Cherry
*A week later*
It had been a week since the night of the party and me getting kidnapped by Rosa. It had been a week of slow recovery, my body needing time for it to heal, even if I was not that patient. I was never the type of person to sit around and do nothing.
Most of my cuts were healing quite well. The biggest “problem” was my ribs since they needed longer to heal. Sometimes I forgot about them until a wave of pain made me feel like I could throw up. Still, I wanted to do something.
So, I tried helping Yoongi in researching but he never allowed me to stay more than two hours, claiming I needed to rest. As for the three younger ones, they refused to let me train or spar, insisting my body needs to heal first. Instead, they forced me to rest and eat all the time.
Myung had been coddling me, trying to make sure I was okay and so had Namjoon. Maybe their maternal and paternal instinct had been kicking in more lately, especially since she was nearing the due date. I could not lie and say I was not excited for them and to meet the little boy. Myung had shown me the ultrasound pictures and I knew I loved him already.
Jin had also insisted on tending to my wounds every single day. I remembered a time I used to take care of myself and my own wounds but Jin insisted that now he was here and he was more than happy to help. He would not let me treat myself, insisting that family had to look after each other.
As for Hoseok – that had been the biggest change. The teasing had not stopped but we both knew it was just that, teasing. Sometimes, we fought, or rather we showed our disagreement in quite a vocal way. Somehow, that always seemed to amuse the others. With that being said though, there was a new sense of respect. I knew Hoseok was trying to make things right even if I kept trying to show him, he didn’t have to. I did not blame him because I knew if I were in his spot, I would have done the same, if not worse.
Yet, the two of us often sat and talked, even late at night. We talked about small, irrelevant things like favourite colours or favourite flavours, and sometimes, sometimes we talked about the deep stuff, like tonight as we ended up talking about our lives in the shadows.
‘What was your first kill like Cherry?’ Hoseok asked, sounding curious rather than accusatory, as all of us sat in the mansion’s BBQ area. We had all pigged out on so much food and now were sitting on cushions and towels around a pit fire, drinking beer and wine, except for Myung who was stuck with her juice.
I sighed as I recalled the memory. I could not help but shiver and I heard Hoseok sigh. ‘You don’t have to say,’ he whispered quickly.
‘It was my first innocent person,’ I said as I grabbed the beer can tighter. ‘I… I was given to the Scarlets when I was twelve. I was always good with things that had to do with memory – I could remember codes and recognize faces and voices and that came in useful. They started training me – both in technological and spy stuff but also physical training,’ I explained.
‘That must have been tough,’ Taehyung commented and I nodded. ‘Were they cruel to you as you trained?’ he asked.
‘Yeah. They did not like mistakes. Well, Lady Scarlet did not like mistakes and those under her had to follow her orders, or they’ll get punished themselves,’ I explained.
‘There was a clear hierarchy of power,’ Namjoon commented and I nod. ‘Except, there was not a leader but a boss. She commanded with fear and punishment,’ he added. He was right – Lady Scarlet exuded fear wherever she went. She was different from Namjoon who was a born leader.
‘You could say that again,’ I said with a sigh as I finished the beer can and set it down. ‘At first, I was used as a hacker but when I got older, my training became more intense, more deadly. They tried to get me to kill for some time but I refused each time. I endured the punishments – the isolation, the starvation, the beatings, but then they escalated things,’ I said.
‘What do you mean by that Cherry?’ Myung asked and I sighed once more.
‘I remember being dragged to the pit for everyone to see. Back then, I had a best friend who was like me to a certain extent. She was an orphan thrown into this world. A lot of us were like that – forgotten girls, orphans or girls who had no one. Anyways, they brought her and an innocent stranger. They forced them to their knees before me and handed me my sword. I had a choice to make. I had the power to choose who lived and who died,’ I explained.
‘And you chose your best friend,’ Jin said and I nodded. His voice sounded full of understanding – there was no accusation, no judgement. If anything, there was concern for me.
‘I know a kill is a kill, but I don’t think anybody here could blame you. If someone forced me to choose between any of my brothers and a stranger, I’d choose my brother too,’ Taehyung said.
‘I repeated to myself that it was the choice they gave. Either kill my best friend or that stranger. If I refused to do it, this time I would not have been the only one punished. All three of us would be killed, executed,’ I said.
‘One life for three,’ Hoseok muttered and I nodded. ‘There was never really a choice Cherry,’ he said and I shrugged, not sure if I believed that.
‘I don’t know about that Hoseok. I could have taken that sword and slit my own throat but I did not have the balls to do that,’ I said.
‘Cherry,’ Hoseok whispered as he reached for my hand but I did not let him take it. I couldn’t. Not now. Not while I was reliving that nightmare – that night that changed me into a killer – a monster.
‘They’re so cruel,’ Jungkook said and I nodded. ‘I had heard rumours once that the Scarlets were not always like this,’ he added and once more, I found myself nodding.
‘You’re right. The Scarlets were not always a league of assassins,’ I said.
‘Really?’ Jimin asked in clear disbelief. ‘I always thought it was like that. How old exactly is the league?’ he asked.
‘The organization has been in existence for over seven hundred years,’ I said. I could see their eyes widen, even Namjoon.
‘Whoa! Damn!’ Myung exclaimed. Probably they all knew it was old but nobody expected it to be this long. Then again, there was a reason why we kept everything about us mysterious and secretive.
‘In the past, the women who were a part of it, were the Queen’s personal guard. They were like a disguise. Nobody expected women warriors. They did not kill innocent people. They guarded the Imperial family,’ I explained.
‘So technically speaking, the Scarlets were meant to be as bodyguards, in easier and less fancy words,’ Namjoon said and I nodded.
‘Yeah. Then wars came along and the Scarlets were involved in that a lot. The previous Scarlets acted like soldiers and spies, gathering and sharing information to save civilians and change the tides of war,’ I explained.
‘What forced it to change into what it is now? Something so cruel and vindictive,’ Jin asked.
‘Thirty years ago, Domina Vindictae came to join the Scarlets. Her name, Vindictae showed what she was after – vengeance. Her family had been murdered and she wanted revenge. Within a year, she took over after challenging the previous Lady Scarlet. As soon as she went on top, the Scarlets changed and they no longer served to protect the innocent but to be used as killing machines,’ I explained.
‘Revenge can change people,’ Hoseok said, a small bitter frown on his face. ‘There was a time I was consumed by the thought of it. If I found out who murdered my own family, I don’t know what I would do,’ Hoseok said.
‘Still, you did not go around on a rampage. She was completely consumed Hoseok. There was nothing in her except violence and hate and evilness. I never saw anyone like her,’ I admitted.
‘Why did no one ever turn against her?’ Jungkook asked and I sighed.
‘She’s a good fighter Kook. One of the best Scarlets of all time. I’ve never seen anyone handle a sword or gun like her. Everyone was scared of her and it did not help that there were some who believed her crap about the Scarlets becoming their own instead of being just protectors of others who did not even appreciate our skills. She had followers,’ I explained.
‘And with time, she only grew more powerful and strong,’ Namjoon commented.
‘Not only physically probably but even in reputation. Everyone knows what a Scarlet does. Seeing that sword alone is enough to send people running,’ Jimin said.
‘You could say that again,’ Myung said as she smiled a little. ‘I still remember the look of fear, but like pure horror on those guys’ faces when she took out her sword,’ Myung said, referring to how we met.
‘Well, we sparred with her and I’ll tell you guys, we haven’t seen anything yet,’ Jimin said with a mischievous smile.
‘Cherry, can I ask you something personal?’ Hoseok asked and I nod. ‘It’s been eating away at me but I did not know how to ask. No moment seemed good enough,’ he added.
‘Go ahead. Ask. The worst that I can say is that I can’t answer or maybe tell you to * off,’ I said with a laugh and he nodded with a smile.
‘Last time, you told me that your father gave you up to the Scarlets. What did you mean by that?’ he asked. I felt my body grow stiff as I closed my eyes for a moment.
My mind went back to that fateful night where my father took me to that place. It was dark and scary and I was not sure what was going on until I was put in that vehicle and my life turned upside down. I had felt abandoned and betrayed.
‘Cherry you don’t have to answer if you don’t feel comfortable,’ he added as he reached for my hand and this time, I let him take it. His hand was soft against mine.
‘I was twelve,’ I began as I took a deep breath and opened my eyes to look at them. ‘My little brother was sick, really sick. He needed medication and surgeries we could not afford. My mother and father, they bent backwards, working double, triple jobs, trying to get the money but it was not enough. So, my dad went to some loan sharks who happily lent him the money,’ I said.
‘Oh damn. Let me guess, they kept increasing interest?’ Yoongi asked and I nodded. ‘*ing *s,’ he said.
‘They destroyed dad’s worn out car and destroyed our home. They warned my father that the next time they came, if he didn’t pay, they’d kill all of us,’ I said.
‘Oh God,’ Myung said while Hoseok squeezed my hand.
‘My father didn’t know what to do until a Scarlet approached him with a deal. They would get rid of those scumbags and in return, they’d take me as payment. Like I said, I was good, exceptionally good at memory stuff and was too smart for my age. They saw use in me,’ I explained.
‘So, your dad gave you to the Scarlets in hopes of keeping all your family alive,’ Hoseok said. ‘That’s why you told me you understood why he did it and don’t hate him for it,’ he added.
‘Yeah, I know he did it to keep all four of us alive but it still hurt like hell to know I was given up. I felt as if my life did not matter,’ I admitted and I saw Hoseok nod in understanding.
‘Cherry,’ Namjoon began as he sounded serious, ‘what’s your brother’s name?’ he asked.
‘Yeonjun. Choi Yeonjun,’ I replied as I tilted my head. I saw them all exchanging looks as if the name meant something to them. ‘What?’ I asked.
‘Your name – it’s Choi Haneul isn’t it?’ Namjoon asked. This time it was me who stared at him in disbelief.
‘Ho—how do you know?’ I asked.
So we have finally found out Cherry's real name which is Haneul. Her brother is none other than Yeonjun (yes, from TxT because I really do love Yeonjun haha). The question that comes is - how do they know of her? What do they have to do with Yeonjun? How will Cherry react? I look forward to your comments! - Tae's Misfit
"I never thought love was worth fighting for but then I looked into your eyes and I was ready for war."