.  Just what Yi Jenny said, as soon as we opened the rooftop door, a guy was waiting for us. Following his guide, we walked across the unlit hallway of the company building. Everything inside was gray; the overall atmosphere was quiet and closed that the whole place seemed like the inside of an iron grave. Ban Yeo Ryung and I carefully walked on tiptoes as if we were concerned about waking the dead bodies up from sleep.

  We then stopped in front of the lobby door, where we could only get past by stamping the card key. The guy attached the card, which he was wearing on his neck, with a beep and pointed at the opening door.

  “Take care,” he said.

  It was such a businesslike manner. As soon as we stepped out, the door closed again with a cold mechanic sound.

  In front of the closed door, Ban Yeo Ryung and I blinked swiftly then soon looked at each other. The presence of ordinary people walking across our sides couldn’t be more astonishing.

  We finally escaped. We safely got out of the warehouse, where he had been kidnapped, eventually. The fact was so unbelievable that we just looked at each other blankly for a while. From the moment we flew high riding the helicopter to the moment we landed on that building rooftop, the whole situation felt like a dream.

  As if we looked strange with heavily disheveled hairs and clothes alongside the party dress outfits hardly seen in Korea, a few people walking past by threw a doubtful glance at us; however, that was all. Those early morning people, who were busy with their own circumstances, just kept walking without any pause.

  There was an entrance to the subway in the direction where most of the people were heading to. We then read the name of the station, ‘City Hall.’ When we turned around again, the name of the building carved big in gold on the sign of the entrance came into view.

  ––Reed––


  ‘What company is that? Even the building itself looks suspicious…’ having that thought in mind, I squinted my eyes.

  Ban Yeo Ryung then spoke to me, “Donnie, let’s make a call.”


  “Oh, yes.”


  Opening the flip phone, I soon entered the contacts habitually. That was when I realized this wasn’t mine but Yi Ruda’s phone.

  When it came to whom I should call first, my parents crossed my mind, but I wondered would they even know that I had been kidnapped. If they weren’t aware of it, I would rather not let them know since they would strike dumb.

  In that case, I would better reach out to the Four Heavenly Kings, who had been staying together with us until we got kidnapped. They were, however, not my parents, so how could I remember their numbers?

  I browsed the contacts just in case. Through the list of our classmate contacts, which Yi Ruda saved each name on the phone insipidly without any single symbol or emoji, I found a few numbers that were unusually saved as non-names.

  [Poor bastard who doesn’t even know his friend is a demon!]

  [Have no common sense.]

  [This kid is also in trouble from having the wrong friend.]

  “…”


  I lapsed into silence. Were there any people whom Yi Ruda would regard them as intimate or hateful enough to save such a conversation like these? Without losing hope, I kept on looking for something else in the chat, and, at last, found a familiar name.

  [Lil Bro]

  I remembered Yi Ruda getting angry while talking to me about Jooin saving his number under the name ‘Lil Bro’ on her phone at his will.

  I pressed the call button firmly. Before the dial tone beeped, Jooin picked up the phone, so I became bewildered. What was more surprising was his following remark.

  [Hyeong, I’m sorry but I need your help. Those bastards used helicopter.]

  The way of Jooin blurting out the words like ‘those bastards’ sounded very unfamiliar to me. No, it was even shocking more than just something unexpected.

  While I was at a loss of words in confusion, Jooin continued to speak. As I paid attention to his voice, he sounded very suppressed and exhausted.

  [Damn it, I never knew they would fly a chopper as soon as we succeeded in tracing the kidnappers back and connected a camera to see that side. Did they notice our attempt? No, I don’t think so since we proceeded the plan confidentially as both mama and Yeo Ryung were involved…]

  “Um, excuse me…”


  ‘Jooin,’ I added in a small voice, but I soon held my breath at his following words.

  [Those sons of bitches! I’m gonna kill them. Once they get caught, I’ll show them life can be dreadful than hell.]

  “…”


  I took a second to check the number again. Hmm, it was correct. The numbers definitely belonged to Jooin. Was it then my eyes creating an optical illusion?

  Only then did I dimly recall Jooin’s confession that took place on the day at the abandoned school. For Jooin, it was a kind of complex that he wasn’t as nice and good as he looked.

  Anyway, it was a part of Jooin that I had to get used to. After having that thought, I could finally open my mouth.

  “Um… hold on. Please listen to me for a second, Jooin.”


  There was then a moment of silence. After a while, he responded with a very stiffened voice.

  [Mama?]

  An urgent voice then came out over the phone.

  ‘What? What did you just say? Jooin, did you say that properly just now? What the…’ A person’s voice soon pierced through the bustling noise and surged clearly.

  It was Eun Jiho.

  [Ham Donnie? Where are you?? Are you able to talk right now? If you are, until when it is possible to speak?]

  “Hold on, Eun Jiho.”


  [Don’t hang up the phone and just hang in there as much as possible.]

  “Uh… no, wait…”


  ‘We aren’t in an urgent situation like someone’s about to snatch the phone or chase us,’ I spoke to myself. Eun Jiho’s words were, on the other hand, too fast to understand.

  [What do you see around? Tell me ASAP. Do you see any highway signs or something like 200 meters to Yeongdong Bridge? It’s also fine if you see any billboards. Just let me know.]

  “Uh… dude, hold on.”


  [Or any buildings…]

  “Hey, just listen.”


  [Don’t be so laid back!]

  1

  The burst of his shouting finally made a vein slightly pop out of my forehead. ‘I do understand that you’re trying to save me, but please don’t cut in. I can’t explain properly!’ Feeling the anger rising inside me, I turned my head aside apathetically and replied to him.

  “City Hall Station.”


  As soon as I said that, the silence I had been waiting for long came at last. While I felt satisfied with the quiet air, Eun Jiho asked me with a low voice.

  [What?]

  “I’m not kidding. I really see the City Hall Station.”


  [What is going…]

  “We escaped.”


  […]

  “We’re here at City Hall Station Exit 3, so come pick us up.”


  [What the hell is going on…? Anyway, just stay right there somewhere in a crowded place.]

  As if he got too dumbfounded, Eun Jiho didn’t even ask what had happened.

  His voice then suddenly disappeared, and the phone was handed to different people. Before I even answered all the questions asking me if we were okay or did anything happen, a black vehicle ran toward us with lightning speed.

  Watching the car pulling over glidingly, I thought the vehicle just had done an illegal U-turn. The car door then opened with a loud bang, and Eun Jiho jumped out of it. He might have taken the ride on his way here, but Eun Jiho was still out of breath as if he ran full speed for quite long.

  Without catching his breath, he ran toward us and checked our disheveled hairs and clothes.

  He asked Ban Yeo Ryung, “Are you okay?”


  “Yeah, I’m very fine.”


  “I heard from Ham Donnie that your hands were trembling. Are you hurt anywhere?”


  Yeo Ryung then looked at me while smiling awkwardly. The look in her eyes seemed to be asking me about why I had said to him such a thing. Touching her wrist, she answered back.

  “No, nowhere… but just a bit…”


  As if the rope marks on her wrist suddenly came across her head, Ban Yeo Ryung hid her hands behind her back, which looked quite obvious to miss. Her action, of course, couldn’t escape Eun Jiho’s gaze.

  Eun Jiho quickly snatched her wrist and looked at the mark for quite a while. His face was then slightly covered with a veil of distress.

  After a while, he uttered with a heavy low voice.

  “I’m sorry.”


  Ban Yeo Ryung then replied nonchalantly, “Why would you feel sorry to me?”


  “Let’s first go to the hospital.”


  With that response, Eun Jiho led us to the car. As if something suddenly entered his head, he turned around to look at Ban Yeo Ryung.

  “Hey, and what we spoke earlier… We’re still friends, huh?”