Run : Save Lives

            How to escape from something?

                              Finish it…

                                   Or 

                         Run away from it…

                         Choice is yours….

"seven people, one secret, and seven lies"

______________________________________________

Tom's hands trembled as he stood in the dimly lit alley, his heart pounding like a drum in his chest. 

His eyes widened in horror as he stared at the lifeless body lying at his feet—the unintended consequence of a heated altercation gone horribly wrong.

"Tom, what have you done?" Navia's voice cut through the deafening silence, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

"I-I didn't mean to," Tom stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "It was an accident. I...I don't know what happened."

Ara's hands shook as he dialed the emergency services, his mind racing with fear and uncertainty. "We need to get out of here," he said, his voice hoarse with panic. "Now."

With trembling limbs, they dragged the lifeless body into the shadows, concealing their gruesome secret from prying eyes. 

The weight of their guilt hung heavy in the air as they made a pact—a vow of silence that would bind them together forever.

Present day:

The memories haunted Tom like a specter, his conscience plagued by remorse and regret. 

But as the years passed, they had learned to bury their guilt beneath layers of denial and false pretense, their lives carrying on like a carefully scripted facade.

But fate had other plans in store for them.

One fateful day, a letter arrived—an invitation to a reunion of their high school graduating class in the heart of New York City. 

For Tom and his friends, it was a chance to escape the ghosts of their past, to forge a new beginning in a foreign land far from the shadows that threatened to consume them.

As they gathered in the bustling metropolis, the memories came flooding back—a tidal wave of nostalgia and regret that threatened to engulf them once more.

"I can't believe we're here," Henry said, his voice tinged with awe as he gazed up at the towering skyscrapers that loomed overhead.

"It feels like a lifetime ago since we left Seoul," Sura remarked, a wistful smile playing at the corners of his lips.

But amidst the laughter and reminiscing, a sense of unease lingered—a silent reminder of the darkness that lurked beneath the surface.

It was during a late-night stroll through the deserted streets of Manhattan that their past came back to haunt them—a chance encounter with a figure from their youth, a face they had long tried to forget.

 A phone call shattered the tranquility of their new lives. It was Navia who answered, his expression shifting from curiosity to dread as he listened to the voice on the other end of the line. "Who is it?" Ara asked, noticing the change in Navia's demeanor."It's the police," Navia said, his voice trembling slightly. "They want to talk to all of us."

The news sent a chill down their spine as they realized that the past they had tried so hard to forget was resurfacing.

Gathered in a dimly lit room, the seven friends faced each other, a mixture of fear and uncertainty clouding their expressions.

"We can't keep hiding this," Navia said, breaking the tense silence that enveloped them. "We need to tell them the truth."

"But what if they don't believe us?" Luna interjected, his voice laced with doubt.

"We have to try," Sura said, his eyes reflecting the weight of their shared secret.

With a sense of resolve, they made their way to the police station, prepared to face the consequences of their past actions.

Inside the interrogation room, the detectives' questions probed their deepest fears and insecurities. Each word uttered felt like a dagger, reopening wounds they had long tried to forget.

"We need to know what happened that night," one of the detectives said, his eyes piercing through their defenses.

As they recounted the events of that fateful night, a sense of catharsis washed over them, their shared truth binding them closer together.

The courtroom buzzed with murmurs as Tom sat stoically, his hands bound in cuffs, his eyes fixed on the judge's podium. The night before had been a whirlwind of chaos and disbelief. The accusations against him seemed unfathomable, yet here he was, facing the consequences of his actions.

The courtroom fell into a hush as the judge entered, his robes billowing behind him. Tom's heart pounded in his chest as he braced himself for what was to come.

"Order in the court," the judge commanded, his voice echoing throughout the room. "This trial is now in session. The defendant,  Tom, stands accused of murder in the first degree. How does the defendant plead?"

Tom's lawyer stood beside him, whispering words of reassurance. Tom took a deep breath and stood tall. "Not guilty, Your Honor," he proclaimed, his voice steady despite the turmoil raging within him.

The prosecution wasted no time in presenting their case, painting Tom as a cold-blooded killer who had taken the life of an innocent victim without remorse. The evidence against him seemed damning, and Tom's heart sank as he listened to the testimonies of witnesses and the chilling details of the crime scene.

But as the trial progressed, the truth began to emerge, slowly unraveling the tangled web of lies and deceit. It was revealed that the victim was not an innocent bystander, but a notorious serial killer responsible for the deaths of countless innocent people.

Tom's friends sat in the gallery, their faces etched with concern and determination.

 Navia, the group's leader, leaned forward, his eyes fixed on Tom with unwavering support. 

Ara, the voice of reason, clasped his hands together tightly, silently praying for justice to prevail. 

Luna, the quiet observer, watched intently, his mind racing with thoughts and theories.

Henry, the eternal optimist, flashed Tom a reassuring smile, a beacon of hope in the darkness. 

Sura, the empathetic soul, fought back tears as he struggled to comprehend the gravity of the situation. 

And Solia, the youngest of them all, clenched his fists in silent determination, ready to stand by Tom's side no matter what.

As the defense presented their case, Tom's friends stepped forward one by one, offering their unwavering support and testimony. 

They spoke of Tom's character, his integrity, and his unwavering commitment to justice. 

They revealed the dark secret that had haunted Tom for years, the truth that he had kept hidden from the world out of fear and shame.

"I was there that night," Navia confessed, his voice unwavering.

 "I saw what happened. Tom didn't have a choice. He was defending himself, protecting us all from a monster."

The courtroom erupted into chaos as the truth came to light, and Tom's innocence was finally revealed. 

The judge listened intently, weighing the evidence before him, before delivering his verdict.

"Mr.Tom," the judge began, his voice grave yet filled with compassion. "It is clear to this court that you acted in self-defense, protecting yourself and others from a dangerous threat. While the loss of life is always tragic, it is evident that you did what was necessary to preserve life and uphold justice."

Tears welled in Tom's eyes as the weight of the verdict washed over him. He had faced the darkest moment of his life and emerged victorious, his innocence proven for all to see.

As Tom stepped out of the courtroom, he was greeted by the warm embrace of his friends, their smiles shining bright with relief and joy. Together, they walked out into the light of a new day, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that their bond was unbreakable and their loyalty unwavering.

And as they looked to the future, they knew that no matter what trials they may face, they would always stand together, united in friendship and bound by the silent justice that had set them free.