Twisted Rope

Betrayed

The next morning, Jeong-hyeok waited for Seri as she freshened up in their tiny bathroom. Ka-youn and Yeji had just popped their heads round their door to say good morning and were now heading to the living area for breakfast. The safe house was familiar to them now, a section of living quarters for the family and a control room where the NIS monitored their surroundings, with the agents' own living quarters off. As long as all was quiet, the NIS left the family alone to occupy themselves.

Another day of waiting and wondering stretched ahead. What should they do today? Should he try to carry on with the self-defence lessons? He did think they were useful, and he knew Ka-youn was keen, but Yeji still seemed very reluctant and forcing her wouldn't help. He sighed, frustrated that he didn't know what was best. Perhaps they should leave it for today and try to find something else to distract and support Yeji. She was still brooding on the attack, convinced that she had put him at risk, and nothing he had tried to say to her seemed to make much difference. Maybe Seri would have more success.

When Seri was ready, they too headed towards the living area. He could smell ramyeon so the housekeeper, Mrs Park, must have prepared some ready for them. Seri shared his worries about Yeji, but they had both agreed to present a positive attitude to their situation. Instead of self-defence, they would focus on other things to engage Yeji and make life seem as normal as they could. After breakfast, he would suggest working on some music with her. Seri squeezed his hand and smiled at him and once again he was thankful for her support. He opened the door and went in, ready to be positive for the girls.

They stopped dead; a gasp from Seri at his side.

Yeji, a captive! A knife at her throat and her arm twisted behind her back. The burly NIS officer who had helped them yesterday, holding her tight. His heart clenched, hardly believing what his own eyes could see, but her terror was real. This was no practice. His eyes darted around the room, seeing Ka-youn, ashen faced, seated with a frightened-looking Mrs Park on the sofa at the far end.

"Yeji!" Seri started to move towards her, but another hand muffled her cry. 

"Silence! Don't scream."

No! Seri!

Jeong-hyeok whirled round, seeing a second man kick the door closed behind them, his hand covering Seri's mouth and his other wielding a knife at her side.

This can't be happening!

"Call for help, make a sudden move, and your wife or daughter will get it," the man snarled, and then he smirked a little. "Maybe both. Dare you risk it?" The North Korean accent was unmistakable.

Jeong-hyeok could do nothing but watch as the man forced Seri away from him, towards where Ka-youn was sitting. Helplessly, he tracked his eyes across his beloved family - Seri, eyes wide with fear, Ka-youn pale faced, frozen, and Yeji trembling and powerless in the agent's grasp.

I must save them!

But how?

The man removed his hand from Seri's mouth, then gestured to her with his knife.

"Sit down with the others." His voice had authority, demanding compliance. The threat plain.

Seri looked to Jeong-hyeok first, but he nodded to her to obey. Two trained men, both with knives and four people to protect, Yeji especially vulnerable. How could he respond to these odds? She sat down, taking Ka-youn's hand in hers, gripping it tight.

Now, he could properly assess the North Korean, and what he saw alarmed him. The man was younger than him, wiry, with a sharp cunning face. The way he was holding his knife told Jeong-hyeok this man was a professional and his body had assumed the focused stance of a man ready to pounce at any moment. Highly dangerous.