The Midnight Paradise Effect

It was still midday while Mi-ri walked the empty streets desperately searching for Jin. She finally crossed paths with Red Destination and walked inside being met with a bouncer that blocked her path. “State your business.”

“A Silver Hill High School student walked through and I am here to get him back, now move!” Mi-ri ordered. For a minute both seem to have a stare down.

“Let her in.” A voice from inside ordered.

The bouncer immediately stepped out of the way. “Yes sir!”

Mi-ri slowly walked past him to see a handsome man in her presence. “Thank you.” Mi-ri was unsure of what to say.

“Not a problem.” He smiled. “It is rare that I get meddling high schoolers, but if you believe that your friend is here I suggest you get him or her out. I don’t want my club to be seen with little ilegal matters involving underage students, so find who it is you are looking for and be on your way out.”

Mi-ri furrowed her brows. “We are 18.” She began to walk off to scout for Jin but the man caught her arm.

He smirked. “In that case stay as long as you please.”

Mi-ri wiggled out of his grasp walking towards the back rooms where the sounds of pleasure rang through the place. This place is disgusting. She carefully walked down the left ending up at the last door. She pressed her ear against it surprised to not hear a sound of sex or anything else. It appears to be vacant. Should I try elsewhere?

Just when she was about to walk away a sound coming from inside the room startled her. Her hand reached for the door knob. “Jin?” The door opened.

Mi-ri gaped in horror at the scene before her. Blood was splattered everywhere, a few limbs lie on the floor in the pool of blood, and in the center of it all was Jin with his back to her on his knees looking down with his bangs over his face.

Mi-ri found her courage to weakly step into the room and close the door behind her. His ear perked up to the sound. “Don’t.” He managed in a weak tone.

“Jin.” Mi-ri came closer getting to her knees and embracing him from behind letting her chin rest on his shoulder. “I have been looking everywhere for you. I knew I’d find you. You know I would.” She cried on his arm. “P-please don’t run away from me anymore...I can’t bare it!” Her voice sobbed clenching onto his shirt tightly.

Jin’s eyes began to water. The symbol and the darkness in his normal eye began to fade away. It was the hardest thing he could ever do, but there was no other choice. Jin’s large hands touched Mi-ri’s, he grabbed them and began to push off her embrace. “No!” Her voice exclaimed with sobs. “No! Don’t leave me anymore!” She tried to embrace him again but he was much too strong for her. “JIN!” She cried breathless.

He began to walk away from her disappearing into the hallway while Mi-ri cried in her cupped hands. You can’t do this to me Jin. You can’t just give me beautiful memories and just leave. It is unfair, to me it is unfair. How can you be so cruel? “I LOVE YOU!” Her voice cried out feeling an unbearable pain break into her heart.

Jin walked through the club tearing up as he reached the front door opening it. Mi-ri, you have given me too many beautiful memories...I don’t even deserve them. The sun shined down upon his face causing him to close his eyes.

“Come on Jin!” Mi-ri’s hand intertwined with his. “You’re not gonna be late this time!” They both ran to through the middle school gate while it almost closed it’s gates on them. “I told you we’ll make it, come on!” She laughed. “Want to eat lunch together later?”

Six year old Mi-ri slowly painted eyeliner on Jin. “Mi-ri I don’t think this is a good idea.” Jin muttered.

“Finished! No you look really pretty!” Mi-ri took off her panda decorative hair tie. “You are missing some hair pizza (pizzazz).”

“What?” Jin questioned.

She began to wrap it into his hair. “It’s what my mom says in her salon. There!” Her small hand grabbed a nearby mirror she too stole from her mom’s makeup supplies. “JAN (Ta-da)!” She revealed a new make over look for six year old Jin--clown edition.

“I look like a stupid clo-” Mi-ri began to tear up on Jin’s insult. “Uh, no I mean...I look 10 year years younger!” Like my mom says about her products, he thought. “Please don’t cry!” He pulled little Mi-ri into a hug so she could stop crying.

“Happy birthday Jin!” Mi-ri lowered her hands from his eyes revealing her beautiful smile as a 17 year old. “How does it feel being 18?” She rose a cupcake with a lit candle on it.

“It feels fantastic.” He smiled.

“Blow and make a wish!” Mi-ri giggled.

He chuckled rolling his eyes. “Alright.” Jin blew the candle.

“Yay!” Mi-ri clapped. “Now come open the present I got you!” She hurriedly sat him down and gave him her gift with an enthusiastic smile that would never leave her lips. “Wait,” She stopped him from opening the gift, “what did you wish for?”

Jin smirked. “I’ll never tell.” He began to ran off with the gift.

“What? Wait, come back her Jin!” She chased after him. “Yah, Jin!”

Jin ran around with a smile on his face laughing at Mi-ri trying to reach the gift from his hands, but this time he is much too tall for her. Happiness. It is what I wished for. I wished for Mi-ri to give me more happiness in the future, but this wish turned out to be selfish. The more happiness I received from her meant--that I would give her more pain.

The image of Mi-ri’s worried expression and crying appeared in his memories. So, it’ll be best Mi-ri...if I just disappear...and let you find your own happiness.

Chan-gyu and Bam-mi appeared into Red Destination. She closed her eyes sniffing around catching Mi-ri’s scent quickly running towards her direction. Her bell jingled as Chan-gyu caught up, his eyes grew wide. “Mi-ri!” He slipped on the blood towards Mi-ri’s pale and lifeless looking body. He pulled her into an embrace. “You need to get up. We need to get out of here.” He brought her arm over his shoulder picking up Mi-ri bridal style.

Mi-ri’s eyes were sad and puffy from the constant crying. “It’s okay. I’m going to take you home.” Chan-gyu cut through the bead curtain and noticed the large supply of pills, but disregarded it heading towards the back exit with Bam-mi following behind.

“Jin…” Mi-ri sadly whispered. “Don’t leave me..” A sudden exhaustion caused Mi-ri to pass out in Chan-gyu’s arms.

“Mi-ri? Mi-ri!” Chan-gyu shook her but to no avail would she wake up. “We need to take her to the hospital. “Bam-mi flag someone down!”

She quickly nodded running towards the empty street scouting where she could possibly see a running car, but nothing. Bam-mi noticed the Red Destination parking lot with a few stationed cars and got an idea that she knew Chan-gyu would disapprove of.

“Come one Mi-ri wake up!” Chan-gyu repeatedly tapped on her cheeks to see if he got a response. A car honked near by and Chan-gyu looked up to see Bam-mi in a hot wired car. She urged him to get in before the owner comes out.

He picked up Mi-ri once more and placed her in the back. “Bam-mi take care of her while I drive.” She quickly hopped to the back while Chan-gyu got in the driver’s seat.

“My car!” A man came out with unbuttoned pants taking out a gun and shooting at them damaging his vehicle in the process.

The owner, that previously talked to Mi-ri, walked out amused at the scene unfolding before him while a hard candy played in his mouth. He witnessed them drive off. “They sure are an interesting bunch.” He chuckled entering his club.

He walked towards the back room on the left covered in blood and a few limbs. Some of the janitors were already cleaning up the whole mess. “Make it spotless.” He ordered leaning against the hallways wall and flipping his phone out from his suit’s pocket. “He’s coming in nicely. At this rate Jin will return to his normal form. Should I call it in with the government?”

An old man pulled the cigar out from his mouth while he talked with Red Destination's owner through the phone. “He’s becoming societies enemy. Let him wreak more havoc. I need him to unleash his greatest ability to the world.” He hung up.

The owner scoffed at the old man’s words. “Pathetic old fool. Your creations are going to be the end of you.” He took out a government business card from one of his coat pockets and began to dial. “Yes, I have more information over the drug Lieutenant Song. I know who is behind Midnight Paradise.”

His feet began to fail on him. Jin has be wandering for hours in the dark streets at times crying when he thinks about the ones he loves the most. Chan-gyu and Mi-ri, especially her. “I have failed you so many times.” He remembers her frowns, her constant silence towards him when she is mad. “Yet, you always show me your smile afterwards.” Mi-ri smiled at him and laughed. It’s alright Jin, I will always forgive you.

Jin’s converse climbed the railing of a Han River bridge. “I’m sorry for being such a failure. I’m sorry for giving up.” His eyes teared looking down at the dark water below.

Chan-gyu tapped his foot on the floor while him and Bam-mi waited outside. She only kept her worried eyes on him. Please don’t worry, I’m sure your brother is fine. She placed a hand on his shoulder startling him. With confidence and support she intertwined hands with Chan-gyu, this time he did not push her away or reject it. “I can’t just sit around and do nothing.” He bit his thumb nervously. “I don’t know where he is.”

The Doctor appeared and both of them stood up. “Is Mi-ri-”

“She is fine. Only resting. I suggest she gets plenty of bed rest, it seems this girl hardly sleeps every day. It is not good for her health.” He gave Chan-gyu sleeping pill subscriptions.

“Thank you.” Chan-gyu bowed as the Doctor left. “Bam-mi,” Her ears perked to his serious tone, “stay here and take care of Mi-ri while I go looking for Jin.” She held onto his arm. “Do as I say.” He pulled her off. “I’ll be back for you and her. For now just take care of Mi-ri okay. Can you do that?” It took a while for Bam-mi to nod.
“Thank you.” He walked away.

Bam-mi sighed entering the hospital room where Mi-ri soundly slept. She wasn’t exactly comfortable since her her brows furrowed in her sleep as if she was having a terrible nightmare.

Jin! She looked for him in the darkness but only noticed dark waters below her feet. Where am I? This is all so strange. She continued walking near the water looking up at a bridge where many cars passed. This seems familiar. Am I at the Han River? She looked up closely to notice a shadow over the railing. A suicidal? She was able to make out his crying eyes and sad expression. Jin?

Jin rose his arms to his sides having balance and began to drift forward staring deep at the water.

JIN! Mi-ri called out to him as his body made a splash into the water. Without thinking she jumped in as well. Mi-ri swam as far as she could underwater surprisingly breathing just fine as if the water did not prevent her from breathing at all. But Jin did have trouble breathing. His mouth let puffs of air escape his lungs as water began to enter his mouth.

Inside he felt his heart panic and yearn for air but Jin paid no mind to his needs and opened his eyes under the water seeing how a certain amount of light managed to shine down there. He was starting to feel his body sink into the darkness and his heartbeat grow slow and heavy.

Jin...He turned his head to see a figure swim towards him. Mi-ri? As she neared towards him he noticed her in a beautiful white dress and her hair long and black flowing behind her. She pulled him closer. I have to tell you something Jin. It was as if he could hear her thoughts. Huh? Mi-ri only smiled before pulling him into a kiss.

As soon as their lips connected there was a floating feeling that Jin felt in his body, his lungs began to fill with air, and his heart beated faster than it has ever before.

Jin resurfaced from the cold water gasping large amounts of air. “Tell me what?” He asked looking around for Mi-ri but she was nowhere to be seen. “Mi-ri? Mi-ri!”

The monitor beeped while Bam-mi kept a hand over Mi-ri’s, she too was slightly falling asleep herself. Mi-ri’s eyes fluttered open waking up. What happened? Where am I? “Jin!” She sat up immediately startling Bam-mi as the heart monitor began to speed up.

Jin appeared near a cemented area where a rusting small staircase stood there. He quickly made it back on land near a park area. His cold body shivered as he walked through and pedestrians began to cower in fear of him and his foggy eye.

“What is that?”

“So scary.”

“What a freak!”

“Mommy he looks like a monster.” A little girl voiced as her mother picked her up running as far away from him.

“How did he fuck up his eye?” Some guys wondered.

Jin's sensitive listening began to annoy him. He suddenly lashed out a growl at people scaring them away. “He is one of the Brainless!” Many people scattered away. Jin sighed starting to walk again. I need to find Mi-ri.

Suddenly a surge of electric pain attacked him from behind. Jin fell to the ground feeling his body tingle by the electric current. “Well-well, aren’t you a special one.” A male voice spoke as he crouched near Jin’s body. He looked to be a man in his 40’s dressed in a bounty hunter style. “You’ll suit the ring nicely.” Someone handed him a bat and he smacked Jin unconscious.

“Please Miss calm down.” The nurse tried to calm her while another one began to inject a sedative into Mi-ri’s IV.

“No, Jin! I have to save him! He’s drowning! I-” It worked almost instantly as Mi-ri began to fall silent and the monitor returned to normal. Bam-mi could only look worried and shocked. Chan-gyu where are you? How can Mi-ri possibly know about Jin? Bam-mi couldn’t help but notice a scar on Mi-ri’s left wrist. As soon as the nurses left Bam-mi grabbed Mi-ri’s wrist. How did you get this? She traced her finger onto it while Mi-ri tingled barely feeling Bam-mi’s touch. Has Mi-ri tried to kill herself before? It seemed far fetched but something in Bam-mi made her sense that she was right, intuition. Why Mi-ri?

Chan-gyu entered the Police Department. Office Kim greeted him worriedly. “Detective Choi!” He called out. “It doesn’t look good. We have just received a report of a kidnapping of a Silver Hill student and the way some witnesses describe the boy--it seems that Jin may have gotten kidnapped.”

“What? Why? Who?”

“We are trying to find out who would.” He followed Detective Choi to his office. “Some people presume it was a vigilante group who know a thing or two about the Brainless. Though I wouldn’t understand what they would want with Jin.” Of course Officer Kim hasn’t seen Jin in his latest condition, so he doesn’t know about the eye patch situation.

“Shit.” Chan-gyu cursed frustrated with the whole ordeal. “I’m going to go find him. I don’t care if I have to go undercover or something but I’m getting him back!” Chan-gyu walked out.

Officer Kim followed. “Wait Chan-gyu! You have no authorization!” He exclaimed but Chan-gyu was already out of the Police Department. “Shit, he’s going to get himself killed.” Officer Kim headed towards a lat resort in order to help his friend, the Commissioner's office.

A young boy wandered in the street near the playground area. He aimlessly walked around noticing a young girl about his age crying to herself while under the slide. Blood appeared to trickle from her wrist. He stepped closer startling her. “W-what do you want? Get out of here!” She cried letting the blood flow.

He crawled towards her. “No! Get away from me! I’m trying to die you idiot!” She hit him in the face several times but he did not even flinch whatsoever. He snatched the blade from her hand in one swift movement making her gasp in fear.

He cut his hand and pulled on her arm. He pressed his bleeding hand onto her wrist. Almost instantly a sizzling sound was heard between them as the girl winced and stared in amazement.

She pulled away frightened and noticed her wound sealed shut leaving only a scar. “You did not let the process finish.” He murmured in a monotone voice. “Now you are left with a scar.” The boy pointed at it expressionless.

She rose a brow at him. “It’s okay. It doesn’t matter. T-thank you for saving me, but why did you?” Her eyes concentrated on his hand that too had a scar from where he cut.

“Humankind is weak. I pity you.” The girl furrowed her brows annoyed.

“Why do you talk weird. You’re a strange kid. Stop it!” She punched his arm but his face was still expressionless.

He looked down at his arm. “Why did you-” She did it again with a smile on her face.

“It’s what friends do.”

“Friends?” He tilted his head curiously.

“Yeah. You’re my friend now. A friend saves your life, a friend plays with you, a friend makes you laugh. They are there when you need them the most. See!” She pointed to her scar and he looked at it closely. “You were there when I needed someone the most. I realized that now.” She held his hand with a smile. “I’m Mi-ri. Jung Mi-ri. Now you say your name.”

“Jin.” He blinked. “That’s what they call me. Jin Choi...or at times Choi Jin. I have just become part of this family.”

Mi-ri chuckled. “You are strange, but a friend nonetheless. Hello Jin! We’ll be best friends in the near future and for life.” She took his pinky into her’s and stamped on it with their thumbs. “I will always be there for you when you need me, I promise.”

A bucket of cold water splashed on Jin’s face making him gasp awake. He coughed violently looking up at a tall shadow. “Rise and shine beautiful!” The same man called out to him. “It is almost time for you to head into the ring!”

Jin blinked several times hearing the sound of a gate locking. He crawled towards one side of the gate noticing another being in a crouched position looking away from him. “E-excuse me?” The thing shifted in an instant and growled at him trying to reach Jin to bite his flesh. Jin fell back startled. The sounds of shouting below caught his attention as he noticed two Brainless Users in a ring together trying to capture the professional swordsman cutting through them eventually ending the life of one Brainless User. The other one managed to cut onto the swordsman’s arm flesh letting blood seep out.

In an instant Jin’s fangs began to sharpen and a thirst for blood and flesh began to water his mouth. He closed it in fear of his temptations. I-I need to get out of here!

“Since the moment I laid eyes on you.” The man crouched down towards Jin’s gate. “I knew you were one of them Brainless fools. You can’t deceive me.” He chuckled playing with a Bowie knife in his hand. “You and I are next.”

Notes