The Gulfstream G550 touched down on the private airstrip at Incheon airport, its engines humming softly as it came to a stop. The haze and fog that shrouded the airport created an eerie atmosphere, making the low-key transportation arrangements their parents had requested seem like a funeral procession.
As the domestic nanny staff disembarked the plane to unload their baggage, a team of Korean staff boarded the flight, their movements swift and efficient. Among them were two girls who caught Selena's attention. They were of a similar height and build to her, and they carried a large box between them.
Selena's curiosity was piqued as the girls approached her. Eun Ho, one of the Korean staff members, handed her a box. "You will have to wear this," she said, her expression serious.
Selena took the box into the bedroom on the jet, feeling a sense of trepidation. What could be inside? She opened the box to find the outfit the pair wore and a pair of sunglasses. She dressed and left the room, looking up to see the two girls who had boarded the plane earlier. They were now styling their hair in ponytails, looping it out the back of a baseball hat, just like Selena's.
As she watched, the girls put on sunglasses and began to apply makeup, carefully copying the facial moles and freckles that Selena had. It was as if they were trying to impersonate her.
"It'll be best to tattoo these permanently later." Selena heard one of her new doppelgangers say she felt oddly flattered that they would tattoo her freckles and moles and how often she would be in Korea. What was going on? Why were these girls dressing up like her? She looked at Jonah, but he seemed calm.
Eun Ho approached her again, this time with a serious expression. "This An Lele and Kim Nari, your guards and doppelgängers," she said. It is for your safety. Some of our enemies have tried to assassinate us. They are trained for this and will be by your side when we are outside the family compound. "
Selena's mind was racing with questions, but before she could ask any of them, Eun Ho handed her the hat and sunglasses. "Please, put them on," she said. The bodyguards did not have double eyelids, but they probably would soon.
Selena hesitated for a moment, but then she put on the hat and sunglasses. She looked at the two girls, it was like being in a house of mirrors.
They copied her resting stance and gait. It was eerie. They talked and corrected each other's stances. She was asked to make some facial gestures. They quickly copied happy, sad, mad, and her resting face. The whole situation was bizarre from her perspective.
As she looked at the two girls who were impersonating her, Selena realized that something big was going on. Something that required her to be in disguise. She felt a sense of excitement mixed with fear. What was happening? And why did she need to be disguised?
Selena and her bodyguards disembarked from the plane, followed closely by Eun Ho and her guards, Jonah and then Jonathan. The group moved swiftly and efficiently, their movements cautious.
But before they could even take a few steps, a gunshot rang out, clipping An Lele in the arm. "Sniper!" Jonathan shouted, his voice laced with concern for Selena's safety. "Get her on the bus!"
Selena's bodyguards sprang into action, quickly ushering her towards the luxury bus that was waiting for them. Eun Ho and her guards followed closely behind, their eyes scanning the surrounding area for any signs of danger.
As they approached the bus, Selena used her ability to predict targets, looking through the future through An Lele to see what was coming. She quickly moved and heard the gunshot as An Lele pushed her onto the bus, blood misting her face.
But even with her advanced warning, Selena couldn't shake off the fear and adrenaline that coursed through her veins. She scrambled her way to the back of the bus, her heart racing and her hands shaking.
As she collapsed onto the plush seat, she couldn't help but think that this was not how she had envisioned the start of the bus trip. She had been so focused on getting to her destination, and now it seemed like that safety was being threatened.
The bus door closed behind Jonathan with a soft hiss, and Selena felt a sense of relief wash over her. They were safe, for the moment. But as she looked around at the somber faces of her bodyguards and Eun Ho, An Lele was lost on her first day as Selena.
Jonathan's voice boomed, his tone calm and reassuring. "Everyone okay?" he asked.
"No I am not, a fucking teenager just died protecting me." The old lady version Selena grumbled in her mind. A.A chimed upset.
Selena took a deep breath and nodded, even though she knew he couldn't see her. "Yeah, just a little shaken," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. But as she looked down at her shaking hands, she knew that she was far from fine. She was scared, everyone seemed to act like this was normal.
As Selena calmed herself down, her mother, Eun Ho, rubbed her back in soothing circular motions. "It's okay, Moon," she whispered. "You're safe now. We're all safe."
Selena took a deep breath, feeling her heart rate slow down. She looked around the bus, taking in the somber faces of her bodyguards and Jonathan. Her father's expression was particularly grim, his eyes narrowed in anger.
"This is unacceptable," Jonathan muttered, his voice low and deadly. "We will find out who did this and make them pay."
Selena's guard was already on her phone, launching an investigation, seeming disaffected by the fact that her coworker was dead.
Selena knew that the retaliation would be swift and merciless. She was getting used to the way things worked. Her family didn't take kindly to threats, and they would stop at nothing to protect their own.
The bus made its way from Incheon airport to the large villa the Noe Family called home. Jonah couldn't help but wonder who was behind the attack. Someone was very nervous that the heir was half-aware, and they were willing to take drastic measures to eliminate her.
Selena's thoughts were interrupted by Eun Ho's gentle voice. "Selena, are you okay? That was a very close call." Her mother wiped blood and brains off her face like it was tomato sauce.
Selena nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat. "I'm fine, Mom," she said, trying to sound brave. "Just a little shaken up."
Her mother smiled and hugged her tightly. "I'm just glad you're safe," she said. "We'll get to the bottom of this assassination attempt, and we'll make sure you're protected."
As the bus continued on its journey, it eventually came to a stop in front of a pair of imposing gates. The gates were adorned with intricate carvings and symbols. Selena's eyes widened as she watched the gates electronically open, revealing a sprawling estate that seemed to stretch on forever.
As the bus pulled through the gates, a team of heavily armed guards emerged from the shadows, their AR-15 rifles at the ready. They scanned the surrounding area, their eyes narrowed and their faces set in determined expressions.
It was clear that they were not to be trifled with and that anyone who dared to follow the Park and Noe family in pursuit would be met with swift and severe consequences.
Selena watched the guards, their presence a reminder of the dangers that she'd face in this life. But as she turned her attention to the estate itself, her fear gave way to wonder.
The Korean villa that stood before her was breathtakingly beautiful, its curved roofs and elegant architecture making it look like a palace. The building seemed to glow with a warm, golden light, and the surrounding gardens were immaculately manicured, with gardens and towering trees that seemed to stretch up to the sky.
As the bus came to a stop, a team of liveried servants emerged from the villa, carrying a long crimson carpet. They carefully unrolled the carpet, stretching it out from the bus to the door of the main building. It was a regal touch, one that made Selena feel like royalty.
Selena's eyes widened as she took in the opulent scene before her. She had never seen anything like it before, and she couldn't help but feel disgusted with the amount of privilege. The houses they'd passed were immaculate and beautiful. She was certain that they'd drive through those gates. This place made Grandmother Amelia's home seem like a cottage.
Selena disembarked as the nanny staff took over her care. A maid in the distance, about her mother's age, broke down in tears when Kim Nari spoke with her. "She must be An Lele's mother", Selena thought.
Her eyes watered, but the household maids did their best to guide her to her courtyard and get her cleaned up. Something about her crying made her ache. She relented to the staff.
Eun Ho's expression was a mixture of concern and understanding as she looked at Selena. "Go with them to clean up," she said gently, nodding towards the servants who were waiting to escort Selena to her quarters. "You've had a long flight, and you must be exhausted."
Selena nodded, feeling a wave of fatigue wash over her. She had been up the entire flight, and the stress of the assassination attempt had taken a toll on her. Eun Ho's concern for her made her feel loved.
As Selena followed the servants to her quarters, Eun Ho's thoughts turned to her own experiences with assassination attempts. She had lost count of how many times her life had been threatened, but the worst was the death of her twin brother, Joon-Su. His murder had been a devastating blow, and it had taken her a long time to come to terms with the loss.
Eun Ho's eyes narrowed as she thought about the attempt on Selena's life. Father would quickly work to resolve the problem.
As she watched Selena leave, Eun Ho's expression turned cold as her heels plodded down the carpet towards her childhood home. She would not let anyone off lightly for attempting to harm her daughter personally.
She wondered what worm her father would lock up in the basement? She would fight with every ounce of strength she had to keep Selena safe.