Lines Blurred, Traces Found (Published Under Ukiyoto Publishing)

Chapter 10: The Price of Loyalty

The Price of Loyalty

Hyunjie had just stepped out of the bathroom, enveloped in the eerie silence. She approached the window, pushing aside the curtain to gaze outside. The clear sky and radiant sun offered a stark contrast to her turbulent thoughts. As she turned to leave, her eyes fell on the door. She wondered if Eros was outside, watching over her. Her hand reached for the doorknob, but to her surprise, it turned effortlessly, and the door swung open. It hadn't been locked.

A spark of curiosity ignited within her. Had Eros intentionally left it unlocked, or had she missed something? She hesitated, her mind racing with possibilities. Hyunjie cautiously stepped into the hallway, scanning for any sign of Eros. The empty corridor stretched out before her, devoid of life. She took a deep breath and began to walk, her footsteps echoing softly.

As she turned a corner, she caught sight of Eros entering a room. Her instincts urged her to follow, but her mission beckoned. She saw an opportunity to escape, to finally accomplish what she had set out to do. Torn between her desire to confront Eros and her duty, Hyunjie hesitated. She chose to slip away, descending the stairs with calculated silence.

Upon reaching the front door, she found it locked, the windows sealed shut. Frustration gnawed at her. She pulled the curtain aside, searching for an alternative escape route. Determined, Hyunjie scoured the area, her eyes scanning for a weakness in the security. Finally, she spotted a possible exit. As she reached the gate, she pushed it open, and a warm breeze greeted her. The sunlight cast long shadows across the deserted landscape. Hyunjie's gaze swept the horizon, her senses on high alert.

The isolation was eerie. No neighboring houses, just rolling hills and vast expanses of open land. Hyunjie realized she had been trapped in a secluded rest house, deliberately hidden from the outside world. With newfound determination, Hyunjie stepped through the gate and onto the winding path. The terrain stretched out before her, unfamiliar and daunting. She began to walk, her pace steady and purposeful. The silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the rustling of leaves and distant birdcalls.

Suddenly, someone grasped Hyunjie's arms from behind. She struggled to break free, but the grip was unyielding. "Who are you?!" Hyunjie exclaimed, trying to twist around.

The woman's voice was laced with venom. "And who the hell are you?! Where's Eros?! Where is he?!" Hyunjie's eyes widened as the woman's face came into view. It was an unfamiliar face, but the intensity in her eyes sent shivers down Hyunjie's spine.

"Please, let me go," Hyunjie pleaded. "I need to get out of here, help me, please." Maya's hesitation was momentary. Her true motives simmered beneath the surface. She wanted to see Eros, to settle a score. She knew what she was doing, admitting to herself that she lied about surrendering to escape the crime syndicate. As Maya's grip tightened, Hyunjie sensed a glimmer of desperation. Maya's mind racing with two possibilities: use Hyunjie as leverage or eliminate her.

As they drove, Maya's gaze never left the road, her mind racing with questions. "You're Raven, right?" she asked, her voice low and even.

Hyunjie's eyes snapped towards her, a mix of surprise and caution. "How do you know about that?" she asked, her tone guarded.

Maya's silence was deliberate, her thoughts drifting back to that fateful day at the warehouse. She had been watching from the shadows, aware of the CID police presence. Champ's man had walked in with a woman, and Maya's curiosity got the better of her. She followed, listening in on their conversation. "I know it's you, Raven," Maya said, her eyes locked onto Hyunjie. "I can easily deceive people, even if I pretend to be someone else a few times. What's your purpose with Champ? Are you one of the police's assets? On the side of the CID team, doing undercover?"