Min-Song pov:
It's really scary how someone is following Natalie around. I can't believe some creep would do this to her. Dwelling on these thoughts worries me and tightens around my throat. I can't leave her alone tonight.
Trying to relieve the tension I text Ken 'heyyy gonna be there in a while wait @ train station k?' 'k ^.^' he replies with an emoticon, always with the emoticons I give a small smile and my heart flutters a bit. I take in the night air and set off to Natty's house to make sure she's not boarding up her house as if it were the apocalypse. I check the time. Crap 11:59 pm and I'm already far from my house. Heaving a sigh 'I can only hope she's up' knowing her she probably is.
A steaming pot of paranoia most likely replaced her head right about now. Breaking away from my thoughts I notice a tall man walking right behind me. 'The guy in natalie's picture looked pretty tall...' wait what the fuck am I thinking? This is Korea, there's like thousands of tall guys. But even still something seems...off the way he walks, he's...too shifty to me. I might be just as paranoid as Natty. But it never hurts to make sure.
I discreetly start loosening my ring while sneaking small glances over my shoulder until it's loose enough, I let it slide off my finger. While picking up my ring I take this chance to quickly look at him closer, camera. He has one of those super professional cameras too.
There are thousands of tall guys in Korea. Hundreds that probably live around here. Only a few probably own a really expensive professional camera. And only one follows Natty around. This dude is clearly trying to get to Natty's house. I know it's not my paranoia anymore he's slowed down to a snail's pace as if waiting for me to get back up.
Definitely suspicious. I'm going to get this dude right here right now. I turn to him and say, "Hey jerk! It must feel great stalking a girl and taking her pictures, huh?" the guy completely froze up like a statue. "Wha, I...n-no I mean" I knew it. "Wait please I was...I was wondering if I could um talk I just,want to talk. You're her best friend" the jerk replies. He seems soft. Probably faking it. I tell him I'll give him 5 minutes to talk, he quickly drags me somewhere quiet.
He takes out his camera and nervously hands it to me I shoot a suspicious glance at him and start scrolling. They're just normal pictures. I start doubting my original assumption of him until my eyes glue onto a picture. Of Natty from a year ago... One picture is enough. This guy is going to jail right now. I quickly dial 119 but before I so much as click call he slaps my phone out of my hand we both silently watch it slide away in shock.
I'm the first to move I need to warn Natalie now I push past him and run at full speed but a hand grips tightly onto my shoulder so fast my legs don't process the sudden stop in my upper body causing me to fall backwards in an audible thump I cry out pain spreading from my back faster than the black plague "WAIT YOU CAN'T SAY-' "FUCK OFF ASSHOLE" I cut him off newfound adrenaline and panic forcing me to scramble up and run I go as fast as I can but from the corner of my eye I see the figure dashing at me and before I can even scream he pins me down as crash into the wall, bones fracturing and warm tears spilling over. "NO!" I cry in desperation using every ounce of willpower to scratch and claw at him. Doing whatever I could to get away or at least if I go down to take him with me. "JUST LET ME TALK WOMAN!" he screams out in pain as I leave a large gash in his left shoulder I don't take any time to listen to what he says as I sink my nails deeper in the wound his grip loosens as he reflexively reaches for his wound.
I see this as an opening and run. I run and run not even knowing where I am anymore the adrenaline waning away as I start feeling every bone fracture and every pulled muscle. I slow to a stop my thumping heart and heavy panting is all I hear. I notice something, all too late, a pair of familiar shoes and droplets of blood on the floor, right in front of me I lift my head up just enough to see two hands. Reaching for my neck.
