Blindsided

Sacrificial Lamb

For cautionary measure, Sehun waited five minutes in his car. Eyes on the road, front and back.

Waiting.

Nothing happened.

No one appeared on the streets.

He jot his eyes toward Namjoo's house once more. She hadn't come back out nor had the door opened for entry.

Deciding it nothing, he drove home.

ᴤᴤᴤᴤᴤ

Namjoo clicked the lock into place. Jiggled the doorknob to confirm the door couldn't be opened. She did it one more time. Then rummaging through her closet, she found a handmade bracelet of tiny bells knotted together. Ornaments Junmyeon had stolen from his school Christmas décor. Even a tiny movement would have the bells ringing noisily.

A gift that in any desperate moment she could make noise for help.

Knotting it around the doorknob Namjoo tried jiggling the knob. Immediately, the bells stirred. Satisfied, she backed away toward her bed. Eyes steady on the door.

Tonight, she would sleep lightly.

Because suddenly, there were signs that said she shouldn't be too careful.

Unsurprisingly, Namjoo felt safer the next morning. Daylight, the time when people scored the land. The living prowled the streets. Strangers always attentive but wary of each other. There would always be witnesses if anything happened.

Venturing out of her home and to work. She needed to keep up with Sehun and the team's goals, their whereabouts, their plans.

True to word, she and Sehun headed back to Ahn Changmo's.

"I do the talking," Sehun repeated along the drive. "Don't act out regardless what he does or say. Got it?"

"You're saying to kiss up to him."

"We have to cater to him in order to get what we need," Sehun said then added to lift up their spirits, "it's momentary."

"Cool," she nonchalantly said. "If he spits in your face I'll just look away."

Sehun's eyes cut toward her, irked. He decided not to comment.

They arrived at Ahn Changmo's according to schedule. The male house keeper led them into the foyer, where they waited for a long eight ticking minutes. Their eyes tracing every inch of the walls studiously.

"It's obvious he's making us wait," Namjoo leaned over to whisper in a not so quiet voice.

Sehun narrowed an eye at her but remained standing formally with hands tucked at his back, prim and proper. Rim rod straight patiently beating out the minutes with whatever was in his head.

"Is this really worth it?" Namjoo wondered.

Irritation flashed through his irises. Namjoo grinned.

"Good morning, officers," Ahn Changmo's voice boomed from down the hall. Appearing around the corner. Shaking Sehun's hand, hers as he walked up to them.

When Sehun started expressing the apology he had been mentally practicing Namjoo felt pity. He would really do anything to get his way. She wasn't interested in what method he used to conduct his investigation, but it was important she start paying attention to how much progress he made.

Ahn Changmo grudgingly shook his head. Refusing to share any more about the night she had come to rob his home. His daughter, so upset, could not be consoled. She heard here and there that the daughter had gone out of the city. Extending her vacation period in order to appease her wounded heart.