"Where did manager-nim go?" Zen asked, pooching his lips.
"Yeah~the program is too good for her to miss this," Yi added, eyes pinned on the woman on stage singing Queen of the Night.
"Let me find her then," Eun said and was about to stand up when Seiji pulled his sleeve down, forcing him to sit back again which he had. Seiji's a lot stronger than him though.
"Yah! What was that all about, Seiji-ah?!" He whined and Seiji shook his head.
"Manager-nim is a busy person. Don't disturb her," he simply said. Eun scratched an eyebrow.
"Are we having a love triangle here?"
All of them looked at Ten by his sudden statement.
"W-what the hell are you talking about?!" Eun asked in defense. "Of course not hahaha."
"Then why the hell are you two blushing?" Xyler asked, pointing Seiji and Eun's burning faces. "You two are falling in love with her, aren't you?"
"What the hell, hyung?!" Seiji hissed and rolled his eyes skywards.
"Someone's being too obvious!" Chan extended the tease making the atmosphere uneasy for both Seiji and Eun.
Seiji averted his gaze and looked at Yohanne who's throwing him a questioning look.
"Where is manager-nim, really? I know that you know," ge mouthed and Seiji answered him with a blank stare.
"Even you, hyung?" He mouthed back and Yohanne chuckled.
Seiji looked up when he saw Sebastian standing on the balcony of the second floor of the enormous theatre-like place through his peripheral vision. The butler was only looking at them seriously which made him wonder.
"Is there something wrong?" He thought and checked his watch out. "It's almost half an hour since she left. Why isn't she back yet?!"
"Hey? Is everything all right?"
He cringed when Cheon snapped him back to reality.
"Oh! Yes, hyung," he forced a smile. "Uhm, can you watch everyone for a moment? I have to go the toilet. Nature calls."
"Geez! What got into you, maknae? We are the hyungs here. We should be the one to watch you," Xyler hissed and turned to look at Yohanne. "Can you accompany him?"
"What? Why me?" Yohanne mewled.
"Ahh... because you two are the closest?" Ten answered.
"I can pee alone thank you very much!" Seiji bleated and immediately stood up before they could even say a thing.
He took his phone out and immediately dialed Shane's number but she's not answering which makes him worry.
"C'mon! Answer it," he hissed when the last ring rang and dropped. "Goddamnit!"
Seiji brushed his fingers through his hair in frustration as he trace his way towards the women's toilet, careful enough so no one would notice him.
He peeked inside and found no one.
"Manager-nim?" He tried calling out but no one answered, "Aish! What the hell, Shane!" He was about to walk away when Eun appeared in front of him.
"AI-KKAMCHAGYA~AISH!" Seiji yelped, cringing back in horror. "You startled me, hyung!"
"Sorry, Se," Eun put out a peace sign and grinned. "I was looking for the toilet when I saw you."
"Eh? You're looking for women's toilet?"
"Geez!" Eun rolled his eyes. "You? What were you doing here? Were you peeking? Gosh, maknae!"
"Accusing without evidence is a crime, hyung," he warned.
"Then why are you here then?"
Eun kept his intention straight. He knew Seiji was looking for their manager and that he wants to find her as well. Awkward as it may sound but yes, that's what he was doing.
"Ahh..." Seiji spaced out, not sure about what to say to convince his hyung, but he got nothing, so he gave up.
"Fine. I was looking for her."
"Hmm..." Eun hummed. "Actually, that's why I'm here as well."
"You knew all along, didn't you?"
"Well, yeah... even Yohanne hyung, so he covered up for me, so I could follow you."
"I've been fooled," Seiji mentally rolled his eyes.
"So any idea where she is?" Eun asked.
"If I do then I should have found her by now," Seiji hissed. "Let's just look outside. Maybe she's there."
Seiji took small bouncing steps toward an exit and Eun followed.
Blood trickle.
Bruised cheek.
Cut lip.
Grasses were pulled out, branches broke, handrails bent... seeing the setting surrounding two ladies with their torn garments is extremely disturbing.
Shane smirked as she tore the remaining cloth which covers her legs, showing the gears hidden underneath.
She slowly stood up and wiped the blood on the side of her lip, grinning at her opponent with her broken mask.
Her right eye has been exposed when Shane was able to land her dagger on the area. A small yet deep cut on her forehead has been bleeding which were creeping down her cheeks.
Trickle.
Trickle.
Trickle.
The flooring to where she stood started bathing some fresh blood.
Shane grinned, looking at her opponent's legs.
"You're stilettoes will break soon," she taunted. "Best of luck."
"Hmm..." she chuckled. "That sculpted coiffure of yours will also burn soon. Best wishes."
"Oh really?" Shane tittered. "Mind giving me an illustration?"
"With pleasure," the lady answered and pulled a 1 foot long stick from her back, and waved it sidewards.
Shane took a step back when a blue, thin light appeared on its edge and to her surprise, the stick turns out to be a light fucking saber which measured at least a meter long.
"Surprised?"
Shane grimaced, knowing the fact that she won't be of a match with her with that lightsaber with only one poisoned needle and one left dagger. The rest broke.
The lady started to step forward, but Shane didn't lose her composure and pulled out the remaining dagger she have left.
"I'm so not dying tonight!" She muttered and started with a fighting stance to counter her opponent's attack.
The lady took her first strike good thing Shane was able to dodge it or she'll have a serious injury. The thing's burning hot, it will definitely burn human flesh.
Shane leaped back to distance herself from her opponent, but then she was able to catch up with her swiftly and kept on giving her vigorous attacks.
"Ugh!"
She groaned when the laser touched her forearm when she tried to dodge it with her dagger. Wincing, she took another step back to retain another interval, but the stinging pain stopped her.
"Had enough?" The lady mocked when she saw her struggling.
Shane took the dagger with her other hand so she won't drop it.
"Minor injuries can't bring a queen down, thank you very much," she grinned, trying not to make the pain visible on her face.
"Then, I supposed majors can. Get ready, this will your last moments," the lady marked and drastically attacked her which she manage to block rightaway.
"Degrading me..." Shane winced and pushed the lady away. "Is the least thing you should do!"
* * *
"No signs of her, Se! How about there?" Eun shouted.
"Neither here," Seiji shook his head and looked at the other direction.
They sneaked towards the nearest corridor, crossing the empty hall, towards the veranda.
Eun opened the door leading outside and the cold wind brushed against their cheeks. The two stepped out and eyed everything in sight as they walked up to the edge of the porch.
"That's weird..." Seiji muttered. "No one's here when this place isn't even prohibited."
"Maybe the guests were just enjoying the show inside," Eun ntoned, caressing the rough pole near him.
"No, hyung. I sense something wrong," Seiji disagreed. "This place is just halls away from the venue. This should have been guarded by securities but no one's here."
He stepped down the Bermuda grass which covers the whole lone and continued searching for probable answer.
"There must be something here," he muttered.
"AHHH!"
Seiji immediately looked back in horror when Eun screamed. He was sitting on the ground and was pointing something that must have been scared him to death. Seijib instantaneously ran to help him up.
"What happened, hyung?!" He wailed.
Eun looked so nervous and pale that even a thin air can already blow him down.
"T-they're dead!" Eun stuttered, pointing something in front.
Seiji looked at the direction and was taken aback when he saw two dead guards crumpled in one corner behind the bushes.
Their throats were slit open and their bodies seems to be twisted like they were thrown inside a crushing machine.
The two of them sat there like statue until Seiji looked away to catch his soul who's about to leave his body.
"We have to find her now!" Seiji marked through dried throat and was about to turn around when they heard thuds somewhere.
"What was that?!" Eun cringed as they help themselves up.
"We better find out!"
The two ran towards the direction straightaway to check what the commotion is all about and the scenery stopped them from going further.
"What in the—" Eun wasn't able to finish what he was saying when they arrived at the place.
It was just around the corner, right in the public lady's comfort room which don't look like one anymore. The place has been totally wrecked down. The doors were all over the ground, debris went flying everywhere indicating a brutal war, and water pipes were all broken sending gushes of water all over the place.
"What happened here?" Eun gasped. "I'm calling the cops!"
He was about to take his phone out when something moved under the debris and to their surprise, Shane crept out, swiping the deadwoods away.
"What a drag!" She hissed, brushing the wet dirt off her face.
Her garment was all torn, leaving only a piece of cloth covering the small part of her breast and buttocks. Her body covered with cuts and bruises, and none of them knew what happened exactly.
The two batted their eyes as they watched her walk towards a pile of debris nearby and pulled a girl out by her hair—the lady in black mask—ans slammed her against the floor.
Her body bounced once due to the impact before laying still. Shane sat on the lady's belly and pulled the light saber out of her stomach, slowly, so that the lady could feel every moment she makes.
She arced in pain the moment the lightsaber has been completely removed.
"Surprise," Shane scoffed, her voice went low and husky. "Even major injuries can't drag me down."
A grin crept into her lips as she remove her opponent's mask and winced in contempt when she saw the words tattooed accross her opponent's face.
"Blood on rain!" She groaned as she read the message.
She glanced at the light saber she's holding when she realized that the water from the broken pipes is raining the whole place.
"This is the rain that person is talking to?" Her teeth gritted in rage. "YOU AIN'T THE ONE ARE YOU?!"
The lady chortled through short, painful breath. "D-Do you actually think the m-master would waste its time for a weakling like y-you?" She taunted. "You haven't even saved Taesoo from death even your beloved leader, Jungmyeo–UGHHH!"
The lady wailed in pain when Shane dug the light saber back to her stomach. She looked at the her with her darkband blank eyes, slowly twisted the light saber inside her flesh which drove her in so much pain.
"UGHHH!!" Her cries echoed through the space they are in.
"Who's behind all of these?" She muttered.
The lady is already wincing in pain but she was still able to plaster a smirk.
"Start talking or God help us all."
"N-not even in your w-wildest dreams!" She growled.
"Very well."
Shane pulled the light saber out and raised it skywards with both hands.
"SHANE NO!" Seiji and Eun screamed in chorus and was about to stop her but they're too late.
Blood spattered across her face the moment she stroke the saber on the lady's neck. The two froze on their spots.
No one was able to talk. Sizzles from the pipes were the only thing that can be heard. Everything was in silence until Shane spoke.
"You shouldn't have come," she said. "You, guys, shouldn't have seen what kind of person I truly am."
Tears formed on her eyes, tightening her grasp on the saber.
"I'm so sorry. Things are leaving me no choice," she mubbles."I tried protecting you. I really did but now, I am no longer certain if I can still figure everything out."
Shane is soaking wet but her tears can still be seen through the droplets of water rolling in her cheeks. She slowly stood up and walked away without throwing them a look.
"Eris Scarlevounoir."
Shane gasped, stopping at one pace, when Eun called her by her real name. She slowly turnes around to look at him.
"Eris. Shane," he said, meeting her halfway and looked at her directly in the eyes.
"No matter what your real name is. No matter what you are, no matter how dark your past is, you're still our over-protective, strict, caring, cold, loving, manager-nim."
Eun was already wet when he wiped the remaining blood stains on Shane's cheek and smiled, lips still trembling.
"Your past makes you for who you are now, Shane, and as far as I can see, what you were showing us is the real you—the manager-nim who used to scold us out and protect us."
Shane remained staring at him, knowing nothing to say.
"H-how did you..."
"I know everything..."