Smack.
With a sound like the air tearing apart, my cheek flared up as if set on fire. Searching for the cause of this sudden pain, I lifted my head—and there, in front of me, stood a small-framed woman with her straight hair tied back. For some reason, I was clutching her slender wrist. My mind snapped awake the moment I noticed the glimpse of underwear showing through her loosened clothes.
I hastily let go of her wrist. Her reddened eyes brimmed with disgust as she clutched her collar closed. She bit her lip before spitting out,
“Trash.”
The fury in her gaze was so intense it looked like tears of rage would spill any moment. I froze, dumbfounded, not knowing how to respond to such hatred from someone I had never even seen before. While I stood there, paralyzed and unable to comprehend why she despised me, she turned her back and walked away. Watching her receding figure, I belatedly touched my stinging cheek.
“…That hurts.”
I held my cheek and looked around. It seemed to be an alley by some shops, but I had no idea why I was standing there. On top of that, the clothes I was wearing—a leather jacket and ripped jeans—were nothing I usually wore. My last memory was stumbling home half-asleep after a part-time shift, but now I was here, in this alley.
More than panic, an odd sense of dissonance washed over me.
That was when it happened. A cool scent drifted in as a voice, deep and rough, approached.
“I told you not to get in the way.”
The heavy sound of a man’s shoes filled the silent alley. Was he talking to me? I turned my head to see an unfamiliar man, cigarette dangling from his lips, staring at me. He was dressed in a flawless suit that matched his heavy voice.
The man spoke.
“Bark.”
Out of nowhere, he ordered me to bark. Was this supposed to be a joke? It wasn’t funny, but refusing might make it more awkward.
“…Woof?”
“……”
The air suddenly chilled.
‘That wasn’t it?’
Breaking the tense silence, the man flicked his cigarette butt straight at me. Startled, I tried to step back to avoid it, but before I could, a blow struck me with a force that made the slap from earlier pale in comparison. Shocked, I forgot how to speak. Pain shot through me, and when I raised my hands in defense, blood poured from somewhere—my nose, or maybe my mouth. My head began to spin.
“…?”
I lifted my gaze, wanting at least to know why I was being beaten. High above me, the man stared down, his eyes the color of the sea—an unnatural blue. Contact lenses nowadays looked so real.
The man said,
“Cleaning up will be a pain, but it’s better than letting you keep being an annoyance.”
While my mind reeled, he grabbed me by the collar. Panicking, I blurted out,
“Excuse me… sir.”
He frowned, so I quickly added, sincerely,
“Let’s talk this out instead.”
“You’re the one who doesn’t listen when spoken to.”
Me? When? That’s not true.
But arguing back would only get me hit again.
“I’ll behave.”
“……”
“I mean it…”
“What’s this trick now.”
My head spun, and without realizing it, I leaned forward until my forehead touched his arm. Somehow, resting there made it a little easier to breathe.
“…Just once, please…”
“…Tch.”
With a click of his tongue, he let go of my collar. My body, which had been leaning against his arm, wobbled and pitched forward. I thought for sure my nose would shatter against the ground—but then,
“You’ve got some nerve.”
A hand caught me around the waist, sparing my face. But I blacked out right there.
* * *
When I came to, I couldn’t see. Something was covering my eyes. My hands and feet were tied, the floor beneath me freezing cold. Where was I? I remembered being hit by strangers in the alley, but nothing after that.
‘It hurts… it’s so cold…’
Every part of me ached, and I was chilled to the bone. How did I end up like this?
Then the sound of a door opening reached me, followed by heavy footsteps. Someone had entered. Even without seeing, I could feel their gaze bearing down on me, and somehow I knew who it was—the man from the alley.
Suddenly, something tugged sharply at my neck, jerking my head up. Something was looped around my throat—hard, reeking of metal. A chain.
‘Why is this…?’
I couldn’t understand why a chain was around my neck.
The blindfold was removed. Though the place was dark enough not to hurt my eyes, I still couldn’t see clearly. Lost in thought, I flinched as sharp smacks rang out, my cheek blazing with pain.
“Still not coming to your senses.”
The voice was deep, almost pleasant, yet merciless. It was him. The man who had beaten me in the alley. Why was he still hitting me?
He asked,
“Should trash be burned, or buried?”
Too dazed to answer, I was yanked up by the chain around my neck. I couldn’t breathe, but he gave me no time to even register the pain.
“Answer.”
Pressed by his demand, I barely croaked out,
“…S-se… separate… c-collection… recycle…”
“I’ve no thought of recycling trash.”
You’re supposed to put regular trash in a bag and take it out on the scheduled day, or you’ll be fined….
I wanted to say that much, but all that left my mouth were groans of pain.
“What should I do, then.”
His low, dry voice held the trace of a laugh, sounding almost sweet.
When I lifted my gaze, his features blurred before me. For some reason, I felt I should beg for my life—but my lips wouldn’t move. Whether from the cold or the pain, my mouth was frozen shut. If only my hands weren’t tied, I could at least rub them together and grovel like a pitiful servant. But like this, I could do nothing, and the helplessness broke me.
Maybe that was why.
“Uuuh…”
Tears welled up and spilled over in torrents.
All I wanted was to go home after work, wash up, and sleep—yet I’d been slapped, chained, yanked around like raw poultry.
I promised I’d behave, but instead, here I was, bound in this freezing place.
“Sniff… uuhuh…”
“What are you doing.”
He didn’t seem to realize that speaking to someone in misery only makes them cry harder.
“Hic, huuhh.”
I couldn’t answer, only sob harder. Maybe from the cold, maybe from despair, my vision swam again. My body toppled backward, but with a click of his tongue, he caught me.
Warmth enveloped me, and I instinctively leaned into it. Sniffling as my sorrow eased a little, I felt him pause before carrying me somewhere. When the door opened and light spilled in, it was so blinding I shoved my face into his chest. His body twitched, but I didn’t care—it was too bright.
I don’t know how long I was carried like luggage. When he tried to set me down, I panicked and clung to his collar, refusing to let go. He stopped and said,
“I don’t get it.”
“…Me neither.”
I thought I heard him laugh faintly, but I didn’t check. I was too drained.
“Let go.”
His voice was cold. Certain he’d throw me back into that freezing dungeon if I obeyed, I clung tighter. Realizing why I was acting that way, he added,
“I won’t do anything right now. So let go.”
Trusting him, I released my grip. A soft surface cushioned me from below—it was a bed. Standing over me with arms crossed, he looked down. My body, unsure whether it was freezing or burning, ached all over. My breaths came hot even as I shivered.
Lying down sounded heavenly.
“Um…”
I spoke, and he tilted his head, signaling me to continue.
“…Can I sleep a little?”
“Are you insane? Do you still not get your situation?”
“…Yes.”
“What?”
He asked again, but I was too sick to answer. Dizziness turned to nausea, and I clamped my hand over my mouth.
“Uugh.”
“…Ha.”
I tried my hardest to endure, but he sighed. Realizing I might actually vomit on the bed, I grabbed his sleeve and begged,
“B-bath… ruuh… bathroom…”
Seeing I was at my limit, he picked me up again. The sudden motion nearly finished me off, and cold sweat broke out as I forced myself to hold it in.
“Why did I have to pick up trash like this.”
His voice rumbled in my ear, just as a toilet appeared before me. He pried my hand away from my mouth, and I immediately retched. Nothing came out but stomach acid, and afterward I was too weak to even lift a finger.
As I slumped, he sighed again and wiped my face. His touch was rough, but I couldn’t push him away. Once he dried me off, he lifted me once more and tossed me back onto the bed.
Fragile as I was, even the minor impact made me feel like my body would shatter. Trembling, I clutched the soft blanket for comfort.
‘Can I crawl under this blanket?’
The fluffy bed made me want to lie down so badly. I peeked at him, but his arms were crossed as he stared coldly down at me. Somehow, I doubted he’d allow it if I asked, so I stayed quiet.
Silence stretched. I was on the verge of fainting but forced myself to hold on—until he spoke.
“What did I say would happen if you showed up near Kang Ji-a again?”
“…Pardon?”
“……”
I hadn’t caught it the first time, so I asked again, but he didn’t repeat himself. My scattered mind struggled to recall his words. I’d been in trouble often enough for not catching things the first time. Still, I couldn’t stay silent forever, so I answered with what I thought I’d heard.
“…I’m scared of dogs, though.”
“……”