The world spun in a haze of smoke and fire. The explosion sent shockwaves through the room, collapsing walls and knocking Seojin off her feet. Her ears rang, and the sting of heat burned her skin.
For a moment, everything was silent.
Seojin blinked rapidly, trying to clear the disorienting fog from her mind. Her vision swam, and her chest ached with each breath she took.
She pushed herself up, her hands trembling as she shoved debris aside. The air smelled of burning wood and metal.
"Minji!" she called hoarsely, her voice barely audible over the ringing in her ears.
There was no response.
Seojin scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding. She couldn't see anything through the thick smoke, but she could hear the muffled sounds of movement.
"Dojin!"
Nothing.
A sudden flash of movement caught her eye—someone was stirring amidst the rubble.
Her heart skipped.
It was Hyunwoo.
She rushed over, pulling large pieces of debris away from him. His face was bloodied, but his eyes fluttered open.
"Seojin…" Hyunwoo groaned, reaching for her hand. "Are you… alright?"
"I'm fine," she said, her voice strained. "We need to get out of here. Where's the others?"
He coughed, his grip weak. "I—I don't know… I think… they're still trapped."
Seojin's breath caught. "What do you mean? Where's Jinho?"
"I don't know," Hyunwoo said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I couldn't see him…"
Seojin's pulse quickened. They needed to find the others.
With Hyunwoo leaning on her for support, Seojin moved cautiously through the debris. The room was unrecognizable, parts of the floor missing and rubble piled high. She could barely make out anything in the thick haze.
Her breath hitched when she spotted a shadow moving ahead.
It was Minji.
Her face was covered in dust, but she was alive, pulling herself out of the wreckage.
"Minji!" Seojin called, relief flooding through her.
Minji's eyes met hers. "Seojin…" she gasped, barely able to stand. "Where's Jinho?"
Seojin's heart dropped. "We don't know yet. Help me find him."
They both staggered toward the far corner of the room, pushing aside concrete and metal. The smoke was suffocating, but they pressed on, determined to find their missing team member.
Then, a low groan echoed from beneath a pile of rubble.
"Jinho," Seojin whispered, rushing over.
With Minji's help, they cleared the debris, revealing the battered form of Jinho, still unconscious but breathing.
"Thank god," Minji muttered.
Seojin checked his pulse. "He's alive."
She knelt beside him, gently lifting him into her arms. "We need to get out of here. Now."
The building groaned as it settled, more debris shifting from above. Seojin's breath was coming fast, adrenaline coursing through her veins. They had to move quickly—before the whole place came down on them.
But as they stumbled toward the exit, another sound reached Seojin's ears—footsteps.
Heavy footsteps.
She froze, glancing at Minji and Hyunwoo. They were alert, weapons drawn, but the footsteps grew louder. Someone was coming.
"Who is it?" Minji whispered.
Before Seojin could answer, the shadows ahead of them moved.
A man appeared, tall and imposing, his face partially obscured by a mask. The faint glow of a tactical flashlight illuminated his figure, but what struck Seojin most was his confidence—the way he moved, like he owned the room.
"Didn't think I'd find you here," the man said, his voice smooth.
Seojin's hand tightened around her gun. "Who the hell are you?"
The man didn't answer immediately. He merely stepped forward, his eyes scanning the wreckage. "The Phoenix didn't send me. But it seems our interests align."
Seojin's eyes narrowed. "What do you want?"
"Not much," the man said casually. "Just the list."
Seojin's pulse spiked. "The list? You're after it too?"
The man tilted his head. "What do you think I've been sent for?"
Seojin's fingers hovered over the trigger, but something about his demeanor told her he wasn't acting alone. She heard more movement behind him, and before she knew it, two more men emerged from the smoke.
Hyunwoo's voice was low. "We're outnumbered."
Seojin didn't flinch. "What do you want with the list?" she demanded.
The man smirked. "Let's just say I'm not a fan of the Phoenix's methods. But they have something I want."
Seojin's mind raced. Was this some rival faction? Or were these people even worse than the Phoenix?
"What's your name?" she asked again, her voice steely.
The man didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stepped forward and lowered his hood.
"Call me Kade."
End of Chapter 61
Thoughts for Readers:
Who do you think Kade is? Is he a friend or foe?
What do you think Kade wants with the list, and how will this new threat change the dynamics for Seojin's team?
Sneak Peek for Chapter 62:
Kade reveals more about his plans, but Seojin isn't sure whether he's an ally or just another enemy. As the team tries to escape, they discover that the Phoenix is not the only danger lurking in the shadows.