9 Layers Down (Twice)

Chapter 16 - A Pretty Face with Bloody Hands

Tzuyu was put in next. He was aware of how brave and cold this one is and he adores her for that.

The lights turned off as Tzuyu positioned herself at the center of the room. He was nowhere to be found.
Suddenly, a video played via projector.
It's a home video of a child. Tzuyu realized it was the son of the couple she killed in an accident. 

"Grandpa, when is mom and dad coming home?" The innocent child asked.

"They're uh- they're not gonna be coming home for a pretty long time, Ren. But, it's okay. Grandpa and grandma will be here to take care of you." The old man gave him a comforting smile but the kid only pouted. There's this undeniable sadness in his eyes.

"But I miss them. So much."

"I know. We do too."

She expected Mr. Choi to torture her mentally just like what he did to the others but it still got into her. She had to swallow the lump that's caught on her throat and take a deep breath to at least calm herself down.

"You know in this world where everyone hates criminals," His annoying know-it-all words filled the room as the lights turned on. "I am the only one who believes that you didn't do anything wrong. This is a utopia for a sinner like you, Tzuyu. In this place, you're understood and loved. We're both evil and we belong to this place. Why don't you stay with me and be wife?"

The girl scoffed and regarded him with a huge amount if disgust and coldness.
"I'd die first before I do that disgusting idea. You fancy yourself the nice guy who would take care of us but you're not, Mr. Choi. You're just deeply
engraged and resetful man because everyone hasn't loved you the way you think you deserve."

"We want the same things, Tzuyu."

"No we don't. Maybe in the past but not anymore. You made me meet these girls and despite the fact that you're evil, you have taught me something good. And that's compassion and loving unconditionally even though we seem to be in the darkest part of the world."

"Look at you, trying to play dirty with the devil. I'm so proud of you, Tzuyu. You have always been on the side of the evil despite of the nonsese you're trying to pull right now. I have always known you as the bad girl."

"Always. Words like always are absolutes. Using them is a way to reinforce what we wanna believe. Tell me, Mr. Choi, has it ever crossed your mind, that these girls you forced to lock in this place, could be the people who might murder you one day?"

"What the hell is wrong with her?" Nayeon questioned.

"She's trying to get herself killed, basically." Jeongyeon responded with a look of disbelief on her face.

The man smirked.
"Definitely. And if that day comes, I'd have a beautiful smile on my face. With nothing in mind but the thought of success. That I have accomplished my mission."

"Bullshit. Find someone stupid who'll buy that. You're just a useless fucking moron who's ultimately, afraid of being alone."

There's this wickedness in her eyes that pushed him to the edge. A memory of his dead wife, telling him the same things, played in his head. She had the same coldness in her voice. A kind that's burrying him in a pit of mockery and humiliation.
His face began to redden due to anger.

He tried to kill her by pinning her against the wall while his hands wrapped around her neck but stopped halfway, realizing how prescious this girl is.
"I can't- I won't, I won't let you die." He breathed deep. 

When he was about to leave her, she took that chance to have her revenge. She kicked his crouch and hit him with a chair. She wanted to get the gun from the table but he managed to hold her feet, making her stumble. She was still trying her best to get the gun. And when she succeeded, she aimed it on him. He tried to take it away from her. But she managed to kick him and shoot him on the torso. He didn't even flinch.