugly!” She was surprised by his sudden force but quickly followed him towards a way out of the construction site.

They both were almost out seeing the desolate road. “I’m gonna get you home.” Jin assured Mi-ri who only nodded.

A woman with quivering legs walked the sidewalk alone looking at the street desolate of cars and then at the right moment turned to the construction site. Jin gasped stopping in his tracks not believing what his eyes witness. Mi-ri stopped too, “Why did we st-” She turned to the lady who smiled widely at the two with her pitch black eyes.

“Ah…” Her mouth opened abnormally large watering as if she could almost taste them.

Jin’s eyes widened. “T-turn back, turn back!” He pushed Mi-ri back around and they both quickly ran while the smiling woman followed pursuit just as quick.

Both Zico and Nam-joon clashed. “You think you can dominate me?” Zico managed through clenched teeth.

“You have ruled the streets for too long. After I’m done with you a new reign will begin and it will be Bulletproof!” Both Zico's Bo staff and Nam-joon's hand clasp clashed again.

“RUN! EVERYONE RUN!” Jin shouted.

The woman’s body swiftly moved around causing some collateral damage while she chased them. “It’s going to catch us!” Mi-ri cried passing through everyone who began to scatter except Block B members who got ready to guard themselves.

“W-what is that thing?!” Nam-joon stared at it amazed as the dark eyed woman focused her gaze on him. She made a high jump in the air in Nam-joon’s direction with her mouth very wide open and sharper teeth.

Zico quickly slashed at her with his aluminum Bo weapon making her body fly back into the dirt. “Get up.” He lends Nam-joon his hand which he hesitantly took. “We have to hurry and get out of here or we’re done for.” All Block B members diligently followed their leader as he began to lead BTS, Jin, and Mi-ri out of there. “Where is your hideout?” Zico asked Nam-joon.

Nam-joon tried to catch his breath while attempting to catch up to Zico. “Not far from here.”

“Good lead the way.” Zico pushed him up front forcefully. “I gave us a head start, but as soon as we get to the hideout everyone has to be still and as quiet as possible! These things don’t give up easily.” He informed.

Nam-joon quickly headed into the hideout with everyone behind him clearly breathless. Zico stayed outside to make sure everyone made it in before he closed the entrance. “Remember stay quiet, not a sound!” He snapped pointing his Bo staff towards the locked entrance. “Nam-joon, is this the only entrance?” Nam-joon nodded. “Good.”

Everyone kept breathing fast either because they were still breathless or out of panic, mostly both. Zico raised a fist in the air as a signal making Block B members stay completely silent with all their weapons pointing towards the entrance and BTS could only do the same. Jin held on tightly to Mi-ri in front of her as her protector.

The sound of abnormal growling was heard near by. It neared the entrance sniffing around. Thump-thump-THUMP! It attempted to get inside raising everyone’s blood pressure. It sniffed around and made licking sounds at the door.

Zico signaled to Nam-joon. “You have a window or something we can sneak out of?”

Nam-joon nodded. “We have a backroom with a window.”

“Lead everyone in there as quiet and as carefully as you can.” Zico instructed the other leader.

Nam-joon turned to Jin and Mi-ri directing them to the backroom. He quickly opened it, “We are all getting out from here. I’ll go get the others, do not make noise.” He warned before heading back to the main room quietly directing his other members.

“I’ll go first.” Jin looked around to see that the coast was clear. He sneaked out carefully onto a rusty iron staircase. “It’s not that stable but it should do.” He reached out his hands for Mi-ri. “Come on I’ve got you.”

Zico had thick perspiration form on his forehead while the thing was relentlessly attempting to breach the metal door.

“I can’t believe we are about to die in the enemy’s lair.” Kyung whispered almost on the verge of tears.

“Shut up you pussy!” Ji-hoon whispered back at him. “Thanks to you we are.”

The thing made a snorting noisy outside and began to sniff again making a growling noise retreating away from the door. All of Block B and some of the BTS members that were still remaining in the room sighed.

Zico furrowed his brows. “It hasn’t done that before. Something must of caught it’s attention.” He hurriedly began to walk towards the backroom.

Mi-ri gasped at Jin’s arm. “Jin, you hurt yourself.” She noticed stunned.

Jin only smiled at her. “No biggie, it’s that nail that sticks out from the window.” He took off his school blazer and placed it over the sharp nail. “See you won’t get hurt like me I promise.” He whispered opening his arms for her to come out with him.

Zico entered the room. “It left.” He noticed Jin on the other side of the window already. “Jin get back in here!” He urged nervously.

“Huh?” Jin stared back confused.

A low growl came from the rooftop of the place. Jin looked up to see a woman in an odd crouching pose drooling an immense amount of saliva with dark bead eyes. “Oh!” His eyes stared wide at her large smile revealing a set of fangs.

“Hmm...Ah!” She jumped on top of Jin roughly digging her claws into his back. The sudden jump caused the iron rusted staircase to collapse and sent both of them to tumble down with it.

“JIN!” Mi-ri’s voice rang in Jin’s ears. His body felt numb while his long eyelashes fluttered open to see the sinister smile of the creature on top of him. This-this is probably it...Jin thought closing his eyes again.

Jin sighed with arms behind his head looking up at the beautiful sky with only warm fluffy clouds decorating it. “I wish I wasn’t here, but up there.” He raised a hand up to the sky feeling the warmness of the sun. “It’s so pretty!” The light wind blew between his fingers.

It is beautiful. The sky is always very beautiful no matter what. I want to dream more about it, but it seems it’s come time to leave. But, I guess this is my fate. Even so, I want to struggle...to survive. I can’t fly, I can’t touch the sky, not yet.

Jin gasped and forced his eyes to open. The strong smell of iron, rust, and blood filled his nostrils. He noticed the creature quivering all over her body looking him straight in his eyes with her dark ones as if she was, afraid of him. She turned away vomiting before landing next to him having spasms all over her body until she…stopped. Her lifeless head turned to him only revealing her set of dark eyes staring back at him.

Jin could have sworn in her eyes he witnessed the same symbol he noticed in the deceased victim’s eyes before passing out from the loss of blood. Did-did I kill her?

Notes

Hopefully this chapter was very much enjoyed, I worked hard on it and of course I love writing it and I am trying to find time for The Midnight Paradise Effect in my weird schedule (that is constantly changing) so that is why some chapters are going to be posted at random days, sorry about that! Please continue to support my story=)