Mark hung up the phone, cursing as he did so. He didn't want to go back and ask Kagura, or retrace Saeron's steps. He wanted to find her. It wasn't like her to go missing.
His phone rang again, and he whipped it open. "Saeron?"
"What? No, Mark, this is Kahi. Listen, I just remembered something that happened earlier. I was talking to Saeron about Raven's Day and the threats they made at our shop. I think she went after them."
"After them?" Mark shook his head. "What – that's not – people don't 'go after people' in real life."
"This is Saeron," Kahi reminded harshly. "She thinks she's a white knight."
Mark bit his lip. He remembered the time in preschool when some kids had been bullying him, and a tiny girl picked up a stick and hit them until they ran away. That was the first time he'd ever seen Saeron Shim.
Kahi was still talking. "Baekho and I are on our way now, but I thought I'd let you know."
"Thanks." Mark hung up the phone. He wasn't too far away from Raven Day. If he left now, if he ran, he could be there in five minutes.
He took off, feet pounding against the pavement. He raced around corners and stumbled past pedestrians. Despite the chilly November air, he pulled off his jacket.
Sweat gathered on his forehead, and he stopped to wipe it off. He was close now – he'd reached the part of town where thorn bushes grew over the lines of the sidewalk and the pavement was cracked and mossy.
Something red caught the corner of his eye. He paused, then leaned over, peering into the thorn bushes.
All the blood stopped flowing through his body at once, and he turned ice cold.
"Saeron!"
Nari stood outside her old trailer. She hadn't been here in weeks. It smelled even worse than usual, the stench of pot reeking from every corner, mixed with heavy fumes of incense.
Rust had gathered on the hinges of the door. Inside, the windows were dark. Not a light was on. She took a deep breath, stepping forward.
The door creaked when she opened it. "Dad?" She called, cautiously. "It's me, Nari. I got your message. What did you want to talk about?"
Silence.
Nari's heart was thumping erratically, but she tried to keep her breathing steady. "Dad?"
A hand landed on her shoulder.
Nari jumped, and a voiced wheezed behind her. "Well, who's this lovely lady?"
That was definitely not her father. She spun around, fists tightening.
The guy had a brutal, scarred face and a cigar dangled from his mouth.
From the darkness of the bedroom, Nari heard scrambling. Then a light came on, and her father was illuminated, face pale and gaunt.
Nari's eyes stayed on him for only a second, before landing on the contraption behind him.
