The girl woke up slowly, her skull throbbing as if someone had slammed it against metal. Her head felt cloudy- numb, sedated. A heavy fog clung to her thoughts, making everything feel detached and unreal. Her tongue was dry, her lips cracked- the air around her tasted like oil and rubber. When she tried to lift a hand to her forehead, something tugged sharply at her other wrist. Cold metal bit into her skin.
Her heart kicked in panic. She tried to open her eyes, but darkness met her. Her breath caught in her throat.
Blindfolded. Bound.
The world around her was moving- a low rumble beneath her, the sound of tires humming over asphalt.
As her senses sharpened, she realized she was in motion- the sway of the vehicle, the occasional bump of uneven road. The sharp smell of gasoline mixed with something sour, sweat, and something sharp- alcohol or chemicals.
Her mind clawed back pieces of memory- the street. That voice calling her name. Barom. His hand grabbing her wrist. Pain. Then- nothing.
Now she was moving. Somewhere. With them.
Her breath turned fast, ragged. No. No, no, no. She tried to stay still, hoping maybe it was a nightmare that would dissolve if she didn't move- but the cuffs bit deeper, and her pulse roared in her ears.
She opened her mouth to scream- but something thick and damp pressed between her lips, muffling every sound. Her own breath came back at her, hot and suffocating. Panic rose in her chest like fire.
"Hey! Hyung! She's awake!"
A male voice came from somewhere beside her- young and high, excited, nervous.
From the passenger seat, a deeper voice answered, calm but sharp: "Tch... I thought it'd take her longer. Guess the dose was too weak." another muttered, deeper, annoyed.
And then, from the driver's seat- Barom's voice, cold and familiar: "Should I pull over?"
"No," A third voice from the passenger seat echoed- low and lazy, not even turning around. "Keep driving. Just take the cloth off her eyes I want to see how she reacts. I'm curious what all the fuss is about."
Her blood ran cold.
Her breath turned erractic, her chest rising too fast, too shallow. Who were they? Why her?
She could hear their movements- shifting leather, the creak of a seat, a click of metal against plastic. Curious about.
The words made her stomach twist. What could be so interessting about her?
When the cloth was yanked away from her eyes, a flash of harsh white light stabbed her vision. She flinched, squinting until the blur of faces sharpened. The space was tight- the back of a van, metal walls, the faint vibration of an engine beneath her. Three men. One beside her, two in the front seats, their eyes catching hers in the rearview mirror.
The closest one grinned, his teeth crooked. The scent of alcohol clung to him. SShe tried to move, to crawl away, but her wrists clanged againt the cuffs fixed to a metal hook on the foor.
"Well, well... look who's finally awake," the man on the passenger seat said, turning his head slightly to glance at her. His tone was calm, almost conversational, and that made it worse. "You've been sleeping for quite a while, sweetheart."
She pressed herself tighter against the van wall, eyes darting between them. "Don't worry," he continued, voice dropping lower. "We won't hurt you. Not yet, at least. You're far too valuable for that..."
Tears blurred her vision. She didn't understand. Valuable? For what?
Barom's eyes flicked tothe mirror, meeting hers for a brief moment. He looked away immediatly, scoffing in an disparaging manner.
