[CONTENTID1]Chapter 1[/CONTENTID1]

[CONTENTID2]The First Encounter[/CONTENTID2]

[CONTENTID3]

***flashback***

 “Ahhh!” an earsplitting scream echoed in the streets.

Luhan flinched. What the heck was that?

“What on earth was that?” Lay exclaimed, fidgety.

No one answered until they heard it again.

“Stop it! Get away from me!”

“It sounds like a girl!” Chen gasped, his eyes widening.

“We can’t just go back without checking it out,” Kris started to run. “Let’s go!” he commanded, his duizhang personality appearing.

The six boys followed the sound of a girl screaming and whimpering until they reached a park nearby. There were streetlights lit up, so it wasn’t that dark even though it was past 2 a.m. already.

Luhan looked around, confused. No one’s here?

“I don’t hear anything,” Tao whispered to no one in particular.

“Me neither,” Xiumin added, puzzled.

I swear the sound of screaming led us here. Luhan squinted, trying to find any sign of a girl. Just then, he saw something. “Wait, look over there,” he pointed at the play structure.

“I don’t see anything,” Lay muttered.

“Behind it!” Luhan hissed.

Suddenly, a man dragging a girl by her arm came into view. From far away, it could look like a dad trying to get her daughter to go home, but as the girl struggled to free herself, her screams were even louder. “No, please let go!” she begged.

“What are you guys waiting for? Hurry!” Tao yelled as he sped off towards them.

The other boys quickly followed, and as they neared, the man turned to face them. He looked like any other normal guy. Actually, he was fairly handsome: almond-shaped eyes, a sharp, high nose, and thin lips. However, he was sweating and slightly panting.

“What do you want?” he shouted, glaring at the boys.

“What do you think you’re doing to her?” Kris wasn’t intimidated by him.

The man scoffed and laughed in a rather creepy way. “Pfft, is that why? Don’t worry and just get on your way. This here is my wife,” he replied.

What? Luhan’s lips parted, surprised.

He, as well as the rest of his friends, stared at the girl, but she didn’t speak. Tears were streaming down her face uncontrollably. Her nose and cheeks were red, and Luhan noticed a slight hand-print on her left cheek.

Luhan felt his blood boil. She was slapped by him.

No one said anything, but they didn’t leave either.

“She’s trying to run away from me now that my business went bankrupt, but I’m not letting her go,” the man explained. “Wouldn’t you do the same in my situation?”

Luhan stared at the girl and she locked eyes with him. She didn’t deny what the man said, but her swollen eyes were full of fear and hurt, as if she was pleading him to help her. He’s lying.

“What are you looking at now!” the man roared, attempting to drag her away again. She quickly clung onto a part of the play structure.

“Yah! Let go of that!” the man bellowed. He let go of her hand and went over to try and pull her other hand off, but she desperately held firm. Then he proceeded to hit her arm, causing the girl to wail in pain.

That does it. Luhan ran over and shoved the man, causing him to fall. He didn’t know what got into him; it was almost an instinct.

The man was fast though, and Luhan was instantly pushed back.

The rest of his friends immediately rushed over to help him. Tao, Xiumin, and Kris held onto the man, holding him back as he struggled to lunge at Luhan once more. Chen was calling the police as Lay helped Luhan lift the girl up and calm her down. Once she stood up, she started wobbling. Just as she was about to fall, Luhan caught her and she leaned on him to stand.

“Are you alright?” he asked her.

She didn’t reply and continued to sniffle. Tears were still flooding her eyes.

“Hyung, let’s take her back to our dorm first,” Lay suggested.

“Where do you think you’re going!” the man growled, trying to free himself.

The girl flinched and quickly shut her eyes