Laws, Lust, and Lovers [ Sahyo ]

Act I - Midnight Alleyway

In the dead of night, there I found you.

The roads bustled with crowds of people and vehicles, whilst bars and restaurants were filled to the brim with loud and lively patrons. The late-night atmosphere had indeed been uplifting at the start of her walk, but it eventually turned annoying—a reminder of her solitude and boredom.

That said, it was still definitely the right call to go and breathe in some fresh, city air. The last few days at work had been particularly rough, barely leaving any time for rest.

Hearing the sounds of laughter in the many pubs which littered the street had truthfully made her feel quite lonely, but it'd be a lie if she said that the thought of getting a few drinks didn't sound appealing.

Hmm, I have some time to kill right now. Should I go and get a drink? Jihyo contemplated herself, walking at a slower pace.

There wasn't anything important that she had to do the next day either—the majority of her cases had been handled, so she was given an extra day of break.

Mm, why not? I mean, when would I get another chance to let myself go a little? Besides, I haven't drunk in so long. I'll get a few drinks.

Having reached a decision, Jihyo comes to a stop and skims the surrounding area for a nearby bar. Her eyes land on a bright, flashing neon sign, two stores down.

"Pour Choices: Pub & Club. What a unique and completely safe-sounding place to get wasted."

Extremely content with her decision, she resumes walking and heads in the direction of the pub.

As Jihyo travelled closer to the establishment, she began to feel a sudden sense of worry. There were only about three metres left to go, but she couldn't shake the increasing feeling in her gut that something was off. The woman had learned over time that she had some sort of a sixth sense for these things, frequently stumbling upon people in need of assistance whenever she followed her gut feelings.

Once again stopping in her tracks, she looks around and notices what appears to be an alley on the other side of the street.

That's it, she thinks. There was no shred of doubt in her mind. Even at first glance, she knew that the alley was the source of her uneasiness.

Deciding to follow her intuition once again, she makes sure to be extra cautious on her way there. There were a few moments where Jihyo debated if she should turn around; after all, it was disturbing the limited time she had to relax.

As it turns out, her decision to investigate the alley anyway would prove to be life-changing; for better or for worse.

Approaching the path, there was nothing of immediate concern. As she walked closer into the darkness, her eyes began to adjust.. and—