Dauntless ↺ huang renjun

15

Chapter 15

" Ugh..." Aerum winced as she slowly regained consciousness, and found herself in a familiar place. The dim light filtering through the curtains revealed the contours of her room. Disoriented and groggy, she tried to piece together the events that had led to her sudden transition from the gang's hideout to her doorstep.

As her senses slowly returned, the throbbing ache at the back of her head intensified. She winced, recalling the harsh impact that had sent her into unconsciousness. The realization struck her—someone had forcibly removed her from the gang's hideout and deposited her at her own home.

Aerum struggled to sit up, her hands trembling as she touched the tender spot on her head. The events of the night replayed in her mind, each detail magnified by the fear that lingered.

Several echoes resonated within her mind. Which include
1)The place was not just a boxing club
2)Jinhyuk killed Jin and wanted to kill jinwoo as well
3)Renjun has some tea with Jinhyuk
4)There are people around her involved in this gang-related stuff, and despite her reluctance to accept his words, they continue to linger in her thoughts.
5)Jinhyuk is not the real boss, the cigarette guy is. And he killed the guard
6) Drugs and human trafficking are going on there.

Her mind was hazy as she realized the unanswered questions hung in the air, Who had brought her home, and why? Was it a gesture of mercy or a move to keep her silent? Aerum's mind raced with uncertainty, and the fear that had gripped her in the gang's lair now clung to her like a shadow.

She surveyed her surroundings, the familiarity of her room offering a semblance of comfort amidst the chaos. As she attempted to stand, her legs wobbled beneath her, a combination of physical exhaustion and lingering fear.

With the echoes of fear and adrenaline still reverberating within her, Aerum stepped into the night sky, into her balcony.

The cold wind of the night kissed her bare skin. Her arms voluntarily wrapped around herself, protecting her from the cold but failed.  " What do I do now?" she barely let out, looking up at the sky, a few free clouds roaming here and there along with stars that were illuminating, lighting up the darkness.

She sighed, then turned to enter the room. Suddenly feeling her phone vibrating in her jeans, she quickly pulled it out.

It was a text from an unknown number, she swiftly opened it.

" Considering it is your first mistake, next time, no mercy."

The words on the screen pierced through Aerum's consciousness. She knows who sent her this, Jinhyuk. He must have seen her find out and tried to help those girls in the trucks.

Aerum, almost in a trance, read the message over and over. Each repetition intensifies the gravity of the situation. The air around her seemed charged with tension, and her mind swirled.

Aerum found herself on the brink of hyperventilation. The room closed in, and her hands began to tremble uncontrollably. It was a moment of revelation that sent shockwaves through her, a realization that transcended the mere words on the screen. She had unwittingly stumbled upon a secret, and Jinhyuk had become an unexpected player in a dangerous game.

"Oh God," she gasped, collapsing onto the bed. The phone slipped from her grasp, landing with a muted thud on the mattress before bouncing onto the carpeted floor. The impact seemed to echo the sudden upheaval in her life.

she became acutely aware of her escalating panic. Gasping for breath, she fumbled with shaky hands, desperately searching the bedside drawer for her inhaler. The rhythmic thumping of her heart echoed in her ears, drowning out the surrounding chaos.

The drawer yielded to her frantic quest, revealing a jumble of personal items. Time seemed to stretch as her trembling fingers sifted through the disarray. Anxiety clawed at her chest, tightening its grip with each passing moment. Finally, her hand closed around the familiar shape of the inhaler. She clutched it like a lifeline, her fingers trembling as she brought it to her lips, inhaling deeply. The soothing rush of medication gradually calmed her racing breaths, but the emotional storm still raged within.

The room, once a haven, now felt oppressive, closing in on her like the walls of a maze. Aerum's gaze lingered on her phone, lying on the floor, a silent witness to the unravelling of her ordinary life. With a hesitant breath, she picked up the device, its screen illuminating with a cascade of notifications, which she ignored and opened her phone log to call Mark.

Before she could dial his number, a resounding bang echoed from downstairs, shattering the fragile silence. Startling her as she collects her courage and walks towards her door, positioning her ear on the door with her fingers wrapped around the knob, the waffling sound comes along with wincing. " Aerum..." she heard.

The owner of the voice filled with pain and agony. Aerum squints her eyes and focuses on recognizing the invader.

"Aerum Lee!!" Mark winced and cried, using all his energy as his body fell limp on the couch in the living room.

Recognition flickered in her eyes as she identified the voice as she twisted the knob and rushed downstairs only to find Mark sprawled on the sofa, wincing in pain.

"Mark..," she whispered, concern etching her voice.
" Aerum... Give me warm water and a clean cloth" Mark said, barely turning his head to look behind, where Aerum was standing.

Aerum waited for him to finish talking before walking in front of him. She gasped. Mark bore bruises on his face and bare neck, dried blood lingering on his lip,  and he clutched his abdomen in distress.

" Oh my God!! What happened to you? Who did this?" she fell on her knees, coming closer to him. The instinct to protect, amplified by the recent events with Jinwoo, surged within her.

"I'm fine, Aerum. Don't worry" he said, a painful expression cascading on his face. " Shut up! Who did this to you?" she asked, getting angry for hiding the culprit. "Fought with anyone? Wait! street fights?...no you did not! You promise to not do that again" Aerum scolded. But seeing him losing consciousness Aerum decided to investigate later.

" Let's go let me take you to the hospital," she said, trying to help him up but he didn't move. " I'm fine, just give me a cloth and warm- " he was cut off. She urged, but Mark resisted, his stoic demeanour wavering. "Mark, I swear..." she warned. Mark sighs in defeat.

" Try to get up," she said, helping him alongside. Aerum quickly helped Mark into her car and the engine roared to life as she slid into the driver's seat, her movements quick. The car accelerated, tyres squealing as it merged into traffic.

"As soon as you manage to speak up, I'm gonna bombard you with questions!" Aerum's hands gripped the steering wheel, her focus unwavering on the road ahead. Mark chuckle. The outside world became a blur as she navigated through the city, weaving in and out of lanes with calculated haste.

The journey was tense, with Mark wincing in pain as she navigated through traffic. Time seemed to compress as each passing moment brought her closer to the hospital.

Aerum pulled into the hospital parking lot with a screech of brakes, the urgency of the situation evident in the abrupt stop. The engine's hum dwindled as she swiftly helped Mark out of the car.

The hospital loomed before them, a beacon of hope amid the tension that had gripped their lives.

"Let me help yah" With Mark leaning on her for support, they hurried through the sliding doors.

The clinical atmosphere encircled them as they navigated the maze of corridors to the emergency room. Aerum provided the necessary information at the front desk, her eyes constantly flickering towards Mark, who winced with each step. The hospital staff promptly attended to Mark, wheeling him away for further examination.

Aerum was left in the waiting area, the sterile surroundings contrasting with the tumultuous events that had led them here. Time seemed to stretch as she anxiously awaited news about Mark's condition.

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