A smile that hides the knife

Jongsuk and Do Hwan ran through the dimly lit alleyways, their footsteps echoing in the silence of the night. Sweat dripped from Jongsuk's forehead as he clutched his phone tightly. The message from the unknown number kept replaying in his mind.

"Do you want to save him? Then come find him… if you can."

Do Hwan's fingers moved swiftly across his laptop, his eyes darting across the codes flashing on the screen. He was trying to track Young Chul's location, but it was proving more difficult than he had anticipated.

"He's switched off his phone," Do Hwan muttered in frustration.

Jongsuk's hands curled into fists. "Damn it! We need to find another way."

Do Hwan exhaled sharply, trying to think. He wasn't going to let Jae Ahn disappear like this. No matter what.

---

"Somewhere Else – The Captive and the Executioner"

The air inside the dark room was thick with the scent of dust and something more sinister—fear. The flickering light from a single bulb cast eerie shadows across the walls.

Jae Ahn sat tied to a chair, his wrists raw from the tight ropes that bound him. His breathing was heavy, uneven, his chest rising and falling as his mind raced.

Before him, Young Chul stood with a satisfied smirk, his arms crossed as he watched Jae Ahn struggle.

"I warned you not to dig too deep," Young Chul said, tilting his head slightly. "But you never listened, did you?"

Jae Ahn clenched his teeth. "Do whatever you want with me, but stay away from the people I care about," he spat.

Young Chul chuckled, stepping closer. "How noble. But tell me, Jae Ahn, do you really know who killed your brother?"

The question hit Jae Ahn like a slap. His breath caught in his throat, his eyes narrowing. "You…" he growled. "You killed him!"

Young Chul let out a low laugh. "You think I killed your brother? If that were the case, do you really think I'd have let you live this long?"

Jae Ahn's body tensed. His mind screamed at him that Young Chul was lying, but the way he spoke… it sent a shiver down his spine.

Young Chul stepped back slightly, reaching into his pocket. "That's why I brought you here. To end this."

Before Jae Ahn could react, Young Chul pulled out a small vial filled with a shimmering blue liquid. His lips curled into a sinister smile.

"This poison… once it enters your system, you'll feel your body shutting down, little by little. It's powerful—so powerful that no antidote exists."

Jae Ahn struggled against the ropes. "You bastard—"

But it was too late.

Young Chul plunged the needle into Jae Ahn's arm, injecting the venomous liquid into his bloodstream.

Jae Ahn gasped as a burning sensation spread through his veins. His vision blurred, his head spinning as nausea twisted his stomach.

Young Chul crouched down beside him. "It's starting to take effect, isn't it?" he whispered.

Jae Ahn's fingers trembled as he tried to lift his arm, but his body was failing him.

"I'll be kind and untie you," Young Chul said mockingly, cutting the ropes. "Fight back if you want."

Jae Ahn, with every ounce of strength he had left, pushed himself up. He swung his arm toward Young Chul, but his movements were sluggish.

Young Chul easily dodged, pushing him back.

Jae Ahn collapsed onto the cold floor, coughing. His entire body felt like it was on fire, his strength slipping away.

Young Chul leaned over him. "Did you really think you could fight me in this state?"

Jae Ahn's vision darkened, but he could still hear Young Chul's next words.

"You killed your own brother."

Jae Ahn's breath hitched. His heart pounded against his ribs.

What?

Young Chul's voice was distant now, as if it were coming from far away.

"Yes… you heard me," Young Chul's voice echoed in his ears. "Your brother's death… was because of you."

Jae Ahn's mind screamed in denial.

No.

That couldn't be true.

Could it?

Darkness swallowed him whole.

---

"The Rescue – A Race Against Time"

Do Hwan's laptop beeped. A small red dot flickered on the screen.

"Got him!" he said, eyes widening.

Jongsuk didn't wait. "Let's go!"

They rushed to the location, their bodies tense with urgency.

By the time they arrived, the sight before them made their blood run cold.

Jae Ahn lay sprawled on the ground, his body unnaturally still. A faint trickle of blood pooled beneath him. His lips were slightly parted, his breathing shallow.

Young Chul stood above him, a twisted smile on his face. But as soon as he spotted them, his eyes darkened.

"Damn," Young Chul muttered before turning and running.

Jongsuk didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, but Young Chul was already disappearing into the night.

"Jongsuk! Jae Ahn first!" Do Hwan shouted.

Jongsuk cursed under his breath and rushed to Jae Ahn's side. "Jae Ahn! Wake up! Damn it, wake up!"

Do Hwan checked his pulse, his face grim. "We need to get him to a hospital now!"

They wasted no time.

---

"The Hospital – A Fight for Survival"

The sterile scent of the hospital filled the air. The waiting room was eerily silent except for the beeping of machines.

The doctor's expression was grave as he looked at Jongsuk and Do Hwan. "His condition is critical. The poison in his system is extremely rare. We don't have an antidote, but we're doing everything we can."

Jongsuk felt his chest tighten. "Will he survive?"

The doctor hesitated. "…There's a 90% chance he won't. But there's still a 10% chance."

Jongsuk clenched his fists. "Then that's enough. Jae Ahn won't give up so easily. He'll survive."

Hours passed like an eternity.

Finally, the doctor returned. "The operation was successful. But it will take time for him to recover."

Relief crashed over them like a tidal wave.

Jongsuk entered the room, his eyes instantly welling up with tears as he saw Jae Ahn lying in bed, pale but breathing.

He rushed forward, wrapping his arms around him tightly.

"Leave it, I feel pain," Jae Ahn mumbled weakly.

Jongsuk quickly pulled away, sniffing. "Sorry… I didn't realize."

Do Hwan leaned against the wall. "Looks like you're still as reckless as ever."

Jae Ahn gave a small, tired smile. Then, his expression darkened slightly.

"…Young Chul escaped."

Jongsuk's jaw clenched. "We'll find him."

Jae Ahn let out a small chuckle. "What should I do now? I guess… I have no choice but to hold on until I recover."

The three of them exchanged glances before sharing a small, determined smile.

But deep inside, Jae Ahn's mind replayed Young Chul's words.

"Your brother's death… was because of you."

Was it true?

A shiver ran down his spine.

For the first time, a terrifying thought took root in his mind.

What if Young Chul wasn't lying?

---

End of Chapter Six