The darkness stank. Rancid smells, grimy textures, discomfort all around—disgusting. The scent of rust and cigarette smoke still lingered in the air.
Pain pulsed in her face. Joon-He realized her eyes were blindfolded and her mouth was taped shut.
"I'm sure she's the one."
"How can you be so sure?"
"I saw it in her eyes... She's the one!"
Unfamiliar voices filled the space. Joon-He couldn't even feel her tears—absorbed by the cloth wrapped around her eyes.
She began to sob, loud as she could, though the tape muffled it.
"Hey! Shut up!!"
A booming voice, followed by a kick to her ribs.
She screamed, but it came out muffled.
"Dude! You can't be doing things like this! What happens when the boss comes!?"
"Oh yeah... my bad... she just got me soooo mad!!"
Footsteps neared. She heard the voice turn toward her.
"Hey! Stop it, man! Calm down!"
She continued to cry out. Footsteps faded.
'Fools. Who is this? Who are these people?!'
She thought to herself. 'believe I've wet it enough.'
With effort, she began pushing the tape with her tongue. It edged free from her lips. She shouted:
"HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
---
"Hin-Hye, have you seen my wife?"
"Your... No, Mr. Shin. Why?"
Weol-So paced around.
"Mr. Shin, what's wrong?"
He stormed into the kitchen, searching everywhere. He even checked the cupboard.
'Are you stupid? Why would she be in there?' he thought.
As his palm leaned on the counter, he accidentally pricked his thumb on a knife.
"Ouch!"
He stood up immediately, sucking on the wound.
"Joon-He..."
---
Weol-So stood on an elevated platform, looking down at everyone.
"All of you!! My dear wife is missing. I need you to find her. Send all our bodyguards—now!"
The crowd murmured, leaving him annoyed.
"ARE ALL OF YOU DEAF?!"
They bowed quickly and scattered to their tasks.
'She needs to be safe...'
---
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" Joon-He screamed.
The man squatted next to her, slapping her face from side to side.
"Stop... screaming... like a—"
"Stop it!" the other voice snapped.
"What if the boss doesn't like this?! He'll punish us—for your stupidity!"
"I'm sorry..."
The second man ripped the tape off her mouth and slapped on a new one.
"That one's duct tape. Won't be so easy to pull off now, will it?"
"Haha! Yeah."
"How do I even know you brought the right girl? What if she's just some innocent human again!?"
"Well... just go check it!"
He squatted and yanked the cloth from her eyes. She blinked rapidly, expecting to see her captors—but instead saw masked men. One slim, wearing a large black coat. The other massive, muscles bulging, dressed the same.
"Well, I guess you were right," the slim one said.
"Ha! Told you so!!"
> "Hey... you're really a beauty, aren't you?" he said, smirking at the big one.
"Yeah..." the big man cleared his throat.
"She really is a beauty... a very beautiful, young woman..."
"What a blessing to be this beautiful, right?" he murmured, rubbing her chin.
She pulled away, glaring at him.
"Oooo! This one wants to be feisty, huh?" He leaned closer—but she headbutted him, knocking him back.
"Oww!! You little piece of..." He stood, fuming.
"Who do you think you are?!"
---
"Mr. Shin! Still no sign of her!"
"I told her not to go out... it had to be today of all days..."
He shut his eyes, searching his thoughts.
Hin-Hye approached Weol-So as he sat at the dining table, staring into his phone.
"Mr. Shin."
"What is it?" he said calmly.
"There's a problem."
He set his phone on the table, attentive now.
"What problem?"
"Mrs. Joon-He is in trouble... if she goes outside."
"So she shouldn't go outside?"
"I don't know... I just dreamt it. But I couldn't figure it out."
"Hmm..."
"She can stay within the compound, but not outside."
"I don't think I'll have to worry. She hasn't even explored a quarter of this mansion yet. She's too amazed to want to leave."
"I think you're right, sir. But still, we must be careful. We can't let her out of our sight."
"Believe me, I doubt such would happen."
"But still."
He thought for a moment, then nodded at her.
The memory faded. Anger rose inside Weol-So.
"such a fool..." Be murdered.
He clenched his fists, storming out to the garden. He slid the door open with force and rage.
He walked to the tent, where the beautiful purple humming flowers bloomed.
"She's not here... He squatted, staring at the petals."
---
"How long is it going to take for our boss to get here?!" the big man shouted.
"Now, now... he's a busy man. Always has things to do—like stealing people's souls."
"Well, I'm bored, and I can't take it anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm annoyed at you."
"What?"
"I don't know, okay!"
"What is there not to know?!"
"Well... leave me alone! I'm bored!"
They kept bickering. Joon-He rolled her eyes, scanning her surroundings for anything that might help.
'My God... I should've just listened to Weol-So! What do I do now?! Look at this mess... I just need a way out...'
She shut her eyes, trying to steady her breath.
'I wish Tini were here with me...'
"Hey you! Girlie!" the slimmer man barked.
She didn't open her eyes. She turned her head the other way.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!"
Still nothing.
"Hey! Girl, are you deaf?!" the big one yelled.
The slim one squatted, grabbing her chin.
"Are you deaf, girl?! Can't you hear me!?"
She stayed still.
The big man rushed in and slapped her. She groaned, unable to cry out.
"Dude! I told you to leave her alone!"
"Leave me alone! She makes me angry!! I can't stand people that make me angry!!!"
"Maybe that's why you're in this mess! You never control your temper!!"
"Then why are you here?!"
'What are they even arguing about? I need to get out of here.'
She darted her eyes left—spotted a pocketknife. Slowly, she stretched her leg toward it.
Her toe brushed the hilt—but she accidentally knocked it away. It flipped through the air and landed near the men.
The big one grabbed it immediately.
"What do you think you're doing, idiot?"
"Trying to kill you!"
"I can't die, you fool!!"
"Oh... right."
'Can't die? What is he talking about?'
---
Weol-So lay on his bed, checking the time, eyes locked on the ceiling.
---
Joon-He screamed again, the tape muffling her cries.
The big man kicked her ribs.
"Stay quiet!!"
The other sat nearby, watching them.
"Stop."
The big man paused.
"What?!"
"Isn't she too beautiful for this kind of treatment?"
He stepped closer to her, squatting.
"And I'm pretty bored. Why don't we have some fun, eh?"
Her eyes widened in terror. She shook her head rapidly.
He took off his jacket—but just then, a cold, powerful presence filled the room.
They froze, shaking.
"Didn't they teach you not to mess with people's wives?"
They remained still.
"You want to fool around? Find your own woman."
The slimmer one gulped.
"Don't mess with mine."
They turned slowly. Weol-So stood there, wrapped in a big black