Hanuel
*A week later*
My brother and I both sit in the back garden, both of us sipping on a cold beer. There is a light breeze passing by, making my hair move. I heard Yeonjun sigh and I turned slightly to look at him.
‘You okay Jun?’ I asked and he nodded. I frowned because he was not that convincing. ‘Are you sure? You know you can talk to me. I thought we were cool now,’ I said which made him chuckle.
‘We are noona. We’re more than cool,’ he said with a smile. ‘It’s just sometimes I get a lot of thoughts in my head which I can barely make sense of,’ he said and I nodded. ‘I miss our parents,’ he said and I sighed.
‘I miss them too Jun,’ I said. ‘I miss all that we missed too and sometimes, there are days I hate how stubborn I was and the fact I refused to go to them,’ I sad.
‘You were hurt noona. I know that and they knew that too,’ he said. ‘When I was younger, I always believed I would find you. There were days where I had my doubts if I would. It had been years and I never imagined I’d get this even if I hoped for it,’ he admitted.
‘I guess in a way it worked out. I’ll be honest and say that I never imagined this either because I doubted I’d ever escape or that I’d get a family like this,’ I said and he smiled.
‘Everyone at the mansion loves you,’ he said, but I could not help but raise an eyebrow, ‘okay mostly everyone. I’m sure you *ed off one or two people,’ he said laughing.
‘Maybe even more. I can be a * sometimes, especially during training,’ I said but he shrugged.
‘But you’re like that to push us to be better so we can stay alive,’ he said and I nodded. ‘Like with me, you push me to my limit and beyond and yeah, sometimes I get annoyed because I know you’re challenging me more than others because I am your brother and then realize you’re doing it because I am your brother and you want what is best for me,’ he said.
‘I don’t want to ever lose you Yeonjun,’ I said. I heard his beer bottle drop as he looked at me and blinked his eyes quite a number of times.
‘I um… I, sorry. It’s just when you get super sentimental, it still surprises me since it’s so rare,’ he said and I just smiled.
‘I know Jun. I’m not the best at expressing myself like this,’ I said and he nodded.
‘I know. I know your life has not been easy and circumstances made you close off. Noona, can I ask you a question?’ he asked.
‘Sure, go ahead,’ I said as I sipped from my beer bottle, a gut feeling telling me I won’t be liking the question that much.
‘You don’t have to answer noona. I just… how, I mean, what, I don’t even know how to ask it,’ he mumbled as he took a deep breath, seemingly frustrated with himself. ‘What happened after you were taken away that night?’ he finally asked.
I sighed as my mind rushed to those nights before I could even stop them. ‘They were hell Yeonjun,’ I said as I felt a shiver run down my spine. I closed my eyes for a moment as everything came back clearly.
I felt Yeonjun grab my hand and I opened my eyes to look at him. ‘You don’t have to tell me,’ he said but I shook my head.
‘Why do you want to know Yeonjun?’ I asked, curiously.
‘I don’t know. I guess, I want to know about every part of you and your life. I thought, maybe, I could understand you better,’ he said.
I nodded and squeezed his hands. ‘Are you sure you’re ready for it?’ I asked.
‘I am,’ he replied and I nodded once again. I took a deep breath and began.
*Flashback*
2008
I sat on the cold, hard ground. The room was dark and freezing and it smelt like vomit and *. I didn’t know how long I had been in this room – maybe two days, maybe three. It could have been more, I could not tell.
For the past hours, I had not talked to a single person. I was not given any food – all I was given was some water. Part of me wondered whether they were killing me slowly.
I scoffed to myself – no twelve year old child should have to think like that. I thought back to the abandoned station – to the look on my father’s face. How could he do this to me? Did I matter so little to him?
I wondered about Eomma and how she was doing. Did he tell her what he has done? What about little Yeonjun? Was he feeling better? The last time I saw him he was in bed with a high fever.
I took a ragged breath as I felt some tears roll down my eyes. My mind recalled the words of that woman – ‘You will stop crying little girl if you know what is best for you. Be a good girl and your life will change. You will no longer be weak and you will never be discarded like thrash. We are your new family now Umbra.’
I shuddered and quickly wiped away my tears. I had tried hard not to cry, afraid of what they might do to me. I did not sob, I did not yell. I obeyed, hoping I will not be punished.
Suddenly, the door opened and three women walked in. They looked almost identical except for their hair colour. They were all wearing their black, leather clothes, their hair in tight ponytails and their swords hanging from their back.
‘Get up little Umbra,’ one of them ordered. I nodded as I tried to stand up. My feet trembled after sitting down for so long. I almost buckled but I managed to hold on.
I looked at the three women who looked at me almost as if they were studying me. I kept a straight face, trying to hide how scared I was.
‘Let’s take her to Domina Vindictae,’ one of them said as the others nodded. Two of them came behind me as one of them lightly pushed me.
‘Start walking,’ she ordered. I walked ahead, following after the one. The lights blinded me for a moment but I did not complain. I followed in silence until I was brought to another room which was full of people.
I was dragged to the middle and forced to my knees in front of another woman. She looked stern and scary but I refused to give in to my fear. I held my hands in fists, trying to stop them from shaking.
‘Little Umbra,’ she said as she smirked. ‘I heard you’ve been a very good girl these past three days and nights. No crying, no screaming and no begging. It’s surprising, considering you’re just twelve,’ she said.
‘They told me if I knew what was best for me, I should stop crying,’ I replied. The woman chuckled loudly and I heard some of the other women laugh as well.
‘Smart indeed little girl,’ she said. ‘Your father sold you to us to keep your family safe,’ she said. I nodded but did not say anything. ‘He sent you away to us like you meant nothing to him. Maybe you did not,’ she said. ‘You will learn your place here little Umbra. You will endure the punishments and you will be obedient and we will turn you into a strong woman. You’ll rise like a Phoenix from the burnt ashes,’ she said.
She turned around and sat back on her chair that seemed to resemble a throne. ‘What do want us to do my Lady?’ one of the women asked.
‘Strip her and give her five lashes. She has obeyed so far,’ Domina Vindictae said. My eyes widened slightly as two women came to me and forced me to stand.
Before I knew it, they were pulling off my dirty clothes off of me. I was left naked in front of all of them and I tried to hide my body with my hands which were trembling now. I was forced back to my knees, just as I could hear rustling behind me.
I looked at Domina Vindictae who remained in her seat, her eyes fixed on me, observing me. Suddenly, I felt something hitting across my back. It hurt and stung and I let out a scream. I fell forward and I heard a few gasp as I tried to sit back up.
‘One more for every time she screams,’ Domina Vindictae said. I heard some more gasps as I managed to sit up. I looked at Domina Vindictae as I bit on my own tongue just as I felt another hit on my back.
I closed my eyes and held my breath but refused to scream again. I opened them and stared at Domina Vindictae. I felt the other hits, one by one. A few tears came out of my eyes but I kept myself from screaming. Domina Vindictae was smiling, seemingly satisfied.
The woman who was hitting me stepped back as Domina Vindictae stood up and approached me. She grabbed me by the arms and pulled me up.
‘You are a strong one little Umbra,’ she said as she caressed my cheek. ‘You will do very well here,’ she said. ‘Shave her hair and fill up the bathtub. It is time for her renewal,’ she said as she left her place.
More women came as they surrounded me. They put on a white dress and then forced me to sit on the chair. One of them used the sword and I gulped for a moment as I felt the swish of the sword as she cut off my hair. I heard the buzzing of the machine as I saw my hair fall down.
Before I knew it, my hair was all gone and I was taken to another room. All the women were following as if I was being paraded around. This room was darker than the other one but there was a large bathtub in the middle.
It was not like any bathtub I had ever seen. It was a circle and it looked deep. The outside was black and the rimming appeared to be made of gold. On the side there was an inscription written in a language I did not know – probably Latin.
‘The words on there refer to the new beginning,’ Domina Vindictae said from behind me. ‘The end is the beginning and with rebirthing comes new life,’ she translated before she pulled me towards it. We both entered it and I gulped once more, my heart racing against my chest.
She pushed me down gently and I laid down, unable to do anything. I took a big breath before she pushed me under. Suddenly, the world became blurry. My hearing was going numb and my nose was burning. She held me down, refusing to let me up. I felt the water rush in even if I tried to hold my breath.
My lungs started to burn and ache up to the point where I could not take it. My mouth opened, almost as if on its own and I felt the water rushing in. I panicked, thinking she was going to drown me. I began to thrash but she only held me down with more force.
My vision blurred, dark spots dancing in front of my eyes. I felt my body starting to give in before I was suddenly pulled out of the water. I gasped and coughed while I heard cheers from a distance.
I managed to look up at Domina Vindictae who was smiling. ‘Welcome home little Umbra,’ she said as tapped my shoulders.
*End of Flashback*
I looked at Yeonjun who had tears running down his cheeks. I smiled as I wiped them away from him. ‘Don’t cry Jun,’ I said gently.
‘How can I not?’ he asked. ‘You went through all of that. How can you not hate me?’ he said.
‘I don’t because it was not your fault. At first I blamed Appa and Eomma but I did understand why they did it. I never blamed you though,’ I said as I wiped yet another tear.
‘If I ever come face to face with Domina Vindictae, I’ll kill her myself for what she made you go through,’ he said sounding angry.
‘Oh no you don’t,’ I said as I shook my head. ‘If you ever come face to face with her, you’ll be dead in seconds,’ I said.
‘I’ve become a better fighter noona,’ he said but I shook my head again.
‘She’s the best fighter I ever saw in my life. I barely stand a chance against her myself and I was considered one of the best ones in that place,’ I said.
‘Would you ever fight her if you have to?’ he asked and I sighed.
‘I’d rather not but if she ever touched you or Bangtan, then yes. Then yes, I’d fight her and end her. Nobody touches my family,’ I said. He smiled as he hugged me. I chuckled slightly as I hugged him back.
Suddenly, I heard someone clearing their throat and we detangled. I turned around to find Hoseok there. He looked…worried or something, I could not quite tell.
‘Sorry to disturb you but boss wants us for a meeting,’ Hoseok said to me. I nodded as I stood up.
‘I’ll see you later Jun,’ I said as I followed Hoseok who was really quiet. ‘Are you okay?’ I asked and he nodded. ‘You sure?’ I asked.
‘I um… I heard what you said to Yeonjun,’ he said. ‘I came to fetch you and then I heard him ask about your first few days and I got stuck. I did not mean to eavesdrop but I was stuck,’ he said and I nodded.
‘I um, it’s fine, I guess,’ I said and he sighed. ‘What?’ I asked.
‘I gave you so much * for being a Scarlet in the beginning without knowing anything about you,’ he said.
‘It’s fine Hoseok. We crossed that bridge long ago and we both agreed that it’s in the past, forgotten and forgiven,’ I said.
‘Domina Vindictae, she’s such a monster,’ he said, almost as if he ignored what I just said. ‘Thinking she did that to you while you were just twelve years old makes me feel sick to my stomach and so angry,’ he said.
‘I’m tired of being angry Hoseok,’ I said. ‘I’m just grateful for what I managed to get now. My brother, Bangtan, you’ I said.
He stopped walking, forcing me to stop to. He looked around before he pulled me in and placed a kiss. I gasped slightly but kissed back. He rested his forehead on mine and I smiled.
‘I don’t think friends with benefits kiss like that,’ I joked. He smiled as he caressed my cheek.
‘We can make our own rules,’ he whispered. ‘You’ll always have Bangtan and me,’ he said again. ‘Always,’ he repeated before he placed another gentle kiss to which I responded.
‘I know, now let’s go. I think you kept the boss waiting for too long now,’ I said and he nodded. He grabbed my hand as we walked towards Namjoon’s office.
We reached there and he removed his hands from mine. We both walked in and all their heads turned to me. ‘Took you long enough,’ Yoongi said with a huff.
‘I told you to go fetch her not go * her brains out,’ Namjoon said laughing.
‘Yah! That’s not what we did!’ Hoseok said while I just laughed.
‘We didn’t. I was having a heart to heart moment with my brother and he did not want to interrupt,’ I said, coming to his defence.
‘You don’t have to explain,’ Myung said as she held Logan on her knees. ‘If you two want to mess around, that’s your choice and these goons don’t have a say,’ Myung said before she turned around to face Namjoon. ‘As for you, mind your language in front of our son or I’ll wash your mouth with soap, unless you want our son’s first word to be a curse word,’ she scolded.
‘Sorry my queen, you are absolutely right. Am I forgiven?’ Namjoon asked as he pouted, making all of us laugh. Sometimes it was hard to believe that this Namjoon was the same as the mafia leader who could be very dangerous.
Myung laughed and nodded as she blew a kiss towards him. Hoseok and I both sit down, ready to start the meeting.
‘So, I wanted you all to come here because we might be having a new gig coming up,’ Namjoon began just as Jimin’s phone started to ring loudly. Namjoon sighed as he looked at Jimin who looked back at him apologetically.
‘Sorry, I just, oh it’s Minji,’ he said, his face lighting up.
‘Answer your sister Jimin. We can wait a little bit more,’ Namjoon said, knowing how much Jimin missed his little sister who has been living in Japan for the past two years.
‘MINJ!!’ Jimin greeted but soon his face turned grim. His smile seemed to vanish as he gulped. ‘Minji? What’s… what’s wr—wrong?’ he stuttered.
He stood up, his face draining of colour. His eyes became unfocused and his breathing quickened. ‘Minji? Minji can you hear me? *,’ he said as he turned to Yoongi. ‘Yoongi, I need you to track my sister. She’s….she’s been attacked and she’s hurt!’ he said.