When The Phone Rings

Chapter 36

― Otherwise, as a stumbling block, I have to kill you first.”
“…!”
― “Trust me, I’m not joking.”

The same words kept ringing in Heeju’s year as she fell off the cliff. She flailed her arms desperately, but there was nothing to grab. The accident happened too fast for her to act.

“…!”

A heavy force hit her back, causing her to fall again and collide with a tree branch. Instinctively, she stretched out her arms to cling to something…anything..but her hands slipped away.

“Ughhh…!”

She tumbled through jagged rocks, then into a cavernous hole, finally landing with a sickening thud. Pain rippled through her body like an electric current.

“Haa… haah…!”

Through her blurred senses, a deep voice rumbled. Whether it was real or a hallucination, it didn’t matter to her anymore.

‘I’m here… help me…’

She gritted her teeth and reached out blindly. But the edges of her vision dimmed and then faded to black.

 

***

 

A biting chill seeped into her bones.

Her fingers twitched initially, brushing against the rough stone. Gradually, her senses returned, overwhelming her all at once.

Shreds of her clothing allowed the cold wind to cut into her skin like knives. Heeju’s head was throbbing and her vision was blurry. Her body was getting feverish.

Blood trickled from scrapes and bruises all over her body. Every attempt to move brought waves of agony.

When she finally opened her eyes, the sky beyond a canopy of leaves had turned pitch black.

‘How long was I unconscious? Where am I?’

The trees clinging to the cliffside must have cushioned her fall, ultimately dropping her into some cave. Yet seeing no rescue in sight, Heeju was able to presume that her current location was not easy to find.

“Ahhh…”

There was no one to blame but herself. The injustice of it all welled up as hot tears.

A howl pierced the air— an animal, distant yet foreboding. The oppressive darkness of the forest amplified every sound, each one a menacing reminder of her vulnerability.

‘I’m scared… I want to go home…’

But giving in to despair wasn’t an option. Her numbed legs refused to cooperate, so she resolved to move her upper body first.

A groan escaped her lips as she struggled with her backpack.

“My phone… I need to call for help. I’m sure someone will come…!”

Fumbling through the bag, she found her phone. Relief was short-lived, crashing down once she realized the battery was completely dead.

Of course. Her negligence in keeping the phone charged had come back to haunt her at the worst possible time.

“Of all times… now?!”

Her trembling hands reached back into the bag, only to find the second phone that she used to blackmail Sa-eon.

“T- This can’t be…”

A strangled whimper escaped her lips as dread took over.

It was akin to the devil’s fruit.

This wasn’t a device meant for seeking help. It was a tool of leverage, intimidation, and coercion.

‘This can’t be happening… I can’t use it… After coming so far, I can’t lose it all.’

“F*ck…”

But her options were very limited. She was feeling dizzy and dehydration was kicking in. If she passed out again, it could mean the end for her.

Eventually, that negotiation phone had become her lifeline.

 

***

 

Four grueling hours had passed since the search began. Seventeen pieces of equipment, over fifty personnel— yet not a single trace of Hong Heeju had been found.

“Last time, A Professor went missing and we found his body two days later. We assumed he fell off the cliff and died, but it was actually a suicide…”
“Hey, don’t jinx it! Watch what you say!”

Meanwhile, Baek Sa-eon remained in the thick of it, moving alongside the search teams. A former war correspondent with NRA shooting credentials, he was no stranger to terrains. Such operations were a piece of cake for him.

“Excuse me, Sir. Have you contacted the families of the missing??”
“Yes.”
“This mountain… it’s notorious for fatalities. If we can’t find her alive, we should at least let them mentally prepare for… receiving a body.”
“A body?”

His voice was flat, yet the weight of those words lingered in the air.

“I- I didn’t mean to…”
“Deploy the search dogs,” Baek Sa-eon interrupted. His movements were sharp and deliberate as he reached for the jacket tied around his waist.

“But we haven’t received the missing person’s clothing or items.”
“Then let’s start now.”
“What?”
“My clothes were tied around her waist.”

Sa-eon said while climbing the mountain as skilfully as the rangers.

“Let the dog smell me. Not just my clothes, my body odour too. We have been together since we boarded the bus. The shower gel probably smells the same as well.”

The man hesitated. “Shouldn’t we wait for approval from the family?”
“I am her husband.”
“…”

The man had nothing to reply. All he could do was bow and leave.

The entire time, Baek Sa-eon’s expression stayed the same. His face, stripped of any emotion, remained ashen.

Suddenly his phone buzzed. A quick glance revealed the caller ID: The Presidential Office.

Sa-eon’s stomach twisted in knots, knowing that even in moments like this, he had to control the media and do what he had to do as the Blue House spokesperson. He hated how reporters were still clinging to him like leeches to get explosive news.

“Spokesperson, your phone keeps ringing…”

The vibrations in the mountains at night were as loud as a hornet’s nest, and every now and then the heads of the crew turned toward the epicenter of the sound.

“Aren’t you going to answer it?”
“No.”

But Sa-eon wasn’t going to pick up such calls, because he had something more important to do.

“I’m waiting for a call.”

 

***

 

[ The number you’ve reached is either out of service or restricted. Please verify and try again ]

The negotiation phone couldn’t make emergency calls at all. Even emergency numbers like 112 and 119 couldn’t be reached. She had even tried dialing the Center’s number, but there was no response.

“Haa…”

This one phone call could save her life. The same device turned out to be both poison and salvation to her.

‘Of a….. How could I call my husband whom I’ve been threatening, for help…?’

Her heart raced, drowning out all thought.

‘Just how did I end up here? This far…?’

Heeju shook her head, trying to regain her composure. The sudden movement made her feel nauseous, but she had to stay conscious.

‘I can’t die here.’

Whether it was about life or death, or divorce, giving up was not an option now.

Ring! Ring!

So, Heeju decided to become “Kidnapper 406.” In this moment of crisis, she was no longer Heeju, she was 406.

“Ugh…”

Her hand holding the phone trembled.

‘Would it be alright if he picks up the phone.. or maybe..’

Amidst her train of thought, the line connected. And then she heard it— his voice.

“.…”

Was it because his low sigh came faster than his words? Tears quickly welled up in Heeju’s eyes. This call served as a connection between them and also acted as a barrier.

― “..You…”

It carried a mix of raw emotion—pain, anger, and something else entirely. The sound hit her harder than any of her injuries.

Her tears burned as they rolled down her cheeks. Despite everything, she had called him.

― “..I meant 406..”

That stiff yet trembling voice was different than usual. However, in this difficult time, Sa-eon’s voice came as a light.

“You told me to contact you if a body was found.”

She barely managed to suppress her sobs and continued.

“So, I’m calling you. Come and receive it.”

— “…What’s the situation? Is she fine?”

But his heart was also in turmoil. Baek Sa-eon took a deep breath, trying to steady his quivering voice.

“You’re not curious how I know all this?”

— “406 is always clever, so this isn’t surprising. Don’t you know Heeju’s situation like the back of your hand? More importantly, is she hurt? Where is Heeju? Has the location been confirmed?

He fired off a barrage of questions.

Just now… Why do I feel something’s amiss… Was that my imagination?

Heeju frowned and reiterated, “You know how good I am at tracking, right? Last time, I sent a fake delivery message to Heeju’s phone and made her install malware.”

Her vision began to blur. She started feeling nauseous. Even her speech turned i-coherent.

“T- That malware worked pretty well for spying… so I know she went to a w- workshop, but the location hasn’t changed for over five hours in the mountains. T- That’s whyy…”
— “That’s not what matters right now…”
“She’s probably unconscious.”

— “…!”

His usually calm voice suddenly became sharp and urgent.