Rage

Prologue

The night's starry sky gives way to the morning light as the sun rises, marking the transition with a breathtaking display of colours and renewing the world with a sense of hope and anticipation.

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A sharp pang sliced through my back as I awoke, the memory of the previous evening's encounter with Kim clawing at the edges of my consciousness. Morning's delicate hues had just begun to dance on the horizon, but my lips were sealed, not out of reluctance to speak but out of fear of the repercussions that might unfold. The dawn painted the sky with hesitant strokes as I grappled with the turmoil within. Abducted on a stormy day, she found herself in a pitch-black cellar, restrained in a chair with her mouth and eyes covered. Despite struggling to escape, she remained trapped. A mysterious voice instructs her to open her chains, revealing a familiar figure that startles her. The situation escalates as emotions flare, leading to a tense confrontation. Upon opening her eyes, she spots a familiar figure, causing her eyes to widen. He grips Fang's jaw, his nerves evident. Suddenly, he loses his temper and shouts, "How dare you!" She looks at him tearfully, uttering, "Kesong-li-?" Confused, he responds with a puzzled "Huh?"

Fang's hands were firmly bound to the headboard by the guards, and an expression of agony etched across her face as she met the penetrating gaze of the onlooker. The interrogator, confident in his ability to extract information, declared, "I know how to get the answers from your mouth!" The room fell silent as the men closed the door behind them, leaving the two figures alone.

Avoiding the intensity of his manly look, she shifted her gaze to the side, unaware that this move put her at a precarious disadvantage. The vulnerability in her posture was evident when her knees buckled under the weight of the situation. Despite the gravity of the circumstances, the interrogator, with an unsettling tone, remarked, "You're so pretty," further intensifying the discomfort in the room.

"Why don't you strike a bargain with me?" he proposes.

"If you marry me, I won't file a police report," he suggests, intertwining the personal with the legal.

"Why would you think that? I'd marry South Korea's haughty, cold president," she retorts with a hint of sarcasm, pointing out his self-centred demeanour reflected in his grumpy expression and perfect shot. Kim, sneering, questions, "Do you even have a choice left?" He highlights the potential consequences of her background, emphasising the difficulty she would face in securing employment or a reputable position.

"What do you know about me?" she demands angrily. Kim responds with solemn certainty, "I am well acquainted with you," implying a depth of understanding that adds an air of mystery to the situation.

Name: Xiao Fang

Age: 23

Occupation: Martial Arts Specialist

Recent personal loss: My mother passed away not long ago

Despite the government's lack of support for criminals escaping from prison illegally, you successfully made it out alive. I am offering assistance by providing you with a position as a house nurse at the mansion.

Fang cynically chuckles, asserting that life experiences, rather than what is learned from books, do not define who they are.

You accuse me of being a criminal without knowing anything about me, all because I left a prison campus that caused immense harm, resulting in numerous deaths and ruined lives. With bloodshot eyes, I gaze down at Kim, whose mood is dismal and ominous. "Did you forget the accident footage? Your scooter collided with my car, causing irreparable damage and leaving me crippled, condemned to a life in a wheelchair. You were never the woman I was destined to marry, and now I'm utterly powerless.

However, the purpose of our conversation isn't to dwell on past grievances. I am willing to assist you for six months. If you can help me recover and regain the use of my legs, we can part ways amicably, and our respective affairs will remain private. Fang laughs dismissively. "Do you really think I'm a magician? I'm neither a doctor nor a nurse; a full recovery is impossible. Just let me be free."

"Why not seize the opportunity of my fantastic offer at this very moment?" Kim interjects, granting Fang the option to depart solo.

"I'll only consider your marriage proposal under specific conditions," Fang asserts.

"What are these conditions?" Kim inquires.

"You must publicly acknowledge me as your wife," Fang declares.

Kim's expression tightens. "Okay, but..."

"I have my own set of requirements and guidelines," he declares with a mocking smirk. Her voice trembles as she orders, "Untie this rope."

"Sweetheart, my sentence isn't over yet!" The other person retorts dismissively, but she responds with a nonchalant, "Who cares?" pacing her composure.

"Please pay attention because you should not go outside until I tell you to. Second, you'd take my advice. Third, always adhere to my instructions. Fourth, never attempt to depart this location." As he walks away, he leaves Fang shattered into bits and pieces.

Amidst the aftermath, she realises she's choking.

In her misery, she finds herself too overwhelmed to ask for help.

"As she closed her eyes, she found herself confronted by the worst nightmare imaginable—a loaming darkness that gradually sought to envelop her. Despite her efforts to grasp and dispel it, she remained trapped, hindered by the pervasive anxiety that intensified her dread of the concealed torment."