Veiled | JHS | ✓

Treachery

Trigger warning: mentions of sexual assault

The whole of next day was spent scouring the town for any traces of magic that might potentially belong to a sorcerer. They made sure to avoid any fae and keep them out of the equation. They both unanimously agreed that it was for the best. But that also meant their resources were low. All they had to rely on was Hoseok's sense of recognizing traces of power lingering in the air.

Morale was running low but Sia made sure to hold it up with her incessant bickering and shameless flirting which Hoseok effortlessly dodged every single time.

They didn't realize when the time had passed and night awakened in the little town. The sky had darkened so much by the time, Sia clutched her stomach and cried, "I can't do this anymore. I'm gonna die of thirst at this rate!"

Hoseok stopped their progression down the lane, "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

She flashed him a cheeky smile. "Forgot." Well, it was true. She was so immersed in her role that she didn't even notice the fact she was completely dehydrated. He sighed before he instructed her.

"You wait here. I'll be right back."

Before Sia could ask him where he was going, he had taken off leaving her behind. Breathing out as she rubbed her arms against the cold, Sia looked at her phone only to realize that it was way past her usual bedtime routine and if she didn't charge her phone immediately, it would shut down any minute. That was not a good combination.

True to her thoughts, her smartphone vibrated in her palms, signaling that it was shutting down because of the low battery when she squeaked and gave quick taps to the screen to make it stay awake. "Nonono, don't do this to me, buddy."

Suffice to say, her 'buddy' didn't respond to her desperate cries. She huffed in annoyance staring at the blank screen of her phone.

Now that her only means of communication was gone, she was feeling significantly vulnerable. Was it just her or did the streets look extra chilly and dark today? She thought the little tourist town never slept since it was always bustling with activity but today it felt strangely quiet. There was not a shop in sight that had its lights on or doors open and Hoseok still hadn't come back from wherever he went. Certainly not a good combination of circumstances.

A strong stench of alcohol and cigarettes invaded her nostrils. She felt a sudden presence beside her ear and was about to turn when a gravelly voice whispered. "Mmm, you smell so good..."

"WHAT THE F**K!" She screeched, jumping away in disgust as she saw the creepo who had sneaked upon her. It was a disheveled man in his mid-30s or close, grinning down at her ravenously, running his tongue over his lips in a way that unsettled her but when she felt a pull on her arm, she looked down in terror to realize that the man had caught her.

"Where are you going, babe?"

"L-let go!" She cried, panic surging into her chest as the man's strong fingers gripped down on her arm. He was taller than her and a good amount bigger than her size. None of the combinations were working out in her favor tonight.

"Why the hurry?" he chuckled, his gravelly voice purring against her ear and she flinched. Sia shoved her hands inside of her purse as some rational part of her brain that was still functioning reminded her that she had pepper spray. Her fumbling fingers groped around in the bag only to come out with nothing. How? The pepper spray should be in there! She always had it with her. Always. She didn't even remember taking it out. How did she lose it?

"Whatchu looking for in there?" She jumped and his fingers clamped down on both of her wrists to keep her from moving. "Ah-ah, don't be like that, baby."