The Eighth Case (2)

As we approach the tomb, the beam of my flashlight reveals more gruesome details. The girl's small body is laid out with an eerie precision on top of the stone structure. Around her, barely visible in the dim light, is some kind of sign or symbol, drawn crudely as if traced by a finger.

Seo inhales sharply, his face pale in the harsh light of the flashlight. Without a word, he pulls out his phone and steps away to call for backup, his voice low and urgent as he relays our location and the grim discovery.

I remain rooted to the spot, my eyes fixed on the innocent victim before me. Kim Yoon-jeong looks so small, so vulnerable. Her school uniform is dirty and torn, her face peaceful in death - a stark contrast to the violence that must have ended her young life.