The Monster Under The Bed

24. Seeing Double?

Autumn wakes up early, curled up by Kris. His skin was still hot, but not feverish anymore. She smiles in relief and gently climbs out of bed, not wanting to wake him up. Using the hotel memo pad, she writes a message for Chen.

'I went to get Sehun. I'll bring back breakfast, don't leave the rooms.
~A'

After searching through the clothes Chen had bought and borrowing one of the hoodies he had gotten along with some cash, she envisions the restaurant Xiumin had so passionately described to her and teleports there.

She looks around before entering, the bell jingling. The worker looks up, and looks surprised.

"Aren't you Mr. Kim's niece, Autumn?" he asks. She nods, choosing to go with it.

"Do you know when Mr. Kim will be coming back?" the worker asks.

"No, sorry," she answers softly, knowing the truth that he might not be coming back.

"Oh," he sounded disappointed. He then seems to get his act together, "Can I get you anything?"

She orders a peppermint hot chocolate and, as an after thought, a dozen pastries. She then waits at a table near the back. After a while, she becomes bored and plays on her phone.

The bell rings and she looks up. It was Sehun. He looked fresh, which was weird considering he spent the night in a cave. She whistles, catching his attention. He smiles and comes over. She stands.

"Autumn," he breaths, "You're here."

"Yes."

He looks around.

"Where are the others?"

"They're still asleep," she replies. Out of the corner if her eye, she sees two people standing outside, standing by the door as if it was a post.

"Where?"

"I'll take you there Sehun, just be patient," she tells him slowly. She uses Kris's mom's power to look at his aura.

Completely black with orange around the edges.

Her eyes widen and her gaze flicks to the people outside. Same aura colors.

Oh crap.

"Then you should take me there now," he orders, taking a step closer. She takes a step back.

"Are you sure you don't want any food?" she asks hurriedly.

"No, I just want to get to the others Autumn. I miss them."

She could see the lie in his eyes. The bell rings, indicating the entry of the two men outside. She pretends not to notice and focuses on Sehun. He was reaching into his pocket.

With a quick motion, his hand flies out and tries to snap something around her arm. She ducks and kicks him in the knee. He grunts and falls. The two men move in. She attempts to teleport outside, but one grabs her and clasps the metal cuff around her wrist.

She yelps a bit at the burning contact and kicks him where it hurt. He lets her go, then goes down and she takes the opportunity to dart around the other and out of the shop.

She sprints as fast as she can in the opposite direction of the motel. Her main goal wasn't to save herself, but to protect the others. She is forced to stop when a weed grows and wraps around her leg. She looks around, then bends over and slams her cuffed wrist into the ground as hard as she can. She manages to do it twice before she is yanked up.

"You are quite fast," the plant man, Heechul(?), compliments. Once his grip on her is firm, the weed shrinks down.

"Now, you are going to come with my calmly, okay Autumn?" he whispers in her ear.