Chapter 137 - You Gotta Run!

"Aishh! This time I'll make them pay!" she grunted, looking out of the corner of the eye at the men standing on the other side of the corner, covertly watching her work.

For the third time, Eun Ha passed that corner and put up the

HEARING - WE ARE LOOKING FOR FEMALE SINGERS signs. She had spent the entire day helping to publicize the audition process for a singer for Pearl. When Pearl reopened, they would need a new singer to replace Ye Rim.

It was not very simple to walk around like Stylist Jung Eun Ha, however. Recently, some reporters were stalking the 'hottest topic' in Korean fashion near her building, trying to get an exclusive interview. Eun Ha had no choice but to disguise herself. She disguised as a student, with lighter hair and no makeup. Her magic wand was very effective for that.

Many students took these little pamphlet jobs after class, and that was what she counted on. It had been a long time since she had worn this type of clothing, and Eun Ha was stunned to realize that she had changed little since her high school days. She looked ridiculously youthful when she was without her stylish makeup or one of her hats.

The fairy had already distributed the flyers all morning at an intersection at the entrance to the neighborhood, and had gone to various music stores to post the ads. But then she realized that one of Hong Gi's men was following her like a looming shark.

When Eun Ha was on her way back to Pearl to get more posters, she saw that all they had already torn the posters she had glued on the light poles.

Of course, Mobster Hong Gi didn't want Pearl to reopen, as he wanted to evict Mrs. Song and sell the building.

Picking up the brush with the glue, she spread the viscous liquid over the mass of old and torn posters on that post, and using her magic, cast a little spell to play a trick on those useless mobsters. Then Eun Ha crossed the street, passing them, and entered the convenience to rest and eat a ramyun. Who could complain that this poor student was hungry since she was working so hard?

As soon as Eun Ha sat down to savor her ramyun, she saw through the glass of convenience the gang cross to the other side of the street and start tearing up the posters again.

What they didn't expect is that as soon as they put their hands on the posters, the paper would come out completely in their hands, but sticking to the skin as if by super glue.

She laughed when she saw them exclaim in surprise and anger. As if watching a silent slapstick comedy flick, across the street they were waving their hands, but it was impossible for the poster to come out of them. If they tried to crumple tha poster with the other hand, both hands would get stuck. Of course, some henchmen pulled both hands now joined by a piece of paper to tear it apart. The paper tore from the thrust, but his two hands now had pieces of paper stuck to them. It was even worse when one mobster tried to help the other. She saw their mouths move and could guess every 'Aish!' of frustration they uttered. 

Of course, Eun Ha could make things worse, and turning her wand from where he was, while sucking her ramyun, a sudden whirlwind lifted the torn and glued pieces of paper in the air, sticking to the mobsters clothes.

"It's much better, u-hun!" it amused her. Now, it was better to quietly get out of there, while they were distracted and busy.

Taking a hooded sweatshirt from her backpack, she hurried out, covering her face.

Unfortunately, they saw Eun Ha. One of Hong Gi's henchmen shouted, 

"That damned student! You put this hellish glue on purpose! Get her!"

"Uh-oh!" Eun Ha looked both ways, and ran.

°°°

'Click.'

Ji Hyeon woke up with the first sound, her heart pounding. She felt into her sweatshirt pockets, feeling the pot of ch.i.p.s and the bottle of water where she had left it before she fell asleep. She also felt the side wall and found the food tray empty she put by her side. Ji Hyeon was sleeping at the top of the stairs, in a corner, hidden from the cameras.

In her usual place on the bed, a pile of clothes wearing her pajamas forming a passably human volume, covered with the duvet. 

Ji Hyeon had even taken care to place empty water bottles near the bed, and made a strange diluted stain with some water and ketchup on the sheet. If Dae Won thought she was passed out or dead, through the images on the camera, he would enter the bas.e.m.e.nt carelessly.

He was crazy enough to think Ji Hyeon would despair without him around, the sick bastard.

'Click.'

The second lock had been engaged. At the usual speed. 

It was Dae Won.

She had to make up her mind now.

Taking a deep breath, Ji Hyeon slowly stood up, holding the wooden tray with both hands, and leaned his back against the wall, holding his breath.

The electronic lock beep sounded, and Ji Hyeon heard the mechanism open the door.

Then the heavy door opened, and she saw one of Dae Won's hands, bandaged, lightly supporting the tray with food that the other hand held.

But it was only when Dae Won had already put his whole body into the bas.e.m.e.nt at the top of the stairs that Ji Hyeon attacked him. With the plank tray, she aimed at his face and struck.

Dae Won realized that he tried to defend himself and tried, but the blow pushed him against the opposite wall and he lost his balance on the stairs. Ji Hyeon closed her eyes, trembling, but she couldn't afford to be empathetic or hesitate. Running down the hall in front of her without much thought, she came to a door, which had the key in the lock. Turning the key and opening the door, the natural light coming from the ample windows made her dizzy for a moment. She was on the ground floor of Dae Won's house. Shading her eyes, Ji Hyeon ran awkwardly past a piano and headed for the door. 

"Aigoo aigoo!" breathing heavily, she touched the handle and saw that the door had a modern electronic locking system. She had no idea how to open that door. Back halfway, Ji Hyeon saw another door, and arrived at the kitchen. The utensils Dae Won used to prepare her meal were still on the table. 

Ji Hyeon thought about taking a knife, but abandoned that thought. She didn't want to hurt him. She just wanted freedom. The kitchen door was also closed, but she saw a swinging window near the laundry.

It was her best alternative to reach the outside area of ​​the house.

Squeezing through the gap, Ji Hyeon reached the garden of Dae Won's house. She tried to climb the gate and the wall. It wasn't easy, but adrenaline gave her the strength to reach the top of the wall. The street was empty, and Ji Hyeon feared being hurt by jumping onto the sidewalk, but she would have to do it. If she got hurt, Dae Won wouldn't have much trouble recapturing her.

She knew Dae Won was previously hurt from the car accident, and as far as she remembered he didn't roll down the stairs, he just slid down a few steps. But the strike with the tray perhaps injured him. Which was good because Ji Hyeon didn't want him dead, nor did she want to become a murderer. And yes, that he paid for his crime. If he was conscious, he should already be on her trail.

"JI HYEON!" she heard him call, as if Dae Won read her thoughts. What could she do? 

He was still inside the house, but it wouldn't be long before come out to chase her. He'd open the doors and the gate, and soon be there. She had to jump.

THUD.

Crouching down to absorb the impact, Ji Hyeon felt her heels hurt, but the adrenaline kept her moving. Running, the fugitive passed other mansions with closed facades and inaccessible inhabitants. If she stopped to ask for help in one of them, Dae Won would surely reach her. 

Following side streets, Ji Hyeon not only felt her heart beat so fast that it was the only thing she heard in her ears. She also realized that the world made no sense.

She knew she was at Dae Won's house, but she didn't know where the house was. She didn't recognize houses, streets, anything. Everything was similar in that quiet, upscale neighborhood. Daylight stunned her, but she wasn't even sure what time it was. 

Nor did she have time to enjoy the freedom or the cool autumn breeze. She was running for her freedom.

Around a corner, she saw a small square.

'A square ... There may be someone there', it was her most immediate thought.

Running over there, Ji Hyeon stopped when she saw a boy and a girl, both about 10 years old, walking in circles with their bikes around the bandstand, and shouting at each other. She didn't understand what they were talking about, and it didn't matter either.

'Children! Okay. Children will do. I will ask them for help,' she approached, gaining breath to speak to the first human beings other than Dae Won after almost 9 years.

Before she could speak, however, her approach was noticed by the children. 

They stopped their bikes, side by side. 

Ji Hyeon approached them, not knowing what to say. The children backed away on their bikes, staring at her with open mouths of terror.

"Help me, children. I…"She took two more steps towards them, taking her hands out of her sweatshirt's pockets, wondering if she was offering them the fries. "Listen, I'm not going to hurt you, I just need to ...!"

The girl screamed, a high-pitched scream of horror, trying to steer the bike abruptly. The girl's clumsy movement made her trip over the pedals and fall awkwardly. Both her friend and Ji Hyeon stepped forward to help her, but the girl screamed more loudly, skating on the floor trying to stay away from the strange woman.

The boy screamed, grabbing the girl by the arm quickly, without taking his eyes off Ji Hyeon!

"Get away, monster! Get away from us!"

The children abandoned their bikes and ran for help, without looking back.

Ji Hyeon touched her deformed face, feeling the tears streaming down to her chin.