bloodmoney (hyewon)

Saw Red

Hyejoo stared at the knife she held, clutching it in her small adolescent hands. She'd stolen the butcher the kitchen downstairs, but her parents weren't the type to cook from home, so she figured it wouldn't be missed.

She quietly choked, trying to breath in air and not make a sound. She'd love to be violently sobbing now, she had to be silent, or else she'd have to see him again.

She shuddered at the thought. She didn't understand why any of the adults in her life treated her like they did, however, they did and she had to do her best to survive. The knife in her hands gave her hope, as she was beyond over it. She'd free herself out of this mess or she'd die trying.

It didn't matter anymore, somebody was dying tomorrow, she was sure of it. She couldn't push back the deadline any longer. She smiled, the cold air hitting the holes where some of her teeth used to be. Hyejoo didn't bother forcing herself off the floor into the comfort of her bed, her body was far too sore to make it there.

"Baby?" She heard a timid voice call. She fought the urge to roll her eyes. Mina, Hyejoo's mother, walked into the room holding a glass of water. "You've been hiding in your room all day and I thought you might need some wat..." Mina trailed off seeing the knife.

"I'm gonna get us out of this mess, mommy,"

Mina set the water down for fear she'd break the glass, knowing the mistake would land her in deep trouble with her husband. "Sweetie, what are you talking about," Mina said, kneeling down and looking into her daughter's eyes. "You know what I'm talking about, you want him gone as much as I do," Hyejoo whispered.

Mina's glassy eyes dropped tears down her cheeks. "I-I don't want him gone, baby. Neither do you,"

Hyejoo glared at her mother. "Look at me!" Hyejoo snapped, keeping her voice low in fear of being overheard. Mina couldn't stand seeing her daughter so bruised and deformed, unable to even move because of how damaged her body was. Even when Hyejoo did move, she silently limped through the house, shaking uncontrollably for fear of provoking any danger onto herself.

Mina sighed, knowing she couldn't argue. "B-but you can't kill him, what would happen to you?!" Mina cried. "I don't care what happens to me,"

"I do!"

"No, you don't," Hyejoo retorted. "All you care about is him, you have done nothing to protect me,"

"Because I can't, baby, I would do anything for you if I could,"

"Then call the police, now, you can, dad's asleep,"

Mina sobbed quietly. "I-I can't... I can't get the love of my life in trouble," Mina lamented, covering her similarly bruised face in her hands. She heard rustling on the floor, and being sensitive to sudden noises she peeked. Hyejoo held the knife to her throat. "You don't love me," Hyejoo deadpanned, acting eerily calm.

"Hyejoo! Stop it!" Mina whispered sharply, ripping the knife out of Hyejoo's grip, earning an angry look from her daughter.

"I hate you," Hyejoo snarled. "I know," Mina whimpered, grabbing Hyejoo's broken body in her hands and setting her in bed with what little strength she had.

"I know you hate me, almost as much as him, and no number of apologies I can give you could ever fix it. But... this is the closest thing I can give you," Mina said, slipping the knife under Hyejoo's pillow.

"You're letting me have it back?" Hyejoo asked.

"This never happened, just promise me, you'll be here tomorrow,"

xxx

Hyejoo stumbled through the doorway of Chaewon's house once Chaewon let her inside. She was still a nervous wreck, her nervousness worsening upon seeing Chaewon and understanding how real everything was. "Hey..." Chaewon greeted, grabbing Hyejoo's shaky hand and shutting the door behind her.