The Gangleader's Sister

Chapter 23

We split into 4 groups of three. Jisung, Mina and Minho were in one group. Jaemin, Jeongin, and Seungmin in another. Then Woojin, Felix, and Changbin. And finally me, Hyunjin, and Chan.

Oh great. I just need to focus on finding Nuri, I can talk to Chan later. I'm sure he has some things to say to me.

The other groups started to spread out, and I saw Chan giving me a look before he turned and walked away. Hyunjin and I followed in silence.

Chan was walking up to the food stalls and asking the owners if they had seen a girl being pushed out or dragged around by some men earlier. By the look on his face, he wasn't having any luck.

Hyunjin stayed with me and we were asking around together. I suddenly remembered our phone conversation.

"Hyunjin?" He hummed in response. "What did you mean earlier when you said you had a hunch and that you really hoped you were wrong?"

I saw him stiffen a bit at my question; he then bit his bottom lip in thought before he finally spoke. "Princess, I think I'd rather not tell you. I don't want this to affect you, and I know it will. If it starts to look like what I'm thinking is true, I'll tell you before something really bad happens."

"What? Why can't you tell me now? Why would this affect me? Hyunjin, this is about one of my best friends, I deserve to know." I turned to face him and I was starting to get angry.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes before speaking. "Trust me, I want to tell you, but I don't think it would be beneficial at the moment. If I acted on this now, it could change things and make everything worse. Until I have something more solid, I'm just being overly cautious."

He tried to grab my hand, but I quickly pulled it away. "No. You obviously don't trust me enough to tell this to me. So I'm going to go and find my friend with or without whatever stupid hunch it is that you have." I turned around and started walking off. "Don't follow me."

Gosh. What the fuck is up with him?! Why can't he trust me? If what he's thinking of is a way to get Nuri back, why can't he just tell us? I was brought out of my thoughts when I get my phone vibrate.

"A little birdie told us that you'd do anything to save your friend. If that's true, be behind the mirror maze tent in 5 minutes. Don't bring anyone else.
     -NCT"

They're letting me set Nuri free. I have to do this. It's my fault. I looked up and saw the tent a little ways away, so I started walking there. Someone bumped me and knocked my phone away, but I had something more important on my mind. Someone.

I made it to the back of the tent and sat down on an old crate on the ground. Because of my anxiousness, it felt like I was waiting forever. Until a voice spoke and made my blood run cold.

"So you really would risk your own life for your friend. I'll have to pay up to Nana for his tip." The owner of the voice stepped out of the shadow and I was confused.

"Surprised to see me Mirae?" Taeyong smirked as he came closer.

"A little. I met you once, and you seemed like a normal guy," I was still trying to process that one of Jaemin's  friends was the one that kidnapped Nuri. "Does Jaemin know that you're... you're in a gang?"

"Oh I'm well aware." I spun around faced a smirking Jaemin. I recognized some of the faces behind him as the friends from his room at the party. They all started snickering as they saw my terrified face.

"What-" I suddenly wasn't able to breathe. It felt like a weight was being pushed into my chest. I closed my eyes and tried to steady my breathing. "So you are all part of NCT?"

They nodded yes as they watched me, amused by my panicked state. How sick are these people!

"And you," I stood up and faced Jaemin. "How could you!" I slapped him across the face resulting in a satisfying sound. The other boys started to come towards me but Jaemin stopped them. "She trusted you! We all trusted you! She fucking loved you so much! And you just turned around and did this to her!" I felt hot tears pouring out of my eyes.

"I know. I feel terrible," Jaemin looked down and a smirk appeared as he looked back up. "Not. Oh god I thought I was going to die having to act like that. She was always so clingy. Thankfully we never had to kiss."

"You disgust me, Jaemin." I wiped the tears from my face and turned back to Taeyong. "So where is she? Where's Nuri? The text, I'm trading myself for her."

"Oh Mirae, you're so naïve. You really think we'd let a trade happen?" Taeyong smiled at me crazily. "Grab her." The other boys followed his command and I was being held by my arms as I kicked and yelled out, my screams blending in to the music and other people at the carnival area.

They dragged me to an abandoned building that was near the carnival and I had tears streaming down my face. My throat had gone dry from me screaming so much. I saw Jaemin punch a code into the door and once it opened i was thrown inside.

"Guess I should head back to your pathetic brother and his gang. Don't try anything stupid. The boys are staying here. Toodles!" Jaemin slammed the door and I heard muffled voices outside. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying not to cry.

It didn't work. My tears started to fall slowly, but soon I was sobbing. I screamed and jumped back when I felt a hand press to my shoulder.

"Shh. Rae, it's me."

"Nuri?" I turned around and hugged my friend that I've missed so much.

"Ow ow ow!" I immediately pulled away.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! I forgot you're hurt! How bad is it?" I gently traced over a bruise on her face.

"I'm fine. It could be way worse." She gave me a big smile. I wanted to cry at the sight of her. She had cuts and gashes and bruises covering her once perfect skin. Yet, here she was. Smiling.

"Oh Nuri! I'm so sorry! This is all my fault!" I placed my head in my hands and sobbed again.

"Shh. Rae, none of this is your fault. It's Jaemin and his gang's. They told me everything. About your brother and his gang. And about how they've been after you." She pulled me into her chest and hugged me as I cried.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," I kept repeating those words to her as she rocked me in her arms. After a few minutes of her rocking me, I passed out from exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep.