Chapter 20

  "Irene, just in time." Seunghyeon greets. "What happened?" Irene asks sounding worried. Jin, Jimin, and Krystal and other board members are present in the room with Seunghyeon sitting at the end of the long table.    "The red cloud" Seunghyeon paused a bit and speaks again after taking a short breath. "they attempted to steal the scythe." Irene's eyes widened in horror. "What?! Is Mr. Im alright?" Irene ran her fingers through her hair.    "Fortunately, he's scratchless and the scythe is still in his hands. The red cloud attacked his mansion 3 hours ago but Mr. Im's men managed to hold. The red cloud survivors have been captured and already have been interrogated."   "But" Seunghyeon paused. "But what?" Irene asked. "Some of them don't remember anything. Just like in Yoongi's case." Soohyun continues for Seunghyeon who drinks his glass of water to relax his system. Irene unconsciously clenched her fists. "One of the captured men said it's because of the Ghost archer."   Irene's ears quirked hearing the name. "The robed guy?" A nod. "We still don't know what he wants. He might not be even after the excalibur weapons but one thing's for sure; We'll stop him if he gets in our way." Chills were sent to everyone's spine from Seunghyeon's remark.   "Where's Mr. Im now?" Irene asked out of concern. "I told him that he and his granddaughter can stay in the agency for a while so we could keep an eye them but he refused and stayed in the mansion instead.   But the government sent gaurds to his place for security and I also sent some men of my own." Seunghyeon still has this dark look on his face. He leans back on his chair and crossed his legs. "Irene." Seunghyeon called out.    "Yes, sir?" Irene forced her voice not to crack. "Even if Mr. Im is under the protection of the combined elite forces of the government and SM's, you and your team still have to carry your mission." The four gave a determined nod.    Jin was the first one who stood and the others followed. "Are we leaving now sir?" Jin asked. Seunghyeon nods. "Be careful." The team immediately went off.    ___   N POV    I slumped back to my seat and released a deep breath. I took a sip of my rum to calm my nerves. The heat that ran  down my throat did serve its purpose. They failed. If only I went, the scythe could be in our hands by now. It's partly my fault. I know Mr. Im is not an easy opponent from the start. I should know that better than anyone.    I grew up under his wings after all.    Flashback    I wrapped a protective arm arround my stomach. I can't breath. I felt my wounds stung when I felt something dripping. It's raining. Just my luck. That bastard of a punk just have to call the gaurds and now I'm starving to death. I know I can't go back and steal again and come back alive.    Guess it's one of those days huh? I layed my head back with a brick wall supporting me. The rain is getting stronger. My vission is turning to a blur by the minute. I felt my breathing getting even. My eyelids are getting heavier as moments pass by. My energy already left my body the moment they dumped me here. Before I was about to pass out, I heard voices. They could just be voices created by my mind.    "Grandpa, come! There's an unconscious boy!"    "Yoona, call the gaurds and bring him in the car. He needs to be treated fast."    "Arraseo, halbeoji."    ___   I feel warm. I don't feel any sort of pain anymore. I just noticed I'm lying on a bed when I slightly moved my leg just to feel the soft and smooth surface of something like cotton. Where am I? I felt something wet on my forhead. It stung. I hissed. I then heard a gasp. I slowly opened my eyes to adapt to the lighting.    "Hey, are you finally awake? Does it hurt somewhere?" After my vission cleared, a pretty lady around her late teens worriedly asked. I tried to sit up so I could properly talk to my possible savior but she stopped me by putting a gentle hand on my shoulder.    "Rest for a while." I complied and slowly went back to my orininal position as my body is still feeling sore. I tried to use my right arm to support my weight but I realised it was bandaged. I remember it was because of the fall when they threw me at the alleyway. She must have notice my struggle that she stands from her seat and puts a hand on my head and another on my back, laying me softly on the bed.    I felt my nape and cheeks burn because of the close proximity. She was too close that I could feel her breath just at the tip of my nose. It's like she breath out life with the way it smelled like mint and flowers at the same time. My breath hitched at every movement she makes. She must have also noticed my flustered state that she giggled. I desperately hid under my considerably long fringe that she giggled more. This is really embarrassing. Her angelic giggles stopped after a good minute.    "T-Thank you." I croaked out. She cutely tilts her head to the right with raised brows. I cleared my throat and repeated what I said without stuttering this time. "Thank you... for treating me and stuff." She returned a sweet smile that hid her eyes into thin slits. My breath hitched once more. Damn she's beautiful. "Don't think about it. Just get well soon, okay?" I timidly nod.    I then felt a drop of something cold from my eyelash. Is this water? I looked at the right to see a bowl of ice cubes and water with a cloth drenched inside it.    "O-Oh - uhmm - I was just making sure to keep your temperature low. You were burning hot in the past hours." Hours? And she took care of me? "How long have I been alseep?" She turns to the wall clock just behind her. "Uhmm... 12 to 15 hours? Your fever left just an hour ago." That long?! Did she even sleep?   "Hey - uhmm - I'm sorry if I bothered you. You even took care of me for that long. I'm really so-" "Hey." She glared at me and I swallowed an imaginary lump down my dry throat. "Did you really just expect me to just relax when I have a dying patient that needs my attention?" She's right so I kept mum.   She stands up and walked to the drawer next to the bed and took out something which I assume were medicine. "Remind me to let you take this every 6 hours, 'kay?" She offered a glass of lukewarm water and a tablet. After taking the medicine to my system, She took the glass from my hand and put it back to it's original place. She sat down on the bed this t