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enhastars · 3 days ago

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THE RED ROOM જ⁀➴ CHAPTER FOUR

AT THE RESTAURANT, OCT 13

Y/N felt her stomach flip as she made her way to the back of the restaurant. Each step she took felt heavier than the last, as if the weight of her own dread was pulling her down. Her heart seemed to drop to the soles of her shoes, and her mind raced with a million possibilities about why Sunghoon had summoned her. The top contenders: he was either going to fire her, kill her, or maybe even both.

Before she realized it, she was standing in front of Sunghoon’s office door. Most of the locks were undone, which wasn’t much of a relief. Sweat trickled down her back in cold rivulets, and she wiped her forehead with her sleeve in an attempt to appear composed. If she was about to get fired, at least she wanted to look decent while it happened.

Raising her hand, she knocked lightly. Her fingers trembled with hesitation, and she was about to knock again when the sound of the lock turning startled her. The handle moved, and the door cracked open.

“Come in.”

The door creaked as she pushed it halfway open, her gaze glued to the floor. She didn’t dare meet Sunghoon’s eyes. The last thing she needed was to spiral into a full-blown panic attack under his intense stare.

“Here. Sit.”

Sunghoon’s words were short and to the point, and Y/N was grateful for his brevity. If he had said much more—or spoken any louder—she might have bolted out of the room entirely.

She sat down on a red leather chair in front of his desk, her fingers immediately moving to fidget with each other. It was an old nervous habit, one she hadn’t quite managed to break. Her head remained bowed, her eyes refusing to meet his.

“I need you to look at me, Y/N.”

His tone was sharper now, more commanding. Y/N hesitated, her eyes darting between her lap and the desk. She didn’t want to defy him any further, especially not after the events of earlier that day.

Slowly, she raised her eyes, meeting his gaze at last. The moment their eyes locked, her stomach churned with unease. Sunghoon’s irises gleamed with something she couldn’t quite place—delight? Satisfaction? But beneath that, there was a terror lurking in his expression that made her skin crawl. His wide, glazed brown eyes held a weight she couldn’t begin to fathom. Those eyes alone could kill someone, she thought, and she already felt like their victim.

There was also another sick feeling, deep within her that had found it attractive. While scared beyond her wits, the man in front of her was the most handsome man she had ever seen. She pushed these urges down though, beating herself up mentally for even thinking this way– as if Sunghoon could read her mind or something.

“There you are.”

Sunghoon smiled then, wide but empty. The smile didn’t reach his eyes. Two gold frame teeth gleamed as his lips curled upward. Normally, she might have found the detail of the grillsl cool, but now it only unnerved her. His breath smelled faintly of fresh coffee, just like last time, and she concluded that he must be a caffeine addict.

She forced a small, awkward smile in response, though it looked more like a grimace. Her leg began to bounce unconsciously, the tension in the room making her feel like a cornered rabbit.

This is so uncomfortable, she thought.

“Listen, I wanted to apologize for what happened earlier.”

Y/N blinked, surprised. She hadn’t expected him to bring it up at all.

“I was looking for something,” Sunghoon continued, “and I stumbled upon you sneaking around in the Cold Room.” He let out a soft chuckle, but there was no warmth in it.

“I—yeah, sorry. I shouldn’t have done that,” Y/N stammered, clearing her throat nervously. She prayed silently that her apology would be enough to satisfy him.

“I forgive you.”

The words came so quickly and easily that she was caught off guard. Sunghoon even smiled—a genuine smile this time, not the eerie grin he usually wore.

“Wait—really?” she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

He nodded, standing from his seat and downing the last of his espresso. Y/N hesitated, unsure of what to do, but eventually followed his lead and stood up as well.

“Come, I’ll give you a proper tour of the place.”

She stared at him in shock. She’d come here expecting to be fired, but instead, she was being offered a personal voyage of the restaurant.

“Wait, I don’t understand—”

Sunghoon didn’t give her the chance to finish. He was already striding out of the office, leaving her no choice but to follow quickly behind him. Her curiosity gnawed at her, but she stayed silent for now.

They passed by the interns lounging in the hallway, some scrolling aimlessly on their phones while others smoked in the corner. Everyone immediately straightened up the moment Sunghoon walked by, their eyes darting nervously toward him. Yet Sunghoon didn’t spare them a glance, his focus fixed straight ahead. The display of authority was both impressive and unsettling.

“There’s nothing really in the Freezers,” Sunghoon said as they galliantly entered the kitchen, which smelled like a heavenly oasis of spices. “I just don’t like people snooping around like they’re cops.”

He chuckled, and Y/N felt her stomach growl. She realized she’d barely eaten breakfast, and the aroma in the kitchen wasn’t helping.

“Sunghoon!” A voice called from nearby. Jungwon, the general manager, approached them with an exasperated look. His notepad and pen were in hand, his expression tired. “Riki’s been looking everywhere for you.”

“Has he?” Sunghoon sounded genuinely surprised.

Jungwon sighed, brushing past the two with barely a glance at Y/N. She didn’t blame him—he clearly had more important things to deal with.

As they continued toward the ventilation room, Sunghoon paused, glancing over his shoulder at her. “You trust me, right?”

Y/N hesitated, unsure how to respond. But eventually, she nodded. Her instincts screamed at her not to, but she figured it was best to stay on his good side.

Sunghoon didn’t wait for a verbal response. He turned back to the door, entering a series of numbers into the keypad. His movements were deliberate, and he angled his body slightly, ensuring Y/N couldn’t see the code. She stood in tense silence as the lock clicked open.

Y/N expected something grotesque, something top secret and vulgar— she wasn't sure why, but anxiety usually made her think of the worst possible outcome. She was half expecting a serial killer to jump out behind the door, ready to slice her face in half and serve it on a platter. That was ridiculous though, so she quickly shoved the thought away.

The door creaked as it swung inward, and a gust of cold air rushed out, chilling her to the bone. Sunghoon stepped aside, gesturing for her to enter.

Y/N hesitated, her heart pounding as she peered into the room. The fluorescent lights flickered slightly as her eyes adjusted. Taking cautious steps forward, she braced herself for the worst, imagining grotesque sights or hidden horrors.

Once her eyes adjusted to the bright lights and she finally took it all in, her jaw slackened in surprise. No way.

The room was completely empty.

Well, not completely. A couple of industrial freezers stood against one wall, and two vacant stainless steel tables were positioned in the center of the space. That was it. There were no hidden horrors, no bloody secrets waiting to be uncovered—nothing.

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. She’d let her imagination run wild, assuming the worst about Sunghoon when, in reality, the man was just overly cautious. Y/N felt a wave of guilt wash over her. She hadn’t said anything about her suspicions out loud, but she still felt like she owed him an apology.

“See? Nothing special.”

Sunghoon’s voice had a smug, “told-you-so” edge to it. He leaned against the doorframe, watching her with a glint of amusement in his eyes.

“I’m really sorry, I didn’t—”

Before she could finish, Sunghoon raised a finger to his lips, silencing her. His expression softened, but his body language said everything: I know. The simple gesture made her skin prickle with unease. It wasn’t just the unspoken understanding that he knew her thoughts—it was how confident he was about it. As if he could see straight through her.

“It’s okay,” he said, his voice calm and measured. “I know.”

With that, he stepped back into the hallway and pressed a new code into the keypad. The door locked with a soft beep, sealing the room once more.

Strangely, the pit in Y/N’s stomach didn’t go away. The sense of dread lingered, heavy and suffocating, even though she’d just seen for herself that there was nothing suspicious in the room. She shook her head, trying to push the feeling away.

Gut feelings don’t mean anything, she told herself firmly. I just need this job.

Sunghoon studied her closely as she stood there, lost in her thoughts. There was an almost playful tilt to his lips, seemingly enjoying the inner turmoil she was facing at that moment. Y/N caught a glimpse of that same devilish grin she’d seen before, and suddenly, a vivid image flashed in her mind.

For a split second, she saw Sunghoon standing over her, his face smeared with blood. The walls around them were crimson, cracked, and lined with hanging bodies dripping with gore. His laugh echoed in her ears, distorted and inhuman, as he loomed over her like a predator over its prey.

She gasped, jerking herself out of the horrifying vision. Her hands balled into fists, her nails digging into her palms. She clenched her jaw, willing herself to calm down.

The image was horrid, and it left her mortified. She didn’t know where that sudden vision came from or why it happened, but it made her scared of the man all over again.

Why am I acting like this? This is so stupid. Sunghoon was her boss, and he’d never shown any signs of being capable of something so monstrous. And yet, her body refused to listen to her brain.

All she knew as they left the room was that she didn’t trust him—not one bit.

The slam of a door jolted Y/N out of her spiraling thoughts. She whipped her head up, startled by the sudden noise. Sunghoon didn’t seem fazed at all, though his brow furrowed in mild annoyance.

“Oh, Jake and Jay should be here by now,” he said casually.

“Jake and… Jay?” Y/N repeated, blinking in surprise. She hadn’t expected to meet anyone else today, let alone two new people.

“Yep,” Sunghoon replied, his tone light. “They’re coming all the way from Busan, so they must be exhausted.”

Busan?

Her hometown?

She wanted to comment on the coincidence but decided against it, unsure if it was worth mentioning. Instead, she followed Sunghoon as he opened the door to the main kitchen.

The first thing she noticed was a short man with chestnut-brown hair, his doe eyes and mischievous grin giving him a puppy-like appearance. He was making obnoxious kissy noises at someone while flailing his arms dramatically.

“Baby, did you miss me?” he called loudly, earning an exasperated groan from the red-haired man beside him, who was clearly trying to avoid his advances.

Next to him was someone a bit taller, with an intimidating aura that left Y/n amazed. His sharp eyes were narrowed and his jaw was locked, making him look even scarier. His blue/black hair was neatly gelled up, with a few strands falling onto his face. It was like the sun and moon– how drastic the two’s personalities seemed.

“I told you to stop calling me that!” Heeseung groaned, rejecting the happy guy’s advances and swatting at him with a wooden spoon.

Y/N blinked, utterly baffled by the chaotic scene.

“They’re always like this,” The intimidating guy muttered, pinching his face in frustration.

“God, you guys are so embarrassing.” Riki rolled his eyes, unfastening his tie and wrapping it around the hanger by the lockers. Even with his tie undone and his hair slightly disheveled, he still looked annoyingly handsome.

The intimidating guy turned around first, noticing Sunghoon with a girl basically hiding behind him. In a mere second, his face morphed from annoyed to pleased, a wide grin growing on his face.

“Well there’s a new face.” His sharp eyes narrowing slightly as he studied Y/N.

This caused the rest of them to turn around, immediately straightening up at the sign of their boss. Sunghoon had such a presence that caused people to stop what they were doing and become attentive and obedient. Y/n found that kind of power very admiring.

“Hey, hyung.”

Sunoo approached with his usual bright smile, now dressed in a clean set of clothes. He carried an air of calmness that made him seem immune to the chaos around him. Bowing respectfully to Sunghoon, he turned to Y/N and affectionately ruffled her hair.

Y/N felt her shoulders relax at the small gesture. Sunoo had an ease about him that made her feel safer whenever he was nearby.

“Sunoo, you don’t have to do that,” Sunghoon chuckled, his voice surprisingly light. The expression on his face was unlike anything Y/N had seen before—soft, warm, even affectionate. It was a side of him that didn’t match the sharp, commanding aura he usually exuded.

Heeseung appeared behind Sunoo, his own genuine smile lighting up his face. There was an undeniable camaraderie between them all, a comfort and closeness that made them seem more like lifelong friends than coworkers.

Growing up, Y/n was never the sociable type. She had a hard time making friends, so she didn’t have many in the first place. Guys would tease her relentlessly, while the girls were always cruel. The only friend she did manage to get had approached her first, and they’ve been inseparable since middle school– however they’re currently studying abroad in the U.S which left Y/n feeling more alone. She yearned for a family type bond with someone his whole life, as she was never given a chance– with her father being absent and her mother having disappeared at a young age. Seeing how comfortable everyone here was with each other, she had a sliver of hope that she too could become apart of it.

“So, are you gonna introduce us to the pretty new girl or what?”

The puppy-like man—Jake, if Y/N remembered correctly—threw an arm around Sunghoon’s shoulders, grinning mischievously. Sunghoon brushed him off with a scoff, but there was no real annoyance behind it. She flushed at the compliment, brushing it off as just him being nice.

“Y/N, these are thing one and thing two,” Sunghoon said, his tone teasing as he gestured toward the two men.

The taller of the two—Jay—let out a sharp scoff, shoving his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket.

“Park Jongsaeng,” Jay introduced himself, his sharp eyes glinting as he offered her a polite smile. “But I mainly go by Jay.”

Y/N mirrored the gesture, bowing her head slightly. “The pleasure is all mine.”

Jay’s gaze flicked down to her outstretched hand, his head tilting slightly in confusion. Before Y/N could retract her hand in embarrassment, Jake burst into laughter, poorly stifling a snort with his fist.

“You’re supposed to shake it, idiot,” Riki chimed in from his perch on the counter, a wide, amused grin spreading across his face.

The silence that followed felt suffocating. Y/N straightened her posture, scratching the back of her neck in an effort to mask her embarrassment. Her ears burned, and she tried to hide her flushed face by tugging at her sleeves.

“She’s cute,” Jake giggled, glancing between Sunghoon and Jay.

Y/N caught the shared look between the three of them—subtle, but not subtle enough to go unnoticed. It was as if they were in on a secret that no one else was privy to. The thought left her both curious and uneasy.

“Sorry, shaking hands isn’t really my thing,” Jay said, breaking the silence with a shrug.

“Oh, it’s okay,” Y/N mumbled, still flustered.

Riki tutted sympathetically and hopped off the counter, walking over to pat her gently on the back. The simple gesture eased her nerves slightly, and she managed a small smile in return.

Riki and Sunoo were the only ones she felt remotely comfortable with so far. Sunoo had a protective, older brother vibe, and Riki exuded a laid-back confidence that was both calming and reassuring.

“Well, I’d love to stay and chat, but Jake, Jay, and I have some business to discuss,” Sunghoon said, cutting through the moment.

Jake groaned dramatically and flung himself at Heeseung, wrapping his arms around him in a clingy embrace.

“Work talk is boringgg,” he whined, earning a pained yelp from Heeseung as he tried to pry Jake off him.

“Jake, stop being annoying,” Jay snapped, his sharp tone enough to make Jake release his hold immediately.

The group began to disperse, understanding that whatever Sunghoon meant by “business” was not meant for their ears. Y/N, however, stayed rooted in place, her curiosity gnawing at her. What kind of “business” were they always disappearing to handle?

“Wanna help Riki-san wash dishes?” Heeseung asked, tossing her a pair of rubber gloves. They were stained and worn at the fingertips, but they’d have to do. “Shift’s almost over anyway.”

Y/N caught the gloves, nodding silently. It wasn’t like she had much of a choice, but she didn’t mind. Working alongside Riki didn’t seem like the worst way to end the night.

Riki shot Heeseung a pointed look. “Take it easy on her, okay?” he said, though he was smiling.

Heeseung shrugged, a playful smirk tugging at his lips as he walked away.

Y/N slipped on the gloves and joined Riki at the sink. He passed her a pot to scrub, and she worked quietly, her thoughts spiraling despite the comforting routine of washing dishes.

She couldn’t shake the lingering sense of unease that clung to her like a shadow. Sunghoon, Jay, and Jake all had an energy about them that felt... off. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but it gnawed at her, leaving her restless and distracted.

“Y/N,” Riki said softly, his voice pulling her out of her thoughts.

“Hmm?”

“You’re scrubbing the same spot over and over.”

Y/N glanced down at the pot in her hands, realizing with a jolt that she’d been absentmindedly scrubbing one area for who knows how long.

“Sorry,” she muttered, moving on to rinse the pot.

Riki studied her carefully, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “You sure everything’s okay?”

“I’m fine,” she said quickly, forcing a smile.

He didn’t look convinced, but let it go anyway. “If you say so.”

As Y/N scrubbed another pan, her thoughts drifted back to Sunghoon. Something about the way he carried himself—the way people froze when he walked into a room—made her both curious and wary. She didn’t trust him, not entirely. And she had a feeling that whatever “business” he was discussing with Jay and Jake wasn’t as straightforward as it seemed.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

“So, she’s Choi’s daughter?” Jay asked, his voice low as he made sure no one else was within earshot. The three of them had left the kitchen and were now weaving their way through the narrow corridors of the offices toward the garage, where the shipments usually arrived.

The garage doors were rolled down, but tangerine rays of the setting sun seeped through the cracks, painting the dusty floor in warm hues. The faint golden light caught on their faces, highlighting the sharp tension in Sunghoon’s jaw. Stacks of packages loomed in uneven rows, their movements stirring the air and kicking up clouds of fine dust. The scent of dirt and motor oil clung to everything, but they were used to it by now.

Sunghoon’s demeanor was far removed from the laid-back, almost carefree persona he wore in front of the others. His brows were furrowed, his lips set in a thin, tight line.

“Yeah, that’s her,” he said, his voice clipped.

Jake let out a disbelieving laugh, leaning casually against one of the crates. “Wow. That was way too fucking easy.” He reached for the lever to the garage door, pulling it down to reveal the trucks waiting outside.

Sunghoon exhaled deeply, his shoulders sagging slightly. It had been too easy—almost unnervingly so. Y/N had fallen right into their hands, just as they’d hoped. The second her application crossed his desk, he hadn’t hesitated. She was perfect: unassuming, innocent, and far removed from the spotlight that followed her family.

“I liked her, she was cute. It’s too bad,” Jake added, a pout forming on his lips. He tended to get attached to people far too easily, a trait that Sunghoon often saw as both an asset and a liability.

Excitement practically radiated from Jake as he bounced on his feet, his energy palpable. “I’d totally ask her out too,” he said brightly, as if he hadn’t just been plotting her demise minutes ago.

Jay exchanged a wary glance with Sunghoon, his expression tinged with unease. Jake was always so happy-go-lucky that it was impossible to tell when he was serious or just playing around.

“You know we have to kill her, Jake,” Sunghoon said quietly.

Even though he knew it was the inevitable conclusion, the words tasted bitter on his tongue.

Jake rolled his eyes, waving a hand dismissively. “Of course I know, dude. But don’t you think she seems different? I mean, yeah, her dad’s an asshole, but she’s not like him.”

Sunghoon knew all too well about Mr. Choi. His uncle had drilled it into his head from the moment this job became a possibility. Choi was a self-made man, the epitome of a “rags-to-riches” story, and now one of the wealthiest businessmen in the country. Married into wealth, father of three, and adored by the public, he seemed untouchable.

But Sunghoon’s uncle had other plans.

It was all painfully simple. Choi was running for mayor—against Sunghoon’s uncle. The stakes were high, and both men had powerful support, but Sunghoon’s uncle wanted an edge. That’s where Y/N came in. She was the least public of the three children, making her disappearance easier to cover up. The eldest son was an executive at a tech company, and the middle daughter was an up-and-coming K-pop idol—both impossible to target without sparking nationwide outrage.

“I begged him not to do this,” Sunghoon murmured, more to himself than anyone else. His uncle’s words still echoed in his mind: “You do what you gotta do to survive in this world. Learn that from me, boy.”

And he had learned. Sunghoon, of course, didn’t enjoy killing for revenge, but he learned how to silence his conscience, to lock away the guilt that threatened to consume him every time he followed an order. He didn’t want to hurt Y/N—she was an innocent caught in the crossfire of her father’s ambitions. But what choice did he have?

“You think they’d be suspicious if she disappeared?” Jay’s question pulled Sunghoon from his thoughts.

They’d have to come up with some kind of believable story, maybe something about her running away. But the thought of lying to the others—Riki, Sunoo, Heeseung—made Sunghoon’s chest tighten. They had all been loyal to him, trusting him blindly. The thought of breaking that trust, of seeing Sunoo’s heart broken despair, Jungwon’s mortified face, Riki’s tears– was unbearable.

No, they don’t need to know everything. Everything was fine the way it was now.

Jay placed a hand on Sunghoon’s shoulder, his touch firm but oddly comforting. He seemed to sense the turmoil swirling inside him.

“If anyone deserves to know,” Jay said softly, “it’d be Heeseung.”

Sunghoon nodded reluctantly. Heeseung had been with them the longest—longer than anyone else. He was the glue that held their group together, the steady presence they all relied on. But the thought of Heeseung finding out what Sunghoon had done—what they were still doing—sent a cold chill through him.

If Heeseung knew what his signature Korean beef bulgogi was really made of, what would he do? What would he say? Sunghoon didn’t want to imagine it.

Strangely enough, he didn’t feel any remorse, and he was slowly feeling like Jake and Jay weren’t either. It made him feel like shit, in all honesty. Like he was some kind of monster that brainwashed them. He probably was a monster. Their transformation from when he first met them satisfied but also terrified him– how much human nature can change under the right conditions was jarring.

A tapestry of disaster were the men that stood before him, and Sunghoon was the painter. Whether he should feel honored or burdened, he wasn’t sure.

“Well,” Jay said, snapping him back to reality, “it’s either Y/N dies, or we face the wrath of your uncle.” He let out a humorless laugh.

“Both of those choices can suck my dick,” Jake quipped, earning a startled laugh from Sunghoon.

“Oh my god, I did not need that visual,” Jay groaned, his laughter turning into a sigh.

“Count this as revenge for that lasagna comment earlier,” Jake shot back, grinning mischievously.

Sunghoon usually reminisces on moments like these, but the notion from earlier still lingers. He hates holding secrets from people, and he had had to hold many throughout his life. Jay was right; Heeseung was clever and will probably catch onto their schemes sooner or later, so why not lay it on him while he's still oblivious? Sunghoon faced many dilemmas in his life, but this was by far his trickiest one.

“What? Cat got your tongue?” Jake was relentless, but Jay didn’t return the humor this time. While Sunghoon was deep in his thoughts– like always– Jay had gone behind the trucks to open the cargo space since he was impatient waiting for the rest of them to arrive.

“Hello? Earth to Jay?” Jake called, his voice tinged with concern.

Jay didn’t respond. His eyes were wide, his hands frozen in place as he stared into the back of the truck.

Sunghoon’s stomach dropped. “What is it?”

Jay finally turned to face them, his voice barely above a whisper. “It’s empty. There’s… nothing here.”

Sunghoon’s heart began to race. He pushed past Jake to see for himself, and his breath caught in his throat. The cargo space was completely bare—spotless, as if it had been wiped clean. Jake stood frozen, his hands tangled in his hair.

“We are in such deep shit.”

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

author note: sorry the slow burn is slow burning 🙏 i promise sunghoon's romance with y/n will hasten, i'm just taking time to establish their relationship bc angst hehhee. also, jake and jay is such an iconic duo name im obsessed with the '02 liners <3 hope you guys enjoyed!

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taglist: @rebeccaaaaaaaa, @strxwbloody, @shuichi-sama, @pshbites

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enhastars · 4 days ago

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THE RED ROOM જ⁀➴ CHAPTER THREE

AT THE WAREHOUSE, OCT 13TH ✦ (TW: GRAPHIC)

Blood painted the walls in messy strokes, the feathered splatter of arterial spray. It dripped down in dark streaks, pooling ominously into the carpet. As Jake approached the scene, the floor squelched beneath his boots, the sound damp and sickening, like water being wrung from a sponge. A thick crimson liquid welled up under his soles, staining them irreparably.

Jake lifted his foot, his face twisted in disgust. This sight had become far too familiar, yet he never grew accustomed to it. The stench alone was enough to turn most stomachs, and it was precisely why he never committed these heinous acts with his own two hands.

Jay was already at the scene, crouched beside the mangled corpse—or what remained of them. He jabbed a stick into the flesh, prodding it like one might poke at roadkill. The chunk of tissue rolled lifelessly, smearing against the floor. Jay smirked, seemingly satisfied. Jake couldn’t understand how the other could get so close to the carnage, with guts and viscera splayed across the room, and then go on to eat meat with relish.

“This one’s messy,” Jay remarked, his tone almost lighthearted.

“No kidding. It’s disgusting,” Jake shot back, rolling his eyes at the obvious observation.

Jay grinned and spun on his heel, his gaze catching another gruesome fragment on the floor. He knelt to inspect it, jabbing at the flesh with morbid curiosity. “Hey, doesn’t this look like lasagna?”

Jake didn’t need to look long to see the resemblance. A chunk of what could only be brain matter lay in a lumpy, tangled heap on the ground. The sight made his stomach churn.

“God, you’re so gross, you know that?” Jake groaned, running a hand through his chesnut-colored hair in exasperation. He swore he wouldn’t be able to eat Italian food for weeks now.

Ignoring him, Jay rose to his feet, his eyes narrowing as they caught sight of a maroon file on a nearby table. He grabbed it and casually brushed off the debris clinging to its surface. Curious despite himself, Jake carefully stepped around the carnage to join him.

Jay flipped open the file, his expression darkening as his eyes scanned the pages. His lips pressed into a thin line as he handed it over to Jake without a word. One glance at the contents was enough for Jake to understand.

“What a sick bastard,” Jay muttered, running a hand through his blue-toned hair. Jake frowned at the realization that Jay’s hands were likely far from clean. Still, he nodded grimly in agreement.

The file detailed the heinous acts of Choi Jeongwu, 27, who had been convicted of manslaughter, theft, and sexual assault. The list of his crimes was sickeningly long. Even if he had pleaded guilty, Jake thought, he would’ve ended up on death row.

“I’d say he deserved it, don’t you think?” Jay spoke as if reading Jake’s mind, his tone devoid of any sympathy.

Jake offered a strained smile. A part of him agreed—men like Jeongwu didn’t deserve mercy. But another part of him, a deeper, more human part, struggled to process the violence that had just unfolded. Jay had always been better at compartmentalizing. Jake suspected Sunghoon had something to do with that.

Sensing the shift in Jake’s mood, Jay nudged him lightly with an elbow. “I bet he’d taste disgusting,” Jay joked, breaking the tension.

Jake looked up, his bangs falling over his face. “I can’t wait to see Mr. Choi’s face when he finds out what his favorite steak was made of.”

The mental image made Jake laugh despite himself, the sound easing the weight in his chest. Jay grinned, glad to have lifted Jake’s spirits. It had always been like this between the two of them—each other’s lifeline in a world that seemed bent on swallowing them whole.

When Sunghoon had entered their lives, Jake had just turned 20. He remembered it so vividly, as if it were yesterday. Back then, he and Jay were nothing more than rogues, living on the edge of life and death. Jay, his childhood friend, had dropped out of school when college funds proved unattainable, and he’d urged Jake to do the same. Jake couldn’t imagine life without Jay by his side, so he followed suit.

They scavenged the streets for ways to make a quick buck, eventually stumbling into the dark, violent world of narcotics. Selling drugs and conning the wealthy had been dangerous and morally dubious, but it paid well. It had also given them a rush they couldn’t find anywhere else.

Now, standing in the aftermath of yet another grisly scene, Jake couldn’t help but wonder if this life would ever truly let them go.

“What are you waiting for? Hurry up!” Jay, who was much younger and sporting his natural jet black hair, yelled over his shoulder at the man lagging behind him. His arms were weighed down with plastic bags, each stuffed with illegal substances ranging from cocaine to LSD. The load was heavy, but the stakes were heavier.

Jake, younger and far less experienced, was frozen in place. His hands trembled, and his knees felt glued to the ground. Fear coursed through him, making the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. Jay couldn’t see what was happening behind him—he was too focused on making their escape after their hideout had been mysteriously tipped off to the police.

“Hyung...” Jake whispered, his voice shaky and his chest tight. He felt as though even the smallest breath could spell his doom. His dry lips quivered as the terror of the moment overwhelmed him for the first time in months.

“I suggest you tell your buddy to put the bags down before I shoot him through the chest,” a new voice cut through the tension like a knife. The words were cold, sharp, and commanding.

Jay whipped his head around, and in that moment, he understood why the other had been paralyzed. Standing just a foot away was a lanky man with a gun pressed firmly against Jake’s back. His long blonde hair was wild and unkempt, falling over his pale, porcelain skin. A black leather jacket clung to his frame, layered over a matching black polo shirt. A gold chain glinted against his chest, a stark contrast to his otherwise shadowy appearance. His face was hard, his gaze boring into the back of Jake’s head, but his lips curved into a maniacal smile.

Jay had seen his fair share of vicious people, but there was something about this man—his cold confidence, his eerie smirk—that left him petrified.

Slowly, Jay dropped to his knees and set the plastic bags on the ground. His eyes were wide and unblinking, his breath shallow as his body tensed. He couldn’t even muster the strength to reassure Jake, who looked like he was on the verge of tears.

The stranger let out a low, mocking laugh, his voice dripping with condescension. “I never thought you’d actually listen.”

Jay’s jaw clenched, his nostrils flaring as anger simmered beneath his fear. He hated feeling humiliated, especially during what was supposed to be a clean getaway.

Without warning, the man tossed the gun to the ground at Jay’s feet. Jake exhaled sharply in relief, suddenly aware that he’d been holding his breath the entire time. Jay arched an eyebrow, his confusion plain.

“It’s empty anyway,” the man said casually, shrugging. “I just wanted to see what you’d do.”

“It... it was empty?” Jake’s voice cracked, the adrenaline still coursing through him.

“Of course it was. It’s illegal to carry a loaded firearm in Korea, you know,” the man said with a sly grin. Brushing past Jake, he crouched beside the bags of drugs and began rummaging through them like he was inspecting merchandise.

Jay, still on edge, was flabbergasted. He couldn’t believe someone had the audacity to toy with them like this. And yet, for some inexplicable reason, he couldn’t bring himself to lash out. Whether it was lingering fear or sheer exhaustion, he wasn’t sure.

Jake hesitated, then inched closer to Jay, careful not to provoke the stranger. The sound of sirens began to grow louder in the distance, snapping them both back to reality.

“Hey,” Jay said, his voice sharp and urgent. “I don’t know who the hell you are, but we need to get the fuck out of here.”

The man didn’t even glance at him, waving him off with the back of his hand. “Relax,” he muttered, still digging through the bags.

The sirens drew closer, and panic began to rise in Jay. He clenched his fists, ready to drag Jake out of there if he had to.

After a few seconds, the man sighed in disappointment and stood up, dusting off his hands. He turned to face them, his sinister smirk returning. Jake instinctively moved behind Jay, but Jay stood his ground.

“How about you two work for me?” the man asked, his tone unnervingly casual.

“Are you crazy? Why the hell would we do that?” Jay snapped, his frustration bubbling over. He wasn’t about to let himself be treated like a pawn.

The man tilted his head, his expression calm and calculating. “Because, I can promise you’ll make more money with me than you ever could in this rat’s nest you call a hideout,” he said, gesturing around the grimy room with a look of distaste.

Jay’s jaw clenched, and he took a step forward, but Jake grabbed his arm to hold him back. The sirens were closing in, the red and blue lights beginning to paint the room in fractured colors.

“What do we get out of this?” Jay questioned defensively.

“I can help you out of this debacle you got yourselves in.”

The sirens were inching towards where the three were, making the panic rise in Jay. He didn’t have time to argue with this stranger, unless he wanted to be locked up for the rest of his life.

“Hyung,” Jake whispered, his voice urgent. “I think we should listen to him.”

“How do you know we can trust this random guy?” Jay spat, growing increasingly frustrated.

Deep down though, he knew he had to come up with a decision quickly.

“The odds are stacked against us, Jay! Look around us.” Jake yelled, surprising both of them with the outburst.

Jay glanced back at the younger, startled by the seriousness in his tone. It wasn’t often that Jake called him by name, and it only happened when he was dead serious. He gritted his teeth, torn between his pride and the reality of their situation.

The man grinned, sensing victory. “So, what do you say, Mr. Jay?”

The sirens were now deafening, the flashing lights casting eerie shadows across the room. Jay swallowed hard, then nodded begrudgingly. He didn’t like it, but he knew they had no other choice. The stranger seemed satisfied with that.

“We don’t even know your name,” Jake said, stepping forward cautiously.

The man cocked an eyebrow, then reached into his pocket and handed Jake a small slip of paper—what appeared to be a business card. Jay’s eyes widened as the man turned around and climbed onto the windowsill, clearly preparing to jump. “Are you insane?” Jay shouted, realizing the his spontaneous plan.

The stranger turned back with a smirk, silencing him with a wave of his hand. “Don’t worry about me,” he said, his voice calm yet commanding. “Just worry about keeping up.”

Before he jumped out, he glanced back one more time at the duo expectedly, who were staring back at him stunned.

“It’s Sunghoon, by the way. Park Sunghoon.”

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

“Sunghoon, I got the body.”

Back in the present, Jake was pulled from his flashback as Jay’s voice broke through the silence. Jay was speaking into his cellphone—a special kind of burner phone designed to prevent any calls from being traced back to them. Keeping the cops off their trail was always a top priority.

As expected, the call went straight to voicemail. It always did. Jay left a message anyway, confident Sunghoon would get back to them quickly, as usual. The waiting rarely lasted long, and it wasn’t much of a hassle.

The process of transferring the goods was routine by now. Ever since Sunghoon had purchased a trucking company under a shell corporation, transportation had become significantly easier. The only annoyance was waiting for the trucks to arrive. Sometimes it could take hours, but today, they were quicker than expected. Jake guessed the hitman they’d hired must’ve called the trucks ahead of time, for which he was grateful. He didn’t want to spend another minute in that warehouse if he could help it.

“What about the cleaning service? Did they get back to you?” Jake asked, glancing at Jay as they finished packaging the goods.

Jake never dealt with the cleanup—he avoided it like the plague. Blood and guts weren’t his thing, and Sunghoon had thankfully hired a private cleaning service for these kinds of "specialized" messes.

“No, but they should be here soon,” a worker nearby replied, his voice muffled by the hazmat mask covering his face. His gloved hands moved efficiently, stacking sealed evidence bags.

Jake tsked in annoyance, partly because he was tired of waiting but mostly because he’d forgotten to wear protective gear. His clothes were ruined, and now he’d need to replace them.

With a nod from the worker, Jay gestured toward their car, signaling that it was time to leave. The rest of the cleanup would be handled by the hired crew. Jay and Jake only stuck around to grab any files or critical evidence worth salvaging.

“I need new shoes,” Jake muttered with a pout as he climbed into the passenger seat of Jay’s gray Mercedes-Benz.

Jay, sliding into the driver’s seat, smirked knowingly. “It was a birthday gift,” he always said about the car. But Jake wasn’t buying it. He was pretty sure Jay had stolen it—being a thief was practically written into his DNA at this point.

Jay turned the ignition, and the car roared to life, the radio blasting an ear-piercing burst of heavy rock music. Jake flinched, letting out an undignified yelp before launching into a fit of rage, smacking Jay’s shoulder repeatedly.

“Turn it down, you idiot!” Jake yelled, while Jay doubled over laughing.

As the music settled to a tolerable level, Jake crossed his arms and sank into the seat. “I heard there’s a new recruit. Can’t wait to meet them,” Jay said, a grin playing on his lips as he focused on the road.

Jake perked up, his interest piqued. “Oh yeah?” he asked, tilting his head curiously. He’d overheard something about it on the phone but hadn’t caught the details.

Jay nodded. “Yeah. I haven’t seen Sunghoon in a while either, so I’ll get to check in with him too.”

Jake grinned to himself, excitement bubbling under his skin. He wouldn’t admit it out loud, but he was also looking forward to seeing Heeseung. Not that anyone needed to know that.

“Off to L’Atelier Rouge we go,” Jay announced, his voice dripping with an exaggerated, fake French accent. Without warning, he slammed down on the gas pedal, sending the car hurtling toward Seoul, their home.

Jake grabbed the edge of his seat, glaring at Jay as the car shot forward like a bullet. “You’re such a reckless driver!”

Jay only laughed harder, the city lights of Seoul shimmering in the distance as they sped toward their next destination.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

authors note: hey lol this was kinda short but !! i start university again on tuesday so updates might be less frequent but ill try my best!! :D sorry its kind of dark and gruesome lol its definitely not my usual but i hope you guys enjoy regardless <3

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taglist: @rebeccaaaaaaaa, @strxwbloody, @shuichi-sama , @pshbites

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