“Strangely enough, there was no sign of the police coming.”
“No, I no longer have that kind of power.”
Just to be sure, I asked Yang Hye-in, who simply shook her head and replied like that.
Well, it was understandable. In the past, the police who came to the hospital would get bitten by the doctors to the point that it had reached that level, but that was not the personal power of Yang Hye-in; it was the power of the Chairwoman behind her.
“…Should we report this to the police?”
After a moment of contemplation, Yoo Ha-neul asked again.
“I think we should.”
Yang Hye-in answered calmly.
It was on the mountainside, where only dense trees were visible to the left and right, yet surprisingly, the police arrived early.
“…So, are you saying that you broke the window here to rescue the kidnapped girl?”
Perhaps unable to believe the situation, the police asked this in confusion.
“Yes.”
“The kidnapper is Yujin Group’s Chairwoman Choi Na-kyung.”
“Yes.”
“…And the victim is her daughter, Ye Sara.”
“That is correct.”
As the police checked their notepad once again, Yang Hye-in answered so calmly.
“…”
After confirming the situation once more, the two young police officers looked at each other and shrugged. ‘Do you understand this situation?’ ‘No,’ it felt like that kind of conversation was going on, even though no words were exchanged.
“…I would like to go to the police station for a more detailed conversation, is that alright?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“Senior.”
Seeing Yang Hye-in, who had done nothing wrong but was willing to go to the police station, Sohee cut in like that.
“It’s okay. This is a necessary procedure.”
“That’s right. It’s essential to hear both sides’ stories…”
“…”
Sohee seemed a bit frustrated, but she didn’t get angry. Still, she knew that the police hadn’t done anything wrong.
…For now.
Choi Na-kyung had already used her money to shift suspicion away from the wounds found on Sara’s body. Of course, she hadn’t done it directly, but still, the source of that power was clearly from Chairwoman Choi Na-kyung.
Since things had escalated to this degree, it was obvious they couldn’t just let it go, but Choi Na-kyung would struggle somehow. Yoo Ha-neul thought.
“…What about us?”
“We would be grateful if you could accompany us as witnesses.”
“If that’s the case, we will join you.”
“What?”
When Yoo Ha-neul said that on her own, the reporter, who was busy capturing moments despite the police’s objections, exclaimed in surprise. However, looking over at Sua nearby, she let out a deep sigh and raised both hands. Since one hand was still holding a heavy camera, she quickly lowered it, though.
“…Since the employer said that, there’s no helping it.”
She sighed dramatically as if the ground would open up.
*
In the end, only the group that followed later could leave the police station.
It seemed they didn’t intend to arrest Yang Hye-in right away; however, she was still the one who had seen and heard the most at that moment. There was no way the investigation could be short.
“Senior, you won’t get arrested, right?”
“I probably won’t.”
The one who replied to Sohee’s worried mumble was surprisingly the reporter, not Yoo Ha-neul or Sua.
“I’ve had to go to the police station from time to time, so I know a bit. Well… there might be some disadvantage later. After all, we did smash someone else’s car. And the other party is one of the richest people in the world.”
As the three people listening grew darker in expression, she shrugged her shoulders and said,
“Still, these guys are somewhat wary of public opinion. Even if it’s not completely innocent, it won’t reach the level of going to jail. Unless it’s a matter related to some high-ups, surprisingly, people like that Chairwoman with just a lot of money can’t be covered that easily.”
Scratching her head afterwards,
“So, don’t worry too much, okay? Plus, this young lady lying here has more money than anyone else could possibly imagine. Once she regains consciousness, won’t she do something for you? For someone who tried to save her?”
She said that.
Not everyone could go to the police station. After all, there was Sara. Considering that she was the target the Chairwoman had tried to kidnap just a little while ago, it wouldn’t be right to leave her alone at the hospital.
It was just today that they experienced what could happen if they sent ‘Sara’ off alone from school. No one in this group was foolish enough to make the same mistake again.
Only the reporter who took the photos and Yoo Ha-neul headed to the police station for now, while Sohee and Sua took Sara to a nearby hospital.
Due to the concussion and the specificity of having been kidnapped and rescued, several tests were conducted, but the conclusion was that there were no significant injuries.
Still, she was on an IV drip.
“…”
A moment of silence.
Everyone sitting there looked at Sara’s face.
Perhaps because she had just gone through a big ordeal, her sleeping expression didn’t seem comfortable at all.
Her pale face was beaded with cold sweat.
“…But.”
Sohee broke the silence.
“What’s your name…?”
“…”
Come to think of it, the only one who might know the reporter’s name in this room was Sua.
“Is it that important?”
“Every time I call, I don’t know how to address you…”
“Hmm.”
At Sohee’s words, she shrugged her shoulders and replied.
“Lee Yoo-kyung. Just call me Reporter Yoo-kyung when you address me.”
“…”
The person who revealed her name, Lee Yoo-kyung, didn’t seem gloomy even in this situation.
No, rather, she seemed to be expecting something. Especially as she looked at the sleeping expression of Sara, that feeling became clearer.
“…Ha.”
A small sigh was heard.
Yoo Ha-neul thought that it was probably Sua’s sigh.
*
Everything was pitch black in front of me.
Not in a metaphorical sense; I literally couldn’t see anything.
Not only could I not see, but I couldn’t hear or feel anything either. Just in that empty black space, I was all alone.
What happened?
Right, I was kidnapped by Choi Na-kyung.
No, Sara was kidnapped. For some reason, Sara lost consciousness, and I woke up.
…This was just like the first moment.
Back then, Sara was unconscious too. I had been going to school for a while, and she had just remained asleep until Choi Na-kyung came looking for me.
So, maybe…
Maybe this time as well, if I don’t find Sara, she will definitely remain asleep.
But how?
When I was conscious, I didn’t know what actions Sara took. But she must have tried her best in her own way. For her life, and for me, who was in thought.
I had just never imagined what kind of person Choi Na-kyung was.
It was understandable.
Who could imagine such a person?
Even I, who knew a bit about the game’s settings, didn’t really understand what kind of person Choi Na-kyung was.
…
Choi Na-kyung no longer holds a significant influence in Sara’s memories.
Of course, she still occupies many parts of her memories, but from now on, friends will cover those memories one by one.
Yes, I might also have a way to ask other friends for help.
When I open my eyes, maybe I can ask the friends to hug me or kiss me.
But, until when?
I don’t know when I will leave this body, but until that happens, I wonder how many times I must find Sara.
Stimulating memories eventually dull out with repetition. If I keep trying to find Sara that way, someday, I might not be able to call for Sara even when I’m out in front.
That cannot happen.
This body is not my body; it is Sara’s body.
The life lived in this body should be Sara’s life, not mine.
Sara’s life must be lived by Sara herself.
So—
So this time, I have to find Sara.
Just as she had come looking for me every time I waited in my unconsciousness, this time, I had to awaken the unconsciousness of sleeping Sara.
“…”
I close my eyes.
I don’t know if closing my eyes in a place where I can’t see anything will change anything.
But this is just my action to concentrate.
To vividly recall my memories, and to clearly remember Sara’s.
I resurrected the sense of climbing back through Sara’s memories.
Like feeling my way through, I slowly traced my memories.
Into the memories Sara cherished most. Yes, that memory felt good.
…In the distance of my vision, a faint light appeared.
Following that light, I took steps one by one.
With each step closer, the light brightened.
Eventually, when my vision turned white, I opened my eyes.
What I saw before me was—
Just the room I always looked at.
“…”
A room I always faced in my memory.
On the bed, Sara was sitting.
“Sara…?”
I called out like that, but Sara didn’t answer.
As I slowly moved forward to Sara, I realized she wasn’t alone.
Next to Sara, there was one more person.
Compared to sitting Sara, she was much smaller, looking younger.
Sara has no younger sister. Above all, the existence in front of my eyes was not the Sara of her childhood that I couldn’t even remember.
The small Sara was wearing the clothes I used to wear in Sara’s memories.
Those clothes of a vampire.
