jangmi (장미) ● taejoon

s e v e n t y t h r e e.

  Jangmi screamed as the woman dragged her by the hair into the motel in the middle of god knows where. She cried in pain as she struggled to get up the stairs without stumbling from the hard grip yanking on her scalp. Her chocolate brown hair was wrapped around a fist tightly, it was long enough to be used as a makeshift leash.

Hann dragged her upstairs to a room at the end of the hallway. Knocking three times before an immediate answer from a tall man dressed in military like uniform. She shoved the little girl inside first before stepping in. "... Ma'am," she bows.

Jangmi fell onto the carpet, letting her hair fall over her face in relief from the pain. Her shoulders jolted when she hiccuped from her cries. Her chest heaves.

In front of her sat a elegant woman on a creaky motel bed. Wearing a soft pink dress that cascaded down her slim arms and stopped at knee length, a Snow-White coat beside her, along with white heels that stood along side her dainty feet. She had chocolate hair the same length as Jangmi's - it dangled over her entire back.

She smiles at the little girl who came into the room. "... My angel~" she calls out, holding out a hand. "Come to mommy."

Jangmi trembles as she looks back at Hann who stares daggers into her innocent soul, and the bodyguard who holds a shotgun to his chest. She struggles to stand up with her shaking small body before shuffling to her mother hesitantly. She grabs her hand and she dives in for a hug, sobbing into her stomach in fear.

Her mother interprets it as longing as she pats the girl's head and hums softly. "I'm back now... We can finally go home together," she says with a voice light as feathers. "Your grandparents miss you dearly."

"I-I don't wanna," Jangmi whispers with a hiccup. "... I wanna stay with papa."

The parting of her head stops, and the sounds similar to a snake hiss rise from the mother's throat. "That man isn't your father. Don't you want to stay with Mama? You know I love you, I care for you unlike that bastard. I show you love, don't you want that? Mama knows best, my angel."

Jangmi flinches before shoving her face deeper to try her hide herself. "... Yes, mama," She says with trembling lips. " 'M sorry, Mama."

"Good girl," Her mother cooes, "Our flight back home is tonight, we'll be home before you know it."

"P-Please don't hurt papa or daddy," Jangmi begs quietly. "I'll go home with you..."

"Oh my, look at you. Papa doesn't love you, sweetheart," The woman shakes her head, "He only loves that man, he doesn't love you or me. He never loved you. That's why you're staying with me, I love you so so much."

Jangmi's reply was silence. Too scared to say another word.

"Hann, come," Jangmi's mother demands, and seconds later watches as Hann steps into the room and bows to the lady.

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Your work here is done," She sighs softly before smiling, "I would've let you go and continuing operating, but you're just too goddamn messy. How dare you leave bruises on my daughter, look at her. Look at her, Hann. A little blood doesn't hurt much, but she's such a dirty mess. You don't know how to stay tidy, so you're worthless."

"Ma'am, I got your daughter just like you asked. You didn't tell me how you wanted me to bring her-"

Jangmi squeaked when her mother pulled out a pistol from her jacket. Not having enough time to look away before she saw Hann's eyes roll back into her skull, and a loud bang erupting from her hands.

Hann stands there in complete silence, her eyes roll back till white. Her shoulders slump, blood dripping down her forehead with a gaping hole in her skin. Jangmi could see the flesh wounded by the simple bullet, her eyes growing wide in horror as she bursted into trembles and buried her face into her mother's stomach. She began to sob, and sob loudly in terror. Smelling the smoke from the pistol.

"She's my fucking daughter, it's common sense I want her all dolled up."

[unedited]