Jessica's POV

The door slammed shut with a loud bang.
Nicole and I turned back for a spilt second before focusing back on what's infront of them.

They walked, back against back just incase anything pops out behind them.

"Welcome, my dearest prosecutors"

A voice boomed through the public announcement system in this seemingly dark area.
Im so surprised that it being abandoned for years, the public announcement system are still working perfectly well.

But whose voice is this?

"Who are you?"
«coughs»

Nicole turned to me with a cautious look.
She looked as if she didn't expect me to even reply to that seemingly dead voice.

"Well well"
"Who do i have here?"
"What an honor, Jessica Jung"
"For now, you've not disappoint me"
"I've been expecting you"

An evil chuckle was heard after his last word.

"What do you want?"
«coughs»
"Hand Yoona over to us right now!"

"Hand?"
"Im actually getting a little bored from your slow movements"
"Or is it that you guys are actually not as good as what you guys seem like it?"
«coughs»

What on earth is he trying say?
Are we good or not, that's not the main point now right?

Yoona's is in danger.

"Just pass Yoona to us and we'll leave!" 

Nicole shouted out and swiftly fired her gun in the air.

"Hey! Wha-"
«coughs»

"You sick killer!"
"Better hand Yoona over and not play any games with us!"

That was a wrong move Nicole..
Now i know, i know why Soo made Yoona to be her assistant and not you.
«coughs»

Nicole, you're hot-headed.

"Woah"
"That was harsh, isn't it?"
"Since you want the harsh way, i'll get it to you!"

A click was heard and the whole area lit up.
Infront of us, looks like a maze.

«coughs»
But I can't exactly see through the way out given the plants growing over the maze,
blocking my view.

"What exactly do you want from us?!"

Nicole shouted again, desperate.

"If you can solve this whole game within 15 minutes"
"You'll get to see Im Yoona"
"If not, say bye to Im Yoona, as well as your Tiffany Hwang"
"Jessica Jung"

Tiffany?!
NO.
Never.

You can't.
You can't touch her.

NO.

"NO!-"
«coughs»
"I'll never let you touch her!"

"Look look, our dear Jessica is sick, isn't she?"
"But.."
"Are you lacking of that much confidence that you'll lose this game, Jessica?"

Lacking of confidence, no of course!
I promised to keep Tiff safe.
I promised to bring Yoona back.

I will keep those promises.
I will.

"Of course not!"
«coughs»

"Let me remind you girls again"
"The clock is still ticking.."
"And let me see.."
"Two minutes has passed?"

You're mean.

"Nicole, stay behind me"
"I'll look at the maze first"
"We've to get past it fast"

I told Nicole and ran forward towards the maze,
with Nicole following behind.

But im constantly gasping for air.
This is no good.

15 minutes is short.
I've to make full use of it.

Think Jessi think!
Now it's not the time for whatever headache!

After looking around for a few minutes, 
I held onto Nicole's hands and led her running out of the maze.
Thinking that i've completed the so-called game.

But no.

Why are you being so hard on me?

"What.."

Nicole stared at the river infront of her with wide shocked eyes.

"Congratulations for passing the maze"
"Well, it's one of the easiest i've set"
"Now, this before you have two more to go"

"Quick, we have to go!"

Nicole urged me to moved forward.
I stared at the rocks connecting to the other side of the river.
I know, i know something is wrong.

But before i could stop Nicole, she had her feets onto a rock and it grabbed onto her feet,
started sinking in.

"NO WAIT!"
«coughs»
"DON'T!"

The rock stopped sinking in while Nicole busied herself, 
trying to get out of the locks on her feet.

"You want to save her?"
"How ambitious are you, Jessica Jung?"
"You want to save Yoona, Tiffany and even her?"
"Who is she to you?"

Why are you doing this?
Arent you the sick killer?
Why not just kill me and let the rest go?

«coughs»
Im sick and tired.
I just want to close my eyes, and not think of anything.

"Why can't i save her?"
"We're a team"
«coughs»

"Team?"
"Why do you need someone who is hot-headed"
"And doesn't think before she act?"
"Isn't she a burden?"

"I've never once considered my teammates a burden"
«coughs»
"Tell me, what do you want before you can release her?"

There was a short moment of silence before the voice continued.

"Hmm.."
"It's been so long since i've last done a good deed"
"I want to do one"

You're a sick killer.
And you want to do a good deed now?

Just by releasing us all is a good deed.
Why not you do it now?

"By releasing us, you'll be doing a good deed"

I voiced out, knowing that it is going to be redundant.

"Uh-uh-uh"
"Recently, i realised that there is a shortage of blood type B"
"Would you do the honour by donating SOME of your blood?"

Again, the voice ended with that eerie chuckle,
emphasizing on the word - 'SOME'.

"If you promise to release Nicole"
"I'll do it!"
«coughs»

There isn't much time to lose.
No more.

"Very well"

«coughs»
Within seconds, people in black came running out of nowhere.
In their hands, a blood transfusion machine.

"Here's a map of the whole game"
"You might want to talk to your teammate awhile before she heads on the game without you"
"And Nicole, my dear Nicole"

«coughs»

"What?!"

Nicole snapped angrily.

"Let me tell you"
"Now you're playing with a stake of three lives"
"Im Yoona, Tiffany Hwang and Jessica Jung"
"We're gonna take her blood until you finishes this whole game"

"WHAT?!"
"STOP IT"
"You're too sick!"

Ohmygod.
I hope what im hearing aint true.
But it is true.

"You're right"
"Im sick"
"What can you do about it?"
"Find me, capture me and send me to a mental institute?"

"I WILL"

"Be my guest"
"Just a reminder, 9 minutes left"

9 minutes?
I quickly picked up the map and looked at it.

But was interupted by a rough pair of hands grabbing onto mine,
and roughly pushing the thick needle into my vein despite the slight leak of blood oozing out of my hands.

Im sure i let out a soft wince.

No wait.
It's not the time to be concerned over myself.

I need to help Nicole as well as myself.

The map.
I knew it.
This..

I've seen this puzzle somewhere before..

"Nicole!"
«coughs»

I shouted for her to come over.
Nicole ran over to me with a puzzled expression.

"Nicole, i need you to run non-stop"
"As fast as you can, and not miss nor mix anything im going to say up okay?"

«coughs»
My head is getting lightheaded.
Is this the usual blood transfusion speed..?

Or is it faster than usual?

Nicole nodded seriously.

"Listen, the river ahead of you"
"It has a trap"
«coughs»
"You have to step on the rocks in such order"
"Left 3 rocks, right 3 rocks, straight 3 rocks and again till you reaches the other side"
"You get me?"
"Never mix it up"
«coughs»
"Even if the ending rock is the an even number like two or so"
"Just go according to the pattern"
"Never mix it up"

"Okay"

«coughs»
"And when you reach the other side"
"There will be three doors infront of you"
"Instead of opening the one right infront of you"
«coughs»
"Move to your very left door and go in by that"
"You should be able to reach there"

"Okay"
"I'll remember it"

"Okay, go now!"

And with that, after giving Nicole the instructions,
my legs turned wobbily as i held onto the blood transfusion machine for support.

"Getting weak huh?"

The voice taunted me.

Isn't it all your fault that im getting weak?!

I shook my head a little.

"Don't you think you're going a little too far?"
«coughs»

"Well, im sure you can easily pull the needle out"
"Don't you?"

Do you take me as some dumb fool?

«coughs»
"Do i look that stupid to you?"
"Do i not know that you'll eventually kill Nicole, and the rest if i were to break my promise?"

"Well, you're really smart"
"It's a pity you're not working for me, Jessica"
"If only you are, we would be perfect"

«coughs»
"I don't"
"I don't work with a devil"
«coughs»

"That's just sad"

Then, the silence came again.
The people in black still stood there stiff, watching me.

Few minutes later, i heard a few loud banging on the doors.
It must have been the rest of the team.

My visions started blurring.
No, please.
Now is not the time.

Please, my body.
Please don't give up on my now.

Before i could react, the room turned black and i heard a few loud thuds around me.
Quick shuffling of feets neared me.

"Jessica-sshi?"

It is.
It is the team.

"Im here.."
«coughs»
"Turn on.. the torch.."

A bright beam of light shone into my eyes.
It hurts.

"Go get Nicole first.."

"Nicole and Yoona is already in the car"
"We're here for you Jessica-sshi"

The others said as they placed me over one of the guy's back,
and brought me out.

I let out a soft sigh as i felt the sense of security over me.

Im really tired, worn out.
But i promised.
I promised to meet Tiff.

I can't close my eyes now.
I can't.

As soon as i got onto the car with Yoona, unconsciously leaning against the door while Nicole in the driver's seat.

"Jessica, are you okay?"

Nicole turned to me with a worried expression.

«coughs»
I gave her a weak nod.

"Start the engine.."
"Send Yoona.. to the hospital.."
«coughs»
"Call.. Soo.."

"We'll send you two to the hospital"

Nicole corrected me.
No.

Tiff will be worried if she still doesn't see me.
I have to get back.

"No.."
«coughs»
"I need to go back to.. the office.."
«coughs»

"But look at you now!"

Nicole exclaimed as she drove off, with the bluetooth headset over her ear.

"Im fi-"

I stopped when i heard Nicole talking on the phone.

"Sooyoung unnie"
"It's me, Nicole"

"..."
"..."

"Yes"
"We've found Yoona but she is unconscious"
"We're sending her to the hospital now"

"..."
"..."

"No, but she-"

"..."
"..."

"Okay, i'll come over and pick you up"

Seconds later, Nicole took her bluetooth set out of her ear.

«coughs»
What's wrong with me..?
Why is everything getting so blurry?

Im feeling so cold and tired.

"Nicole..?"
"Can.. i borrow your.. phone..?"

I had this feeling.
I needed to drop Tiff a call.
I needed to.

I need to hear her voice.
I need to her her voice to make sure she's safe.

"Sure, here"

Nicole tossed her phone to me.
Picking it up, i tapped on it lightly and brought it up to my ears.

It rang for a few seconds before the angelic voice filled my ears.

"Tiff..?"

"Jessi?!"
"Is that you?!"
"Where are you now?!"
"You've been gone for 8 hours!"
"Are you really having a meeting with Sooyoung?!"

Tiff.
Why are you bombarding me with so much questions?
Which do you want me to answer first?

«coughs»

"I demand you to come back right now Jessi!"

Tiff's voice sounded so strict and firm.
I am Tiff.
Im coming back.

«coughs»
"Im on my way.. back.."
"Can you come down.. to the lobby but stay.. inside till you see a.. red Mazda driving in..?"
"Call for a cab.. too.."
«coughs»
"We'll go home together.."
"Okay..?"

"Right away"
"Im gonna call the cab now!"

"Okay.."
"Tiff.. don't.."
«coughs»
"Don't ever exit.. the lobby until you.. see the car.."
"Reme-"

The line just went dead.
Impatient, aren't you Tiff?

I let out a smile as i passed the phone back to Nicole.
Within 15 minutes, Sooyoung was standing outside the lobby while Tiffany came running out.

I stepped out of the car slowly and Sooyoung stormed over to me.

"JESSICA JUNG!"
"I thought you promised!"
"You promised to bring her back safe and sound?!"
"Why is she unconscious?!"
"Why?!"

Sooyoung boomed, her hands grabbing onto my arms tightly and strongly,
shaking me so hard that i had a short moment of blacking out.

Soo..
Im really not in the best condition now..
Please, just stop it.

I know you're worried.
Hospital..
Bring her to the hospital first..

Tiff however came over to my side and held onto me.
Hands all over my body with worried expression.

"Jessi"
"What happened?!"
"Why are you burning up like this?!"

«coughs»
"Im sorry.. Soo.."
"Bring her.."
"Bring Yoona to the.. hospital first.."
«coughs»

Tiffany then pushed Sooyoung aside.

"STOP SHAKING MY JESSI!"
"She helped you?!"
"She went out to help you?!"

Tiffany is shouting Sooyoung with fury eyes now.

Tiff..
Stop.
Please.
«coughs»

Sooyoung doesn't want to be like this either.

"Go and send your precious Yoona to the hospital and leave Jessi alone!"

«coughs»
"Tiff.."
"Stop.." 
«coughs»

I whispered softly, holding onto Nicole's car for support.

"JESSICA JUNG EXPLAIN YOURSELF!"

Sooyoung stormed over and before i know it, 
i felt a huge pressure over my nose and there im lying on the ground.

Soo..
Did you just.. punch me..?

I can't believe it..
«coughs»
A thick liquid streaming out of my nose.
Giving it a light rub, my fingers were tainted with thick bright red liquid.
Tiff gasped.
«coughs»

"Who are you to punch Jessi?!"

Tiffany hissed in anger as she walked over to Sooyoung and glared at her with fury eyes.

"SHE BROKE HER PROMISE!"
"SHE BROKE HER DAMN PROMISE AS A BEST FRIEND!"

«coughs»

"YOU SAID SHES YOUR BEST FRIEND!"
"DID YOU EVEN TAKE A LOOK AND SHOW SOME CONCERN AT YOUR BEST FRIEND?!"
"DID YOU?!"

Tiff..
Just stop it..
Please..


"IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU DON'T"
"BUT WHO ARE YOU TO HIT HER LIKE THIS?!"
"YOU LOVE YOONA, WE KNOW"
"WE KNOW!"

«coughs»

"SO GET YOUR TO THE HOSPITAL AND LEAVE JESSI ALONE!"
"SHE HAS SOMEONE WHO LOVES HER AND WILL PROTECT HER LIKE WHO YOU ARE TO YOONA!"
"CHOI SOOYOUNG, REMEBER MY WORDS!"

Tiff..
This is the.. first time..
I've heard such words coming out from you..
«coughs»
I've never heard it in the past..
It had always been me..

Soo stood there in a daze before Nicole gave the window a knock.
Swiftly getting into the car after hearing Nicole's knock, Tiff and I were left here, alone.

«coughs»
My eyelids are falling and i felt a pair of warm arms wrapped around my waist,
pulling me up and a warm support was beside me.

«coughs»
The scent.

"Jessi, i'll bring you to the hospital"
"Okay?"
"Just bear with it now"

Hospital..?
No, i don't want to visit one.

«coughs»
"No.."
"Please, Tiff.."
"Just bring me home.."
«coughs»

"How can i bring you home when you're so sick!"
"You need medical help!"

"Please.."
«coughs»
"Tiff, please-"

I guess..
Im really tired.

Nicole's POV

"Nicole, i need you to run non-stop"
"As fast as you can, and not miss nor mix anything im going to say up okay?"

«coughs»

I shouldn't..
I shouldn't have acted on my own without thinking..

It's all my fault that i've landed her in trouble.
In danger.

Nicole, you said you wanted to keep a distant away from her.
You know she has someone in mind.
But what's happening now?

You're supposed to protect your love and not get her in trouble because of you, Nicole!

I nodded seriously as Jessica briefed me on the whole puzzle.
Im the key person now.
I can't.
I can't make any more mistakes now.
I can't afford to.

"Listen, the river ahead of you"
"It has a trap"
«coughs»
"You have to step on the rocks in such order"
"Left 3 rocks, right 3 rocks, straight 3 rocks and again till you reaches the other side"
"You get me?"
"Never mix it up"
«coughs»
"Even if the ending rock is the an even number like two or so"
"Just go according to the pattern"
"Never mix it up"

Jessica..
Im so sorry.
I know you're sick.
I know.

But you're here going through so much just for Sooyoung and Yoona.
They must be glad to have a friend like you.

"Okay"

«coughs»
"And when you reach the other side"
"There will be three doors infront of you"
"Instead of opening the one right infront of you"
«coughs»
"Move to your very left door and go in by that"
"You should be able to reach there"

"Okay"
"I'll remember it"

"Okay, go now!"

I followed Jessica's instructions and successfully crossed the next two obstacle in time.
Entering a room, Yoona was tied onto a wooden chair,
mouth muffled up with a black clothes unconsciously.

"Yoona-sshi?"
"Can you hear me?"

I heard a soft mumur.

"Are you okay?"

I asked again, trying to untie the ropes around her before putting her over my back,
carrying her out of the place.

Lying her back on the car before instructing my other groupmates to go get Jessica.
Jessica, please be alright.

Tiffany's waiting for you.

But looking at Yoona, she seemed so tramautized.
Sobbing in her sleep.

15 minutes later, Jessica got carried out and into the car by my teammates.
She looks really pale and weak.

"Jessica, are you okay?"

«coughs»

I know she's feeling awful.
But yet she gave me a nod to make me feel better on the inside.

Why are you always considering someone before you, Jessica?

"Start the engine.."
"Send Yoona.. to the hospital.."
«coughs»
"Call.. Soo.."

"We'll send you two to the hospital"

No.
You and Yoona will be going.
Not just Yoona.

You look more serious, Jessica.

"No.."
«coughs»
"I need to go back to.. the office.."
«coughs»

"But look at you now!"

I then drove off, putting on the bluetooth headset over my ear.

"Im fi-"

"Sooyoung unnie"
"It's me, Nicole"

"NICOLE?!"
"HAVE YOU FOUND YOONA?!"

"Yes"
"We've found Yoona but she is unconscious"
"We're sending her to the hospital now"

"Hospital?!"
"What?! Why?!"
"Sica promised me she'll bring her back safely for me!"
"How can she break her promise to keep herself safe?!"

She didn't Sooyoung unnie..
She didn't..

"No, but she-"

"Forget it!"
"Come over to the office and pick me up before sending Yoona to the hospital"
"I want to be with Yoona"

Why did you cut me off..?
Didn't even let me explain about Jessica..

"Okay, i'll come over and pick you up"

Right after i end the call, i took the bluetooth headset out and threw it aside in frustration.

«coughs»

I took a small peak at the mirror.
Jessica is shivering and coughing so badly.

What is wrong, Jessica?

Just then, her angelic voice filled my ears.
It's been quite some time since i last heard her voice and even talked to her because i knew we will never end up together.

For now, i'll just continue loving her.
Loving her until i find someone whom i truly love.
Not saying i don't truly love Jessica but someone whom i can fall in love with.

"Nicole..?"
"Can.. i borrow your.. phone..?"

"Sure, here"

I tossed the phone to her.

"Tiff..?"

"..."
"..."

Yes.
You have Tiffany.

You'll be much better off with her.
Im right.

«coughs»

"..."
"..."

«coughs»
"Im on my way.. back.."
"Can you come down.. to the lobby but stay.. inside till you see a.. red Mazda driving in..?"
"Call for a cab.. too.."
«coughs»
"We'll go home together.."
"Okay..?"

"..."
"..."

"Okay.."
"Tiff.. don't.."
«coughs»
"Don't ever exit.. the lobby until you.. see the car.."
"Reme-"

So concerned over Tiffany, aren't you Jessica?
We arrived back here, the office within 15 minutes.

Sooyoung unnie is already outside waiting impatiently while Tiffany came running out of the lobby.
Guess she listened to Jessica well.

Jessica slowly step out of the car, staggering a little.
Her condition is really worrying..

"JESSICA JUNG!"
"I thought you promised!"
"You promised to bring her back safe and sound?!"
"Why is she unconscious?!"
"Why?!"

I overheard the shoutings while waiting for Sooyoung unnie to get on the car.
What shocked me was Sooyoung unnie grabbed onto Jessica so tightly and shaking her so violently that it shocked me.

I never thought Sooyoung unnie would do something like this to her best friend despite any condition.

I wanted to go over and help Jessica up.

But..

Tiffany went over to her side before me.
Hands all over her with a worried expression.

"Jessi"
"What happened?!"
"Why are you burning up like this?!"

«coughs»
"Im sorry.. Soo.."
"Bring her.."
"Bring Yoona to the.. hospital first.."
«coughs»

You don't have to be sorry, Jessica.
You don't.

You've tried your best.
Plus, we don't even know if Yoona had just passed out because of dehydration or something even lighter.

Tiffany then pushed Sooyoung unnie aside.

"STOP SHAKING MY JESSI!"
"She helped you?!"
"She went out to help you?!"

My Jessi..?

Tiffany shouted at Sooyoung unnie with fury eyes now.

«coughs»

"Go and send your precious Yoona to the hospital and leave Jessi alone!"

«coughs»

Jessica seemed to be whispering something so Tiffany.
I can't hear it.
Too soft.

«coughs»

"JESSICA JUNG EXPLAIN YOURSELF!"

SOOYOUNG UNNIE JUST PUNCHED JESSICA?!

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?!

TOO FAST.
TOO FAST.

BUT HOW COULD YOU, SOOYOUNG UNNIE?!

«coughs»

Look at that amount of blood oozing out of her nose Sooyoung unnie.
You've got no idea how much blood she had lost earlier on.

Sooyoung unnie..
Please.

«coughs»

"Who are you to punch Jessi?!"

Tiffany hissed in anger as she walked over to Sooyoung unnie and glared at her with fury eyes.

"SHE BROKE HER PROMISE!"
"SHE BROKE HER DAMN PROMISE AS A BEST FRIEND!"

She didn't.
Im sure she didn't.

But im in no position to interfere.
Im just a mere co-worker of theirs.

«coughs»

"YOU SAID SHES YOUR BEST FRIEND!"
"DID YOU EVEN TAKE A LOOK AND SHOW SOME CONCERN AT YOUR BEST FRIEND?!"
"DID YOU?!"
"IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU DON'T"
"BUT WHO ARE YOU TO HIT HER LIKE THIS?!"
"YOU LOVE YOONA, WE KNOW"
"WE KNOW!"

«coughs»

"SO GET YOUR TO THE HOSPITAL AND LEAVE JESSI ALONE!"
"SHE HAS SOMEONE WHO LOVES HER AND WILL PROTECT HER LIKE WHO YOU ARE TO YOONA!"
"CHOI SOOYOUNG, REMEBER MY WORDS!

Sooyoun unnie stood there in a daze before i gave the window a knock.
Swiftly getting into the car after hearing my knock.

"How is she?"
"Is she okay?!"
"Where did you find her?!"
"Have you caught the killer?!"

Unnie..
You didn't even bother about your best friend.
Now you're bombarding me with so many questions.

Which one do you expect me to answer first?
You're not worried for Jessica but i am, unnie..


A/N: Conversations are in BLUE, flashbacks conversations are in TURQUOISE while the conversations being overheard will be in LIGHT BLUE.

HELLO PEOPLE!
UPDATE UPDATE!

Hahas, this is why Nicole has stopped talking to Jessica for some time.
She has a crush on our princess!

Aww.
Tiffany is so sweet to Jessica, scolding Sooyoung for her.

SURFERS YOU HEAR THEIR LOVE NOW?!

UH-UH.
SOOYOUNG PUNCHED OUR ICE PRINCESS.
SURFERS GO AFTER HER!

IM JUST KIDDING!

I'll be updating soon.
My exams officially end on 19 Feb.
So..

Expect more frequent update after 19 Feb people!

I'll slowly leak the love between Nicole, how it started.
And, of course not forgetting Tiffany's musical career.

Plus, Jessica's phobia in driving.
Remember?

SUBSCRIBE, COMMENT and WAIT.
You'll know the truth people!(: