Min Jin
I burst out laughing: my grandfather never disappoints.
Ava's face makes up for all the anger and frustration of having come here.
Unparalleled.
She has the expression of someone caught in a tornado.
Her usual composure shattered when the envelope was handed over.
I admit I'm curious to understand what's written, but I'm more interested in studying my relatives' expressions.
Annihilated is the right word.
Finding themselves locked in here with her and Rori has scared them to death.
And the prospect of fighting for an inheritance has paralyzed them.
Upon hearing of their ancestor's death, they may have thought they could easily cash in on a sum of money and live off it for the rest of their lives, but apparently they'll have to earn it.
And they've never worked.
Spoiled, foolish, selfish, parasites: that's what my cousins are.
Devoid of any personality, but with a hint of gratuitous malice that they've displayed at every opportunity and that, apparently, they unleashed on Rori upon my departure.
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from screaming.
In theory, I could do it, but I prefer to pretend to be on their side so I can understand what happened during these years I've been away.
Rori has her sister as a protective shield, and no one, not even the most combative relative, can do anything against her.
"Lawyer."
Ava is livid as she takes the letter and puts it in her pocket. "Whatever communication is in this envelope, it's addressed to a person who no longer exists. Therefore, I invite you—with good manners—to move that mountain of muscle covering the door and let my sister and I go. This isn't Seoul, but Los Angeles."
"The will invites you..."
"I don't care about the will or the Kim family. Open that damn door immediately or I'll alert every department of the LAPD on charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment, and cruelty."
Attorney Jung's eyes narrow, but his expression doesn't change.
He clears his throat.
"Miss Allen, I understand all your reasons, but if you read the letter, you'll understand the reason for this action."
"I don't want to understand it, or know what's written. I'm not a Kim!"
The man shakes his head.
"She is."
The terse sentence shocks the girl.
She clenches her fists and takes a couple of breaths.
"You're not family!" Susy protests, finding her voice again. "You... you... you're a snake brought into this family by my uncle, who wasn't even a Kim anymore!"
Ava whirls around, burning her with a look.
Susy steps back and hides behind her brother.
"One more word about my father and your life ends today."
There's a palpable tension in the air, and I see the others holding their words and their breath.
Ava can be ruthless with just a look. And they know it.
She meets my gaze, and her hatred grows.
She returns her attention to the lawyer.
"You are an heir, Miss Allen, since the will was drawn up when you still bore the surname Kim. Nothing has changed since then, except the collection methods. I ask you to read the letter and meet here tomorrow, all together, to discuss the ransom."
"Why an escape room?" I ask, taking a step forward.
One of the men hands me a dark envelope, distributing others to all the heirs.
"According to your grandfather, a person's worth emerges through hardship. If you overcome the trials created especially for you, you will be able to draw on the family legacy."
I pick up the envelope and turn it over in my hands.
It has a fair amount of weight, I must say.
I slip it into my pocket.
"Which room is my room?"
Attorney Jung lets out a quick smile.
"Your old rooms have been set up. This room will be the meeting point for every mission."
He bows and walks away, as the door is sealed behind him.
We all eye each other with suspicion and hatred, until Ava takes her sister's hand and approaches one of the men.
"Open up!" she says peremptorily.
At her command, the man obeys, while a colleague joins him.
One leads the way to the room, while the other, behind Rori, closes and follows them.
We are prisoners in our own house, it seems.
I sigh and head to my room.