~_____~

As planned, Lay paced around the neighborhood with a cup of fresh ddubokki in hand while Chorong sat at the bench pretending to read a magazine. Nothing seemed off just yet.

It had been at most two hours and Chorong was starting to fall asleep from boredom. It was when her eyes closed and her hold on the newspaper started to fall that she woke up to a muffled voice struggling in the distance. Chorong’s mind was a quick blur before she stared off into the distance beyond the grand oak trees that she saw a car and heads repeatedly popping from the side of the car.

“Lay!” she quickly turned to look for him.

Her eyes spanned over the winding green area around her, but he was nowhere in sight. Where had he gone!?

Chorong’s eyes widened when the cry started to die down and spun around to look for the car about 13 yards away. There was no time to waste. She could hear the car doors closing and the engine turn on.

Getting to her feet she reached to her back for the handgun she had and started running after it as it started off. Since she’d decided to do her best for this mission Chorong thought she would try to be impulsive for once. Quickly pausing she squinted her eyes for a more precise aim and pulled the trigger three or four times before one of the tires popped and the car skidded. She started running forward after the tires started screaming for mercy.

The men inside the car were preparing to make a run for it as Chorong circled to the front of the car.

“Who’s this!?” one of the men demanded when he stepped out.

Chorong’s eyes darted to the little girl tucked into the middle of the backseat and turned back to look at the men with hard eyes. Judging from their attire she assumed they were definitely men from the village. The colors of their jeans were fading pointing to the fact that they’d been worn numerous times and their dirty shirts spoke of the poverty they suffered around here.

“Let the girl go,” Chorong ordered still gripping onto her gun.

The man with a bald head in front of her smirked, “You think you’re threatening, shorty?” He then slightly turned his head back to one of the other guys and motioned his hand forward.

Chorong immediately let out a shout of pain when the gun was shot out of her hand. It landed on the ground with a thud and she turned to look back at the taunting three men in front of her.

“You don’t look like you’re from around here,” the man stated, “you’re picking a fight with the wrong crowd.”

“So what do we do with her?” one of the larger guys with a handkerchief tied around his head asked. He was of darker skin color and looked subordinated to the man in front. Just who were they? Who did they work under?

“Should we kill her?” the other one standing on the opposite side of the car asked.

Before the man in charge answered a loud shot echoed and the gun dropped from the man who’d shot Chorong’s gun away. Her head twisted and she saw Lay standing off in the distance just near the grand oak tree.

“Hey, hasn’t your mother taught you how to properly greet someone?” Lay asked.

Then man at the front frowned before Lay gestured his head to the side. Chorong turned to her right to see where her gun had landed.

“Then let us teach you what your mom didn’t,” Lay said, “shall we, Agent Park?”

Chorong half rolled down to pick the gun up and flung it into their leader’s face upon turning around. The second the gun slammed into his face Lay started shooting at the ground to alarm the others and force them away from the car. When they were far enough Chorong crawled over to the door and pulled it open.

The little inside was squealing and crying in the seat with her hands tucked over her ears. Chorong felt sorry for her.

“Come on, lets get you out.” Chorong reached her hand out.

The little girl shook her head in refusal, “You’re bad people. Leave me alone!”

“Chorong!” Lay shouted at her from behind.

Deciding that there was no time to waste Chorong hastily reached her hand out and grabbed the little girl’s shirt, but she put up a strong struggle delaying their escape. Lunging out Chorong wrapped her arms around the tiny girl before pulling her out of the car and turned around just as one of the other guys was running at her.

“Oh god!” Chorong shouted before pulling the door close and scooted across the seat to the other door.

Pushing the door open she pulled her legs out and felt her feet land against the concrete just as the other man approached her.

“That girl is mine!”

The little girl screamed in Chorong’s arms deafening her ears. With no choice Chorong shot her leg out hitting the man in his weak spot before finally escaping from the car. Lay was waiting for her a few feet away and reached his arm out to grab her arm.

“They’ve got reinforcements,” Lay told her as they started down the street.

“They’ve got what!?” Chorong turned to look at him trying to bear the screaming weight in her arms.

The little girl was a strong one. The fight she was putting up against them was tossing Chorong’s quick energy away as she fought to keep her in her grasp. Their breathless pants filled the air as they raced down the street. A middle aged woman who was tossing out her garbage screamed when she saw them and ran into her house. The few people around stared while others stepped back and that was when they neared the ddukbokki stand.

They immediately halted when the man behind the food stand set down his cooking utensil and pulled something out from his apron.

“Whoa…” Chorong muttered underneath her breath. She turned to look at Lay at a wonder of what to do, “They’re all in on us.”

~_____~

The girl in Chorong’s arms suddenly quieted. Lay glanced around to quickly gather in his surroundings and form a strategy in his mind. On his left side was the empty green area Chorong had been seated at earlier, but to his right was where the block ended. If they ran around the corner it might bring them closer to the heart of Namwon, but if there were too many people an innocent might get injured. Lay couldn’t risk that.

What to do? What to do?

“Did you lose your gun?” Lay asked slightly turning his head.

“Yea.”

“I didn’t bring an extra.”

Chorong pressed her lips together and glanced at the men nearing them from behind and the ddubokki stand owner.

“Put the girl down,” he ordered aiming the point of his gun at them. “She can’t go with you.”

“It doesn’t seem like the time to be hesitating about not having a gun,” Chorong whispered. “Something will come up.”

Lay’s eyes darted to the corner of the street, “Run!”

Slightly putting his hand on Chorong’s arm to keep her up with him they immediately dashed toward the corner of the block, the ddubokki stand owner right behind them.

“Cops! Someone call the cops!” he screamed.

People who were in the streets screamed when they dashed by without warning. There were Civics and Toyotas parked in the street and Lay almost had the urge to steal one. He almost felt sorry for the couples who were window shopping when he forcefully pushed by.

Up ahead he could see a long trail of smoke flying up into the air. They were slowly starting to reach the busier side of town and it’d be hectic with the men still chasing relentlessly.

“Someone call the cops! They’re kidnapping the kid!”

“Great…” Chorong complained from beside him.

But that wasn’t what he was worried about. He needed a way away from all these people if he wanted to do something. They were out on a mission after all and he couldn’t lose these men, who might bring them closer to Hyukjae.

“Over here!” Lay gripped onto Chorong’s arm and pulled her toward a wide alley.

A green dumpster stood in greeting before a puddle splashed underneath his shoes. Water trickled onto his pants and he slowly stopped when he saw the tall fence blocking their path. There were a bunch of wooden crates stacked in the back to one side and the yellow buildings surrounding them on both sides. Far beyond the fence was a continuing trail of the alley that would lead to the other side of the standing business block.

~_____~

“Stay here,” Chorong directed the girl as she set her behind the blockade of wooden crates. “Don’t come out until we come back for you, then we’ll find your mommy and daddy. Understand?”

The little girl eagerly nodded her head with her large teary eyes before Chorong turned around. The man who had been in charge earlier had a slight bruise across his eye where Chorong had hit him earlier. She saw a relevant anger in his eyes as he ordered the other guys to get ready to shoot.

“What are you planning to do?” Chorong asked.

“Well,” Lay said, “I’ve never actually been surrounded before.”

Chorong glanced at Lay slightly nervous.

“I don’t have anything to say, but lets just follow our instincts.”

So Lay really had no plan in mind. There wasn’t even a plan b.

Well, Chorong assumed this was when Suho might decide to face danger head on recklessly. Left with no choice she jumped onto the wooden crate beside her and kicked the crates at the front forward. The men shouted in surprise and immediately shot the crate. It broke in the air into several pieces before Chorong suddenly lunged forward onto the ddubokki stand owner.

“Chorong!” Lay screamed from behind.

Guns pointed at her, but Lay acted impulsively and shot at whoever and wherever he could while she snatched the gun out of the man’s grip. She looked up just in time to see a gun being lowered at her. Pulling the trigger of the gun she felt blood splat onto her face before rolling off to the side.

“Chorong! Your left!” Lay shouted before Chorong rolled back into her earlier position while he shot about.

When all silenced and Chorong pulled herself up she saw Lay slightly panting with his gun still held out, “Drop your gun. You’re under arrest.”

And that was when Chorong turned to see the man who had served as their leader standing beside her with a bleeding arm, his gun still dangerously sitting in his hand.

~_____~

“I wish this was a vacation,” Suho stretched his arms out when they stepped out of the hotel that morning.

He turned to look at Kris who was scanning the crowd carefully and seriously.

“Sleep well?” Suho asked.

“Where do you think we should start looking?” Kris wondered.

“Who knows,” Suho shrugged. “I don’t feel like we’re going to be very lucky here.”

Kris raised a brow, “I thought Donghae said you attract trouble.”

Suho laughed and scratched his head, “But I’ve been having so much trouble lately, maybe it’s worn off.”

“Then we can’t just do anything randomly,” Kris told.

“I guess,” Suho replied, “then lets walk around the day market. There are open shops and we could eat while doing our job.”

For about three hours they would sit, walk around, buy food, search through the stores, and repeat the process. The sun was beating down on them hard and Suho couldn’t understand the desires of the young shoppers around him to continue trekking underneath the sun. He felt like the bacak of his shirt was soaked with sweat by the time they sat for the sixth time that hour.

“I feel like I’m dying,” Suho muttered wiping the droplets off his forehead with his sleeve.

He turned to look at Kris who seemed to be eyeing a miscellaneous shop across from them before quietly getting up.

“What’s he up to this time?” Suho asked himself before he stood up to follow.

Kris was looking at some cellphone charms Suho realized.

“I didn’t know you like stuff like that,” Suho commented before looking into Kris’ face.

“I…was just glancing at it,” Kris turned embarrassed.

Suho chuckled and continued fanning himself with a piece of paper, “I’ve never seen Namjoo carry anything cute like that. It would be something if you get her to do it.”

Kris glanced at him and Suho shot Kris a smile.

“Why don’t you get one for Chorong?” Kris asked holding out a pair of two matching black ninjas dangling off a thin chain.

The smile on Suho’s face wiped itself off, “Huh?”

Kris stared at Suho blankly and the atmosphere turned slightly awkward before they heard a commotion coming from the middle of the street. Tent shops outlined both sides of the large street leaving a path in between for shoppers. When they stepped out they saw people moving off toward the sides as if backing away from some kind of imminent danger.

Forgetting about the cellphone charms they turned to glance at each other before moving out into the street to get a better view of what was happening. Two people in casual attire were currently dashing toward the stairs that served as the entrance to the day market. Suho only caught sight of the number 5 on one of the man’s shirt before he disappeared into the crowd.

“What’s going on?” Suho asked.

“Lets go check it out,” Kris suggested before moving from spot.

As Kris entered the street Suho followed suddenly forgetting about the heat of the sun that had been cooking him earlier. When they reached the streets the two men were still making their way through the crowd. Since Kris was taller he was able to make out the bobbing of their heads as they struggled through the busy crowds, and Suho followed his lead.

“I think something’s going on,” Kris whispered when he slowed.

The streetlights just turned read and motion ceased for a bit giving Suho the chance to look around. He could hear hushed voices up ahead. The tones of their voices were angry and unhappy.

Suho poked his head out from Kris’ arm to see the two men cross into an isolated alley. He and Kris followed on instinct. They only made it into the alley to see a green door closing.

A dark wind seemed to blow against them as they stood there allowing the atmosphere to sink in before they walked toward the two short stone stairs. Suho peered around as Kris opened the door and glanced inside.

“What?” Suho questioned when he heard Kris let out a gasp.

Grabbing a hold of the door to open it wider to make room for him Suho squeezed in before his eyes slightly widened.

There was an empty factory in front of him. The dirty brown walls reflected against the grime on the walls telling him that the place had been used for illegal keeping. A caged fan was spinning from the top of the ceiling and it allowed a soft breeze to drift into their faces as their eyes ran along the abandoned beds and blankets that had been cramped up along the floor.

“What the hell…” Kris muttered when he stepped in.

There was a stench of human waste and a leftover smell of human bodies and . Suho’s face crumpled up upon the weird taste spewing up his nose.

“Did they keep the girls here?” Suho asked disgusted.

“As if there’s no evidence that said they weren’t here,” Kris stated. “What the hell did they do here?”

Suho’s eyes ran themselves over the ground only imagining the worst of torture and abuse that had taken place here. Suddenly human trafficking seemed much worse than he’d ever known it to be. It wasn’t just a simple crime anymore, but a dehumanizing act.

His heart went out to the girls who had suffered here and wondered how many of them didn’t even want to live anymore. His insides tensed up in heated anger before he stepped in after Kris, but it was a wrong move on his part. Or perhaps it had been what they’d been waiting for the whole day.         

As the door slammed shut behind him footsteps rushed out of a room they hadn’t seen above them.

“Who’s there!?” a voice bellowed.

Another pair of footsteps ensued and the two looked up to see the men they’d seen running out of the market earlier.

“Looks like you’ve done your job today,” Kris commented, his hand reaching for the gun tucked at his back. 

***Surprise update! ^^

***Everyone's going to be getting some action. Of course TaoJoo and HaeToria are next! 

***Chorong and Lay did a good job here, didn't they?