Blaze

Victoria's Capability

"Will you prep these girls up? I'm going to go back downstairs."

The woman sitting by the largest mirror with a heavily done face put her hand up in reply. She didn't even bother to look their way. As the woman in the flowery top walked away Chorong suddenly became immensely worried about what they could do there. Women, in her book, were a lot scarier than men.

"Well...what are you waiting for? Come here," the skinny woman gestured her head toward the empty seat beside her.

Chorong glanced over at the clump of girls who were preparing themselves for the night to come. They had thick lipstick on, thick eyeshadows over the lids of their eyes; everything seemed thick on their faces minus their clothes. She couldn't bear the thought of how these girls lived their daily lives like this. Being human during the day and getting used at night like animals. If this was the fate thrown upon her, she would have chosen to kill herself already.

"Is...the excessive makeup really required?" Victoria asked.

"Well you have to look attractive," the woman nodded her head. "Your faces would look good with some makeup. Why don't you try it? Don't be so innocent."

Chorong glanced at Victoria and wondered what she would say next.

The skinny woman sighed and set down the large brush in her hand, "It's up to you then." The second she turned away Victoria backed up and closed the door. A huge wave of relief washed over Chorong and she was finally able to breathe again.

"Ah...that was scary," she muttered with a hand over her chest.

Victoria nodded empathically, "Alright, now to relay the message to Lay and Kris. Can you do it Chorong?"

"Oh...yea," Chorong lifted her head up with a nod.

Victoria glanced at her watch, "Business starts at 7, which means we only have a good three hours to waste. Don't waste time and if you run into anyone, interrogate them."

"We better not leave empty handed," Namjoo said.

"That's why we have to work hard," Victoria stated. "We can do this." Chorong and Namjoo both nodded. "Call if there's anything."

That was where they split up.

Chorong first escaped to her room. It had nothing but a desk and a mattress. There were a few stains on the carpet, but she didn't want to know what they were or where they had come from. The room didn't smell physically, but it smelled mentally. It disgusted her and made her uncomfortable. Turning to face the window she spotted the pub across from the street and could imagine customers flocking in from there. Feeling even dirtier for having stepped into such a building she swerved around to face the desk and pulled out her phone.

~_____~

Lay was quietly composed and staring at his phone. Suho seemed calm, but slightly worried. Kris, on the other hand, was the most agitated out of the three.

It was an interesting sight for Tao, but he chose not to say anything. Another long minute passed by before all their eyes shot toward the phone.

Lay picked it up, "Oh, Chorong. How is it there?"

Tao watched him nod, speak into the phone, and nod again before he hung up.

"What did she say?" Kris asked.

"They got into the brothel and are starting to search," Lay explained. "Kris and I are to go keep watch outside for anything suspicious. Suho, Victoria wants you and Tao to go to the Yeongwol police station to round up the officers. Victoria wants you on site the second anything goes wrong."