Author pov

The air in the control room was heavy with tension as the team absorbed the weight of the betrayal. Hye Rin’s face was unreadable, but her clenched fists spoke volumes.

“Who is he?” Seo Yeon asked sharply.

“The man behind the voice,” Hye Rin said, her tone cold. “His name is Kang Ji Hwan. He was once my handler. I thought I killed him years ago, but clearly, I didn’t do a good enough job.”

Ji Soo cursed under his breath, his fingers flying across the keyboard. “We’re locked in, and he’s got control of the entire facility.”

Hana stood by the door, her knives ready. “Then let’s take him down. We’ve got Hye Rin, the best fighter in the room, and a team that’s good at causing chaos.”

“We’ll need more than chaos to get out of this alive,” Seo Yeon muttered.

---

The Enemy’s Plan

A screen flickered to life, revealing Kang Ji Hwan’s smirking face. His features were sharp, his eyes calculating.

“Well, Hye Rin,” he said, his voice dripping with mockery. “It’s been a long time. I wondered when you’d crawl out of hiding.”

Hye Rin stepped forward, her expression hard. “You should’ve stayed dead, Ji Hwan.”

He laughed. “You should’ve finished the job. But now, I get to return the favor. You’ve brought me quite the crew—oh, and that little Eun Ji. Adorable. Does she know what you really are?”

Eun Ji stiffened but kept her focus on Hye Rin. “He’s trying to mess with us. Don’t let him.”

Ji Hwan’s smirk widened. “Let’s see how loyal your team is when they realize just how dangerous you really are, Hye Rin. Or have you kept all your skeletons hidden in the closet?”

Hye Rin didn’t flinch. “You talk too much.”

---

Breaking Out

Mina planted a small charge on the locked door while Hana scouted the room for alternative exits.

“We need to move,” Mina said. “If this guy is as bad as you say, he’s not going to let us walk out of here.”

Hye Rin nodded, her mind already working through a plan. “Mina, blow the door. Hana, take point. Seo Yeon and Ji Soo, cover the rear. Eun Ji, you’re with me.”

The explosion shook the room as the door flew off its hinges. Hana darted forward, taking down two guards in quick succession. The team moved as one, cutting through the facility with precision.

Eun Ji stayed close to Hye Rin, her crowbar swinging with brutal efficiency. But even as they fought side by side, Eun Ji couldn’t shake the nagging thought of Ji Hwan’s words.

---

A Close Call

They reached the main hallway, where Kang Ji Hwan’s guards were waiting. A fierce firefight erupted, bullets ricocheting off the walls.

Mina lobbed a grenade, creating a gap in the enemy’s defenses. “Go!” she shouted.

As the team pushed forward, Hye Rin spotted Ji Hwan in the distance, retreating toward a secure elevator.

“Stay here,” she barked at the group.

“Hye Rin, no!” Eun Ji shouted, but Hye Rin was already running.

---

Face-to-Face

Hye Rin caught up to Ji Hwan just as the elevator doors began to close. She forced them open, stepping inside with a gun trained on him.

“You’re not escaping this time,” she said, her voice low and lethal.

Ji Hwan smirked, raising his hands mockingly. “You’ve grown softer, Hye Rin. The old you wouldn’t hesitate to kill me.”

“Don’t test me,” she snapped.

The elevator stopped abruptly, and Ji Hwan took advantage of the moment, lunging at her. They fought in the confined space, each blow echoing in the silence.

---

Hye Rin’s Secret

Meanwhile, the rest of the team fought their way to the control room, where they hoped to override the lockdown. Eun Ji stayed behind, her chest tightening with worry.

“She’s taking too long,” Eun Ji muttered.

“She knows what she’s doing,” Seo Yeon replied, though her voice lacked conviction.

As the group worked, Ji Hwan’s earlier words played in Eun Ji’s mind. What had he meant about Hye Rin’s past?

---

The Revelation

When Hye Rin returned, her face was bruised but victorious. Ji Hwan was unconscious, slung over her shoulder.

“Is he dead?” Mina asked.

“No,” Hye Rin said curtly. “But he’s going to wish he was.”

Eun Ji approached her, searching her face. “Are you okay?”

Hye Rin nodded but didn’t meet her gaze. “Let’s finish this.”

---

thank you