The gloomy morning soured as a light rain drizzled its way over the miserable occupants busily milling about the little street market below. A mixture of scents and sounds filled the air as sellers hunched over their wares and haggled over the prices of fish and fruit, little suspecting their uneventful day was about to be disturbed as a distant sound was soon heard over the din of the market.
Two blacked-out vans and a smart sports car zipped through the muddying streets of downtown Seoul, filthy muck spraying the expensive paint job as tires screeched to a halt on the outskirts of the shopping center now flocked with tourists and merchants. Curious, a few looked up in time to see the hordes of men, all dressed in black, vacate the vans and disperse into the swelling crowd of people seeking shelter from the rain under the umbrellaed stands.
It was an odd sight, not one you'd typically encounter down here where most people kept to themselves and the only deviation was when a tourist came for an "authentic" experience, but spotting the red peony flower insignia on several of the black lapels, the merchants quickly ducked their heads back down, choosing wisely to keep their noses out of it. Only one group dressed like that and it didn't do to be too involved with them. Rumor also had it only top-ranking mafia personnel had the special red peony insignia so whatever had drawn them out on a day like today was better left alone.
"We'll start here," Woo Bin determined, alighting from the car as Yi Jeong silently joined him. Very little had been said on the ride over and Woo Bin could tell his friend was still processing the events that had taken place. "her phone stopped sending signals pretty close by if the readings right," he said more to himself than to his friend who was scanning the area coldly. The initial shock had made him quiet, but the rage that followed had been unlike anything Woo Bin had seen from Yi Jeong before. He was like a different man and Woo Bin worried he would spiral out of control. However, after the first furry of emotions subsided and Yi Jeong had gained more control over his emotions, the man had retreated back into himself, barely talking as a hard resolve took its place.
"let's go" Yi Jeong spoke at last.
Seeing the agitated reaction from the crowd ahead, Woo Bin directed his men down some of the other streets lining the way. He'd handle the market. The last thing they needed was a panicked mob hindering their movements right now.
"We'll find her," Yi Jeong felt a hand on his shoulder before Woo Bin disappeared into the crowd. Watching him trek towards the open market ahead, Yi Jeong was about to follow when a narrow strip of concrete to the left caught his eye. Branching to the side, he saw it snaked into a mesh of little side alleys that weaved behind the many rickety buildings lining the street. He'd catch up with Woo Bin later…
"—how much for the mangos?"
"—Excuse me, have you seen—"
"One-moment dear," came the flippant reply as the middle-aged woman Woo Bin had questioned pushed back the sweaty gray hair clinging to her forehead and continued to haggle with the lady in front of her stand, "5 for 7000 won, but I'll give it to you for 6."
"They were just 4000 won last week!" the disagreeable ahjumma retorted with warmth, tipping her head up sharply to emphasize the words while her friend gave her a strained look, "Yes, but we haven't been getting shipments in like usual. They're in high demand, so you better buy while I still have some left-You'll need them if you're going to make that curry."
"You're a thief, ya know that Ima?" the old lady broke out into a raspy laugh, forking over the change just the same as she sputtered about, making room for the fruits in her grubby sailcloth bag. Still paying no heed to the tall stranger they so rudely ignored, the two began chatting about the usual gossip that gave their dull lives a little bit of color.
"—its rather import—" Woo Bin pressed, beginning to feel impatient. It appeared his charms as the Don Juan of S. Korea were of little use here, where the price of mangos was the most pressing issue at the moment.
"Yes, yes, I'll be with you in a minute."
"I really—"
The stocky woman turned impatiently on the man who had been bothering her for the last five minutes, ready to give him a piece of her mind. The opposite happened as she was struck dumb for a moment.
The rather handsome stranger was a strange sight in their little market, definitely not the kind of person you'd see every day…Unfortunately for Woo Bin, his suave features didn't win him any points in this particular ahjumma's book. Her years working in the area had made her wary and she was sure men like the one before her could only be trouble. In her mind, there was only one reason men like that came down here. Men dressed in overpriced clothes and swanky haircuts. Casting a stain on their community…the nerve!
Barely taking one look at the picture of the young lady on the phone he extended, the ahjumma found her voice again and gave a pert reply. "Missing, huh? Well, I'll tell you once and only once." The woman practically barked as she brought her large kitchen knife high—the much smaller woman opposite her nodding approvingly as she went—"we don't take to your kind down here. None of our girls will be of any use to you, they're all from good families, so I suggest you move along." The knife swung with a thud, effectively splitting the melon in front of her into two clean pieces as she turned away with a huff. Woo Bin's cheek's reddened, realizing what kind of person she believed him to be. Absentmindedly thanking her for time, he saw that many ahjumma's were now eyeing him suspiciously from their stands—this wasn't going to be as easy as he'd thought.
A swish of air rushed past Yi Jeong's head giving him barely enough time to duck before a hard object came crashing down onto his shoulder, grazing his neck in the process. He swaggered slightly as clay crumbled around him, the remains of a brick crashing to his feet.
For a moment all was confusion, he hadn't seen his attacker but knew the throw had come from his right. Anticipating his assailant's next movements, Yi Jeong darted quickly to the right grabbing the man's arm in the same motion and pinning it painfully behind his back while his attacker found his knees knocked out from behind at the same moment. Flinging a fist full of gravel, the man attempted to flee, but he had underestimated Yi Jeong who was expecting such a move and dodged it easily.
One swift kick and the man was once again sprawling on the ground.
A flicker of recognition flashed across Yi Jeong's face as he examined his attacker,
"Let me go you or I'll kil—" the man squirmed, but Yi Jeong pinned him to the floor in a flash, his knee digging into the man's ribs harshly as he emphasized every word,
"Where is she you son of a—"
Woo Bin stared at the ahjumma waving her fish strainer at him.
"All I need is a second of your time" he grinned his most swoony smile and held out his phone, "have you seen this girl? No? How about this man?"
The lady let out a huff before eyeing the screen, by now she'd do anything to get him out of her hair. Her eyes widened a little, "haven't seen the girl, but he's been hanging around here, tries to pinch produce when we're not lookin. Why?" The old lady glared severely over the edge of her spectacles, "he a friend of yours?"
But the tall stranger was no longer listening and she was taken aback by the sudden murderous light that had entered his eyes.
"Where?"
"I don't under—"
"Where have you seen him?" the man practically roared grabbing her shoulders with a shake. "Tell me now!"
"Well, I..I don't know," she stammered "just around, think he lives down thata way" she'd barely got the words out before the stranger took off in the direction she had pointed. She didn't know who the man was, but she didn't envy his enemy. That man looked dangerous and ready to kill...
As Woo Bin left the fish stand, a bitter taste began to form at the back of his throat. It appeared the nightmare had come back to haunt them.
"Spit it out, you dirty, worthless piece of shit. If you have any decency left at all, you'll tell me where she is."
The man complied—spitting in Yi Jeong's general direction. This earned him another blow that left him bleeding at the lip and sprawling on the street like the miserable creep he was. He had no qualms about attacking a man from behind, but now that the tables were turned and he was so clearly overpowered, the coward had little fight left in him and resorted to crying for help, hoping someone would hear or that Yi Jeong would have enough and let him go. Struggling to get up, a searing pain in his hand instantly halted all movement as white pain blinded his mind.
Yi Jeong was scarcely restraining his rage as he felt the sickening crunch of the man's wrist under his shoe. "I'll ask once more time.
Where.
Is.
She."
"Shit man, I don't know where the girl is, honest!" the man took a sharp breath as more pressure was added, rage building he yelled between curses—and I don't care. You ruined my life. Yeah, you and the girl. Family cut me off. Jobs won't hire jailbirds. Forced to live in this dump—can't even steal enough to live on—I don't know where she is, but she can rot in hell for all I care!" The man snarled nastily as he struggled futilely to upset Yi Jeong's balance on his arm.
Tamping down the rage to kill him right then and there, Yi Jeong allowed more of his weight to slowly crush the scumbag's hand. He knew how much it hurt, but he didn't care. He had ceased to care about anything the minute Ga Eul had disappeared.
Suddenly Yi Jeong spun around, posed to fight as the scum's agonized cries and curses were interrupted by the sound of pounding steps on the pavement. Whoever it was, they'd better hope they'd prayed that morning. His anger died when he saw the disheveled figure approaching.
Woo Bin stopped short, panting as he took in the sight of Yi Jeong towering over the miserable form of Dae Sab. They exchanged a look before Yi Jeong turned back to his prey. Before he could say a word, Woo Bin's nearing voice echoed in the small alley.
"She's not here. I already searched his home—and she's not there."
"See, I told you I don't have her!" Dae Sab laughed manically, forgetting his fear for the moment and continued his taunt; relishing in the pain etched on Yi Jeong's face."You arrogant bastards deserved what's coming to you, she's probably been rap—he never finished his sentence. Before anyone could blink, Yi Jeong was pummeling his fists into the bastard's face until it was one bloody mess. Seeing he had no restraint, Woo Bin prepared to step in and save his friend from crossing the line, a line that could land him in prison. But Yi Jeong tore himself away before he had a chance, leaving Dae Sab to writhe on the ground holding his nose, which was now crooked at a wonky angle and bleeding heavily.
Walking robotically towards his friend, "witnesses?" was all Yi Jeong could manage in a tight voice filled with pain.
Woo Bin shook his head, "Not much help. Too afraid to lie to me. His roommate's never seen him with a girl either." As Yi Jeong neared his friend, he spotted something in the mafia heir's hand. It shook him from his haze as his blood ran cold at the sight. Ga Eul's phone.
"Wait, Yi Jeong," Paying no mind to Woo Bin's restraining hand, Yi Jeong seized the broken object. The front was cracked, the back littered with red letters. Looking for something? They taunted in a jaunty script.
"Found it on the road." Woo Bin offered at last, looking depleted and as Yi Jeong stared at the phone in his hand, a terrible realization dawned on him. Unless he was a greater idiot than they gave him credit for, Dae Sab would never dispose of the phone so carelessly, let alone allow himself to be caught walking in broad daylight the very day it had happened. No, the man who had so meticulously planned the fires of two years ago wouldn't make such an obvious fumble. Someone had thrown it away, somewhere to distract them from the scent. Or rather, somewhere that would give them a perfect scent, leading them down a false trail.
Dae Sab was just wasted time. He was never a lead to begin with. The real criminal had known her past and used him as a tool to steer Yi Jeong away from the trail. Strategically leaving her phone somewhere they were sure to find it. Wasting valuable time they didn't have. And even more disturbing, the person responsible had known Ga Eul well enough to conceive such a trap. Yi Jeong sunk to his knees, horror swallowing him whole.
Da Sab took this moment to shrivel away. So the slut was missing, huh? Served her right. Perhaps someone else would finish the job he'd failed at. He barely suppressed a gleeful chuckle at the thought, cracked lip and all, when the smile was wiped of his wicked face. Three men all in black except for red mafia insignias on their lapels barred his path. He shuddered as the man in the middle cracked a fist…
Far removed from the noise of the city, a girl with dark curly hair was waking up to an empty room…it was dark…and she was bleeding.
