Feeling a familiar hard and flat surface under her, she knew she was in the dark room. Even if she knew she had to face Kris, she wanted to prolong it as long as she could. She didn’t want to sit up and she didn’t want to open her eyes. She laid there, completely unmoving.

“Ileana…” She heard Kris sigh. Her eyes squeezed and she shuddered out a breath she didn't realize she was holding in. With that, she slowly forced herself to rise.

Kris looked like a mess. His usual perfectly trim appearance looked worn and tired. His posture grew extremely tense as soon as their eyes met. The eyes he stared at her with displayed disbelief and desperation.  She rolled her lips back and turned her gaze away, unsure of what to do or say.  

“I thought…” Kris mumbled out, “I thought I’d never see you again.”

“Well, I’m here.” She whispered back, trying to keep her tone even and firm.

“I don’t understand this, Ileana.” He voiced out after a few moments of silence, “All I’ve doing these past two days is sitting in this chair and waiting for you. I’ve put all my plans on hold and just sat here.” A deep breathe, “I-I couldn’t function without knowing how you were. I was so worried something had happened to you-”

“Something did happen.” She cut him off, “I saw you kill someone Kris. I don’t think you understand how unsettling that is.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Ileana. I do understand and that’s why I’m so sorry.” His sorrowful eyes called out to her which made her prone to breaking down her resolve even more. No, she couldn’t let Kris get to her, she had to stay strong.

“Apologizing to me isn’t going to change what you did.”

“I know, but that’s how I feel, among many other things.”

She felt her bottom lip tremble, ”Why did you do it? Because he started the fight at the banquet? Because he ruined the group’s image? Is that why?”  Kris was startled by her accusations but that didn’t stop her, “You’re part of a crime group, aren’t you? I didn’t realize killing over petty things was in your job description-“

“Ileana, that is not the reason why I had to kill him. I avoid killing at all costs, I really do and I ask that you believe me when I say this.”

“Then why did you?” She bit back.

“I did it because it was either that or he would have gotten a worse punishment.”

“A worse punishment for starting a fight?”

“He didn’t just start a fight, he also killed a high ranking officer’s son. Of course, the councilors wouldn’t let such a crime to go unpunished and would look for him. And when they would find him, they would torture him, and possibly torture his friends and family as well. When that would be done, they would just eliminate them all. That’s what happens when you mess with those people. So, I knew I had to get to him before they did.”

Ileana felt her thought whirling. How could such a terrible world exist, where pain and death were everyday occurrences?

“Could you not help him run or hide?” Ileana stared at him helplessly, “Surely you could have-“

“No, you don’t know them like I do. They wouldn’t rest until they found him. And they would find him.”

She bit so hard on her bottom lip she could taste blood seeping into . “But you seemed so…angry.” She insisted as the images replayed in her head.

“That’s because I was. He did a stupid thing that required a lot of damage control.  I had to hastily mend the bonds I made with the councilors all the while protecting his loved ones and making sure they wouldn’t go after them. I had to juggle everything around until I could finally give the councilors what they wanted and put the entire issue to rest.” Kris explained, rubbing his hands together in a slow but rough fashion.

“And they wanted…” She mumbled when she started connecting the dots.

“I had to give them his body as proof…and a large sum of money for safety measures.”

She wanted to be sick. Her stomach was lurching. How was she expected to fix such a ruined place?

“I-I can’t believe this is possible. It’s just so corrupted.” She shook her head softly.

“I know, but I intend on changing that.” Kris told her sharply. She immediately stared up at Kris and saw his determined expression.

She knew what he was planning, and she knew it wouldn’t actually change anything. She wanted to call out and tell him that he was wrong, that controlling and/or killing people with the crystal wouldn’t solve problems but create new ones.  But sadly, that meant that her cover would be blown and any efforts she made to stop him would most likely become futile.

“We’ll see.” She told him weakly.  They sat there in silence, just taking in each other’s presence.

“I don’t think you realize how relieved I am to see you.” Kris leaned forward in his chair while looking away nervously. “I don’t think I would have been able to live with myself without properly explaining myself to you.”

“I think you’re over exaggerating a-”

“I’m not.” Kris cut off her in a harsh tone. His lips continued to move but she heard nothing. Realization flashed across Kris’ face which was starting to slowly fade with the screen. He looked around the screen, frustrated, before meeting her eyes again. She couldn’t read what they were telling her before they vanished completely.

When her eyes opened, she found herself back onto the couch. Unlike the usual quiet morning, she heard the faint sound of smashing and banging. She looked around confused, trying to find the origins of the noise. She figured it wasn’t loud enough to come from inside the flat.

She sat up and continued to look around. Then she remembered about Sehun. She rushed down the hallway to Sehun’s room and opened the door. Inside she saw nothing. The bed hadn’t been disturbed. She frantically ran out and into the kitchen, hoping to find traces of his cooking. Nothing. She looked to the wall at the clock and saw that it was too early for Sehun to have gone to work.

The sound smashing and banging suddenly stopped and she heard one final slam similar to a door being slammed shut. She hurriedly put her boots on and pushed the stairs down. Finished climbing down them, she shoved the stairs back up and made her way into the shop. When entering it, she froze at the sight before her and clasped a hand over in shock.