Day6 || Hunt

I.

It's after dark, and you know you shouldn't be here, but the stranger who called asked you to meet him at this address. Desperate for a clue—any lead that could help you find your brother-- you scribbled it down quickly on the back of an old receipt and dashed out the door with nothing but a backpack and a faded gray sweatshirt, one of Jae's.

Now, as you start at every shadow dancing across the crumbling brick of a secluded alley, you wonder if you made a mistake. Staring at your phone, you watch as you draw nearer and nearer to your destination. Stopping abruptly, you blink and look around as the notification flashes across your screen:

Destination reached.

There's nothing here but a trail of litter, a few wet puddles, and an old, dented metal trashcan overflowing with garbage. Panicking, you double check the receipt, just to make sure you didn't type in the wrong address. It matches perfectly. Anxiety filling your chest, you swallow down more tears. This is your only chance of ever finding him, if you lose it now another one may never come again.

Frantically, you walk in circles to soothe your pent up anxiety, searching up and down the alley for anything you might have missed, but there's nothing. It's completely empty. Slumping against the wall, you rest your head in your hands. You don't know where to go from here. You've reached a dead end.

Just then the click of a cigarette lighter makes you jump and you glance over to see a handsome face, illuminated by the small flame. Staring at the man beside you, you're surprised to find that he's much younger than you originally expected. He has high cheekbones, dark eyes, and a confident smirk, which is accentuated as he takes a long drag on his cigarette.

"Wasn't expecting you to be early," he says in an amused tone that mirrors the cocky expression on his face.

His eyes are unreadable, and you shiver as they flick over your body, taking you in from head to toe. That's when you notice the flash drive in his other hand.

"You promised if I met you, you could tell me where my brother is," you respond, trying your best to sound brave.

"I can tell you where your brother is," he says, dangling the flash drive in front of your face, "but first I need a little something in exchange. I'm not into charity work," he adds, grinning wickedly. 

Eyeing the flash drive in his hand, you focus all of your attention before pouncing on it, but you're not fast enough. The tall strabger reacts quickly, raising his arm and holding it beyond your reach.

"Easy darlin'. You're awfully eager for someone who has nothing to negotiate with," he replies silkily.

Taking a deep breath, you turn to face him squarely, praying you look more confident than you feel.

"This was a waste of time. If all you're looking for is someone to play your little games with, I'm leaving."

You raise your chin and glare fiercely in his eyes, before squaring your shoulders and sauntering past him. You have no idea if this bluff will work, but right now it's all you've got. You've only gotten a few steps away when that same sarcastic chuckle reaches your ears.

"Aren't you a feisty one, I should have known," he mutters, the amusement clear in his voice. "I'll make you a deal."

Reaching in his pocket, he pulls out a large silver coin, inscribed with a golden K.

"What's that?" you ask suspiciously.

"Oh, just a little something a friend made for me. A little keep sake," he says, eyes glinting mysteriously.

"So, would you like to hear it?" he drawls. "My proposition, I mean."

You hesitate a moment.

"Fine," you shrug, noncommittally.

He grins, tossing the coin high in the air before closing it in his palm, his long fingers onscuring it completely.

"Heads, I give you this flash drive and you leave, no questions asked. Tails, I keep the flash drive and you come with me. So," his gaze falls on you lazily, "what will it be?"

Your heart pounding in your chest, you stare up at him seriously. You know you have a decision to make.