Chapter 33:
While the girl was taken for her "bath", Rika made it a point to stop by the onsite clinic to let them know some extra precautions might be necessary after the cleansing. If Saeyoung was indeed hurt as badly as reported, then he'd likely need blood and antibiotics to treat his wound. It was a good thing that there was a faithful doctor and a few experienced nurses in the ranks, among them Miyeon's mother.
It was almost funny how small the world was.
It was Miyeon's elder brother that had made her aware of the family. Rika didn't recall his name now as it'd been years, but he was an active young man who was well on his way to the Olympic swim team. He was a promising prospect as he volunteered, was handsome, naturally charismatic, and on the surface seemed perfectly well adjusted. Something told her he and Zen might've gotten along and perhaps could've helped each other grow.
Then one day, he vanished…
After doing some inquiries Rika found that the boy had thrown himself into the Han River. The information was scant though as it was obvious someone was covering the whole thing up. She didn't know the full details, only that even with his family's best attempts to hide the tragedy, people knew.
It was only natural someone that well liked would cast a large shadow…
In that gloom, was Miyeon. Her mother rarely mentioned her outside of confessions when she often ruminated that the wrong child had died… It was something her adoptive mother had often said of her. That made her curious if perhaps she'd been interested in the wrong sibling.
Rika's visits to one of the shelters the RFA funds went to brought back memories of the first time she'd seen the girl. Were it not for the fact that she intentionally kept an eye out, she would've missed the quiet teen who kept her head down and never uttered a word to a soul unless they had four legs and fur. She was a wisp of a thing who seemed apologetic for her very existence. It was a familiar pain that had resonated with her then, and one she'd seen in Saeyoung and Saeran as well. Unlike Saeyoung who had his brother to care for, and Saeran who had his brother – this girl had no one…
Yet the beaten, bloodied, and hungry animals of the world found refuge in her. Her arms were usually bandaged from scratches and bites from animals that others swore were too vicious to be given a chance. Yet Miyeon embraced them and made them docile enough to be loved by others. When they were adopted, she'd start the process over again… She nurtured love within the violent things only to give it away, never to accept it for herself.
It was almost masochistic.
She hated herself… She probably blamed herself for what happened to her brother.
She was a kindred spirit… But the girl had been was still too young then.
Now and then Rika would recall the girl in the way that one might any unimportant errand when her mother would bring her up or when Saeran would get to be too needy. As nice as it was having him wait on her hand and foot, it was getting a bit much. The way he wanted to be at her side constantly to the point of even brushing her hair was the sort of thing that might give the impression of impropriety. Not that the thought hadn't occurred to her, but it was more trouble than it was worth…
It was one of those thoughts that lead her to act to bring the girl into Magenta so that Saeran could have a companion to help control his behavior. He was getting more erratic and "treatments" weren't going to be enough. His body was reaching a limit in regard to just how much of the elixir he could take, and there was a need for a change in tactics. He was reaching that age much later than most boys, likely from where he'd been starved, and his development delayed. Even though he showed no interest in such things, the two were so well matched it was hard for her not to consider it… Whether it became romantic or not, he needed companionship if only so he would be less reliant on her. That girl would likely understand him and being so starved for attention herself, would've been ripe to be molded by him to whatever he needed. He'd appeal to the girl's need to nurture and comfort something feral.
There was something to say about having a little distraction to improve productivity. He could've kept her as a plaything, and as long as he did his work, that was fine.
No one would miss her after her father's death, after all the old man had long since outlived his usefulness… Something told Rika that letting her have some vengeance against her mother would be a bonding experience for her and Saeran. Bringing the girl to Mint Eye would serve a practical role in lessening her own responsibilities. To that end, she'd sent Saeran on errands where places where the girl was more likely to go. This seemed largely ineffective as her father's death made her all but a hermit, but fortunately, things eventually came together.
In order to get more information, Saeran'd modified her machinations to force the RFA into throwing another party and had sent the girl into the group more as a trojan horse to gauge their reactions. While this way was harder to trace back to them, it also made it much harder to control the outcome. This mistake was even more apparent in just how deeply she and Seven had imprinted onto each other.
But it was useful to her all the same…
Saeyoung was certainly more skilled than his twin, if only due to having more experience and a more formalized education. He'd bested his brother… It would be so easy to use Miyeon as leverage, except the girl was a bit more… Resilient than she'd hoped.
Then again, she should've anticipated it.
The "bath" was to demonstrate that haughtiness wasn't going to be tolerated. As much as she wanted a companion herself – there was a need to establish boundaries and make it known that there was a reason to fear her.
When Rika returned to the room where they'd had tea, she expected to find the girl shaken and compliant. Miyeon was, at her core, a submissive thing. Most people were willing to say or do whatever they needed to never endure that again. What she got was very different…
Miyeon held her head high and stared at Rika with defiance that glowed with the heat of hellfire. It was like staring into the eyes of a caged tigress. The hungry orange stray she'd taken in, fed, and taught to read and had given skills had found his mate in this creature.
It was still strange to think of him being intimate with anyone, not just physically. He kept everyone at a distance for "their safety", yet this girl knew his true name. Rika understood a little of why he was willing to throw so much away for her now. It wasn't just Luciel who was protective of her… The second her guard was dropped; the tigress would do what came naturally. For her mate or their cubs, it was hard to say – but there was no mistaking the murderous intent in her eyes…
It was beautiful…
V would never do or feel anything like that for her. He could die, but there was nothing special about that… People died all the time. But this girl… If reports were to be believed, she was willing to take lives that weren't just her own. Just as Rika had…
It made her heart race with equal parts admiration and jealousy.
Mint Eye could definitely use someone like this. If only she'd recruited her sooner. And it would be nice to have someone to talk to – someone who could understand her again after Mika had passed.
She just had to get Miyeon to understand what she was trying to do. More than anyone, this girl might comprehend. The problem was that the man she'd imprinted onto was going to make that challenging. As long as the girl had Saeyoung to cling to, she could be strong. If he was taken from her, she'd return to her dormant state… It was a matter of using that to her advantage.
V sat looking contrite… Of course…
As the blonde walked around the pair, the photographer tried to speak to her, but her attention was on the girl's appearance. Her hair was so long, dark, and soft. Her skin so fair, and for the most part the dress hid the bruises and scratches on her that the doctor had mentioned. As she exposed some of the girl's neck, there was no denying the source of the love bites at her neck. Odd to think that pious little boy with the curious eyes had acted so quick as to lay with Miyeon within weeks of meeting her… And for him to be so rough…
Had he changed so much in the short time she'd been away from the RFA?
"Are you afraid that Luciel will see what you did to me?" the girl asked darkly.
"Not at all. Just looking at what he's done to you… But not every wound left in "love" is visible, is it?"
The girl continued her glare. So much had happened to test the depths of her affection in such a short time. It was a defense mechanism not love that held that relationship together… They'd known each other almost three weeks? This was limerence – not true love… They both knew she had nothing else and had never known anything else.
"It's too bad V can't see how striking you are. Really, you have such beautiful eyes when you're not hiding them. That dress suits you too. You should hold your head up high and be confident in yourself."
"…If you're going to stand here and mock me, I'd rather be back in the cell."
"I'm not mocking you. Not anymore," Rika soothed, pulling the rich dark hair back from the girl's shoulder. She wanted to braid it to see just how much wave she could get it to hold. "There's just a misunderstanding between us of what my goal is here. But I think once you understand why I'm doing any of this – why I'm truly doing it – you'll feel differently."
"There is no misunderstanding."
"Magenta doesn't exist solely to spite V… It exists for the same reason I made the RFA. It's just that I realized, as you likely did sometime ago, that the world is a corrupt and unjust place. For years I dealt with those rich, deluded people… People so divorced from their fellow man and the suffering of others that I came to realize very soon that no matter how much I raised, it was never going to fix the core issue – corrupt people were making the calls and the entire system was stacked to benefit them. Jumin is the best of them, but that isn't saying much... Saeyoung's father was the worst of them. After those boys were born out of wedlock, that man sought them out to have them put down because they were inconvenient for his political career. Yet that man has the gall to donate time and money to orphanages because of his guilty conscience. Well that and because it makes good PR for his role as the Prime Minister – did you know that?"
"Rika… Please, Luciel doesn't want her involved anymore than she already is!" V murmured urgently.
"She's already involved. She was involved before you even knew her name. You remember looking into those men trailing, Saeyoung? That detective's name was Ko Cheol-Su, right?"
That got V's attention as well as the girl's. She could practically see the confusion and perhaps even a bit of the malice directed towards the photographer.
"…You… Knew my father?" the girl asked breathlessly.
"I…" the photographer stammered.
Rika felt a savage smile cross her lips. "You can probably thank V and Saeyoung for why your father was always leaving you alone… Granted, we only met him because of your brother was so exceptional… I really did consider recruiting him to the RFA before… Well you know better than anyone what happened after."
"That's… There's no way…"
"I've known about you for a long time. You didn't really think you were chosen by chance did you?"
The girl's strength was obviously shaken by that.
"I don't believe you."
"I can have your mother join us if you like. She can confirm my interest. Although, from what I gather, you and I share the lack of a mother's love in common."
Miyeon lowered her head and shook her head in quiet refusal.
"I have no reason to lie to you. I'm the one holding the power in this situation… In fact, I have enough power to protect Saeyoung and Saeran from their father. Mint Eye was just as much of a way to keep those precious to me safe and close to me."
She could practically see Miyeon trying to piece the mystery together, but there was suddenly a sigh and look of resolve on the girl's face.
"Rika that's enough!"
"I need her to understand why – someone like me – wanted a bomb in my apartment, V… Why I need loyal people around me…" Rika smoothed her own hair. "She needs to understand that I'm not just paranoid. I was protecting my family – just as she is now."
"…I'm sure you probably weren't keen on anyone finding out about this place either," the girl answered calmly.
"I won't deny that; people misunderstand my intentions. I'll be the first to admit that I do have my demons… But I had very sound reasons for doing what I've done. Keeping Saeyoung and Saeran safe was one of those."
"That doesn't justify what you've done to these people. With your connections you could've went public with what you knew at any time."
"And put everyone in danger… That is if Luciel didn't stop me first… He has too much of V in him. When it comes down to it – he'll never "pull the trigger". He threatens – but he'd rather give himself up than hurt anyone else. You know that probably better than anyone… He could've made that leak on his own at any point and avoided that injury. And it shouldn't be too hard to find out everything his father has done. But that man has a wife and family – and well there's a country he's running now. Saeyoung would probably be content letting that man get by with what he did to him and Saeran for the sake of peace. He's probably content to live quietly and in secret with you… Faking documents … Hiding and building a life on a lie. Don't you think it's wrong that he's the one being punished for a sin that isn't his own."
The girl's expression softened – anyone reasonable would think it was wrong the man wasn't answering for his wrongdoing...
"V and I made mistakes, we were lost children trying to raise children… Even now his father has men looking for those two… As long as that man is free and has that much power – Saeyoung and Saeran can never be truly safe. And our society will continue to protect men like that… That's a world I can't permit."
Miyeon tightened as this was a truth that was undeniable.
"Saeyoung will smile and tell you everything is fine, but that fear will eat away at him. You'll be under his constant surveillance, whether you know it or not. And he'll bear that burden silently so you don't have to worry. That little tendency of his won't stop just because you're willing to bloody your hands for him. If anything, that'll make him feel worse and make him do more to keep you "Safe" and pure. He'll bind you tighter and eventually you'll be in a cage on a pedestal that bears the weight of his world… It's a miserable life - being idolized.… That's why I ran away from V."
The photographer looked so pained… It hurt her, but it also brought her some degree of satisfaction.
"You should see the pictures he took of me… Even when I hurt myself or in my private moments – he'd take out that camera. I was living art to him – never a person. This whole "love" V speaks of is nothing more than a performance piece to him. He loves the ideal of me – not the person I am."
"Rika, that's not…! Stop…" V ordered softly.
"Maybe it's because you've only known him for a few weeks, but you should know… Saeyoung's insecurity will always lead him to go behind your back for information. Even if you leave, he'll always be watching or recording… Interfering in your life in ways that can't be traced back to him. Because that's what he does. That's what he was trained to do. As long as you're in any society with electronics or telecommunications, he'd find you. And you'd be just like me. Your every waking moment under a camera. "
"That's enough…" her former lover urged.
"You're "his" in his mind now… It's the problem of being loved by a man… I learned that with V. Even when I left, he followed me. He still thinks he knows what's best for me. And it won't be any different for you. Saeyoung will always choose for you – like he did for Saeran. He will always know best…"
"I don't know what sort of relationship you and V had… But let me make something clear to you - I chose this. Your half truths might work on your followers, but I see right through you. We're taking Saeran home and sending these people back to their families."
"Let's say you somehow succeed and take Saeran back out into the world – the broken violent thing he is… His brother will have to care for him for the rest of his life. Do you think a man like that could be trusted alone with you or your children? Eventually, Saeyoung will have to choose. And where exactly do you think you'll be on Luciel's list of priorities then? He'll do what he always does, he'll run away and take Saeran with him – to "keep you safe"… And you'll be alone again – well… Mostly alone."
Rika embraced the girl from behind and rested a hand over her belly, which resulted in the girl digging her nails in with enough force to nearly make her bleed. It was a delightful pain. This only made her nestle deeper against Miyeon's soft frame. She smelled so sweetly now that the man's blood and sweat wasn't drenching her. While Rika's perfume had been used, she could make out the Miyeon's natural aroma. The unique chemistry of her skin lessened the floral notes but made the gourmand come out more intensely. Such spicy and creamy notes for such a brutal little thing. There was no mistaking the strength in her, as the young woman's body tightened with disgust at being touched and naturally recoiled to protect her stomach. Was this what a mother's love was like?
It wasn't something Rika, she, nor Luciel had ever known…
"That's why he laid with you; you weren't worth enough to him on your own."
To the blonde's surprise, the girl wriggled free and there was a sudden stinging across her face.
"That's enough!" V was practically pleading.
"Savior!"
All she could do was laugh. It'd been a very long time since anyone had struck her. It was almost – invigorating…
By the time Rika'd composed herself, her guard had Miyeon firmly restrained yet that fire in her eyes was brighter than ever. If V's love was the Sun – warm, all encompassing, and threatening the shadow… Miyeon's love was wildfire. It had been born in the dark of a raging storm and quickly spread, leaving destruction in its path. Perhaps after there would be a fresh field for new life to grow… Or maybe there'd just be smoke and ash.
Maybe it was Hellfire…?
This was the woman Saeyoung wanted to tame and put in a hearth to warm his home?
She deserved to be free.
Rika smirked while nursing the sting on her cheek… Maybe not quite free… She wanted to be devoured in those flames. "I really do love the devil in you… We're more alike than you realize. But perhaps because I've where you are now; I recognize myself in you… When you understand how right I am, I'll be waiting for you with open arms."
"Let them go, Rika. It's me you want," V urged.
"I've outgrown you…" the blonde noted firmly. "I refuse to hold onto your hand like a child… Magenta exists for people like you and me, Miyeon. People who cannot live in the world out there. People that world has rejected. That's why we need to get stronger, so we can put things right. I give them pain – yes – but I also give them pleasure and a home and a purpose when no one else would."
"…They need actual treatment not this," Miyeon protested.
"Talking about their problems and throwing a pill at them isn't going to fix the core issues they face. I find ways to make their pain useful, so they don't have to change. Why can these people not be loved for who they are?"
"This isn't who they are. You're twisting their pain for your own benefit."
"And they worship me for it. It's what they desire. They chose this. People crave simple answers. Out there, pain and pleasure are random and senseless. The good are punished and the bad are rewarded. There is no justice. It's unfair… It's only natural that people would want refuge from such a place. Saeran wanted that… So, I protected him. I made him strong and gave him a purpose, didn't I?"
"You broke him!"
"You didn't know him before… He would cry at the drop of a hat and was always so miserable… It was pitiful. He has a purpose and goal now and look at how he's thrived."
"Is that why you told him Saeyoung abandoned him? Did you even tell him why his brother had to leave?"
"I simply nurtured a feeling that was already there. His brother left him to starve and suffer in that miserable little house."
"Saeyoung only left because you and V promised you'd take care of Saeran!"
"And I did. It was the best thing for both of them. As long as Saeran relied on his brother, he was destined to stay weak and useless. Saeyoung couldn't focus as long as his brother was around. Without the other, they each grew, just as you did when your brother abandoned you…"
Miyeon went stiff and her eyes widened. That was her weak spot.
"…You and Saeran aren't that different, really… Tell me does Saeyoung even know about Jun-Seo?"
"Don't try to change the subject."
The girl's resolve didn't waver, but it was obvious this was getting to her.
"V… You should show her the pictures you took from his last swim meet."
The photographer's expression was even more pained while Miyeon's hardened with bitter resolve.
"Tell me… Is there a part of you that was happy when he ended his life? Without him around, you became your father's most precious possession… Do you think that man, your mother, or even your beloved brother would've approved of Saeyoung? We could get your mother and ask her – since she's the only one left alive."
"I know what you're trying to do. And it isn't going to work."
"Let me tell you a secret, Saeyoung's only so fond of you because you remind him of Saeran… Yet you're also the mother he never had. Holding him to your breast and comforting him… I wonder if he'll still need you once he has his brother back?"
"Since we're playing psychologist - was playing mother to those boys how you dealt with growing up with that orphanage? Or was it maybe to see if you could be better than your adoptive mother…? Did those two remind you of Mika?"
V looked confused. "Mika…?"
"Does V not know about her? The man you supposedly loved doesn't know about a girl you thought of as a sister…? He should know why you really made this cult – who really turned you against him."
"You think Mika's responsible?"
"No. You're a grown woman capable of making your own decisions, but you can't deny her influence since you admitted as much in your journals."
"Was she wrong? V used me. Even now, he's using me for his own satisfaction."
"Is that how you justify your behavior?"
"I don't have to answer anyone. That's why this place exists."
"Except everyone has to answer to you… Tell me… Those boys' mother…Was what you wrote true?"
Rika smiled as V hung his head.
"Maybe V should tell you. Afterall, he's good at hiding things too."
The photographer said nothing.
"…I think the reports say she killed herself a few years ago. Saeran would tell you he did it, but the truth is that I defended myself. She attacked me, so I did what I had to…"
"You brought him here after that, didn't you? You made this cult, killed that woman, and put those boys against each other – and V's the person making a performance piece?" Miyeon asked with increasing anger.
"Saeran was the first person I really saved. He's special to me. I truly do love him like my own child. He's loyal and obedient… Most importantly, he brought you and his brother to me, and eventually I'll have the rest of my friends back too."
"I won't let that happen."
"What are you going to do to stop me?" Rika asked caressing the girl's face. "You are just as broken as anyone else here. V isn't going to save you. He won't even save himself. You're fighting this battle alone – like you always do…"
"You're wrong. Jumin and Jaehee will figure out where this place is… And when they do, the RFA will do what you made it to do... You can torture me as much as you like, but it's inevitable. And when they come, I'll make sure they see you for what you are."
"They're my friends – they'll listen to me."
"Friends aren't possessions, Rika… Part of me wonders if the reason you're so dead set on breaking them is so they won't see what you've become and hate you. You're still a little girl who wants to be loved and accepted. Yet you're so pitiful, you didn't even recognize love when you received it."
"Back on this… What do you know of love?"
"It's not something you can force or can truly experience from outside yourself."
"You'd be surprised what enough elixir will do."
"…That's not love. Your fundamental problem is that you keep looking for love from others to validate yourself. As long as you approach love as something external that happens to you or as something you can take, you will be miserable…"
"So is what V is doing love? Is what Saeyoung did to you love?"
"I'm sure in their own ways – it is. I can't speak for others, only how I feel. In my heart, I know my feelings and my intentions. That's why I will do what I have to in order to protect the people important to me…"
"Will you do to me what you did to those agents?"
Miyeon studied her coldly.
There was no mistaking her intent.
"You're a creature of darkness like me. You deserve Paradise probably more than anyone because I think you truly understand what it's like to give everything to others until there is nothing left but those bitter feelings. You know just as well as I do how ungrateful people really are and how self centered they can be. Aren't you tired of carving yourself up for other people's happiness?"
"I have no interest in your false Paradise…"
"Do you not believe in a higher power…?"
"No… Any God who would let a little girl be repeatedly abused by a priest or who would let Saeyoung's prayers go unanswered is undeserving of worship… Just as you aren't. But if you love the devil in me so much, I'll show you just how demonic I can be…"
"Could you really kill me?" Rika asked, her voice almost excited but the light in her eyes replaced with something like madness.
"If that's what it takes – so be it. As long as those people are happy and safe… Even if I never see them again… Even if they hate me for it… I can bear that sin. I'll happily go to Hell if such a place exists, as long as I get to take you with me."
"Miyeon… Please…" V pleaded.
"…Do you promise?" Rika asked.
That fire! It was exhilarating.
"Take them to the cells… Oh! Miyeon, you won't have to worry about being given the elixir just yet. It is probably too soon to tell, but… We'll check next week and the week after. If the results are positive, we'll celebrate. Any child of Luciel's is likely to be just as brilliant as him… So, I thank you for your contribution to Paradise in advance."
V was practically thrashing and pleading for the girl to be let go.
Miyeon merely stared at her with a calm, deadly focus up until the guards escorted her and her former lover out of the chamber.
His protests fell on deaf ears, which was not surprising… V knew better by now. As the air changed around him, Jihyun became aware that they were infact being led back to the cells. His mind was so full of regret and confusion. More than anything, he wanted to apologize to the girl whose steps were light beside him.
There was no doubt why she'd been "chosen" now…
There were so many threads that tangled her into this web long before her name was even known… Thinking back, it seemed so clear, but his mind had been so focused on Rika that he'd missed how the pieces had fit together. He couldn't go back and fix the past … All he could do was try to figure out how to keep the two people most precious to Saeyoung safe until Jumin came. Then it would be a whole nightmare of keeping things under wraps...
He'd kept the phone Luciel had built him that would be impossible to trace. There probably wasn't much battery left on it, but he'd managed to steal it back after being taken into custody while pretending to fumble around. He had no doubt that the boy could use it to call for help. Jumin would eventually come for them, but whether that would be before or after the damage was done was hard to say. This entire situation would likely make national news, and if he was badly injured enough, no one would be there to hide the information. They'd be back within reach of their father then…
He wouldn't be able to protect them. Jihyun had come intending to let Rika destroy him to her heart's content. But even then, there was still so much to do… All of those people and the brothers… It was all his fault.
He was done fighting his fate though.
Then again, V had to wonder about what Rika had said…
Years ago he'd tried going through more official channels, albeit undercover, to find out more about the twins' father. There was at least one detective who had been willing to do some work pro bono as there was some correlation with a case he had already been working on. He was the one who confirmed the account of men following Saeyoung. They'd worked together for years in clandestine meetings and no doubt the man had spent long hours casing things outside of work…
To think that man was Miyeon's father.
If what she had said was true, then it was obvious that the girl had access to more information than anyone realized if her father kept the records… There was so much information about the prime minister's dealings that he'd gathered for the purpose of giving it to the boy so that Luciel could secure his freedom… Everything had been backed up with sources and photographs before his sight was robbed from him. His house had an entire docket saved in one of his photographs…
Someone had to continue that work until it was done.
He couldn't trust Jumin with information about Saejoong Choi – if only because his friend had too much to lose.
His head became so full of thoughts and regrets that he soon lost track of where they were going. Even though V was being lead, it was hard navigating in the darkness Rika's wound had left him in. As the guard let go of him, he nearly walked into a wall. Then he felt a small, soft hand reach out for his, pulling him to the side where there was cool stone.
"You two stay here a minute. Where did that guy get to...?" a gruff voice grumbled.
He could hear the guard stomping off.
"Where are we?" V asked softly.
"I think they're taking us a different way to the cells," she answered. "…Are you okay?"
"No, but… How can you ask me something like that after what she did to you…? After everything I've done…"
There was a cool, gentle hand on his shoulder. "You've been carrying a lot on your own for far too long, V…"
"…I should've done more to help you. It should've been me… I'm sorry."
"Don't blame yourself for what Rika ordered and those men did. You did what you could... What matters now is what we do to fix this… Just… Don't tell Saeyoung about anything you heard… She was probably just trying to unsettle me."
His hand gripped hers tight. There was something familiar in that sentiment… So painfully familiar. Yet there was more to it than simple sacrifice. If Luciel knew what had been done to her and what would likely continue happen to her, he wouldn't be able to focus on getting them free.
"I won't… Is there someone else near us? I don't hear anyone."
"They left us here to look for whoever was supposed to be on post. I suspect they don't think they have much to fear from a little girl and a blind man. But that's their mistake…"
He could feel as her weight shifted a little as she seemingly grabbed something and likely hid it in her dress.
"Here…" he withdrew a parcel from his pocket and slipped it into her hand.
"What's this?"
"It's for when you get out," V murmured. "…It isn't enough to make up for what I've done, but it's something important if you ever want your family to truly be safe…"
The girl tried to give it back to him. "You can give it to Saeyoung yourself-"
"…No… It has to be you because there is no future for me."
"We're all going to get through this, V."
"…No. This needs to end; if I let Rika do as she likes to me… Even destroy me – that should satisfy her-"
"It won't… It's not really you she wants to destroy – it's herself... Hurting you is just one way she's doing that. The best thing you can do is to stop giving into her whims."
"If I can just-."
"Throwing your life away to a mad woman isn't going to accomplish anything! If you want to make things right, you can start by helping these people and by telling everyone the truth."
Part of him knew that, but another part of him was so tired and was afraid of owning his mistakes… He'd made so many until now, it wouldn't be so easy to fix things. There was his father's reputation, his own, and even Jumin's. If this got out, it would damage so many people's lives.
"Then as a man, I beg you to take this… Protect your family… And even though I know you think it can't be done, please save Rika from herself."
"…I want to… But I don't think she can be-"
"Please…"
The girl's hand squeezed his firmly.
"When we're out of here – we'll get Rika the help she needs - together. OK? Then we all can talk – really talk about what happened. No more vague answers or lies by omission. I'll make sure Saeyoung and Saeran listen. Just... No more secrets. And no more going it alone! Okay, V?"
This girl shone so brightly… Saeyoung's star… He'd never even seen her face.
Gently he lifted his hand, only to feel her eased it up to her cheek for him. Her skin was so soft but cold from what'd been done to her. He hadn't mastered mentally mapping faces; moments like this made him miss his sight. From what V could feel though, her expression was determined but kind… There was a softness to her features that was comforting. It suited someone who had been so supportive of the people he considered his family.
The tightness of her lips eased to a reassuring smile.
"…Do you think if we'd all met sooner, you could've helped her before it came to this?"
The curve of her lips eased as she touched his cheek. "When we know better – we do better. We can't do anything about the past, only the now and later. So, let's do what we can to save these people from themselves."
"If something happens to me-"
"I won't let anything happen to you," she answered firmly. "There are too many people who need you, V. Saeyoung may be angry with you now, but I think he'll understand once you, he, and Saeran talk. And if not, you can prove your intentions by helping get Saeran well again. Yoosung needs to make peace with you… Zen and Jaehee are likely worried sick… And Jumin – probably more than anyone – needs his best friend. Rika's dream was to help people – even this place is a warped attempt at doing just that... If there's any part of her that should be saved – it's the part of her that seeks to help others. That's why the RFA exists, and that's why the RFA still needs you to carry on that dream for her."
If only there was a way to capture the feeling of hope she gave.
Was there really a way out of this? It would be long, but it couldn't be any more painful than what he'd already been through. There was hope at the end of the tunnel…
There was a slam of metal as the guards' footsteps began to sound down the hall along with one fussing at the other. The two quieted yet held the other's hand firmly before they were guided into the dank, moldy air of the cells.
Saeyoung'd lost track of how many minutes had passed since he'd last seen his love. It was all he could do to rest against the bars to conserve his energy while trying to control his breathing and heart rate. The more he worried, the less time he'd have… An opportunity would present itself, and when it did, he'd need to be ready. But… His chest was starting to hurt, and it was getting hard to focus. More than anything, Saeyoung wanted to sleep… But if he gave into that desire, there was a good chance the man'd never open his eyes again.
…The only thing keeping him hanging on was his family...
Saeran… Miyeon… They could all live in that big house that he'd bought. There was enough room… Then it wouldn't be empty anymore. The pitiful boy who'd been unable to embrace would have a house full of people he could hold. The rest of the RFA could visit as much as they wanted. He'd finally have a real family… A happy one! There were so many fun things he wanted to do with his brother and his future wife! They'd go on trips, play games, and have meals together. They could pick out pets! They'd celebrate holidays! He'd get to have his first real Christmas this year if he just held on… Fireworks, presents, carols, and things to truly be happy for! He could give Saeran a present himself! And in a few years he'd get to make and wrap presents for his and Miyeon's children. He'd take the babies on drives to help them sleep, build rockets when they were old enough, and show them how amazing the world was and watch their little faces light up… Homework – even parent teacher conferences! Saeyoung wanted to be there for everything! He was going to take so many pictures!
He and Miyeon were going to grow old together…
He just had to make it through this; Saeyoung'd promised her he would do his best to stay by her side…
It was so cold without her close by.
Saeyoung sat up straight sound of vibration through the stone. Something was happening down the cellblock. The other agent's expression spoke of him being so surprised at seeing him move.
"Seven! Thank God… You scared the shit out of me!"
"Someone's coming…" he murmured weakly.
Vanderwood forced him back down before his legs could even tense.
"Don't move! You just relax."
It wasn't as if he had the energy to really protest.
"Your girlfriend is coming back, and someone else… Damn… I can't see past the other guard."
The excitement was more than Saeyoung could stand. Scooting over to the bars, he did his best to peer out. A welcome site greeted him. Miyeon didn't looked hurt in the least. Rather, she'd been cleaned up. Her bangs had been trimmed back showing her beautiful honey colored eyes, and she'd been dressed in an elegant black party dress. It was hard to tell if it was the delirium he was experiencing or just the joy of seeing her return.
Vanderwood and he backed up as one guard held a gun to keep them compliant while the girl was ushered in. She needed very little coaxing, as it was obvious to everyone that her focus was solely on her lover. For now, Miyeon seemed to be herself as she embraced him. Rika's perfume clung to her, but under that there was no denying the comforting scent of her skin or the softness of her breast against him. There weren't any visible signs of injury on her, but before he could look too closely, the girl cupped his face for a tearful greeting.
Her lips were so cold, but sweet…
A flurry of grateful kisses followed before he weakly pulled her close.
Miyeon's entire body felt cool as clay…
The metal cell door slammed shut before the guard left.
"We need medicine or a doctor! This guy is going to die! Hey!" the other agent protested while shaking the door."… Why is this guy here?"
"I… Luciel…?"
He knew that voice…
Leaning aside from the girl, the hacker felt the ember catch light as soon as his eyes met V's crumpled form.
His brother's suffering… And Miyeon being put into danger. All these people… Rika being like that… It was all this man's fault… Each a bit of kindling stirring his little bit of remaining blood with vitriol. Perhaps because there was so little left, the explosiveness of the mix was much higher.
"What are you doing here?" there was no masking the loathing.
"Luciel…" V sighed, seemingly pained and relieved as he felt around to try to orient himself. "Miyeon said you'd been shot… How are your injuries?"
V's hand reached towards the sound of his voice. His body naturally recoiled.
"Don't touch me! Why are you here?" he snapped.
The photographer looked wounded but seemed to accept his guilt before reaching into his pocket and offering up something familiar towards the sound of his voice. It was the same untraceable phone he'd given V months before.
"Call Jumin with this…"
"Oh! Is that a phone? Did you steal it? NICE!" Vanderwood was probably the closest to excited Seven could ever recall him sounding.
Saeyoung took the device and studied it, recognizing his handiwork. "…The sensors shouldn't catch it. Doesn't look like it's been tampered with…"
"That's even better! Let's access that RFA server so your rich friend can get us the hell out of here!" the other agent urged.
"There's not much battery left, so you may need to hurry," V noted softly.
The hacker studied the phone again, getting a sinking feeling in his gut. "This could be a trap… We can't trust this man."
"That's true," the other agent acknowledged, "But do we have any other choice…?"
There was a gentle pressure against him as Miyeon rested her head against his good shoulder. Her little hands dug into him. Her voice was soft and only for his ears. "You can't keep going on like this…" Her voice wavered and sounded so very close to snapping. "Enough bad things have happened because of pride."
If she was the one slowly bleeding out, he wouldn't have hesitated. No matter if it was a trap, would be prepared. Jaehee would be just as thorough… His reputation could be put at risk, but between his abilities and Jumin's resources, it wouldn't be hard to cover everything up. Afterall, if that leak had dropped – this cult might not even get a mention on the news. More immediately, it wasn't like the forces in Mint Eye could stop a properly trained and armed private army funded by one of the richest men on the continent.
"Saeyoung, please…"
Her intuition had been right so far… She'd come this far and taken so many risks for him. Her hands had been bloodied for him. Even in moments like this, Miyeon's "selfishness" was for others.
The hacker nestled against her before setting about the task with his functioning hand… Of course it had to be the left one.
If he did nothing, that was guaranteeing the worst possible outcome.
"You're so devoted, aren't you?" the other agent acknowledged.
Saeyoung glanced at the older agent. He wasn't being teased for hearing his lover out. If anything, Vanderwood seemed relieved and was complimenting them. That was some comfort before before his eyes fell to V.
"Before that… I need to hear your excuse," Saeyoung growled at the blind man.
He could feel Miyeon pull back and the urgency in her gaze, but this wasn't something he was going to budge on. The mint haired man lowered his head.
"Okay. There's no point in hiding anything now… Ask me anything."
"Rika and you… What are you two doing?"
"Rika didn't do anything wrong. Mint Eye, Magenta, and the "everlasting party" … It's because of the world I showed her that Rika went down this path…"
The girl's hands dug into him as if restraining herself from correcting the blind man.
"So, you brainwashed Rika?"
"I don't know if that's the right way to put it. But it is true that all of this is because of me. I'm sorry… I'm so sorry that Saeran and everyone got involved. I know saying sorry isn't enough…"
"It's too late to apologize."
"I know… But if I can get Rika to return to how she was before, Saeran might return to you then."
Miyeon's grip on him was almost painful as she held back the desire to interject her thoughts… The other agent had no issue speaking his piece.
"That's almost delusionally hopeful," the long-haired agent grumbled.
"Was it your idea to lie to everyone and claim that she killed herself?" Saeyoung continued.
"Yes… Only because it was too dangerous to reveal the truth. I wanted to protect everyone. So, I lied to keep Rika and the RFA at a distance from each other until I could think of a way to get her the help she needed…"
That lined up with some of what Miyeon had inferred from the journals… But there were still too many gaps.
"How do I know you're not trying to trick us again?"
"I mean – he's blind – so it's not like he'd be hard to take down," Vanderwood acknowledged.
"He was also the one who came to "give us a message"," the younger agent reminded his former superior.
"…We would've been caught whether V had been there or not," the girl's voice finally broke through. "Saeran took Vanderwood's phone and called them the night before they came."
Saeyoung studied her with disbelief.
"He probably called when he went out to "smoke". Don't you think it's odd that he asked for a cigarette…? He didn't smell like smoke when he was at the apartment or when we came here before… And at the cabin he didn't smell like it either… He probably called when he was outside."
Vanderwood's eyes widened with the realization. "I knew I didn't misplace it!"
His heart sank. Why hadn't he trusted how uneasy she seemed? Why hadn't she said something? Granted, there was a good chance he wouldn't have listened…
"I went with the group that collected you to make sure none of you were hurt and to gain Rika's trust… I thought maybe if I brought you all in, she'd listen to me."
"So basically, this complicated mess is just because we're got in a lover's quarrel?" the older agent asked incredulously.
"Rika is the kind person you always knew, Saeyoung. But she had been fighting with her depression and paranoia long before we met. Helping others and my photographs were therapeutic for her. She got so good at hiding it that not even Jumin noticed. But pressure of hiding how ill she was all the time got to be too much. She was afraid of what others would think and how it would impact everyone if they found out. After the second party and after her dog died… Her anxiety got even worse. It took over her. She came up with the concept of Mint Eye then… To "save" everyone. We fought about it, and… She ran away."
"You split because your girlfriend wanted to start a cult. Most people just break up and pick up a new hobby," Vanderwood scoffed, a little less sympathetic that his life was in danger because of it. "Rich people…"
"When did Saeran get involved?" Saeyoung asked pointedly.
"I don't know when Rika brought him into this… It wasn't until that hacking attempt after the second party that I even noticed that this was going on."
"Was… that Saeran?"
"More than likely, yes… At that point, Rika had already formalized the blue print for her "Paradise". She wanted the guest list from the previous parties and tried to get them without drawing your attention by getting it all at once."
His body began to quiver at the realization that this entire time… He'd been protecting the RFA from Saeran. "You're telling me… I made the security system… And was working that hard to stop my own brother?"
Saeyoung's remaining blood was practically coursing through him in violent bursts… He shot up, feeling everything in his body tighten. There was no way Saeran could've learned that much in just a year after Rika disappearing… The RFA parties happened every 2 years.
His brother had likely been groomed from the time he'd left.
His little brother… That innocent child who knew only hunger and sadness with brief glimpses of outside when he was well enough to walk… The one they promised to protect…
"A year or two isn't enough for him to have gotten that good… How long…? How long were you exploiting my little brother like this!?"
V didn't answer, but he didn't need to. The answer was obvious.
The silence only made the blaze in him rage.
Saeyoung practically ripped the man up from the floor and slammed him against the cold, unyielding metal of the cell, shaking him with every word.
"What the hell were you doing!? You told me it was safe to leave - that you'd take care of him! You told me I could trust you! Do you have any idea how hard it was to leave that boy!? Why didn't you protect him!?"
"I'm sorry…"
There was a deafening clang as he picked the man up and smashed him hard against the door again.
"'I'm sorry" is NEVER going to be enough! I'll never forgive you! It doesn't matter that you didn't intend for this to happen! You knew! This whole time you let her torture my only brother and said NOTHING! GIVE ME BACK MY BROTHER!"
The years of torture that child endured even before… Only to have an entire adolescence of abuse and drugs forced onto him… Breaking and twisting him into Rika's obedient little puppet… A puppet that would've hurt Miyeon if he'd gotten there moments later.
That poor boy… Always sick and miserable… Crying for help alone in one of these cells… All while V did nothing! The other half of his heart and soul…
Something in him broke…
For a moment, the world went red… Being weak, hungry, and afraid had always kept him from fighting back… Years of silently praying for God to make it stop! This man who was like a miracle to him – like a father. His answered prayer… Someone he thought would protect him and Saeran...
Saeyoung was done with being a scared little boy!
Even though his body was weak, the years of pent up rage and stress found their target. He could hear Vanderwood shouting and trying to pull him back after the first punch hit V square in the jaw.
"Hey! HEY! Calm down! You're hurt!" the other agent pleaded.
By the third punch, Vanderwood had pulled him off the ground kicking and thrashing until he elbowed him and wriggled free. Saeyoung was about to start back on V before seeing Miyeon using her body to shield the bloodied man.
This gave him pause.
She was defending V? After everything? Why was Miyeon defending him? She KNEW.
Those years he'd wasted with the Agency. The bad things he'd done… The constant fear and stress. Sleepless lights. The beatings he'd took. The times he'd been tortured or the times he'd nearly died. All while missing and worrying about the other half of him. Saeran had it hundreds of times worse… The needless suffering they'd both gone through. All of it for NOTHING. He could've just stayed with Saeran and protected him by himself. They'd all be better off for it. Saeyoung felt dizzy from the burst of energy, but the adrenaline kept him on his feet.
"Saeran… My brother… You can't undo what she did to him! It's all because of you! I'll never forgive you!" he roared.
"…It's my fault…" V murmured quietly.
The girl stood between the two of them, making it clear he wasn't going to lay another finger on the photographer. It only made him angrier seeing someone defend that man after everything that happened. Maybe she didn't get it?
"We were used… We were children! WE WERE FUCKING CHILDREN! You used us, V! You and that "Savior"… I'm going to do everything to destroy you both!"
V said nothing in his defense or to object.
"That's enough," Miyeon ordered calmly.
It wasn't… There was more he needed to say. He needed to make V pay – he…
His body tightened as her arms wrapped around him. Part of him wanted to push her aside, yet another part of Saeyoung was aware of just how weak he was. He wanted to beat the life out of that man, but another part of him just wanted to sink to the floor from exhaustion. Yet Miyeon was keeping him standing… This was precious energy that he couldn't afford to burn – not if he wanted to keep her safe. He didn't want her seeing him like this… He wanted them to get free and live quietly with her and Saeran, but V was a threat to that.
"We will talk about this more after we get out of here and get you help…"
"No, I need answers now," he stated firmly despite the waver in his voice.
"…You won't get answers if you break his jaw," the girl replied.
The vitriol was in his throat, but Miyeon wasn't going to back down… Sighing with frustration he let her guide him back to sitting down while Vanderwood looked at his wound just to make sure he hadn't reopened it. Yet he wasn't ready to fully silence his displeasure, despite how badly his body was starting to shake.
There was the matter of the other person precious to him…
"Why did you let Miyeon get involved with this? Did you want to use her too?"
"That's… There's more to it than that…"
"…If you were I really will destroy the both of you…"
She studied V intently, but it wasn't as though V could see the grim expression on her face.
The photographer bit his lip before answering.
"When she first joined the RFA chat, I felt that Rika was behind it… If we hadn't accepted her, Rika would've probably recruited her through other means and found another way. Accepting Miyeon was the best way to keep her safe – I knew you'd protect her… All of it I knew would be dangerous, but I felt it was better to let things play out so Rika could show her hand. I trust in your ability, and I needed to buy time. "
"Why was Saeran attacking the servers?"
"Because Rika wanted access to the guest lists and to bring the RFA back together – here… To prove me wrong… But that failed thanks to your hard work and caution. Everyone else should be safe from this for now."
"You know a lot for a guy who isn't on good terms with the queen bee," Vanderwood acknowledged aloud.
"I disguised myself as a disciple and have been staying here to acquire information from the inside."
It clicked… Why he wanted all the untraceable communication methods. Why he had gotten so hard to reach… It made sense.
"That's why we couldn't reach you…"
"Yes…" the blind man affirmed.
His anger ebbed some. V was guilty of many things, and among them were sins he'd committed himself. He'd carried a burden on his own for so long without asking for help, and now it'd gotten to this point. Saeyoung had done the same… As much as he wanted to have someone to push all of the blame onto, the situation was more complex. It hurt and now he had no idea what to do with it.
None of this would help him get his brother back though…
"Damn it…"
"Mystery solved then, right?" the other agent sighed.
"I don't know…" Saeyoung answered weakly.
Miyeon definitely knew more but she was holding her tongue.
"Knowing more isn't going to fix what's already been done. It's sort of pointless if there's not a way to turn Saeran back to how he was."
The photographer used his sleeve to dab the blood away with a wince. "If I can get through to Rika, he may realize the truth and return to you."
It wasn't going to be that easy… Brainwashing like his brother had been subjected to wasn't something that just went away with a realization. Saeyoung felt sick just thinking about what might need to be done. His head was too foggy to even put a plan together. He wanted his brother back, but the reality of dealing with the person he'd become hadn't sank in. His brother was dangerous and hated him… He had every right to from the lies he'd been fed. That pain and conditioning wasn't something a confession was going to wipe away.
"What's the plan then? What can you do to change her mind?" the older agent asked.
"…I can let her destroy me until she's satisfied."
Vanderwood scoffed. "What do you mean by that? I don't think that's going to work…"
The two of them could kill each other for all he cared… Glancing over, he could see Miyeon's sweet face so very hard with resolve. There was so much she was holding back from saying so V could say his piece… When her eyes fell on him again with concern, Saeyoung remembered his priorities. At the end of the day, he only truly cared about two people in this whole mess. The girl next to him and the brother he'd been put against… They were on a clock… He'd already wasted enough time for selfish reasons. As Vanderwood and V spoke, he took out the phone and began work to get them all out of there.
It began by accessing his virtual server IP.
They could discuss the rest of this chaos later, although he was fairly certain there was nothing else, he wanted to hear. Just this bit of information left him feeling so complicated. Really, he couldn't trust anything being said, so he needed to look for evidence. There wasn't time for that now.
The only person he could trust was at his side, and it was best to trust her instincts. Miyeon wanted him alive and healthy… He just had to hold onto her and let her guide him there, because he was dangerously close to losing his way. For so long his emotions had been buried and pushed aside, now they were so close to the surface and erupted so readily…
It was exhausting. Or maybe he just didn't have the energy to fight them back anymore. Focusing on getting them all to safety helped him return to some level of control. Giving into them was what had gotten him into this mess. If he'd been better at controlling himself, they would've perhaps been able to avoid so much of it…
He had to stay focused…
It took about ten minutes, during which he could hear V and Vanderwood talking, but his attention was on getting the coordinates to Jumin along with a few tactical recommendations. The anger he felt was still close to the surface, but not enough to distract him any further. His head felt so light, yet possible plans of action sloshed around in his skull. There was no point in calling the police as that would make things go public and undoubtly Rika had already taken steps to ensure the local law enforcement of any of the nearby towns had members looking out for the cult's best interests.
"There were three guards outside before," Miyeon noted softly.
A hum of affirmation escaped him as he added that to the intel.
He felt some relief as the message showed as having been received. It was going to take time, but at least the clock was working in their favor now. The last thing he typed in was a recall code to the catbot with a command to stream the acquired footage to Jumin along with the blueprints from Mint Eye that he'd acquired. Another thought occurred to him then, which he quickly added to the recall code.
Vanderwood looked over his shoulder with some puzzlement before returning to his questioning of V.
"It's done…"
"Will they even see it?" the long-haired man asked with some worry in his voice.
"I'm sure they will," Miyeon offered hopefully.
"We've got at least five hours… Not counting any time it'd take for him to get this security team together or interruptions. But… Help will come. Until then we can stall for time as best we can."
"That code you used at the end. I've never seen anything like that before," the older agent observed.
"You wouldn't recognize it. It's my own work," Saeyoung explained. "…It's a recall code for catbot."
"You made your own coding language!?"
Setting the phone aside and turning it to battery saver to conserve as much energy as he could, Saeyoung glanced at Miyeon. He'd seen her have anxiety attacks before... If there was ever a time to be anxious, it was likely now, but she was almost serene. If she'd shown any sign of fear or injury, he wasn't sure that he'd be able to focus as well. Part of him wanted to think the girl was holding onto the hope of rescue and staving away the fear with that.
Yet something was unsettling about it…
The concern was what would happen the second they were safe, and his eyes weren't on her… His good hand slipped over to hers, gripping it gently to remind her that she wasn't alone. They were one, just as he and Saeran were. She returned the pressure, but the warmth in her body hadn't returned.
With care he draped the other half of Vanderwood's coat around her and pulled her close. The stale cigarette mixed with Rika's perfume and her natural aroma… Despite his attention, her body didn't relax. She seemed to accept the little warmth he had to give, but there was something that kept her back rigid and her gaze off in the distance.
His anger with V had distracted him. It was obvious she'd been bathed and dressed up to make the girl more presentable to show off to the savior and for whatever "ritual" they were going to undergo.
The realization hit him then…
He'd never seen her angry before… Miyeon had been upset and frustrated – especially at him - over the past few days, but never truly angry. Was she angry? That'd explain the new way her brow furrowed and the coldness directed to a point likely rooms away.
Part of him wanted to believe she was annoyed at him getting so distracted by V, but this was something deeper.
"Where did they take you? What did they do to you?" he asked tenderly.
Her eyes widened at the question and V seemed troubled. The photographer looked desperate to say something… The girl, however, buried her face against his chest to where he couldn't see.
Something had happened…
"Miyeon."
She feigned resting, but everyone in the cell was very much aware that it was for show. Vanderwood seemed ready to start checking her for wounds, but the hacker waved him off with a glance. It was all he could do to just return his focus into calming his breathing. His mind was full of complicated questions and concerns about where they'd taken her… Why she was so cold… But he knew Miyeon wasn't going to say a word.
The things that really hurt her she hid, and the longer he was with her, the more aware he became of that fact. His wounds had all been opened for the world to see, so there was no way he could hide them now. It wasn't like that for her… He'd been taking her strength for granted, even now she was likely holding onto him to keep him warm and focused.
Stroking her hair, he rested his head to hers.
God willing, the CEO to be would make it before anything worse happened.
He could feel his body doing it's best to keep him functioning. The list of hypovolemic shock symptoms was replaying in his head, being checked one by one. There was no telling how far he could keep pushing himself before there was no recovery. If his last sight was seeing Jumin's security team pulling her away to safety, Saeyoung felt he could leave the world in peace.
For now, he just had to hold on.
It was going to be a long 5 hours…