I’m about to get mad at her when I notice her appearance. She’s wearing a baseball cap over the purplish part of her hair, only exposing the blonde underneath. I don’t think I’ve seen her in ordinary jeans, and wait, is that...a cardigan?
There has to be an explanation for this. I didn’t know Blain had these things in her wardrobe.
I try to prod by making faces and hoping she guesses my thoughts, but she crosses her arms and shakes her head like now isn’t the time. I want to drag her back to our room so we can talk, but at that moment the doorbell rings.
My gaze instantly lands on Woon. The only person we’re expecting is the other member of his group. My time is up, and I’ve done nothing with it.
“I’ll get that,” Blain says, putting on her fakest smile.
Woon still won’t look at me, and I have no idea what to say to him anymore. So, I ignore him, following Blain to the door. She looks through the peep-hole, and then straightens her sweater and adjusts her cap.
Blain’s appearance is suddenly explained. It must be G.O. behind that door. That fanfic really got to her. No wonder she was so dazed when I entered the living room.
The doorbell rings again, and I see Blain’s hand hesitating on the knob.
A body presses into my back; Woon’s leaning over me to open the door. Does he have no sense of personal space? As if I wasn’t already dizzy.
It takes all my effort to focus on the person beyond the door, but I do. I barely see G.O.’s face when I hear him say, “We need to go, I’ve been followed.”
The Chase
Woon pulls G.O. inside, shutting and locking the door. “What do you mean you’ve been followed?”
Now that I see him in person, I can understand why Blain thinks he’s cute. He’s got huge doe-like eyes and thick black hair. But...he’s only as tall as her shoulder, and she’s wearing sneakers. I don’t like it.
G.O. whips off his hat and runs a jittery hand through his hair. “A fan spotted me at the airport and posted online. It didn’t take them long to track me.”
Woon picks up the bag holding his old clothes, and ties it tight. “What are we waiting for then? We need to go.”
No. He can’t. I’m not ready.
“It’s not that simple,” G.O. says, popping his cap back on before I get the chance to form an argument. “CSTAR is going to have this place marked, which means these girls are in trouble.”
Crap. Because I took Woon in, I’m a target. We’ll have to see this through together. At least we don’t have to part ways yet.
G.O.’s eyes rest on Blain for a second, and he gives her a half smile.
Her knee twitches like it’s about to collapse, one of her shoulders slumping. I’ve never seen Blain with hearts in her eyes before, and it’s a little unnerving.
“We have to move,” G.O. continues, setting down Woon’s bag and tugging him towards the hall. “I assume you two can come until all is clear?”
“YES!” Blain screams, reaching for her messenger bag.
G.O. raises an eyebrow. “Okay, then. Let’s go.”
I decide to grab my wallet and phone, stuffing them in my back pockets before we go.
Blain starts heading downstairs, but G.O. whistles to her before she can get far. He points up instead, still dragging Woon behind him.
I shrug when Blain looks at me. I hope this means he has a plan.
Our dorm is located on the third floor, which means we have two stories to climb in order to reach the top. I have no idea what’s waiting there. After everything I’ve gone through with Woon I half expect a helicopter to be above the peaked roof with its rope-ladder unfurled.
I try to catch Woon’s gaze, but he doesn’t look backward. G.O. has let go of his wrist, but Woon still holds it forward like he’s being dragged. G.O. opens the attic stairs and gestures for us to climb up.
Blain goes first, opening a door to the roof. Cold wind sweeps in, tossing strands of black hair in my face.
The three people in front of me run out without hesitation, but I pause at the top of the ladder. What am I doing? I don’t want Woon to leave, but if I follow him now, will I be able to come back?
As much as I want to be around Woon, school is first. Saturday is almost gone, and I still have loads of homework to do. Skipping one class was something, but abandoning everything?
“Jenica?” Woon has his fingers on my arm, his eyes looking golden in the late afternoon sun.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” I say, being honest.
Woon’s hand feels so warm on my skin. He’s starting to get a light stubble on his chin and it’s sexy. I’m torn between what I’m leaving, and what might be in front of me if I follow Woon.
“Guys!” Blain calls, looking over the edge of the building.
I want to see what she’s pointing at, but if I leave this doorway, there’s no going back.
“Not good,” I hear G.O. say.
Woon takes my hand and squeezes, sending fireworks through my nervous system. “Stay here,” he says as if he knows what’s going on inside me. Maybe he does.
He barely leaves my side, peeking over the edge before running back to me.
“CSTAR’s thugs are invading the building right now. If we don’t move, it’s over.”
I’m not left with a choice then. I leave the comfort of the doorway and embark into whatever crazy thing we’re going to do next.
“Come on,” G.O. shouts, running to the far edge, the one that connects to the building next to us.
“Are you serious?” I say, teetering on top of the sloped roof. I don’t know how G.O. was able to run on this thin piece.
There are five buildings in a row, each the same height with the same number of apartments in them. Between them there’s a gap the length of my forearm. They’re close together, but not close enough. There’s no way he’s thinking of jumping, is he?
Before I can think it through, Blain who is in front, jumps first and keeps going.
“Wait!” I hear someone say in Mandarin behind me.
The CSTAR thugs have made it to the roof. There’s no more time to think. I’m still quaking when I feel Woon’s hand in mine.
“We can jump together,” he says as I look at him.
I nod because there’s no time to answer. I run without looking, leaping on Woon’s blind faith. My knees bend as I land, but I don’t stumble, thanks to Woon’s grip.
We start running again, and he doesn’t let me go.
Blain and G.O. are a building ahead of us, and we have to sprint to catch up. It’s not fair for me because Blain has longer legs, and G.O. dances as much as Woon does—I’m the only non-athlete here. There’s no way I’ll be able to keep up, but I push harder because I know I’m being chased.
We run all the way to building five, where Blain is holding the roof door open for us. She slams it shut when we’re all through, crawling in behind us. Woon lets go of my hand to help barricade the door. I take the lead down the stairs, but everyone is close on my heels. As I’m reaching for the front door, Woon spins me around.
“You don’t have to come,” he says, his words rushed.
“What?” I’m not able to process because the chase still has my blood pumping.
“I can go out there and create a diversion,” he says. “They’ll follow me and leave you alone. You can go back to your apartment. They won’t bother you if they know where I am.”
I shake my head. This isn’t how I wanted to say goodbye. I’ve made it this far, I’m committed.
G.O. brushes past us. “No time to talk now, kids, idiots on our heels.”
“I’m sorry,” Woon says. He takes my hand again, holding it tight.
He has nothing to be sorry for. His brows furrow, and there’s something I’m reading in his face I can’t quite pin down. Regret?
There’s no time to process, because we’re running again and Woon’s back is to me.
Woon’s hand in mine is the only thing pushing me down this street,
and even then I’m not sure how much longer I can do this.
“Jenica,” Woon says, stopping abruptly. “I will find you. I don’t know when, but I will.”
My voice comes out pinched. “What are you—?”
He cuts me off by kissing my sweaty forehead. “And I’m not too good for you.”
Did he just—? What is—? There’s no time to process. He can’t go. Wherever he runs, I’ll follow. If only he wasn’t ten times faster than me.
My fingers stretch into the open space between us, swimming through the air in an attempt to grab onto Woon’s shirt. Footfalls thunder behind me as Woon bolts to keep up with G.O. I don’t see Blain anywhere, but I’m sure she’s somewhere.
I’m winded, achy, and cramped, but I pour every last bit of energy I have into a final sprint after Woon.
G.O. knocks someone from their moped and climbs on.
“No!” I scream, as he pulls Woon on almost in the same motion.
“Stop!” I try again, and Woon turns his head to look at me, his brows pulled together like he’s in pain.
G.O. kicks off just as Woon’s eyes widen. He’s shouting something in my direction, but I don’t hear him.
Rough hands drag me away. I kick and scream, trying not to lose sight of Woon. But he’s gone, and my hands are being cuffed behind my back with cold steel. I’m so out of breath, but the fight is still there. I do everything I can to free myself from the men in suits who are wrestling me into an awaiting van.
He said they wouldn’t take me, but he was wrong.
Hope drains from me as they shut me in. Woon is gone. CSTAR has me. I put my forehead to the window, searching for Blain, but she’s not where I last saw her on the curb. Maybe they put her in a different car? I cry out for her until my throat bleeds.
Someone puts a cloth over my mouth and the world around me fades in shimmering distortion until I don’t see anything at all.
Kidnapped Jenica
Everything hurts. My eyes sting, my neck has a crick, and my muscles are sore. I don’t remember why I fell asleep in a dance studio. The bright wood floor and the wall of mirrors aren’t clicking together in my head.
I try to rub my eyes, but my hands are cuffed so tight my shoulders scream in protest. That’s when the whole messy scene rushes back to me. CSTAR invading my dorm, Woon riding away. Not seeing Blain before I blacked out.
My feet clamor for purchase on the slippery floor, but my ankles are tied too. My mouth isn’t covered, for now. Screaming will probably just get tape put over my mouth anyway.
I’m alone. There are two sets of doors, and I’m guessing guards are sitting outside each one. They wouldn’t just leave me with a way to escape. Not that I could with these restraints.
I’m not sure what CSTAR plans to accomplish with one girl of no big importance. It’s not like Woon would come running after me. I’m just someone who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Three times.
I struggle, and struggle, and struggle with the ropes around my feet, but it’s no use. Those scenes in movies where people wiggle until the knots come loose are such a joke. Either the bad guy is too dumb to know what a real knot is, or the victim is triple jointed. Neither of those scenarios apply to me.
My body slips to the ground until I’m lying on my side. I’m so tightly bound, I can’t even get myself to a sitting position. I have to think. This can’t be the end.
There’s not much I can do until they untie me, but I have to be fed at some point, right? Oh gosh, what if I need to go to the bathroom?
I’m betting there are people outside the doors, but I need to be sure. “Hello?” I call. “Is anyone out there?”
I hold still while I listen. There are murmuring voices behind one of the doors. I wait for a few minutes to see if they’re going to open up, but nothing happens.
“Excuse me,” I say, a little louder this time. “I really need to pee!”
I’m hoping they’ll cut me loose if I complain enough. Maybe I can do one of those calmly-walk-to-the-bathroom-then-make-my-escape things. How cool would that be? I just need to learn martial arts in the next minute without the use of my limbs. I know, it’s a done deal.
The door opens, thank goodness, and a handsome older gentleman in a baby blue floral fitted suit enters. His shoes look really expensive.
“Why did you tie her up?” he says, exasperated.
Does that mean I’m going to be let go?
He bends down next to me and loosens my legs first, and then opens the handcuffs, being gentle as he does so. “I’m so sorry,” he says in a sweet, coaxing tone. “The idiots out there keep thinking this is an action film.”
I spread my feet apart, and he helps me sit up, letting me take a minute to catch my breath and rub my sore wrists. This is the time when I should pull out a gut kick and twist his arm until his shoulder bone cracks, but I can’t. The instinct to defend myself isn’t there if he’s not fighting. I can’t find my urge to run when he’s being nice.
“I can’t apologize enough,” he continues. “When this is all over, I’ll get you a relaxing massage so your body can feel better.”
A massage would do me good about now.
“You must be thirsty,” he continues, pulling me to standing. “I heard they put you to sleep too.” He shakes his head. “I’ll get you anything you want. Is there a food you’ve been dying to try?”
I guess I’m a little hungry, but I can’t seem to find my voice. I wish I knew what happened to Woon, G.O., and Blain.
“Forget it,” he says, linking our elbows to steady me. “I’ll just order a little of everything.”
We head through the door and I see the guard who captured me standing at attention.
“Idiot,” the person holding my elbow says, gently hitting the guard dude in the back of the head. “You don’t treat our guest this way.”
The guard bows, the whole top of his body bent over. “I apologize, President. Forgive me.”
President? Like the president of CSTAR? It can’t be this guy, he’s too kind. He raises his hand like he might hit the guard again, but he doesn’t. “Be careful next time.”
Now I’m really confused. What kind of company is this? The mob? This boss person doesn’t seem that mean, but he obviously employs thugs. Especially if they’re the same people who followed us before.
“Did you need to use the restroom?” he asks me as we pass some stalls.
He’s just going to let me go in there, alone? Seems pointless to run when no one is holding me back. I decide to go into the bathroom just to test my theory. That, and I need to pee a little.
Sure enough, I’m in there alone. I spot a little window that I could probably climb through, but it’s high up and I bet it would hurt to squeeze in such a teeny space. Not to mention I’m feeling faint from my time tied up. Woon wanted me to get that video, and he thought I could do it calmly. Fighting will be pointless unless I know what I’m up against, anyway. Until I’ve assessed the situation, I’m going to stick around and absorb as much information as possible.
Morning light filters in through the glass. I must’ve been knocked out through the night.
“Feeling better?” the CSTAR president says to me as I come out.
I nod. “I’m a little worried though.”
He takes my arm again and pushes a button to the elevator. “What seems to be the problem?”
“I think my friends are looking for me,” I say, just to see what his reaction will be.
He pats my hand. “Of course. I’ve already contacted Woon, Hyungsoo, and Blain, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Maybe they are coming for me. We get in an elevator, which means we won’t be walking by any exits. He pushes the top button and waves his badge in front of a little sensor thing. It’s only the fourth floor, but I sense it’s going to be fancy.
Sure enough, the second the doors open, I gasp. It’s obviously an office, but it’s a cleverly disguised office. The first thing t
hat grabs my eye is the pool table in the middle of the main sitting area. There’s a huge kitchen to my right, and a massive window on the back wall looking out over the city.
The desk is set up on a platform at the back of the room, opposite a baby grand. If it weren’t for the three monitors and stacks of paper on the desk surface, I wouldn’t believe any work occurred here.
President guy releases my arm and opens the giant fridge. “Would you like something to drink?”
Every kind of soda, sports drink, and energy booster I could want is stacked inside the door. There’s alcohol too, but I’m still a minor.
“W-w-water’s fine,” I stutter. My throat is pretty dry, and I need the hydration.
He puts the water in a fancy glass and hands it to me. “Again, Ms. Lee, I apologize about your treatment. I do hope you’ll take a seat while I make a phone call?”
He pushes a button on the coffee table and a giant flat-screen TV appears above the fireplace. He plops the remote into my hands and he gives me a generous smile. “Your food should be here soon.”
Why is he being so cordial if I’m a captive? It’s making me really confused. I’m not sure what else to do. I know I’m still a prisoner, but this isn’t really a jail sentence. I’m still worried about everyone, but he’s making it seem like everything’s okay. Or maybe my judgment is impaired because I’m hungry and dizzy from being knocked out.
“Thank you...” I’m not sure what his name is.
“Please, call me Chet.”
Weird name for someone who’s Chinese, but I’m not going to say anything. “Thank you, Chet.”
I turn on the TV. Not because I’m interested in watching anything, but I can tell Chet wants his conversation to be private.
It’s already on the nature channel when I click it on, so I settle in to watch a cheetah hunt.
“What?!” Chet screams.
Holy mother sheep. I was not expecting him to explode like that. He’s been so cordial until this moment. I pretend I don’t notice the outburst
“Get him up here, right now,” he says through clenched teeth.
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