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Chapter Text

There she stood, front and center on the small stage. Her soft purple hair was pulled back into a bun and pinned into place. A bundle of strands lay free, falling just to the side of her face framing her cheek. A dress of silk hugs her gentle curves, faintly shining iridescent pink and blue in the lone spotlight. Delicate fingers wrap around the microphone on the stand in front of her. The piano beside her played softly, leading into her queue. She brought her lips to the microphone and began to sing again, her voice smooth and intimate. Her eyes glance to the crowd before her.

Soft lights rim a room full of party guests. They are all dressed to the utmost level of extravagance. Fine silks and wool cling to their frames. Gold and silver jewelry hung from ears and necks. Rings adorned with shimmering stones wrap each finger. Every perfume and cologne mix with the hazy smoke of cigars making a cocktail of scent that hangs in the air like a haze. It would be overstimulating to anyone below this class, but this is the air they breathe on the regular. This was the highest of high society.

They clink their glasses together in a toast to some partnership or good fortune. Wait staff circle the room exchanging long empty glasses for chilled fresh ones. Many of them have an implant at their temple giving them direct orders. They are like bees zipping around the room working with maximum efficiency. They had to unless they wanted punishment bestowed upon them by the reception host.

The music lightly swelled, hitting that final chorus. The chords ringing with fervor then falling into the chime of a few notes before halting at songs end.

Not a single guest applauded. They never did. The music was just a backing track to the film they found themselves in. The singer let out a subtle sigh before taking her leave from the stage, the piano starting back up again behind her.

She slips behind the curtain, finding her handler there waiting for her with water and a handkerchief.

“Don’t let them get to you, Rumi. You are doing great out there,” he spoke with a slight smile on his face.

“Thanks Bobby.” She accepts the offer of water and takes a sip. “It’s just tough to perform for a group that is so… uninterested.”

His face softens a touch, the corner of his mouth pressing into his cheek as he dabs the sweat from her brow. “That’s just how they are, always so busy negotiating their deals and partnerships. Just know that your performances are very appreciated. We wouldn’t be getting the work if it wasn’t. So many of these corporate types keep requesting you specifically.”

His eyes and expression suddenly jolt to life. “Speaking of. I have you booked for a very important reception at the end of the month. The DN Enterprises global summit. All of the top industry leaders will be there. This might be the biggest show you have ever performed.”

Rumi was stunned by the news. Her eyes widened a touch at the thought of performing for the most powerful group of people in the world. “H-how did you manage to negotiate that?”

“It took some string pulling and a lot of soju, but I managed to get Celine to talk with the event staff. She’s been avoiding scheduling anything with them ever since… “ his voice trailed off, not wanting to mention the specifics. “But she did agree that this was good for business and that you were ready for a step up like this.”

Rumi’s eyes dropped to the floor at his comment. Her hand tightened around the glass. Memories she wanted to keep locked away were starting to creep back to the forefront. She shook her head and brought her attention back to Bobby. His hand was now resting on her shoulder, providing a little comfort.

“I know I am ready,” she stated with confidence. An idea creeped into her mind. Maybe Bobby can do something similar to help her out, get her what she wants most. “Since you are such a good negotiator could you maybe… negotiate a break for me?” She looked at him with a silent plea.

Bobby was slightly taken aback. His hand returned to his side. “A break? You have shows booked for weeks. I can’t just call and cancel them. It’s bad for business and our whole image.”

“What would be worse for business is a singer having to pull out of the biggest conference of the year because she lost her voice doing all of these small shows.” Her eyebrow raised and a smirk appeared on her face.

Bobby sighed in defeat. “I will see what I can do. No promises. You know how protective she can be.” He pulls out his phone and frantically scrolls through his contacts. “Now don’t let this take over your head. You still have an hour left of this gig.” His hands guide Rumi back to the stage. A gentle nudge through the curtain and he turns away to attend to his pending negotiations.

Rumi took to the stage once more. She gave a small smile to the pianist who returned with a soft nod. Her mind was racing. The thought of having even an ounce of freedom made her giddy. She used that feeling to power through the remainder of her set, but something deep down was stirring. Deep in her gut she felt a growing sense of fear. A fear of history repeating itself.

Rumi was escorted back to her apartment by a set of bodyguards personally assigned to her by Sunlight Media. Celine has always been so protective of her. She was held under close watch, never allowed to go anywhere on her own. Celine had reason to be as such. Ever since Rumi’s mother passed, Celine was holding onto her like she would disappear if she let go. It was the last piece she had of her, the person she could not protect, could not save.

The door to the apartment hissed, sliding open. Rumi turned to the guards and gave them a polite bow before the door closed, locking with a small click. She stared at it for a moment before letting out a heavy exhale, not realizing she was holding her breath. She turned to face her dwelling.

It was pristine. Not an item out of place. White walls and ceilings laden with recessed lighting strips where the two met. It was almost sterile in a way like it was a cell rather than a home. Her personal cage.

Rumi strode to a panel on the wall, pressing its keys and lowering the lights to a comfortable level for this time of night and adjusting climate control. Her shoes slipped off and stowed in a compartment by the door. She moved to the large floor to ceiling windows that lined the far wall of her apartment. The city outside was alive with a rainbow of colors leaking from below skyscrapers. The soft patter of rain playing an overture to the scene. She imagines the sound of crowds bustling the streets, the laughter of comradery and the yelling of arguments. All of them just… living. It all felt so close yet so far away like it was just out of her reach.

She would always find herself standing at the window each night, looking out longingly. She had been down on the street before, but it was all in broad daylight with a security escort. Never once was she allowed to explore the vast expanse of streets and alleyways, looking for those hidden gem ramyeon stands or fruit carts. Nightlife was certainly off limits. Curfew was strict. Who knows the dangers that lurk on those streets and night, Celine would always warn her. It was not a safe place for someone of higher societal standing. She would be eaten alive.

A chime overhead rang out, snapping Rumi out of her trance and pulling her back to reality.

“Incoming call from Bobby”, the computer voice spoke out.

“Put it through.”

A beep echoed indicating the call was connected. Rumi collected herself a moment before speaking. “Hi Bobby.”

“Hey Rumi. I made a few, well a lot of phone calls and…” He paused for a moment, building the anticipation in the singer’s chest. “I managed to arrange for you a two week break.”

A smile broke out on Rumi’s face. Finally, she would be able to relax and shed some of this pressure building around her.

“The higher ups were hesitant. Cancelling shows is not an easy thing to explain and it could lose valuable clients, but they agreed that we need to be focusing on the biggest stage. Keeping you in good shape is the most important thing for the company.”

“Thanks, Bobby. This really means a lot.” Her voice was softer than usual. It almost sounded like she was about to break down and cry. Her mask was slipping away.

Bobby could sense the change in her tone over the line. “Hey are you ok? Was it something I said?”

She quickly reassured him, throwing back on her usual mask of confidence. “No no no. You did nothing wrong. This whole day has been exhausting. I’m just tired and really need the rest. Both of us could really use this break.”

Our faults and fears must never be seen.

The mantra echoed in her head. It’s what she has been told for as long as she can remember. Those emotions only showed weakness.

Bobby’s sigh was picked up and played over the speaker. “Yeah, I suppose we both do. Be sure to rest up. Oh and before I go. If you are going out at any point during this break, there will be a security escort.”

“Bobby, please,” she whined.

“Rumi, you know I don’t make the rules. Celine does. She wants the best for you, you know that.” The call went quiet. Rumi had shut her eyes trying to collect herself. It may have only been a few moments but it felt like eternity before Bobby spoke again. “Get some rest. I’ll check in with you in a few days.” The chime of the call being ended echoed in the room. Rumi was left by herself in silence.

Her ears rang out in the quiet. She was still standing by the window with her eyes pressed shut. Her arms crossed over her chest, left hand grasping at her right bicep desperately trying to ground herself.

No. No. No no no. She’s been desperately trying to gain more freedom. Trying each year since she turned 18, but it was all pushed aside. ‘It’s too dangerous out there. I don't want you to suffer her same fate. You will be safe under my watchful eye.’ All told to her by Celine. Rumi shook her head. No. I am not just some bird in a cage.

She gasped for air, not realizing she was holding it since the call ended. Her emotions were boiling over. The anger and frustration were taking over. Her eyebrows furrowed and her jaw clenched, gritting her teeth together. She lunged forward planting the end of a balled fist to the window trying to smash it open. It was no use against the special plexi. Oh how desperately she wanted to shatter it and fly free into the night like a little songbird. Fly to places where no one could reach her. Where she could just let the wind guide her to a new life. Letting go of her tension she fell into the cold embrace of the window, sliding to her knees.

Her breathing slowly began to calm. Her eyes opened again, staring past her rain soaked reflection in the window and out to the blur of the city streets below. She still had a play in her life, her fate. She just had to get away. The city was huge. If she could slip away from the security, there is no way they would be able to find her amongst the moving crowds and trains.

She needed to find the perfect opportunity. She needed to have a plan.

Patrons line the streets, working their way to their nightly hangouts. Bars with doors wide open let the sound of clinking glasses and heavy conversation leak out to those on the concrete walks outside. A scuffle or two got taken outside to settle the score. These are the average denizens of the city. A variety of characters just trying to get through this miserable life they have found themselves in. Feeling like ants beneath the towering buildings housing the rich and powerful. The people that put them at the bottom.

A few small groups chatter outside the bars in various states of dress. The rain glides down the leather of their clothes, soaking into exposed skin and torn cotton. Cigarettes press to their lips, taking a long draw before continuing their stream of thoughts. A figure emerges from the dark of the alley, stepping into the center of the street drawing the eye of those outside. A tall slender frame adorned in a knee length leather jacket stands before them. The jacket is unbuttoned with sleeves rolled just below the elbow and hood drawn. The crowd voices hush and look towards the individual.

Slowly they begin to walk down the pavement. Their pace is deliberate and intimidating. It’s graceful. Like a model strutting down the runway. Exterior building lights highlight the jagged edges of their silhouette. Dark, roughed up combat boots make way for slender legs of oiled metal with imperfections capturing the colors around like a mosaic. Hanging chains clatter break through the silence, echoing off the brick shells of the buildings.

No one dared to mutter a word. A few ducked back into their establishment of choice. The figure strutted with a purpose. Their eyes focused ahead on their target. They come to a stop with a heavy step into a puddle and the scraping of asphalt from the opposite foot. Their eyes set towards that of a tall building at the center of a tee intersection. Lights shown from the top most floors. Likely some kind of party taking place.

A silence hung in the air uncomfortably long. Slowly, they tilt their head up at the building. A small grunt escaped their lips before spitting on the concrete in front of the door.

“Fucking Corpos.”

They turned away from the building. The neon lights outlining their frame as they slowly walked down a side street into the night.

Chapter Text

The morning came and Rumi was meticulously setting up her master plan. She found herself standing in her wardrobe for far too long pondering what to wear that will give her the best chance. She thumbed through the various garments. Nothing was quite right; too bulky, too revealing, too corporate. She would stick out like a sore thumb. If she wanted this to work she had to tap into a place she really wanted to avoid. 

Shuffling to a keypad beside her bed she tapped in a passcode, each stroke being hesitant. She had to redo it a few times because the panel timed out. Finally getting it all in before it reset, she hit the open button. A small square compartment in the wall clicked and popped open a fraction. A safe where she kept her most prized possessions, what little of them she had. 

She swung the door open and pulled out a shoebox. Little dust clung to the aged surface. It had been in this safe for a long time, rarely ever seeing the light of day. Rumi dropped to her knees and sat over her feet, the box resting in her lap. She took a deep breath and opened it.

A black jacket laid there, folded tightly into the confines of the cardboard. A few photos lay atop its crisp exterior, covering a hint of embroidery that decorated its surface. Rumi pulled the jacket up, careful not to harm the photos in any way. It was lightweight with knit cuffs. The front right panel was covered in a large embroidered lotus flower. The sleeves were coated in various patches of a bygone era. Vintage logos of 7-Eleven, Buldak, and more drowned this piece in a haze of nostalgia not seen in years. The jacket belonged to her mother, long before the city became what it is now.

Rumi brought it close to her chest. The smell of lavender still clung to it after all these years. It was old but it could fit in with the streetwear aesthetic she would see in magazines sometimes. She may attract some attention but at least it would be for curiosity instead of disdain. It will have to do. She slung the jacket over her forearm and stood, turning back towards her wardrobe. 

She pulled on a plain white crop top and worn-in dark jeans affixed with a belt that came together with a small click. Her hair was tied into a loose braid with a beanie resting on her crown. A small crossbody bag was pulled over her torso. She quickly stuffed it with some essentials; makeup compact, identification card, and a credit stick that she has used when making purchases she didn’t want Celine to know about. She didn’t bother with her phone or any other communication devices. They were all tapped and tracked down to the centimeter. She could probably snag a burner on the street if she needed a way to contact people. The last item was the jacket. 

She took a moment in the mirror to look herself over. It was almost like she needed a pep talk to just put the garment on. A deep breath and she spoke, addressing her mother.

“I’m not sure I am worthy enough to wear this, but I know that you would be proud of how far I have come. You would want me to have this, to cherish your memory, to live out the life you never got the chance to.” She stared directly into her eyes in the mirror. “I will wear this with honor.” She slipped her arms in and pulled the fabric over her torso. One last check in the mirror and she was ready to go.

The door to her apartment hissed open. The purple haired girl took a step, glancing from side to side down the hall. Seeing it was clear she made her way to the elevator. She didn’t want to take the stairs as it would leave her utterly exhausted. It felt like forever for the lift to arrive. Who in their right mind decided to make a building that only has two elevators for 50 plus floors? A soft ding and the doors opened. Rumi clamored inside and hit the lobby button. She had a moment to herself in the short ride to the ground floor. 

The doors swung open and waiting for her in the lobby were two security guards dressed in all black suits, clearly armed with protective vests covering their chests. She rolled her eyes and stepped towards them. They didn’t look like they would be too difficult to lose whether it be getting lost in the crowd or simply outran. She gave them basic directions, leading them to a large shopping district. It was the perfect place to get away. 

Rumi walked the streets with the two guards just behind her. It was a busy day like she wanted. A sea of people moving from store to store looking for the next big fashion trend or just trying to get lost in some new obsession. Her heart was thumping in her chest. To make this plan work, she needed to execute. There had to be no hesitation in her movements or she would be caught and forced back into her apartment with additional surveillance. Her hands were clammy, one grasping the strap of her bag on her chest and the other tucked into the pocket of her jacket. 

She saw her opening. A group of younger girls were entering a store on the corner. It would have multiple points of entry for her to escape onto the adjacent street. Her head swiveled, trying to look nonchalant like she was glancing at every other store in the near vicinity. She feigned a move towards another store, getting the guards to bite before deftly pivoting and diving into the corner store to be lost among its patrons. She could hear the frustration and panic from the security as they were trying to push through the crowd. Rumi had to move fast.

She weaved through groups of people and displays making her way to the other entrance. As soon as her foot hit the outside pavement, she bolted. Her smaller frame made it easy to dive between people walking. She bumped into a few along the way eeking out a couple “sorry”s and “my bad”s. She could hear the faint yells of the security detail behind her. No one was particularly interested in helping them. They reeked of corpo trash. If anything, the crowd slowed them down. A sway of the body here, the extension of a leg there. All of it helped her escape. 

She made a hard turn to an alleyway, her foot planting on the concrete wall and launching her forward. She kept moving quickly, taking a few more turns to truly lose them and cover her tracks. She took one final glance behind her as she neared the exit to the alley. No sign of them. Her plan looked to have worked. A smug smile planted itself on her face.

She turned back to the direction her body was moving and collided with another, sending her stumbling backward but still on her feet. She readied her apology when she looked at the person she ran into. The slender male frame came into focus. He was wearing a black jacket with pink filigree on the collar and sleeves. A patch on the left breast bore the shape of a lion. Her eyes raised to his, an unnatural yellow. A teal fringe peaking down from a black beanie leads to a face of artificial youth. The pins present in his jawline all but confirm that this was not his natural face, like he was clinging on to a child-like youth forever. His stare back at her was deep and intimidating. 

Rumi took a quick step backward, her hands raised trying to diffuse the situation. Her back collided with another body, knocking her forward and off balance. She turned to see another man wearing a similar jacket. His face was covered in long silver bangs that stretched to his nose. She couldn’t see his eyes but felt like he was staring straight through her. Her arms moved up frantically to cover her chest. It was like he was undressing her with unseen eyes.

The younger looking man huffed behind her. “Well, well, well. What do we have here?” His voice was much deeper than she would imagine based on his looks. “A pretty girl all alone, wandering in our territory. We don’t take kindly to stragglers, especially those who don’t know their place.”

Rumi’s eyes widened in fear. Her head swivelled between the two as they closed in on her. 

“We might just have to show you what happens to those who step out of line,” the silver haired one spoke softly. 

She had nothing to defend herself with. Panic was beginning to set in as they cornered her against the wall of the alley. Her breathing sped up, her hands began to shake against her chest. Was this really about to be her end? She shut her eyes in fear of what was to come next. Her breath held when she felt a body gently press to her front. A new voice rang out, much lighter and energetic.

“Alright boys, that’s enough.”

Rumi’s eyes peaked open. She saw a woman standing in front of her. She was about half a head shorter with sleek black hair tied into two buns.

“We all know that this is neutral territory. Now I suggest you take your leave before things get messy,” she spoke. “I don’t want to make a pretty girl watch me beat your asses to a pulp.”

The silver haired man snarled and bared his teeth at the two women. The shorter woman slung her arm out and produced a baton from her jacket sleeve. Her arm arced in front of her, forcing the boys to step back.

“No! Bad Saja Boys,” she snapped. She took a step forward, waving the baton about getting the two to finally scatter. “Yeah that’s right! You better run!” 

Rumi’s eyes were wide, her breathing still shallow and quick. What the hell just happened? Did this woman really jump in to save her? The shorter girl turned to face Rumi for the first time. Her eyes were large sparkling brown pools bridged together with a field of freckles that ran cheek to cheek. Her bangs fell just shy of her eyebrows with two longer strands framing her face. Her voice was light, almost fairy-like. 

“I am so sorry about those boys. They really do have the worst manners. You’re lucky I stepped in. A pretty girl like yourself shouldn’t be wandering these streets alone like that.” She paused for a moment and her eyes went wide. “Unless you are some secret martial arts master and were just getting them to bite on the distressed act before you took them down with a high kick or a flying armbar!” Her arms were flailing about, trying to mimic punches. A giggle left her lips as she finished her crazy thought. 

Rumi finally had the strength to speak. “Th-thanks. I wasn’t quite sure what happened. I bumped into one and the next thing I knew I was backed against the wall. You really saved my ass.”

“Ah, don’t worry about it. I’d happily do it again. Someone has to protect the lovely ladies of this city,” she said with a smug little grin on her face. “I feel a hero should always introduce themselves to those they saved, just so you know who to thank in your next big speech.” Her arm extended out with a great eagerness. “The name’s Zoey.”

Rumi stared at her hand a moment before hesitantly meeting her hand with her own. “Rumi.”

“Rumi? That is such a pretty name. Really fits you nicely, aesthetic and all.”

Rumi couldn’t help but feel a twinge of heat rise in her cheeks. She had never received a compliment with such sincerity before. She would only get cat calls from the creepy business men during performances or snide remarks from other women who wanted to put her in her place. She blinked a few times, collecting herself.

“Who even were those guys? They act like they run the place,” she asked.

Zoey looked at her puzzled. Her eyebrow raised slightly. “You mean you have never heard of the Saja Boys? They are pretty known around here as one of the high profile gangs that run the streets. Are you new in town or something?”

Rumi hesitated at the question. How does she even go about answering that? Oh yeah just tell them you are a corporate slave trying to find your way down here after escaping a couple security guards. That will go over so well. “Uh, yeah you could say something like that.” She flinched as a small set of hands grasped hers. Looking down she saw Zoey inspecting her hands, running her thumb over her palm.

“Hmm, not quite the calluses you would expect from a nomad. They are some tough folk out there. You are more delicate, soft, like you haven’t had the pleasure of gravel digging into your skin as you catch yourself from a fall.” Her eyes shot up to Rumi’s face, squinting, analyzing. A hand now on her chin. “You don’t know the rules of the streets, you look like you walked out of a fashion magazine dated twenty years ago, but you aren’t some hardened wilderness veteran.” 

Rumi could feel the sweat beading up on her forehead. This girl was trying to read her like a book, and she was wide open to a page with just the word CORPO written in the largest font possible. How could she let this all slip so early? 

Zoey’s face was squished, trying to figure out the solution to the puzzle before her. Her eyes darted to Rumi’s. She lifted her hand up, one finger pointed to the sky. “Ah ha! I know what you are.” Her wrist snapped, turning her pointer finger towards Rumi. It felt like a loaded gun was pointed at her, ready to fire the killing blow. 

Rumi tensed up. Her arms snapped to her side, face tilted away with eyes half closed. This was it. Her entire plan is about to be ruined. She would be turned into security and locked up for all eternity after this stunt, never to see the streets again.

“You’re a daylighter!” Zoey’s voice echoed in the alley. 

Rumi jumped at the accusation. Her eyes peeled open more and she cautiously turned to the girl in front of her, her finger just inches from her face. She felt her breathing start up again, not realizing she was holding it. “A-a what?”

“A daylighter. Someone who only comes out during the light of day. That’s why you don’t know anything about these streets. You have hardly experienced them!”

Rumi blinked quickly, trying to process what she was saying. Her cover wasn’t blown wide open? A breathy laugh slipped from her lips. Her hands raised up in surrender.

“Yeah. You got me. Just another daylighter getting themselves into trouble.”

Zoey’s eyes lit up like she just solved the coldest case in the books. “So why? Are you afraid of the dark or what lies within it? Is there a boogyman that haunts you but only at night watching from the shadows of the alleys? Were you an addict at one point and now being clean is your entire personality? Are you-”

Rumi cut her off. “No, no. None of those things. I just have… strict rules, set by my guardian. I’m not allowed to be out at night unless it’s for work. She’s afraid I’ll get kidnapped or something.”

“You’re a grown adult. Or at least I hope you are, that would make everything so much more awkward. But you should be able to do what you want when you want it. That’s the freedom we all deserve, so long as it isn’t hurting anyone. You know, unless they really deserve it like they pushed an old lady down or kicked a puppy.” Zoey chuckled at her own words. “You really are missing out. The nightlife is what makes this city special. It’s what gets the blood pumping, making you feel… alive!”

Rumi’s eyes trailed off to the side as Zoey spoke. The corner of her mouth curled into a small smile. “Maybe…” She turned back to face Zoey. “You could guide me? Show me what I have been missing all these years?”

The shorter woman’s eyes lit up. They looked like they would almost pop out of her head with how wide they had gotten. She cleared her throat and pressed her fingertips to her sternum. Her voice rang out in a haughty tone. “I would be honored to guide you through this city.” 

Rumi took a moment to really see the woman in front of her, eyes trailing up and down her form. She was wearing a dark green jacket that was cropped just below her ribcage. The sleeves had thick piping with patterns reminiscent of a turtle shell. Beneath it she wore a black tank top that hugged her slim frame. It was tucked into a pair of black cargo pants, adorned with white piping at the seams. They were baggy around her legs but came tight around her ankles. Her shoes were chunky sneakers that looked to have some kind of a modified sole for some specific mobility. 

She was well put together and her outfit complimented her personality. Sharp with a playful pop of color and pattern. All of it wrapped her in an alluring aura. She was… cute, but ferocious. Like a street cat that could strike you at any moment. 

Her thoughts were interrupted as she felt herself being tugged in a new direction. Zoey had her arm threaded through hers, locked at the elbows. 

“Ok, we’re gonna start with my favorite spots to hit in the daytime. Ease you into what the city has to offer. Then, when the night comes, that is when our adventure truly begins. Operation: Give Rumi the Best Night of Her Life is a go!”

Rumi’s heart fluttered at the statement. A smile crept to her face and the softest pink blush graced her cheeks. She didn’t expect to meet someone so fast that she could call a friend. A real friend.

Chapter Text

There was a heavy banging on her door. A groan escaped her lips as she was forced awake. Daylight filtered through a dusty and stained window on the far side of the room, spreading over her sheet covered body and reflecting into her eyes. She rose up from the embrace of the mattress, balancing her weight on her forearms. Magenta locks curtained her face. Her head was throbbing from the events of the previous night.

Another round of bangs rang out against the metal door. It was like they were trying to bust it down like the fire brigade. A male voice spoke sharply.

“Song, get up! We have a situation!”

A hand slid down her face, pulling at the taught skin of her cheeks. Another groan fell from her lips, this time heavier and more annoyed. “Give me a minute. You woke me up.” Her voice was low, gravely, full of fire like the raking of hot coals. No answer came from the other side. They were certain to still be standing behind the door. The air was still tight with tension from an unseen presence. 

With a heavy sigh, she rose out of her bed. Sitting on the edge she glanced back at the small form still nestled in the sheets. A small woman she brought back last night, still exhausted from their “extracurricular” activities that ran deep into the morning. She was still asleep as evident by her slow rise and fall of her stomach. With a slight smile and an eyeroll, the pink haired woman rose from her seated position. A quick toss on of clothes from her drawer unit and a tie of her pink mane into a high ponytail and she was at the door. 

It didn’t hiss more so than it clattered, scraping on the track into the frame. A taller gentleman stood there, a slight build to him visible from under his plain black tee. He gave her a glance. She was standing there in a black sports bra and dark high waisted jeans. His eyes rose over her shoulder to the woman still embedded in her sheets. “What did you do to that poor girl?”

“Only gave her the best night of her life,” she bragged with a smug smile plastered on. She stepped through the frame, easing the door shut behind her. “Make sure she gets nicely escorted out when she wakes. I don’t want to ruin my impression with poor manners.”

The man scoffed and shook his head. “Your priorities are in a far different place than the rest of us.”

“I like to keep things civil when it comes to activities outside of this gang. It leaves a good mark on the populace,” she retorted. 

“This is not the time for that, Song. We have an issue at Market Square. Saja.”

Her eyes shot to his at the word. Her face quickly became serious. “Why didn’t you start with that?” She began moving through the narrow corridor of their base of operations, the man trailing behind her. 

“I thought yelling would be enough to get you out of bed. I’ll make note of that next time you are in the middle of your ‘dealings with the populace’,” he teased. “I thought you would be taking everything more seriously since you took up the role as our captain. Some of us are starting to question Min-ho’s decision.”

She stopped in the middle of the hall. Turning to face her cohort, her eyes shot daggers that planted deep in his soul. “I do take my role seriously. When it comes to this gang, everything is serious. I don’t take any action lightly especially when it comes to those damn Saja Boys. I like to have a little fun outside of this place, but I know how to separate the two halves. Min-ho chose me as his successor. I was there in his final moments. I watched him bleed out in the street. Don’t you fucking forget it, Jung Hoo.” Her words spat like venom. 

His body became stiff when she addressed him directly. His eyes darted to the floor, voice more passive. “My apologies, Mira.” 

Mira stared him down a moment longer before turning back to the hall. “Tell me more about this situation. Why are they in Market Square? That is too deep in our territory for it to be an accident.” They came to a door at the end of the hall. Mira pressed a button and it slid open to a room with a large table in the center, maps and documents pinned to the walls.

Jung Hoo slipped to the opposite end of the table, sliding a tablet in her direction. The screen was open to an image. “They’ve been roughing up the local vendors. Trying to pry them of anything of value. Our scouts have heard word of threats of violence against them. Ranged from vandalism to arson. We have reason to believe they are serious.” His eyes traced to hers as she looked up from the tablet.

“Perhaps I should make an appearance. Snuff out this fire before it gets a foothold. We can’t be losing territory like this.” 

“I would be careful,” he warned. “Their leader, Jinu, has been spotted out there.”

The room became suffocatingly quiet. Insulting even like someone denounced your ancestors as you prayed to them at the temple. Mira’s expression didn’t waver. She was always impossible to read behind that stone face and sharp brown eyes. She pushed herself from the table, standing tall and confident. Inside there was an anger welling. This would be the first time she is meeting the Saja leader face to face in her new position. Oh how she wanted to smash his face in. She had some restraint to the thought. Swirling with the anger deep down was another emotion she hadn’t felt in a long time. Fear. 

She slid the tablet back across the table. She spoke, her voice unwavering. “I want scouts on every building, alleyways secured, crews in place to evacuate civilians. It’s an open area with a lot of traffic. They’d be stupid to open fire, but we can never be too cautious.” She turned towards the door, snatching a hung jacket she discarded the night prior. “I will take care of Jinu. If he is bold enough to show his face in our territory, then I’m certain there is something he wants.” She steps into the doorway, hand clasped to its frame. “We leave in five.”

Zoey was taking Rumi to all of her favorite spots; a grease coated indent in an alley that she swore had the best ramyeon, the pop up stall that sold the cutest phone and bag charms, even her favorite bridge that crossed the channel. All of it was so new to Rumi. Her senses were overworked trying to process everything. Seeing all the people, the different smells, the loud rush of cars flying on overpasses, it was overstimulating. ‘How does anyone stay sane out here?’ She thought to herself. 

Zoey’s tour paused briefly as they entered a train station. “The next stop is across town. There is this open air market that sells produce and handmade goods by day, but by night it becomes a battleground of song and dance. I’m kind of notorious there. I have made so many big dudes cry with my lyrics. They said I went too hard but those jerks deserved it after they insulted my buns. No one insults my buns and gets away with it!” 

Rumi couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t mess with Zoey’s buns. Noted.”

They passed through the turnstiles and made their way to the platform. An announcer’s voice spoke out occasionally, calling out the lines that were arriving and departing. Electronic advert boards were plastered everywhere. No additional lights were needed with how well they lit the space. The two of them stood at the platform in silence like the rest of the citizens waiting for their train. The air hummed between them. Rumi’s eyes drifted to the side, stealing glances at the shorter woman beside her. A smile inched its way to her lips as she melted into the peaceful moment. 

Trains wooshed by, causing a rush of air to flood the platform. Rumi had to hold on tight to her hat so it wouldn’t fly away. She returned her focus to the train when she saw some people running on top of it. Her jaw dropped open in awe. Zoey caught her staring with intrigue. 

“Yeah, they are some pretty daring people. Probably runners or gang scouts just trying to get where they need to fast. Tried that once. It did not go over well.” She let out a small chuckle, her hands now resting behind her head with elbows flared out. “I’ll stick to my ground transportation.” 

Their train arrived, coasting to a stop under the power of the electromagnet breaks. They shuffled into the car when the doors opened. It quickly became crowded. Bodies were bumping each other as the train whirred to life and set off weaving through buildings. 

Rumi’s eyes hit the floor. She had not been used to being in this close of proximity to so many people, trapped in this metal box. The air in the car became suffocating. Her breathing hastened but halted when she felt a gentle squeeze of her hand. Her eyes moved to her side and saw Zoey holding her hand, providing a grounding touch and comfort. Zoey tilted her head up and gave her a look that said ‘Don’t worry. I’ve got you.” A faint heat hit Rumi’s cheeks. Zoey was being her rock without having to be asked. 

The doors parted at their stop. Hand still clasped to Rumi’s, Zoey led the pair down the stairs to the ground level. The market was just a short walk from the station. They passed down a narrow alley. Graffiti covered the walls around them. They were moving so fast Rumi thought she may have seen the same symbol she saw on the jackets those boys wore earlier. A pink lion. Unmistakable. A feeling of unease began to pool in her gut. 

Zoey pulled them into an opening. The market was beautiful. It was slightly narrower than a normal street. Shops lined the sides, their bright signs glowing in the daylight. Trelluses coated with ivy created a ceiling in the space, separating it from the towering steel and glass above. A few carts were scattered in the main space with tables interspersed throughout. 

“See? Isn’t this place super cool?” Zoey chimed. “Now imagine it at night with just the moonlight leaking through the plants. It’s a total vibe.” 

Rumi was in awe of the space. It was a little piece of serenity in a city of chaos. Her thoughts slipped from her lips and into the air. “I could stay here forever.” 

“Come on. There’s this corndog stand that is completely automated. They have the process perfected down to the millisecond.” Zoey tugged Rumi to one of the stalls, intent on giving her the best experience possible.

The walk to Market Square was rather short. It wasn’t too far from their base and they knew all the shortcuts. Scouts were ordered ahead to secure the area in case things turned south. Mira could spot them in a glance. They were positioned on fire escapes, roof outcropings, and around every alley corner. No one would be leaving the area unseen. 

They entered at the main street gate, catching the eye of each civilian. Mira immediately clocked a couple Saja members from their clothing. Just a few grunts. No standing officer in sight. They had to be hidden somewhere. Jung Hoo was posted at her side, his head on a swivel. They paused in the middle of the courtyard. Mira’s voice rang out, commanding the attention of all who heard it. 

“Alright. All of you can come out now. If this stunt was an attempt to get my attention, congratulations you got it. Now I’m a very busy woman, so let's make this quick.” Her hands came to rest in the pockets of her long leather jacket, watching as several more members emerged from stores and shadows. Two figures immediately produced a reaction in her normally stone cold demeanor.

They appeared from the opposite side of the courtyard. One taller, muscular with a flash of pink hair. He wore a mesh tank top under a distressed black denim vest and pants that looked almost too tight. It left little to the imagination. His arms had long been replaced with mechanical ones. The other was unmistakable. The parted black fringe that hung to his cheekbones, eyes that saw straight through you, and a smile that could kill. A face she knew too intimately. Jinu.

It took everything within her to speak out to them. “I didn’t know you got out much anymore, pretty boy. I thought you had locked yourself up in your little tower for all eternity, afraid of what would come to you if you ever stepped foot out here again. When I was told that you were making an appearance, I had to come out here and see it myself.”

His eyes fluttered closed, a smirk graced his lips with a light chuckle. “Mira Song. It’s been some time since we last saw each other. If I remember, there was a mild disagreement between our two parties and things got a little too heated. There was a lot of…” his eyes sprung open with a piercing stare “bloodshed.” Mira’s breath hitched, composure faltering. “When Min-ho tragically passed, I had no idea who would be named his successor. I mean, it’s such a big mantle to hold up. When the news was brought to me that it was you, I had to find some time to meet in person, see how you’ve left your mark on this place.”

“Why are you here? What do you want?” Mira’s eyebrows furrowed, trained on Jinu’s face trying to keep the mask from slipping further. 

“I want to propose a little trade. A peace offering if you will. You allow our runners to pass through the south town checkpoint and in return, we won’t hurt anyone.” Visible confusion graces Mira’s face. Jinu snaps his fingers and suddenly all of their scouts are reprimanded by more of his Saja grunts. “It’s your choice. The business or your crew. Choose wisely, young leader.”

Shock took over. Mira’s breathing stuttered, eyes fixed forward. She felt Jung Hoo’s hand rest on her shoulder. His voice reached her in a whisper. “He isn’t serious, he can’t be. A public space like this? Innocents would get caught in the crossfire. Neither of us deal with civilians. It’s too messy.”

“That checkpoint is our biggest supply line. If we let them through it, we could be losing more resources and territory by the day,” she responded, not even sparing a glance to her cohort. Her gaze trained solely on Jinu. He was waiting for an answer. 

She reached into her pocket, grabbing a small white tablet and placed it on her tongue. A quick swallow and a heavy breath out, she stared down Jinu. All of her senses sprang to life. She finally gave him his answer.

“You can fucking rot.” 

Jinu scoffed at her. “Suit yourself.” He turned to his muscular ally. “Go on, Abby. Have your fun.” The larger man stepped forward cracking his neck with a huge grin plastered to his face. 

Mira finally turned to Jung Hoo. “Evacuate the civilians.” She pushed away from him, unsheathing a hwando from her hip. With a click it roared to life with a buzz of electricity. “I’ll deal with muscle man.”

The courtyard was quickly a flurry of panic. What was once a place of serenity became a battlefield. Shop gates were slammed shut, carts abandoned, and civilians were rushing to the exits. Gang members were engaged in fist fights on the perimeter. Zoey and Rumi were caught right in the middle of it all. 

The two were enjoying a snack and conversation when the confrontation began. They were too engrossed by the tense spat between the two gang leaders to even think about making their exit. Now they were in serious danger. 

“Rumi, we need to move and fast!” Zoey cried out, snatching the purple haired girl’s arm. “This is NOT the action I wanted to show you on your first day!” They got up from their table and began rushing for any exit they could see. The clashing of metal and pained grunts echoed behind them. Rumi took a glance behind her to see the two individuals engaged in a heated brawl. It was like a tightly choreographed dance the way they moved around each other, the blade of the sword igniting sparks against the panels of the metallic arms. 

She was too distracted by their fight. Zoey was pulling her along as best she could, trying to keep her friend moving. With her mind elsewhere, Rumi stumbled and fell to the ground, her tether to Zoey severed by a few meters. Her head pivoted around trying to collect herself enough to get up. A loud crash next to her caused her to duck to the ground. She looked and saw the pink haired woman lying among a pile of chairs. Had she really been thrown that far?

“RUMI LOOK OUT!” Zoey screamed. 

Rumi turned to see a steel table being hurtled in her direction. Her breath held as she braced for impact, but it never came. She watched it all happen in slow motion. The pink haired woman sprang up from the nest of chairs with inhuman speed. Her body slid in front of Rumi’s, her jacket whipping over her hip and revealing her toned torso. The blade she held in her right hand arced out towards the table, slicing it clean in two. The halves split around Rumi and fell to the stone floor with a loud bang. The woman grasped the back of a chair and launched it back towards her combatant. 

She turned towards Rumi and lent down, arm outstretched. “You need to be more careful, princess,” she quipped. Rumi felt her face heat up, heart pounding. She wasn’t sure if it was from the adrenaline coursing through her or not. She shakily grabbed the woman’s hand and accepted the help to her feet. Her gaze was locked with her savior’s. She picked out the features of her face; the sharp angled jaw line, hard eyes holding deep brown pools with dilated pupils, and several long scars that etched the surface of perfect porcelain skin. It was mesmerizing. She was pulled out of her trance by the frantic hands of Zoey.

“Oh my god, Rumi. Are you ok? We need to get out of here!” she yelped, yanking her towards the exit. 

Rumi couldn’t help but stare as the two continued their clash. It slowly faded away as Zoey pulled them into an alleyway and through to a neighboring street. 

“What the fuck was that?!” the shorter girl exclaimed as the two slumped against the front of a building, now in relative safety. “I take you out to one of my favorite places and a damn gang war breaks out.”

Rumi was focused on controlling her breathing. “T-that… what?” 

“I am so sorry. That had to have been one of the worst first impressions ever,” Zoey cried out, clearly embarrassed over it all. Her hands covered up her face in shame. 

“N-no. It’s alright,” Rumi huffed, placing a hand on Zoey’s shoulder. “That was actually the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me. Almost dying wasn’t fun, but I felt so… alive. Just like you had said.”

“If that made you feel alive, I don’t want to know what the nightlife of this city is going to do to you. It might make you ascend to a higher plane of existence.” The two shared a laugh over what they just experienced. 

Chapter Text

Zoey decided to take Rumi back to her apartment to recover after their near death experience. Too much excitement could be the death of them especially with Rumi’s first night out on the horizon. They approached the narrow brick building. It was in heavy disrepair, but still had some charm to it. Zoey pulled Rumi up the staircase, careful to avoid the broken steps, and brought her up to her unit. She fumbled with the key but eventually undid the lock with a soft click.

The reinforced wooden door swung open with a heavy creak. The space was small, maybe three by five meters. A small bathroom trimmed off the left corner by the door. The living space was a mostly empty square with a window on the opposite wall. An induction burner and a small fridge were slammed against the wall shared with the bathroom. There was no bed, only a mat on the floor next to a drawer unit and a low kneeling table with a pile of notebooks and a small plush turtle resting on its surface. The walls were covered with lyric sheets, sketches, and photographs, all haphazardly taped over each other in collage or mosaic.

Zoey gave a weak smile as she led Rumi into her space. “I know it isn’t much. It’s about all I can afford, but… it’s mine.” She spun around with a sense of pride, gesturing to the personal decor that framed the space. “Oh, and the best part” She walked to the window and lifted it open to a fire escape. “Roof access,” she said with a chuckle. “You can get some really killer views from up there. It’s also a place I go to when I want to escape it all. You cannot beat fresh air and mossy bricks.”

She watched Rumi peer around the space. “You made all of these?” She was fixated on the paper taped to the walls.

“Yeah. All of it.” She stepped back into the middle of the room. “Whenever I was in a state of high emotion or just in a funk, I let it all out on these pages. They were the therapy I never got. Not all of them are, of course. Some I just thought looked cool and wanted to hang up.” She pointed at a drawing of orchids. “Like this one or…” Her hand panned over the wall to a charcoal cityscape. “this one. It’s not all doom and gloom.”

Rumi’s eyes wandered about the strewn pages. “They’re beautiful. All of them.” Her focus shifted to Zoey, a smile appeared on her face. “They are all a little piece of you. The stories you can’t find the words to tell.”

Zoey was caught off guard. No one has ever said that about her random scribblings that wrapped the walls of her home. They only saw it as weird or unhinged. It almost looked like an asylum cell. But Rumi was different. She saw past the layers of paper, her attempts at coping with emotions she barely understood. “Wow. Didn’t know we were getting all philosophical up in here.” Her laugh filled the room. “Come on. Let's get some rest. I have quite a night planned for you.”

When the sun finally hid itself behind the cascading horizon, its light falling into a faint glow before disappearing altogether, the city came alive. Rainbow highways of beaming neon flowed through the grid of skyscrapers. It was as if the daylight were the house lights dimming before the bright overhead of the stage lights rose. The first chords of the pit hummed from below and echoed off the walls. Players emerged from stage left and right to take their place at center, beginning the first scenes of their nightly performance. 

A pair emerged from their dressing room, their makeup done flawless and their costuming in matching theme but with more flair and shine. This was their turn to be leads in the intricate play of the streets. A bubbly veteran of the arts taking the hands of a new face never having been in the spotlight, leading them through the ensemble with grace. The nerves were there, but a smile of assurance between them quickly doused any semblance of doubt that hung in the air. A play in three acts would fall before them, with the aim to give the performance of a lifetime. 

Zoey lead Rumi through the streets. Crowds shuffled past, heading for their first destination.  Everything was aglow around them. The neon lights blanketed them all in a wave of rainbow. Every one of them lost in its wake. The colors wiped away the individuality as they all became one. One people breathing in the life around them, looking for an escape from the mundane nature of their daily lives. Rumi was lost among them. Even among crowds that melted into each other like one harmonious entity, she felt as if she wasn’t supposed to be there. 

Zoey glanced back at her, flashing a warm smile. A few words of encouragement left her lips, pulling Rumi back to the present. She was going to try her best to enjoy the night. She made a promise to herself that she would. A promise made in secret to Zoey.

They arrived at their destination. It was in a seedier part of the city, close to the outskirts. Zoey had insisted this was the best place to be. The people were more real out here. Several couples and groups were draped against the exterior walls of the club, their hands falling all over each other. The smell of alcohol and other drugs leaked through the doors as people entered and exited. The thrum of a baseline vibrated at their feet. 

Rumi was hesitant. This is not what she imagined they would be doing tonight. Seeing people acting so raw and debaucherous with each other sent a shiver down her spine. It was so far from the way people acted in the corporate world. It all felt so wrong but at the same time it was so, so right. They were people looking for an escape and found it in each other, giving in to their deepest desires. They were being real. Present. Real. Human. She could only imagine what was transpiring inside the building if this was happening outside.

Zoey could sense her nerves. A gentle squeeze of her hand and a smile that said ‘I got you. No need to fear’. One foot in front of the other, hand in hand, they entered the club.

The air was instantly filled with an intoxicating aroma. The nose burning smell of alcohol mixed with the humid air of evaporating sweat. The walls were vibrating to the heavy beat of techno music spun by the club DJ. A bar was set back against the right wall. The main floor was separated in two distinct sections. There was a ring of tables around the perimeter with a railing acting as a barrier. A few people were scattered, sipping on their drinks and whispering words that no one else could hear over the music. Beyond the rail, the room sunk a couple feet to a main dance floor. A sea of bodies were flowing in the space, letting the music move them. 

Rumi watched as Zoey peeled away from her for a moment. She met up with another across the room. Rumi couldn’t bring herself to move. She was completely shell shocked. Zoey soon returned and grasped her hand, gently prying her fingers open to expose her palm. She held up her other hand. In it she had two small tablets. She lent in close, her lips right up to Rumi’s ear. 

“Whatever is troubling you, I need you to let go. Out here, everyone is real. They all let go of their problems, just for the night. One of these can help you relax, break down those walls, and set the real you free. Only if you want to. I am not going to pressure you into something you don’t want. Not when it’s your first time.” She laid a kiss on Rumi's cheek before returning to her upright position in front of her. “You have a choice in how you want to live, Rumi. No one else gets to make it for you.”

Rumi’s mind blanked. The words echoed in her mind. ‘You have a choice’. It was her choice. Hers. Could she really trust Zoey? They only just met this morning, but it feels like they have known each other for a lifetime. She opened up to her, let her see raw emotions that she kept hidden. It had only been a day, but there was no one she could trust more to guide her in this strange world. 

Rumi responded with a slight nod. Zoey nodded back and placed a tablet into her palm before swallowing the other herself. She waited for Rumi to take it. Her hand moved slowly to her mouth, depositing the drug to her tongue. With a swallow she knew there was no turning back. She wanted to feel like everyone else. 

Zoey took her hand and led her to the dance floor. Bodies were crashing against each other to the rhythm of the music. Rumi was bumped several times, but kept to her feet with the help of Zoey. The shorter girl turned around to her as they were now deep within the sea of people. Rumi watched in awe as she slowly began to melt with the music. Her body moved so smoothly and sensually. Rumi even swore she saw her wink in her direction as her hands rolled over her torso to her hips all the while she stood frozen like a statue. The world around her began to blur.

The music was overwhelming, like she was front row at a concert. The beat shook her core, breaking ties that held her down. Her body started moving unconsciously, letting the music take her. All the thoughts in her head faded, leaving just euphoria. This feeling was unfamiliar. Her body filled with warmth and she let it envelop her. 

The floor shook with the beat and the heavy steps of those on the dance floor. Beams of pink and blue darted around the dark room, highlighting features of each silhouette. 

-You wanted to speak with me?

*Yes. Thank you for coming so quickly. We have a bit of a situation.

Bodies were bumping, rubbing against each other. The heat was palpable. Skin sticking to each other as their sweat mixed. 

*We have been notified of a missing high profile individual. 

Hands skimmed the curves of unfamiliar bodies, lingering on the most sensitive parts.

*Reports said she ran away from her security detail. They have since lost track of her.

The sweet smell of alcohol shared between two faces dangerously close to one another.

-And what will you have me do?

*You will find her. Bring her back to me. 

Clothes were grasped like a lifeline, as if letting go meant drowning.

-Who am I looking for? I need details.

*Rumi Ryu. She is… most precious to my company.

A push, unintentional, sending bodies to the damp tile below. Eyes staring upward at a forest canopy barely letting in light.

-I will enlist my scouts to begin a search. No corner of this city will be left unseen.

Hands reached down, rescuing those who could not find the strength to stand on their own. 

-She will be found and returned. I promise you that.

*That’s what I like about you. Always determined. Never half-assing anything.

A gasp from lips, finally able to breathe again.

*It will get you far in this world, back to the top like you’ve always wanted.

Fingers touched bare skin, the sudden warmth burning, intoxicating.

-If it is not overstepping my boundaries, may I ask what you plan on doing with her.

*She will be made an example. 

A set of teeth nipping at a neck. Multiple hands holding, clawing, yearning.

*If someone thinks they can escape, I want them to remember what will happen to them if they dare try. If they dare defy me.

The heat quickly becoming unbearable. 

*I trust that you will heed these warnings.

-You have my undying loyalty.

Heartbeats thrumming against chests.

*My faith in you has never wavered. Now go.

The emotion overwhelming.

*Bring her to me…

Rumi and Zoey found themselves sitting on a rooftop, in another part of the city far from the club they started their night at. Each of them taking refuge in the chill night air, breathing it in like they had been suffocating. They looked out toward the city center, lights illuminating them from the front. A half empty bottle of soju resting between them. 

They were laughing over some story Zoey just told. “I know! It was crazy! Like who just brings a bucket of live crabs on a train?” 

“I’m surprised no one bothered to stop them,” the purple haired girl said between laughs. 

The laughter slowly died down, the two taking a moment to collect themselves. The quiet moment was soft, tender, like neither wanted to break the silence. Zoey finally broke it softly with a question.

“You mentioned earlier that you had a lot of rules, set by your guardian. Why defy them and trust me, let me take you out tonight?” Her eyes were still focused forward, a hand playing with a zipper on her pants.

Rumi sighed heavily. “I went along because…” She searched for the courage to continue. “Because I ran away.” Zoey’s eyebrows jumped up at the statement. “I had enough of being trapped under the weight of rules and expectations. I wanted to see how normal people live. See what I was missing all this time.” She pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms tightly around them.

Zoey tried to meet her eyes, but Rumi was focused forward, eyes lost in the sea of lights below. “It means a lot to me, more than you could know, that you came out with me tonight. I have had trouble making friends. Ever since my parents separated, it’s been a struggle. There was a constant back and forth between them. I never stayed in one place until I moved out. I couldn’t make meaningful relationships and the loneliness was eating at me. When I tried coping with my emotions, everyone called it weird or unhealthy.” She paused for a moment, mulling over her thoughts. “And then, that’s when you came along.”

Rumi’s head turned towards Zoey, hesitant to make eye contact as Zoey continued.

“I don’t know why I let you in so quickly, let you see all of my notes and drawings. Maybe… deep down something told me that you were different from all the others. That you were the answer to all the questions inside my head. It just felt right. Something felt right for once.” Her eyes move upward, finally locking with Rumi’s. “It felt like you were the solution to my problems.”

Rumi flashed her a soft smile. “I’m glad you were the first person I met out here. I couldn’t have asked for a better guide. You know, aside from almost getting us killed just because you wanted to show me a robot that made corndogs,” she said with a teasing laugh.

“Hey! It’s not my fault that those two knuckleheads showed up and decided that was the right time and place to start an all out brawl!” They both broke out into laughter. 

“Who even were those two? They were really snapping at each other.”

“Mr. Handsome Face is Jinu Woo. He’s the leader of the Saja Boys. Be careful of those sweet eyes though. I hear he can make you do whatever he wants with just a look.” Zoey tried to replicate his smolder to Rumi, causing her to fall to her back clutching her stomach, the laughter starting to hurt. “The other is Mira Song. She is the leader of the Honmoon gang. Well, new leader. Their longtime one died a couple months ago. I’ve worked for them a couple of times.”

Rumi gave her a puzzled look. “You worked with the gang?”

“For not with. Very different notions,” Zoey quickly corrected. “When their leader died, they came to me about getting a mural made in his honor. It took some time but I got it finished. Now it stands as a memorial for him at their base of operations.”

“Wait, you did a whole mural?” Rumi lifted herself back to a seated position, now facing towards Zoey. “A mural all by yourself?”

“Yeah.” Zoey said, turning towards Rumi. “I’m a tagger. I do street art for people and try to stake my claim on this city by painting wherever I can reach. That’s why I have these bad boys.” She gestured to her shoes. 

Rumi finally got a better look at them. They initially looked like ordinary sneakers but up close she could see that the sole was extra thick and laced in carbon fiber. The arch was hollowed out and in its place were two thin metal bars that ran parallel with her foot. 

“These are for getting around fast and safely. The extra padding is for shock absorption. Sometimes you have to drop from really high up because an angry resident spotted you painting their building. These,” she pointed to the metal bars. “Are for grinding on ledges and rails. Going down stairs takes so long and there are always so many people so these allow me to move faster by sliding down the railings. It’s like skateboarding but just on your feet.” She wiggled her feet back and forth. 

“Isn’t that dangerous?” Rumi questioned.

“Yeah, it can be. Depends on if you get caught or not.” She took a swig of soju before offering the bottle over to Rumi who politely declined. “It’s another outlet. I get to let my creativity spread throughout the city. I don’t need any public fame, just distant admiration is enough.”

“You wouldn’t want any recognition? At all?” Rumi raised an eyebrow towards her.

“Well…” Zoey thought for a moment. “Maybe I would accept admiration from a pretty girl.” Her eyes, half lidded, met Rumi's, causing a flush of pink to sweep across the purple haired girl’s face. “Rumi?” She leaned in a bit.

“Yeah?” Rumi replied, finding herself being pulled towards her by an unseen force. 

“May I kiss you?”

The air between them was full of electricity. Their faces were paused mere inches from each other, their breaths mixing in the cool night air. 

Rumi stared deep into Zoey’s sparkling brown eyes. “Yes, you may.”

Zoey slowly closed the distance between them, their lips touching faintly as if they would explode if they pressed any harder. Zoey brought her hand up to cup Rumi’s jaw. Rumi’s hand found a resting place on Zoey’s thigh, just above the knee. The two held there together, sinking deeper into each other. 

The city around them faded into the distance, just a blur of color highlighting their silhouettes as they connected. In that moment, nothing else mattered. 

Chapter Text

The afternoon sun peeked through the window, leaving short rectangles of gold highlight on the floor just beyond the threshold. Speckles of dust hung in the beams, each their own little asteroid floating aimlessly in space. Two bodies were splayed on the ground, each only in their undergarments. Their limbs hung off the small sleeping mat, clearly only meant for one. Their chests rose and fell in the slow rhythm of sleep. 

Rumi stirred first, the uncanny feeling of eyes gazing upon her from a distance. She pressed herself upward, stomach peeling from the tile below. Her head swiveled about the room, slowly regaining focus as she searched for the source of her unease. When her efforts produced no results, she sat up and rested her weight on her knees. Her hair was a tangled mess, her braid long undone whether by choice or not. 

Her head ached. What in the world did she get herself into last night? She pressed her palm to her brow, trying to find any relief from the throbbing in her skull. Her eyes peeked towards the sleeping form next to her. 

Zoey was passed out on her back, her hips were the only part that were still planted on the mat. Her arms and legs were going in opposing directions. It would be a wonder if she woke up without being sore. Her hair flowed in a loose mane around her head, a few strands hanging over her freckle laden shoulders. She was beautiful lying there in a state of rest. 

Rumi could sit there staring all day, but drug herself from the floor and padded her way to the bathroom. The water dribbled out of the faucet, but it was enough to soak a rag that she promptly used to wipe the night from her face. She looked at herself in the mirror. She looked like a mess but in the best way possible. Her face was relaxed, the faint lines now invisible on her skin. She wasn’t being bogged down by obligation or expectation. She was simply there, standing in front of a mirror with a mess of hair that she simply could not go outside with. Her hand grasped Zoey’s hairbrush from the shelf on the wall and began to set herself right. 

When she was done in the bathroom, Rumi found her clothes scattered on the floor of the apartment. She slipped them on quietly, not trying to wake the sleeping Zoey. Her shoes came on when she was across the room at the window. A flick of the lock and she pushed it open, ducking out to the fire escape making sure to close the window behind her. The panging and creaking of the metal stairway rang out in the afternoon air as she ascended to the roof. 

The roof was simple. Moss and ivy clung to the raised brick edges and wove throughout the cracks of the concrete roof. A few rooftop utility units peppered the space on one side. Even with the busy streets just a few floors below, the atmosphere was calm and peaceful. The electrical lines hummed quietly from the nearby poles. It was simple but felt like an oasis. It was a place where someone can shrug the needs and wants of the world and just get lost in the moment.

The view was even more striking than Zoey had described. In one direction there was the center of the city. Buildings progressively became taller the further in you would go. Ominous pillars of steel and glass reached into the clouds at its very center. It was the place she ran from, where she was stripped of her humanity. Where she felt that she didn’t belong, not entirely.

In the other direction there was the outskirts of the city. A wall cradling millions of people within its grasp. Beyond it were the outskirts. A place where the nomads roamed free, but it was lawless so she was told. You could just see the faint outlines of green hills way off in the distance. It’s a mysterious place that she wasn’t quite sure was real. What could be beyond those hills? 

Rumi’s eyes traced back to the city center. Her pulse began to quicken as she held her gaze on the corporate towers. She braced herself against the edge of the roof, her eyes fluttered shut as her head tipped forward between her forward flexed shoulders. Her thoughts stirred and fell from her lips.

“They have to know that I am gone by now. Celine has to have sent search parties. This city is massive. It could take days, weeks even.” She took a deep breath, her grip on the wall softened. “Maybe if I go back on my own, the punishment will be less severe. It will look more like a mixup than an act of defiance.” 

She stood there in silence. The sounds of the city around her were drowned out by the thoughts swirling in her head. Her body tensed at the thought of returning to her corporate life. Always being at the whim of others, never allowed to make her own decisions. Faceless party goers circled around her. They were all too involved in their own world to even look at her. She may as well have been invisible on that stage. Her mind drifted to Bobby, the rock she had when working. His smile would always set her right and help her get through a performance. Then it was Celine. Her stern eyes always watching. Her face was carved from stone, but behind it all was fear and regret. Celine would shatter entirely if she just disappeared. 

The last she saw was her mother’s. Her eyes were closed, hands clasped in front of her. The same way she looked in the casket at her funeral service. Her face was relaxed as if she was just sleeping, that the events leading to her death never happened. Behind those closed eyes, would she be able to say she was proud of the daughter? Would she even be able to look her in the eyes knowing that she was attempting to leave it all behind, leave her behind. 

“I like to think that I’d know what you would say to me right now. That you would kneel down in front of me and tell me that I am your little shining star, that I could do no wrong in your eyes. You always wanted me to follow my dreams, be the best version of myself that I can be.” Tears welled and clung to her eyelashes. “A lot has changed since you left. I’ve grown up, became a woman who tries to follow in your image. You are a tough act to follow.” A small gasp of a laugh broke through. Tears started to flow over her cheekbone and down the curve of her jaw. 

“You took so much with you. I’ve tried to be strong for you, for Celine, but I am not sure I am strong enough to carry this weight anymore. I’ve spent my whole life trying to be just like you that I’ve lost myself. You would want me to just be me. To live not as Miyeong’s daughter, but as Rumi. To be Rumi is to be afraid, curious, headstrong, kind, and loved. To be Rumi is to be down here with everyone else. It’s so cold up in the clouds, but down here it’s warm. The people see you for who you are. They aren’t afraid to feel, to be real in the moment. There is no facade to hide behind.” She pushed herself from the edge of the roof, wiping her tears with her sleeve. Her eyes finally opened and fixated on a tower in the distance that bore the unmistakable logo of Sunlight Media.

“I spent so long thinking that I belonged up there. Now I see that I was just hiding, hoping that no one could see through my disguise. I… we never belonged there. We are not them. We never were. We were meant to be down here, where we could be ourselves.” Her hand balled into a fist, gripping the sleeve of her jacket. Her face showed determination, a fire within beginning to spark with life. “I won’t go back. They cannot make me.”

She was jostled out of the moment by the harsh sound of the fire escape. Her sleeves quickly wiped away any remaining tears before she turned to meet the eyes of Zoey. 

“I figured I would find you up here,” she said with a smile plastered to her face. “I told you the views were great.” 

Rumi sighed with relief. “Yeah. You can really get lost in your thoughts up here.”

Zoey stepped closer, stopping just in front of her. “I had a great time last night. I want to make that good feeling last a bit longer.” Her eyes dropped to the ground. “I understand if you have to go back to wherever it is you are from, but if you want you could-”

“I’d love to stay with you,” Rumi interrupted. She gently grasped one of Zoey’s hands, their fingers weaving together like the spaces were made just for them. “To be honest, I had no intentions of going back. This has become more than just a rebellious escape. I think… I think I found the place where I belong.” 

Zoey’s eyes lit up. She started to vibrate with excitement. One might have thought that she was going to launch into the air and explode like a firework. Her arms hastily wrapped around Rumi’s, squeezing her tightly. “I have been waiting for this- for someone to want to stick around.” Her eyes watered. She shoved her head down into Rumi’s shoulder to hide the tears. Rumi’s arms snaked under hers and found rest at her shoulder blades. 

They stayed locked together for a few moments before Zoey pulled back, planting a quick kiss on Rumi's cheek. “Well, since you are staying you might need a new change of clothes or two. We should go and see what we can do about updating your style to the modern era.” A huge grin flashed across her face. She held onto Rumi’s hand, leading her down the fire escape and to the street. 

The streets weren’t quite as full in this part of town. Cars and bikes passed by the pedestrians on the sidewalks, most of them modified in some way to add more power or speed. Zoey and Rumi were walking side by side, sparing glances at the displays in the windows. They weren’t looking for anything specific, just enjoying each other’s company and stopping when Rumi saw something she liked. It was a peaceful slice of domesticity. 

As was tradition in the streets, the peace would not last long. 

The screeching of tires rang out from behind. It was quickly followed by another. Two motorcycles hurtled down the road in a dead chase. The crowds looked to the sound but swiftly began to panic when the harrowing sound of gunfire expelled into the atmosphere. 

Bodies were clamoring over each other, trying to escape the scene. The rush of the crowd pushed a wedge between Rumi and Zoey, the former getting knocked closer to the street and onto her rear. She quickly covered herself in desperation, trying to protect herself from the oncoming barrage. A hand reached out, grasping her sleeve and yanking her to her feet. Her eyes opened expecting it to be Zoey, but the face she saw was one she never would have expected. She was looking into the amber eyes of Jinu, the leader of the Saja Boys.

He quickly pulled her off the street and into an alleyway, his body shielding her from the chaos. Her body was frozen stiff, in shock from everything going on around her. He glanced over his shoulder before returning his gaze to her, finally speaking.

“That was a close one. Seems like you have a thing for getting into dangerous situations. You really do need to be more careful.” His voice was less cocky than he had presented previously. His hand was still grasped around her bicep.

Rumi shrugged him off and swiped away the dirt and debris from her clothing. Her voice was guarded. “I can handle myself.”

He smirked at the comment. “I don’t think ducking and covering was going to do much good. There’s no charge for saving your life by the way. The first one is free.” He winked. Rumi’s neck heated up, a trickle of pink slithered from her collar. “If my first impression seemed lack luster, I apologize. I am usually more well mannered than that.” His hand extended forward. “I’m Jinu. And you are?” 

Rumi was hesitant to shake his hand. This was still the same person who threatened violence to a large group of people. She couldn’t shake the image of his sinister smile from her head. 

“Not much of a talker? That’s alright.” His hand lowered and found rest at his belt. He glanced her up and down. “I can tell you are not from around here. It’s not a bad thing to be. It makes you stand out, interesting, captivating.” He took a step to the side. His eyes almost seemed to be scanning her like a machine. “In any case,” he bowed before her. “On behalf of the Saja Boys, I want to welcome you to the city. We wish to help those in need and protect our freedoms from those who wish to exploit it.”

She scowled at his introduction. “Help them by inciting violence? That doesn’t sound like a very noble cause.”

His eyes shot up to meet hers, his posture straightening out, face unreadable. “Unfortunately, when dealing with the Honmoon gang, things can get rather heated. We have similar goals, just different ways of achieving them. You may think me and my group are some neanderthals who only look to violence as the answer.” His hands rose in front of him, a sign of surrender. “I can assure you that there is more to it than you may realize. You’ll find that in this city, there is more to everyone than meets the eye.” The eye contact never wavered. 

Rumi felt him staring straight through her. Sweat started to bead on her forehead. His words sounded targeted straight at her. Could he see straight through her facade? Did he figure out who she was, what she was? 

A smile, almost feeling genuine, rose from his lips. “I really need to get going.” His body turned towards the street. Before he set off completely, he glanced over his shoulder. “You are a rather interesting one. I would love to get to know you more. I sure hope we can meet again soon.” He ducked out into the light filled street. His flank was filled by two figures of opposing builds, before disappearing altogether. 

Rumi was at a loss for words. What the hell just transpired? Does Jinu know about her secret identity? What could he be hiding? Where was Zo-

“Oh my god, there you are.” The voice rang out from above her. Zoey was posted on top of a roof staring down into the alley. “I thought you got gobbled up by the crowd and whisked away.” She slid down a drain pipe like a fireman’s pole, feet now planted on the ground of the alley. Zoey quickly checked Rumi over for injuries. Rumi’s hands snatched her wrists, stopping her frantic searching.

“I’m fine. Just a little shaken up. I guess danger does follow us everywhere.”

Zoey sighed heavily. “Yeah no kidding. These streets are a mess but this is next level. Come on. We should grab something to eat. All this danger is making me hungry.” She held Rumi’s hand and pulled her down the alley. Rumi couldn’t help but look back, staring at the place where Jinu disappeared into the crowd. 

Chapter Text

The night was still young when they retreated to the safety of Zoey’s apartment. They had to get their rest because Zoey was going to take Rumi out all over the city to show off the artwork she had plastered on its walls. They also could use a more lowkey evening with how much trouble they seemed to find themselves in. 

They laid on the floor mat, bodies faintly intertwined. Lights from passing vehicles shown through the window, flashing streaks along the wall opposite the two. The evening humidity clung to their exposed skin, mixing with sweat and forming small droplets that refused to fall to the floor. 

Zoey was certainly more of a night person, always feeding off the energy around her until it brought her to exhaustion in the waking hours of the morning. But once sleep had finally laid its grasp upon her, she was out like a light. Whether she was always this heavy of a sleeper or she had adapted to become one with the constant sounds of the neighborhood that threatened to keep anyone from a night of rest, no one knew. 

Rumi found sleep difficult that night. Her mind was still fixated on her encounter with Jinu. There was so much he wasn’t telling her, but she found herself captivated by his every word. There had to have been a reason he was targeting her, an ulterior motive she could not pick up on. She knew how to read people pretty well. She had to or else she would be taken advantage of by the corporate elite. Jinu was different. His facade was so good she could not see beyond it. Was it even a facade? It had to be, right? Everyone had their motivations. His was just so confusing. 

Sleep wasn’t an option with how her mind was active. Rumi relieved herself from the grasp of the sleeping Zoey. Gods, she looked so pretty while asleep even if she did look dead with how unmoving she was. Rumi couldn’t help but smile, tucking a loose strand behind Zoey’s ear. A sigh escaped Rumi’s lips. She sat up, pressing her back against the coolness of the wall. Her eyes traced the pages on the walls, occasionally being lit up by passing lights. 

Her thoughts fell back to Jinu. His gaze was ingrained in her head. It was like he was still watching her even from the safety of the four walls around her. He called her ‘interesting’. What did he mean by that? It wasn’t exactly the most flattering of compliments, but it held some weight to it. He was captivated by something- something Rumi could not figure out. The same question kept floating around in her mind.

Does he know who you are?

He couldn’t have. Her whole life she was kept hidden from the public. They worked only for the corporate elite. She wouldn’t be recognized by the normal people who walked the streets. 

Her head tipped back, resting against the wall. She released a heavy sigh, the tension escaping her body in a single breath. What if his words were genuine and she was just overly paranoid? Hopefully her mind would settle down as the days went on. She’s safe out here. What is there to be afraid of?

Tap tap tap

She jumped, knocking her head against the wall. Something had banged against the window. Her eyes were fixed on the panes of glass to her left. Her heart rate picked up and she clutched the edge of the mat beneath her. The woman beside her didn’t stir at the sound. Maybe she just imagined it. Her paranoia had been peaking just moments before. 

Tap tap tap

Her shoulders scrunched at the sudden sound. This time she saw the source. Slim, delicate fingers dropped from above the window and pressed to the glass before retreating upward. Every part of her was screaming to stay put, that she should just hide and let whatever this was pass. Yet, there was something that was pulling her towards the window. Her curiosity may get the better of her. 

Slowly she rose from the floor, eyes still fixed to the window. Her hands waved around, searching for her change of clothes. Eventually she found them and pulled on a simple crop top and cargo pants, never taking her eyes off the window that she now stood before. Her hands loosely gripped the bottom of the pane and slowly lifted it open. The sounds from below seeped through. There was a faint thrumming of bass that vibrated the building. The exterior neon was almost blinding now that she was exposed to them. 

Rumi poked her head out of the opening, searching for the source of the tapping. Her head turned upward towards the roof. A figure, shadowed against the night sky, was crouched on the edge of the roof. The familiar outline of a gat was the only defining feature. A hand waved towards her, before the shadow pulled back onto the roof. It was beaconing her to follow. 

Every synapse in her brain was firing, screaming at her to get back inside, to wake Zoey, to lock all the entry points and hide. The danger level was too high. She should be terrified, but something in her wasn’t. Her body betrayed her mind. One leg lifted over the windowsill, finding rest on the metal of the fire escape. Her other leg soon followed, pulling her fully outside. She pressed the window shut before beginning the ascent up to the roof. It only just occurred to her that whatever was up there it didn’t make a sound on the fire escape. Her pulse quickened as the intrigue led her up the stairs. 

Her head crested over the plane of the roof, fingers wrapped tightly over the railing to hold her steady. She still had time to turn back, to hide away. She shook away her fears, taking another step upward, letting her eyes peer over the concrete platform of the roof. 

Two silhouettes were waiting for her. A halo of pink neon outlined their forms. One was of giant stature and build, the other slim and elegant. Rumi stood frozen at the top of the steps trying to discern what was before her. 

“Come on, Rumi,” one of them said, annoyance threading through their tone. 

Rumi jumped at the sound of her own name. Her mouth opened but no coherent words fell out, only soft mumbles. Her feet moved her onto the concrete platform of the roof and towards the two. “H-how do you know my name?” she questioned nervously.

“Look, we don’t have a lot of time for pleasantries.” Rumi could now tell the voice was coming from the smaller of the two individuals. It was mesmerizing, stuck somewhere in the middle of masculine and feminine. “We have a tight schedule to abide by.”

“A sch-schedule? Is this some meeting I didn’t get the memo about? Who are you?” Rumi spat out the questions in rapid succession, fueled by the nerves tingling within. 

As she approached further, she could start making out more features. The smaller one who spoke out was shorter than herself and unnaturally thin. Their hair was cut into an angled fringe that hung over one side of their face, leaving only a single glowing yellow eye visible. They were wearing a sleeveless greyed leather shirt with a wide collar zipped up to their chin and tight leather pants. The gat they wore punctuated their silhouette. 

“Yes, we are on a schedule. No, we are not the meeting. I’m Sussie and the big guy is Derpy.” They answered also in quick succession, matching Rumi’s haste. 

The larger one stepped forward. He was a lot more imposing up close, standing close to seven feet tall and built like a truck. Tiger stripe tattoos riddled his arms. Rumi froze in place as he knelt down to make eye contact with her. His glowing yellow eyes pierced hers. He outstretched his hand to her, a soft, slow voice expelled from his lips. “Hello miss.”

Rumi wearily placed her hand in his bear paw of one, shaking it gently. “Hi,” she said weakly.

Sussie broke the awkward silence between them. “What did I say about pleasantries? Nevermind.” They pinched the bridge of their nose. “Derpy, the invitation.”

Derpy’s eyes widened as he reached in his back pocket, pulling out a folded card. He glanced at it before presenting it forward to Rumi with both hands. Rumi carefully took it into her hands, opening it with caution. She scanned the writing, mumbling the words aloud. Her pupils shrunk and brow furrowed. “Jinu?! Why does he want to meet me?” She looked at the pair opposite her. 

Sussie just gave a shrug, turning to Derpy. He grabbed their arm, slinging them up to a seated position on his shoulder. “Come on. We’ll take you to his meeting spot.” They gently patted the giant on the back of the head signaling to get moving. 

Rumi watched them walk to the edge of the roof. She was hesitant to follow, the invitation still open in her hand. The pair stepped off the edge falling into the street below. Rumi gasped, a little squeak of a scream slipped out as she rushed to the edge of the roof. She looked down to see them perfectly fine on the pavement. Derpy looked up with his big eyes, a silent invitation to follow. Rumi’s eyes narrowed. “Alright, Jinu. I’ll meet you.”

She sat on the edge of the roof, legs dangling in the air. Her body twisted, weight all on her arms as she lowered herself and carefully repelled down to the street to catch up to the pair. 

They walked for a good hour across the city, ducking through alleys and other shortcuts. This was a part of town Rumi had not been to in her brief excursions or the tours Zoey had taken her on. The buildings were getting taller the further they walked, an indication that they were getting closer to the city center. 

They paused in an alley. Sussie glanced down at Rumi, flicking their head to the roof as a direction. Rumi audibly gulped, her hands gripping her sleeves. Derpy knelt down, offering his hands to give her a boost up to where she could complete the climb. She stepped into his palms, holding on to his shoulder as he rose up. With a quick press, she was shot airborne like a cheerleader. Her hands met the railing of an old balcony. She dangled there for a moment before pulling herself up. Another quick climb and she was up to the roof. The roof where Jinu was waiting.

He was standing opposite her, draped in a long sleeveless duster with a signature pop of pink in his shirt. His hands were resting in his pants pockets. Rumi could see his eyes light up when she arrived. 

“I see my message was delivered.” He spoke with a type of warmth that felt a little unsettling. 

“Look, if this is an attempt at getting me to join your little gang, I’m not interested.” Rumi had an air of hostility in her words. She wanted to dig in and find his motivation.

Jinu raised his hand in a stop motion. “This isn’t about the Saja Boys.”

Rumi motioned to the edge where she came from. “Then explain the-”

“Relax. They are with me, not my gang,” he interrupted. “Besides, we are in neutral territory. I figured it would keep you at ease.” His hand lowered to his side. “I can tell that you are still a bit tense from our first meeting. I didn’t have a ton of time to explain myself, so I called you here.”

She shook her head in disbelief. “I still don’t understand why you are even meeting with me in the first place. What do you want?” Her eyes were pinned on him, begging for an actual answer.

He didn’t give it to her right away. He met her eyes and let out a soft sigh. “I want to help you.”

“Help me? With what? I don’t need any help.” She started towards him. Her arms were outstretched at the floor in front of her, shoulders hunched forward. “What could you possibly help me with?”

“I know you are running.”

Rumi stopped dead in her tracks. He… knows? Shock started to take over. Her hands trembled as they hung midair. Her breath quickened. All of her paranoia was pushing forward in her mind. 

Did he actually know? He didn’t outright say it but it really sounded like he knew. Was he going to turn her in? He said that he wanted to help her? How could he possibly help her? Is this a setup? Was his idea of helping her returning her to the people who have held her captive for years?

She was snapped out of her thoughts when his hand found rest on her shoulder. He was gazing at her with soft eyes, trying to give her any comfort without pushing boundaries. 

“I know that you are trying to escape a life that you don’t want. You can think that I have no idea what you are going through, but that is far from the truth.” 

“How could you possibly know anything about what I’m going through? You lead a gang, walk these streets like you own them.” She could feel the tears building, threatening to paint her eyes a stinging red. Her anger and frustrations pushed forward, a knot climbing from her stomach to her throat. She had to will them away with all her might. She couldn’t be seen breaking this easily.

“I know… because I lived it.” His hand moved from her shoulder down her arm, now resting just above her wrist. “My family was near the top of the food chain. I couldn’t handle the pressure they put on me to continue the family business. They were trying to corrupt me, take away anything that made me human, that made me feel. I ran, just like you.” 

He released his hand from her arm as he felt her tense up, finding refuge in his pants pocket. His head tilted gently to the side, eyes scanning her up and down before returning to her eyes. “I see the same fear in your eyes that I did in the mirror. You wonder if you will be found, dragged back to be punished for disobedience.” 

He stopped when he saw her tremble. The thoughts of what may happen to her were swirling. He didn’t want her to start spiraling out of control. He waited briefly before continuing his thought. “I found someone who scrubbed me from the records, got me a fresh start. I can do the same for you. You could go on living a life of your own choosing, never having to worry about hiding a secret, no longer living a lie.” 

Rumi couldn’t maintain eye contact any longer. She turned away. Her thoughts were flying all through her head. Her hands balled into fists, gripping the cuffs of her sleeves in desperation. Her teeth sunk into her bottom lip, hard enough to leave marks but not break and bleed. 

“How…” her voice broke. “How can I trust you? Trust that you will actually help me? That this isn’t some ploy, a trick, a trap?” She kept her gaze focused away from him while she spoke. 

“It’s not my business to convince you to trust me,” he huffed. “That is your choice to make.” He kept his eyes set on her. He knew she wasn’t ready to give an answer. He didn’t need it right away. 

They stood in the quiet for a minute. The air between them once a violent thrashing of unease and paranoia now settled to a low hum of understanding. 

The sounds of the streets around them pulled back into focus. Cars roared by. The faint flickering of neon lights produced halos around their forms. Conversations echoed from below, too far to make out specific words. They were grounded back in reality, no longer in a haze of delusion that their emotions created. 

They were just two souls who ran away. Two souls who wanted a change, a chance, a choice. A mutual understanding between them thrummed like the bass of a nearby club. 

Jinu broke the silence between them, his voice warm and comforting like a fire heating a room in the dead of winter. “I don’t expect you to give me an answer. You have a lot to think about.” His hand found rest on her shoulder, her head turning to face him in reaction. He was much closer than before, his chest just inches from her arm. His heat radiating onto her.

“When you are ready, meet me back here. My friends will be sure to guide you.” The corners of his mouth peaked into a small reassuring smile. “Take any time you need here to think. Sussie and Derpy will hang around to escort you back.” He pulled away from her, his body turned towards the edge of the building. “Thank you for taking the time to meet with me tonight, Rumi.” 

With his final words, he leapt off the side to the street below flashing a smile her way as he disappeared from view.

Rumi was left alone on the roof, alone with her thoughts. She let out a deep sigh, finally allowing her shoulders to relax now that Jinu was gone. Her guard was up the entire time but it had faltered. Could he really see right through her like he said? He seemed so genuine in his words, that he really wanted to help her find her freedom. 

She finally allowed the sounds of the night to take over, drowning out the voices in her head. The air had cooled, leaving goosebumps on the exposed skin of her stomach. Sounds of pedestrians below mixed with the waves of music from passing cars and open bar doors. She allowed herself to fall into its comforting embrace, melding with the environment no longer wanting to be a stranger. 

She carefully climbed her way back down to the alley. Sussie and Derpy were waiting just as Jinu had promised. 

“Ready to go back home?” Sussie asked, pushing themselves up from the wall they were leaning against. Derpy rose from his crouched position beside them. 

Rumi gave them a weak smile. Her hand raised in front of her in a small wave, shaking her head. “No, I think I’m going to walk around a bit and head back on my own.”

Sussie gave a small shrug. “Suit yourself. Just be careful.” They jumped up onto Derpy’s broad shoulder, giving him a small pet. 

Derpy smiled at Rumi and gave a little wave. “See you soon,” he said before they made their way to the exit of the alley. 

It was a different feeling, being out at night without Zoey guiding her around. Rumi was just free to wander at her own pace, to take in the sights, sounds, and smells that radiated around her. People were in a constant shuffle in and out of bars and clubs. The night market expelled the smell of freshly grilled foods in a cloud of steam. There was so much she wanted to see, but she would soon have all the time in the world to explore. 

Being out alone at night as a young woman was potentially dangerous. Rumi had hoped that the confident demeanor she wore would repel any trouble. Zoey taught her that trick right away. The people out here can smell weakness. The slightest hesitation would cause them to pounce. 

She continued down the streets for who knows how long. It only settled in that she may want to find her way back when she ended up in a rather seedy part of the city. She pulled out her burner phone to check the time.

1:18am

How long had she been out here? Her head flipped around trying to orient herself. She could hear the trains moving in the night but could not see them. A station would at least give her an idea of where she was, she just had to find it. 

Rumi tried her best to stick to the main roads. The alleys were far too dangerous especially when she didn’t know whose territory she was in. Don’t find yourself in the wrong place when the gangs are out roaming. 

She turned a corner and finally saw a station come into view a few blocks away. Her movements quickened as the tunnel vision set in. She was determined to get to that station and get back home. It all came crashing down when she heard a car pulling up close to her.

It was slowly rolling beside her, windows down letting out the blaring music coming from the radio. Rumi kept her gaze forward when one of the individuals from the vehicle began speaking to her.

“Hey. Got some place to be? A pretty girl like you should be in every club getting free drinks.”

Rumi didn’t give them the time of day. She sped up her pace, but the vehicle stayed level with her.

“Come on. No need to give the cold shoulder. Live a little while the night is still young.”

Her head remained focused forward. “I’m not interested,” she spat back.

She heard the click of a door opening. Her head turned to see a man standing before her. He looked to be heavily modified and probably on some type of stimulant the way the hairs stood up on his arms. “Headed home? I can offer you a ride.” His eyes found hers. He was looking at her like she was a piece of meat and he was a starved animal. 

His hand flew out and grasped her arm at her shoulder. His grip was rough. Her fight or flight response set off. She forcefully pushed his hand off her. “I said I’m not interested.” She stood tall and confident. She was not going to back down so easily. 

The man let out a chuckle. “You’re a tough little girl. By morning, I’ll have you calling me daddy.” His hands reached out for her again, aiming to grab her by the collar.

Rumi quickly spat in his face, disorienting him for a moment. Her hand raised. She put all her emotion into a heavy swing, slapping him across the face as hard as she could. Her arm remained in the follow through position, her breathing heavy as the adrenaline began to flow free.

He turned his face back to her. Blood was dripping from his nose where she struck truest. His face was plastered in a deep scowl. “Why you little bitch.” He snagged the wrist of the arm she slapped him with, yanking her forward and offbalance. He forcefully threw her to the ground, reaching behind his back. “I’ll show you what happens to filthy whores on these streets.” 

His hand retreated from his waistband, now brandishing a handgun. He pointed the barrel in her direction. “You’ll just be another name in the nightly report.” His finger twitched against the trigger, his aim directly at her, arm shaking. His eyes were bloodshot with rage, staring directly at her. The trigger finger curled and jerked.

BANG

Rumi’s ears were ringing at the sound. The bullet had ricocheted off the concrete and panged into the nearby building. A hand was snared on the man’s wrist, pointing the firearm at the floor. A familiar silhouette was between them. 

“That’s no way to treat a lady. Didn’t your mother teach you any manners?” A low, stinging feminine voice rang out. 

“Fuck you,” the man spat in return, trying to wrench his arm free.

A quick jerk and his arm was locked in place. A metal knee sharply came up, slamming into the knob of his elbow with great force. A heavy crack broke out as his bones were shattered in the impact. His scream of pain pierced the air. The handgun clattered to the ground with his grip broken. 

His rage was now turned away from Rumi. He began swinging wildly at the woman with his one good arm. A head of pink hair ducked and dove around his strikes with relative ease. He overcommitted on one punch and she took advantage, grappled his torso and raised his arm above his head. His elbow jerked back, catching her in the chin and releasing the hold. 

The two turned to each other, now in a more traditional fighting stance. The man was not going to wait for her to strike. He lunged forward, arms wrapping around her waist, slamming her into the side of his car. The air in her lungs was quickly expelled in the impact. She tried to wrestle free, but his hold was tight. She brought a knee up into his abdomen repeatedly, getting him to finally release and stumble backward. 

He stabilized himself on one knee, doubled over. His arm wrapped around his mid section, gasping for air. The woman pushed herself off the dented car door. Her window was open to end this. She stepped forward, planted her left foot in the pavement and pivoted. Her right leg swung in a tight arc, landing her heel against the side of his head in one fluid motion. 

The loud pang of metal against bone echoed in the empty street. The man laid limp on the side of the road, blood pooling under his head from the open wound on his skull. 

Rumi stared at the scene in front of her. Her eyes were wide, breaths short and heavy. She scooted herself backward, away from the bloody mess. Her back met the concrete exterior of a building. Her whole body tensed up as she cowered in fear. 

The other woman slowly stepped towards her, not wanting to frighten her any more than she already was. She knelt down in front of Rumi and extended a hand. “Are you ok, princess?”

Rumi lifted her gaze, meeting a pair of sharp eyes that she had seen before. The adrenaline was wavering, but he heart rate was still elevated. “Y-yeah,” she mumbled. That was the only word she could force out of her lungs. Her shaky hand fell into the one offered and she was pulled to her feet. “M-Mira, right?” 

Mira flashed a small smile. “Yeah, that would be me. Sorry you had to witness that mess. Didn’t think it would end up so ugly. The fewer dirtbags like that on the street, the better.” She took a step back to give Rumi a bit more air to breathe. “Rumi, right? Unless I misheard what Zoey was screaming the other day.”

The purple haired girl gave a quick nod in response. She nervously adjusted her clothing, setting it back to normal after her encounter. “How did you find me?”

Mira raised an eyebrow, turning her head to face the car on the side of the road. “I was trailing that guy for a while. Some people aren’t exactly subtle in their motivations. You start to notice it more the longer you are out on patrol.” She let out a soft sigh and crossed her arms in front of her, turning her attention back to Rumi. “The better question is what were you doing all the way out here?”

Rumi’s posture stiffened at the question. “I uh… I was trying to get back home and I got lost,” she said, nervously putting a hand to the back of her neck. 

Mira’s eyes were trained on her. She could tell she wasn’t lying, but wasn’t exactly telling the whole truth either. Her posture relaxed a bit as she shook her head, a soft smile on her lips. “Not exactly the best part of town to get lost in.” She let out a soft chuckle. “Now, come on.” Her head flicked towards the direction Rumi initially came from before taking a step forward. 

Rumi didn’t hesitate to follow. She would rather not be left out here alone. She kept pace with Mira, trailing just behind her. They turned a corner revealing a parked motorcycle. Its body was longer than standard with a front wheel that stuck out a bit further. Armor panels were bolted everywhere. It was painted black but you wouldn’t be able to tell from the reflection it gave off of every color of light around it. 

Mira swung her leg over, straddling the leather seat. Her hands were splayed on her dark helmet. “Hop on.”

Rumi walked over, trying not to seem too anxious. She positioned herself on the back of the seat behind Mira. “Where are we going?”

“For a ride. Show you how I see this city.” She brushed her loose hair back with her hand before sliding on the helmet. “Hold on tight.”

The engine roared to life. Mira revved the throttle a couple of times. Rumi quickly wrapped her arms tightly around the taller woman’s waist, pressing her cheek to her back. The streets around her slowly began to blur as they set off.

The neon lights of the signs they passed became paint strokes carefully streaked across a black canvas of night. It all faded into the background, the pair on the motorcycle the only thing in focus, captured in a rainbow streaked dreamscape.

Rumi finally started to feel herself relax. Her arms relaxed from a deathgrip around Mira’s waist to settle loosely on her hips. Long, loose strands of pink hair tickled her cheek causing her eyes to flutter closed. She nuzzled in lightly to the soft worn leather of her jacket, breathing in the scent of oil and sandalwood. It was intoxicating in a way. For the first time in forever, her fears drained away leaving behind an unfamiliar but most welcome feeling. She felt…

Safe.

They found refuge on an old suspension bridge that crossed the river on the outskirts of the city. They were sitting on the bridge deck, their legs dangling over the water below. The view was picturesque. From the vantage the entire skyline could be seen. The towering skyscrapers are centered with two slopes of shorter buildings flanking either side. The lights from windows twinkled like the stars in a sky only they could see. 

No words were said between them. They only reveled in the moment, a quiet comfort in each other's company. They were close, but not quite touching. Their hands were just mere centimeters apart, neither one wanted to bridge the gap. The night breeze flowed between them, blowing their hair off their shoulders.

Rumi tried to keep her eyes forward to the cityscape, but they kept wandering over to the woman sitting next to her. She took in her calm resolve, how softer she appeared compared to the quick witted gang leader who saved her skin yet again. She traced the outline of her form, slim but strong. Eventually her eyes came to rest on a feature she was exposed to earlier that night; the glinting metal of her legs. 

She wanted to ask about them, but couldn’t work up the courage. Maybe it was just as simple as a choice to be more powerful, or maybe it was because of an injury. 

“I can feel you staring.” 

Rumi’s eyes went wide, her cheeks flushed pink. She scrambled back to look forward. Mira only gave out a breathy laugh at her embarrassment.

“It’s alright. They always draw some eyes.” She clicked her heel against the bridge. The soft clang released a wave of vibration that sent a shiver down Rumi’s spine. 

Rumi returned her gaze to her side, tilting her head slightly in question. “Why do you have them? Are they something you’ve always had?”

Mira let out a sigh. “It’s… complicated.” She pulled a leg up, foot resting on the deck as she leaned back on her palms. “It wasn’t always like this. I used to be clean, unmodified. My family…” she paused, her words getting caught in her throat. “I was their only daughter, their little doll. They had been trying to climb the power ladder and used me as part of their performance. They pushed me to be a ballet prodigy. When my progression slowed down, they took matters into their own hands.” 

Rumi could see the pain well up in her eyes. She stayed frozen without words, not wanting to push.

“They said I was being held back from reaching my potential. I had no choice in it all. I was just eleven years old. They didn’t listen to my begging and pleading. I never wanted it, but now…” She ran a hand along the scratched surface of her knee. “It’s just another part of me. A trauma I have to live with for the rest of my life.”

Rumi finally broke her silence. “That’s horrible. How could someone do that to their own child?” Her body turned, legs curling under her as she faced the woman beside her. 

Mira leaned forward. “It’s the sacrifices they choose to make for their own gain. I left when I was sixteen. They threatened disownment, but they couldn’t do anything worse to me than they already did. I had to learn quickly on the streets. I got into a lot of fights, drowned my pain in drugs. I was a mess. Then I found the Honmoon. They took me in, set me right.”

Rumi raised her hand and glanced at Mira. “May I?” She gave a soft nod of permission. Rumi gently reached to her thigh. The pads of her fingers pressed to the cool surface. She traced the sharp edges of the panel, feeling every scuff and scratch. “They’re beautiful,” she said with a slight smile. “We all hide our scars, afraid they appear ugly or as a sign of weakness. But they are a part of us, a beauty we learn to embrace.”

Mira flashed a smirk. “Didn’t know you were such a poet, princess.” 

Rumi returned the smile, letting out a faint laugh. “I guess you could say it’s a talent of mine.”

Mira gave her a playful push on the shoulder. “You’re the type of person we need more of in this world. The kind that sees the beauty in the broken glass. Everyone is so wrapped up in their own heads that they can’t step back and actually see the world around them. Now that is a talent.”

Rumi leaned in a little closer. “I think we need more people like you in the world.” The other raised her eyebrow in intrigue. “You look out for others, putting yourself in danger just to keep them protected. A great leader, and an even better person.” 

“You flatter me, princess.” She brought her face forward tilting it slightly.

Rumi moved to close the gap between them, their fingers brushing and tangling together. “I only speak the truth.”

Their eyelids became heavy, closing as they leaned into each other. Their lips millimeters from each other, the air buzzed with electricity looking to spark and close the gap.

The spell was broken by the sound of screeching brakes. 

Mira’s eyes widened as she pulled back, searching for the source. Her eyes rested on a group of armored vans that pulled up on the bank of the river. Her heart rate spiked as she quickly stood up. “We need to get out of here.”

Rumi looked around, now flustered. “W-what’s going on?” She was pulled to her feet and drug to the parked motorcycle. 

“Private corpo militia on patrol. I don’t want to stick around and find out what they want.” Mira swiftly mounted her bike, pulling Rumi onto it behind her. She yanked on her helmet and brought the engine to life. Rumi held onto her tightly as they sped off the bridge. 

The sound of yelling and radios clicking faded into the distance as they raced through the city. 

The bike slowly rolled down the street of Zoey’s apartment. It came to rest outside a worn down brick building. The horizon was turning purple as the night was coming to an end. Rumi lifted herself from the leather seat. 

“Not going to escort the princess to her tower?” she asked with a smile plastered on her face. 

Mira leaned back on her bike. “Unfortunately, this knight has to return to the post she abandoned to give the princess a thrilling evening.” She gave a wink through the window of her helmet. “I’ll catch you around. Hopefully not needing to be saved.” She revved the throttle before pulling away, disappearing somewhere in the neon expanse of the street. 

Rumi stayed standing outside for a moment longer, relishing in the wash of emotions that came from her experience. She eventually pulled herself to the fire escape, climbing up to the window of Zoey’s apartment. She slowly pried it open, slipping inside to attempt to rest knowing the lingering thrill would keep her up for a few hours more. 

Chapter Text

Streaks of morning sun pushed through the window, creating a golden haze in the room. Zoey finally stirred from her slumber. She was twisted in a position that so many would question if it was comfortable. Man, she really did move a lot in her sleep huh?

She rose from the floor, rubbing the sand from her eyes. She blinked a few times, getting the room back into focus and her gaze fell upon the soft form of Rumi. 

She looked to have been awake for some time. She was cleaned up and clothed, ready for the day. One of Zoey’s notebooks was resting in her lap, a pen in her hand lightly marking the fresh page. Zoey raised an eyebrow in intrigue at her before letting out a yawn to break the silence.

“Morning, Rumi.”

She turned to face Zoey. The golden light rimmed over her, producing what was almost a halo. She looked so angelic that Zoey had thought it was almost a dream. “Good morning,” she responded softly.

Zoey pushed herself up onto her knees. Her eyes trailed to the pages in Rumi’s lap, tracing the strokes of ink. “What’re you doing with my notebooks?”

Zoey could see Rumi get flustered by the way the pen suddenly dug into the paper. She was looking frantically between the notebook and her. “I uh…” The sudden red flush on her cheeks said nothing and everything all at once. “You mentioned that you like to use them to unwind and get your feelings out. You know, the ones that are hard to talk about.” Her shoulders rolled forward and she curled into her chest a little trying to look smaller. “I thought that maybe I could take a page out of your book, literally and metaphorically.” She flashed Zoey the dopiest little smile. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the sight.

“Rumi, it’s totally fine. I’m not going to kick you out for using paper.” She crawled up closer, watching the embarrassment ease from her face. “I am going to have to charge you, however.” She wrapped her arms around the purple-haired girl’s shoulders, planting a soft kiss to her lips, holding it there for a moment before pulling back. “Now come on, dummy. I have so much art to show you.” Zoey released her grip and stood up, pulling a change of clothes from her drawers. 

Rumi set the pen and paper down on the desk beside her before standing and stretching. 

“And I swear if there are any more incidents while we are out, I. Will. SCREAM.” 

The room filled with laughter as the two got themselves ready for a day out.

You could say that their day of exploration went off without a hitch. There were no signs of the Saja Boys causing mischief or any dangerous encounters like they had the previous few days. The worst they had to deal with was fleeing from a very angry citizen who thought they were there to continue the vandalism of his storefront. 

This was Zoey in her element, running through crowds and leaping from ledges. She was slinging her body around with such finesse that one might think she was raised by monkeys in a far off jungle, now adapted to the concrete wilderness of the city. She climbed buildings like they were trees, leaping from branch to branch all while keeping a close eye on Rumi. 

She wasn’t as fleet of foot, but she was keeping up alright. This was a new experience for her, so Zoey had to make an impression. Her flair was cranked up to eleven. She was showing off with a crazy display of acrobatics as they crossed the city. A side flip of a ledge, a deft roll back into a sprint after a jump, and even a gainer when leaping from a roof to a lower platform. 

She would always turn to Rumi when she finished a trick. Her eyes were beaming with endearment and awe. Zoey savored every reaction like it was her last meal. 

They toured as many spots as they could that afternoon. Zoey had wanted to show her the memorial she did at the Honmoon building, but the entire district was under lockdown by the gang. It was one of her favorite pieces and now it would have to wait. 

The two took a reprieve in one of the sporadic parks, sitting beside each other on a bench, boba tea in hand. 

“So I heard around town that there’s a DJ doing a guest spot tonight. The dude is said to have some of the craziest light shows, sends the whole place into a frenzy. Maybe we should check it out,” Zoey said, her eyes now focused on Rumi. She brought the straw up to her lips and took a healthy drink of her tea. 

Rumi appeared hesitant in her answer. Her eyes darted around aimlessly like she was stuck in her own head. Finally, she spoke. “I was thinking…” She buried her head between her shoulders, turning shyly towards Zoey. “Maybe we can go to the east side tonight? I’ve heard the night market is amazing over there.”

Zoey gave her a puzzled look. “The east side? You sure? That’s so far away, like ‘my legs will be too tired to dance’ levels of far.” Rumi gave her a soft nod and Zoey’s expression eased. “I suppose we could, if that’s something you want.” 

Rumi flashed her a smile, returning to the drink in her hands. Zoey had her suspicions, but was there any reason for her not to believe Rumi. It’s not like she had other motivations, right?

The night market was busier than what felt like it should be the usual. Maybe there was a special vendor that everyone and their mother was clamoring to try out? Smells of fresh seafood and cooking oil wafted into the cool night air in puffs of steam. 

Zoey had been complaining about the walk over, saying it was ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ that they didn’t take the trains over. She was cute when she got frustrated like this. Rumi would have let the feeling linger longer, but her mind was placed elsewhere. 

Her eyes scanned the crowd around them, searching. Her efforts were rewarded when she spotted two faint familiar silhouettes on a balcony overlooking the market. How long had they been watching her? Jinu did say that they would guide her to their meeting place. Did that mean they were keeping tabs on her at all times? The thought sent a shiver down her spine as she suddenly felt uncomfortable. It shouldn’t surprise her seeing as she had lived her whole life to this point under a constant eye, but this felt different. It felt more intimate and invasive like she was being studied. 

She turned her attention back to Zoey who was practically drooling over tteokbokki skewers that were steaming on a tray at the front of a stall. She gave her a nudge to go try it. When her counterpart didn’t hesitate, lunging for the stand with hungry eyes, Rumi faded into the crowd, out of sight. Zoey turned back, skewer in hand, and found no Rumi in sight. She shuffled through the crowd trying to find her friend.

Sussie and Derpy were waiting for her in the alleyway. They really were watching her every move. Derpy gave a wave and his big warm smile before escorting Rumi to Jinu’s designated meeting spot. With a lift and a short climb, she was face to face with him once more.

Jinu’s eyes lit up when he saw her crest over the roof’s ledge. He had been sitting on a cooling unit, but quickly stood when she arrived. “Have you come with an answer for me?” He didn’t sound exceptionally eager, probably trying to tone it down in case he was going to be hit with disappointment. 

“Yes,” Rumi huffed. “I’ve come to accept your offer of help.” She was standing tall, exuding confidence and giving her answer in a strong, unbroken tone. Her visage had to be strong because inside her nerves were going haywire. 

“Good choice,” he quipped with a coy little smirk. “I never doubted you for a second.”

Rumi tucked her hands into her jacket pockets, tilting her chin downward to emphasize her gaze towards him. “What are the next steps? How long will it take until I am in the clear?”

“I reached out to my contact. He says he can get everything prepared in a couple days. Your file’s a tough one to crack. Probably doesn’t help that the corpos have put their databases on heavier encryption. Things have been getting… tense to say the least.” He crossed his arms, leaning back against the cooling unit. “They’ve been getting desperate recently. Coincides with your missing persons report. You gotta be someone pretty special to them.”

“Yeah… I guess you can say that.” Her mind wandered to Celine. She was probably throwing everything at the wall to try and track her down. Bobby was probably getting the worst of the heat. Who knows what kind of punishment he’s been subjected to in her absence. Their suffering was all her fault. Was she being too selfish? She was snapped out of her daze when Jinu placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Hey, you’re getting too deep into your head. I know that there is a lot to think about and consider. It’s a huge life change.” He leaned in a bit closer. “We’re gonna get you through this. Lay low until Sussie and Derpy come to get you. They’ll get you to my contact who will wipe everything clean and get you a new start.” 

She nodded at his reassurance. “I’ll be waiting.”

He gave her a smile. “Excellent. I’ll take care of any complications that come up. You won’t have to worry about anything.” He watched her leave, being escorted back to the market by his companions. 

Rumi gave a polite bow to Sussie and Derpy before pushing back through the crowd to find Zoey. She wasn’t gone long but she had to have been worried when she suddenly wasn’t there. A tug on her sleeve startled her. She raised her hand, ready to fight when she heard a familiar voice.

“There you are. I have been looking everywhere for you.” Zoey let out a sigh, getting her emotions back in check. “You really have a tendency to disappear all of a sudden. Can’t be scaring a girl like that.”

Rumi felt herself relax, her arm coming to rest on Zoey’s. “I’m sorry. I got lost in the crowd. This place sure turns into a maze with all these people.”

Zoey shook her head with a smile. “I swear if you keep going ghost on me, I’m gonna have to start putting trackers in your clothes.” They shared a laugh at the absurdity of the statement, knowing full well Zoey would actually do that. They continued to peruse the night market before taking the long walk back home.

Sussie and Derpy returned to the rooftop after releasing Rumi back into the wild. Jinu was still there waiting for them.

“You want us to keep watch of her, make sure she isn’t getting into any trouble?” Sussie asked, arms crossed over their chest.

Jinu shook his head and reached into his pocket. “I need you to deliver a message for me.” He pulled out a card and handed it over to Derpy. “Please deliver this with love to Mira Song.”

Chapter Text

The whole place was rich with the smell of iron and antiseptic. Pained moans echoed through the battered metal clad hallways. Suffering was only the beginning of how you could describe the emotions on their faces. Bandages, splints, and everything in between were wrapped around the victims. Everything they had for emergency medical was being used, but there wasn’t enough of it to save everyone. 

The door to the command room creaked open and slammed shut when heavy boots passed through the threshold. Mira’s presence was met with a harsh stare from Jung Hoo, her second in command. He was hunched over the central table, a written report scattered in front of him. 

“Where the fuck were you last night?” he hissed. 

“I was out on my patrol,” she responded with some hesitation that told him everything he needed to know.

His posture straightened, their eyes now on the same level. “You and I both know that is a damn lie. If you were, you would have been able to warn us, help us. Instead we were caught in a damn ambush by some corpo goons.” He slammed his fist into the table. “It wasn’t just a normal run in. They knew our position. It was like they were being fed information.” His stare lingered on her a beat too long. 

Her eyes widened, pupils shrinking. Her lips pressed tightly into a thin line. “You cannot seriously think that I would do something like that?”

“How else am I supposed to think? You, our leader, abandoned us, left us without even a warning. People are fucking dead, Mira, do you understand that? And right now, that blood is on your hands.”

Her eyes flashed sharply back at him. “I understand that better than anyone else. I am not denying my mistake, but I will not have my loyalty questioned.”

“Then where the fuck were you?!” His voice was full of anger and pain, a breath of hostility lingered on his lips. 

“I was taking care of something important.” She broke eye contact for a moment before returning. A thought ran through her head.

I saved one life last night, and yet that still isn’t enough. 

“Something more important than us?!” He was lurching forward, searching for an answer. His words carried a hidden accusation, one of priorities and sabotage. “Mira, I swear if this was you abandoning us for a piece of ass I’m going to-”

“She’s not a piece of ass,” she snapped, her open palms slamming against the wood tabletop.

He physically recoiled at her interruption. His demeanor was shifting. What was a look of pain and confusion became unbridled rage. He shook his head violently. “This isn’t a game! These are real people, real lives!” 

“You think I don’t know that?” she spat back, her volume raising to match his. 

Jung Hoo moved from his side of the table, angrily stepping towards her. Gaze unbroken, he brought his arm up and swung it forward. His palm landed to her jaw with a heavy smack that echoed through the room. Mira didn’t recoil from the hit, taking it with a stone face. Her head was turned from the impact and she held it there. She could feel a trail of wetness roll to her chin, proof that she was still human in all of this. 

Jung Hoo’s breathing was heavy as he stayed standing in front of her. They languished in the pained silence. 

His voice, low and broken, shattered it. “Then snap yourself out of it… all of this is bigger than yourself - any of us. If you’re with us,” she turned to meet his eyes again. “Prove it.” A statement of finality. Absolute. 

Mira brought her sleeve up and wiped the blood from her chin. Her lip was busted, but it was hardly anything compared to what her gang suffered the previous night. She knew that what she did was selfish, and it ended up with her gang being slaughtered in the streets. It was a grief that she alone would have to live with. 

She stared at the deep red smear on the pale grey of her sleeve. Her mind flashed to the last time she was on the receiving end of an ambush of this magnitude. The sounds of their screams. The pain that hung thickly in the air, mixing with the stench of blood and gunpowder. She remembered seeing their leader hit the ground. His body was riddled with bullet holes, clothes soaked in crimson. She ran to him, cradling his body as he gave out his last gasps of life. He told her to lead, that he knew she would have the strength to see their goals finally accomplished. When his body went slack, all that remained of him was the bloody streaks his hand left on her cheek and the hanging promise she swore to keep. 

It was all a reminder of her shame, the fear of letting it all crumble beneath her because she wasn’t strong enough to hold it. 

The door to the room crashed open. The pair’s eyes shot to the intrusion. It was a scout panting, clearly having run from their post all the way here. They pulled a small card from their pocket, offering it forward.

“A message… for… Mira… from… Jinu,” they rasped out between breaths. 

Mira turned slowly toward them, eyes locked to the paper card they held forward. From Jinu? What could he possibly want that he felt the need to send a card? What did he want to say that he didn’t want tracked through digital means? She stood there, hesitant to take the message. Her body betrayed her, lightly grasping the folded paper. She dismissed the scout with a nod, the door closing behind them.

She peeled the card open, her eyes tracing over the words. Her eyebrows furrowed, eyes clamping shut, nostrils flared. She released the anger that was building in one heavy sigh. 

Jung Hoo looked on with concern. “What does it say?”

Mira stood there frozen for a moment. The paper was crumpling under where her fingers pressed. “He wants to have a private meeting. Tonight.”

“It has to be some kind of a trap. We’ll send a troop out there to meet him, catch him off gua-”

“No,” she interrupted with authority. “No. I will handle this. Our numbers are too thin and I will not risk losing more if this is really a trap.”

“You are not going there alone. He’s ruthless. You’ve seen what he’s done.”

She shook her head. “I can take care of myself. If you want me to prove where my loyalty stands, let me take this meeting alone. Keep the compound on high alert in case they use it as an opportunity for a sneak attack.” Her hands tensed, crushing the paper in her grasp. She moved to now stand in front of the door. “I will cut him down where he stands if he even thinks about pulling something.”

The address in the letter led to what looked like a ramyeon shop. The lights were off and the signage outside said closed. Everything about it was a red flag, but it also read as discreet and out of the way. Mira’s brain was screaming for her to turn back or call for backup. This had ‘setup’ written all over it. It had to be a trap. It just had to. 

She shook off the fear and feeling. If Jinu sent for her personally, it had to be something very important. In a test of faith, she pushed her way through the front door. 

The main room had a few small tables scattered about and a couple posters on the wall. It was too cramped for any kind of fight. If it were an ambush, it would be a really dumb decision. Her head was on a swivel. There was no Jinu in sight. Her hand ghosted over the hwando on her hip, ready to unsheath it at a moment's notice. 

“Hey, Saja. I’m here. Don’t tell me you are scared to face me,” she called out to the empty establishment. He had to have been within earshot, keeping away from windows to avoid any suspicion from the street.

Her attention whipped around to the entrance to the kitchen when she heard footsteps. The door swung open making way for a man of dark hair and a signature pop of pink in his clothing. He stepped into the main room, leaning against the wall.

“I see you do accept written invitations. Thought it would be easier to get to you without it being compromised.” His expression was that of amusement. A sly little smile plastered to his face. 

Mira kept her eyes trained on him, keeping her distance from across the room. “And why have you asked me here? Surely it can’t be another half hearted proposal of a trade that will be shot down immediately?” Her lure was set, waiting for him to bite. 

Jinu shook his head, a small laugh breaking through the silence. “No. I feel what I’ve brought you here for is far more serious than that.” She gave him a look of confusion, her head turned to give him a bit of a side eye. “I heard of the ambush that your group endured. It all reeks of an inside job. I think I have a lead on who may be the rat.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You better not be fucking with me. I swear if you are, I will gut you right here.”

Jinu threw his hands up in front of him. “I don’t doubt that you will. We are adversaries in the streets, but we both have the same ultimate enemy. What happened to you could very well happen to me, and if we can snuff it out now then we will both be better off.”

Mira was getting impatient. Her tone was laced with annoyance and desperation. “Get on with it, pretty boy.”

The smile wiped from Jinu’s face. He was taking this seriously, more than he had in any other negotiation they had in the past. He pushed himself from the wall, taking a step towards her, a hand landing on a table. “That little girlfriend of yours, Rumi was it?”

Mira froze. How does he know about the two of them? Why was he bringing her up? What could she possibly have to do with-

“She’s not who you think she is.” 

Her heart was pounding in her chest, threatening to break its way out of her ribcage. Her breathing became shallow, gaze piercing into Jinu. The words got caught in her throat. She had to force it out in a pained breath. “What do you mean?”

His lips pressed to a thin line. “She’s one of them. A piece of corporate scum.”

The final two words stuck into her like knives. She couldn’t be. There was no way she was one of them. Rumi wasn’t like them. She was kind and forgiving. She saw the best in people. No one in the highest of society held any of those traits. They were cold and manipulative. Manipulative. Was all of this a ploy to get her to crack? Some kind of sick trick?

“How can you be sure? That’s a pretty bold accusation you are making.” She was fighting back her emotions, trying to remain composed. She couldn’t show him weakness. 

He pulled a file folder from his jacket. “See for yourself.” He tossed the file towards her. It came to rest at her feet. “It’s all in there, pulled straight from their databases.”

Mira flicked the folder open with her foot. Plastered there front and center was a picture. A picture of Rumi. All of her data was splayed on the pages; her name, age, vitals, affiliations, everything. It was all adorned with the Sunlight Media seal in the top right corner. A name she saw on a tower deep in the heart of the city. It was all real and all in front of her. 

Her hands were clenched into fists, her nails digging deep into her palm. Tears were starting to well in the corner of her eyes. She looked back up to Jinu. “What does she have to do with anything?”

He gave a heavy sigh. “You don’t see it? See how she used you? Distracted you to take you away from your post last night? To keep you from alerting the Honmoon of an ambush?”

Mira quickly shook her head. Her eyes clamping shut. “No. No. She wouldn’t do that. It’s just a coincidence.” 

“Is it?” Jinu was looking at her in disbelief. “Are you really defending someone who is threatening our entire survival? Mira, they are all the same. Just a bunch of sick, greedy bastards who want to see us suffer for their enjoyment.” 

Mira slumped backward onto a tabletop, her wide eyes staring at the floor. “I’ve been played like a damn fool,” she muttered softly. She couldn’t believe what she was being told. Had she really sacrificed her gang, her family, for some… corporate siren? Her eyes trailed to the bloodstain on her sleeve. All of their blood was on her hands. All because she let a pretty face manipulate her. 

Jinu stepped closer, garnering the gaze of his counterpart. “I have a plan in place to take her down and put an end to the violent raids. With some help, we managed to intercept who we believe is her contact on the inside. She thinks she’s meeting with them in two days. That’s where we will confront her and make her pay.”

“And you think I am supposed to believe you?” Her voice was raw with emotion. 

Jinu squeezed the bridge of his nose between his fingers. “Mira, we are dealing with someone who is our enemy. They are dangerous and have a ton of connections that could spell the end for us. All of us. For fucks sake, I don’t expect you to think of me as your best friend or anything after what I’ve done, but this is bigger than that.” He bent down to get to her level, arms caging her in place. “What’s it going to be? Us? Or them?”

She knew the answer. It shouldn’t be complicated but it was. Her feelings were real and they were getting in the way. Her own selfishness spiraled further down a path of destruction to everything she stood for - swore to protect. She couldn’t let it take her down further. Yet at the same time something was pulling her in the other direction. Rumi felt different than anyone else she knew. It was something deeper and it terrified her. She was falling for the very thing she despised, ran from, fought against. It was so wrong but felt so right. She had to make a choice. 

Her familiar stone faced mask swept across her face. She stared down the man who was mere inches from her face, gaze unwavering. 

“Time and place,” she said. Her voice was back to that of the confident leader she was supposed to be, one that knew what she stood for and what had to be done to ensure their goals were reached. “Let’s take down that corporate bitch.”

Chapter Text

Over the next two days, Rumi was on edge. She was told to lay low by Jinu, but trying to do so with Zoey constantly wanting to take her out exploring made things difficult. She was a creature of the night, or so she says. Zoey wanted to show her everything this city had to offer, especially at night. She was living the lie of being a ‘daywalker’ and had to keep up the convincing visage. She would keep herself tucked into her clothing, trying to disappear among the crowds. 

What made things worse was that the districts were on high alert. After what she now knew was an ambush to the Honmoon and a couple other smaller gangs by an armed force of corporate grunts, she couldn’t blame them. The streets still shone of blood and oil stains even following a heavy rain. 

There was a pang of guilt in her chest. Since she had run away, it felt as though the violence had escalated. Now, an elite group of soldiers were tearing through civilians like wet paper. These weren’t just random acts. This was something targeted, like they were being fed information and assigned individuals to strike down. Could this have something to do with her? Was this the work of Celine trying to retrieve her and bring her back to safety? 

No matter the reason, the nights were getting more dangerous by the day. 

There was a lingering fear that even if she did manage to get herself a clear path to a fresh start that these attacks would not stop, that they would escalate even further. She would either have to spend the rest of her days in hiding, or run even further and escape the city. She had no ties to the outside world. It was a scary place. She didn’t want to even think about leaving her companions behind. Maybe they would leave with her. Zoey would. Her ties to the city are so faint at this point that she probably is waiting for her to ask if she wanted to leave. 

Mira was a different story. She was an enigma bound by a duty she didn’t choose. Zoey told her all about how she became a gang leader, or at least as much as she knew herself. She wouldn’t leave willingly. She barely even knew her. Having them both with her out in a world of pure freedom was just a pipe dream. Something that would be deemed too good to be true. A delusion. 

She had to pull herself out of this dream. She was thinking too far ahead, too deep into some fantasy. Reality came back into focus. Her eyes wandered to a dark haired exuberant young woman that was sitting beside her on the train. She traced out every curve of her silhouette. Zoey was anything but a dream. She was Rumi’s reality, the grounding force that kept her going throughout these tough days. 

The train halted at their stop. Slowly the two clamored out of the car and into the setting sun, their shadows long against the station floors. Rumi was glancing from side to side, keeping a constant eye out for anything that might be trouble. Her eyes meet a familiar gaze high above. Two pairs of yellowed eyes stare back at her. A nod confirmed her suspicions.

Tonight she would get her freedom.

Rumi returned her attention to the path she was walking with Zoey. Her mind was racing even more than before, her palms becoming clammy as her nerves ran wild. Tonight marked the end of her chase and the beginning of a new life she could have all her own. She had to physically shake the thoughts from her head. They would torment her if she let them linger too long. 

Just enjoy the last of the day you have with Zoey. Starting tomorrow you will never have to hide again.

The night came and Zoey was ever pressing to get Rumi to come out with her. 

“Sorry, Zoey. I’m just pretty tired tonight. Maybe tomorrow,” Rumi said, feigning a drowsy cadence. 

“Rumi, this is the third time you’ve said you were too tired to go out. If you don’t want to spend the night with me, just say it. I’ll understand.” Zoey crossed her arms, leaning against her small fridge. She was not going to take any of this bullshit. She’d rather brutal honesty over being lied to any day.

“I do still want to spend the night with you, I’m just… I’ve been really exhausted the last few days.” Rumi sheepishly grasped her arm, avoiding eye contact.

Zoey tilted her head in surprise, her mouth going slightly agape. “Hey, is something going on? You’ve been in this funk ever since the night market. Did something happen while we were there?” She pushed herself upright and moved to comfort her, resting a hand on the back of her shoulder. 

Rumi shook her head. “No, nothing happened there. It’s… it’s just everything that’s been going on. People are being hurt left and right and I feel… scared.” She pulls her eyes to meet Zoey’s, her eyebrows peaked up in worry. “It’s been getting worse each night and I’m afraid of someone taking me from you.”

Zoey wraps her arms around Rumi’s shoulders, planting a featherlight kiss to her cheek. “They’ll have to do so over my dead body.” Rumi snickered nervously. “I’m serious. If someone even so much as thinks about touching a hair on your head, I will have them in a chokehold begging for mercy.”

Rumi leans into her hold, resting their heads together. “Thanks, Zoey. I really needed the reassurance. You know I would do the same for you, right?”

A smile grew across the shorter girl’s face. Her hands fell to her hips, gently thumbing the small of her back. “Of course I know. Even if you still owe me big time from the whole Market Square incident.”

Rumi scoffed and teasingly pushed away from Zoey. “You only get half credit for pulling me to my feet. You weren’t the one who sliced a table in half.”

Zoey rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Some street goddess swooped in to save you, but I at least want some credit for physically getting you out of there.” 

Rumi couldn’t help but feel a slight blush creep across her cheeks. She swiftly went to hide it by burying her head into the curve of Zoey’s neck. “Ok, I guess I can give you a bit more credit.”

Zoey let out a gentle sigh. “Rumi, if you don’t feel like going out tonight it’s alright. We can just stay in and rest.”

“No!” Rumi protested. Her voice was a little more harsh than she had meant. She softened her tone, trying to wipe any worry or suspicion from Zoey’s face. “No. If you want to go out, you still can. Don’t let me keep you from having a fun night. I don’t want to hold you back.” 

“Are you sure? I don’t want you feeling like you aren’t wanted.”

Rumi nodded against her shoulder, pulling up to meet her eyes. “Go have fun. I’ll be alright here by myself.”

They leant in for a quick kiss, an air of comfort and understanding floated between them. 

“Just don’t have too much fun. I still want you here in the morning,” Rumi teased. Zoey’s eyes were practically rolling out of her head. 

“Ok, but if anything suspicious happens around here, you call me immediately. I will be your knight in shining armor ready to rescue you from any peril that may come,” she said with a slight snicker.

Rumi gave her a small laugh. “I will. Now go.” She gave Zoey a little nudge. “Before they run out of your favorite soju again.”

Another quick kiss between the two of them and Zoey was out the door, locking it behind her. 

Rumi knelt to the floor, picking up the notebook she’s been scrawling in for the last couple days. She flipped open to a particular page and admired the scene she scribbled. Three figures were sitting on a hill with a cityscape faintly in the distance. A smile crept to her face, a single tear welling in her eye that she quickly wiped away. 

Her eyes moved to her phone. She thumbed the power button, staring at the time. She sat there waiting. 5, 10 minutes went by before she stood up and made her way to the fire escape. Sussie and Derpy were surely waiting for her up there. 

—

Zoey knew something was up. She could feel it for the last couple days. She exited her apartment, leaving as normal but scrambled to a rooftop across the road. Her eyes were trained on her building, looking for anything that would be out of place. For minutes, painful minutes, she waited. Her eyes grew wide when she saw someone exiting onto the fire escape. 

It was Rumi, clear as day. 

She was looking around before ascending the steps to the roof. There were two figures up there waiting for her. It looked like she was talking with them, like she knew them. Her expression of awe quickly transformed into anger when she saw the three of them leaving. 

“I fucking knew it,” she muttered under her breath. Slowly she stood before beginning to trail the group. She was going to find out what Rumi was hiding, where she was going all those times she disappeared. 

The path they were taking was odd. This wasn’t just a meetup with a group for a party, this was something else. Their trail ran deeper towards the city center. It became harder to keep up from above with how the buildings gradually grew in height. Zoey had to get creative in her movements. 

She swung from flag poles, tiptoed on balcony railings, bounced over the tops of power poles. She flowed like water, shifting between each movement like she had choreographed it and practiced a thousand times. She was happy they weren’t moving fast streetside. The sweat she was building up would have made movements more harrowing if she was being rushed. 

This was not a place in which she was familiar. A whole new part of the city she hadn’t even dared to explore. Maybe it was due to the proximity to the center where armed guards were plentiful or maybe she had no reason to venture this far out from her usual place of comfort. 

The three below had slowed down, their heads swivelling about. Zoey pressed herself against a wall, her feet just barely able to hold a position on an exterior pipe. She couldn’t be seen stalking them. What would Rumi think of her then before she even had an opportunity to see what she was doing? It could just be a harmless trip to meet up with her guardian, though by the looks of where they stopped it wasn’t likely. 

She peeked her head around the corner and saw the unfamiliar pair leaving Rumi at a store front. It was strange to see no one milling about this time of night. It was a more industrial district, but seeing no other living being around was eerie to say the least. Something didn’t feel right. Zoey could feel the unease rising in her gut. What was she about to witness?

She saw Rumi enter a building alone. There was a soft light emanating in a window. She was certainly meeting someone. 

Swiftly she darted from her perched position and slung her way to the roof. The exterior windows on the higher floors were boarded shut. The hum of the electrical unit was deafening in the silence of the street. She wouldn’t be able to hear anything through the walls or windows. 

Her eyes lingered on something behind the building. It was a small courtyard etched out in this block. Maybe it had a better view of the inside. She sidled her way along the roof’s edge until she got to the opening. It was dark, but she could make out the shadow of someone standing in the courtyard. It wasn’t Rumi. She would have heard a door or at least footsteps if it were. This was someone waiting for her. 

Rumi stood in front of the small storefront in the middle of a dark, quiet street. This is where she was to meet Jinu’s contact and get herself erased from the records. She would be able to live out her life the way she wanted. 

She saw a faint flicker of a light from inside. There was someone in there, waiting for her. Her stomach twisted in knots. All her faith was being put into someone she barely knew, but he seemed to know everything about her. Her fingers pressed into her palm, just enough to indent the skin and ground herself. The nerves were not going to just disappear in an instant. She had to push through them to get what she wanted. With a heavy heart and bated breath, she stepped forward to the door.

“No more secrets. No more lies,” she murmured under her breath. Her hand clasped around the handle of the door, slowly pushing it open and stepping inside.

The front room looked like some type of reception. There were chairs on either side of a low table pressed against the mostly shuttered window. A desk sat in the back of the space in front of a partition wall. A terminal was resting on its surface with a small lamp beside it radiating an amber glow. No one was manning the desk when she arrived though there was a still steaming mug of what could only be assumed as coffee from the faint dirt smell that hung in the air. 

“Hello?” She called out to the empty room. Her head craned around, observing the space. It looked like a skeleton of an office. No decor, just pure sterile function. 

A moment later, the curtained opening in the partition rustled open. Out stepped a man with soft pink hair pulled into a small ponytail. A few strands framed the sharp features of his face. He wore a studious outfit of a cream button down, its sleeves rolled to the elbow, dark pleated slacks and a matching vest with a pink pocket square. Rumi could see on his exposed neck that he had some sort of cylindrical metal component extruding from either side, just below his ears.

“Welcome. Apologies for not being present for your arrival.” His voice was velvety smooth. Rumi could feel her nerves relaxing the more she was in his presence. She felt lighter, calm, like all her fears had disappeared in an instant. “You must be Rumi. I was told you would be arriving this evening. Please.” He motioned to the curtain he appeared from. “Allow me to escort you to our plaza. The slicer will be with you momentarily.” 

All of Rumi’s hesitancy flew out of her. She was moving with confidence towards the man who gently pressed a hand to her back as they slipped behind the curtain. The hall was nothing more than a blank corridor of faded plaster. A few sconces bounced light to a rare doorway. The back entrance opened with a hiss, sliding to reveal a small courtyard. He gave a bow before closing the door behind her, sealing with a soft click. 

The courtyard was dark, an unusual sight for this city. Rumi’s eyes slowly adjusted to its shade. She could make out the forms of a few withered plants and what looked to be a person waiting for her at the far end of the space. She squinted, trying to make out any features as she slowly approached. 

A flash hit her eyes. Her hand quickly raised to shield herself from the sudden brightness. A light was turned on, its low hum filling her ears. She peeked through her fingers. A teal light was cast upon the individual from the left, highlighting the rough edges of their form. Recognition hit her as her eyes adjusted. The curves, the clothing, the shine of metal, the unmistakable flow of hair.

“Mira? What are you doing here?” She lowered her hand from in front of her face, still holding it up defensively. 

“Rumi,” she responded back. There was no lightness to it. Her name spoken back to her in the tone of a stranger. 

Mira’s posture was straight, commanding, like a soldier standing at attention. The light cast only lit half of her face, but her expression was clear as day. A stone face carved of pure granite with eyes staring directly into her opposition. There was no spark behind those eyes, no fire. There was only a deep, cold void cast in a haze of teal. The warmth and comfort she radiated was gone. It was like she was staring at a husk of a person, someone who had seen far too much. 

Rumi approached with caution. Her steps were slow, arm still raised in front of her chest. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here. Are you-”

“Stop.” Mira’s voice was stern, unwavering. 

Rumi’s entire body froze at the command. She could feel the sweat beading up on her brow, her heart pounding. This was not the same person who saved her life a couple nights ago, not the person she was drifting closer to and catching feelings. Something had changed. 

“Do you think I’m a fool?” 

Rumi shook her head. “No, absolutely not.”

“Do you think I am naive, an idiot?”

“No, no.” Rumi cried out. “You are none of those things. Why would you even begin to think that?”

Mira scoffed. The corner of her mouth peaked up into a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “You think that just because you are sweet and easy on the eyes that I can’t see through you?”

Rumi was taken aback. The words hit her like daggers, causing her to stumble back a half step. She felt herself start to shake uncontrollably. Her greatest fear was becoming reality right before her eyes. “M-mira, I…”

The taller woman rolled her eyes and tossed her head back with a grunt. “Ugh. Just cut the bullshit, Rumi. I don’t have time for any more of your lies. They won’t save you.” She took a step forward, a hand resting on the pommel of the blade at her hip.

“Mira, please. What is this all about?” She matched her movement, keeping the same distance between them. She instinctually bit her lip to keep herself from completely falling apart. 

Mira halted her march forward. The emotions between them were riding high, filling the space with intense energy. “Quit acting dumb to try and save face. I know you are corporate. I know you are working for them. I’ve seen the files, all of it.”

Rumi’s eyes went wide, her breath became ragged. “Mira, please,” she gasped out. “You were never supposed to know. I was supposed to be erased from the system to get a fresh start, to be rid of that label and be free.” Her vision was blurring as tears started to form. 

“I knew it… I knew it was too good to be true.” Mira’s cold demeanor was slipping away. The raw emotions that were pushed down were leaking out. Anger and pain were taking over. She gripped the handle of her blade tightly “You’re just like every one of them, throwing around lies to keep yourself afloat. I thought you were different, that you were someone who actually loved and cared. But it was all a damn lie.”

Rumi shook her head. Tears were starting to force their way out. “No. No. That’s not true. What we had was real. Everything I said, every word. I meant all of it.” Her hands were splayed in front of her, trying to defend herself from the words that were striking her deep. 

Mira’s mask was cracking. Her lip trembled slightly, the tears beginning to well. She shook her head, maintaining the painful eye contact. “No more games, Rumi. I don’t want to be played any longer.” 

“Mira please just listen to me!” She was becoming desperate. Her knees buckled beneath her, tears streamed down her cheek. “Please! You’ve got it all wrong!”

The blade at Mira’s side was ripped from its scabbard. She held it up in front of her face, splitting it in two. It came to life with a rip of electricity. The glow lit up Mira’s eyes, reflecting off the tears that swelled in the corners. “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be, princess”

Mira pulled the blade across her body, extending it to her side. She stepped forward expecting a retreat but Rumi was not moving. She couldn’t. Fear had taken over and paralyzed her where she stood. Her knees gave out, falling to the stone floor. Her tear soaked eyes stared up at the pink-haired woman who loomed over her. 

“Please…” she begged with a whimper. It was all she could push through her lips. She stared into the dark orbs of her assailant. She saw all the pain and grief that was eating at her. All the blood that had been spilled because of her. The blade rose high, catching the teal of the light behind them as it was prepared for a lethal strike. Rumi tried to give out one last plea, but all that came out was a muted sob. 

The blade hung in the air for a beat too long. The hesitation in Mira’s eyes was the ultimate betrayal. It would be her undoing.

- BANG -

- PING -

It echoed out in the deafening silence. A gun was fired, its bullet striking the flat of Mira’s blade, sending it to the ground. The sudden jolt and vibration caused her to gasp in pain, pulling her arm into her chest. 

A flurry of footsteps burst from the other entrances to the courtyard. Mira’s eyes flicked around trying to spot each of them when a heavy, metallic hand struck the back of her head. Her vision flickered before falling to the ground in a heap. 

“MIRA!” Rumi cried out in a painful burst of air like the words were being forcefully ripped from her. The tears were flowing freely now. She tried to crawl to her but two thick tiger-striped arms wrapped around her, pinning her arms to her side and restraining her in place. 

A hand of pure steel reached down and grabbed a fistfull of Mira’s pink hair, yanking her upward into a kneel. Her eyes were barely open, face covered in dirt and scuffs. A different figure came up and tied her hands behind her back into a painful hold. 

Rumi tried to make them all out through the blur of her tears. She could barely make out their features individually, but together it all clicked into place. The flow of tears stopped, her eyes going wide in shock and horror. From behind her, the door she entered from hissed open. Heavy booted footsteps snaked their way beside her, then in front where she recognized the face.

Jinu.

A wild smirk was plastered to his face. He gave a few slow claps that echoed off the walls. “Exceptional work. I haven’t seen emotion like that in years. Truly k-drama worthy stuff.”

Her voice still raw with emotion, Rumi lets out a pained cough before trying to speak up. “Jinu, what is going on?”

“My apologies for arriving so late. I didn’t think this would get out of hand this quickly.” He strode over to Mira, firmly grasping her chin and tilting her head up towards him. He glanced back at Rumi over his shoulder. “You really did a number on her, huh.” He couldn’t help but laugh. “Hell, she even abandoned her own gang for you that night. Left them for fucking dead.” He jerked his wrist, throwing Mira’s head to the side. “Can’t believe she would snap like that.”

“I didn’t mean to…” She tried to make eye contact with Mira but she wouldn’t meet Rumi’s gaze. She turned her attention to Jinu. “Please. Let's just get this all over with. Wipe me from the system so I can disappear.”

Jinu walked to Rumi, crouching down in front of her to meet her at eye level. “Oh you sweet, innocent little girl. There is no person here to clear you from the system.” A wicked grin was now on full display.

The realization struck her like a truck. She had been played this whole time. “No…” she squeaked out.

“We need to get you home, little princess. Back to your tower where you belong.” He stood up, reveling in the wide eyed shocked expression that was on her face. 

“You lied to me! You said you would help me!” Rumi squirmed in her restraints, but Derpy’s arms held her in tighter. 

Jinu laughed. It was truly sinister. “There’s something you need to know about life down below, Rumi. The only way people want to go… is up. And they will do whatever it takes to get there.”

She put up a struggle, kicking and writhing to be free from the strong grasp that held her. It was no use. Even with her emotions riding high and adrenaline pumping, she couldn’t break free. 

“Careful now. We wouldn’t want you turning up with imperfections. My client would be very displeased if you were hurt in any fashion.”

“Who put you up to this?” Rumi growled between clenched teeth. “Who are you working for!” Her mind immediately flashed to Celine. She would do anything to get her back, which probably would include hiring a militia to strike down anyone who got in her way. 

Jinu offered her a smile, the same one he gave her on the rooftops when they met. “My client is a big fan of yours. They mentioned something about your talent… and how much you remind them of your mother.”

Her breath hitched. She was paralyzed at the mention of her. Celine had nothing to do with this. It was someone else, someone with more power and reach. Someone who knew more than she did about her mother. Her fate. Her stomach curled into knots at the thought of it all. A moment in time that she had never seen, never knew the whole truth about, only what Celine had told her from her limited perspective. It terrified her, shook her to the core.

“Now there are two ways we can do this. You can either come willingly or you can continue to fight and face the consequences. Your choice.” He crossed his arms over his chest, leaning his weight onto one leg. His eyes were watching her every move. 

Everything inside her told her to fight. That was something her mother instilled within her. She wanted her to be strong, not to falter under pressure. She was her shining star and stars showed no fear. “I am not going with you,” she spat. All the fear in her was being funneled into anger and a false confidence. 

Jinu simply shrugged at her answer. “So be it. But since I can’t touch a hair on your pretty little head, someone else has to take the punishment.” His eyes moved to the other restrained woman. Her loose hair was still being held, keeping her upright. He pivoted on his left foot, taking a step towards her. At a glance, his magenta haired compatriot yanked her so she was standing. He stood there a moment, calculating, before plunging his fist into her midsection. 

Mira let out a pained gasp, all the air being forced from her lungs in an instant. 

Jinu reeled back and repeated the motion. His grunts of effort mixed with the whimpers and sobs of his victim. 

“Jinu stop!” Rumi could feel the tears starting to pool again. She struggled against her restraints, trying to wriggle even just a single arm free. 

He looked back at her over his shoulder. “I told you there would be consequences.” He was smiling. Smiling from delivering pain and suffering. He delivered another blow, this time striking her face with a wild hook. Blood spattered to the ground in a mess of droplets. 

“Jinu please!” She was pleading, begging. The tears were free flowing down her cheek and dripping from her chin. “Please stop!”

He wasn’t quite satisfied with the results his fists were giving. Even if he was inflicting substantial pain, there would still be bruises on his knuckles. He needed to raise the stakes if he wanted to get the answer he was looking for. His eyes roamed to the discarded hwando on the ground. A devilish grin wormed its way to his lips. 

Rumi saw his head turn. Her eyes immediately went to the sword planted to the stone floor. “No…” she whispered between heavy sobs.

His hand grasped its grip. With a flick of his thumb, it roared to life. He looked back to the distraught Rumi. “You leave me no choice. Remember, this is all on you.” There was no hesitation in his movement. He raised the blade to his shoulder and in one fluid motion, stabbed it into the chrome thigh of his captive. The blade hissed as it tore through the metal, severing its delicate innards. 

Rumi wished she didn’t have to hear the scream that followed. It was suffering and pure agony. A scream that mimicked a mother giving birth. The raw intensity of every emotion and thought escaping all at once, streaming into the atmosphere and latching into the mind of anyone that would hear it. It bored its way into her skull, cementing it forever in her memory. A sound she will never forget.

Jinu took a moment to admire his work. The ragged state he’s managed to put the pink-haired woman in was delicious. Bruises were blooming from his blunt strikes, her nose was leaking blood all over her chin and dripping to the floor. Her right leg was mangled and hung limp, the jagged edges where he carved the surface were rolled into sharp burrs. Oil and wires leaked from the opening. 

Rumi still hadn’t given him the answer he wanted. He was sure the last move would have done it, but she wasn’t budging. He had to take things even further. He inched ever closer, just a breath away from Mira’s face. He brought the blade up between them. The edge of it was hissing and smoking from burning the oil it collected. His voice was but a whisper, only meant for her to hear.

“I remember Minho well. He was a strong leader, charismatic, kind, everything you are so desperately trying to be but simply cannot. He was a worthy adversary. You know, before I filled him with bullet holes.” He leaned in closer, his mouth hovering just over her ear. “You want to be like him so badly, don’t you? Well, let’s see if you bleed the same.” 

Its edge came down to her shoulder, burying deep into the slot of the joint. It tore through flesh and bone with ease, carving it like a cut of meat. A stream of crimson flowed from the laceration, flooding into woven paths of cotton in her shirt until it became too saturated. The excess rippled down the leather of her jacket, spattering to the ground and pooling at their boots. 

Mira didn’t make a sound, the pain simply built in her eyes and the strain of her jaw. Her composure was the only thing she wouldn’t dare let him take. She would not break to him even if it meant facing a grim fate. 

Rumi saw the blood pooling. It was too much too quickly. Mira would need medical attention fast to avoid going into shock or worse… dying. Her throat ached from all of the sobs and screams. She opened her mouth but nothing came out. She had to force something, anything to get him to stop. She saw the blade being lifted again, the blood boiling on its surface. She had to do something. Had to do it now. Now!

“STOP!” she belted with everything she had in her. Jinu turned his attention to her, pausing his assault. “I’ll go… I’ll go with you.” She bent forward in exhaustion. She had spent any remaining fight and energy she had.

Jinu smiled. “That’s better. See, it wasn’t so hard.” He tossed the blade aside, turning towards her. With a snap of his fingers Derpy released his grip on Rumi. She fell to her knees, bracing herself against her palms. He turned to Abby who was still holding Mira upright. He gave a nod and she was released. Her body fell limp to the ground, soaked in blood and oil. 

Rumi looked up as she fell. Their eyes met each other for a moment. Rumi could see all the pain and regret that she held inside. Her eyes slammed shut as Mira hit the ground. She couldn’t bear to look at her. She was pulled to her feet by two of the other Saja Boy officers. Jinu’s voice flooded her ears.

“Now, we must be off. I don’t want to incur any late penalties on your delivery.” His attention turned away. “Leave her there. It will serve as a message.” He commanded his men. 

They began to exit from the courtyard. Rumi, against her better judgement, opened her eyes to get one last glance at the woman laying on the ground, the one who took the blows for her. She could make out her chest rising and falling, just enough to keep her from completely shattering. 

“I’m sorry…” she mouthed, the words refusing to manifest in her throat.

Chapter Text

The front doors of the tower slid open with a heavy woosh. The blinding sterile white lights of the corridor enveloped their forms, pulling any vibrancy away. The hall was lined with armed security. The crackle of radios and thundering of boots overwhelmed the space. 

A pair of guards, their faces concealed by a visored helmet and mask, flank the dark haired man and purple haired woman as they begin their escort. The remainder who entered the building were swiftly pushed out with rifle barrels pointing in their direction. Only the hire and target were allowed to proceed.

The elevator call button was pressed with a gloved hand that returned to rest on the foregrip of their rifle. The other guard reached for the radio on their shoulder, pressing the button to begin transmission.

“Target secured in the building. Permission to proceed to level five-six containment.”

A moment passed before a response rang through.

“10-4, proceed with target to level five-six containment.”

The elevator chimed and the four bodies shuffled in.

“Proceeding to level five-six containment.” A code was typed into the elevator terminal. A green light shined when the officer scanned his badge, the doors sliding shut. 

The ride up was long and uninterrupted. The lift cabin was silent and still. The doors opened with a small chime, the guards practically dragging the other two out and down the hall. 

The walls were a sterile white with the only other feature being a chrome handrail that clung to either side. Staff were beginning to rush around the facility around them. The men were barked orders on where to go, a letter and number combo made for a specific room. 

They were met outside the door by a woman clad in a white uniform. Her hair was pinned tightly, not a single strand out of place, the look of order and perfection. 

“A medical team has been sent to evaluate Miss Ryu. Anything even slightly out of place will be documented for… further evaluation.” Her stern eyes met Jinu’s. With a press of a button, the door to the room opened. “Only authorized personnel are allowed in the space. No one is allowed on this floor without an escort. Do I make myself clear?”

Both guards gave a nod in response. “Yes, ma’am.”

She gave a motion. One of them entered the room, depositing the silent and fragile Rumi on the center of the floor. The door hissed shut behind them. 

The two men were waved off. The woman returned her gaze to Jinu. “His Lord Superior would like you to meet him in his office.”

Jinu gave her a nod and followed her back down the hall to the lift. 

—

She was a ghost…

The room she now found herself in was completely bare aside from the bed shoved into the corner. The walls were a stark white that reflected every beam of light that came from overhead. It was a cube of isolation, a place meant to break you down until you become compliant. 

Rumi rested on the floor on her knees, not having moved from where she was placed. Every spot of sweat and dirt on her skin and clothes became visible to her. She was a stain on the sterile perfection around her.

She brought her hands up, palms facing the ceiling. Her eyes scanned every crease, every fleck of dirt becoming a scarring reminder of the pain she caused. The browns and greys transformed into a bright crimson, the blood she was responsible for spilling. It was all a reminder of her failures, her shame. 

If she hadn’t tried to be defiant, there wouldn’t be a body left bleeding out in that courtyard. There wouldn’t be immeasurable pain inflicted on the innocent people who called this city home. None of this would have happened if she just stayed put.

She wouldn’t cry, couldn’t. All the tears were already shed. There was nothing left to give. She did not deserve the right to cry, to feel remorse for her actions that she could never apologize for. 

This was her prison, her punishment. She knew the risks that came with her actions. She had spent days, weeks running through them all. She knew the cost and yet it was more than she was able to give. She did not regret her actions. She did not regret the words she spoke. Every bit of it was true. Every emotion she felt was really, truly her. 

The only regret she had was bringing them into this. They were innocent casualties in her crime scene. This was her mess and they got caught in the crossfire. 

Her mind darted between them. A sparkplug brunette who only wanted to be seen. What would she think when she returned home and she was gone? Would the sudden abandonment drive her to madness? Would it lead her down a terrifying spiral that ended in her demise?

Rumi shook the thought from her head. No. She was stronger than that. She wouldn’t fall so easily. The drawings she made in that notebook would still be there. The confession of her feelings were etched into those pages. She would hold onto those for dear life. She would persist through the pain.

Then came the thought of the other woman. No. No, she couldn’t. The visuals were too fresh in her mind. She had to push them away but anytime she looked at her hands, all she could see was blood that wasn’t her own. She should have ran. She should have left before it all escalated beyond repair. She would still be alive if she did.

No. She would live. She always had a plan. Backup would arrive and save her. They would. They had to.

They would be alright. They would be alright without her. 

She repeated the thoughts over and over again. It was the only way she could stave off utter collapse. Her arms wrapped around herself, trying to comfort her as they would. 

The door to her room slid open. A group of lab coat adorned individuals stormed the space. They lifted her to her feet, stripping her bare. They wrapped her forearm in a heavy metal clasp. Needles quickly penetrated her skin. They took samples of her blood and administered medications to get her vitals back to their acceptable ranges. Tablets beeped and buzzed as the results from their rapid testing were uploaded. 

When they were finished with their readings, she was steamed and scrubbed clean. A fresh set of white linens were pulled over her body. The door closed.

—

She didn’t know how much time had passed. It could have been a few minutes or hours, she had no concept of time in her cell. She had remained curled up in the center of the room, trying to make herself so small that she might disappear. 

The door opened behind her. All of the sounds outside leaked through at once, overwhelming, overstimulating. She braced for the impact of hands on her. They were going to run more tests on her, violate her further. But it never came. 

“Rumi?” a voice called out. It was soft, mature, and broken. 

She lifted her head, peering over her shoulder. Celine was standing in the doorway. She looked like hell incarnate. Her hair was ragged and wild. She swore it had more grey than the last time she saw her. The deep seated dark circles under her eyes suggested she hadn’t slept much in the last few days. If there were any more tears to give, Rumi probably would have cried at the sight.

Celine knelt down and wrapped her arms around Rumi, holding her tight to her chest like she would disappear if she let go. Her breathing was ragged, letting out choked sobs. 

“Rumi…” she pulled back, holding her firmly by the shoulders. Upon closer inspection her eyes were rimmed red from tears she shed both in sorrow and in anger. “Are you alright? Did they hurt you?” She began gently patting her arms, inspecting for any damage.

Rumi gave a small shake of her head. “I’m… okay. No one has touched me.”

Celine’s movements are frantic, like she’s checking to make sure Rumi is really in front of her. Her shaking hand cradled the cheek of her ward. “I thought I had lost you.” Tears were welling in her eyes. 

Rumi leaned into the touch, her eyes fluttering shut. “It’s okay. I’m still here.”

Another choked sob was released by the older woman. “I sent search parties, put out notices. I did everything I could to bring you back.” She shook her head. “I never should have hired that man to be your handler. He was never to be trusted with your safety.”

“No,” Rumi protested. “No. Bobby had nothing to do with this. I…” She choked on her words. Every syllable of admission was trapped in her throat. “I ran away. It was all me, one hundred percent my choice.” 

A wave of disbelief washed over Celine’s face. “Rumi, what are you talking about?”

She bit her quivering lip to steady it. “I ran. I wanted to leave.” 

Celine’s hand fell away from her face, now resting in her lap. The hurt she now felt was plastered all over her face. “Why? Why would you want to run?”

Rumi couldn’t make eye contact, her head turned to her right. “I-I wanted more, more than the life that was given to me. It was selfish of me to want that. I got people hurt.” She tensed up like she was about to cry but no tears came.

She was pulled into a gentle embrace. The tenderness wafted over her, relaxing her muscles slightly. “It’s okay. I understand. Everything has been so hard since your mother left us.” She entangled her fingers in Rumi’s falling apart braid. “I promised her I would look after you, make you into the little star you always were meant to be. I pushed you so hard you wanted to escape.”

Rumi brought her arms up to complete the embrace, fisting her hands in the fabric of Celine’s overcoat. “I’m sorry. I am so, so sorry.” She buried her face in the crook of her neck. “Please, I want to go home.”

Celine’s body tensed. She stayed silent for a beat too long. “Rumi… I’m sorry.” This was a different apology. One not for something she had done but for what she was about to do. 

They were pulled out of each other's arms, now facing. The look on Celine’s face was that of pure sorrow and regret. Rumi was flush with confusion and fear. 

“Celine…?”

She simply shook her head. “I hold no power here. Right now, you are not my charge. I’m sorry.”

Her eyes widened with horror. “Celine, what do you mean? What did you do?!” Her voice raised in desperation. She needed an answer, and begged for one. 

The tears flowed down her aged complexion. “It’s what I had to do to get you back.”

The realization struck and it showed no mercy. Rumi’s control was used as a bargaining chip. She was overtaken by feelings of anger, confusion, and fear. Her fate was uncertain. This was a prison of unfamiliarity. Her prison.

“Miss Kim.” A man had stepped into the doorway dressed with the same impeccable precision as the woman before. He motioned for her to come with him.

Celine rose to her feet, leaving Rumi on the floor. She wiped the tears from her eyes, staring at her ward as she moved to the threshold. “I’m sorry, Rumi.” The regret and pain was visibly pooling in her irises. Her gaze darted away, not wanting to make things more difficult than they had to be.

“Celine, please. Please.” Rumi begged as she crawled to the door. Her limbs were weak and shaking. She did not know if it was from exhaustion or panic.

The door slid shut in front of her, locking with a click. What was once fear morphed into anger. Rumi balled her hands into fists, slamming them into the door panel. She bashed her hands into it until her knuckles were sure to bruise. She couldn’t feel the pain in her fingers. She was blinded by the sudden rage, the betrayal of her own family. 

“Celine! How could you do this!?” Her voice was raw and animalistic. Every bit of emotion was being ripped from within. 

Her efforts were pointless. Her digits ached from being repeatedly slammed into a block of steel. Her throat was shredded, every word becoming painful. She slumped exhausted against the door.

“How could you…” 

She was alone…

—

The elevator dinged when they reached the executive penthouse. The floor to ceiling windows created a panorama of the entire city. The lights were dancing like stars in their own little cosmos far below. The only light came from the desk in the middle of a glass encased office space. 

Jinu was quietly escorted to the door. The lock buzzed and the large glass gate swung open. A man was at rest behind the desk in an exquisite leather office chair. He held a cigar in between his fingers, freshly lit and glowing lightly against his skin. 

He gave a quick motion with his fingers, beaconing Jinu to enter. His escort stayed outside, head bowed as the door clicked shut. The glass walls became opaque with the press of a button.

“You asked for my presence, sir?” Jinu asked, giving a polite bow. 

His Lord Superior was a hardened man. His hair tightly combed and gelled in place, dark suit pressed and pristine. His face was freshly shaved, wrinkles curling around his eyes and forehead. His eyes were sharp, cold voids of near blackness, the kind that could make you disappear in a blink. His calloused hand set the cigar onto the silver ash tray that rested on the tabletop. 

“You did well in bringing her here.” The sound that came from his mouth was not that of a man, it was greater than that. It reverberated deep into your bones, making you feel every word as a command that must be followed. It was a sound that could bring an entire city to its knees, begging and pleading. It was as if a god had stepped onto this mortal coil. 

“Thank you, sir.” Jinu held his position mid bow, arms firmly at his side.

The man waved his hand. “You can relax, boy. The formalities are not necessary for this meeting.” Jinu’s posture eased as he returned to a straight standing position. “The girl was delivered unscathed physically. Her mental state has suffered greatly. You had taken longer than anticipated. She had grown attached and when those were severed, it all came crumbling down.”

“My apologies. I had tried to work as quickly as I could, keeping her health as the top priority. Getting her to come willingly was the only way to ensure that.”

He scoffed. “Scratches and bruises can be covered and healed. You are lucky I have such resources to mend a broken mind. It will be costly and take more time than I had wished. It will cost you your reward.”

“Sir, if I may, the methods I used to get her here were discrete, limited in exposure and casualties. There were no tails, no one who would know of her sudden disappearance. I made sure of that.” Jinu’s voice was quivering just enough to be picked up. He was nervous and becoming desperate to get what he wanted from the exchange. 

“There is such a thing as being too careful. It could lead to greater stress, cracks opening that could spell complete collapse. Sometimes it is better to just rip the bandage off in one swift motion.” He stands from his chair, a hand resting firmly on the desk. His eyes rip straight through Jinu. “To succeed in this world is to know when to strike, and strike with speed and precision. One moment of hesitation…” His hand clenched into a fist and lifted up to his neck. He slowly and deliberately dragged his thumb across his throat all while maintaining dominating eye contact. “And you are finished.”

Jinu’s heartbeat rang in his ears. Sweat built up in his palm that he quickly attempted to wipe away. “There is no hesitation in my actions. I can assure that.”

A chuckle broke from the man’s lips. “My boy, you already have.” His thumb found a button on a console on his desk, firmly pressing it. A spatter of blood hit the glass door to the office. A trail of smoke disappeared into a ceiling panel. 

The door clicked open and the man stepped through. His assistant gave a bow and held the position. “Ji-a, please have the cleaning crew come and take care of the mess. I think I will take a moment to introduce myself to our special guest.”

“Yes, sir,” she responded. 

The lift door opened with a soft ding. The click of stiff shoes on tile echoed briefly before the doors slid shut, beginning its descent. 

—

Rumi sat against the side of the bed, her head resting against her knees. The room around her faded into darkness. She was floating in an endless void. 

She had spiraled into loneliness. Her heart ached for those she wronged. The pain was the only thing she could feel. Everything else was completely numb. 

You are an idiot, a complete fool. 

You thought you could get away and be happy? 

You are nothing but a liability.

You are not worthy of love.

You are just a prize to be won, a trophy.

You hurt everyone around you.

People are dead because of you.

You deserve to rot away in this cell.

No one can hear you scream.

No one will come for you.

You will fade away into nothing. 

Your mother’s death was for nothing.

You failed her.

She didn’t hear the door opening, nor the footsteps that approached her. She was snapped out of her spiral when a voice called to her.

“Miss Ryu?” 

It broke through the darkness, parting it to reveal a light. A call. A beacon. She was afraid to follow. It called to her again. She knew better than to follow it, but what did she have to lose? This could be her escape from her own personal hell. She just had to make that leap of faith. 

Rumi’s eyes fluttered open, slowly adjusting to the harshness of the room’s lighting. She did not recognize the voice or the figure that was in front of her. A man dressed sharply in a suit stood a couple paces away. 

“Hello, Miss Ryu. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.” He gave her a courteous smile. “I have been very interested in your work for some time now. Ah. My apologies. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Gwi-ma, CEO of DN Enterprises.” 

He gave a polite bow. Rumi remained frozen in place, still trying to take in her surroundings. She hadn’t heard the name before but she knew what he led. She was meant to perform at their summit about a week from now. That was probably out the window. Another cost of her selfishness. 

Gwi-ma noticed her hesitancy to his motion. He returned to a straight posture. “I understand that you are shaken up by the recent events. It pains me to see you in such distress. No one should have to experience that type of violence and cruelty.” 

Rumi couldn’t pick up a read on him. His eyes were walled off, sealing his intentions. This man got where he was by being a master with words. He was not to be messed with.

“Miss Ryu, I hope I can be able to provide you with safety and opportunity.”

She cocked her head. “Opportunity?”

“Yes. An opportunity to live at the highest of lifestyles.” He paced beside her, eyes fixated on hers. “I am most impressed by your body of work, Miss Ryu. I would like to have you as a… personal entertainer.”

Her eyes grew wide. What did he mean? No, he couldn’t. 

He noticed her stunned expression. It pulled a smile from his lips. “You know, I was a big fan of your mother’s. She really knew how to light up a room, drawing the eye of all that would hear her voice. I offered her a similar opportunity. She refused my offer. She said it would pull her away from you, her daughter. I of course would never want to see a family separated.”

The smile on his face faded, turning to more of a stern scowl. “And she was ripped away all too soon. It was such a tragic event. I cannot imagine what that must have been like for you. To have a mother taken away at such a young age, it must have left a wound that never quite healed.” 

Rumi started to feel the emotions swell. She pressed her head into her knees.

“If only she had taken my deal, maybe she would still be alive today.”

She peeked her head up. Gwi-ma wore a slight smirk, his face pointed away from her. 

“I ask you now, Miss Ryu, will you accept my offer?” He turned his head slightly towards her, chin upturned. 

She wanted to be defiant, be strong like her mother was. She wanted to scream and fight for herself. She was emotionally exhausted. So much so that she only mustered a weak “no…” in response. 

His smile faded, turning his full attention to her. “I suggest you seriously consider my offer. Danger lurks everywhere. Who knows if another band of hooligans will break in and cause another tragedy.” He narrowed his gaze, eyes slicing straight through her. 

His gaze paralyzed her. This wasn’t a warning. This was a threat. There was more to her mother’s fate that he wasn’t sharing. He knew exactly what happened to her. He knew because he-

She shook her head, eyes clamped shut. “No,” she murmured. 

“No,” she said with greater confidence. 

“No,” her eyes shooting open and staring him down. 

“No.” A final, absolute statement.

He let out a sigh. “I really had hoped that you would know better, that you were smarter than her.” He strode to her, entering her personal space for the first time. “There is something you should know, Miss Ryu.” His rough fingers wrapped around her jaw, applying a moderate, uncomfortable pressure. “I always get what I want.” 

His grip on her was released. She gasped for a breath she didn’t know she was holding, her whole body shaking. Her fingers gripped the foreign clothing tightly.

He was now at the door. “I will allow you time to reconsider. When I return, I hope you will have made the correct choice.” He stepped through the threshold, the panel hissing shut and locking. 

She curled into a tight ball on the floor. That man had killed her mother. He must have. His threats were not empty, that she was sure of. 

Her eyes met the door. She knew that the next time that door opened, there would be no mercy.

Chapter Text

Zoey had seen everything. 

She saw Rumi enter the courtyard. Then there was the light, then Mira.

She heard the venomous words, the desperate cries, the pleading. Phrases and accusations she wishes she never had heard. Then the whole scene flipped on its head.

The Saja Boys slithered from the woodwork and took over the situation. They circled like predators ready for their next meal. 

Jinu took command. His voice was commanding and powerful. Zoey found herself hanging on every word. She couldn’t clearly hear the question or answer, but she knew it was not what he was looking for. Then there was the beating.

Strained grunts of effort and pained screams pulsed through her. She had to duck under the cover of the roof edge to keep herself from leaping into danger. Her hand forcefully clasped itself over her mouth, muffling any noise. She could feel her heart beating in her ears in rhythm with the slams of a fist into a body. 

A scream.

A scream that could shatter glass. It was the only sound that could push through the deafening tone of her own pulse. She didn’t dare look. Her body wouldn’t let her, lying frozen on that rooftop. 

It wasn’t over. The sudden silence dragged on for far too long. She heard Rumi’s voice but the panic wouldn’t allow the words to register clearly. It was just a muffle of tones. 

“Leave her there. It will serve as a message.”

A message? That’s all this was meant to be? Some kind of power play? 

Zoey could feel the space become cold and empty. The boys were gone, she was certain of it. She tried to steady herself enough to peek over the edge. Her palms pressed into the cold concrete surface, pushing her torso upward just enough for the courtyard to slip into view when she turned her head. 

A body lay in its center. There was blood spilling from its upper chest, pooling on the cobblestone. There were other spills and spatters nearby. Whatever happened had to have been a violent display, a truly sick experience. 

Zoey focused her eyes on the body. Through her shaking and the blur of tears, she could just see the faint rise and fall of a chest. Breathing. Barely.

The clock was ticking.

If she was going to act, she had to do it now. 

Now.

Zoey.

Zoey move.

Save her.

Fucking move!

She’s going to die if you don’t move now!

She kipped herself off the dusty surface of the roof. Her hands latched onto a drain pipe, flipping the rest of her body over the edge, slamming her feet below her with a loud clang. Her grip loosened and she slid downward. Sparks rose from the metal strips on the soles of her shoes. 

She decided to leap off about five feet from the ground, curling into a roll and immediately popping to her feet as she dashed for the discarded body.

As she approached, she got a better look at the damage that had been done. One leg was pierced in the thigh, twisting into an uncomfortable position as it was limp. Blood was everywhere. The nose was likely broken from a strike, leaking the sticky crimson fluid all over their face and neck. Then there was the obscene laceration in the shoulder. That was where her attention was needed first. She had to stop the blood loss as much as she could.

She dropped to her knees, sliding forward with her momentum and coming to a stop beside her. 

It was so much worse up close. There was no sign of the blood flow stopping. Whatever was used ripped deep into the flesh, shredding the muscle down to the bone. 

Zoey sprang into action. Her own jacket was the first to go. The sleeves were quickly torn off and set to the side. She wasn’t going to get a good enough wrap on the wound with the clothing in the way. The sleeve was already torn from the initial slice. Her shaky grasp found the torn edge and ripped the rest free. 

Mira stirred beneath her, her eyes fluttering open just enough to make out the blurred image of the person next to her. It all seemed so familiar. 

“Zo…? What are… you-”

“Shut up,” she said with the most straight, commanding voice she could produce. “I don’t want to hear it. No questions.” She ripped strips from her shirt, packing them into the wound. Her hands were almost instantly painted red. “No excuses. You are in no state to argue.”

Mira tossed her head back against the ground. A low groan escaped from her agape mouth. Zoey rolled her eyes and she continued to fill the wound and apply pressure. 

“You are bleeding out and you only feel pain when I am trying to save you.” 

The wound wasn’t relenting. The cloth had become soaked through. It was holding for now. Zoey took her sleeves and wrapped them around the gash as tight as she could, tying it off in a sturdy knot. It was about as good as she could do with what she had. They needed real medical attention and fast. 

Zoey lifts her torso from the ground, careful to not fester the wound further. “Can you stand?”

Mira gave a small nod. Her jaw was clenched shut tightly, trying to stifle the groans of pain. Zoey placed herself under her arm, putting all the pressure to her ribs. Her shoes dug into the rough ground as she pressed upward, lifting the broken and bloody woman to her feet. 

A pained gasp squeaked through Mira’s lips. Her head tumbled forward into her chest. Zoey wrapped her arms around her waist, forcing her weight onto her back and shoulders. She knew it would be impossible to move a long distance like this. 

“Fuck,” she spat out. Her voice was strained with effort having to hold up what was nearly an entirely limp body. “I don’t think we can get you back like this.” She took a couple steps forward, paying close attention to the state of the woman she was carrying. 

Mira dug her face into the back of Zoey’s head. “Bike…” she wormed out through gritted teeth. “Alley…” Her working arm held tightly to Zoey’s bare shoulder, the skin to skin contact keeping her from passing out due to the immense pain she was in. She tried her best to lean her weight into her left leg. 

Together they forced their way through the maze of buildings to a back alley. Mira’s motorcycle was resting against the wall. Zoey let out a sigh of relief, relinquishing Mira to rest on the seat of her bike. The adrenaline had worn out and her body was screaming at her to rest. 

She leaned against the wall to catch her breath. “Do you have a way to contact someone for help?”

Mira nodded, reaching into the saddle bag beneath the seat. She pulled out a small rectangle and tossed it over to Zoey. “Radio…”

The smaller woman fumbled with the toss, her hands visibly shaking. Her thumb pressed to the receiver and she tried her best to speak calm and clearly.

“We have a man down in the industrial district. Critical injury in need of medical ASAP.” She fumbled with her words trying to sound as official as possible. “Ah fuck it. Mira’s seriously wounded, bleeding out. We are on route to HQ.” She stuffs the small radio into her pocket, paying no mind to the scramble of a response she gets back. 

Her eyes moved to the motorcycle beside her, pupils blowing wide with realization. “I don’t know how to fucking drive this thing!” Her hands traced over the various dials and screens. She didn’t even know how to drive a car. How the hell was she going to get them back in one piece?

“S’easy…” Zoey whipped her head around to see Mira trying to force her body to straddle the seat. She darted over to stop her from tearing herself apart. 

“Oh no. You are not driving this thing. You have two working limbs right now and that is no condition to be operating any type of heavy machinery.” She got her situated in the seat proper and looked back to the controls. “Okay, Zoey. You have ridden a bicycle once in your life. You fell and scraped your knee but you got back up and were completely fine. This is just a really big and powerful bicycle. One that can kill you if you so much as jerk the handlebar a little too far.” 

She was snapped out of her spiral by a hand landing on her shoulder. She turned her head back and met Mira’s eyes. They were half lidded and fading in color, but still held a grounding power. 

“Help… drive…” Her hand snaked down Zoey’s arm, guiding her to the controls. With the flick of a switch, the engine roars to life. She leaned fully into Zoey’s back, her hand helping her with the throttle. “Sko…”

Zoey took a deep breath. “You can do this. You have to do this.” She gripped the handlebars and gave the throttle a little rev. She moved Mira’s hand to her waist and held it there. “Hold tight. We’re gonna get you help.”

She kicked the bike off the wall and slowly rolled forward down the alley. She put all her faith in her instincts. A single moment of overthinking could spell their doom. Her hands gripped tight, her feet kicked up to their designated rests, and she powered forward through the streets back to safety. 

As soon as they pull up to the front door of the Honmoon headquarters, several members scramble out and move to bring the now unconscious body of their leader inside. Each of them take care not to further disturb the fresh wounds as they move with haste. 

Zoey cut the engine and watched them take her away. She caught the eyes of a tall, slender man still standing in the doorway. The light from inside turned his silhouette dark. Her body and clothes were still coated in blood, now drying a deep brown. Her foot knocked the kickstand and she removed herself from the seat.

The man took a step forward. His face was held in a scowl made of stone. “You are going to tell me exactly what happened tonight. I don’t want any details spared.” He stepped aside, motioning for her to enter.

They marched down the hall in complete silence. Zoey was shown to a washroom where she could clean the blood from her hands. She wanted to scrub her skin raw but settled with leaving her fingers with a pained redness, not wanting to keep them waiting any longer than they needed to. 

She was escorted to the command meeting room where the man stood waiting. He didn’t make eye contact at first. Zoey stood opposite of him, the door sliding shut behind her. 

“Thank you,” he broke the silence. “You got her here in time. We have been drained of most of our resources but had some stored for extreme emergencies. She received the stim. The wound will heal.” He turned his gaze to meet hers. “She will live.”

Zoey dipped her head, her fingers clasping together in front of her. Her voice was quiet, barely more than a whisper. “I don’t know how exactly she got them. I was too terrified to look.” Her fingers wrapped together tighter, knuckles becoming pale. “But I know who did it.” 

His interest peaked. She could hear the sound of his hands falling to the tabletop. “Who? Who did this?”

“The Saja Boys… Jinu.”

The name rang out like a curse. The room fell painfully silent. The man's hands violently slammed into the table, rattling the mugs and scattering loose pages. 

“Dammit!” He yelled into the empty void. Spittle collected on the surface near his hands. “I knew it was a trap. I fucking knew it. I shouldn’t have let her meet him.”

Zoey flinched at the sudden expulsion of anger. Her mind latched onto the last words he said. They had met before everything went down? “They worked together?” She questioned weakly.

“Yes,” he huffed. “She met with him upon his request a couple days ago. She wouldn’t tell anyone what it was about, just that she had to leave tonight to take care of ‘unfinished business’. It was reckless, but she’s our leader and I trusted her judgement.” He lowered his head, bracing against his hands on the table. 

“There’s no way she would have known. I heard everything. It wasn’t about Jinu or the Saja Boys. It was… someone else.”

The man brought his eyes up at the mention. Realization hit him like a truck. He shook his head and gasped a laugh. “She has a tendency to let her heart take over. And now it’s costing so many lives including her own.” 

“It wasn’t her fault!” Zoey snapped back. “Jinu played with their emotions. It would have happened to anyone. Our emotions make us human. They drive our wants and desires. It’s the very thing that this gang was established upon. If you think that they should be cast aside to protect yourself or save face,” She stared him down from across the table. “Then you are no better than the corporate psychopaths you swore to fight against.”

Neither spoke another word. They just let the tension hang between them like a live wire ready to spark a spill of gasoline, threatening an explosion. 

There were no words, no blinking. Only two sets of eyes staring from a distance that felt too close yet too far away, the table a bridge between worlds.

The air was lifted by the door to the room opening. A woman stood in the doorway. By the marks on her clothing, she looked to be some level of officer in their group. The two of them turned their attention away from each other for that brief moment. 

“Boss is awake. Wants to see you.” Her eyes darted between them before turning and leaving.

All they did was exchange a look. Zoey waited for him to leave before following down the hall to their infirmary.

The smell hit instantly, iron and antiseptic. The sheets on the few tables were cleaned but still stained from the previous patients. Dread lingered in the space. How many had met their end on those tables? How many wounds struggled to close properly? Only the four walls knew the answer. 

Mira was sat up on one of the tables. She was afforded a clean tank top to keep herself from indecency. Her shoulder was wrapped in fresh dressings, much thinner indicating the wound was likely sewn closed. A small red circle was on her bicep, the mark left from a stimpack needle. Her right leg was detached at the upper thigh and covered over with a sleeve. 

She saw the two of them enter the room and flashed them a smile. “Well if it isn’t my two favorite people.”

Jung Hoo rolled his eyes. “You’re rather chipper for being an inch away from death.”

“Call it post stim clarity,” Mira said with a smirk. She rolled her shoulder, flexing her bicep. “Remind me why we don’t keep more of these around?”

“They’re expensive and meant for emergencies. If we treated every papercut with one, we wouldn’t have any for these types of injuries,” he deadpanned. “Speaking of,” He smacked the side of her head. “What the fuck were you thinking? Getting involved with the Saja Boys and being laid on death’s door?”

“Ow. Geez, okay. We can talk about the whole situation.” She rubbed the spot where she was struck. “Sorry for trying to keep things light as long as possible,” she muttered under her breath. Her eyes met Zoey’s. “How much did you see?”

She mulled over her answer. “Enough. I saw you two arguing but when Jinu and the boys came out, I hid. I only heard what happened after that.”

Mira sighed. “I fucked up.”

“You think?” Jung Hoo snapped, his arms now crossed over his chest.

“Not the time.” Zoey stared daggers to get him to shut it.

“Look, I’m not exactly great at the whole words thing and speaking my feelings. I fucked up. Big time. I let Jinu take advantage of my feelings. For so long I’ve had the notion that everyone up there is evil drilled into me. He used it against me, made me turn on someone I care about. I got reckless and the cost was too much…” Mira bit her lip, averting her gaze. “And I need to fix it.”

“Fix what?” Zoey questioned. “As far as I can tell, you are the only thing in need of fixing. You’re missing a leg for fucks sake.” She gestured her hand up and down, vaguely motioning to the whole state of Mira.

“I need to get Rumi back…” she mumbled. 

“Mira, no…”

Mira’s eyes immediately shot up. “She was begging and pleading, Zoey. You heard every single word. Begging for her life, and I didn’t listen. I let Jinu into my head and control my judgement. She was never any of those things we were told. You saw it too. I know you did.” 

Zoey curled into herself. It was true. She had no idea who Rumi really was. She only saw the awkward, selfless woman she spent days and nights with. Does a title really change who someone is?

Jung Hoo chimed in. “And how do you expect to accomplish this? You don’t even know where she is.”

“I know the direction they went. We can scan security footage and track their movements. It’ll take time but it’s our best chance.”

“Actually…” Zoey piped up. “I maybe sorta kinda know where she is.”

The other two turned toward her, blinking in disbelief.

“Well not exactly. I slipped a tracker on her before I left.”

They looked between each other before Mira flashed a smirk. “I didn’t take you for the stalker type.”

Zoey felt the heat creep to her cheeks. “It’s not like that! She kept disappearing on me and acting all weird. I was getting suspicious and I guess I had every right to be. So if we want to have any idea of where she could be,” She fumbled in her pocket, producing her phone and giving it a wiggle. “I can check the tracker.”

She flipped through the screen, typing in a password. The loading circle spun and spun. She was getting visibly frustrated at how long it was taking to load. Her lips pressed into a thin line and her eyes squinted. 

A moment passed and her eyes shot wide. She stared at the screen, her fingers tightening around its edges. 

Mira scooted closer. “Zo? What is it?”

The shorter woman turned the screen around. The marker was set in a map of the city, placed right at its center. 

“DN Tower?! That’s suicide!” Jung Hoo looked between them. “That’s the most heavily guarded building in the entire city. You’d be spotted and shot dead a mile out!”

Mira slid off the edge of the table. Her hand was placed firmly on the sheeted top until she gained her balance on one leg. She reached for a crutch nearby and slung it under her arm. 

“Where do you think you’re going?” Jung Hoo said, moving to block her.

She simply scoffed at him and side stepped him. “I’m doing what you always want me to do, making a plan.” 

Zoey reached out and grabbed her uninjured shoulder, careful not to yank her off balance. “Mira, you cannot be serious about this?”

She turned her head to face her. There was no coy smile or attitude, just an unwavering stare and a face made of stone. “I’m dead serious.” She turned to the door and hobbled her way to the command center. 

The others looked at each other before following. 

The door slid open. Mira immediately moved to the map and began throwing up pins. It was haphazard at first but the picture soon came into focus. 

Zoey stepped through the threshold and pushed Mira from the map to now lean against the table. The taller woman let out a small pained moan. “First off, sorry about manhandling you. Second, this” her hands waved wildly over the map on the wall “is ridiculously dangerous even to the most skilled fighters. Third, you can’t even walk around your base. You’re still recovering and you don’t even have a second leg!”

Mira looked at Jung Hoo in the doorway. “Get me a Mek. I’ll pay whatever it takes to fix that damn leg.”

“I’m not going to use our reserve to fund this suicide mission,” He retorted.

She reached into her pocket and tossed him a small credit stick. “Personal.”

“Okay, so say you get your leg fixed. You are still recovering from a serious injury. Your shoulder could tear open again. Not to mention all the other injuries that are still healing.” Zoey leaned forward and pressed a hand to her ribs, eliciting a hiss. “See?”

Mira gently removed her hand. “Easy. I’ll just keep throwing back Limitless. Won’t feel a thing.”

“No way,” the man interrupted. “Taking even one puts insane strain on the body. Any more will straight up kill you.”

“It’s the price you have to pay sometimes.”

“Mira, this is insane. Why do you keep finding excuses to go through with this?! Do you have a death wish or something?!” Zoey put her hands on the table on either side of her, boxing Mira in.

The two stared into each other’s eyes, trying to get a read. Mira squinted her eyes, voice breaking into a whisper. “Because I lived it. Having no control over who you are and being forced to suffer each and every day. I won’t stand idly by watching someone else go through that pain. I’d rather die fighting.”

Zoey could feel tears start to well in the corner of her eyes. She shook her head. “You’re a big fucking idiot…”

Mira gave her a small smile. “Yeah, I know. And I need your help.”

That broke Zoey out of her spell. She shot straight up, shaking the tears from her eyes. Her hands were flailing wildly. “Wait, what?! Woah. No. Nonononono. You do not need to bring me into this.”

“You have the agility and skills needed for an infiltration mission. I’ve seen the way you run around this city.” 

She paused. Zoey was stuck in her head, flying through every scenario that her wild brain could come up with. She couldn’t possibly go along with this, could she?

“I’ve also seen how you look at her.”

Their gazes met.

“Every shared glance and touch. Each of those quiet and gentle moments. It’s something you’ve wanted for so long. I can see it in your eyes. I’ve been told I’m kind of an expert at reading people so don’t even try to deny it. You care for her, deeply. It’s been only a short time but I know love when I see it.”

Love.

A word whispered in the quiet moments so softly that only those it was meant for could hear it.

A word screamed at the top of the lungs so the whole world would hear. 

It was something that Zoey never felt she was worthy of feeling. It all stemmed from her parents’ divorce, a moment she blamed herself too much for. It pushed her to keep everything bottled up. Everything was kept hidden on the pages she taped to her walls. No one was supposed to ever see those. It was her heart splayed in rough strokes of ink. But she let one person in. 

One person who needed help.

“I-I don’t know if I can. I want to do something, I really do. This is too much. Too crazy of an idea.”

Mira reached up and laced her fingers with Zoey’s. Her thumb brushed lightly over her knuckles. “It would just be the two of us going in. We’re the only two she would trust. Your speed and agility with my strength and power. It’s not going to be easy. It never was going to be. We need to do this. For her.” 

She pushed herself off the table and hopped over to the map. “We need a scan of the perimeter, find out their patrol patterns. Once we identify the weakest spot. That is where we enter. The tower is bound to be teeming with armed units. We’ll be shot dead before even stepping through the front door. We have to find another way in.”

“The roof is too high for an entry. We’ll have to hit somewhere in the middle. Windows are likely shatterproof so cutting through them will be a challenge. We’ll have to go through some part of the ventilation system. Once we’re in, we locate Rumi and get her out, taking care of anyone who gets in our way. It’s going to be a mess, but it’s nothing I haven’t handled before.”

Zoey watched the way she worked. Pins and marker lines sprawled over the map on the wall. A plan was forming. They had such little information but it would be enough. It needed to be enough. 

“We’re really doing this…” She was sitting on the table, her legs pulled into her chest, eyes just watching. 

Jung Hoo stepped over to his leader. “And what am I supposed to tell the others? That you’ve gone crazy and ran into the dragon’s den?”

She brought herself up to him, holding her weight steady with a hand pressed to the wall. “First, you are going to get a Mek to fix up my leg. Second, you can tell them whatever you want.” She took a pen and scribbled an additional star on his sleeve patch. “You’re in charge now.”

He looked to his arm and back at her. No words, just pure disbelief. 

“Though I would prefer if you use words like ‘heroic’ or ‘for the greater good’. It’ll make my legacy look better.” She gave a wink. 

“You’re fucking insane.”

“Always have been just a little bit.” She gave him a pat on the shoulder before turning away. “We’re going to need some serious firepower if we want to take on an entire enterprise. Zoey, how much experience do you have with firearms?”

The younger woman was stunned by the question. “I uh, I don’t know. Have I used one? Yes. Do I know what I’m doing? Hell no!”

“Guess we are learning on the job. We don’t have time for formal training. I’ll walk you through the basic operation and then it’s up to you.”

“What!?!? You are just going to hand me a gun and expect that to go well?!”

“It won’t be anything crazy. It’s just a handgun. Simple point and shoot just like you do with your spray cans.”

“It is so very much not the same! One creates art that makes people feel, the other takes away lives.”

“It’s all instinct. I know you have it in spades. And just to be clear, both can make people feel, good and bad. They both can inspire others to take action.”

“Okay, so you are giving me a gun, to which I am not happy about, but what does that leave you with?”

“I’m also giving you some knives. If anyone gets too close, the pistol is completely worthless. For me… I have something in mind.” She hopped over to a glass case in the corner of the room. 

It was well dusted over, as if it hadn’t been touched in years. The metal of the case was tarnished somewhat, rust forming in the etched crevices. In it lay a few metal rod pieces. They were mundane and useless on their own, but together they would be something more. 

She carefully lifted the glass top. Her hands were hesitant, unsure if this was the right time. She huffed under her breath. “I know you made me swear to never use this. You told me it was too experimental, unstable. Well… I don’t have much to lose right now, do I?” 

Her hands carefully grasped the cool metal cylinders. She found the edges where they would meet, clicking them into place. With a press of her thumb, they extended outward forming a spear-like shape roughly seven feet in height. She took a deep breath and pressed once more. 

The end toward the ceiling flickered and sparked to life. A beam of plasma rose from the edge, curving into a blade. It lit the room in blues and pinks as it pulsed with immense energy. 

She flexed her fingers around the shaft, finding her grip. She arced the blade downward and away to the floor, pressing the other end to her back. She felt the raw power in her hands. This weapon would be used to cut down anyone who stood in her way. 

She turned back to the rest of the room. Zoey’s eyes were wide, staring in awe at the sight before her. The colors radiating from the weapon flickered in her eyes. Mira powered it down, shrinking it back to a smaller form factor before attaching it to her belt.

She let out a deep sigh, hopping over to the map once more. She ripped the cap off the thick black marker and scribbled something over her rough plan. She took a step back to take it all in.

OPERATION: RESCUE THE PRINCESS

This was their plan, their one goal. There would be zero hesitation and complete trust in one another. They would succeed in their mission or die trying. Hopefully either would make them heroes to the common people and inspire them to rise up. 

Mira turned to her counterpart who was now standing beside her. She linked their hands together. They were really about to do this, but not for themselves.

They were doing this for her.

Chapter Text

DN Enterprises was a monolith built of steel and glass. Its highest point stretched far beyond the clouds that hung overhead. It was as intimidating as it was impressive. How such a marvel of a building could stand was only known to the lives that were claimed in its construction.

The surrounding buildings framed it like the summit of a mountain. A peak yet to be conquered. Two souls stood on the outskirts readying their final ascent. This would be their ultimate test. To succeed meant no hesitation, only full trust and commitment would allow them to see this through.

The two were perched on the roof of building a block away. A few connections and unanswered favors were able to get them this close without issue. The rest would be up to them.

Mira leaned on the edge of the roof, binoculars in hand, scanning the outside of the tower for an entry. Their scouts were able to get them some solid scans and patrol data, but it wasn't quite enough to sus out an easy point to penetrate the corporate castle. Drones were lost to gunfire but managed to upload some imagery before they would crash to the earth.

Zoey was beside her staring over the edge, watching the patrols as they walked the streets. They were tight in their formations, barely leaving any space unwatched. They identified one minuscule gap in coverage where they would be able to slip through. It was maybe thirty seconds at most. Certainly not ideal, but it would have to do.

Mira dropped the binoculars from her eyes. Her hand extended forward pointing to an outcropping about halfway up. "See that? There's a ventilation unit that we should be able to get through. HVAC in these places are always gigantic. Should be easy for us to fit."

"And how are we supposed to get up there? It's like at least five hundred feet up. We can't exactly climb walls."

Mira flashed her a smirk. "How good are you at recovering from falls?"

Zoey realized what she was suggesting the instant she said it. "Oh no. You are not seriously suggesting we drop from that kind of height."

"It's about the only chance we have. It's not like we can just walk in the front door." She stuffed the tool in the small bag and stood up. "Call it a leap of faith." She turned to face Zoey. "We proceed forward no matter what. If they spot us, keep moving. You'll be shot dead if you stop even for a second."

Zoey confirmed her understanding with a nod.

This was it. One more step forward and they would not be able to back out. Their fates were in each other's hands.

They set off forward. The buildings cascaded in height making it challenging but not impossible to maneuver. Luckily most had some level of landing where the footprint shrunk and launched further toward the sky.

Zoey moved deftly as if this was her territory, leaping from the ledges and rolling into a sprint when she would hit the gravel of the next building. Mira was more calculated in her movements. She had more power behind her strides but wasn't nearly as graceful. Where Zoey would spring up at the end of a jump, Mira would crash down like she would crumple the building beneath her. They were opposites in nearly every facet, but together they covered each other's weaknesses.

Just one more jump and they would breach the castle walls. The jump was more daunting from this angle. It was probably fifty feet across and down. Even those who were highly skilled in parkour movements would look at this jump and cower.

The guards below were making their pass. This was their one opportunity.

No hesitation.

Mira took her position for the run up. She let out a heavy breath. Her eyes were focused forward. One foot in front of the other she bounded towards the edge. Her foot pressed to the ledge and shot forward. The power of her leap sent shockwaves through the concrete roof. The street opened up below her. She was weightless in a free fall.

With a heavy thud she slammed into the ground and tumbled forward. She was thankful for her mechanical legs' ability to absorb most of the shock. It could have been catastrophic with how uncoordinated she is with these type of movements.

Now it was Zoey's turn. She didn't have the raw power to outright make the jump. She was creative and knew how to use the environment to her advantage. She took her spot for the run up. Her window was fleeting. It was now or never. She burst into a dead sprint. Her feet were moving quickly to gain as much momentum as possible. As she approached the edge, her body curled inward. Her feet pressed to the hard corner of the roof's edge. She was curled into a tight ball, all the kinetic energy of her sprint collapsed inward. She pressed hard to the wall and sprang forward with incredible acceleration.

Her arms and legs splayed open as she flew through the air. She drifted forward as gravity took its hold. She curled herself tight and braced for the impact. The ground was unforgiving but she rolled through it. Shockwaves rose through her causing her to gasp for air as she came to a stop. Every bone in her body tingled with the inertia of the impact.

After a moment of recovery she stood and met Mira at the vent grate. Together, they undid the bolts and removed the heavy plate. The long metal tube opened up to them. They had no idea where Rumi was being held, but they would find out once inside.

Zoey led the way being smaller and quieter. These vents likely were not going to lead them directly to where they needed to go. They would have to drop in at a safe point.

The smaller woman clamored through the vent looking through the interior grates to find the appropriate spot to land.

Looking at their surroundings the must have entered on an office floor. People were milling about the halls and various rooms, all dressed in a charcoal uniform. The faint hum of computer terminals mixed with occasional small talk between associates. It didn't look like there was much security up here if at all. There likely were cameras and other systems in place, but no man power to be seen.

The pushed forward until they met the vent of what looked to be a conference room. It was dark with the shutters closed over the glass wall against the hallway. This would have to be their entry.

Zoey held tight against the grate while Mira pressed into it with her legs. It popped free from its position and Zoey lowered it and herself carefully to the floor. Thankfully the lights weren't automatic. That would have likely set someone off from outside.

There was some light commotion coming from outside the room. Employees were in a light conversation just beyond the door. Zoey pressed up to the door and opened it a crack to survey the area.

Two people were chatting about some sort of report. Whatever it was didn't matter. They needed one of them for questioning. She glanced behind her. Mira was now in the room, hunched behind the conference table. Zoey would have to be the one to do a little kidnapping.

The two exchanged notes and bowed goodbye. They turned in opposite directions. Zoey took a quick glance. No one else was in this hallway at the moment. When one passed by the door, Zoey sprung into action.

The door opened and she lurched out, grasping the employee in a headlock. Her free hand clasped over their mouth to muffle their startled screams for help. She pulled them into the conference room and pushed them into a chair, hand still over their mouth.

"When I let go of your mouth, you are going to remain quiet. You will answer our questions and then be let go, forgetting everything that happened here." Zoey stared them down until they gave a subtle nod. Slowly she removed her hand, reach to slam it back if they so much made a peep.

Mira came around into view. If they thought Zoey was scary, Mira was bone chillingly terrifying. Her dark eyes were already throwing daggers, pinning them in place.

"We are looking for someone. Rumi Ryu. Where is she being held?"

The employee shook their head. "I don't know. I'm just a data scientist."

Mira leaned in and tugged lightly on the identification card attached to the left breast of their uniform. "Senior Data Scientist? You must have worked here a while. That means you know this building a bit better than most." She brought a small knife up to their shoulder. "Surely you must know where they keep people in holding." She ran the blade up the rough fabric, pressing the flat to the first exposed skin of their neck. "Or do they not let you out of your little cube?"

They went stiff, hands flying behind their back and pressing into the chair. Their lip quivered as they spoke. "T-they have security holdings from level fifty to fifty eight. Those floors are only accessed through special clearance."

Mira gave them a smile and pulled the blade away. "We appreciate the information." She yanked them from the chair and threw them to the floor. "Nothing happened in here."

They scrambled to the door and slipped outside.

The two women looked at each other. They knew where they needed to go but needed a higher clearance to get there. What's another interrogation to get them what they want.

Zoey stepped out the door into the hall. There was no immediate indication of what floor they were on. She took a weary step down the hall, looking for a lift. She stopped dead in her tracks when she heard the heavy thundering of boots on the tile floor.

Three armed security guards came around the corner. Their eyes were hidden by the tinted visors on their helmets. Each of them pulled their rifles to their shoulder. "Stand down!" one of them commanded.

Fuck.

Mira dove from the conference room, snagging Zoey by the shoulder and yanked her down the hall. They pulled around a corner at the other end. The footsteps followed them.

"That motherfucker must have hit a silent alarm," Mira rasped, glancing over her shoulder around the corner. "We need to get to the elevator."

Zoey was shaking beside her. Everything was falling apart so fast. Mira shook her shoulder.

"Stay with me Zo. Remember, no hesitation." Her head swiveled around the hall looking for a way out. She spotted a sign.

Elevator —>

Mira gave Zoey a shove forward to get her moving again. They bolted down the hall, ducking around the corner just as a few rounds were expelled behind them. Both of them lunged forward, dust flying from the wall where the bullets connected.

Before them was a large open space with office cubicles. All the employees were fleeing in panic at the sound of gunfire. There weren't many places to hide and take proper cover. The heavy trudge of boots was getting closer. There was no time to stand around.

Mira glanced down to the handgun at Zoey's hip then back to her eyes. "Remember what I taught you."

They ducked into a cubicle just in time to not get spotted. One of the radios crackled. They were signaling to the entire facility. Now they were really in for it.

The two were huddled low, listening to the footsteps. Zoey fumbled with the gun at her side. It dropped to the ground with an overtly loud thud. Every guard turned their attention toward the noise. They sounded spread out in the space.

One came a little to close, rifle raised in a readied position. Mira lunged out, tackling the man by his midsection. They both fell to the ground. Gunfire sounded around them as they rolled for position. Mira took a heavy elbow to the chin, knocking her back. The man reached for his gun.

BANG

His body went limp on the carpet.

Mira looked behind her to see Zoey holding the pistol in a pair of shaking hands. She could only smile between heavy breaths. "Nice shot."

Zoey had just taken her first life. It would be something she had to confront and come to terms with, but that was for another time.

Mira ducked as more gunfire rung out around them, peppering holes into the walls of the cubes around them. "Shit. We have to move." She snagged the fallen rifle and rolled forward between the office rows. She could see the tops of their helmets just over the cube walls. One was coming closer.

She crouched down, waiting for him to take the corner. When he got close enough, she sprung upward, driving the butt end of the rifle into his chin, sending him tumbling backward. She quickly double tapped the trigger and dropped to the floor as a hail of bullets flew in her direction. Paper shreds were filling the air.

Zoey was moving through the space on quiet feet. She would flinch at every eruption but kept moving forward. She looked behind her to check her rear flank. When she turned back she was face to face with one of the guards, the barrel of his gun pointed directly at her.

She dove between the man's legs. He turned to follow her movements but was swiftly met her heel in his jaw. Zoey had pushed herself into a handstand and fell back onto the fallen guard, knocking the air out of his lungs. She whipped her pistol against his face, eliciting a spurt of blood on the floor.

Zoey peeked up and saw more units were moving in near the elevator. She couldn't immediately see Mira but heard a set of heavy grunts followed by gunshots. They were starting to get cornered. Her eyes scanned the area for a way out, immediately landing on the door to the stairwell.

"Mira! Stairs!" She called out before making a break for it. A hail of bullets followed her path, forcing her to keep low. She would pop up and fire back at them. After a few attempts, they started to scatter about.

Mira heard Zoey's call. She's was further away than she thought. A dozen soldiers stood between her and the stairwell. She fired wildly in their general direction, hitting a few with glancing blows. That was sure to get their attention away from Zoey.

Now that they were trained on her, it was time for her secret weapon. She ducked behind a cube and reached for the cool metal grip at her hip. She held it tight in her hand, not yet extending it. She got an idea.

There was an electrical panel on the wall near her. A wicked grin grew on her face. She pulled the rifle up to her shoulder and took aim.

"Lights out."

Everything went dark.

The soldiers were fumbling with their gear trying to get their flashlights on. They all paused when they heard a distant hum. An illumination of blue and pink spread from a walkway. The long pole-arm gleamed with an unnatural glow. Mira brought the blade near her face, just enough that they could see the way she smiled so evilly at them.

She dashed forward as the only light source in the room. A peppering of bullets flew through the air trying to land on a target they struggled to pin down. She swung the blade with practiced ease, slicing through flesh and bone like butter. A few that got to close were met with the blunt end to their mid section before the plasma beam forced their end.

It was a mesmerizing dance from a distance. The blade spun in wide circles and arcs, finding their targets with heavy grunts and pained yelps. The thump of bodies hitting the floor mixed with the patter of blood on the carpet and the hum of the laser.

Zoey was pressed up against the side of the stairwell door, watching in pure awe. Silence soon followed. The light of the pole-arm came closer and soon she was able to make out the frame of her partner.

"Let's go before more show up," Mira said before kicking the door in.

The stairs were unnervingly bright. Both of them winced at the sudden light. Zoey could now see that Mira was covered in viscera. She didn't have much time to process. The stairs were slowly being flooded with more bodies coming towards them. The sign by the door said 'Level 37 Access thru Level 49'. Of course it stopped at 49. Why wouldn't it when they needed to get into the fifties.

They bolted up the stairs. Heavy boots were coming from above them. They quickly were met face to face with another set of guards. They had the upper hand up close.

Zoey hopped onto the rail and ran upward. A guard turned the corner on descent and was met with a swift kick to the jaw, sending him tumbling into the wall. The guard behind him raised his gun. Zoey jumped from the railing and sprung off the wall, delivering another heavy kick.

More started pouring down the stairs. Zoey leapt at one, locking her legs at his waist and yanked him forward. She flipped their position, knocking his skull into the hard concrete. More raised their weapons at her. A blade of hot energy was slung at them, slicing through bodies and pining itself into the wall.

Mira trudged forward, pulling Zoey up to her feet. She snagged her weapon from the wall and swung it at another just a few steps up from the landing.

Zoey jumped onto the length of the pole-arm and shot herself upward. She grasped the bottom of a railing and swung her body at two more guards. Her feet planted heavy on their solar plexus, knocking them into the wall and tumbling downward. She reached down and snagged a keycard from one of their bodies.

"I'll be taking that," she sneered.

The guard tried to reach for her but was stopped by a blade slicing clean through his arm, the wound cauterized instantly.

"What level is Rumi Ryu being held on?" Mira demanded.

The man was shell shocked from the instant loss of a limb.

She turned to the other beside him, pointing the blade. "Where is she!"

"F-fifty six. They have her on level fifty six."

She thrusted her weapon through his chest in one heavy motion before it collapsed into its handheld form. Her hand was violently shaking. Her eyes found the level sign; 44. It would have to do.

They pushed through the door, yanking it shut behind them.

This level was some kind of lab. There were glass encased rooms all around, each with distinct equipment filling the spaces. It was quiet, the only sound being their footsteps. They walked the empty corridors on edge, finding the elevator they were searching for.

Zoey punched in 56 and scanned the card. The light on the panel lit up green and the doors closed.

They finally had a moment of peace between them. Both were breathing heavily and covered in an array of bodily fluids.

"You did good out there. I knew you had it in you," Mira said with a smile, her back pressed to the wall.

Zoey was doubled over, clutching her knees. "No amount of therapy is going to help my brain process what the fuck just happened."

They shared a laugh as the elevator chimed.

The door pushed open and they were immediately met with red dots peppered onto their bodies. A whole squadron was waiting for them. They split off to the sides of the carriage, hiding in the corner as bullets rang against the back wall. Mira quickly pressed the close door button.

"What are we going to do? They have us pinned," Zoey said between gasps of air.

"I have an idea." Mira punched in a floor number and the elevator shot to life.

The doors opened on the floor above. She pressed a few more in the console to keep the elevator moving at a steady pace and keep the guards guessing where they dropped off at.

They took a few paces into the hall in front of them. Mira pulled out her glaive once more. She gripped it tightly as it flashed to life.

"I'm going to cut a hole in the floor. We'll drop down and give them a surprise."

Zoey shook her head with a dopey smile. "You are fucking insane."

"People do crazy thing…" She didn't bother to finish the saying. She took a few paces to about where the guards were on the floor below. The blade was lined up with the floor and she plunged it downward. It took all of her strength to force the blade to cut through in a messy circle. When she was finished she kicked the panel out from below, knocking it down into the pack of unsuspecting soldiers.

Zoey leapt down and fell between the group of them. She pressed her palms into the floor and began swinging her feet in long, powerful arcs. She was flowing to a rhythm only she knew. Her strikes were landing true, battering and tripping the armored men.

Mira fell shortly after, her blade swinging in time with Zoey's movements.

They danced as one. Mira would sweep low and Zoey would roll over her back, twisting into a roundhouse kick. They moved in sync with each other, dispatching their enemies in a beautiful performance. They finished with their backs pressed to each other, bodies lying all around them. They each gave a performative bow and took their leave down the hall.

Zoey was scanning each of the notices by the doors, searching for the one they were desperately looking for. Eventually, they found it. The case file was resting in a sleeve by the door. The unmistakable name was printed on the label.

"This is it." Zoey fumbled with the keypad. "We don't know the code. This could take hours to try every combination." She began pressing numbers in rapid succession.

Mira snatched her wrist and pulled it back. "I have a better idea." She lifted the glaive and pushed it into the door near the lock. The metal hissed in retaliation, releasing its grasp on the frame. The door weakly slid open revealing room enraptured in a sterile white. The only color was the purple hued hair of the woman sprawled on the floor, shaking and staring in their direction.

"Nice tower you got here, Princess."

Rumi does not know how long she has been in that room. There is no indication of the time or day. The only marker she has is when assistants come and present her with a tray of food. She hasn't bothered to eat much more than the minimum she needed to survive. Her body wouldn't accept more than that. They would come and bathe her, changing her clothes once more. It was all routine.

Every time that door swung open, she flinched. Every time she wondered if it would be the hardened face of her mother's killer staring her down, looking for an answer she could not give. Every time a slew of white coats would enter and surround her, the tension easing just enough.

She knew that one of these times, he would appear behind that door. She knew that it would be her last.

Rumi was sat on the floor of her room, legs curled beneath her. She was deep in her own mind when she was pulled back to unfamiliar sounds coming from outside the door. Normally she couldn't hear anything, but this was something louder than the bustle of office workers and kitchen staff. She flinched at a startling burst of sound.

Gunshots.

This was it. This would be her last moments. Her eyes drew wide. Her pulse echoed in her ears, drowning out the world around her. Her breathing became rapid and ragged. She could still faintly make out the sounds that came from outside. There were screams and grunts. And then… silence.

All she could hear was the ringing in her own ears. Her shaking hands flexed and snagged on the fabric of her pants. She braced for what would come next.

She was met by the sound of screeching metal. The room lit up in hues of pink and blue. Something had pierced through the door and retracted. It slid open.

A familiar frame was stood in the threshold. The stark flash of pink hair. The red stained clothing. Rumi must have lost her mind or have already been dead because she swore she was seeing ghosts.

The specter was staring directly at her, lips moving and spouting words she could not hear over the ringing in her ears. How could she be here? She had died in that courtyard. Rumi was sure of it. It was cruel of her mind to spring these images on her, images of a night she wanted erased from her memory.

Her body was shaking involuntarily. Her lips parted. She wanted to scream but her lungs were empty. Every part of her wanted to believe that this was an illusion, a trick of her mind. Reality snapped back into focus when another lunged through the door and wrapped their arms around her.

Zoey pushed through the entrance and slid on her knees, landing in front of Rumi. Her arms wrapped tightly around her.

"Rumi. Oh my gosh, Rumi are you okay?" Zoey squeezed tight as if letting go meant she would turn to dust.

The other couldn't form any semblance of words. They were here. They were really here. They came for her.

Zoey cupped her jaw with her hands, staring deeply into her eyes. "It's okay. We're going to get you out of here."

The tears began to well in her eyes. Her bottom lip quivered. Zoey quickly wiped the tears from her cheek as they with her thumb.

"No tears. Not yet. We still need to get out and we need you coherent, you hear."

Rumi gave a nod in response as she was pulled to her feet.

"Look, I'm all for a happy little reunion and all but we've got a bit of a situation out here," Mira chimed in from the doorway. Her body was pressed to the frame as bullets whizzed by.

"So much for a clean escape," Zoey muttered. Her attention whipped back to Rumi. "This is going to get messy, like, extremely so. I need you to trust us and keep up with our pace. We are not leaving you behind."

She nodded back. "I trust you," she breathed out quietly.

The gunfire was raining in from the left hand side, the direction of the elevator. They were pinned on that side and needed to find another way out. Stairs could be an option but with this being a secured entry section of the building, there was no telling where they would lead.

"They're fucking relentless, I'll give them that," Mira sneered from her pinned position. She had no weapon that could reach them at this range and waiting likely meant that more would show up. "Got any ideas?"

"Use me as a shield."

The two turned to Rumi in utter shock at her statement.

"I'm important to their leader. They won't let anything happen to me."

Zoey held her close. "Are you sure? We don't want to put you in harms way like that if we don't have to."

Rumi nodded with conviction. "Yes. It's how we can get through them."

Zoey dipped behind her, firmly grasping her shoulder with one hand. "Follow my lead." They pushed to the door and slithered into the hall.

"Alright, motherfuckers," Zoey called out. She was holding Rumi firmly but not enough to hurt her. Her free hand was gripped on her pistol. She pulled it up and pointed it towards the guards over Rumi's shoulder. "Lower your weapons and nothing becomes of her."

They watched as the guards slacked their hold on their weapons, dropping the barrels towards the floor. Huh, that actually worked. Zoey backed up down the corridor. Mira collapsed her weapon and followed suit, directing them as they walked backward.

"There's another lift to the right. That'll have to be our way out," Mira said sliding around the corner.

Zoey dipped around the bend and let go of Rumi when they were firmly out of sight. "Sorry for the man handling, but I had to make it look convincing."

Rumi rubbed the ache from her shoulder as they proceeded forward. The lift was at the end of a long corridor. Similar cells lined the sides, broken up occasionally by labs and staff rooms.

Mira was leading them with Zoey guarding the rear and walking backwards.

Their salvation was mere feet away. Just a little further and they could get out.

If only it was that easy.

The doors of two adjacent lab rooms pushed open with great force. Bodies encased in a heavier armor pushed through to flank the lead. Mira froze in her tracks and brought her arms up to swing at the assailant on her left. Her arm was caught mid air in a firm grip. The man shoved his helmet firmly against her forehead, knocking her backward towards the other.

Mira stumbled and tried to regain her balance. A heavy buzz hissed from behind her. She turned to look but collapsed to the floor as an electrobaton thwacked into her side.

Zoey's head snapped around at the sudden commotion. "Mira!" she cried out.

Rumi gawked at the sight and tried to leap in to help. She was met with a restraining grip around her waist by the man to the left hand side. She squirmed and yelled for help. "Zoey!"

The shorter woman flipped her body around seeing the two in dire straits. More doors opened behind her and similarly dressed men surrounded her from that side. She spun trying to ward them off with rogue kicks and a wave of her gun.

They weren't amused by her display. One lunged forward, snagging her leg and giving it a heavy twist. Zoey lost her footing and tumbled to the ground. She lost her grip on the gun and is skidded against the wall. She tried to wriggle free, but a firm fist to the cheek halted her efforts.

Rumi fought against her restraints. The scene was playing out all too familiar.

Zoey was pinned to the ground on her back, blood dripping from her nose. Mira in a heap, stunned from an intense electric shock.

Her attention snapped up when she heard the all too familiar click of dress shoes on the tile floor.

Entering from the lift at the very end of the corridor, was the devil she dreaded seeing.

"Miss Ryu, I apologize for the poor efforts of my security detail. They let this riffraff get all the way up here." He marched forward, stopping just before reaching Mira. "I really do hate using my specialists, but they certainly do get the job done."

Rumi looked between the two women on the ground then back up to the stone faced killer who stood before her.

He took a step forward, taking care to press his foot into the side of the pink-haired woman and kicking her over.

Rumi's breath hitched when she heard the pained groan.

Gwi-ma's ears perked up. "Oh? You know these people, don't you?" He chuckled. A sinister grin curled from his lips. "So defiant, just as your mother was." He took another step, now stood in front of Rumi. He reached his hand out and grasped her chin between his thumb and forefinger. "The apple truly does not fall far from the tree."

She tried to pull herself from his gaze, but he shook her attention back with a swift flick of the wrist.

"I was going to give you a few more days to wallow in that cell of yours, really make you feel the isolation and let it drive you into submission. But now after this little stunt you've pulled, I think it a fair time as any." He leaned in, maintaining a steady gaze. "I ask you again, Miss Ryu. Do you accept my offer?"

Rumi held her breath, just for a moment.

Zoey and Mira exchanged a subtle glance on the floor.

Rumi's eyes narrowed. She reeled back and spat in his face, the glob landing just below his left eye.

He instantly shot backward, eyes wide and stunned. He couldn't help but laugh as he wiped the spittle from his cheek. "I should have expected that. You are your mother's daughter after all." The smile on his face deepened. He no longer looked at her as a stoic business man. This was the face of a mad man with a hunger for blood.

"Perhaps it is time for a little family reunion." He snatched a pistol from the belt of one of the soldier who stood behind him. The barrel flipped up to point directly in the face of Rumi. He went to steady his aim, but was knocked off balance by a blur of pink.

Mira had leapt up from her position on the ground and slammed into his back. Rumi caught a glimpse of a white tablet on her tongue as they fell to the floor. The gun in his hand went off. The round pinged into the side wall.

It was the gun at the starting line of a race. Everyone moved.

The four soldiers, two on either end, jumped into action.

Mira's hands were raised above her head, ready to strike into the body of the CEO below her. Two gloved hands snatched her wrist and pulled her backward. She flipped the position of her legs to be in front of her. Heels digging into the ground, she thrust her body back and into the soldier holding onto her. They crashed into the wall with a heavy thud.

The two at the opposite end leapt to try and help restrain the assailant.

Zoey, now free from her pinned position on the ground, rolled to her feet. She brandished a flip knife she kept in her pocket. She threw herself at one, latching onto them from behind like a koala. Their balance shifted and they stumbled backward.

The soldier leaned into the additional weight and brought them crashing into the floor. The impact knocked the air out of Zoey's lungs, her grip releasing. Gun now pointed at her she whipped her arm up and planted the blade of her knife in the man's calf. The aim faltered, bullet landing off to her side.

Not bothering to wrench the blade free, she rolled to the side wall. She got to her feet just as another soldier swung a baton at her head. She managed to duck out of the way and smack her elbow into their midsection, creating a window of separation she could retreat through.

Another bullet was planted into the wall where she just was. Her movements were swift and calculated. She chopped on the arm holding the handgun, slipped underneath and behind, dragging the arm with and locking it behind the man's back. She pushed them forward into the other soldier she was fighting. The two collided and toppled to the ground.

Mira was also fighting two at once. One was pinned firmly behind her, the other in front with a baton. She felt her entire body come to life.

The baton flashed in front of her face. Her hand caught the wrist holding it. She pulled it forward and planted her foot in his chest, kicking him backward into the opposite wall. She leapt forward, reeled her arm back, and thrust it forward in a superman punch that found purchase in the man's nose.

The other came up behind her and attempted a grapple around her shoulders. She bent forward, lifting him from his feet. Her body twisted and spun him around her torso like a pen in her fingers. He flipped horizontal and was launched into the floor with a heavy fist to the sternum.

Rumi's head flipped back and forth watching them. Her eyes darted back to see Gwi-ma crawling to his feet and making a dash for the elevator. She was still in a tight hold. She wrenched her foot into a kick just below her captor's knee. His weight shifted forward. Rumi slammed her head back against his. The grip was loosened enough for her to wiggle free.

She ducked to the ground and moved to follow the businessman. The soldier attempted to reestablish his hold on her but was met with a foot in his hip. Another leg was flung over his head. His arm was wrenched back as Zoey rolled him into an armbar hold.

Rumi glanced behind her, seeing the other two women deep in their brawls. She gave a nod in their direction. They could handle themselves. She had her own demon to face.

The lift door started to close in front of her. He was not going to escape. She dove through just as they clamped shut. Now they were trapped in a small metal box that begun its ascent.

Rumi brought herself up to her knees. A kick landed against the side of her head, knocking her back down. Hands grasped firmly around her neck and squeezed.

She wretched against the pressure, feeling her head start to tingle. Her hands pounded with little effort against the arms currently choking her. In a final desperate move, she flicked her knee and brought her foot to the man's crotch. He doubled over in pain, releasing the hold on her.

She gasped for air and brought herself upright against the elevator wall. Another hand snatched her neck.

The bell chimed as the door slid open. She was violently thrown into the room. Her eyes darted around to try and make out the space. It looked like some kind of penthouse with the large windows overlooking the city.

She crawled backward as heavy footsteps approached her. She was lifted from the ground by her hair. A pair of lips came up to her ear.

"You've got some fight in you. I'll give you that." She was yanked backward, a yelp escaping her lips. "Everyone thinks they are a fighter, that they stand any chance at coming out on top." He threw her to the ground once more.

Her body trembled as she slid backward away from the man. His pace kept up, forcing her up against a glass wall.

"Let me tell you a little something, Miss Ryu. Those who win in this world are those who are willing to do anything to get what they want." He snatched her by her collar and lifted her up to meet his eyes. "The blood I've spilled to get here would rival battlefields. You will be just another drop in the bucket." He pulled her from the wall and slammed her back into it.

The glass shattered as she was thrown into the office space. Shards of glass stabbed into her back. The crisp white linens of the clothes she was forced to wear were slowly soaking into a deep crimson.

Rumi laid on the ground next to a large oak desk. She rolled onto her side to prevent the glass from pushing in deeper. Her breath was ragged. She gritted her teeth together as the pain shot deep.

Gwi-ma prowled around the long edge of the desk, eyes never letting her out of sight. He flung open a top drawer of his desk. Bits of stationary were flung about as he rummaged for something specific.

Rumi scrambled partially upright. She could see the glint of a dark metal in his hand as it returned to his side. He took a step forward. She retreated a similar distance, curling around the edge of the desk.

His laugh bounced around the glass, echoing in her ears. "I think I've seen this before. Ah yes, I remember. Your mother was in a similar position all those years ago. "

Rumi slipped around the long side of the desk, hiding herself from view. Her eyes were fixed straight forward to the door.

"She begged and pleaded for her life, crawling around the floor just like you."

Her heart pounded against her ribcage. Her fingers curled against the hard surface of the floor.

"I had offered her something so life changing, so merciful. She spat on it like it was poison in her mouth."

She bit her tongue so hard it bled. A stream of red slipped from her lips.

"She didn't want mercy, so I didn't give her any."

The rage and adrenaline were beginning to pool.

"She was shot dead in this very office. All because of a bastard child. She died messy like the whore she was."

That was what snapped her.

No one would speak of her mother like that.

Rumi shot up and vaulted over the desk. Her arms slung around Gwi-ma's midsection, tackling him to the floor. She let the rage take her over. She fired off punch after punch to his smug face. His hands shot up and snagged her wrists. They rolled and tumbled on the floor.

He got himself into the leveraged position and planted a heavy backhand to her cheek. His eyes scanned the floor, eyeing his handgun just out of reach. His foot planted to the ground, shoving himself to it. His hand wrapped over its grip. He went to turn and fire when arms snagged around his neck.

Rumi leapt up onto his back and locked him in a choke hold.

He bent backwards trying to shake her off. She was not going to let go so easily. He smacked her fingers with the hard metal slide of the handgun. She finally let him free when her knuckles bled.

With him doubled over and gasping for air, Rumi snagged him by his collar and pulled him to the window. She gripped the back of his head and slammed his face into the glass. She repeated this over and over until it pane was coated in his blood. Every slam, every grunt was fueled by her need for revenge. She only relented when an elbow stabbed into her stomach.

She was knocked back, holding onto the edge of the desk for support.

Gwi-ma stood and turned to her. His face was unrecognizable. The broken and bruised flesh around his nose was covered in a heavy coating of blood. The grin his displayed was a stark white in comparison to the red paint of his face.

He was cackling like a mad man. His sanity was shattered into a million pieces.

"This is MY world! MINE! You are but a cog in the machine! I am the one who keeps it running! I will not let a bastard child ruin EVERYTHING I built!" He raised his hands in tightly wound fists. "I will BREAK you just like everyone else. You will SUBMIT to my order. MY rule."

Rumi dashed her eyes around they nearby space. She locked on to the discarded handgun. It was just a few feet from her. Her eyes came back up to the insane face of the demon in front of her.

She gripped the edge of the desk tightly. Every bit of her energy went into the kick she delivered to the man's midsection. He tumbled backward, landing against the pane of the window. She pushed forward, leaning down to snag the gun.

She held it upward, aimed at his head. The two stood there for an agonizingly long moment.

Rumi's breath was heavy. Her finger held to the trigger.

"This is for my mother."

The trigger was pulled taut against the grip.

Blood spattered on the window.

Rumi held her position, gun raised in front of her. The adrenaline she was living on ran dry.

Her world went dark.

…

…

"…mi"

…

…

"ru…"

…

"…ru"

"mi…"

…

"…rumi…"

"rumi"

"Rumi"

"RUMI"

Her eyes slowly opened.

Everything was encased in a heavy blur. She could see two shapes leaning over her.

Everything hurt.

She tried to lift her arm up. She only winced in pain.

"Hey, hey. Take it easy. You look absolutely spent," a soft voice called out.

She recognized that voice. Zoey.

"We're going to get you out of here. You're safe now," a deeper tone said calmly.

She recognized that one too. Mira.

Zoey and Mira.

They were here with her.

They were going to get her out.

She would be safe.

Safe with them.

The blackness rolled over her again.

She came to once more. She was upright, moving forward. She was being carried down a hall.

She pressed a hand to her stomach. She could feel the heavy gauze dressing that was wrapped around her torso. They had given the wounds on her back first aid.

She tilted her chin up. Her eyes were met with the prettiest shade of pink she could imagine.

"Mir…"

Two soft amber pools turned towards her.

"It's okay, Rumi. We're almost out of here. Just a little bit further."

"Zo…?"

"She's up ahead calling the lift. I'd be keeping up but my muscles are weak. Plus you are a bit heavy as dead weight." She flashed a smile.

Rumi leaned into her shoulder and let out a sigh of relief.

Zoey was waiting at the end of the hall. The elevator had shown up and she kept the doors open for them to step inside. With a press of a button they were descending to the lowest floor in the garage.

The door slid open following a soft ding. A parking garage appeared before them. Zoey pulled up to the first vehicle she saw, a sleek black sedan. Not bothering with the lock, she smashed the window open and ducked down to begin the hot wiring process.

Mira carefully set Rumi into the back seat, taking care to strap her in properly and keep her weight up against the window while she was still semiconscious.

"We need to stop by Honmoon HQ. I'll call Jung Hoo. He'll have a bug out bag ready for us," Mira said closing the back door before hopping in the passenger seat.

"Bug out?" Zoey called from underneath the central console. "You mean-"

"We're leaving this blasted city."

Zoey's hands paused. "Are you sure that is the best idea?"

"Zo, we just infiltrated the highest level of the food chain. Their boss is dead on the floor of his office. We have the biggest targets on our back. It's better if we get out of here and go as far away as possible. This city isn't our home anymore."

Mira was right. If they stayed, they probably would be hunted down and slaughtered on sight. Maybe it was for the best that they were getting away from this city. It would be a chance to start something new. Just the three of them.

Zoey dug back into the inner workings of the vehicle. Finding what she needed, she flicked two wires together and the engine purred to life. She shot up and settled herself into the driver seat.

She pulled from the stall and out into the street. Alarms and alerts were blaring all around. Their work had been found and now the hunt began.

Zoey carefully maneuvered the vehicle down side streets to keep attention off them. Choppers were circling overhead and they wouldn't want to lead any level of corpo force back to the hideout.

When they were far enough out, they pulled onto main roads and snuck their way to the depths of the gang territory.

Mira immediately jumped out of the vehicle when they pulled up, not bothering to wait for it to come to a stop. Jung Hoo was waiting for them just outside the door with a bag. She took it from him and wrapped him in a tight hug.

"Remember what I said about my legacy. Use the best words you can think of," she quipped in his ear before pulling back and heading to the car. She flung the bag into the trunk and got back into the passenger seat, a clearance card in her hand for the security gate.

The security process was easier when leaving. They really didn't care much so long as you weren't leaving with anything extremely valuable. They probably could have argued that the cargo in the back seat was the most valuable thing in the world, but that was just between them.

The street wheels took a moment to gain traction on the dirt road just outside the gate. They would have to get those replaced if not just get another vehicle entirely. This one would only last so long out in nomad territory.

They were pulling away, leaving it all behind them. Every memory, every connection, all of it was behind them.

Zoey glanced in the rear view mirror.

The skyline was beautiful from this distance. It looked less like a city and more like a mountain range. Her eyes locked to the blinking tip of the DN Enterprises tower, the summit of the mountain. They were the only ones who had conquered it, planting their flag firmly at its peak.

Her eyes went forward towards the rolling hills of the wilds. The morning sun was threatening to peak out over the great expanse.

It was the dawn of a new day.

A new start.

A new story.

The three of them.

Together.