【Ｓ Ｋ Ｅ Ｄ Ａ Ｄ Ｄ Ｌ Ｉ Ｎ Ｇ】

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26th September 2019

Hannah

"Why do I need training? What are your intentions?", I asked as I was walking behind them. I am already annoyed by the fact that I was close arrested by these underground mafia men. Yes, I am guessing them to be underground mafia. 

Soobin has a Beretta M9 and V holds the ownership of Super Redhawk, one of the most dangerous handguns in this world. They should be either belonging to the military or the underground mafia. Looking at their self-contained and audacious personalities, I'd lay a bet on my imaginary billionaire assets that they are mafia.

"I don't know if silence has the answer to my question. You put me in a room for a week till now and fed me like an animal in a zoo. And now, you are taking me God knows where", I tried to state my point and I could hear no answer. I gritted my teeth in annoyance. I wish I had a revolver in my hands. So that I could give it to someone else for shooting them. I am sorry, shooting is not my cup of tea.

"That zoo part is true though. And you need not know where we are taking you", V mouthed, not even turning back. Asshole! He considers himself as a sassy stylish dude in gentleman suits. In my most humble opinion, JK looks a hundred times better than him.

He is the nicest person in the whole house. He doesn't invade my personal space and talks to me pleasingly. Whereas that dickhead of V is the coldest devil I have ever seen. I wonder if there exists something colder than him. At least, he holds a record in that. Also, a part of me is scared of him. Not just scared, he can make my hair curl with his eyes.

"How can I trust you? I don't know if you would just take me to a remote place and shoot me. Who knows you can just push me into a deep river?", I muttered and he chuckled. I looked at JK who just shrugged, indicating that he doesn't know anything either.

"You don't know swimming? How are you even useful Miss Cooper? I am scared if I should mentor another dipshit", he mocked and I clenched my fists. Control yourself, Hannah, he is trying to provoke you. 

After that encounter with V regarding my parents, he didn't raise that topic again, gladly. But he tried to speak some shit that triggered my emotions. I fought back with him at first but later realized he is doing that just to raise my hackles. I stopped giving a shit to him and my mind felt at peace.

JK was nicer. Though I know I can't trust these guys who locked me inside a house calling me their hostage, I can't help but talk to him. He is too nice to just ignore. I miss the world outside. I miss Max but I am scared to walk out of their confinement. They are strong and possess the most advanced weapons, at least I know that. If I have to escape, I need to make a solid plan.

My phone is of utter waste now. When V left me with my phone, I thought they respected my privacy. Privacy, my foot! They shut down all kinds of signals, not giving me a chance to message or call someone. And now, I being a dumbass, legit forgot my phone even when I know we are heading out. Am I turning like those five little men?

Honestly speaking, those little guys with guns who are under these two are actually nice except for that alpaca. He doesn't stand near the word nice. Yeonjun is a great one out of all. He is a man of brains and we solved some mind games together. Beomgyu is more of a reserved type. Taehyun is a tight-lipped person. I've never seen him talking a word. And Kai is more of a child. I just can't imagine him holding a gun. What have these people done to those kids?

"Swimming is an essential part of the training. You should learn to swim", his deep, intimidating voice which is absolutely good for nothing snapped me out of my thoughts. I realized we reached a building. Are they going to kill me here and bury me without any scene? Well! This is creepy.

"I am scared of water. You can just put a gun on my head but I won't put my leg in the water", I stated nonchalantly and I could hear him muttering something, probably some curse words. 

I looked around the whole place. It's an isolated building that has a huge basement. It looks like a mini military camp or a ... fitness studio?  Sandbags, treadmills, kettlebells, dumbbells, battle ropes, pullup bars and so many new pieces of equipment which I have never seen in my life. I swear I will not think twice to run away if they want me to do training with these. I fucking hate exercise.

"Don't you dare think of escaping? It took me a whole night to set this equipment for you. I won't mind to drown you in a river even if you have the thought of fleeing away", V admonished, holding my face with his thumb and index finger poking into my cheeks. This has been his usual gesture while warning. He is a gut-churning jerk.

"It's okay. It will be tough at first and then, you will find it easy", JK placed his hand on my shoulder and displayed an assuring smile. V released and turned to the other, not before taking a glance at JK. 

The fact that JK is nice to me and V is cold towards me haunts me more than my craving for McDonald's. I don't know if they are like that by birth but JK's behavior had a drastic change from my first encounter with him. I am not complaining though. I genuinely enjoy his company.

But they belong to the same mafia, whatever they are. One being nice and the other being ice is verily bothering my gut. Nevertheless, that should not trouble me much. They don't even know me when I was caught and captured me just to confide their dangerous secret.

Okay! Everything is at least okay!

But why the fuck should I get trained? I am not going to join their mafia or cult even if they blackmail to slit my throat. Okay, if they do that, I might join. But still, why am I stuck like this? I should search for Mr. Park. I should know who killed my parents and I should find someone. When will I do all of that?

"Already spacing out? Should I give punishment for daydreaming?", V smirked and I gave him a dirty look. This guy holds the second position in my shovel list. Soobin is still in the first place.

"You are such an annoying piece of shit, you know?", he muttered and picked out something. A stopwatch? 

"JK, you can leave. I will take care of her from here", V declared and my eyes widened. No way, I can't stay with V alone. He is scary. His words and actions make me feel useless. They control me and pull me into his emotional trap. I was never left alone with V all these days. JK or any of the little five used to be by my side. I had a distraction to not retaliate but now, I can't stand. I don't even know if I can breathe properly in his presence. That intimidating gaze of his has the ability to scare the wits out of me. 

"JK, please stay here. I don't want to be with him alone", I held JK's hand and he tried to push it down. I looked at him with pleading eyes but he turned to the other side. 

"Don't you think he has no other work except to chaperone you? What are you? A baby?", he grumbled and I tried to control myself. I didn't wish for any of this yet I am forced to do everything they wish. I want to cry but I don't want him to see my weak side. 

"Why should it be you? Why can't it be JK? Why don't you go and work instead of him?", I spat at him, gathering the last bit of courage in my quivering body. He furrowed his eyebrows and fixed his gaze on me. His stormy irises, unflinching and dominant, burned down my last piece of spirits. I looked down trying to avoid eye-contact though I could feel daggers flying towards me. How can he? How can his gaze, just his gaze hold the whacking power of dominance?

"You are not the one who tells me what to do and what not do. Try all your tactics in front of anyone else. JK, just leave", his voice became a hundred times firmer and I admit I am scared of this man. 

"V hyung, I will be here for some time. It is new for her and I can manage my work. Don't be too hard on her. It's her first day", JK put his arms around my shoulder and locked his eyes with mine. He smiled and nodded in assurance. I guess he noticed me trembling. How pathetic Hannah? You are shaking because of a guy? Did Eomma raise you like this?

"Fine. Just today. I don't encourage babysitting every day", he remarked in a sassy tone and JK winked at me. I smiled, still in his hold. He is muscular and I could fit in his hold perfectly. He holds the charm, that charm that could calm anyone. 

"Start with Jogging", V ordered and I looked at him. Where should I jog?

"Don't waste time and start now", he kind of yelled and started jogging. Is he going to jog along with me? I looked at JK and he gestured me to start. We both started at the same time and jogged behind V. He is just a meter away.

"Don't use your whole strength now. This will be one long jog", JK advised and I nodded. I know I should not use my whole stamina at the start. But still, I hate jogging. If this is going to be one long jog, I am sure half of it will include V chiding me for stopping every minute. 

"You should follow your speed. I will follow mine", JK mouthed and jogged ahead to join V. Follow my speed? My ass. My speed is 0 m/s and had I followed that, V would have buried me already. I don't know why I fear that jerk so much. 

They are going too fast and I am already panting. Can we just stop and take a taxi? I looked around and found no one. V and JK are a very far distance. Even if they see me running away, it would take time to reach me. Perfect! This is the perfect time to escape. 

I looked in their direction, making sure they are not eyeing me, and turned. I paced my steps in the unknown area with all my might. I need to find a cab or taxi. I need to find someone who can help. And I need to do that in silence.

I ran and ran around the whole place and didn't find any person. What is this place? A desert? As I am running aimlessly, my knees turned weak. I am not a runner and I don't have an ounce of strength in my body now. I am exhausted and dehydrated. 

I stopped at a place and bent down to take deep breaths. This is so tedious. A hand forwarded a bottle and I took it immediately. I raised my head to thank the person and my eyes widened as the revolver was pressed onto my forehead.

I closed my eyes and tightened my grip on the bottle, almost crushing it. My eyes glistened in the realization of my escape attempt turning into a terrible fiasco. I could see JK rushing towards us, his eyes locked with mine, showing hurt and despair.  

"Skedaddling was never an option, Miss Cooper"

───※ ·❆· ※───

"I believed you. How could you do this to me?", JK grunted, clicking his knuckles, probably in annoyance while V was munching down an apple. What did I do? Running to get my own life is not a crime. They can't make me do whatever they want. This isn't what I came to Seoul for.

"Hannah, why did you try to escape? Why?", JK asked, his eyes filled with curiosity and anger. I lowered my head to hide my tears. I don't want to be in their place. I don't want to be under their skin. I have my own life and goals.

"Stop ranting JK. It's your fault to believe her. What else do you expect?", V remarked as if he is mocking my character. One should see themselves in the mirror and then comment on others. 

"Leave about that. I don't want to waste time. You have already made my morning too very boring with your dumb escape attempt. JK, get the Mossberg MC1 and train her. I will go and check out something important", saying this, he left the place.

Mossberg MC1? Why does he need a pistol to train me? I looked at Jk preparing the pistol and looked around to find the target paper. Shit no! I can't train with guns. I can never.

"I am disappointed in you but that will not cause a hindrance in your training", he mouthed and reached my hand to put the gun. I shook my head. I can't do this. 

"You need not be perfect on the first try. Just try to aim", he spoke and held my shoulder to turn me towards the direction of the target paper. Could my fate be more horrible than this? My hands shivered on holding the gun and I looked at JK.

"Hannah, it's a part of training which you can't ignore. Just hold the gun and aim", he spoke in a monotonous tone and I raised my hand, aiming the target. I can't do this. Screams of her in pain swirled in my head and my eyes glistened. I can't do this.

"Like this, Hannah", he encircled my frame in his muscular embrace from the back and held my hands with his. I closed my eyes, as sweat started dripping down my forehead. And without any alert, he pressed the trigger, making my heart skip a beat.

BANG!

"Eomma, I can't go"

"You need to go", she yelled and I cried in fear. Loud gunshots blocked my ears and heavy footsteps made my body tremble.

"Eomma, let's go to the hospital", I cried, trying to hold her but she pushed me.

"Mr...Park.Find...him...", she muttered, holding her stomach where a knife was stabbed deep inside. My heart is breaking to see her like this. I don't want to leave her.

"If you love me, live for me"

Huge sounds of explosion and gunshots clogged my state of mind, pushing me into a subconscious thought of just running. I kept running, leaving all my dear ones to taste death. I  am breathless, stuck, and scared. Can I just die along with them? 

In haste, I reached the door and even before someone opened it

I blacked out

"Hannah, Hannah, Are you okay?", I could hear some words but then I don't have the energy to open my eyes. Darkness engulfed my vision, just like that day, and even before I realize what is happening around me,

I blacked out 

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Skedaddling

the act of running away, to flee in a panic

A/N: The matter in italics is a memory of Hannah's past. So yeah, that's all