Chapter 14: The Next Step

Seulgi stood in front of her two friends, her eyes narrowed and arms crossed.

“You’re together?” Seulgi asked, glaring.

Wendy and Irene nodded their heads as they looked down at the ground.

“Like dating…together,” Seulgi confirmed.

They nodded again.

Seulgi tapped her foot, causing the two to glance at each other. They were worried about how Seulgi might react to the news, and considering that it’s already been a full day since they’ve told her, they knew that she’d be furious.

“When?” Seulgi asked.

“Just…yesterday…” Irene whispered.

“Yesterday…?”

“Umm…you know...it’s kind of hard to figure out the details…” Irene avoided.

Seulgi looked over at Wendy, who was trying hard not to look back.

“So Wendy…after a whole week of not hearing from you, you suddenly show up, and you magically become Irene’s girlfriend?”

Wendy blushed.

“I-it’s not her fault! She had to take care of her cousin…” Irene defended.

Seulgi tackled Irene onto her bed and started to whine.

“It’s not fair~!!!” Seulgi cried as a shocked Irene was pinned down.

“W-what are you talking about?” Irene pushed Seulgi off.

Seulgi proceeded to kneel down next to Wendy.

“TEACH ME!!” Seulgi shouted while grabbing onto Wendy’s hands. Wendy was speechless for a while, until a hand came down onto Seulgi’s head.

“Dummy! We thought you were mad at us!” Irene shouted, but sighed in relief.

“I never thought you’d get to be with someone before me…” Seulgi said, rubbing her head.

“I’m sorry we didn’t tell you sooner Seulgi…” Wendy said, shyly.

“Ah I don’t care about that. As long as you both are happy, then I’m happy,” Seulgi smiled, receiving a big hug from Irene.

Wendy and Irene called Seulgi that morning, saying they had to meet up. After Seulgi arrived at Irene’s house, she was surprised to see Wendy with her. Eventually, the explanation came through.

After the news, Seulgi decided to go back home, though not without some questions.

“How’d you do it?” Seulgi whispered to Wendy while Irene was still upstairs.

“W-what?” Wendy nervously responded.

“How’d you get a girl like Irene? So many people have tried!” Seulgi was appalled.

“I…I don’t…” Wendy blushed, afraid to answer.

“Alright Seulgi, get out.” Irene said, pushing her friend from behind.

Seulgi signaled Wendy to text her, and the door closed in her face. Irene stood by the door, looking over at Wendy, both of them looking happier.

“Did you expect her to be that accepting?” Wendy asked, sitting on the couch.

“Seulgi’s…a bit of an enigma when it comes to her…interests. I know she obsesses over guys on TV, but I’ve heard her make more comments about girls at school. I really have no clue, but I guess she really doesn’t have a preference,” Irene answered.

Irene hugged Wendy from the side, startling her.

“But I’m glad she accepts us…” Irene whispered.

Wendy hugged her back, feeling her warmth.

“Me too.”

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“Give us a minute, okay?” Joy said, pulling Wendy away from Irene back into Joy’s room.

She closed the door.

“Are you insane!?” Joy remarked.

“What!?” Wendy said, covering Joy’s mouth, hoping Irene didn’t hear it.

“You’re together now!? That is the exact opposite of what I told you to do!!” Joy mumbled through Wendy’s hand.

“Why can’t you just be happy for me!?” Wendy complained.

“Because you’re putting yourself, and her in danger!” Joy countered.

“I can take care of myself, and I will definitely take care of her.”

“So what, are you just gonna quit your night job and spend all your time with her now?”

“No! I’ll figure it out okay? Just please, this is…important to me.”

Joy glared at Wendy.

“Do you love her?”

Wendy’s eyes grew wide at the sudden question.

“I…”

Joy stepped closer to Wendy’s face.

“Do you. Love. Her?” Joy repeated.

Wendy made a slight nod and blushed as Joy walked towards the door.

“Okay then,” Joy accepted.

“Th-that’s it?” Wendy was suspicious.

“I know you well enough, Unnie. I know that you want revenge on the people that killed your family, but you always put your loved ones first.”

Joy continued.

“That’s the only reason I’m still alive today. So I trust you.”

Joy opened the door without another word, while Wendy tried to process what just happened.

Irene looked up nervously as Joy stood in front of her.

“Watch over her for me, okay?” Joy asked, with a serious face.

Irene nodded immediately, a sincere look in her eyes.

Joy smiled, “Good.”

Wendy came back out of the room, seeing a serious-faced Irene sitting there, looking at the ground. Joy was back at her computer, acting like nothing happened.

“What did she say?” Wendy whispered.

Irene grabbed Wendy’s hand, “Nothing, let’s go.”

Irene grabbed Wendy’s hand and led her to the door. Joy made a final glance behind her as the two blonde girls left, and smiled.

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“Here,” Jung-Min tossed a couple of photos onto Mr. Choi’s desk.

The principal picked up the photos of the girls, and closely scanned through them.

“Good. Have you found anything yet?” The principal asked, looking at Jung-Min.

“Nothing yet.” Jung-Min sat down and crossed his legs over the principal’s desk.

“You know,” the principal hit his feet off and stood up, “it’s been a few weeks now, and I’m seeing a lack of information from these two.”

The principal threw down the photos of Irene and Wendy.

“Why is that?” The principal leaned over towards Jung-Min.

“I’m working on it,” Jung-Min spat.

“Oh, well then, that’s fine.”

The principal hit Jung-Min in the face, knocking him over onto the floor. Jung-Min tried to get up, only to be kicked in the stomach.

“You know…the people that you…we work for,” The principal pulled Jung-Min up and shoved him against the wall, “won’t appreciate it if we don’t do our jobs.”

Jung-Min whimpered in pain as the principal dropped him back onto the floor.

“So do your job, Jung-Min.”

The principal walked back over to his desk and straightened his jacket. Jung-Min crawled back up and stood there, face aiming towards the ground.

“I assume you understand who your targets are?” The principal smirked.

Jung-Min nodded without a word.

“You don’t want me to treat you like I treat them…do you?” The principal walked back over to Jung-Min, rubbing his hands against the light bruise on his face.

Jung-Min shook in fear.

“No…of course not…” The principal whispered, dropping his hand down and opening the door.

“Go home Jung-Min…you’ll need some rest for tomorrow night.”

Jung-Min turned and slowly walked out the door.

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|Three girls have gone missing since earlier last week…police are advising that parents keep their children from going out alone at night…still no news on the girl’s disappearances…|

“What’s going on recently…?” Irene’s hand shook.

Wendy held it, comforting Irene, “I don’t know, but there’s definitely something going on.”

Wendy sat next to Irene in her living room, turning off the TV after hearing the shocking news. It took every ounce of Wendy’s strength to stop herself from exploding with anger.

“Are you okay?” Irene asked, feeling Wendy’s grip tighten.

Wendy nodded, letting go of Irene’s hand.

“Will you be okay alone tonight?” Wendy asked.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine.” Irene said, rubbing her back.

 “I’m sorry I can’t stay tonight…I think my cousin might need me…”

“It’s okay, I understand you can’t stay every night. But are you sure you don’t want me to go with you? After what we just heard…” Irene looked down at Wendy’s leg.

“I’ll be fine, I promise. I live just down there, right?” Wendy convinced Irene.

Wendy and Irene went to the door, the night sky looked more threatening after what they just heard.

“I’ll see you at school tomorrow,” Wendy smiled.

Irene kissed Wendy, softly on the lips.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Irene whispered, gently holding onto Wendy’s hand.

Wendy left after making sure Irene went back inside, and called Joy.

“Joy, did you see the news?” Wendy asked, walking home.

“Yeah, those three girls? I’m already on it.”

“Find out anything?”

“Well they’re all high school students from different schools around this area. It’s possible that the person who kidnapped them knew about it.”

“High school students? Any from my school?”

“No, but I’d expect there to be. People like this don’t just stop after making the news. They’ve kidnapped three girls within a couple weeks. That doesn’t sound like someone who’s worried they’re gonna get caught.”

“Have you found any footage of the girls before they disappeared?”

“Aside from the footage they showed on the news? No. Nothing.”

“Alright keep trying, I’m on my way home.”

“Not staying at Irene’s?” Joy was a bit shocked.

“She’s safe. There are bigger problems right now.”

“I’ll see you later then.”

 Wendy hung up and started to slowly run home. Her ankle was no longer hurting, but the pain in her thigh was still there. As long as she controlled herself, she was able to stop it from tearing again.

Joy updated Wendy on the situation after she arrived home.

“There’s something you should know,” Joy pulled up the reports.

“What is it?” Wendy asked.

“Each girl was taken late at night, probably around 10 or 11. But all three were reported missing on the same day.”

“Which means that they were all taken that very same night.”

Joy nodded, “The strangest thing is, that the girls weren’t all together that night. Most likely, there’s a group of people at work here.”

Wendy looked down at her leg, confirming her abilities.

“I can make it out there next weekend.”

“By then, another group of girls might be gone.”

“You’re right, I can’t go out there like this. I won’t be able to help them.”

“Is that coming from you, or from Irene?” Joy glanced at Wendy.

“Both.”

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Mr. Choi picked up a call.

“Hello?”

“Hello Mr. Choi.”

“Mr. Park! Yes, is there anything you need sir?”

“Have you found the girl?”

“No, not yet sir, b-but I have it in good hands.” Mr. Choi nervously replied.

“I did not give you this job if I didn’t think you could handle it.”

“Of course sir! Thank you, sir.”

“I assume you know nothing of the three girls that have gone missing.”

“No sir, I don’t.”

“And your…pet?”

“I’ve eliminated his desires, sir. He will be providing us with the services we need.”

“Good. Do not disappoint me, Mr. Choi.”

Mr. Park hung up and collecting the things on his desk.

“You know that he’s lying…sir?” Winston commented.

“His actions may cost him dearly, but if we confront him now, we won’t receive the information we need.” Mr. Park responded.

“And if he becomes…a liability?” Winston helped Mr. Park open the door.

“Then we kill him.”

Mr. Park smiled as he waved at his employees, who were bowing down deeply towards him. Winston walked by his side, and exited the building with him.

“Mr. President,” a voice called from behind him, “a man left this at the front desk for you.”

The receptionist handed him a small box.

“Thank you,” Mr. Park replied, letting the young girl go.

Mr. Park and Winston entered the car and made their way through the city.

“Sir,” Winston asked, “what is that?”

“The next step, Winston.”

They arrived at an abandoned warehouse at the edge of the city. The placed was empty and musky, and several voices could be heard from inside. Winston pulled open the rusty door, and Mr. Park walked towards the center of the warehouse, where a bloodied man was sitting down, being beaten by suits.

“Sir!” The three man bowed deeply at Mr. Park, who held the small box in his hand as he walked over to the dazed man.

“Please…I don’t…I don’t know anything else…” the man drooled blood and cried.

Mr. Park opened the small box, and pulled out a pistol, pointing it directly at the man’s head.

“NO! NO I DON’T-“

The shot echoed inside the warehouse as the three suits pulled the lifeless body away, and Winston handed Mr. Park a handkerchief. 

“Was he the last one?” Mr. Park wiped the blood off his face.

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Clean this up, and make sure he disappears.”

“The shipments, sir?”

“He was the last person that had doubts about our products. The shipments can now be made, uninterrupted.”

Winston bowed deeply as Mr. Park went back outside, into his car.