Myeong-su wastes no more time. He says no words, merely slamming the trunk shut and dragging me toward the hanok. I stagger trying to keep up with his brisk pace, forcing myself to be as alert and quick-thinking as I can be in this kind of situation.
My gaze travels over the dark, isolated landscape around us, searching for any kind of weak point I can exploit. Anything I can possibly use to my advantage.
But my hands are bound tightly by the rope and my head throbs like it’s been split open. I’m pretty sure I have other bruises too, like the ache in my cheek and neck, which make me wonder if maybe I’d fought back before he knocked me out.
It all happened so quickly it’s hard to say.
I’m sure if I did try to break free right now and run for it, Myeong-su would make me pay. He’s obviously skilled enough to take out multiple people and pose as a worthy adversary for Jin.
If I’m going to attempt escape, it’ll have to be smart. It’ll have to be at the exact right moment.
So I stagger half a step behind him as he drags me the rest of the way up to the small, modest hanok.
It’s been well over a year since I’ve been here, but I remember the intimate moments Jin and I had shared during our time under this roof.
It was where he first told me he loved me. Where he finally opened up and told me the truth about his family and tragic past and why, at the time, he needed to send me away.
Though I recognize its tragic history for him, it holds a special memory for being the place we solidified our love for each other.
Some light to chase out the dark memories of the past.
Myeong-su unlocks the door and then shoves me inside so roughly I trip over the threshold. I stagger forward, catching myself just in time before completely tumbling to the ground.
He couldn’t care less as he strides in after me, locking the door and ripping off his featureless shell mask.
Sure enough, it’s Noh Myeong-su in the flesh.
The same seemingly harmless administrator who often wore cardigan sweaters and loafers. Never would I have imagined him in some military-like uniform, the long black coat and pants and boots giving him an authoritative and menacing air.
But that’s exactly what he counted on. He knew no one would ever suspect a thing.
I curse myself for ever having trusted him. If only I’d refused to drink the damn tea or let him in the way that I did.
He stalks past me, moving across the empty main room of the hanok. The ondol floors are smooth but cold due to no heat, and the ceiling lights are dimmer than the last time we were here, but these things seem of no concern to Myeong-su.
He stops in front of the wardrobe and props the doors open. He’s moving as if checking items off some mental checklist of his. Clearly he’s prepped extensively for tonight.
I need to keep him talking. Buy time and figure out a way out of this.
As he peels off his leather gloves and then starts digging inside the wardrobe, I begin furtively working at the ropes binding my wrists, picking at the knots. The motions aresubtle and small enough not to draw attention to what I’m doing.
Meanwhile, I start dropping questions. Things meant to be a distraction.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask plainly. “What did Jin ever do to you?”
Myeong-su laughs in answer, his back to me. “Really, Miss Ross? Are you that slow and dim-witted? I expect better of a Suyeong Academy teacher. Even for an expat.”
I resist the urge to scowl and press him on it. “If it’s so obvious, then why don’t you tell me?”
“This was never about Jin-tae. Notdirectly, anyway.” He turns to face me, his expression almost conversational, as if we’re having a pleasant chat over tea instead of... this. “This is about his father. Seo Jung-hoon.”
Already knew that. Already know more than you think I do.
But I play along, frowning and acting clueless.
“His father?” I ask innocently. “Jin’s dad has been dead for thirty years.”
“Yes, I know that. I’m the one who killed him.” His face lights up in a chilling smile that doesn’t reach his cold, crinkled eyes. He turns back to the wardrobe and stares inside as if deciding what to retrieve. “Seo Jung-hoon deserved what happened to him and his family.”
