4.

Chapter 4

Sunoo knew he should walk away the moment the session ended. He should hand off his notes to Dr. Choi, wash his hands of Patient 082, and move on.

But as he sat at his desk, staring at the scribbled words in his notebook, he felt something gnawing at him. A pull.

Riki had gotten under his skin.

And that was dangerous.

A knock at the door snapped him out of his thoughts. Nurse Park stood in the doorway, arms crossed. "You alright?"

Sunoo hesitated before nodding. "Just reviewing notes."

She stepped inside, lowering her voice. "You don't have to keep seeing him, you know. Dr. Choi hasn't made a final decision on the case team. You can step back."

Sunoo knew she meant well. Knew she saw the way Riki looked at him, the way Sunoo couldn't help but engage. But stepping back felt like losing. Like proving Riki right.

"I can handle it," he said.

Nurse Park didn't look convinced, but she didn't push. "Just be careful. He's dangerous in ways that don't always leave bruises."

Sunoo gave her a small nod, watching as she left.

He exhaled, turning back to his notes. His pen hovered over the page before he wrote a single line.

"Patient 082 is watching me just as closely as I am watching him."

-

The next day, Sunoo arrived at Blackthorn earlier than usual. Something about the asylum felt heavier in the mornings-like the walls held onto the screams from the night before.

He made his way to the records room, intent on digging deeper into Riki's past. If he was going to be part of the case team, he needed more than clinical observations and cold evaluations. He needed to understand.

The file was thick, filled with reports from past doctors, police statements, and court documents. He skimmed through them, eyes catching on certain phrases.

"Highly intelligent, but uncooperative."

"Lacks empathy. Exhibits enjoyment in psychological manipulation."

"History of violence dating back to adolescence."

None of it surprised him. But then he found something that did.

A transfer request.

Filed months ago. Denied.

Someone-someone high up-had wanted Riki moved out of Blackthorn. But why?

Before he could read further, a voice interrupted.

"You're early, pretty doctor."

Sunoo tensed, turning.

Riki stood in the doorway, arms loose at his sides. No cuffs. No guards.

Sunoo's pulse spiked. "You're not supposed to be here."

Riki grinned. "Neither are you."

Sunoo's fingers curled around the edge of the file. "How did you get out?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Riki stepped closer, slow and deliberate. "I told you, Dr. Kim. You're curious about me."

Sunoo kept his breathing steady. He needed to call for security, needed to put space between them. But he didn't move.

Riki tilted his head. "You should be scared."

Sunoo met his gaze, forcing his voice to stay even. "I don't scare easily."

Riki's smirk deepened. "I know."

Footsteps echoed down the hall. A second later, two guards appeared.

"There you are," one of them muttered, already reaching for Riki's arm. "You know the rules, 082."

Riki didn't resist as they pulled him back. But as he was led away, he glanced over his shoulder.

"See you soon, pretty doctor."

Sunoo exhaled only when he was alone. His hands shook slightly as he closed the file.

He should walk away from this case.

But he already knew-

He wouldn't.

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I like where this story is going :)