Into the Flames

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The air in this place is even colder than that of the cell in which I'd been rotting for God only knows how long. My hair hangs limply against my skull, still wet from the harsh scrubbing SoonMi had administered. The pale shift that I have been forces to don does nothing to protect me from the cold and if I were wearing any less I'd probably catch pneumonia.

The thud of her shoes against the concrete and the soft padding of my bare feet echo through the hallway with such an eerie quality, I might believe that I was in a horror movie. Especially given the circumstances. 

"Where are you taking me?" I demand. 

Despite all of this I have not yet lost myself. It would be too easy. To give in. To cower the way that they want me to. But I won't. Besides, I haven't given up hope. I'm sure that someone is coming.

"You can cut the bravado crap," she retorts in amusement. "And I'd also highly suggest that you learn to keep your mouth shut unless spoken to. You're in for a rough night."

The bitch actually snickers at that. How twisted does one have to be to enjoy putting a human being through such despicable things?

"You're actually straight up crazy," I tell her, disgust seeping from my tone against my will. 

"Mhmm," she mumbles "and next you're going to tell me that there's no way I'll get away with it, yada, yada, yada. But you know what? I have. You're already here."

Grabbing me by the arm she throws me through the door at which we have arrived before slamming it shut once more.

"Sit, " Daehyun commands, gesturing towards a table laden down with all sorts of food.

Chicken and beef. All manners of fruits, cheeses, and veggies are scattered out in a scrumptious display. My mouth waters at the sight.

"I told you to sit, " Daehyun repeats, clearly irritated with my lack of obedience. "Your master will be here any second and it is vital that you cooperate."

His fingers dig into my scalp roughly as he grabs a solid fistful of my hair, dragging me to the table before shoving me unceremoniously into a chair. I refuse to cry.

"Now, when he arrives I expect you to be on your best behaviour." The vile man tells me before taking a seat himself.

We sit, and wait, for what feels like an eternity. From somewhere unseen a clock can be heard, ticking the seconds away. One, two, three, and four. I count all the way to what essentially equals five minutes before I lose count.

So I start scanning the room instead. It's absolutely horrendous. Dead and peeling walls, yellowed over years of aging and neglect, surround me. The lighting does neither the walls, nor the decor any favors. Everywhere I look there are gaudy displays of wealth painted sickly by the dim yellow lights.

The feast itself looks almost more like a feast from a horror film, or a crack house. Suddenly I find my appetite to be lacking.

The sound of a car's doors interrupts the silence and raises my anxiety. As does the rapacious grin that Daehyun fixes me with.

"That'll be him, " he says triumphantly.

It feels like hours as we wait for the door to open. Seconds bleed into minutes, heart wrenching and terrifying minutes. And then, the door opens and I am face to face with my own worst nightmare.

"You?" I scream. "How could it be you?"

I am visibly shaking as John Williams, the very man who stars in my nightmares approaches, grinning evilly.

"You didn't forget, did you Emelia?" He asks. "I told you I'd pay you back for putting me in prison. And now here we are."

As he draws closer to my position, I instinctively draw further within myself. It disgusts me, the way that his hands touch my face with such familiarity. So when he lifts my head, I find that little bit of spunk buried deep, and I spit in his face.

Of course he back hands me. I knew he would. What I didn't count on is how little it pains me now. I've grown, I realize. He can't hurt me the same way he did before. I begin to laugh hysterically, lost in the irony of the situation.

Even when he grabs fistful's of my hair, his jowls shaking with rage, I continue to laugh.

"What the fuck is so funny bitch?" He yells.

"You, " I screech between laughter. "You just don't scare me anymore."

He's about to slap me again. I can see it in his face, I've just unintentionally offered him a challenge. His arm lifts, and I await the sting that never comes.

Suddenly, the door bursts open, and police begin filing into the room with guns at the ready. SoonMi is being dragged by one police officer, already cuffed with a terrified look upon her face.

"I have nothing to do with this I swear!" She's screaming.

And then, utter chaos happens. Williams rushes Daehyun, pulling a gun from his belt where it had remained hidden by his coat. In a matter of seconds Daehyun lays dead, bathing in a puddle of his own blood with a vacant expression upon his face.

He then levels the gun into my direction, and fires just as Yoongi busts through the door and tackles him to the ground. I scream as the bullet pierces my right shoulder before dropping to the ground. My whole body shakes as I look down and see all the blood.

Through hazy vision I watch as Williams is handcuffed. The police attempt to force Yoongi to leave, but he flat out refuses. "That's my woman, and my child. You can go fuck yourselves, " he spits angrily.

He refuses to leave my side, speaking to me in gentle tones even as they load me onto a stretcher and into the back of an ambulance. He doesn't let go of my hand, not even once.

"It's gonna be okay, Emmy. Everything's gonna be okay." He tells me. "I'm not letting you go again, you're gonna be okay."