2.

Chapter Two

Dr. Kim Sunoo spent the rest of the afternoon familiarizing himself with Blackthorn Asylum’s procedures, patient files, and staff members. Yet, no matter how much he tried to focus, Nishimura Riki’s voice lingered in his mind. Pretty doctor. The way he had said it—teasing, knowing—unsettled him more than he cared to admit.

By the time Sunoo reached his assigned office, the sky had darkened, casting long shadows across the room. The single desk lamp illuminated stacks of files, their pages filled with grim histories of patients lost in their own minds. He flipped through Riki’s file again, this time with more scrutiny.

Patient 082: Nishimura Riki

Age: 20 Admitted: Three years ago Diagnosis: Extreme psychopathy, violent tendencies, delusions of grandeur Incidents: Multiple staff injuries, two previous escape attempts Current Condition: Unpredictable, manipulative, high-risk

Sunoo frowned, his fingers lingering over the last sentence of the most recent report.

"Patient exhibits an alarming level of intelligence and charisma, making him highly dangerous. He forms attachments quickly but uses them to his advantage. Extreme caution is advised."

A knock at the door pulled Sunoo from his thoughts. Nurse Park, the same stern-looking woman from earlier, stood in the doorway.

"Dr. Kim," she said, stepping inside. "Dr. Choi wants to see you in his office."

Sunoo nodded, closing the file. "Did he say why?"

She hesitated. "It’s about Patient 082."

Sunoo exhaled sharply. Of course.

Dr. Choi’s office was cluttered yet strangely homey compared to the rest of the asylum. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with medical journals and case studies. A faint scent of old paper and coffee lingered in the air. The older psychiatrist gestured for Sunoo to sit before steepling his fingers together.

"You met him," Dr. Choi said without preamble.

Sunoo nodded. "Riki."

Dr. Choi’s lips pressed into a thin line. "You shouldn’t call him that. The more personal it feels, the more power he has over you."

"He insisted," Sunoo said, leaning back in his chair. "He doesn’t like being called Patient 082."

"Of course, he doesn’t," Dr. Choi sighed. "He wants control. He thrives on it. The moment you let him dictate even the smallest thing, you’re playing into his hands."

Sunoo frowned. "Has he always been like this?"

Dr. Choi hesitated. "He’s... an enigma. Highly intelligent, dangerously perceptive. He studies people the way a predator studies prey." He tapped his desk absentmindedly. "But there’s something different about you, Dr. Kim."

Sunoo blinked. "Different?"

"He took an interest in you. Immediately."

Sunoo scoffed. "He flirts with every new doctor, doesn’t he?"

Dr. Choi’s expression remained serious. "No. He doesn’t."

The weight of those words settled heavily on Sunoo’s shoulders.

Dr. Choi leaned forward. "Be careful with him. He’ll test you. He’ll push your limits. And if he finds a crack..." His gaze darkened. "He’ll break through it."

Sunoo nodded slowly. "Understood."

That night, as he lay in his new quarters within the asylum, Sunoo couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. He told himself it was just his imagination, just the stress of the day clinging to his mind.

But as he closed his eyes, Riki’s voice echoed in his head.

"You’ll be back, pretty doctor. I always get what I want."

And somehow, Sunoo knew this was only the beginning.

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This one is a little short.... but ill promise to make the upcoming chapters longer!