Only the flickering fluorescent light lit the bed.
I struggled to free myself from the handcuffs, but it was pointless. God knows where they got these things—solid as hell, not even a hint they’d break or come off. I couldn’t even sit up properly. With a heavy sigh, I gave up and let my limbs go slack.
The cuffs were the first thing I had to deal with if I wanted to escape. As long as I could get these off, I had options. It wouldn’t be easy, but I could break down the door—or just wait for someone to come in and take them out on the spot.
But in this state, I was completely helpless. No matter how hard I pulled or twisted, all I got was the clatter of metal and raw scrapes on my wrists.
I tilted my head and looked at my hands. A bit of blood had seeped from my wrist, and it brought back old memories. There was a time when I could’ve slipped out of this in seconds.
It hadn’t even been that long since I got possessed—was I already getting rusty? The instincts I’d honed as a Special Agent felt dull now.
Tch. I clicked my tongue at myself, disgusted, and let my body sink deeper into the bed.
Right now, there was only one move left.
…I’ll just have to wait for Kim Yong-ha to show up.
If I told him I wasn’t going to run and asked nicely, maybe he’d take the cuffs off. He came alone last time, so it didn’t look like he was always with Kim Hyun-joong. Taking down Guide Kim Yong-ha wouldn’t be difficult.
Besides, he’d never imagine I could overpower him and get out. That was my best shot.
Still… his last words before leaving had stuck with me.
He’d hinted at something—like he had plans.
Step. Step.
“…He’s coming.”
I didn’t have to wait long.
Footsteps echoed down the hall, getting closer. Light and short steps—definitely Kim Yong-ha. I shut my eyes and pretended to sleep. I needed him to lower his guard, even a little.
The door opened. Someone stepped in, careful, quiet—like they didn’t want to wake me.
I felt the weight dip on the bed. Just like before, he must’ve sat down on the edge. Time to slowly open my eyes and pretend I was just waking up…
“Sunbae.”
The sudden voice made me freeze.
I kept my eyes tightly shut.
His voice sounded… strange. Low. Heavier than usual.
Then his hand cupped my face, brushing gently along my cheek. I could feel a faint tremble in his fingers, but I kept still, pretending I was asleep.
Maybe he really believed it.
His voice dropped even softer, like a bedtime story, as if talking to himself.
“There’s chaos outside. I don’t know how he found out, but that Esper stormed into the Guide Center, grabbed me by the collar, and demanded to know where you were. Now the place is swarming with Espers—they think it’s a Villain attack…”
That Esper… Could it be Kang Biso?
The way Kim Yong-ha spoke through clenched teeth, there was only one person that came to mind.
Kang Biso caused a scene at the Guide Center? Just to find me?
I couldn’t stop myself—my eyes flew open.
“…Is that true?”
The moment our eyes met, I realized my mistake.
Too late to play dumb now.
Kim Yong-ha narrowed his eyes, his brow creasing slightly. He must’ve realized I’d been faking.
“Did Kang Biso really do that? Was anyone hurt? Is he okay?”
But none of that mattered more than one thing—
Had they figured out I was a Villain? Had he been caught by the Espers?
If Kang Biso had made a scene like that, it was no different from barging into enemy territory and setting off an alarm.
It meant a lot that he’d go so far for me. I was grateful, really. But that didn’t stop me from worrying.
Even back when I was a Special Agent, I’d always been against solo infiltration missions. I never believed in throwing yourself into danger as bait.
Even if it was to find me, I didn’t want him risking his life.
“……”
Kim Yong-ha’s hand stopped mid-stroke. He just stared at me.
…Shit.
It wasn’t until I saw the look on his face that I realized I’d screwed up.
I’d been so focused on Kang Biso’s safety that I forgot the one thing I should’ve done— Soften Kim Yong-ha’s mood.
He hated Kang Biso. Always had.
There was no way he’d like hearing that name come out of my mouth.
And now… asking him to take off the cuffs? That option was gone.
“…So he’s really that important to you.”
His voice finally broke the silence.
It was quieter than ever.
Low. Heavy. Like it had sunk to the bottom of the ocean.
Each word dragged out, twisted, almost painful.
I didn’t even know he had that kind of voice in him.
There was something dark and bottomless in it—like falling into a pit you’d never escape from.
But even if he was hurting…
I couldn’t give in.
I’d made my choice.
I cared about Kang Biso.
I was going to get out of here—and find out if he was okay. Kim Yong-ha clearly didn’t want to hear another word about Kang Biso.
I wouldn’t push it.
Not now.
I just needed to check if he had the key to these cuffs. And if not—buy enough time to figure out a new plan. The only way was to make him drop his guard.
What could I say?
I hesitated, then tried to shake him a little.
“…Why are you doing this to me?”
“You really don’t know? You don’t know why I’m doing this?”
“Because you’re saying you have feelings for me? But I already turned you down. So why are you still doing this? That kind of excuse doesn’t cut it—I’m not buying it.”
“That’s…!”
“You want to have me? Possess me like some object?”
Kim Yong-ha froze, like he’d turned to stone. But I didn’t stop.
“Sure, people fall for each other. That happens. But locking someone up like this? That’s not love. That’s a crime. People aren’t things.”
“……”
“So just let me go. No matter how tightly you bind me, it won’t change anything. I’m not going to choose you. I told you before—I really like Kang Biso.”
I laid everything out—clear, honest, and final.
It had to shake him, even a little. Even if he’d gone dark, someone like Kim Yong-ha didn’t just lose his true nature overnight. If there was still any part of the person he used to be, maybe he’d realize what he was doing and let me go.
I glanced toward his pocket. Something was sticking out just slightly. If I stretched, I might be able to reach it…
But before I could try, Kim Yong-ha finally opened his mouth.
“Me? Why me?”
“…What?”
What the hell had he heard from all that?
His eyes were wide and glassy, glowing with something unstable. He looked straight at me, clearly unhinged.
“I know this is wrong. I know it’s a crime. I’ve never broken the law before… this is the first time. Honestly, I’m scared. Scared of what’ll happen if I get caught.”
“Then—!”
“I’m scared that if I get caught… I won’t be able to be with you anymore.”
“…?”
Suddenly, his face twisted, and he looked like he was about to cry.
“You’re the one who got close to me first… If you weren’t going to return my feelings, then why were you so kind to me? I love you enough to break the law—so why can’t it be me? Why him? Why that bastard?”
He was practically choking on his own emotion, voice ragged with frustration.
If this were a different situation, his pain might’ve reached me.
But here, now—it was just a kidnapper trying to justify himself.
“…I’m sorry, Kim Yong-ha. But to me, you’re like a little brother. That’s all. I’ve never felt anything more than that.”
A tear rolled down his cheek. Then he cut me off.
“…I don’t want to hear about him anymore.”
“What? What are you—?!”
He leaned in close, face lowering like he was about to kiss me. His voice dropped to a chilling whisper.
“Just live here with me. Forever. That’s all I want. We don’t need anything else. Some love starts with the body, right? We can start from there.”
“Don’t say that—wha… mmph!”
Before I could even react, his lips crushed down on mine—no warmth, no warning.
It wasn’t a kiss. It was a violation.
His tongue shoved into my mouth, frantic and forceful, pushing past my teeth like it was trying to claim me from the inside out.
Wet and suffocating, his tongue tangled with mine, the slick pressure making it hard to breathe. I let out muffled grunts, my body instinctively recoiling.
There was nothing sweet in it. No care. Just desperate, hungry aggression.
It was nothing like the kisses I shared with Kang Biso—his touch had been overwhelming in all the right ways.
I tried to hold on to that memory, to block out what was happening now. But I couldn’t. The thought of it being overwritten by this made me stop.
Just as I thought he might finally pull away, he dove back in, even rougher than before. His tongue was clumsy, violent—so forceful it felt like he was trying to take my breath away.
It wasn’t love. It was domination. A demand to be the only thing in my world.
At last, the kiss ended. Kim Yong-ha bit my lower lip hard as he pulled away, and I tasted the metallic tang of blood.
I gasped for air and glared at him.
“Haa… haa… You…”
“Sunbae… remember what I said? That next time I came, I’d do it?”
He licked his lips like he was savoring something, then grabbed the collar of my turtleneck and yanked it down.
He stopped. His brows furrowed in rage, lips trembling.
“This…!”
Ah. He saw the mark. The one Kang Biso left on my neck. It was still visible.
“That bastard did this to you, didn’t he?”
Before I could respond, he buried his face against my neck.
His ragged breathing sent shivers down my spine. Goosebumps broke out all over me.
“I’ll erase everything. All of it.”
“Ugh!”
Then he bit down—hard—on my neck.
Pain exploded across my skin.
It wasn’t like Kang Biso at all. No heat. No thrill. Just a sharp, awful sting—like I was being mauled by a starving animal.
Then his hands slipped under my shirt. He ran his fingers over my stomach, then slowly moved up to my chest, fondling it like he owned me.
But all I could feel was the pain in my neck.
And the growing certainty—
If this kept going, Kim Yong-ha was going to rape me.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
A loud, desperate pounding rang out from the other side of the door.
