~1~
I stepped out of the cab outside of my brother's apartment complex, looking up at the tall building in surprise. I looked toward the doors to see him standing there, looking broader and more muscular than when I last saw him, breaking into the biggest smile.
"Oh my God, oh my GOD! It's so good to see you!" Jin shouted as he ran across the sidewalk and I rushed into his arms, squeezing me tightly to him. It has been months since we had seen each other, and for us growing up being so close and him practically raising me after our parents died, it was hard to go this long between seeing each other.
"Ugh, you too! I've missed you so much oppa!" I giggled, making him laugh.
"You haven't called me that since before you were in high school." he grinned, as he pulled away from the hug, his smile beaming. His almost sandy colored hair was swept back and styled off of his forehead, dressed in light colored jeans and an oversized, loose knit eggplant colored sweater.
"Slip of the tongue, don't get used to it Jinnie." I said, making him laugh again.
"I still can't believe you are finally going to be in my neck of the woods now. Nothing in medical in Gwacheon could keep you occupied huh?" He teased.
"First of all, Gwacheon is still your neck of the woods, even if you have been living in Seoul for years now. Secondly, if I didn't know any better, I would think you were not happy that I was coming here." I said, making him scoff and roll his eyes.
"You know better than that. I was just wondering what made you choose Seoul General Hospital out of everywhere." he asked, making me shrug.
"Great salary, amazing benefits, plus down the street from my big brother. What else was there to consider?" I asked, making him smile.
"I guess I see your point. Come on, let me bring you up to the apartment." he said, grabbing my bag from me.
"This is a nice neighborhood, Jin. Like really nice." I said as held the door open for me. The lobby screamed of money; marble floors and columns, broken up by a plush ornate carpet leading to the wall of mailboxes and the elevators, huge bouquet of fresh flowers on a large round table in the center of the lobby, a fancy leather wingback chair seated by a desk in the right-hand corner.
"Yeah well, I've worked my ass off to get here." he said as I followed him to the elevators. I stared at the two of us in the reflection of golden elevator doors, leaning my shoulder against him.
"Well, whatever apartment I find, I can promise you it won't be near this neighborhood." I said, making him sigh.
"I told you, please, let me help you! At least let me cover your security deposit and first month's rent. It can be a congratulations for finishing nursing school!" he said as the elevator opened and we walked inside.
"And I told you no. I appreciate the thought Jinnie, really I do, but you have been taking care of me ever since Eomma and Appa died, and at some point, you are going to have to realize I am capable of taking care of myself." I said, making him sigh.
"I already knew that. I mean, if you signed up for voluntary military service so we could serve together when I got called in despite my adamant protests, I'm pretty sure I know you can handle yourself." he said, making he chuckle.
"I mean, it's not like I was in an active war zone or anything. It was mostly clerical." I laughed as the elevator took us up to the thirteenth floor.
"Still, doesn't mean I'm any less proud of you." he said, making me grin. As the doors opened up, he led us down the hall to the third door on the left with a large golden 6 on the door. He punched in his key code and unlocked the door, opening it to reveal a modern, yet lavish apartment. I swear my mouth dropped open as I heard him chuckle.
"Jesus, Jin." I said, looking around.
"You like it?" he asked, making me scoff.
"Don't know, it's a bit small for my taste." I teased, making him roll his eyes.
"Alright, let me show you around at least, ya smart ass." he replied, plopping my bag down as we took our shoes off in the entryway. As we walked forward, it opened up into a large area, the kitchen was directly to our right and in front of it was the dining room, complete with a long glass dining table and eight chairs, place settings decorated with teals and dark purples with golden accents. As we continued forward the living room was on the right after the dining room, with large picture windows that showed the gorgeous view of the city, only obscured by thin, sheer white curtains, a long sectional and a decent sized fireplace with a large big screen TV hanging above it. There was one door on the far end of the living room that he explained was his small office, but he didn't show me inside, stating it was nothing but boring crap that I would have no interest in. He then showed me the other side of the apartment which was two bedrooms and bathrooms, both very elegantly decorated and lavish, complete with canopy beds.
"Well, what do you think?" he asked as we stood in the living room.
"How the fuck can you afford a place like this Jin?" I asked, making him scrunch up his face.
"Language!" he fussed, placing a hand on top of my head and messing with my hair a bit until I pushed his hand off.
"Really? Good lord. Alright, then how on earth do you afford this brother dearest?" I asked, putting on a sickeningly sweet voice, making him roll his eyes.
"Much better. Business is good, and I have gotten several promotions over the years, one of which includes living in this apartment building that is owned by the company I work for." he said, making me nod.
"So everyone in this building works for the same company you work for?" I asked, making him shake his head.
"Most but not all. There a few family members of executives or higher ups that live here as well." he replied as I continued to let my eyes roam the obviously expensively decorated living room.
"I'm proud of you, Jin. Really, I am. You have done very well for yourself." I said, as he smiled. His smiled looked almost a little strained at that point as he let out a little sigh and motioned to the couch.
"So, uh what area do you think you are going to look for an apartment?" he asked, making me shrug.
"I called about a place and it didn't seem to bad. Here is the address. It is in Itaewon-" I started as I showed him the address on my phone.
"No, absolutely not." he interrupted, making me wrinkle my forehead.
"Why not?" I asked, making him shake his head and give me the phone back.
"That is a shady ass neighborhood and there is no way in hell I would let you live there." he said, making me chuckle.
"What, it's full of guys in hoodies and face masks?" I asked sarcastically.
"No, it's full of drug runners and crime." he answered seriously.
"And how would you know that?" I asked as he seemed to visibly tense.
"I had to move here too, you know. I had to look into where was safe and where wasn't and that neighborhood is an absolute no go. I'm dead serious." he replied, his tone affirming that he was indeed quite serious.
"Okay, I'll keep looking around and when I find one that seems reasonable, I will get your okay before I sign a lease. Sound good?" I asked, making him nod.
"I asked off the next couple of days from work so I can even go with you to check some places out." he replied.
"You didn't have to do that." I said, making him smile softly at me.
"You're my baby sister, of course I had to. I have to make sure you are safe. I know Seoul is a safe city in general, one of the safest, but there are parts of Seoul that you may not be aware of and I can't imagine something happening to you." he said, making me sigh.
"You didn't worry this much about me when I was back home in Gwacheon." I said, making him chuckle.
"I did, you just didn't notice perhaps. Gwacheon has bad places just like Seoul does." he said, making me shake my head.
"Okay, well I have some appointments set up with some real estate and leasing agencies tomorrow mid morning so if you want to come with me, you are more than welcome to." I replied, making him smile.
"Great, sounds like a plan. You eat dinner yet? I got makings for tteokbokki." he grinned, making me groan.
"Oh my gosh, yes please. I haven't had your tteokbokki in forever!" I smiled, making him laugh. I wound up helping him cook in the kitchen and with our dinner, we both drank somaek and began talking about the past and the future. As Jin took a sip of his third glass of somaek, he hissed, scrunching his face up and making me laugh. I finished my third glass, making him shake his head and give me the beer and soju to refill.
"I forgot how high your tolerance is." he said, making me chuckle.
"I have outdrank you many times my dear brother." I said, making him roll his eyes but laugh in response.
"You got me there." he said, making me nod in agreement as I poured myself another.
"So, you got a girlfriend? Boyfriend?" I asked, him almost choking on his next sip.
"No, most definitely not. I don't have time to see anyone with my work the way it is." he said, a slight pink tinting taking up his face.
"Yeah I know what you mean. Nursing school took up so much time, along with my job. I didn't have time to really do anything but sleep around a bit." I said, making him choke again.
"Ahhhh I did not really want to hear that." he said, scrunching up his face.
"What? I am a consenting adult, you can't mean to tell me you thought I was still pure and innocent?" I asked, trying so hard not to laugh. If only he knew.
"Well, no not really but I don't exactly like to think about my sister's sex life thank you very much." he replied, making me actually laugh now.
"And you mean to tell me you aren't getting some ass on the regular?" I asked, making him blush even more.
"Alright alright, enough of this conversation. I can't think about it, I don't want to know anymore!" he said, making me laugh harder.
"So talking about gang bangs is off limits?" I asked, making his face almost pale slightly before he swallowed and shook his head.
"What did you say?" He asked, his voice strained slightly, making me wrinkle my forehead.
"Jinnie, I was just kidding. I may be perverted but a gang bang?" I asked, as his face visibly relaxed and he slumped down a little in his chair.
"Oh a gang bang." he said, making me giggle.
"What did you think I said?" I asked, making him shake his head.
"Nothing, that is bad enough." he replied as I laughed again. I made sure to steer clear of that subject after that since he seemed to get so incredibly uncomfortable by the thought of me being an adult in that aspect. It wasn't like I was going to go into details about my sex life or anything, but I still think that Jin saw me as a little girl sometimes. I don't know why, but I was hardly the innocent little thing he was made to look after when our parents died. We wound up talking and drinking far into the night, catching up on all the things happening since we had last seen each other, Jin telling me acceptable neighborhoods we should aim for. That night I took a shower and dressed in short shorts and a spaghetti strap shirt before slipping under the soft sheets and luxurious covers of his guest bedroom, snuggling into them and humming. I could have fallen asleep almost immediately, but a knock at the doorway made me open my already groggy eyes.
"Settled in okay?" he asked, making me grin at him and nod.
"Mhm, everything is so comfortable. Thanks for letting me stay here Jinnie." I said as he walked over and ran his hand over my head softly.
"Of course. I just wanted to let you know before I wished you goodnight that my boss called and he wants me to help him for a couple hours tomorrow morning. It will be really early, and I know you like to sleep in when you are not working, so I will probably be back before you are even awake, alright?" he said, making me nod and yawn.
"Okay, no worries." I said, making him smile again.
"If for some odd reason you decide to rise from your beauty sleep a little early, help yourself to anything in the kitchen and I will be back before you know it. I hope you sleep well, sis." he said, leaning down and kissing my forehead.
"Goodnight Jinnie." I replied, as he smiled down fondly at me.
"Goodnight, kiddo." he said, making me grin. He hadn't called me that in a long time, and to hear him say it brought me back to all those times when we were younger. He really had worked so hard to take care of me, to make sure that I didn't go into the foster system once our parents died and I knew nothing I could do would possibly ever make up for it. He actually dropped out of high school and became an emancipated minor so he could take care of us, and we could stay together. He got a job and worked so hard and long, sometimes being gone most of the day and evening, coming back sweating and barely able to move. I was so happy to see that all his hard work finally paid off and he was able to live more than comfortably now.
I fell asleep that night, happy and feeling more complete than I had in a long time now that we were going to be closer together again. I awoke the next morning to hearing noises coming from outside my bedroom, making me wrinkle my forehead. Jin must have come back from work already, which was good. I stumbled out of bed and into the attached bathroom before brushing my teeth and putting my hair up into a messy bun. I was about to change into my clothes when I heard more than one male voice muffled through the closed door, wondering if Jin had brought someone home with him. I opened the door as I heard a pained yell, making me rush out but stopped dead when my socked feet slid across the polished wooden floors and brought me face to face with a scene I never expected to see.
There on the floor near the dining room table, on his knees was the police chief. He was dressed in jeans and a jacket, but his face was easily recognizable even without his uniform. There were two men on the edge of the room, as well as one in front of him, pressing a gun to his forehead. I swallowed as several sets of eyes lifted up to look at me, my body breaking into an immediate sweat. I went to slowly move before wanting to break into an all out sprint to my room, but I got about half a step back before I felt the hard metal of a gun being pressed to the side of my head as I immediately lifted my arms in surrender.
"One word princess, and I paint this apartment with your brain, and I really don't want to pay to have it redone. So don't move, and don't make a sound, got it?" I heard a deep voice say from beside me, making me give a very slow and shaky nod.
"Alright Lee, seems like we need to take a little ride since you don't want to cooperate. Take him to the van downstairs." The one in front of the chief said as he motioned to the guys on the edge of the room. The chief didn't even struggle, he just calmly stood, keeping his arms behind his back where they were restrained and followed the men out the front door while I stood there in absolute shock.
"What about her?" the other guy asked from beside me, gripping my arm and yanking me toward him, making me gasp.
"Looks like someone had some fun last night and the trash hadn't been taken out yet. What's one more dead hooker?" the other one said with a shrug as he slipped his gun back into his chest holster before flopping his blazer back down over it.
"Yeah, but if Hope finds out we killed another one without his say so...you really willing to risk his wrath today of all days, Jimin?" the one holding me asked.
"Fuck....alright, bind her, bring her with us. I think I have some chloroform down in the van." Jimin said, making me gasp as the gun was pulled from my head and my arms were wrenched behind my back.
"Please..." I breathed before Jimin rolled his eyes and grabbed something from off of the table.
"And Tae, gag her. I don't want to hear her pitiful begging either." Jimin said, shoving a gag at Tae. I felt my wrists being zip tied together behind my back before the gag was quickly placed in my mouth, the young guy smirking as he looked at me.
"It's a shame we are probably going to have to blow your brains out. You're quite the looker. Don't worry, Jimin and I are both really good shots, you won't feel a thing." he said, making me shiver at his words.
"Tae, don't play with her, hurry up." Jimin said as he gathered up what looked like small bags of cocaine, and stacks of money off of the table stuffed them into a large bag, zipping it up as he looked over at me. I struggled against Tae's grip slightly, trying to say that he didn't need to do this around the gag but it came out as nothing but a muffled mess.
"You better shut your mouth and come with me, or you won't get quick and painless. I will use my knife on you and cut you piece by piece, very slowly and make sure you stay awake to feel every single slice of my blade if you struggle, do you understand me?" he said through gritted teeth as he gripped me harshly, his fingers digging into the skin of my arms. I nodded my head as he smirked, patting my cheek a little harshly, my skin stinging slightly afterward.
"Good girl. Now come on." he replied, leading me out of the room and to the front door. I just prayed that Jin stayed away, I didn't want him to come home and get caught up in this mess, whatever it was. Tae pulled me along until we reached a stairwell in the back, making me stumble down all thirteen flights. I thought about trying to scream around my gag, knowing the sound would at least echo some off of the walls, but how loud of a scream I could get out, I wasn't sure, so I decided against it. As soon as the large metal door on the bottom floor opened with a loud creak, I was pushed into the waiting van next to the chief, who seemed to be already knocked out. Jimin turned around and grabbed a cloth, grinning at me.
"Don't worry, this won't hurt a bit." he said as he pressed the cloth to my nose and over my gagged mouth. I wriggled and tried to pull back, but his hand against the back of my head made it impossible. I held my breath as long as possible until my lungs ached and felt as though they could burst, my eyes watering until I finally had to breathe in. I immediately felt edges of my vision go blurry and my world start to swim until the floor of the van came rushing toward my face and darkness took over.
