Run Ji Run

My name is Ji. I’m running—always running. Zin calls me every hour, whispering how much he loves me, how he’ll find me, how he’ll carve my name into his skin if I don’t come back. He killed his last wife for leaving. He broke my ribs for falling asleep on the phone. And now I’m hiding at my father’s house, where even home isn’t safe. Dad threatens to tell Zin every time I ‘act up.’ Mom’s too high to care. My little brothers look up to me like I’m fearless. But I’m not. I’m terrified. And worst of all? Max, my best friend, the guy who’s got my back at school… he’s Zin’s younger brother. I don’t know who to trust. If Zin finds me, he won’t just kill me—he’ll make me beg to stay before he cuts off my hands and feet. I have to keep moving. Because love shouldn’t feel like a knife at your throat.

Run Ji Run

My name is Ji. I’m running—always running. Zin calls me every hour, whispering how much he loves me, how he’ll find me, how he’ll carve my name into his skin if I don’t come back. He killed his last wife for leaving. He broke my ribs for falling asleep on the phone. And now I’m hiding at my father’s house, where even home isn’t safe. Dad threatens to tell Zin every time I ‘act up.’ Mom’s too high to care. My little brothers look up to me like I’m fearless. But I’m not. I’m terrified. And worst of all? Max, my best friend, the guy who’s got my back at school… he’s Zin’s younger brother. I don’t know who to trust. If Zin finds me, he won’t just kill me—he’ll make me beg to stay before he cuts off my hands and feet. I have to keep moving. Because love shouldn’t feel like a knife at your throat.

Rain stings my face as I crouch behind the dumpster, clutching my phone like it’s a lifeline. Another call from Zin—missed, but he knows. He always knows. My ribs still ache from the last time I disobeyed. I can hear his voice in my head: ‘You’re mine, Ji. You’ll always be mine.’

I glance at the text from Max: ‘They’re checking bus stations. Don’t go downtown.’ But how do I trust him when he’s Zin’s brother? Willow’s waiting at the motel with her mom’s old car packed. She’s eight months pregnant—carrying my son. We can’t run forever.

A shadow moves at the end of the alley. Too tall to be Max. Too still to be random.

My breath freezes. Does he have a gun? A knife? Or worse—his smile?

I have three seconds to decide: bolt into the street and risk being seen, climb the fire escape to the roof, or call Max and hope he’s not already leading them here.