Broken Memories [I Did it for You - Book 2]

33

Emjay felt sick. A sickness that spread through her like an unstoppable disease, encasing every organ with a cage of fear. The last time she had felt like this had been when Yoosung was rescued from Saeran, not breathing, blood soaking his abdomen as the stench of rot ebbed from his pale and frail body. She had hoped to never go through something like that ever again. Only now it was worse, so much worse. Although Yoosung was safe and sound and hadn't been taken again, the rest of the members were now gone. And not only that but as she and Yoosung learnt that Seven had continued to be in danger with his work as an informant hacker and was also the illegitimate son of the prime minister who had taken them all, her fear for all of them grew rapidly.

Not knowing if they were okay or not, Emjay knew she was sinking, sinking back to that very moment when she felt all hope slipping right through her fingertips.

Staring down at the floor beneath her, Emjay struggled to keep her mind intact, making the discarded pieces of clothing blur and double in her vision, the colours floating as though they were tearing themselves away from the objects they belonged to. Echoes of sounds around her were incoherent to her ears as she wished this all to be a nightmare, a long and unforgiving nightmare.

"Emjay?"

Letting out a startled gasp, Emjay shifted her eyes upwards to see Yoosung and Vanderwood staring at her. They were both hunched over Seven's computer in his bedroom with Vanderwood sitting on Seven's gaming chair as Yoosung stood next to him, his hands glued to the desk.

As they stared at her, Yoosung's eyes were filled with concern for her, whereas Vanderwood watched her carefully, assessing her every movement. 

"Emjay, if you're not able to handle this then I suggest you leave the room and occupy yourself. The last thing I need is a distraction from my work" Vanderwood spoke nonchalantly.

Blinking at the shock of Vanderwood's harsh words, Emjay recoiled. The sinking feeling in her gut faded into the background as she gritted her teeth against the rage that coursed through her veins. She wanted to give this agent a piece of her mind, for thinking that he could just stride into the safe house uninvited and take charge like some police captain. But just as she opened her mouth to retaliate and put Vanderwood in his place, Yoosung shook his head slightly, a look of pleading shining out of his terrified eyes.

As their eyes locked, Emjay blew air through her gritted teeth, forcing herself to calm down. She hated it when Yoosung looked at her like that. It always snuffed out the fire in her rage, causing her anger to crumble and fall apart before she even had the chance to use it. However, letting out a sigh, Emjay knew that Yoosung was right. She couldn't let her anger misguide her. No matter how much that Vanderwood guy annoyed her with his commands and arrogance, she also knew that they needed him. He had worked as a secret agent and an informant for many years alongside Seven who was the best hacker she knew. If anyone knew how to find a group of kidnapped RFA members, it was him.

Sighing under her breath Emjay replaced her anger with determination. "I'm fine, I just needed a moment but I'm back and ready to help however I can"

Raising his eyebrows, Vanderwood nodded towards her before he reached into a rucksack he had brought with him and pulled out two tablets. Beside him, Yoosung smiled at her gratefully.

"Good. Right now I'm tracking down and hacking into all the rogue cell towers across South Korea to listen to any phone calls and radio signals that could hint at their current location. While I do that, I want you and Yoosung to look through these different satellite images for anything suspicious. Abandoned buildings, numerous vans at one location that isn't at a car sale, large groups of people gathered in a remote location, things like that. When you come across any, take a screenshot with the coordinates and circle what you find suspicious" Vanderwood ordered, listing off their roles calmly and clearly as he handed them both the tablets before returning to the monitors, his fingers working across the keyboard at the speed of lightning.