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Sayeon woke up to the sound of her cell phone ringing.
She rubs her eyes, seeing everything blurry without her glasses, then leans over to pick them up and puts them on, everything around her coming back into focus. A glance at the window revealed that it was still nighttime, and another at the clock showed that it was 4:17 a.m. She almost gave up and snuggled back under the covers when the cell phone vibrated insistently again, as if the person calling was in an urgent situation.
With a sigh, she picks up her phone and sees that it's an unknown number on the screen. She answers the call.
“Hello?,” Her voice is hoarse from sleep.
The person on the other end of the line doesn't answer right away, but Sayeon can hear her breathing; it's ragged and gasping.
She sits on the bed, leaning her back against the pillows. “Hi...?”
“Damn, you really answered,” says the voice, incredulous.
She knows well who that voice belonged to.
“Ryujin?,” Sayeon asks, surprised by the call. “Why are you calling?”
The question is expected.
Ryujin Kang was her teammate in cell 4, with whom she had a complicated relationship. They fought a few times, some physically, and Sayeon swears that Ryujin hates her. It turns out that Ryujin left the Aberrant Corps a year ago, when Juni gave her an ultimatum about the childish fights between the two. Sayeon could have stopped Ryujin from leaving, but she didn't. She just watched her teammate's back as she ran away from that place. Something inside Sayeon soured at that moment; she kind of expected the two of them to walk side by side on their way to the top. It was supposed to be that way, but Ryujin was never the type to listen to what she said. She was always suspicious of Sayeon's plans and behavior.
Ah. What she would give to see those eyes again.
She glanced to the side and saw that the bed Ryujin once occupied was empty. Sayeon missed the nights they shared that space. Having little discussions about the new mission that would come the next day. They were young and immature; now, on the desk, her tie with VI was proof of how time had passed.
“Can you do me a favor?,” she asks, sounding desperate, and it makes Sayeon feel more awake.
Memories of the day Ryujin knelt down asking for her help flash through Sayeon's mind, and she wonders if she has the same look in her eyes.
“Glasses?”
“Yeah,” Sayeon stifles a yawn. It had been a long day, and she was tired from using too much essence. A few hours later would be more tiring than the previous day, but here she was talking to her former partner, colleague, and fugitive. If only she could convince Ryujin to come back—with a shake of her head, Sayeon returns to speaking. “What would that favor be?”
Silence.
“It's Yesol,” Sayeon rolled her eyes upon hearing the name. “I know, I know. You think she's a criminal—”
“She is.”
Sayeon can hear a snort.
“Okay, she is, but now she really needs help,” she hesitates a little before continuing. “Damn it. Something happened and she's really hurt. I can't do this alone. So, can you help me get her to a safe place... please?”
Ryujin's audacious request is almost pathetic to her, but if she plays her cards right, she might get her most important piece back: her queen. Perhaps this is her best opportunity.
So she ignores the unpleasant sensation prickling her skin and replies.
“What's the address?”
She can't believe she agreed, and neither can Ryujin, because on the other end of the line, Sayeon can hear her moving away, letting out a surprised curse, and then her voice returns, as if she had adjusted her phone better. She gives her the address and Sayeon writes it down on the first piece of paper she sees.
“Okay, so it's settled,” Sayeon says, getting up from bed, and she can hear a sigh of relief. “But this won't be free.”
“Of course not, Lee. Debts owed, debts paid.”
Sayeon waves even though Ryujin can't see her. She walks around the room looking for something discreet to wear that won't make her stand out in the crowd.
“Hey,” Ryujin calls out. “Can you stay on the line until you get there?” Her voice sounds uncertain.
Sayeon really wanted to know the reason behind that question, and knowing Ryujin, she wouldn't answer the real reason. It's a shame she used up too much of her essence today, or she would use it to get more information.
“Yeah.”
“Thanks,” she coughs.
Her forehead wrinkles as she thinks about what the other woman said. Ryujin says nothing while Sayeon is changing, but she can hear the other woman's uneven breathing. Then, as she puts on her shoes, she asks.
“What happened?”
“I'll tell you when you get there,” says the hoarse voice.
This doesn't please Sayeon, but without essence, there's not much she can do.
“All right.”
What she asks is not difficult; she just needs to stay on the line. Sayeon puts it on speakerphone while changing clothes.
A sigh can be heard and Sayeon grabs her wallet and keys, locking the room. She looks around, being as discreet as she can when leaving. She didn't want to bump into Juni or, worse, Instructor Sang.
She arrives outside without being seen, seeing the car she received as a gift. It wasn't really a gift, more of a reward. During that year, many things changed. Sayeon made alliances with people she never imagined she would and distanced herself from others she thought would be with her when she reached the top. That car was a 'reward' from Captain Han, and if Sayeon were to be honest, it was the best alliance she had ever made.
The wind hits her face, blowing her hair back. She can hear Ryujin's heavy breathing, and she is making a constant noise, similar to what she always did when she was smoking.
“Still haven't kicked that habit?,” she asks with a smile, getting into the car and starting the engine. She glances at the address before typing it into the GPS and driving off.
“No fucking way,” the curse has no weight. “This helps a lot, Glasses. Not that you'd understand.”
“I don't.”
Silence returns, and Sayeon finds it uncomfortable. She wants to continue the conversation, but the awkwardness between them is obvious. A year is enough for many things to change: ranks, habits, people. Curiosity burns inside her. What has Ryujin been doing? Who has she been hanging out with? Yesol, her mind tells her, and that fact makes her grip the steering wheel tightly. It should be her next to Ryujin. Her queen should be within her sight.
“Uh,” surprising both of them, it is Ryujin who speaks first. “You're already a red tie, right?”
The question melts the tension in Sayeon's shoulders, and she presses a button to open the window, suddenly needing some air.
“Yes, I am,” she says proudly. She worked hard to get where she was.
“How... are Min and Iseul?”
The tension returns to Sayeon's limbs, and with it comes a mixture of anger and guilt that she doesn't know how to get rid of.
She worked hard to get where she was, and that involved using the pieces she have on the board. Without her queen, she was left with only two pieces, and with that loss, Sayeon became more obsessed with scoring points and getting to the top. Her bishop was the first to succumb, a series of bad decisions leading to his death. It wasn't supposed to be a significant loss, not when Ryujin was more important to her. Or so she tried to convince herself. That feeling of failure and burning pain didn't leave her even after she lost him and moved up in rank. Her knight was the only one left, silent companionship and eyes analyzing the situation. He didn't blame her for the death, as her queen would have done, nor did he question her actions, as her bishop would have done. The knight just stayed by her side.
And that annoyed her.
Because she couldn't understand what was going on in Min's head. What did he think of her? Did he really trust her? And her actions? Did he even like her?
These questions eat she alive for days, until one night, when Sayeon couldn't stand the silence in the room, the empty bed causing her insomnia, she went out for some fresh air. On her walk, she ran into Min. He was serious as always, but suspicious.
Using her gift, Sayeon made a series of discoveries.
Min works for Samin.
How dare he hide this from her?
She doesn't remember how many times she snapped her fingers that night, but Min's expression didn't change when Sayeon stepped out of the darkness and caught them red-handed, confronting them about what it meant. He didn't seem guilty or surprised, much less interested in her anger. In fact, he seemed bored, and the only thing that seemed to matter to him was Samin.
Gathering the necessary information, Sayeon snapped her fingers and returned to the empty room. Many emotions stirred within her, and unable to bear the situation any longer, she moved to Ryujin's bed, clutching the pillow that fortunately still contained a little of the other's scent.
Sayeon didn't know when, but tears began to roll down her cheeks, and she looked so pathetic and frustrated.
She had gotten what she wanted, so why was she crying?
Was being at the top really that... lonely?
Maybe it would be better to accept Godling's offer—
The thought vanished when her hand bumped into something. She pulled it out to check, and what she saw made her irises burn with more tears: a pack of cigarettes.
Ryujin.
Would she understand her? Was she feeling as lonely as Sayeon felt at that moment?
She bet not. With an awkward laugh, Sayeon wiped the corner of her eyes, opening them to find only a cigarette. Well, it would have to do. She got up from the bed and headed for the balcony, letting the wind blow her hair in different directions. With the air circulating in Sayeon's lungs, her mind cleared a little. She played around with the lighter, which was probably Juni's, that she found in the room, turning it on and off.
The only thing Ryujin had left behind. She pondered for a moment before putting the items in her pocket with a determined look.
With or without them, Sayeon would reach the top.
She looked at the horizon with a determined gleam in her eyes.
“I'll tell you when I get there,” Sayeon finally replied. No essence, no risky answers.
The truth is that Min left. Min wasn't even his real name; rather, White returned to the Crimson Society. Iseul died because of her incompetence as a leader and her rash decisions. If she told Ryujin that, with no possibility of turning back time, she would surely come to hate Sayeon.
And she couldn't let that happen.
Her queen was the only piece left.
“Fair enough,” she scoffed before adding. “...And what about you?”
The question caught her off guard. She cleared her throat and glanced at the GPS; two minutes away from the destination.
“I'm fine, I got what I wanted.”
A laugh echoed in Sayeon's ear, a laugh typical of Ryujin, but this one didn't have all the strength it used to. It sounded weak and hoarse.
“I don't buy it, Glasses,” a groan of pain escaped her. “You still lie really badly, y'know?”
Sayeon ignored it, an uncomfortable feeling rising through her skin. “Are you hurt?”
“Yeah, you know how it is, in a fight you hit and get hit and get hurt,” she says ironically. “No big deal.”
And this time it's Sayeon who doesn't believe her. 'No big deal' wouldn't make her make those noises. Ryujin is smug, and Sayeon has been in enough fights with her to know that. So she steps on the gas, not caring if she runs a few red lights. It's dawn and there's no one on the street. She's not hurting anyone.
“I'm on my way, don't move, it could make the situation worse,” Sayeon sounds like in the old days, when cell 4 still existed and her colleagues were together.
Ryujin doesn't answer, but Sayeon can hear how her breathing stopped for a moment and then returned, unstable.
“You don't need to tell me that, Sayeon.”
Distress overwhelmed her, and suddenly she had no control over her mouth.
“You're very stubborn, Ryujin. So yes, I need to remind you of that.”
The GPS beeps, warning her that she has reached her destination, but Sayeon doesn't bother to listen to the robotic voice finish its monologue and gets out of the car, walking toward a dark alley. She turns on her cell phone flashlight and begins to search.
Ryujin's breathing grows loud in Sayeon's ears, and she quickens her pace. “I'm already in the alley, where should I look?” where are you, is what she doesn't say.
Panting, Ryujin replies. “Near the trash. N... no... inside the trash.”
Sayeon spots the trash a few steps away and runs over to it.
“Glasses,” she whispers, “Thank you and I'm sorry.”
Agitated, Sayeon pulls the trash can lid up.
“What are you apologizing for?”
She points her cell phone flashlight into the trash, feeling the air catch in her throat and her chest tighten at the sight; Yesol's body was there, badly damaged, but with a careful look she can see that the other's chest was rising and falling.
“I... I'll only be able to repay this debt in another life.”
The words hit her like a bolt of lightning. You don't have to be a genius to understand the implications of those words.
“Where are you?”
Sayeon turned around, looking for Ryujin. Was she even at that address? Fingers pressed the phone to her ear, eyes tightly closed as she forced herself to speak without her voice faltering.
“Ryujin. Please tell me where you are. I'll come there and—”
Cough.
“It's too late for me, Sayeon.”
“No. It's not,” she took a few steps away from the trash, not caring about Yesol's body. All that matters is not losing her queen, her partner in purgatory, who understood her like no one else—
“Hey,” it sounds so painful. “I really miss those peaceful days,” she interrupted herself with a heavier cough, as if something was coming out of her throat.
Blood.
Sayeon felt something salty on her lips and when she brought her hand to her face, she felt something wet.
“Please—”
“Y'know... you're a good... person.”
It's the last thing Sayeon hears from Ryujin before the sound of something falling to the floor. Despair overwhelms her.
“Ryujin? Ryujin! Answer me,” the feeling of something dripping increases, her voice falters, and Sayeon doesn't know what to do at the moment. “Please, don't...”
Don't leave me here alone.
Sayeon's breathing sounds very loud in her own ears, her knees buckle, and even though she holds the phone tightly to her ear, she can't hear anything from Ryujin's side.
She has no answer because Ryujin is dead.
The pain in her chest is ten times stronger than what she felt for the Mr. Bak. It's excruciating and numbing in a way she's never felt before. She needs a plan, she needs to bring Ryujin back.
Sayeon doesn't hang up the phone, she can't. What she can do is open the chat and send a message to Captain Han.
5:02 AM: I need your help.
She stares at her phone, and after a minute, the message changes from sent to seen to typing.
5:03 AM: How can I help?
Sayeon lets out a sigh of relief, that manic gleam returning to her dark blue eyes. She won't let it end like this, she'll bring her queen back one way or another, using any means necessary.