Black Blue and Gold

Chapter 1 (Part 6)

Welcome to the Team 

Sooyoung heaved a deep sigh. She closed the car door and looked around.

"Makes you feel grateful no matter how bad you think you have it huh?" Taeyeon said as she came to stand next to Sooyoung.

"Yeah. I will never complain about my Mom scolding me to clean my room even at this age ever again," Sooyoung said, making Taeyeon chuckle.

They started to make their way through the narrow alleys, past the rundown buildings that didn't even look sturdy.

They asked around and finally arrived in front of a narrow staircase leading down to an old shabby door.

"This should be it." Taeyeon made sure that the gun on her belt was accessible although she kept it hidden for now. She went down the stairs to knock on the door. "Excuse me! Anybody home?"

No answer.

"Hello? Anybody home?" Taeyeon knocked again. "It's the Seoul Police! We're looking for Yang Soomin!" She kept knocking but no answer came.

"Is there a back door or something?" Sooyoung mumbled, taking a step back and looked around. The slum area was packed with small houses jammed against each other from all sides. She knew that going around to find a back door could leave Taeyeon in a dangerous situation should anything happen.

"Sshh... I think I hear something." Taeyeon slowly took out her gun. She carefully put her ear to the door, making sure that she stayed away from the center of it. She heard faint low mumbles.

Taeyeon looked at Sooyoung. "Let's go in. I think someone's in there," she whispered.

Sooyoung also took out her gun. She took her position across from Taeyeon, leaning against the other side of the door. She signaled that the door opened outward instead of inward after she saw the hinges.

Taeyeon nodded. She slowly grabbed the doorknob with her free hand and turned it as quietly as she could. She quickly pulled it open and Sooyoung moved to stand in the doorway with her gun aimed inside the house. "Seoul Police!"

The small dingy house had no windows. It was dark and seemed empty at first glance. The only light helping Taeyeon and Sooyoung came from the front door behind them.

The two women stepped carefully inside with their guns ready. They heard the low mumbling.

Taeyeon put a finger to her lips then pointed to a door to their right.

Sooyoung nodded. She took her position against the wall next to the door.

Taeyeon slowly opened the door. She took a peek and exhaled silently. She holstered her gun and stepped inside.

Sooyoung lowered her weapon when she saw the old woman lying on the floor on a thin mattress. She could see how dirty the sheets were even in the dark. She also could see how thin and wrinkled the woman was. She then left Taeyeon for a bit to check the other rooms in the back of the house.

Taeyeon squatted down next to the woman who seemed to be sleeping. Mumbles escaped her lips and she would turn her head from side to side every once in a while. Taeyeon carefully touched the woman's forehead with the back of her hand.

"Fever?" Sooyoung whispered, reappearing at the door.

Taeyeon nodded. "We should get her to a doctor."

Before Sooyoung could react, they heard footsteps outside. Sooyoung immediately turned around, aiming her gun at the front door as she stepped away from the room.