The most important things in life aren't things. - Anthony J. D'Angelo
When she came to, she was in a van already on the highway, her mouth gagged and her hands bound in front of her. For the second time in only a few hours she was staring at a pair of handcuffs with no key.
"calm down" a man next to her said as her vision began to return, "just relax we're not gonna hurt you as long as you dont do anything stupid we have orders to take you and your brother to the boss."
Wait a minute brother?
she tried to say she wasn't daki but the gag made it impossible. her hands were bound in front ubut There was a hook fastened to the floor with a small chain attached leaving just enough slack to slap another set of handcuffs on. They looped them around the chain on the floor and then directly to her handcuffs' leaving only enough room so she could sit up straight but very little to move her hands, maybe a couple of inches left or right of her lap but nothing more.
"damn, boss wasn't kidding the sisters not bad, not bad at all, seriously they dont look a thing related." The same man in the passenger seat said as he looked back at her grinning like an idiot. He had that a stoner look; his eyes bloodshot and barely open. Is he high?This is not good! Not good at all!
She tried screaming, but received an elbow on her left. Looking up she saw gyutaro next to her also bound and gagged. In her panic she hadnt realize she wasn't by herself. he wasn't happy, but he wasn't completely scowling either. He looked almost as if he expected this. But more importantly the look on his face indicated she needed to calm down
Considering they gagged him too he probably wasn't able to explain the mix up. They must've simply saw them together and assumed. What idiots, didn't they have a picture or something? Even in the darkness it was obvious she didn't look at all like daki. So what the fuck? had he not been there she probably would've spiraled into a panic
But since she wasn't alone she was able to assess the situation: looks like a 12 passenger van with black tinted windows, there were 6 men total, The driver and the passenger to his right, 1 to her right, gyutaro was sitting to her left by the window,and therr were 3 more men behind them.
With nothing else she could do she leaned her head into his right shoulder, with the little room she moved her hands sqeezing his right thigh gently. he got the message, after a moment he moved his cuffed hands to his right allowing her to grab his hands tightly. They were very rough and calloused but warm- fiery hot actually. Like his heart was pumping lava instead of blood.
Regardless, she held onto his hands as tightly as the give would allow, her forehead buried deep in his shoulder as she squeezed her eyes shut.
The car ride in the van was very quiet...
Her mind raced at all the possibilities of what was gonna happen to them, their kidnappers explained she was coming alongg to ensure gyutaro behaved himself while they sorted out his supposed fuck up from the job he left daki to do earlier.
They were driving them both to meet with their boss...
jesus was their boss a kingpin? The cartel? Muzan? her mind spun in circles as she kept her eyes shut too afraid to open them and look pathetic once the tears fell. As if reading her mind, the partner who was sitting passenger says "relax, like i said we aint gonna hurt you as long as gyutaro does his job." He was drawling too like he had only had 2 brain cells to work with, but he was armed. "Once that's done we'll bring you back. Nice and easy."
Great so now her life rested in gyutaros hands... would he really save her? What if the cost outweighs the benefits, would he abandon her? She had no idea how to get back home, she didn't even want to think about what they'd do to her if he decided to cut his losses.
But he wouldnt... would he?
Ironically, the event she was afraid of, that is, him finding out she and daki were still in contact, was possibly the same event that bonded them just enough to get her out of this mess. Maybe he feels something for her being kidnapped alongside him now?
she didnt have to think long until they arrived at some apartment complexes...she couldnt lie, she knew what kind of place this was. "welcome to the projects" the guy next to her said. he chuckled as he opened the van door, the man in the passenger seat, handed over a key, which he uses to unlock marins cuffs from the van so she could move. He jumped out the van extending his hand out for her to take, "come on little lady, lets go."
She wouldn't move she didn't wanna be separated from gyutaro, he had to nudge her forward with his boots for her to get the hint.
They unhook him from the floor and escort them both With 2 men on either side of them, the other 2 men opening the gates and doors.
, everything looked dilapidated and ill-kept, the apartments were all identical and seemed to cover several blocks, she looked around and saw a few men looking in their direction smoking, she saw a woman walking by about 100 feet to her left who looked like she was on something. she was rubbing her nose furiously and muttering to herself, her skin looking more sallow and jaundiced than gyutaro's...definitely an addict of some kind.
she got flashbacks of her father and mother warning her about areas like these saying the people here lived desperate lives and did desperate things to get by. Even aS a child Marin could see the poverty in stark contrast to the neighborhood she grew up in and never ventured into these neck of the woods. She always knew Gyutaro hung around people in low places but knowing and being dragged into it are 2 different things entirely.
As She was escorted out of the van, surprisingly the men held up their end of the bargain not treating her with any more force or malice than necessary to get her to come along. Once out they got to a gate that was opened after ringing a bell up to presumably the owner inside. After bypassing the gate there was another locked door and then a third after reaching the stairs.
This is bad, this is really bad! Marin thought over and over even if by some miracle she ran and escaped there is no way she could get through 3 locked doors... And the fact their boss was on the 2nd story didn't help, the building was kinda high. Could she jump and still have her legs intact enough to get away? The panic was beginning to set in again.
what to do ? What to do...?
could she negotiate her freedom with money perhaps? Dad will lose his mind if he finds out and demand she come live with him. But they said gyutaro owed them... if its just money maybe there is a way out afterall?
Maybe she should just trust Gyutaro to get her out of this instead? Not like she's his sister though, in fact once these people realize they severely over estimated her value to him, then What? He did say he wished her dead literally before this ... surely he was being hyperbolic, right?
Dont panic! dont panic! she thought, she just needed to comply for the moment and secretly scan for an escape. As her escorts got closer to wherever they were taking her she could hear a man yelling very loud profanities; loud enough that she could hear him through the door in the hallway..
"I hope it isn't gonna be a long night." said one of the guysas he opened the door.
Inside she saw gyutaro who had entered first getting unhandcuffed, his gag already removed, she screamed something through her gag but it came out as more like a high pitched mumble. Gyutaros eyes met hers as he narrowed them shaking his head slightly not saying anything
Was that a sign to be cool again? despite being able to talk he wasn't saying anything. So she followed suit And stay quiet even after they removed her gag and handcuffs.
The apartment was a dingy place far worse then the siblings home, it reeked of weed, beer and just stuffiness in general. like if anyone opened a window they were afraid the entire city would smell it. The furniture was vintage, like it was pulled from the 1950s, even the table cloths. many plants adorned the cramped space hanging from the ceiling, some were in the corners of rooms and some were small and put by the windows, windows whose curtains had been pulled shut. Stranger still was the 2 aquariums on either side of the room, one had fish the other had snakes.
Eventually a man speaks, "well well weeeell look, what the cat dragged back in?! Have I seen you before?" He laughs knowing damn well he saw him a few hours ago... or maybe he wasn't joking? As marin got a good look at this man, his hair in cornrows dyed a deep mauve purple, tattoo sleeves on both arms up to his neck. the freakin sclera of his eyes was dyed purple... the most jarring thing she noticed was his behavior; he clearly was on drugs. They all looked like it in fact she would know.
"Look gyutaro , we're sorry to bring you back on such short notice, but uhm, yeah seems you're a bit short. And Mukago decided you need to pay the rest. And in case you try to...I don't know, be smart about it, we brought her along. Now I know what you're thinking, but scouts honor," he held his right hand to his heart as if he was making a promise, "i promise we won't touch her."
She watched in horror, as gyutaro stared him down not saying a word, his mouth a completely straight line, but his jaw clenched as if he was gritting his teeth underneath. his arms crossed before his eyes shifted to marin. He held her gaze for a long, long time, before he took a deep breath in and looked back at this freak show, "I told you before I moved your shit that you were short, didn't I? And The buyer wasn't stupid, he literally had his guys count every bottle, every fucking ounce and paid you exactly what you gave him, complain to him not me."
"Eeeeh! wrong answer, sorry you ugly bastard but you were supposed to make sure we got our money regardless. We told you when you accepted the job, even if he didnt pay you were supposed to figure out the rest. and now either were gonna need your cut back or you get us the money we agreed upon."
So it is about money. She thought, great, there is a chance I can get out of here. Her heart began to beat faster in cautious optimism.
"Sorry, Gyokko" gyutaro shifted his position now leaning against the wall of their greasy kitchen. "But I ain't giving you my cut. So it looks like we'll have to figure out some other shit." He said scratching the side of his neck lightly.
"Sure thing, sure thing, but just so you know, you have until day after tomorrow to come up with the rest." thats when his eyes narrowed,
"day after tomorrow? Are you fucking high?"
Gyokko laughed; it was a smoker's laugh; raspy and full of phlegm.
"Oh Can you believe this guy?" he pointed walking to marin and patting her back rather hard. "So what's your plan?" He says peering into gyutaro like a predator looking at prey. Yet he doesn't even flinch, he reacted with all the resolve of a man whose been living on the edge his entire life. If it were marin she wouldve folded for sure.
"I told you, the buyer was meticulous, it's on you." He sounded almost bored like he was talking to kids.
At first nothing happened, but then gyokko gestured with his hand for someone to bring marin closer to a table, bending her over.
Gyokko stabs a knife on the table right by her head, she yelped but said nothing else. "Look gyutaro, we know who you are, you ran with muzans group, so we know you're the real deal, but what about her? How valuable is she to you?"
Marin wanted to say something- anything, but instead she only whimpered and closed her eyes. No gyutaro won't abandon me she told herself over and over again, he won't, he won't, he wont...
Gyutaro didn't even flinch at that threat either. "Look," he said finally, "extend your timeline and maybe I can do something for you. I don't care if you're muzan himself, less than 48 hours ain't gonna cut it. I'm not a miracle worker."
He seemed to consider, before a voice, a female voice called him over. The voice sounded like a child, no older than her or daki! Marin hadn't even noticed there was a young woman in the apartment, where the hell had she been hiding?
he came back eventually after he snorted what could only be some kind of recreational substance. He kicked out the other guy who was holding her down and took his place behind lifting her up slowly, putting a gun under her chin. "OK, brat," he said deadly serious, "tell us your plan for getting our money or I blow her fucking head off, you have 10 seconds."
He counted. She panicked; breath stuck in her lungs, she was pretty sure she was hyperventilating. But gyutaro responded quickly, "kill her and then what? You have no leverage over me and you still don't get your money."
"Maybe it ain't about the moneybut the principle?" He squeezed marins waist tightly against his own laughing. It was only then that she felt him poking her backside. Whether it was the drugs, her body or the power trip he was on she didn't know but he was aroused by this in any case.
"yeah then this whole Thing is a fucking waste of time," gyutaro continues, "you're not gonna kill me, I know that much, so killing her is not gonna do anything except make me hunt you down one by one." This was a true threat, if she thought him punching her drywall was scary this was a different stratosphere of frightening. This wasnt intimidation or a litmus test; it was an ice cold threat: ill finish you off. She wants to say he felt a little guilty for her situation, but he could've just as easily been acting out of anger at being cornered like a dog with that timeline. So was it pride or sympathy?
Atleast she knew he was trying to get them both out of here in one piece when he could've confessed and dipped out on her. Afterall she really wasn't important to him.
"Sir, he isnt armed, we can deal with him–" one of them aimed his gun at gyutaro who was still leaning against the wall unfazed. Jesus, he looked like the terminator by the way he acts around all these tweakers.
But gyokko grabbed the barrel and punched him in the face, barrel and all. "You idiot, gyutaro may be a brat but he's one of muzans best, he's valuable. Kill him and we're fucked, and not like tonight-fucked, I'm talking forever-fucked because that mother fucker muzan aint to be played with." This created more questions than marin was willing to entertain at the moment. She tried to log It away as questions to ask if she survived the night.
But still there was a far more pressing matter, he was buying her time sure, but beyond that it didn't seem like he had a working plan on how he was gonna get the money. It looked like his fight or flight was waging war inside his mind. She figured it wouldn't hurt to try a different approach.
"P-Please, let me talk to him" she whispered, "huh?" Gyokko whipped his head, "please give us 10 minutes to talk about this?"
"Ah, the little mouse speaks, Mu, what do you say?" Gyokko directed the question to the unknown female in the room adjacent to theres.
"I don't care" was the reply.
Gyokko pulls her up and pushes her to gyutaro, "Matt keep an eye on them, you guys can talk right there," he points to a narrow, hallway that connects to the kitchen to the bedroom, then walks in the other direction where the female is. gyutaro grabs her Shoulders squeezing them strongly to let her know they need to Hurry up. Matt with a bloody nose Pointed his gun at them as they walked to the end of the kitchen before making a sharp right. Down the hall.
"Do not open any of the doors," he orders as he stood watch. Immediately marin asked "do you have a plan for this?" The panic was lain bare, she didn't even bother to cover it up or try to look strong
"How are your legs?" He asked not looking at her, instead he was looking at the window at the end of the hall. She threw her arm over his neck and pulled him closer to her face so he had to take a knee. "were not jumping outta 2 story window, gyutaro! Do you have a plan?" She asked crouched on her knees to the floor.
"Ive gotta few options, but with you here i may have to rethink this entire thing..." Her face looked at him with dejection. his eyes widened in a brief moment of humanity, realizing how it sounded before he steeled himself again, "listen, I'm with you. I promise I won't abandon you, it's just..." he looks at the floor, eyes furrowed "I've never... quite been in a situation like this." He confessed scratching the back of his head, before dragging his nails across his neck deeply "I'll figure something out,
"How?"
"I mean, surely you've noticed?" he looked behind him at their posted sentry, with his eyes half closed, "normally when I deal with these guys they have that old man in charge, that's the only reason I don't cut ties altogether. He's disciplined, organized and does good business, but you heard that fucking bitch in the other room right? She's the granddaughter and she's a fucking junkie, they all are, which makes them incredibly unreliable and un predictable."
She connected the dots, "You mean they use the product they're supposed to be dealing."
"Exactly. Which makes negotiating or doing any business difficult -almost pointless,"
Atleast he gave her some comfort that he wouldn't abandon her...but she wasnt stupid if a choice came down between her and going home to dakii hed definitely choose his sister, so the problem still remained, she closed her eyes, slumping down on her butt before exhaling deeply trying to calm her nerves.
"Look I may have a plan, but I need youu to give me some details."
"Oh? So you're the one with the big plans now?" She was afraid he'd say that, but goddammit she was an accountant. Money was her forte, she had to Think of way to give them what they wanted so she could go home– so they both could.
"All... I-i need to know is a few details of your agreement," she wanted to get the details as quickly as possible on the off chance they decide to cut their little meeting short once the drugs swung into full effect.
"speak then" he said, "How much money is owed? what's the timeline? and how they want it?'
"Easy, 9400 cash, lumpsum, he says they want it in 2 days, I'd probably have to drive back out here to deliver it. They took a real risk driving high to kidnap us in our own neighborhood where cops live, they won't be doing that again."
... her heart fluttered that optimism rearing its head again, "ok that's great we'll have it by then. Do you think you could haggle them down further?"
"I can try, she might listen." his tone was less tense and more questioning why she was so excited
"Try to haggle them down as much as you can," At this gyutaro stepped in, "hang on, I need to know What're you planning? I don't have 10k lying around." she swallowed, her throat was so dry it felt raw,
"listen to me, what we're gonna do is take out a personal loan for the rest of the money. Anything under 10 grand won't be flagged by AML."
He made a face like that wouldnt work, "what? What's wrong?" her heart sank again, "I can't take out a loan like that."
"Gyu, it's a personal loan all you need is a fucking pulse and a decent credit score–" That's when it registered to her, no fucking shit he can't do it
"...It's the credit, isnt it?" He dug his finger nails in his neck again. She grabbed his hand, "not fucking now!"
"Look, We'll think of another way," he said a deep grimace on his face. "Why? I'll just do it.
"What?"
"So we can get this over with." She stood up ready to head back, but he grabs her arm forcing her back on one knee. "What!?" she snaps a bit more forceful than she intended, "you know I ain't paying you back for it. If you do this its on you."
"Oh, fuck you! get up and let's just do it. Can you guarantee these guys won't come after us for more?"
"Come after 'us'?" Now he stood up incredibly hostile, giving off that same cornered animal aura when gyokko cut his timeline short. 'You mean me and my sister?"
"ngh,Does it matter?!" She grunts.
"Oh, it matters!" He hissed back.
"im asking you to trust me, I can't fucking do this by myself!" she cries.
He let go, his face softening only slightly to think. The guard yelled 5 minutes before their meeting was forcibly adjourned but he didn't move, as if playing all the scenarios in his head of how this could go down.
Finally he spoke, "the issue isnt her, its gyokko, if he weren't here, she'd accept your deal easier. She's not afraid to flip script but... she's more agreeable when he isnt around. Especially since..." he looks her up and down but doesn't say anything.
"what?" He turns to glare at the wall or more specifically who was behind it but marin put her hands over his and held them tightly. "I can explain the finer details if they ask."
"It's not that..." he lets out an exhale, putting a hand on his temple massaging it slightly. "He's a doped up psychopath" even marin knew what he was trying to say.
"Listen you know these people best, i believe in you." Again the hard exterior he wore dropped only for a second, before he corrected himself back into that distant stare again. "fine, let's do it. I'll lead."
They head out, side by side, that's when gyokko put his arm out halting them at the edge of the hall where the kitchen connects. "You, with me" he said pointing to marin. She looks at gyutaro, a worried expression on her face before doing as she was told.
Gyokko pushes her into the living room that was adjacent to the kitchen. And forced her to take a seat on the couch that sunk so low from wear she was afraid she'd be swallowed by it.
Only then did she see who this boss was. "Hello." she greeted with an extended hand, "I'm Mukago, the brains," she spun a long lanky finger around her head, "of this lovely this operation." Sitting on her haunches, her knees to her chest.
She was a petite–or rather emaciated girl–or woman? It was hard to tell. Her skin was jaundiced to a point of uncanny valley, her eyes set deep with dark bags underneath, and they were bloodshot, her arms were littered with marks from multiple needle injections, her hair was white making her face look like that of a young girl and an old woman at the same time. But Marin believes based on her voice she was younger than she looked.
She hesitated, shaking her hand. Mukago suddenly pulls her sharply, so she spoke directly into her ear. "Who are you?" She whispered. Marin could see lint on her black over-sized v neck. Her figure was too bony to fill it out.
She reminded Marin of those paper mache dolls shed make in elementary schools; the ones made using pipe cleaner as skeletal bases as you wrapped the gooey white paper straps around forming a human. Her clothes hung off so loosely if it wasn't for the way she sat on the sofa, she was worried they'd fall off altogether.
"You're not Daki. My men maybe be dumb, but I'm not. Are you the police?" Even her voice sounded came out like a hiss. "N-no" Marin dragged her hand back slowly. But Mukago wouldn't let go. She held on like a skeleton. It creeped her out. So did the snakes in the glass a few feet behind her.
"Hmmmm?" She stared at her with sunken eyes as if she were thinking. "Are you a gift, perhaps?"
A gift? What the fuck is that? A gift in what way? To join her drug gang?
should she say they were neighbors and possibly invite more problems at her doorstep? Should she deny knowing the siblings altogether? Just say wrong place, wrong time? Or is there some other lie she could tell? Was it even proper to tell lies at this point? Would the truth be better?
Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately), mukago ordered gyokko to bring gyutaro back as well. Marin was relieved she wouldn't have to talk. "Who is this girl? This isn't your sister."
"congratulations you have eyes!" He scoffed, an almost permanent frown etched on his face.
She tilted her head. It was creepy; the gesture looking more like her head was too heavy for her neck than an action she meant to take, and then she smiles ear to ear. "She's very pretty," she bit her chapped lips when she said it, "yes, very pretty... That's the beauty of women," she put a finger under marins chin, "always carrying something somebody wants." What she implied was not lost on Marin. her stomach sank again.
"Gyu~taro~." she sings his name like he were her pet, "tell me who is she? What is she to you? I know you don't have any other blood relatives, and you're way too greedy a bastard to pay for her."
At this gyokko was furious. He had all his men line up and punched every single one of them HARD in then face, "you got the wrong bitch you dumb lowlives. I outta fucking kill you! You're lucky she thinks she's worth it!"
"We went based on the description you gave! Pretty girl, long bright hair who lives at the house. They were even bickering like you said!" Marin couldn't see. She was honestly too afraid to look back, but she could hear the commotion. "You should've given us a photo," another yelled.
"Shut the fuck up before I kill each of you."
"She's my fucking gardener" gyutaro said after a long stare down, "Oh?!" Mukago got way too excited at his answer, chuckling although it sounded more like a dry cackle. Marin wasn't sure what was going on. Gyokko comes back to the living room, tapping the glass holding the snakes lightly then turning to gyutaro, repeating the same question as before "so what the fuck is she your whore? She certainly ain't your girlfriend. With a mug like yours running with people like us, she'd have to be insane!" He was shouting as if he were at a concert... the drugs were in full effect.
But then he directs his next question at Marin, "you the fucking police?!" Mukago tapped her finger on the arm of her sofa, "I was wondering the same thing, I don't think it's quite your style but then again, word on the street is that's how you betrayed muzan."
"I warned her, but she's the type to fuck around and find out." Gyutaro was faced forward talking to Mukago, but Marin felt like that comment was addressed to her.
"I see, so that's why you said nothing." Mukago chortles you were planning on getting off Scott-free while we thought we had your sister. ok fine, as long as she isn't a cop, consider your debt paid for.
Huh? Marin was visibly confused. That's all it took? No, that can't be right. She Whipped her head around to see if his expression would giveaway something, but it was the same calculated mask he always wore. She looked back at their boss, who was coughing rather deeply into her knees. Suddenly jumping out the window seemed like the most logical thing right now.
Did she just... buy me..? More importantly, did gyutaro just sell me? That made marins blood turn ice cold,
'I try to be honest but people only want to hear pretty little lies.'
When he agreed with her plan was he telling her a lie to make her feel better? She really didn't know gyutaro at all. Most of what she knew came from his sister.
Mukago curls her finger, gyokko strip that girl make sure she doesn't have a wire.
"Can I have fun with it?" Has asks pulling out a knife.
"Sure why not?" Gyokko yanks her by the arm off the couch. She yelps, "Help me, gyutaro! Save me, please!"
"Let her go." He stood up at this point. "She isn't for you, gyokko, I just fucking told you she's my gardener, she ain't a cop!"
"Huh, we don't know who she is, do we? Just cuz she cuts your grass and whatever else you want cut," he pauses before leering her body up and down, "doesn't mean she can't be an undercover, Alls I know is these idiots grabbed the wrong girl and I need to know she's gonna keep quiet." He looks back at Marin who was wincing in pain I wanna hear it from her, "what are you to him, little girl?"
"L-Look, I was just l-Looking... to make some extra... m-money in a nice neighborhood. I was asked t-to help make his yard look nice." she stuttered. Obviously gardener is a euphemism, for something else might as well play along. "Well I think, as a professional," he emphasized "she should have no problem, mukago"
"Agreed." She didn't even take a moment to think about it, gyutaro grabbed gyokkosarm. "She's with me, you roided fuck... Do this and you'll regret it." He turns to threaten mukago next, "I'm not losing my gardener in the process ... I will collect from you if anything happens to her." He glares at her when he says the last part.
Why doesn't he just come out and say they'll take out a loan for the money? What's up with all this talk about a stupid fucking gardener? When she heard the term, she immediately knew what it was... but gyutaro was speaking as if she were actually his gardener. Her heart was beating a million miles a second. She was afraid she'd pass out.
"Oh? She worth that much to you?! How much is he paying you, sweetheart?" She didn't want his face directly over hers out of fear he'd spit on her. "What's wrong? Think I can't top him?" His face got really close. She could smell his breath. How much is he paying you?"
Marin couldn't help but say the first stupid thing that came to mind, "clearly not enough" it was practically a whimper.
"Clearly." he said, not mocking but affirming the gravity of her situation. He loosened his grip and pulled his face away.
"You know what a meth cocktail is, sweetheart?" He put her hand on his hard cock, massaging it lightly. She reacted by punching him hard as she could. He curses and palms her face and smashing her head into the drywall, cracking it. She crumples to the ground, cursing loudly. She's pretty sure she blanked out. All she could hear was ringing in her ears though it could've been from fear. She heard yelling and furniture breaking, but didn't look up.
All that played in her mind were memories of the past. Not quite her life flashing before her eyes, more like every terrible memory she's ever had in her life, her mothers funeral, her dad crying, all the times she cried in gojos arms, his funeral, nowa leaving, the day she ODed, she was seeing these images so she could etch this newest one right next to them.
She felt herself being lifted up again and dragged to another location before being thrown onto a bed. "Take off your fucking pants now and lift your shirt." Like a zombie, she pulled her shorts down and lifted up her shirt up. It was obvious she had no wire attached underneath.
"Fucking prude," she heard him say, take everything off.
"I'm not a fucking cop" she said, pulling her clothes back over herself. And sitting up on cross-legged on the bed. She didn't care; she was gonna fight this.
He shook his head violently from side to side, blinking rapidly, like he was shaking away an illusion he just saw. "Did I just hear correct? Or am I going deaf?" She didn't respond.
"Well, it was worth the shot. So much for being nice." He scratches the top of his head. She scrambles back instinctively into the headboard, when the door swung open with such force the door hinge sank into the wall. It was gyutaro!
"Let's go!" She jumped up, hiding behind his back holding his waist, he didn't seem to mind for once. Head for the door. "We're leaving." He threw his arm over the back of her neck, pulling her towards the exit. She shuffled her feet as fast as possible. That's when she heard mukago's pleased laughter Haha shiiiiiiet gyutaro, "why didn't you just say all that?, in fact you're right, I'm sorry, I'll deduct an extra 200 for emotional damages, how's that sound?" Her laughter rang the entire time as they were escorted back to the van.
The same men who drove them out escorted them back to the car. They didn't bother handcuffing or gagging them this time.
She couldn't see his face but knew gyu was pissed. He was practically vibrating in his chair, tapping his boots on the floor like he was stimming. His arms were crossed, and he was scratching up a storm only this time Marin didn't have the nerve to stop him. "you caused me a hell of a lot of trouble you fucking bitch." At first she thought he was talking about herself before he kept going, "should've never been put in charge in the first place! interfering like that–the fucking nerve!"
She was so exhausted and shaken up she leaned her head against his shoulder and fell asleep, between being woken up to help daki, the shouting match that followed, and fearing for her life all in one night. It was all too much. She fell asleep on his shoulder only to wake again when he nudges her to get out of the van. She stumbled slightly, groggy from fatigue and the headache, even her shirt was torn down the middle too as she jumped out the van.
"Have a nice night" the driver cackled, slamming the doors shut, peeling off into the night. They stood there in silence for a long time, making sure the van actually left. After they were gone, she stumbled back to her house, holding her head.
"Look they–those guys shouldn't have taken you.". He spoke fast, almost like it was a last-minute thought. Even more surprising was that he continued to speak very fast again, nervously even. "it's what happens when you hire tweakers but listen, you held your own–even after they roughed you up, you held your own. I'm impressed." His voice was naturally shaky, but something in it sounded more panicked than usual, she knew it was as good an apology as she was gonna get from him, but it was too little too late. There was only one question burning in her mind.
"Were you planning to sell me out?" She didn't face him, her hand still holding her head as if letting go would cause it to fall was silent for a while she heard his feet shift on the gravel, as if he were grinding it with the toe end of his boots.
"look I was–" she could hear him scratching, "look, I–I got us out didn't I...?" was what he settled with. Though he didn't sound too convinced.
So She slapped him–hard across the face. It was a lightning quick hit full of rage. He didn't expect it; the evidence written on his face. He held his face as the redness set, staring eyes wide at her. She followed the slap by screaming- was it screaming? More like a teakettle that's reached boiling point, not caring if the neighbor until she ran out of air. She shocked him a 3rd time by hugging him tightly, her forehead buried just beneath his collar bone, her chest pressed tight, her arms wrapped low around his waist. "Thank you," she said quickly and low. It was raspy and fluttered under her breath like she still hadn't learned how to breathe.
She felt him flinch underneath as if expecting more pain, but ultimately steadied himself. in truth she was just as shocked, but her body moved before her brain told her not to.
"I'll have your money." She let go and walked away in a daze back to her unlocked house, leaving him standing there. She closed and locked the door, went upstairs to bed and cried.