Author's note: HEY EVERYONE! I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend, gaaah~ I'm so sorry for the late update. It's been crazy busy and I've been editing videos for my youtube channel! I really do respect those youtubes who upload videos daily, even every day! Editing takes up a lot of time and it's not as easy as people expect! MAD RESPECT! Anyways, the weather is starting to get chilly and WINTER IS COMING! Time to bust out the heavy jackets and scarfs- I prefer cold weather than hot weather...Kinda like Hitsugaya! Puahaha- OH, I almost forgot this week is HALLOWEEN! I can't believe its already Halloween, soon it'll be Thanksgiving...Christmas and news years once more. GAAAAH! TIME NEEDS TO SLOW DOWN! Sorry for freaking out there, I better go refill on my tea. Anyways, I hope you all enjoy your Halloween week and if you plan to go out on Halloween, BE SAFE! Stay in large groups and make sure to go trick or treat where there are LOTS of people! Happy Halloween everyone and as always...STAY AWESOMEEEE! **Please NO FLAMES**
*HUGE shout outs for my readers who followed and added me to their favorites!:
Chatamouse, Ruqa707 & Fem-Hawaii-Hokulani-Jones
Disclaimer: I do NOT own MYSTIC MESSENGER or any of its characters.
"Talking" 'Thinking' "Memories"
Chapter 15: Safe
By: Hitsuhinax1
She sat there quietly in front of a white silk covered table with beautiful expensive white matching tableware. In front of her was a plate of premium steak cooked to medium-rare and side of steamed vegetables. Rather enjoying such high-quality food, she sat there staring with empty colorless eyes. Her eyes puffy from crying so much earlier in the day as she was taken away from her love by force.
A dark-haired man approached her side holding a bottle of red wine and began pouring in the crystal wine glass "This was a great year for this wine..." he said filling the glass but, she sat there quietly without a response.
He took his seat across from her and began pouring himself a glass of wine. Taking a sip of the wine, he looked at the brown haired girl who hasn't touched her food yet "Perhaps tonight menu isn't to your liking? Would you like me to request something else for you from the chef?" he asked, again she sat there quietly staring blankly. "I will assume you're still shocked about what I've said earlier...I understand" he began cutting the steak from his plate.
"...It's not true" she whispered finally breaking her silence.
Her voice was quiet but loud enough for the man to hear what she had said "I have no reason to lie to you," Jumin said "You may not trust me...And I do not expect you to since we do not know each other. We've only chatted recently through the RFA chatroom and that isn't enough to gain my trust but, what I've said is all true. It is your choice to believe what I've said is true or not."
She clenched her hands together and looked at Jumin "This is all a misunderstanding. He had his reasons why he had to install the system in the apartment but you're wrong. He wasn't the one who lead me into the apartment or the hacker..."
"But, you cannot tell me who," Jumin said "I've listened to your story as well as the police officers who took your statement. You may think you were being protected by Luciel but, how you are trying to prove Luciel is innocent when we have clear evidence is showing signs of you developing stockholm syndrome. I may not be a psychologist but, you were inside the apartment, alone and scared. You were trapped inside that apartment for so long that the first person that came to you, you began to attach yourself onto them for support and saw them as your savior."
"No! Stop, it's not true!" MC yelled as she shut her eyes tightly.
The room fell into silence, Jumin sat there looking at the girl who was in denial. Soon, a white cat leaped onto her lap and began to purr as it rubbed its head against her chin. MC opened her eyes feeling something soft and saw two blue eyes, it was a Persian white cat. "She is worried about you...It's strange, Elizabeth the 3rd usually don't approach strangers." Jumin said as he was taken back at his cat being so friendly with the girl.
"Ah..." MC placed her hand her as the cat began to rub its head against her hand allowing permission to touch her, MC couldn't help but smile "This must be the famous Elizabeth the 3rd." Jumin sat there observing the girl smiling, he knew the girl wasn't a bad person but there was something about her that was drawing himself in. "...Mr. Han, I know what I've said might sound hysterical but it is the truth. As you said before about trust, I too understand that you don't trust me and it is your choice as well to believe me or not."
"Everyone has their own point of view...There is no right or wrong answer, a road can always go two ways," she said.
He sat there with a slight curve on the corner of his mouth amused what she said "That is correct...Countering what I've said, I like that. But, you do understand I have the higher advantage in this debate because there are proof and even a witness...My case is solid but yours is filled with holes. The case is still under investigation...Eventually, the truth will reveal itself. It always does." MC sat there with the cat on her lap "When can I leave...?"
"I'm sorry but, you will have to stay here" Jumin replied.
"So, basically I'm a hostage here?" She said, again his mouth curved up. Her sharp tongue was making him very interesting how she was taking the situation and being clever, it was almost as if they were playing a game of chess. "No...You have to stay here because you are under investigation as well," Jumin said as he swished his wine glass in his hand.
"Don't you need my permission to do a background check?" She replied still keeping her guard up.
"Not when you were involved in a crime," Jumin replied as he looked at the brown haired girl who was looking back at him. "So, you must know everything about me then..." She said calmly expecting him to nod but only saw him place the wine glass down on the table gently "We couldn't find anything about you."
MC's eyes widen and shaken "...What?"
"There was nothing about you...Not even a name or birth certificate" he placed his elbows on the table and placed both hands together "We tried to find Luciel's background but his information is under the protection by an agency that I assume he works for. But, you...There was nothing. The detectives are currently inspecting more information outside of Korea to find out who you are."
"I myself, do not trust someone who doesn't know who they are, you might as well be working with the same agency as Luciel" Jumin looked at the girl with his grey sharp eyes "Now, do you understand why you cannot leave?"
MC sat there quietly for a moment and gave a short nod "...Because I am now a suspect."
"Correct" Jumin nodded, the room was quiet as MC looked down seeing the white cat sleeping on her lap quietly.
"You had nowhere to go so, I decided to put you under my care until we have answers" Jumin took a sip of his wine watching the brown haired girl slowly pick up the cat and placing it on the floor "...And Luciel? What will happen to him?" she asked quietly. Jumin's eyes narrowed towards her hearing the name "He will be held in holding for his crimes until we resolve this."
She slowly got up from the table angry "Then you should have left me in a holding cell as well since I'm a suspect as well! No one asked me if I wanted to be here, I would rather be inside a holding cell than be here with someone like you! I can't believe you are his friend, I thought the RFA members were good friends who trust each other but, I guess that was only Luciel's thoughts."
"Say what you want about me or the RFA" Jumin continued to have his dinner "But, you shouldn't say things like that so strongly when you've only met Luciel recently...You're only making yourself sound very convincing you have stockholm syndrome or even worse...Working together." MC clenched her teeth and walked away from the dining table. Jumin watched her walk towards the living room area and sat on the sofa in frustration knowing she had no place to go since it was a penthouse.
Jumin sat there watching the girl, he assumed she would be delighted she wasn't in a dirty holding cell but her reaction was completely different from the other women he knew. All the women he had met only always materialistic and were shallow basic gold diggers but, the girl didn't care about any of the fancy things. He knew she was thinking about the hacker...Nothing else mattered to her.
This intrigued him and was enjoying her company.
Moments later, someone arrived and began taking away the dishes. As he was clearing away plates he noticed the other plate hasn't been touched "Sir, sorry to interrupt but was there something wrong with the guest meal tonight?" he asked seeing Jumin standing by the large glass looking at the view. "No, the meal was perfect. She just wasn't feeling good, please send my regards and apology to the chef..." Jumin said.
"Of course, sir" he nodded as he took the plates away and left the penthouse quietly.
Jumin turned his attention towards the living room seeing the girl still sitting on the sofa with her knees up and arms resting on top of them as they covering her face. He entered the living room area and opened the balcony glass door. Feeling the soft breeze against her hair, she lifted her head up seeing the tall man standing outside. MC remembered a night like this when she first entered the strange apartment.
She looked at the phone on the sofa almost expecting a call from someone...But, knew no one was going to call her.
No one knew who she was, she felt so alone in the world. She could feel her eyes watery thinking about the red-haired man she fell in love with so deeply '...Saeyoung.' Suddenly, her phone started to ring as she jerked her head up in surprise. She grabbed the phone and opened it, it was an unknown number 'It could be from Saeyoung...!' she quickly answered it.
"Hello?" she said with a bit of excitement.
She heard static at first as the static background started to tone down. Soon, she heard someone chuckle "Heh. Hello Princess...How nice of you to pick up my call so quickly, it almost seemed you were waiting for me. This makes me so happy." The voice sent a chill down her spine knowing who it is but, her words wouldn't come out. MC looked at Jumin who was still standing outside the balcony.
"Ah, before you do anything stupid like call out the Director who is standing outside the balcony...I suggest you just stay quiet and listen to what I have to say, you don't want anyone else in the RFA to get hurt again, do you?"
Her eyes widen "...You...You did that to Yoosung...?" her voice trembled as sat there holding the phone looking at Jumin's back.
"Oh, is that the blondie's name? How's his eye by the way, is he going to go blind soon? Heh" he chuckled as MC gripped the phone tightly feeling the palms of her hands sweating in fear and lips dry. "I'm...I'm listening, please don't hurt anyone..." she said quietly, he began to laugh in amusement "Hahaha! Ooh, that's my smart toy but still stupid thinking about the RFA members when you should be worrying more about yourself."
"Especially when I was just a few inches away from you in the apartment today," he said.
MC's heart beat rapidly remembering someone had touched her hair in the apartment "...What do you want from me?" she asked still trembling. Outside, few buildings across from the penthouse, a man smirked as he stood on a building's rooftop with a phone pressed against his ear. He wore a baseball cap under his black dyed hair as two mint color eyes looked at the penthouse floor and had a clear view inside.
"It's it already obvious?" Looking at the girl sitting on the sofa, he let out a scoff "I want you."
"I wasn't expecting the redhead to change out the entire security system so quickly but, good thing I had a master key to activate the system" He let out a deep sigh feeling the wind brush through his hair "It's a shame you don't remember me...I'm so hurt but, don't worry. Once I have you back, you'll remember who you were and things will go back to the way it was. Don't you want that, toy?"
MC moved her attention to Jumin's back.
"Oh, seeing how you are looking at the director you're probably thinking his penthouse is safe, don't you? With all that heavy security and bodyguards around..." he said as MC's eyes widen looking around the room. She felt like he was inside the room with her, even inside her mind. He began to chuckle seeing her reaction "Hehe, seeing how you are looking around like an idiot I'm going to assume I'm right...You're still predictable as ever. God, I really missed this...You have no idea. But, since you were so good listening to me, let me tell you a little secret..."
He leaned close to the phone with a smirk on his lips and whispered "...You were safer in the apartment than you are in that penthouse."
MC saw Jumin turning around to go back inside, she quickly hung up the phone. Jumin closed the glass door behind him and looked at the brown haired girl shaking "MC..." He quickly grabbed the throw blanket sitting on a chair and wrapped it around her "I'm sorry, I was careless leaving the door open like that, you must be cold" Jumin looked at the girl, her face was pale as if she saw a ghost "...MC, what's wrong?"
She slowly looked at Jumin, she wanted to say something but her voice wouldn't come out.
Soon, there was a knock on the door causing her to jump. Jumin looked at her knowing she was frightened about something. "I will be right back-" before he could leave her side, he felt a hand grab his arm. He felt her hand slightly shaking but her head was down preventing to make eye contact with him. In fear, she looked at the door thinking it was him.
Jumin's eyes soften as he was about to place a hand on top of her but, there was another knock.
"Sir?" a male voice called out.
"MC, I'll be right back," Jumin said, MC watched him walk to the door and open it seeing the same man who picked up the dishes earlier. He was carrying something in his hand and handed to Jumin "My apologies Sir for coming without a call but the chef was worried about the guest not eating especially if the guest is a young woman and decided to make something just for her."
Jumin let out a small smile "Please send my regards again." He nodded and bowed towards Jumin before leaving.
Jumin closed the door and walked to MC who was still sitting on the sofa. He placed the dish down and removed the cover. The plate carried a small bowl of creme brulee and fresh fruits on top, there were mint leaves on the side as garnish. MC's eyes widen seeing such delicate beautiful dessert in front of her and the sweet scent.
"The chef was worried you didn't eat, hopefully, you won't refuse this one too," Jumin said as he handed her a small silver spoon.
MC looked at it and carefully reached for the spoon but stopped. Jumin saw her hesitate as he reached for her hand gently and placed the spoon in between "You don't need to be afraid of me...I won't hurt you and you are under my care." MC looked at the spoon in her hand "It's...It's not that..." she said as her eyes lowered. Jumin took a seat next to her "I understand you are worried about Luciel."
"I'm always going to be worried about Luciel...Everything that happened, it's all because of me, isn't it? Ever since I joined the chatroom," MC said.
She fiddled with the spoon in her hand and looked at her own reflection "It seems everywhere I go...I bring a burden to everyone around me." MC looked at Jumin as he looked into her brown honey colored eyes "Why...Why don't I know who I am? Why did this happen? It's my fault that Seven-" her words stopped as Jumin held her in his arms. MC's eyes widen feeling the strong warm embrace soon she broke down in tears as her defensive shield was crumbling.
MC began to cry as he continued to hold her knowing she was under a lot of stress and blaming herself for everything that has happened.
From afar, Saeran stood on the rooftop watching the man holding the girl in his arms comforting her. He clenched his phone in his hand as he looked at them in disapproval feeling his body burning up in rage inside. A loud crack occurred as the screen cracked from him gripping the phone so hard in anger, his chest puffy and his mint color eyes locked onto the dark-haired man.
In the holding cell, a man laid on the cold metal bench with his arms behind his head as a pillow. Laying in the cell alone, he listened to the sounds around him. The water dripping in the faucet and the light hanging in the center of the room. It was humming quietly reminding him of his electronic devices he had when he was just starting to hack...
"...You're fucking kidding me, right!?" a tall slender brown-haired man yelled looking down at the red headed child.
Another agent who stood next to him shook his head "Look, I'm just taking orders from above just like everyone else here." The agent gave the child a small nudge towards the brown-haired agent "You're lucky you got yourself an easy one to deal with. Heard this kid is some sort of genius or something, I got a kid who is no better than a tree stump."
"I don't give a shit if this kid can wipe his own ass! You can't just dump a kid on me like this!" He snapped but the other agent didn't respond as he turned away and was about to leave. "HEY! Do I look like a babysitter!?" The brown-haired agent yelled.
Without turning around, the agent raised his hand up and gave a short wave "We all been mentored before, this shouldn't be a surprise to you. If you don't like it, you know who to complain to but don't be bitching at me." The brown-haired man wrinkled his forehead "this is bullshit! You hear me, BULLSHIT!" he yelled in frustration and forgotten the child was still there. He looked at him with an annoyed look and gave a sharp sigh "Fuck...Can't believe this is happening to me" he began to walk away as the child stood there watching him.
He looked over his shoulder to see the child still standing there "Dammit...COME ON KID! Are you going to just stand around there!?"
The child quickly ran towards him and following him. The agent began training him through physical and arms training as years past watching the child slowly grew into a young talented hacker yet prankster teenager. They fought, shared the same room under the same roof, he was practically his older brother he never had. He even had to balance his school with his secret agent life.
"Hey...Wake up!" The agent snapped.
The young teenager yawn "Can't we just do this tomorrow, Madam Vanderwood? I got a test tomorrow and I got some homework to finish up too..." The brown-haired agent smacked him with a book on top of his head, Seven held his head "OW!" The agent had a red vain on his head "Call me 'Madam' one more time, I dare you. I'll make sure I make a dent in your head."
"No! Don't do that! ...I think I already have one" Seven pleaded as he rubbed his head.
"Then SHUT UP AND FOCUS! You think you're lacking sleep, I'm LACKING SLEEP!" Vanderwood smacked his palm on top of the books in front of him about computers and wiring systems "I swear, if you don't get through this chapter by the end of the night, you're going to end up at Mcdonalds."
"We're going to Mcdonalds if I don't get through this chapter?" Seven asked with a smile.
"NO!" Vanderwood yelled and smacked him again, Seven whined as Vanderwood continued to nag at him.
Returning back to reality, Seven let out a small smirk remembering the old times and let out a deep sigh. But, soon his smile fade feeling his chest tighten thinking about a certain brown hair girl he gave his heart to "MC..." he whispered quietly removing his glasses off and placed his arm over his eyes. Holding on to his glasses, he heard footsteps approaching.
Soon, the footsteps stopped in front of his cell.
Seven didn't bother to remove his arm away and let out a chuckle "Are you still going to deny me my one phone call? I know my rights..." There was no response as he let out a sharp sigh and slowly removed his arm away "Come on, a phone call probably won't be able to get me out of this situation...I Just want to call Jumin about this mess and-" his voice trailed off seeing a familiar face as his eyes widened.
He was dressed in police uniform with his ruffled hair tied back and was holding a gun towards Seven with a silencer attached to the gun. "V...Vanderwood?" Seven said in complete shock as he looked at the agent. "I warned you before, you should have not made yourself my next target...Agent Seven" Vanderwood said looking at Seven with cold eyes and his finger on the trigger.