INVASION ⋮ norenmin

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By the sight of the blinds, the boy realized that it was already morning. He felt fear and anxiety coming back as soon as he heard the hard footsteps and the voice of the man. Renjun didn't know what he even expected. The way they all were so comfortable the previous day made it kind of obvious that they didn't think about leaving yet.

Renjun looked over his cousins, his and Daiyu's eyes meeting in the process. The girl's lips quivered but Renjun was quick to lift his tied-up hands and shush her. His eyes displayed that he was as scared as her, yet the girl calmed down.

"Did you see the photos on the walls?" the man asked one of his allies. Renjun didn't see as everything was happening behind his back. He was scared to look back as he knew the man didn't like it when he moved. "The boy is the house owner. He's in all of the photos. I haven't seen any of the girls."

"I've noticed it," Jaemin replied, but in a way softer tone as if he was scared to wake others.

"He's a medical student, right? The boy is useful. Too bad he has a big mouth," the man let out a chuckle. "Anyway, we're lucky. There are no parents and they all easy to control. This house is full of free maids. What could be better?"

Daiyu shook her head, passing a quiet message that she knew they were doomed.

"The parents can come any day," Jeno's voice was heard too. "We don't know anything about them."

The man went silent, making Renjun shiver as the boy thought he caught them listening. But Mr. Kim didn't know that because when he stomped to the sofa, he skipped Daiyu and didn't even look at Renjun who pretended to be asleep. He chose the easiest target and it was the youngest – Liling.

He grabbed the girl by the collar and lifted her from the sofa.

Liling woke up almost immediately, just like the other girls as soon as they felt that someone let go of their hands. Renjun jumped in his place and began cursing the man, although it only came out as muffled sounds.

"Tell the exact date your parents will come back," he ordered, using his intimidating voice again.

Renjun secretly begged Liling to not tell the truth. But what could he expect? The girl was the youngest, thus, the weakest and easy to get frightened. She blurted everything in one sentence and began crying. Mr. Kim threw her back to the sofa and looked at Renjun.

That ill man, he was smiling. Renjun understood the reason for that a little too late – he didn't change his facial expression when Liling told the truth and the man was able to see the disappointment in Renjun's face which was easily converted into a simple "the girl is right."

"That was easy," he told mockingly. "Well, that means we have more than a week. It should be enough."

He was happy which annoyed Renjun.

"I'm hungry," he said, still standing in front of the sofa.

Yanlin stood up and Daiyu didn't waste a second to follow her cousin. The man pushed Daiyu back.

"Only one this time. I hate how you communicate behind my back."

Renjun followed Yanlin's back which disappeared behind the sofa, in other words, she went to the place that no one was allowed to step in unless asked. The rules of the invasion seemed simple, though not very enjoyable unless you're a psycho.

"Bathroom time," Jaemin announced and walked to them too.

Somehow his presence chased away the gloomy atmosphere the man created yet it was still something that prevented Renjun from trusting this boy. Even if Jaemin's eyes were softer, Renjun still glared at him with all of his might.