She’s in a neighbourhood she shouldn’t be in. The houses are too big, the cameras pan too far. In the past three weeks she’s learned that being caught on camera is perhaps the worst mistake she could make. They had access to all security footage, whether private property or government owned. She’s not sure how they managed, but it was the only explanation behind their constant following in her shadows. The only reason she’s still free is due to the fact that They’ve already caused enough of a ruckus this week in an attempt to catch her. More violent attacks will lead to the destruction of their secrecy when the public and media begins to put two and two together. For once, things seemed to be looking up. Jinah however had very little hope in how long her luck would last.
It’s exactly why she’s been whipping rocks at the lens of every security camera she spots. The visible ones were easy targets, but it’s due to the hidden ones that she’s ducking around every corner, hat casting shadows over her features. With head down she scurries along the sidewalk, attempting to map her every move. This wasn’t intentional – getting lost was never intentional. She has yet to learn enough landmarks to lead her around Seoul with ease, but usually this doesn’t happen. She doesn’t typically stray far from the makeshift residence her only trusted companion had readied for her. It was sheer carelessness that led her into unmarked territory. Streets she didn’t know, faces she didn’t want to see.
Faces including the one whom her shoulder had brushed too roughly. The impact knocked Jinah off balance but she’s quick to regain her posture by gripping a hand around the stranger’s arm. Her realization sinks in a second too late and she hastily lets go to shove her hands into her pockets. Her throat’s already growing dry, but she knows she has to play it off as naturally as possible. Avoid all attention, attempt to divert any suspicion. Two other things she had learned. (She’d learned quite a lot in the span of a few days.)
“I can see why. I’m assuming the residents here have been here for a while, and why would anyone want to give up something like this?” She’s mastered the art of a natural laugh, and one rolls off her tongue with slight force. Keeping a steady tone and calm demeanor is excruciatingly painful when one lives under constant fear. “Big place, but kind of intimidating. Do you live around here? Maybe you can help me, I kind of stumbled in accidentally and have been walking in circles since.” She’s making casual conversation but behind tinted sunglasses she’s taking the time to scrutinize the woman before her.
Friend or foe? As of now, it was safe to assume the latter. False security was never a good option.
Haeri had to turn and glance while spinning to take a look at said neighborhood that no one would want to give up on. She’d do it, in a heartbeat. It was too big, too quiet, too disapproving of many things and eyes could be watching you even when you weren’t expecting to be seen. She would know, she’s caused enough chaos in this neighborhood as a kid to know that. Most of them weren’t happy when she came back, they seriously hold grudges too. Must be because of what she said, ah yeah, that they never fucking moved out of their houses.
“Kinda boring if you ask me, I’d rather see the world than be stuck here, but that’s not why I said that, it’s because you literally didn’t see me coming and you’re walking, they don’t walk. Unless it’s to walk their pets, which sometimes it’s the maids who do that you know, I wonder how they even keep healthy, can’t be healthy.” She purses her mouth to stop the rest of her rambling, which would have held no importance whatsoever to where she had to get. She had a point to get to right? She started with the fact that the girl was walking, oh yeah, she did.
“Sorry, sorry, I do that, talk a lot, it’s why they see me coming before they even so much as brush you know shoulders,” That she’s rubbing where she bumped against the other as she grins, sheepish. It’s a lie, it’s not why they avoid her like the plague it’s because of what she says when she talks. They’ve learned their lessons from taking shit about her mother or her family, or her, or anything that’s related to why she was sent away for that reason. “But you said you were lost? Happened to me all the time when I was a kid, I hated staying in though so you’ve hit the right person, I know even the creepiest shortcuts.”
But why would even the creepiest shortcuts be an option? Not an option Haeri move on, and she’s doing that stepping ahead of the other and tilting her head to show that she’ll lead them out of here. “Come on Alice, let’s not get you deeper into these woods, they’re not safe, or some shit like that, you can’t be red riding hood, you dont know anyone here, so Alice fits, right? Dumbly followed a bunny, fell in a hole, hey I could be the Cheshire cat, I’d rather be the Cheshire cat.” She reaffirms, nodding more to herself as she pulls on the straps of her bag.