Chapter 28 – Tale of a Demon – An Incident Occurs
*
Take a car from Baekbawi Beach in Yeonggwan-gun, Gwangju to Busan.
Since it was a long road, I tried to get off at a safe place and change cars, but Hong Seung-yong got angry and said that it was not necessary. It is said that the missing items will not be returned until today’s work is finished. It was a company I already didn’t like, so I was looking for an opportunity to run away, but it worked out well.
“I’m getting a call.”
“Ignore it.”
Nevertheless, I finally picked up the phone, probably because I was so fed up with the phone constantly ringing. I don’t know who it is, but he swears and shouts that I’m resigning, then turns it off and throws it in the back seat. Lee Mun-sik, who was sitting in the passenger seat, said he was sorry, but Hong Seung-yong didn’t care.
“Are you okay?”
“… I did it out of anger, though. … That’s enough.”
As he was driving, he said he was planning to leave because the company politics were so bad. He sighed deeply, saying that he was tired of being pushed around by women. The job wasn’t urgent right now, so it didn’t matter.
“Aren’t you going to regret it later?”
“No, no. I kept thinking about resigning, but I didn’t have the courage to do so. This is better. “I should give it to you when I have some taste in my head.”
He stopped the car, saying he would follow the proper procedures once this incident was over. He seemed nervous because he had been driving for over four hours. Even when I stopped the car, it stopped making quite a loud noise. Even after kicking down the door, there was no way to close it gently.
“The world has become better. … Are you here already?”
Lee Mun-sik got off belatedly and looked up at the building. A new building that is still recruiting tenants. I fell into the sea at night and landed on land after dawn. And because I rode in the car from dawn to morning, I was seriously tired. The sunlight shining in the sky was shining through the windows of the building, making my eyes hurt.
“… What is your password?”
“I don’t know.”
“… Then let’s get some rest.”
Hong Seung-yong returns to the car and puts the backrest back, saying that he can rest assured that he has come this far. Lee Moon-sik follows behind him and lies down in the car, shaking off his dried clothes. As they locked eyes with each other, they told the story that he had threatened Hong Eun-ah by leaving her at this entrance.
“Did the threat work well?”
“Probably, if you look at how quiet it is. … My boyfriend and the surrounding girls seemed to have the same temperament.”
He told me about Hong Eun-ah’s friend who called to find out this address. She was a woman who introduced herself as Jeong Songmi. Although she was strict with Hong Eun-ah, she told him everything she needed to know and strongly warned him not to touch her.
“I hope the threat goes well, and my boyfriend stays home.”
“Yes.”
After answering briefly, the two close their eyes again.
That sweet sleep did not last long.
*
Dinner.
While I was falling asleep in the parking lot in front of the building, I suddenly heard a strange sound. The two people who woke up rubbed their eyes and rolled down the window to look at the building. Five men were walking up and down an already deserted building, making loud footsteps. However, something strange was happening that caused loud shouting.
“What?!”
“… “Didn’t you find it on the island?”
“That can’t be right!”
The two calmed their shocked hearts and watched the situation. Check the address you wrote down in your notepad. The boyfriend’s residence was on the second floor, and the men who had gone upstairs and were making a fuss were also making a big commotion on the second floor, flashing lights.
“What should I do?”
“All I have right now is an awl. “Isn’t there something you can use for self-defense?”
“There is a corner.”
“… “Why are you carrying that?”
“I heard you were working today, and I brought it just in case. … “I have to protect my body too, you damn bastard.”
Lee Mun-sik gets out of the car, saying sarcastically that the preparations were thorough. Then he opened the trunk and took out the wooden block. I entered the fixed building with the entrance open, thinking that although I would not fall if I was hit, I would be a threat.
“I’m starting the car.”
“Don’t overdo it.”
“Uh.”
Lee Mun-sik climbs up the building, leaving Hong Seung-yong pulling his car out of the parking lot. After taking a few steps up the short stairs, I heard a loud voice.
“Therefore! Why can’t I go?!”
“Noisy. “If you’ve done what you have to do, get out.”
“I put you to sleep! I! I! “I did it!”
“This damn thing is climbing!”
And then the sound of someone falling down. I hid at the end of the hallway on the first floor when I heard footsteps coming down while swearing loudly. The unidentified men went straight down to the entrance without even seeing him crouching in a corner and hiding in the shadows. They had women slung one by one on their shoulders or on each hand.
“… Huh.”
Lee Moon-sik gets goosebumps, thinking it might be human trafficking. They dragged away several people whose faces they did not know, including a woman who looked like Hong Eun-ah. I didn’t know what was going on, so I moved my body even though I was confused. When I went up to the second floor after all the men had come down, I noticed an open door.
“… ?”
Just in case, I tightened my grip on the wooden block and looked inside. All the lights were on, and the house was a mess, including footprints. At the front door, a fat man with curly hair was lying down. In the largest room, there was an overturned drinking table and a fallen young man groaning.
“How… “
Lee Mun-sik had heard from Hong Eun-ah about her boyfriend’s appearance. He is a large, dark-looking man. His hair is cut short, and he likes to dress lightly. The man who collapsed in the large room exactly matched the appearance described by Hong Eun-ah. A large figure wearing light-looking dark blue sportswear. Even though his voice was loud, and he was whispering, it didn’t sound like he was talking in his sleep.
“… Are you okay? Look!”
“Ugh, huh… “
Lee Mun-sik laid the large man forward. He showed no signs of being beaten. However, he was coughing and showing similar symptoms to Hong Eun-ah, who had taken the medicine. The strange action of reaching his weak arm towards his own face and desperately putting it in his mouth. At first, I thought this was some kind of action, but I quickly realized the intention.
“Open your mouth!”
“Geuuuuuk!”
He stuck his fingers down his throat without hesitation. And he couldn’t overcome the feeling of nausea that was rising, so he vomited loudly on the ground. Pieces of freshly eaten bread fall out. The fallen young man still couldn’t move properly, but as if he was feeling better, he opened one eye and looked at Lee Mun-sik.
“Who is this… Eunah… ? Jiwon, Songmi, Saebom… And… Ugh… “
“Don’t answer anything else! Just answer this one! Hong Eun, are you your boyfriend?!”
“Okay… “
“That’s enough!”
Lee Mun-sik carried the large person on his back. Fortunately, his height was shorter than his own, so he was able to carry him without difficulty. Without explaining the situation, he heads straight to the car. When he bought a cell phone and alcohol that were lying around, he did not forget to grab the black plastic bag he had supposedly received.
“What? Who is it?!”
“Hong Eun-ah, boyfriend! Rather, where did those bastards just go?!”
“Do you see the car just leaving?”
“Is that it?”
“Yes.”
“Should I follow…?” Or should I go to the hospital first… “
While she was thinking about it for less than 10 seconds, Hong Eun-ah’s boyfriend, whom she had thrown in the back seat, started throwing up loudly. He didn’t close his eyes as he poured a lot of something into the black plastic bag he held in his hand.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine… Chase after you… “
“Didn’t you eat rat poison?!”
“It’s like a sleeping pill… It’s okay now… “
Then I vomited again.
“Do people who take a lot of sleeping pills to commit suicide have symptoms like that?”
Lee Moon-sik looked bitterly at the back seat and Hong Seung-yong drove the car and chased after him. A yellow van with lots of scratches. Because the time zone was bad and there was a lot of traffic, it seemed difficult to catch up quickly. In addition, Busan’s poor transportation network also played a role. When I thought I might miss it if it continues like this.
“Call the police?”
“That’s a bit much.”
“No, I roughly know where I’m going… “
From island slave escape to kidnapping. If I left it to the police, I didn’t know where or how I would get in touch with the island due to confusion. From Lee Moon-sik’s perspective, calling the police at this time was not a good idea. It seemed like the same thing happened to him, and after he finished vomiting, he told me where they were going.
“I got a nice massage… I thought I’d drink a drink and go to sleep… Those bastards and you too… “
“Let’s make it clear first. I am Lee Moon-sik and this guy is Hong Seung-yong. “I heard your story from Hong Eun-ah.”
“I know Eun-ah… ?”
“Because I was the one who helped him escape from the island.”
“… Holy shit.”
A swear word that comes out right away. This, she said to herself, was one of the characteristics of her boyfriend that Hong Eun Ah had mentioned. As soon as the story came out, her face turned grim.
“Kim Min.”
“The words are a bit short?”
“It looks like you want to hear an honorific title in this situation.”
If you say that, Lee Moon-sik laughs it off, thinking that his body is fine. On the other hand, Hong Seung-yong pursed his lips as if he didn’t like it, but couldn’t say anything bitter because he was concentrating on driving.