Chapter 33: (Scarlet's pov)

My voice trembled as I spoke into the phone, trying to explain my situation to the officer on the other end.

Scarlet: Hello? Hello? Please, you have to help me. I'm being held captive by...by someone. I don't know how much longer I can...

But my words were cut off by a loud crackling noise, and the officer's voice on the other end grew faint.

???: Ma'am? Ma'am, can you hear me? What's your location?

My eyes widened in frustration as I realized the signal was too weak. I tried to speak louder, hoping the officer would hear her.

Scarlet: I'm in Paris! I live in the old circus castle on Rue des Rêves. It's a lonely street, please...please you have to...

But Officer voice on the other end remained calm and detached, his words barely audible.

???: Ma'am, if you can hear me, I'm officer Kim Seokjin. I didn't catch that. Can you repeat your address?

My voice grew more desperate, my words tumbling out in a rush.

Scarlet: I said I'm in Paris! The old circus castle! Rue des Rêves! Please, you have to believe me!

But Seokjin's response was garbled, his words lost in the static.

Seokjin: Ma'am...can't...hear...you...please...

My eyes welled up with tears as I realized the call was about to end. I tried to speak again, my voice shaking with fear.

Scarlet: Please! You have to help me! Taehyung is going to...he's going to...

But it was too late. The signal died, and the call ended. I was left standing alone in the darkness, the silence oppressive and suffocating. I let out a sob, my body shaking with fear and despair. The phone slipped from my fingers, falling to the floor with a soft thud.

As I stood there, crying uncontrollably, I realized that I was truly alone. No one was coming to save me. I was trapped, and Taehyung was closing in. The thought sent a chill down her spine, and my sobs grew louder, echoing off the cold stone walls of the old circus castle.

I tried to dial the number again, my fingers shaking as I hoped against hope that someone would answer. It was my last hope, and I knew it. As the phone rang, I held my breath, my eyes fixed on the door as I waited for Taehyung to burst in. But the call connected, and I heard a faint voice on the other end.

Seokjin: 911, what's your emergency?

Officer Kim Seokjin's voice was calm and detached, but I could sense a hint of urgency beneath the surface. I took a deep breath, trying to speak clearly despite the crackling signal.

Scarlet: Please...help me. I'm being held captive by someone. I don't know how much longer I can...

The signal crackled and spat, and Seokjin's voice grew faint.

Seokjin: Ma'am? Ma'am, can you hear me? What's your location? Is this you again?

I spoke louder, hoping he would hear me.

Scarlet: The old circus castle on Rue des Rêves! Please, you have to believe me! I can't make it so far!

There was a pause, and for a moment, I thought the call had dropped again. But then Seokjin's voice came back, his words barely audible.

Seokjin: Ma'am...can you repeat that? I didn't quite catch...

I repeated my address, enunciating each word carefully.

Scarlet: The old circus castle! Rue des Rêves! It's a lonely street, please...please you have to... Please come here.... Save me.

The signal crackled and spat again, and Seokjin's voice grew fainter.

Seokjin: Ma'am...I think I got that. But can you tell me more about your situation? Who is holding you captive?

I took a deep breath, trying to summarize the events of the past few hours.

Scarlet: It's Taehyung. He's my...he's my assassin. He's been trying to kill me for years, and it's been the whole night, and now he's got me trapped in my own house.... He's... He's going to kill me. Please save me...

Seokjin's voice was calm and reassuring. "

Seokjin: Ma'am, I'm going to do everything I can to help you. But I need you to stay calm and stay on the line. Can you do that for me?

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me.

Scarlet: Yes...yes, I can do that.

There was a pause, and I could sense Seokjin conferring with someone in the background.

Seokjin: Ma'am, I've got a team on the way to your location. But I need you to stay safe until they arrive. Can you find a secure place to hide?

I looked around the room frantically, my eyes scanning the space for any possible hiding spot.

Scarlet: I...I don't know. The doors and windows are blocked. I'm not sure where I can hide.

Seokjin's voice was calm and reassuring.

Seokjin: Ma'am, I want you to stay on the line and stay with me. I'll guide you through this. Can you see any other exits or hiding spots?

I scanned the room again, my eyes searching for any possible escape route.

Scarlet: There's a vent in the ceiling...but I don't know if I can fit through it.

Seokjin's voice was thoughtful.

Seokjin: Ma'am, I think that might be your best bet. Can you try to make your way to the vent and see if you can fit through it?

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me.

Scarlet: Yes...yes, I can try.

As I spoke, I could hear Taehyung thumping the door abruptly. He was getting closer to break the door and I knew I had to act fast.

Scarlet: Officer Seokjin, I have to go. He's coming.

Seokjin's voice was urgent.

Seokjin: Ma'am, stay on the line! Don't hang up!

But it was too late. The signal died, and the call ended. I was left standing alone in the darkness, the silence oppressive and suffocating.

I knew I had to move fast. I sprinted towards the vent, my heart pounding in my chest. I climbed onto the dresser, my fingers grasping for the vent cover.

As I pulled myself up, I could hear Taehyung's voice outside the door, his words muffled but menacing. I knew I had to keep moving.

I squeezed through the vent, my body trembling with fear. As I emerged on the other side, I found myself in a cramped, dimly lit crawl space.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. I knew I had to keep moving, to find a way out of the castle before Taehyung found me.

As I crawled through the cramped, dimly lit crawl space, I could feel the weight of the castle's stone walls bearing down on me. The air was thick with dust and the smell of decay, and I had to fight to keep my breathing steady.

But I knew I couldn't give up. I had to keep moving, to find a way out of the castle before Taehyung found me. And so I pushed on, my body aching and my mind racing with fear.

As I crawled, I could feel the darkness beginning to recede. The dawn was starting to come, and I knew that I was running out of time. Taehyung's challenge had been to make it through the night, and if I could just hold on a little longer, I would win.

The thought gave me a surge of determination, and I pushed on, my body trembling with exhaustion. But as I rounded a corner, I realized that I couldn't take the vent anymore. It was suffocating me, the air too thick and heavy to breathe.

I needed to find a way out, and fast. And so I made a decision, my heart racing with fear. I would step out into the corridor, and hope that no one was waiting for me.

I pushed open the vent cover, and stepped out into the corridor. To my surprise, it was empty. I looked around, my eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of Taehyung or his minions. But there was no one.

I took a deep breath, and started to run. I sprinted down the corridor, my feet pounding against the stone floor. I didn't dare look back, fearing what I might see.