Chapter 37: The Plan Against the Captain

A dark basement. In the center, where there was a small patch of light, stood Ming You with an indifferent face, maintaining his composure.

In one hand, he held a basketball; in the other, a bloody kitchen knife.

He glanced at the basketball, and it seemed as if he heard women's voices coming from it:

"Love... Happiness... Love... Happiness..."

Ming You turned his gaze to the bloody knife, and it also seemed to emit voices, mixed with both female and male tones:

"Victory... Kill... Victory... Kill..."

Ming You decided to look at the basement wall, and pools of blood began to flow from the floor. The voices mingled, growing stronger, as if they were shouting:

"Love... Victory... Happiness... Kill... Love... Kill... Happiness... Victory..."

The voices began to scream loudly, and the basement floor was already flooded with blood, reaching Ming You's waist. The flow of blood was very fast, and soon he began to choke on it.

…

Outside, it was still night, but you could tell dawn was approaching. Ming You opened his eyes, his impartial expression unchanged. He checked the time on his phone and thought to himself:

"I still have two hours before the alarm. I love nightmares; even though they don't scare me, they make me wake up earlier, feeling refreshed. It's like my brain is trying to scare me, but instead, it makes me invent things to fear."

Ming You sat on the edge of the bed, stretched, opened the curtains, and looked out the window. The dark sky was gradually beginning to lighten, and he could make out the outlines of trees lining the road.

Getting out of bed, he headed to the kitchen. His steps were quiet, as if he was afraid of waking someone. Ming You opened the closet, and at first glance, it contained only his basketball uniform, school uniform, and a couple of black sweaters and jackets. But at the bottom of the closet was a board, slightly raised at an angle, though it was not noticeable at first glance. Screws were located along the edges of this board, but they were not fully tightened—they remained slightly elevated. Ming You carefully unscrewed these screws by hand, trying not to damage the material, and set them aside. Then, gently removing the board, he placed it on the floor and took out several items from it.

A kitchen knife, cleaver, hammer, saw, scissors, screwdriver, plastic bags, gloves — everything was neatly arranged in one corner. He meticulously checked the tools as if preparing for a significant operation.

"Everything must be perfect," Ming You thought to himself. "No accidents. Just me and my target."

Then he approached the box near the stove where the plastic were kept. He carefully folded them so they wouldn't take up much space in his backpack. In his mind, the plan was already unfolding. He envisioned every detail, every movement, as if preparing for a performance in which he was the only actor besides his victim.

Ming You knew that before taking action, he needed to carefully analyze the surroundings of Suk Chhon's house. He took out his phone from his pocket and opened the map. With his finger, he traced the street where Suk Chhon lived and began searching for abandoned buildings or basements nearby.

"There are unfortunately no abandoned places or basements, but there's construction going on around the house, albeit quite lazily," he analyzed mentally. "But it's not that simple; I'll need to deal with cameras and witnesses. The main thing is not to rush. Today is a day off, and I need to wait for the moment when he's completely alone."

Ming You glanced at the time on his phone again. Time was passing, and he knew he had to act. He gathered all the necessary items, put them in his backpack, but left the backpack at home for now. He put on a khaki sweater and pants, tucking a medical mask into his pockets.

Ming You left the apartment, closing the door behind him. The silence of the corridor enveloped him, as if foretelling what was to come. Ming You descended the stairs, each step confident and calm.

Outside, he was greeted by the fresh morning air. He took a deep breath, allowing himself to enjoy the moment. The night was gradually giving way to dawn, and the first rays of the sun began to appear in the sky. Ming You headed towards the new building where his target, Suk Chhon, lived.

Ming You chose a spot from where he could watch the entrance to the building. He settled on a bench in the shade of a tree, where he couldn't be seen. Time passed slowly. He checked the time on his phone, then looked back at the entrance. Finally, at nine in the morning, he noticed the door open, and Suk Chhon emerged. Sunlight played on his slightly muscular body as he, dressed in sportswear, headed into the yard.

"Today is a day off, but practice is still on," he said on the phone.

Ming You observed him, noting every detail. Suk Chhon was not only physically strong but also smart. He always knew how to conduct himself in company. Ming You followed him like a shadow, trying not to miss a moment. Suk Chhon headed to a local café where his friends were already waiting, and Ming You followed them.

Ming You decided not to go in but to wait in the alley.

In the café, Suk Chhon was discussing the upcoming game with the team.

"Listen, guys, we need to be ready for their defense. If we can get past them, victory will be ours," he said with enthusiasm.

One of his teammates laughed:

"Well, Chhon, you know you're our strategist on the field. But don't forget, we have other players too!"

Suk Chhon replied with a smile:

"It's tough, but I always find a way. But remember, the team we're playing against has a strategist like me. So let's gather later to discuss tactics."

After breakfast, Suk Chhon and his friends went to the gym. Ming You decided not to lose sight of them. He watched them, hiding around the corner as they entered the building.

Inside the gym, Suk Chhon talked with the coach, discussing tactics and strategies.

"We need to work more on defense," said the coach, pointing to the tactical board. Suk Chhon nodded, absorbing every word.

Time passed, and Ming You continued to watch Suk Chhon, noting his routes and actions. He saw how he interacted with other players, how they joked and laughed, creating an atmosphere of friendship and unity.

As the day drew to a close, Ming You decided it was time to act. He had carefully planned his next move. Suk Chhon would likely be heading home along a certain route, and Ming You already knew what to do. He had chosen a construction building, and it was perfect since Suk Chhon's route to his school was right through this building.

Approaching the fence, he picked up a crowbar that was lying beneath it. Ming You knew that surveillance cameras guarded the area, and he couldn't afford to be caught. Putting on a hood and a medical mask, he focused and began disabling the cameras, trying to work quickly and quietly. His heart beat in unison with his plan, and he knew that soon his strategic move would lead to the final game.

With each broken eye of the security system, he got closer to his goal. Ming You felt adrenaline filling his body, giving him strength and confidence. He worked quickly, his movements precise and assured. Each camera shutdown brought him closer to the moment when he could execute his plan.

When he finished, he stepped back a few paces to inspect his work. The construction site building was now under his control, and he knew he could use it to his advantage. He carefully checked to leave no traces, and, making sure his actions went unnoticed, headed toward the guard booth.

Ming You approached the booth door and paused for a moment.

"Security, huh. We'll have to eliminate all of you."

He gripped the crowbar with both hands and burst through the booth door.

"What the fu…?" the guard shouted, but before he could finish, Ming You lunged at him and swung the crowbar. The strike was swift and precise, and he felt the tension in his body dissipate as the guard collapsed to the floor.

The second guard tried to grab the radio.

"What the hell, we're being attacked by some fuck…!" He didn't even manage to turn on the radio as Ming You swiftly struck his hand with the crowbar.

"What a faggot!" the guard cursed, reaching for his baton.

But he didn't have time; Ming You struck him hard on the head, and he fell to the floor.

After both guards were neutralized, Ming You looked around. He quickly analyzed the situation and went to the computer.

On the computer, he turned off all the cameras and began erasing the recordings.

Now he had to get rid of the bodies. He grabbed both guards by the legs and, with difficulty but decisively, pulled them towards the exit. Each step was not easy - heavy bodies trailed behind him, leaving behind a light trail on the dusty floor.

As Ming You walked down the stairs through the construction site and into the basement, he felt the tension rising. Every sound seemed louder, every step more important. He reached the lowest floor, where darkness enveloped the space, and finally lowered the bodies onto the cold concrete floor. There was silence in the basement, and only the sound of his breathing broke the darkness.

When he finished, his thoughts turned back to the plan. 

"Well, meet your new friends, Suk Chhon."

He still had to prepare the place more thoroughly and clean up any traces of the guards, but he had one problem:

"We'll have to kill you," - Ming You said mentally, turning over the crowbar, which had a sharp edge.

He sharply stuck a crowbar into the throat of one guard, at first a wound simply opened in the throat, but when Ming You took the crowbar out of the guard's throat, blood began to flow from there. Ming You did the same with the second guard.

He had to return home soon. Ming You knew that time was running out. He quickly got out of the building, trying not to leave any traces. He knew he had to act quickly and effectively.

Ming You headed home, his steps quick and determined. Thoughts of what he needed to do swirled in his mind. He ran past familiar places, but they seemed foreign to him now, as if he were in another world. The scent of rain lingered in the air, and clouds gathered into a dense mass overhead, foreshadowing a storm.

When he entered his room, he opened the closet and took out the backpack he had carefully prepared in advance. Inside were tools: gloves, knives, garbage bags, and several items that might be needed for cleaning. He gathered everything in a rush, but with cold calculation. Ming You recalled how he had planned this moment, how meticulously he had chosen each tool to ensure everything went smoothly.

"It would be wise to prepare a change of clothes," he said aloud, as if encouraging himself, beginning to pack a spare sweater, shirt and school trousers into the backpack.

Having collected his backpack, he went outside again. Ming You was focused on his goal. Every step brought him closer to his next victim — Suk Chhon.

When he returned to the construction site, he passed through the bent fence. Ming You carefully examined the area, trying not to miss a single detail. The faint glow of the lamps cast long shadows, and Ming You felt the tension rising. He knew he needed to be especially cautious now. A plan was already forming in his mind: how to approach, how to act, how to avoid unnecessary noise.

Going down to the basement, he saw the bodies of the guards lying on the concrete floor. However, Ming You decided to take the belt from the guard's trousers.

"This will still come in handy," he analyzed, putting the belt into his backpack.

After that, Ming You took out plastic and began wrapping the bodies. Each of his movements was precise and confident.

"Leaving traces means signing your own death warrant, but only I can sign it for other people who interfere with my goals," Ming You thought as he wrapped the bodies.

After he wrapped the bodies, he took out rags and began cleaning up the blood. Each of his movements was mechanical.

When he finished, Ming You took a roll of plastic and began covering the basement. He knew it was not just a precaution — it was his insurance. Each layer of plastic was like an additional wall between him and potential exposure. He worked quickly, analyzing the next steps.

Finally, having finished the preparations, he straightened up and looked over his creation. The basement looked as if nothing had ever happened there, except for the wrapped bodies of the guards with bloody holes in their necks encased in plastic sheets.

Ming You felt confidence and malicious glee growing within him. He left the construction site, preparing for the next victim. In his mind, he was already mapping the route to Suk Chhon's house.

"You won't have a chance," he said, looking at the darkening sky. The wind blew stronger, and Ming You stepped forward, like a shadow, dissolving into the night.