I woke up in an unfamiliar place, my mind shrouded in fog. I couldn't remember who I was or how I had ended up there. I was just a child—probably around ten or eleven years old—but even that was uncertain. My name, my past… all of it was a blank slate.
The only thing I was sure of was the pain. My body was covered in wounds, my skin burning and aching with every small movement. The bed beneath me reeked of rust and decay, the stench so strong it clawed at my throat. The air was cold, heavy with an eerie silence that made my heart race.
But amidst the emptiness of my memories, one thing remained clear. One memory. A single fragment of my past that refused to fade.
I was in a car with a man and a woman. They smiled warmly at me as we traveled together. I wasn't sure if they were my parents, but at that moment, I felt safe.
Then—
The deafening roar of a motorcycle.
Two men riding a big bike appeared out of nowhere, their hands gripping guns.
BANG. BANG. BANG.
Bullets rained down on us.
Our car spun out of control, crashing through the guardrail and plunging into the river.
I could hear the sound of water rushing in. I couldn't breathe.
Before everything went dark, the woman beside me hugged me tightly. Her arms were warm, and she smiled—a bright, comforting smile, even as we sank into the depths.
That was the only memory I had.
I didn't know my name. I didn't know where I came from. I had no knowledge of this world.
And now, I was here—wherever here was.
A foul stench filled my lungs, the overwhelming smell of rot and blood clinging to the air. My entire body ached. When I forced my eyes open, I found myself surrounded by men holding guns and rifles, their hands wrapped around bottles of alcohol.
Laughter erupted around me the moment I stirred.
Thug!
Pain exploded in my side as I collapsed onto the dirt floor. A drunken man had kicked me in the back, and my forehead, already wounded, slammed into a rock. Warm liquid dripped down my face.
"Hey, kid," the man slurred, grinning at me with rotten teeth. "Since we saved your sorry ass, why don't you make yourself useful? Serve us food or something."
Loud, mocking laughter filled the room.
I wanted to scream. To run. To disappear.
But more than anything—I was hungry.
My stomach growled loudly, and tears welled up in my eyes.
The man's face twisted in annoyance. "What the hell are you crying for, huh?!"
Before I could react, another kick slammed into my ribs. And another.
"Didn't I tell you to be useful?! STOP CRYING!"
He raised his foot to kick me again—
Snap!
A hand gripped the man's wrist mid-air, stopping him cold.
A boy stood beside me.
He was slightly older than me, but younger than the man he just grabbed. His grip was iron-tight, and the man let out a strangled cry of pain.
How…? How was he this strong?
He had black, spiky hair and piercing red eyes—deep, dark, like a bloodstained moon.
Even in my dazed state, I found myself staring. He was… breathtaking. Handsome, despite the cold, merciless look in his eyes. He wore black military-style clothing, different from the others.
This boy—he wasn't like them.
"J-Javier!!! What are you doing?! Let go!" the man shrieked.
Javier glared at him, his crimson pupils burning with silent rage.
Javier scoffed, his grip tightening on the man's wrist. His crimson eyes gleamed coldly as he spoke.
"This kid is ours now. You don't have a problem with that, do you?"
His voice was calm—too calm, like he was talking to someone weaker than him.
The man swallowed hard. "O-okay, okay! The kid's yours! Just let go already!"
Without another word, Javier released him and turned to me.
"Follow me."
I hesitated for a moment, but my legs moved on their own. I had nowhere else to go.
Javier led me through a series of dimly lit corridors, descending deeper into what seemed like an underground base. The air was damp, and the walls were lined with crates and old equipment. It looked like an abandoned military bunker.
As we entered a large room, I saw several young people—boys and girls, all much younger than the men I had encountered earlier. They weren't drinking or laughing like the others. Their eyes were sharp, their movements precise. They carried weapons like they were part of their own bodies.
Among them, three figures stood out.
Javier was one of them.
The second was a girl with long, silver hair that shimmered under the dim lights. Her emerald-green eyes held an unreadable expression. She was strikingly beautiful.
The third was a boy with wild, spiky red hair and piercing golden eyes. He was handsome—almost dangerously so. But compared to Javier, I still thought Javier was slightly more attractive.
Javier gestured toward the red-haired boy.
"This is Jin, our leader."
Jin crossed his arms, his expression unreadable.
" Javier and I are both fourteen. This is Sylvia—she's thirteen."
Sylvia tilted her head slightly, her green eyes observing me with mild curiosity.
Sylvia let out a bored sigh. "I heard those guys found you in the river." her voice was indifferent, as if my life was just another passing event. "There's something you need to know. And whether you like it or not, you don't have a choice but to accept this reality."
I gripped the fabric of my shirt tightly, my body trembling.
Javier stepped forward, his tone cold and factual.
"You're in an organization called Moon."
"Moon takes on work from private individuals. Most of that work involves guns, knives, and anything else used to kill people."
My breath hitched.
"Although we're part of the same organization, different groups operate separately to complete missions. Right now, you belong to Jin's group."
"Jin was the one who sent me to get you from the idiots who found you in the river."
"We don't hesitate to kill when given an order."
My stomach twisted.
"And don't bother thinking about escape," Javier continued. "Anyone who learns about this organization isn't allowed to just walk away. Every attempt to run has ended the same way."
A heavy silence settled in the room.
"Execution."
My body went rigid.
A sharp, overwhelming fear clawed at my chest. My vision blurred as tears welled up in my eyes.
I wanted to scream.
I wanted to run.
But I knew—there was no way out.
Jin walked toward me, his expression softening as he offered a warm smile.
"Don't worry," he said, patting my head gently, the way an older brother would. "Unlike other groups in this organization, I take care of my members. And you… you belong to the strongest team now. So there's nothing to fear, okay?"
His words were meant to comfort me, but deep inside, I already knew—this was a place where fear never truly disappeared.
Five Years Later
Day after day, I trained with Jin's group, pushing myself to grow stronger. But no matter how much I tried, I remained the weakest.
Even so, Jin always told me to take it easy, treating me as if I were his little sister.
Today, Jin had gone on a mission along with five other members, including Sylvia.
A lot had changed over the past five years. I was now sixteen, while Jin, and Javier were nineteen, and Sylvia was eighteen .
Sylvia was the one who gave me my name—Kill.
"It makes it easier for me to kill you if you ever betray the team," she had said with a smirk.
Of course, it was just another way of saying I was weak.
But the biggest realization in these past five years… was that my feelings for Javier weren't just admiration.
I loved him.
Jin may have been the one who recruited me, but Javier was the one who saved me that day. He was furious on my behalf, willing to fight for me when no one else would.
Javier was cold. Ruthless.
But I knew—deep inside—he had warmth.
My eyes were always drawn to him.
He was the most handsome man I had ever seen.
But more than that, he was someone who would do anything for the people he loved.
And that person… was Sylvia.
Three year ago, Javier and Sylvia started dating.
For someone so cold, Javier showed his love for her in ways I never thought he was capable of. When he looked at Sylvia, he wore expressions I had never seen before—ones filled with longing, affection, warmth.
It was never me.
It was always her.
I accidentally discovered their relationship one year ago.
Javier had returned from a mission, injured.
"Shit... I feel like dying," he groaned, his voice weak. His breathing was ragged, his body trembling. Blood soaked through his shirt. "It hurts… someone... please... anyone... help..."
I hesitated outside his door before gathering my courage.
"Uh-um... I brought some medicine to clean your wounds," I said nervously.
I wasn't sure if he'd even let me, so I didn't approach until I saw his approval.
"...Come here," he muttered.
For the first time, I felt like Javier was relying on me—even just a little.
I stepped closer, heart pounding, but before I could do anything…
The door swung open.
Standing there, dressed in a sleek, dangerously revealing outfit, was Sylvia.
Her long silver hair framed her delicate face, her green eyes gleaming under the dim light.
She was breathtaking.
"Go away. I'll take care of him," Sylvia said coolly, snatching the medicine from my hands.
I watched as she knelt beside Javier, her fingers tracing the wounds on his body.
Then I saw it—
The way Javier looked at her.
His gaze softened, his lips parting slightly as his cheeks flushed.
Like she was the only thing in his world.
Before I could react, he pulled her close, his hands resting on her waist.
Then, he kissed her.
A deep, desperate kiss.
I stood frozen, my chest tightening as realization sank in.
I had never seen Javier look at anyone like that before.
Not even once.
Not at me.
And I… I was just standing there, a silent witness to a love that had never been mine.
"Go out. I want to be alone with her," Javier said sharply, his eyes meeting mine with irritation.
I felt my face heat up in embarrassment.
"S-sorry… I-I'll go now,"
I rushed out of the room, my heart hammering in my chest. My hands clenched into fists as I pressed my back against the cold wall outside.
I shouldn't be here.
I should leave.
But my feet refused to move.
And then, I heard them.
"Hurry, my love…" Javier murmured, his voice husky with desire.
My breath hitched.
"Come on… you're hurt," Sylvia's voice was playful, teasing.
"It's okay," Javier pleaded. "I wanna be with you. Please… please…"
Sylvia laughed softly. "Heheh, what am I going to do with you?"
And then—
"my baby"
My chest tightened painfully.
"My love, you're so warm," Javier groaned.
I squeezed my eyes shut, but no matter how hard I tried to block it out, their voices reached me.
Every whisper.
Every sound that made it clear just how deeply Javier loved Sylvia.
I stood there, silent tears rolling down my cheeks.
I had been so stupid.
All these years, I had secretly held onto the hope that maybe… just maybe… he would one day see me the way he saw her.
But now, reality crashed down on me like a cruel, merciless wave.
There was no chance.
Not even a sliver of one.
I wasn't beautiful like Sylvia.
I didn't have her long, silky hair that shimmered under the light or those striking green eyes that captivated everyone around her.
I didn't possess her curves, her grace, or the effortless charm that made people turn their heads.
I was just… me.
Short, dark blue hair—messy and unremarkable. Black eyes that lacked any brilliance. Dressed in boyish clothes that hung loosely over my frame. Weak. Forgettable. A commoner in every way.
The exact opposite of the woman Javier loved with every fiber of his being.
I bit down on my trembling lip, tasting salt.
Then, slowly… I turned away and walked down the hall, my heart breaking with every step.
I had lost a battle I was never even meant to fight.
One day, Sylvia had gone on a mission with Jin, while I was assigned to another group.
Even though I was still the weakest among them, I wanted to prove myself.
I had to.
We moved cautiously through the dense forest, the scent of damp earth filling the air, mingling with the rustling of leaves under our boots. The towering trees loomed above us, their branches stretching like twisted fingers against the gray sky. The air was eerily still, heavy with an unshakable tension.
Then—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunshots shattered the silence.
Before I could even process what was happening, my comrades crumpled to the ground one by one, their bodies hitting the forest floor with sickening thuds. The metallic scent of blood filled the air, mixing with the dampness of the earth.
I froze.
My breath hitched, my heartbeat hammering against my ribs.
We had walked straight into an ambush.
Blood pooled beneath them, soaking into the dirt.
I froze.
A sniper.
I was the only one left standing.
Panic surged through me, my mind flashing back to the accident five years ago. The helplessness, the fear, the overwhelming dread of watching people die right in front of me.
But I couldn't die here.
I wouldn't.
I forced myself to drop to the ground, lying still among the corpses, my face pressed against the cold earth. I held my breath, ignoring the stench of blood, waiting.
Minutes passed. Then hours.
Finally, when I was sure the enemy was gone, I ran.
I ran for my life.
When I reached the underground base, my body was trembling. I burst inside, desperate, searching for Javier.
I found him.
But the moment our eyes met, my breath hitched.
His expression was terrifying.
Murderous.
"S-Something happened," I gasped, my voice shaky. "Everyone was kil—"
Slap!
My head snapped to the side as Javier's voice cut through the air.
"Shut up, you bitch."
I stumbled back, eyes widening in shock.
"You betrayed us," Javier seethed, his tone laced with venom. "You killed Jin. You killed the whole damn team."
I felt my stomach drop.
"What…?J-jin.. t-too?"
Javier took a step forward, his glare burning into me. "I knew everything!"
No.
No, no, no—
"That's not true!" I tried to explain, my voice breaking. "I didn't—"
A fist slammed into my abdomen.
Pain exploded in my gut, and I doubled over, gasping for air.
Javier grabbed me by the collar, his grip tightening as he lifted me slightly off the ground.
"I took you in," he growled. "Jin protected you. And this is how you repay us?"
"I didn't—"
Slash!
A sharp pain tore through my leg.
I screamed.
Blood gushed from the wound as I collapsed to the floor, my vision blurring with tears.
Punch.
Kick.
Another punch.
Javier didn't stop.
He didn't listen.
Again and again, his fists connected with my body, bruising, breaking—
I curled into myself, coughing up blood.
Why?
Why was this happening?
I wanted to scream the truth at him. To make him understand.
But he would never believe me.
For three months, I was kept as a prisoner in the basement.
Every day, Sylvia visited me, her laughter echoing in the small, dark cell. She would slap me, again and again, until my face was swollen and numb.
"You look pathetic," she would sneer. "Honestly, I should've just killed you back then."
Someone had lied to Javier.
Someone had whispered poison into his ears, weaving deceitful words into a story so convincing that he believed it without hesitation.
Someone he probably trusted the most.
Someone close. Someone he never thought would deceive him.
And yet, without hesitation—
He pointed his gun at me.
And now, I had lost everything.
But then, one night, the door creaked open.
A shadow stepped inside.
A familiar voice whispered, "Come. Before they find out."
Someone was helping me.
I didn't know who.
But at that moment, I didn't care.
I staggered to my feet, forcing my battered body to move.
And as I escaped into the darkness, one thought burned in my mind—
I would survive.
I would find out the truth.
And one day—
I would find out who betrayed us.
Back to the Present
"That's what happened to me," I told the Major.
The room was silent, heavy with the weight of my story. Every person listening had tears in their eyes, their faces filled with sorrow and disbelief. The Major didn't speak at first, but his clenched jaw and darkened expression told me enough—he was furious.
"I'm sorry, Kill. It must have been difficult to relive all of that," he finally said, his voice laced with guilt and pity.
I forced a small smile, trying to reassure him. "It's okay. It's the least I can do after everything you've done to help me survive."
Suddenly—
A sharp pain pierced my skull. My vision blurred, and my breath hitched as unfamiliar images flooded my mind.
My body trembled. I clutched my head, gasping for air.
"KILL!" someone shouted.
Panic erupted around me. The Major rushed to my side, his voice distant as he called for the doctor. The pain was unbearable. My heartbeat thundered in my ears.
Then—everything went black.
That night, I had a dream.
A woman sobbed, her arms wrapped protectively around me. A man beside her, battered and bleeding, reached out with a trembling hand.
"My baby… I'm sorry," the woman whispered, her voice fragile and weak. "Mom and Dad… won't be with you anymore…" She clutched me tighter, her body trembling. "God… please… save our… Ren."
Ren?
Is that… my name?
I woke up with tears streaming down my face. My chest ached, as though the sorrow from that dream still clung to me. Blinking away the haze, I realized someone was sitting beside me.
The Major.
The dim light cast shadows across his face. His posture was slumped, his breathing steady but exhausted. He must have stayed here, waiting for me to wake up.
I shifted slightly, and his eyes snapped open.
"Kill?" His voice was hoarse with sleep, but relief flickered across his face. "You're awake. Wait—I'll call the doctor." He stood, already heading for the door.
"Ren," I whispered.
He paused. "What?"
I swallowed, my throat dry. My heart pounded as I forced the words out.
"My real name is Ren, Major. I remember now," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
The Major's eyes widened, a mix of shock and realization flashing across his face.
The Major stared at me, his expression unreadable. For a long moment, he didn't move. Then—he exhaled, the weight of my words sinking in.