Gang life had always been a part of Ruby's life. She didn't like it, but she'd accepted it. Until a chance encounter brings her world crashing down around her. Held captive at the mercy of her father's biggest rival, Ruby's will and courage are put...
I woke up in the middle of the night, alone. My eyes scanned the darkness as I pulled myself up into a sitting position, running my hands through my hair. Finally, I caught sight of him, standing next to the window. The light of the moon illuminated his figure and I sat for a while just watching him. He was stood motionless, looking out of the window as he hummed under his breath. After a while, curiosity got the best of me as I pulled the sheets back and padded over to him, quietly.
I couldn't help but feel for him. He had lost his Father very recently and all of this had been thrust upon him. It couldn't be easy for him. No wonder he couldn't sleep. Reaching out for his back, I placed a steady hand against the middle of it. His response was startling. He spun to face me, seizing me roughly around the throat. His fingers sprang back as quickly as they had sprung forward as he looked startled himself.
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"Ruby." He breathed. "You startled me." I ran my fingers across my throat, tentatively.
"Yeah, you surprised me too." I whispered as he smiled apologetically. Reaching his hand out, he wrapped his fingers around mine, removing my grasp on my throat so that he could take a better look at it.
"I didn't hurt you, did I?" His voice was so soft. I shook my head, lightly.
"What's keeping you up?" I asked, moving alongside him so that I could look out of the window too.
"I rarely sleep a full night. I don't know how much of a role you play in your Father's gang, but it certainly does take it's own pound of flesh."
"Nothing," I shrugged, staring out at the forest. It looked so small from up here. It looked so peaceful. I knew that wasn't the case once you were inside of it.
"Nothing?" He repeated, sounding confused.
"My role in his gang - it's nothing." I spoke. "I sit in my Father's house. I obey my Father's rules. My Father says jump, I say 'How high, Sir?'. I can count on one hand how many times I've been out of the house in the last three years..." Jimin sat himself down on the sofa as I remained standing.
"And what number was last night?"
"Number four," I started laughing at how pathetic it was, how pathetic it sounded. Jimin smirked.
"So in three years - you've left your Father's house four times? No wonder I didn't know you existed. Do you not get bored?" He asked, intrigued.
"Painfully so. Sometimes, I play tricks on his friends just to break my days up. I think my Father is starting to get wise though, so no doubt he'll put his foot down on it pretty soon." I admitted.
"You don't look much like Mr Kim." Jimin teased, gesturing for me to sit down with him. "Are you sure you're not adopted?" I remained on my feet, swaying slightly.
"Mr Lee used to say that I had my Mother's beauty and my Father's temper. Ah, Mr Lee-" I remembered the way that he had looked in the end. Painfully pale and bleeding. Jimin looked awkward at my response. Grabbing my hands, he pulled me over to him so that I was sat sideways on his lap. One of his hands tucked a strand of hair behind my ear as the other rested at the base of my back. I sat there in silence as Jimin's arms further enveloped me.
