LOST

Chapter 2

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Violence/mention of kidnapping/foul language
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Flashes of light, a roar of thunder and the sound of glass shattering echoed in Ji-Yeon's ear. She shot out of bed in a panicked cold sweat. Her short breaths were rapid just like her heart rate was. Placing a hand on her wet forehead, she wondered if it was all just a nightmare. Closing her eyes, she attempted to calm herself down. She focused on her breathing first. In for a few seconds, out for a few seconds. She repeated this until she felt her heart steady.

When she opened her eyes again, she noticed something strange. She wasn't in her bed. Nor was she in her own home for that matter. The walls were stained in several places, cobwebs hung from the ceiling and clung to everything in sight. On the floor, there were several holes with grass growing out of it. Ji-Yeon could feel the panic coming back. Just where was she? She needed answers.

As she stepped on the floor, loud squeaks echoed through the room around her. She froze, hoping it didn't draw any attention to her. When she realized it was clear, she walked out the door. The hallway was least to be desired. Just like the room she was in, the walls were covered in stains. The walls were riddled with small holes, with some larger pieces missing scattered around. The lights on the walls were being supported by a few wires – that looked like they would break at any moment.

Ji-Yeon did her best to step lightly down the hall and down a few stairs. A thick layer of dust lined everything around her. However, the railing looked as though someone had placed their hands on it recently. Strange? She continued on her way and noticed two shadows standing outside the door. As soon as she stepped on the floor another loud squeak broke the silence she desperately tried to keep. She watched as the two stopped pacing and turned to the door. She ducked behind a chair that was almost placed strategically there for her.

As the two entered the house, she placed her hands over her mouth. She made sure not to make any movement until she knew it would be safe. And, as she noticed, they left the door wide open for her. All she needed to do was draw her attention away from the door. The sound of their boots drew closer to her. She searched all around her only to find a small pebble a few inches away.

In order for her to reach the pebble, it would require her to stretch her arm out just enough that they would see her. She prayed for a small window where they wouldn't be focused on the chair. The floor squeaked directly behind her, making her lean back against the chair. The room fell silent. They were waiting for her to make a move, she could feel it. Her eyes darted from the pebble and the shadows that stretched across the floor. She would only have a few seconds to make a run for it depending on how hard and how far she threw it. She reached slowly out for it, her fingers grazed the surface so she leaned a little further out. She wrapped her fingers quickly and tightly against the small stone. Now all she needed to do was to throw it somewhere.

With a quick movement of her arm, Ji-Yeon tossed the stone right into the room next to her. A small sound bounced in the room causing the two figures to move and check it out. Now was her chance. Her body refused to move at first, it was still frozen with fear. A fear Ji-Yeon forced out. She pressed her foot hard on the floor and darted toward the door. She felt a cool breeze rush past her face and excitement filled her mind. She was finally free.

She stopped dead in her tracks on the porch of the house. Standing in front of her was a tall man with fiery hair that fell just under his jaw. One side, as she noticed was shaved, and his hair had been flipped to the other side. He had narrow eyes that were a piercing amber color. Her eyes trailed down to his black uniform and then back up to his stern looking face. There she noticed a glisten on his left ear, where he wore four earrings. Her father would have a field day with this guy. She felt her heart skip, he was handsome, not like the others in Serenity – they didn't quite appeal to her tastes.