Chapter 25 - Derek
She turns the corner and moves out of view and I feel sick to my stomach. I have no idea what the fuck is going on and the panic in the room is starting to get to me. The gunshots - if that’s what they are - are getting closer. I look at Lee and frown.
“Why did you stop me?” I ask in a furious whisper.
He shoots me a glance but says nothing. He turns to the man beside him and says a few words in Korean. Another loud bang makes me jump and I turn towards the door.
“Lee, they’re getting closer. We need to get out of here.”
“We will,” he answers back, but he doesn’t move. What is he waiting for! Another bang makes me jump out of my chair. I look back towards the door and see the guards standing in front of it, armed and ready. They’re pointing their guns at the closed door and yelling at each other in Korean. I don’t know the words but I can guess what they’re saying.
“Lee, what the fuck are you waiting for??”
Lee turns to me and sees the panic in my eyes. He looks completely calm, like we’re still just having a dinner together. He turns to the Supreme Leader and they exchange a few words. Kim Jong-un nods slightly and Lee stands up. He bows slowly and then turns to me.
“We can go now,” he says in English.
My eyes are wide when I stare at him. I have no idea what’s happening, and he seems to think this is all par for the course.
“Please follow your guide to the hotel, Mister Hart,” Kim says to me. I glance at him and then at Lee.
“I.. uh. Ok.” I frown. “Thank you for… everything.” Is that what I’m supposed to say??
Kim nods his head slightly and I look at Lee, who makes a move towards the door on the opposite side of the room from where Ellie went. I follow him without saying a word.
“What the fuck was that about, Lee??” I spit at him as soon as we’re through the door. “What were you waiting for? There’s fucking gunshots going off!”
Lee stops walking suddenly and spins on his heels towards me. His eyes are blazing, and his voice is a strained whisper. He puts his face inches from mine when he speaks.
“We must be very careful, Mr. Hart. This place is more dangerous than you know. The gunshots are not the biggest worry. The number one priority is always to keep the Supreme Leader happy. Until we are out of this place, until we are free there is no other priority. A gunshot will be a welcome relief to what these people will do to you.”
We stare at each other for a few seconds as I process what he’s saying.
“What are you talking about, Lee! Ellie’s gone, they took her who knows where, and now we’re being attacked! How can you say that’s not the priority?!” The blood is boiling in my veins as my fear turns to anger. I can’t stand not knowing what the plan is and not understanding what’s going on.
“You must always remember that in this country, what matters most is appearances. If the Supreme Leader is saying that nothing is wrong, then nothing is wrong.”
“Even when there’s people shooting the fucking place up?!” This is ridiculous. “Who is even shooting?! Lee. Tell me what the fuck is going on.”
“Let’s go. The walls have ears.”
He turns around and starts walking down the hallway. I hurry to catch up. We wind our way through the hallways. We turn a corner and six or seven infantrymen come rushing towards us. Lee presses himself against the wall and throws his arm across me so I do the same. My heart jumps to my throat as they get closer, but they pass without a word towards the main hall.
Lee looks at me and nods, and then keeps going. He speeds up until we’re both moving at a light jog. I can sense the nervousness in his steps, and the frustration of not knowing where we’re going or what’s happening is starting to gnaw at me.
Finally we turn another corner and Lee stops in front of a small, worn door. He knocks lightly three times and glances up and down the hallway. His fingers are drumming against his leg. I’ve never seen him fidget or move like this - he’s always been poised and deliberate in his actions.
If he’s nervous, I can only imagine the danger we’re in. His words echo in my mind and I think about what he really means. If gunshots aren’t our biggest worry, how much danger have we been in this whole time!?
He glances up and down the hallway one more time and finally the door swings open. He rushes in and pulls me with him, closing the door quickly behind me. My eyes take a few seconds to adjust to the dim light and I glance around the room. A figure is standing in the back corner and I wait for my eyes to make out who it is.
The relief floods through me as I breathe the name that’s been on my lips for the past three weeks.
“Ellie.”