Captive Obsession

Chapter 24: Awakening the Beast

J I S O O

The sight of Minji's suffering is unbearable. Her sobbing, her pleading for mercy-it all weighs heavily on my conscience. Yet, stepping in to help her would mean facing Jennie's wrath. My little devil cousin has become merciless, and it's all in the name of protecting what's hers.

I can't let this go on. Someone needs to put an end to Jennie's madness before more people get hurt. The only way to stop her is to confront her family with the truth about Jennie and her alter, Ruby.

AT KIM'S MANSION

The imposing gates of the Kim mansion open as I approach. The bodyguards recognize me and let me through without question. As I walk toward the living room, I see Jennie's parents, Uncle and Aunty, engaged in a loving conversation, completely oblivious to the horror their daughter is causing.

"Uncle, Aunty, I need to talk to you," I say, my voice firm and serious. They immediately sense the gravity of the situation.

"What is it?" Uncle asks, while Aunty looks at me with concern.

"This is about Jennie and her other personality, Ruby," I begin. Their expressions shift from curiosity to alarm. They know what I mean-the devil has awakened once more, manipulating Jennie while she remains oblivious.

"And I'm sure Lisa will be caught in this mess too. We need to do something to stop Jennie and Ruby," I urge them.

Uncle sighs, his face etched with worry. "I understand. I've had enough of Jennie's and Ruby's actions. Since then."

"But, hon, I'm worried about Jennie. I just can't bear to see her like this," Aunty interjects, her voice trembling.

Uncle sighs, his face etched with worry. "I've seen the signs, Jisoo. We've been here before, and it's happening again."

Flashback: The First Time

I remember the first time Ruby surfaced. It was a few years ago when Jennie started getting more possessive on her dog. A boy from school had been too friendly with this, and Jennie felt threatened. One day, he simply vanished. No one knew what happened to him, but I had my suspicions.

I was at the Kim mansion when it happened. Jennie had come home in a foul mood, her face flushed with anger. I followed her to her room, trying to understand what had upset her so much. She slammed the door behind her, and I heard the unmistakable sound of something shattering.

"Jennie, are you okay?" I called through the door.

There was no response, just a low murmur that grew louder. I pressed my ear against the door and heard her talking, but the voice wasn't hers. It was deeper, colder.

"You can't let them take what's yours," the voice said. "He needs to be taught a lesson."

"Who are you?" I asked, fear creeping into my voice.

The door suddenly swung open, and there stood Jennie, her eyes dark and menacing. "Stay out of this, Jisoo," she snarled, her voice a chilling blend of her own and the other one.

I stumbled back, shocked. "Jennie, what's going on? Who are you talking to?"

"None of your business," she snapped. "Just leave me alone."

I did as she asked, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. The next day, the boy was missing, and Jennie acted like nothing had happened. It was as if she didn't remember anything.

___

Another incident involved Jennie's fervent need to protect what she considered hers. A neighbor's son had taken an interest in one of Jennie's belongings, a rare collectible she prized. He borrowed it without asking, thinking it harmless. When Jennie found out, Ruby took over. That night, the boy's house was broken into, and he was brutally beaten. He never spoke about what happened, but the fear in his eyes when he saw Jennie again told me everything I needed to know.

I was at the Kims' house when Jennie discovered the missing item. Her reaction was immediate and intense. She stormed out of the room, and I followed her, worried about what she might do. She marched over to the neighbor's house and banged on the door.

When the boy's mother answered, Jennie demanded the return of her collectible. The mother, taken aback by Jennie's aggression, promised to have her son bring it back. Jennie's eyes were wild, and I could see Ruby's influence taking over.

That night, I couldn't sleep. I had a sinking feeling that something terrible was going to happen. In the early hours of the morning, I heard sirens and saw flashing lights outside. The boy's house was surrounded by police cars and an ambulance. I ran outside and overheard that the boy had been attacked in his home. He was in critical condition.

Jennie was eerily calm when I confronted her about it. "He shouldn't have taken what wasn't his," she said simply.

END OF FLASHBACKS...

"We have to help her," I insist. "But we need to be smart about it. Jennie isn't in control-Ruby is. We need to find a way to reach Jennie without triggering Ruby."

Uncle nods slowly, understanding the delicate nature of the situation. "You're right. We need a plan. First, we need to gather evidence of what's happening. Without proof, we can't convince anyone of the truth."

"I've seen enough to know what's going on," I reply. "Minji is being held captive, and it's only a matter of time before Ruby decides she's too much of a threat."

Aunty gasps, covering her mouth with her hand. "We can't let that happen. We need to get Minji out of there."

"I agree," I say. "But we need to be careful. Ruby is dangerous, and if she senses a threat, she'll retaliate."

Uncle stands up, determination in his eyes. "We need to act fast. Jisoo, you'll help us gather evidence. We need to help out Minji."

"I'll do whatever it takes," I promise.

Aunty looks at me with tears in her eyes. "Thank you, Jisoo. I don't know what we'd do without you."

"We're family," I reply. "We need to stick together and protect each other."

As we begin to formulate our plan, the reality of the situation sinks in. Jennie is in danger, and so is everyone around her. But we have no choice. We need to confront this head-on and save her from the darkness that's consuming her.

Over the next few days, I discreetly gather as much information as I can. I document Minji's location, her condition, and any evidence of Ruby's involvement. It's a delicate process, as I need to avoid arousing Ruby's suspicion.

During this time, I notice how much Jennie has changed. There are moments when she seems like her old self-kind, caring, and full of life. But then, in the blink of an eye, Ruby takes over, and Jennie becomes someone else entirely. It's heartbreaking to watch.

With the evidence in hand, we decide it's time to confront Jennie. We gather in the living room, ready to face the storm. Uncle and Aunty are visibly nervous, but their resolve is strong. We need to save Jennie, no matter the cost.

Jennie enters the room, her expression confused. "What's going on?" she asks.

"Jennie, we need to talk," Uncle begins, his voice steady. "We know about Ruby."

Jennie's eyes widen in shock, then narrow in anger. "What are you talking about?"

"We know what's been happening," I say gently. "We know about Minji and everything else."

For a moment, Jennie looks lost, her confusion genuine. But then her expression hardens, and I know Ruby is in control. "You don't know anything," she snarls.

"We know enough," Uncle says firmly. "Jennie, we want to help you. But you need to let us in."

Jennie's face contorts with rage, and for a moment, I fear Ruby will lash out. But then, something miraculous happens-Jennie's eyes change and I see a dark linger in her eyes.

"Try me." she whispers, her voice were firm and full of seriousness.

...