Fatal Attraction | Yeonbin

52 | ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ's ᴅᴏᴏʀ

* . °•☆|•°∵ ∵°•|☆•° . *

➸

Pushing the doors open, Ji Woo walked inside. A knife tucked under her dress as she made her way into a familiar setting: light filtered from the curtains lit the room. Books and papers were scattered all over the dek, with rose incense suffusing the place. Everything was just as how she remembered it.

The sound of the door creaking open snapped her out of her daze as she turned around.

"Aeri," she said, a smile forming across her face as she went up with her arms spread out, wanting to embrace her old colleague only for the latter to back away, as if she was more of a foe rather than a friend.

"What are you doing here?" Aeri scorned.

"Is it so wrong for me to visit an old friend? Such a shame to think decades of friendship are gone all because of our... different goals."

"Get out."

Ji Woo raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting such harshness. "Well, since you seem not to want to converse with friendliness, I shall cut to the chase now." In a swift motion, she brought the knife out, pointing its tip directly to Aeri's neck. "Tell me where Yeonjun is."

It was almost as if a knife pointed to her throat wasn't enough to scare her as Aeri remained calm, the expression on her face unchanged. "I don't know," she replied, her voice steady.

"TELL ME!" Ji Woo pressed on, her eyes aglow. Aeri replied with a scoff which only served to feed the latter's anger as she raised the knife in her hand, about to strike―

The door burst open as Secretary Ji came walking in, grabbing the knife with a bare hand as she swung it away, blood dripping down her palm. Seeming to not react to the pain, she brought a piece of wood, the tip deadly sharp as she aimed it to Ji Woo's heart.

"I advise you get out before things get out of hand," she said sharply, glaring daggers.

"My, my, how the tables have turned," Ji Woo laughed before disappearing into thin air, like she was never here.

Aeri collapsed behind her, panting heavily for air as Secretary Ji rushed to her side. "Are you okay? You didn't get hurt, did you?"

"No," Aeri breathed. "You came just in time."

"That's a relief."

"What about you? Is everything okay? The work, I mean."

"No one seems to be suspicious of me, so no," she replied.

"Even Ji Woo?"

Secretary Ji paused for a few moments. "Even Ji Woo," she said, not wanting to worry the latter further. "I suggest you take a break. You don't look too good these days," she continued, taking in the noticeable bags forming under her eyes and slight wrinkles forming.

"I will," Aeri replied. A dry cough came from Aeri as she massaged her throat as if she's been sick for a while now.

"I will go get some water while you focus on resting up," Secretary Ji suggested, guiding the latter out of her room. They made their way towards her bedroom chamber as Aeri laid in her bed.

Just as she was about to leave the room, she heard her name being called out.

"Secretary Ji?"

"Yes, madam?"

"Everything's going fine, right?"

"Yes, of course," she reassured, bowing down before leaving the room.

➸

Footfalls thudded down the stairs as Hee Suk made his way towards the car park. An abandoned and forgotten place, built below a mall that had been demolished quite recently. Making it the perfect place for their lair.

With the area being underground, morning light couldn't reach here. Only with dozens of artificial lights illuminating the place as Hee Suk made his way around, seeming to know the area well as Da Eun, Jung Mo and his requested guest coming into view.

They said nothing for a few moments as he observed the man tied to the chair. Bruises and wounds blossoming all over his face. His hair and clothes were dishevelled, with blood foaming his mouth. His eyes were halfway-opened as he hung his head low, as if he was too weak to resist their commands.

Nonetheless, he was still here, Soobin's older brother. His only living family left. Just more bloodied and wounded than he had expected.

Hee Suk turned to his two confrères, motioning them to explain.

"Brought him as you requested," Jung Mo started, bowing down to greet his superior.

"Burnt him, tortured him, beat him, and he still refuses to tell us anything," Da Eun sighed, feigning pity towards their victim.

"I asked you to bring him here. Not to threaten and hold him hostage. We're not gangsters," Hee Suk said starkly as the two looked away.

Turning his attention to the latter, Hee Suk knelt down, meeting his gaze.

"You're Soobin's older brother, aren't you?" He asked gently, yet the acid in his voice was still clearly pronounced.

Minhyuk turned away, either too tired or not willing to answer Hee Suk's question.

"Why don't you tell us exactly where your younger brother is, hm? Tell us, and we can let you go."

"Sounds like a fair deal to me," Jung Mo chimed.

Minhyuk showed no response, turning a deaf ear to the question thrown at him. The tenderness in Hee Suk's eyes was gone, replaced by fury as he grabbed Minhyuk by the collar. "ANSWER ME!" He bellowed.

This time, Minhyuk looked up. "Over m-my dead b-body," he wheezed.

Letting go of his collar, Hee Suk punched the side of his face. Minhyuk didn't even flinch, like he was immune to any more pain inflicted on him.

"Should we just kill him?" Da Eun sighed.

"No. Don't," Hee Suk replied instantly. "He will be much useful later on," he continued, about to turn away before sparing one last glance at his hostage.

"Torture him, in the meantime. Get him to tell us about Soobin."

Even with his body refusing to fight anymore, his eyes didn't as Minhyuk looked up. His eyes glistening in fear as he watched his kidnapper walk away, leaving him with the devils, who looked at him lecherously, flashing him their fangy smiles.

Stay alive a little longer, he begged himself.

For Soobin.