Troll

‌⁠♡⁩ TL: Khadija SK

 

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The man said that and then grabbed Jin-ah by her hair. Even in the chaotic situation, the words he spoke were crystal clear.

 

“You’re next.”

 

There was no need to ask what he meant by that. It was obvious.

 

“No! Let me go!”

 

When Jin-ah screamed, the man let go of her hair. It was at that moment, just as she thought she was free.

 

Thud!

 

With a terrible pain, her vision turned white. The world spun, and before she knew it, the ground was right in front of her face.

 

“Cough!”

 

A rough cough escaped as she realized she’d been punched by the man. While she blinked in confusion, trying to grasp what had just happened, the staff who had come with her ran over, startled.

 

But they were quickly stopped by the employees managing the 14th floor.

 

Soon, other staff members rushed in. The employees who had come with Jin-ah were subdued by them and shoved into the elevator. Then, they disappeared from sight.

 

Thud!

 

At that moment, a dull sound hit the back of her head as she lay on the floor, and pain surged again.

 

Jin-ah curled up, wrapping her hands around her head. She couldn’t think of anything. The only thing she could do now was try to defend herself against the blows that might keep coming.

 

As expected, the assault didn’t stop with one hit. The hard tip of a shoe kicked her back and sides again. Groaning, Jin-ah curled up even tighter.

 

Just a few minutes ago, she’d been quietly fiddling with her phone in the kitchen. While it was a bit boring, she thought it was a decent day, earning an hourly wage just by sitting still.

 

But now, why…?

 

Her mind refused to accept the sudden situation.

 

“Damn it, you have to beat them for them to listen.”

 

Laughter echoed above Jin-ah’s frozen head, paralyzed with fear. In her field of vision, lying on the ground, she saw employees wearing hotel uniforms.

 

She had always seen how professional they were at their work.

 

Whenever even a hint of disturbance arose in the hotel, they would quickly intervene, mediate, or handle the situation. But now, those same staff members were just watching her as she lay collapsed, doing nothing.

 

“Ugh!”

 

In the meantime, the man kicking Jin-ah, grabbed her arm and dragged her as if pulling along prey.

 

He entered a nearby room and threw her onto the edge of the bed. Then, he began rummaging beside the bed, seemingly searching for something.

 

During that time, Jin-ah staggered to her feet. Through her spinning vision, she saw a woman lying on the bed.

 

The woman was sprawled out with her legs spread apart—a sight that unmistakably indicated she had been through something horrifying.

 

But what truly made Jin-ah freeze in shock were the small bruises on the woman’s arm. Next to her, a syringe lay discarded.

 

It wasn’t hard to guess what that meant.

 

At that moment, the man turned around. In his hand was a syringe identical to the one lying next to the unconscious woman.

 

The man smiled slyly at Jin-ah.

 

“The worn-out ones aren’t any fun. But you… you might be interesting. It’s been a while since someone made such a fuss about not wanting this.”

 

With that, he took a step closer.

 

“My father said not to touch civilians, but… it’s almost Christmas, isn’t it? I’ll tell him I dealt with this quietly instead of getting me a gift.”

 

“Ugh…”

 

Jin-ah wanted to scream right then, but all she could manage was a low groan through her chattering teeth.

 

She stared blankly at the approaching man before instinctively turning and running away.

 

‘I have to escape.’

 

That was the only thought left in her mind.

 

She pushed herself forward despite her staggering legs and emerged into the hallway. But with the pain from being kicked, her blurry vision, and her injured legs, nothing worked in her favor.

 

She didn’t make it far before the man grabbed her hair again.

 

As she struggled violently, her chef’s uniform buttons popped off, leaving the front flapping open. The man’s expression changed—not with sympathy, but with amusement.

 

“This is fun. Maybe next year, I’ll try hunting outdoors. Who was it that had a hunting ground? Stripping them naked and making them run would be even more entertaining.”

 

The man threw Jin-ah back onto the bed and pinned her down with his body. From the syringe he held, a clear droplet fell from the tip.

 

“Don’t be so scared. Soon enough, you’ll be begging for more, licking my shoes.”

 

Just as he grabbed her arm and brought the syringe closer,

 

“Aaaahhh!”

 

The man screamed in pain as something sharp scraped down his arm, causing him to topple to the side. Jin-ah quickly got up and slipped out from under him.

 

In her hand was another syringe that had been lying on the bed.

 

“You—!”

 

The man gritted his teeth as blood seeped out from the torn shirt on his side. Jin-ah scrambled off the bed and began throwing anything she could grab from the nearby table at him.

 

Plates and the food on them flew through the air, hitting the man’s face.

 

“Die, you psycho! Get lost!”

 

English and Korean curses poured endlessly from Jin-ah’s lips. When there was nothing left to throw, even trays, telephones, and other decorations flew in his direction.

 

“You b*tch!”

 

The man shielded himself with his arms while trying to grab her. At that moment, someone appeared. Standing in shock was the sous-chef.

 

He glanced between Jin-ah and the man before rushing inside.

 

“Help me…!”

 

Before she could finish speaking, the sous-chef punched Jin-ah in the stomach.

 

The sous-chef was a large man, and his powerful punch left Jin-ah breathless.

 

As she collapsed to her knees, coughing violently, the sous-chef pressed his knee into her back and tied her wrists with a napkin he picked up nearby.

 

Then, he turned to the man who had been trying to assault her and said,

 

“She won’t be causing any more trouble now.”

 

“You crazy bastard! Let me go! I’ll report all of you!”

 

Jin-ah struggled, but the sous-chef pressed harder on her back with his knee.

 

“Ugh!”

 

The sous-chef’s malicious actions rendered Jin-ah silent, her breath caught in her throat. Seemingly satisfied with her reaction, he applied even more pressure.

 

It felt as though her spine was about to snap, and her chest was crushed under his weight, leaving her unable to breathe.

 

With no strength left to resist, Jin-ah’s body went limp. The sous-chef looked at the man as if seeking praise for what he had done, like a loyal servant.

 

The man, noticing the sous-chef wearing the same kitchen uniform as Jin-ah, laughed as if finding the situation even more amusing.

 

He reached into a bag next to the bed, pulled out a handful of cash, and tossed it at the sous-chef.

 

The sous-chef eagerly picked it up, stuffed it into his pocket, and stood up. He then lifted Jin-ah and threw her back onto the bed before quickly leaving the room.

 

Just before stepping out, his eyes met Jin-ah’s. He smirked, then disappeared beyond the hallway.

 

“Well, shall we start again? I’m curious how long you can keep struggling like this.”

 

The man picked up the syringe Jin-ah had dropped and climbed back on top of her. He grabbed her knees.

 

Jin-ah could see his face filled with excitement.

 

Overcome by instinctual disgust, she twisted her body and screamed, but the man, seeming to find it amusing, deliberately rubbed himself against her body.

 

“We haven’t even started yet, and you’re already reacting like this. What are you going to do later?”

 

With that, the man swung his hand.

 

Slap!

 

Jin-ah’s head was forcefully turned by the slap.

 

Her head now faced the hallway. There were people on the other side. Just hours, or perhaps minutes ago, those who had worked alongside her would never come if she called now.

 

She could tell from the sous-chef’s submissive attitude.

 

It was clear this man held considerable power in this place.

 

So, in order to escape this situation, someone with more power than this man was needed.

 

But among those who had that kind of power, no one would help her. Distant screams, moans, and commands echoed from other rooms. The only people on this floor were men like him.

 

“Ugh, mmm…”

 

She fought desperately to hold on, but as the fear of helplessness took over, her body gradually lost strength.

 

She wanted help. She didn’t care who, but she desperately wished someone would come to her aid in this situation. But she didn’t know whom to call or if anyone would even rescue her.

 

The tip of the syringe the man was holding gleamed under the light. Looking at it, Jin-ah realized why these kinds of events never make the news. The victim was made an accomplice, unable to report what was happening.

 

“Now, don’t cry. Aren’t you a good girl?”

 

She realized the man knew she was crying by the disgusting tone of his voice. The tears never fully formed, instead leaking out as ragged breaths.

 

It was at that moment she felt a sharp coldness at the end of her arm.

 

Thud!

 

With a dull sound, the man who had been pressing down on Jin-ah’s body disappeared.

 

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