“Wait, did I just hear that right? Maybe this is a dream. Yes, I must still be asleep. That’s certain.”
But Yujin knew very well this was reality. His voice trembled as much as his hand holding the phone, and he barely managed to speak.
“W-what do you mean? Uh... how did you know?”
“Damn it.”
Grant cursed under his breath, quickly continuing before a startled Yujin could say anything.
“Run now, Campbell is coming there.”
“W-what? Winston? Here?”
Yujin was so shocked he could only repeat the words as they were. At the scream-like question, Grant took a deep breath and, surprisingly, apologized.
“If I’d warned you earlier, we could have prepared. Sorry for showing up out of nowhere... I had no choice.”
Taken aback by the unexpected apology, Yujin shook his head.
“No, no, I’m the one who should apologize. Hah... I hope nothing bad has happened.”
The thought of what horrible things Winston might have done sent chills down Yujin’s spine. Grant answered shortly to Yujin’s trembling voice.
“For now, you’re alive.”
‘For now.’ How ominous a phrase. Yujin was about to ask more, but Grant cut in first.
“This isn’t the time. Just get out of there quickly, and contact me once you’re safe.”
“Ah... okay. I will. I’m really sorry, Grant.”
He apologized again, but Grant said it was fine shortly and ended the call. As if he had no time to waste. The sudden silence snapped Yujin awake like a cold shower. He jumped out of bed and hurriedly packed. There was no time to gather much. He threw a few clothes into a small travel bag, stuffed the money he had into his coat pocket, and rushed out of the room.
“Angie, Angie.”
He gently shook his sleeping daughter’s shoulder and called her name. Angela murmured sleepily, rubbing her eyes.
“Wake up, Angie. We have to leave.”
Though his heart ached, there was no time to delay. Hastily holding the still half-asleep child, he hurried down the stairs. Normally, someone else might call a taxi in such a situation, but Yujin couldn’t. The mere thought of getting in a car made his heart pound and breath catch.
What luxury can I think of in an emergency like this? He scolded himself, but it didn’t help. In fact, dizziness began to overwhelm him, and Yujin closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Haah, haah.
Only after several deep breaths, his excitement finally began to subside. The cold winter wind helped clear his mind.
“Mm.”
Perhaps due to the chill, his daughter shifted in his arms, and Yujin tightened his embrace quickly.
“I’m sorry, Angie. Just hold on a little longer.”
For Angela’s sake, he had to get in the car somehow. There was no way to just walk in such cold winter.
He suddenly recalled when they came here before. Even then, Yujin took a car from the train station but had to get off halfway and walk because he couldn’t endure it. Besides, he doubted if any taxi would even be available at this hour.
He hurriedly searched an app for a taxi but, as expected, found none nearby. He called a taxi company, but they declined after hearing the address, clearly troubled. Wasting time continuously, he finally gave up.
I have to get to the city first.
Yujin firmly decided and started walking along the dark road. As fast and far as possible. The child’s weight already numbed his arms, but he ignored it and walked almost running. The small travel bag dragged noisily on the ground. His ears and hands froze painfully in the cold wind. Gritting his teeth, he kept walking through the darkness without knowing how long it would take.
Suddenly, Yujin saw two lights approaching him. Realizing they were car headlights, his whole body froze. He heard the brakes screech and saw the car jerk to a stop. The bright light rushing at him and the deafening noise vividly replayed like it was happening now.
“Eeek...!”
He swallowed a scream and hugged Angela tightly. Instinctively curling up to protect the child, he squeezed his eyes shut as a dazzling light poured over him.
Trembling in fear, Yujin suddenly realized how quiet it was around him. Only the engine sound of the car was heard. Hesitating, he looked up and saw the car stopped some distance away. His heart almost stopped at the black shadow of the man standing facing him with the headlights behind him. Yujin furrowed his brow tightly and blinked his narrow eyes several times. His mouth went dry and his pulse raced. He just watched as the man slowly walked toward him.
The front door was unlocked. Beyond the loosely opened door, a chilly air was felt. The eerie silence with no sign of life brushed a sinister feeling across Winston’s chest.
Stopping briefly, Winston slowly stepped inside. The only sound was his footsteps, and a deathly stillness surrounded him. The bodyguards hastily started searching all over the house, but instinctively, he knew. Yujin had already left this place.
Instead of cursing, Winston chuckled softly. Go ahead, search inside me. Let’s see what happens.
The pale-faced bodyguards glanced at each other nervously. Winston said nothing, only took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. Until Winston lit the cigarette and exhaled smoke once, only silence surrounded them. Finally, the team leader summoned courage and stepped forward.
“Mr. Campbell.”
“Enough.”
Before the leader could say more, Winston cut him off. With a sarcastic tone directed at the leader who immediately closed his mouth, Winston said,
“If you’re going to say Yujin isn’t here, I don’t need to hear it. I have eyes too.”
The team leader, embarrassed, had no choice but to step back. Winston, deep in thought, took a drag on his cigarette and spoke.
“Grant.”
“Yes?” The team leader hesitated at the low voice. After exhaling smoke, Winston continued.
“You know that man.”
“Thank you for the ride.”
Getting out of the car, Yujin expressed thanks again before closing the door. The older man driving smiled.
“Nothing much, I was just passing by. It could have been a disaster. Who would have thought anyone would be walking there at that hour?”
Laughing loudly, Yujin apologized embarrassedly.
“Sorry for startling you.”
“No, no. You apologized enough. It’s okay now.”
The man shook his head and added thoughtfully.
“Thank you for giving me the chance to do a good deed. May God bless you and the child.”
Meeting the kind smile, Yujin smiled back and said,
“May God’s blessings be with you too.”
After that, the man left as soon as Yujin shut the car door. Yujin sighed and hugged the child tightly.
Meeting that man was truly lucky. The fear of being hit by a car was quickly replaced by the fear of Winston when the man spoke. The man, startled by the father and daughter reflected in his headlights, braked suddenly. He joked that he trembled thinking it was a ghost and offered Yujin a ride. Though his body still trembled, Yujin had no choice. Using the child as an excuse, he sat in the back seat, tensely keeping his eyes closed throughout the drive, only releasing his breath when the car stopped.
Thank God.
Fortunately, the man did not ask any questions and left after dropping the pair off at a shabby motel. Yujin breathed a sigh of relief as he stepped inside. The motel was old and worn /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ but well maintained. It was the kind of place a man who drove trucks across many states could confidently recommend. The assigned room was neat and quiet.
