"The human heart is like a flower pot, you never know what could bloom, you can give it all the love and warmth but what grows can still be evil, they may appear to be beautiful from afar but in reality they're... poisonous; and what is poisonous and evil must be pulled out." —Icychica_
❀❀❀❀❀
"I'm gonna ask you one more time, are you sure about this?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
"Okay, the camera is working just fine, audio and visual are all set, more importantly it's not noticeable."
"Then... I guess we're ready to go."
They both stood a couple meters away from the abandoned building to make sure they weren't seen together.
It was finally time to end things and Siyeon was really nervous about what would meet her behind those doors, she hoped that after that day she'd be able to rid her life of Sin-jae once and for all.
She turned to face the building with a heavy hand on her chest as she took a deep breath.
"Siyeon?" Seol gently placed her hand on her back, that reminded Siyeon to remain strong, she wasn't alone, she didn't have to be fearful of the unknown.
With one final glance at her purple-haired friend, she walked towards the building.
...
Seol sat inside of the car watching her from an ipad just as they planned, when she saw Siyeon walk through the doors she waited thirty seconds before calling the police, giving them the specific instructions she prayed they followed.
It was all for Siyeon's sake after all.
...
The building was dimly lit by yellowish lights that hung from the ceiling, there was a slight chill that came with the wind that blew onto Siyeon's skin, causing her to zip up the black hoodie she was wearing. It was quiet and not much to notice besides the broken boards and windows, the empty barrels that laid on the floor and the eery feeling that was shivering up her spine.
"Why did he have to choose the creepiest building." she mumbled as she walked deeper and deeper inside, hearing the creaking of old doors, that opened and shut with the wind.
Her eyes landed on a human figure sitting in a chair ahead of her and she walked closer to them unable to see who they were.
"Baekhyun!" she called out with worry as his face became clearer to her she speed up her pace in order to reach him; thankfully she could see that he wasn't hurt or injured in any way.
"Siyeon? Why did you come here? Please leave!!!" His voice warned her in fear.
"So you came." Another voice echoed through the build making Siyeon stop dead in her tracts as Sin-jae stood in front of her, preventing her from going closer to Baekhyun.
"Let him go. I'm here now." Siyeon pleaded, looking Sin-jae in the eye. It took everything in her not to back away from him.
"Woah, not even a 'hi, how are you?' sweetheart? I'm starting to think you care about him more than you care about me." Sin-jae said to Siyeon, placing his hands into his pockets as he stared down at her.
Siyeon wanted to tell him that she could care less about how he was and that she wasn't his sweetheart or anything for that matter, but she kept those thoughts to herself and refrained from saying anything to provoke him and put Baekhyun in danger.
"I'm sorry, I just... I'm just so happy to see you that's all." she lied, even giving him her best smile.
He smiled back at her, titling his head to the side as he did. "Is that so." He touched her chin, running his thump over her bottom lip, a gesture that made Siyeon cringe and wanted to throw up but she had to stomach it, if she wanted to make it out of there alive.
"Of course I do, how've you been? I got into college, what about you, did you go to college?" she asked randomly, not sure of what to say.
She had to buy time and Siyeon knew that, it was going to be more difficult than she thought.
He smirked. "I graduated top of my class."
"That's great!" Siyeon awkwardly laughed, her voice sounding a lot more enthusiastic than she intended. "Um... why don't we go somewhere more comfortable and we can discuss—"
"You sound in a hurry to make me leave."
"No, I just—"
"Is it because of him, do you like him or something?"
"No, of course not, I just don't see why he has to be here."
"Really? Didn't sound that way over the phone, remember, when you threatened to kill me."
"It's not like that, he's just a friend nothing more."
"So he's not your boyfriend and you don't like him?"
She glanced at Baekhyun than back at Sin-jae. "No, so you can just let him go and we can keep this just between us, no reason for others to get involved."
"Okay, I believe you, but I'm afraid I can't do that."
Those words sacred her and all she could ask was: "Why?" Siyeon tried so hard not to show her fear when she did.
"He embarrassed me that day remember and I didn't like the way he spoke to me either."
"That was my fault, he didn't know we knew each other, that's why he did that, I should've stopped him."
"That's right, you should have. But since you've been a good girl, I'll reward you, I'll tell you how you can prove just how much you missed me."
"How?"
Sin-jae walked closer to her, bringing his lips to her ear as he whispered, "By staying right here and watching as I kill him."
"No, Sin-jae wait a minute!" Siyeon grabbed onto his jacket sleeve, tears threatening to fall from her eyes as she begged him.
"You see that Siyeon," He looked down at her hand restraining his. "That tells me you have feelings for him, you think you could FOOL ME!!!" he shouted making Siyeon tremble. "If only you hadn't stopped me, I would've let him go, you see, now I just have to kill him, this is your fault, he's going to die because of you."
"Si... Si... Si... Sinjae... no, I... I... I'm... I'm sorry please don't..." she pleaded, tightening her grasp around his arm, he aggressively removed her hand.
"Hold her and make sure she watches!" Sin-jae yelled and suddenly six men appeared from the darkness, two of them grabbing her arms.
"What is this?! What are you doing?! This wasn't part of the agreement, you said we'd be alone!"
"You were the one who broke your promise first, you said you'd come alone."
"What? What are you saying? Don't tell me you—" The doors opened and in came another man holding onto Seol and bringing her to stand next to Siyeon.
Sin-jae smiled with arrogance when he saw Seol. "Well, well, well, if it isn't miss Kim Yoon Seol. I see you're still sticking your nose where it doesn't belong."
Seol laughed, running her tongue along the inside of her mouth as hearing her full name from his lips irritated her, she gave him a sarcastic smile. "Well if it isn't Sin-jae, I see you're still a psychotic son of a b*tch."
His smile immediately disappeared at her words, he walked over to her and punched her in the face, the sound making Siyeon's heart sink.
"Seol!"
"I'm fine Siyeon," She spat blood from her mouth as she brought her head up to look Sin-jae straight in the eye. "Good to see you haven't changed, they say if you change too quickly, you'll die and I need you alive so I can kill you myself, you bastard." Seol gave him a smile filled with so much hatred Siyeon believed Seol would actually kill him if given the chance.
Sin-jae released a historical laugh. "I'll deal with you later." He grabbed a steel rod and slowly walked over to Baekhyun.
"Where are you going, get back here, you coward!"
"Let her go, she has nothing to do with this."
"On the contrary Siyeon, she has everything to do with this, I still haven't forgiven her for keeping you from me. You should remain silent and be glad I'm letting her live..." He stood beside Baekhyun. "Now, watch what happens when you break your promises."
"No!" She struggled against the men who held her back as Sin-jae kicked Baekhyun to the floor before hitting him repeatedly with the metal pipe. "NO! STOP IT!"
"Siyeon... Siyeon... I'm okay..." Baekhyun's weak voice said to her as their eyes met. "don't worry about m..." He coughed up blood that stained his lips bright red making Siyeon's tears roll down her face.
"Baekhyun!"
"Siyeon, close your eyes, you shouldn't watch this." Seol whispered to her.
"What do I do Seol, he... he's going to die, and it's all my fault."
"No. He won't die, I promise just trust me and close your eyes okay?"
Siyeon nodded and did as she was told, letting her eyes close, her tears still rolling down her cheeks. She could hear Baekhyun's cries as they grew louder and the constant sound of metal connecting with skin and bone, she knew his bones had to be broken by then, but she didn't dare to open her eyes and look.
...
"You bastards!" Seol shouted as she grabbed the guy holding her back by the shirt and brought him over her shoulder, flipping him, she then held him in a choke hold for a couple seconds, knocking him out just as she was taught.
Seol's father was a former professional fighter, he taught her everything she knew from the early age of six, instilling in her the importance of learning to defend herself. She was a fast learner and picked up everything quickly, fighting had became second nature to her, even after her dad died; she still kept his teachings close to heart, using them to protect those she cared about, just like he wanted, but sometimes having taken after his bad temper, she'd end up getting into a lot of trouble, using her fists before her words. At one point she was even a street fighter; however, Siyeon and the girls helped her give up that life style.
"Get your filthy hands off her!" she shouted as she gave an uppercut to one of the men holding Siyeon, the other one released Siyeon and grabbed Seol by the throat making her knee him in the stomach, before giving him a spin kick to the face.
Seol noticed that Baekhyun's eyes had closed, there was a pool of blood beneath him, she knew she had to be quicker, he needed medical attention immediately.
"Three down. Four to go." she mumbled cracking her knuckles taking on a boxing stance as the other three came to attack her. "Siyeon, find a safe place to hide while I save Baekhyun." bobbing and weaving, Seol knelt down, reached into her boot and took out her folded baton that was disguised as part of her custom made boots —the baton was an arm's length when unfolded.
"What are you waiting for, get her!" Sin-jae's aggrevated voice ordered them.
She noticed their eyes move from her to Siyeon as they prepared to obey orders. "Hey, all eyes on me!'' She attacked them unfolding the baton, taking them on one by one. She hit two of them on the knees carefully watching her back, hitting them again on the thighs and shins, she wanted to disable not kill them, she hit them on the head, careful not to severely injury them.
One came to attack her, he secured her hands behind her back as the other tried to hit her with a piece of wood, she used her feet to kick him before he could, Seol brought her head back with enough force to hit the one behind her in the forehead setting herself free.
"Get lost! Argh!" Seol delivered the finally blow, finishing them off as she breathed heavily turning her attention to Sin-jae. "Finally, it's just me and you." She got a running start and gave him a jump kick, knocking him over, she sat on top of him as he struggled beneath her; Seol wrapped her fingers around his neck strangling him. "I said I'd kill you, bastard." She tightened her grip.
Seol's mind went blank, she couldn't feel or hear anything, it was as though her anger had completely taken control, awakening that dark part of her she had tried so hard to put to rest and all she wanted was to end Sin-jae's life. The chains had broken.
"Seol! No!"
The moment she heard Siyeon's voice: her worried voice, it brought her back. Out of the darkness, out of the oblivion stopping her from doing something she'd forever regret. Siyeon's voice held that much power over Seol. The broken chains were mending, she slowly regained consciousness. Seol turned her head around to look at Siyeon, her grip on Sin-jae's throat loosening.
While Seol was distracted, Sin-jae reached for a near by rock, hitting her on the head with it and pushed her off him. The hit made Seol's vision blur temporarily, fresh red liquid trickled down her face. While she was on the floor Sin-jae punched her in the face before kicking her repeatedly in the stomach.
"Leave her alone!" Siyeon yelled before stabbing Sin-jae in the thigh with a pocket knife that Seol made her bring for protection, he groaned in pain and pushed her hard to the ground, slapping her in anger, he grabbed her by the hair and was about to slap her again.
"Focus on me you freaking coward!" Seol grunted, grabbing Sin-jae by his legs preventing him from injuring Siyeon further.
"Why do you always get in my way?!" he yelled angrily as he kicked Seol again, she winced with every kick; though Seol was the one being beaten, her worried eyes never left Siyeon.
...
"Seol... I have to rescue her... I have to... save them..." Siyeon's breathing became hitched until it was hard for her to breathe. "No... not... now... not yet... no..." she was hyperventilating, she collapsed onto the cold wet pavement, her eyes shifting from Seol to Baekhyun, a stray tear rolling down her face as she reached her hand out mumbling before losing consciousness. "I'm sorry..."
...
Siyeon's eyes had closed, Seol knew what that meant, she had to do something. "Siyeon passed out... I know you... hate me... but don't you care about... what happens to... her?" she managed to choke out making Sin-jae pause his actions, turning his attention away from her to Siyeon for a split second, she took that second, she quickly grabbed her baton stood to her feet and with one swift motion, hit him on the back of the head with it, knocking him out cold, giving him one last kick for extra measure.
Seol dropped the weapon, hearing the metal clinking as it landed on the floor, her body aching all over as she limped towards Siyeon and sat next to her.
She laid her flat on her back and made sure she was breathing, she wasn't, she then lifted her legs above heart level —to aid blood flow to the brain— Seol unzipped Siyeon's hoodie and started CPR; she had learned to do this for this very purpose, to save Siyeon, who had developed the panic attacks after the incident with Sin-jae.
She checked again to see if she was breathing before administrating CPR again, she checked again and again, until she felt Siyeon's breath tickle her cheek and she sighed in relief.
She heard the sound of multiple cars arriving on the compound and knew they were safe, Seol decided to check Baekhyun as well, his face was covered in sweat and bruises, his clothes were stained with blood, she felt sorry seeing her friend like that, thankfully he was breathing and she was glad that he was. "Hold on guys, it won't be much longer... just wait." she mumbled as the police and medical assistance stormed the building.
...
If you like this book you can check out my contracted work: 'The Claytonia's Curse.' as well!