It was dawn.
Six in the morning.
The sky hovered between night and day, painted in dull shades of grey and pale blue, as if even the sun wasn't sure whether it wanted to rise yet.
The apartment was unusually quiet.
The boys had taken over the living room the previous night—sleeping in what could only be described as strategic chaos. Jack was sprawled half on the couch, half on the floor, one sock missing. Noah had claimed the rug like a battlefield casualty, arms crossed, face unreadable even in sleep. Fu Geng sat against the wall, glasses still on, head tilted slightly to the side as if he'd fallen asleep mid-analysis.
(Yes. All of them alive. Unfortunately.)
We girls, on the other hand, had retreated into our rooms—three separate spaces, three different silences.
For once, the world felt… still.
I woke up first.
Not peacefully.
I was running.
My lungs burned, every breath scraping painfully through my chest. The ground beneath my feet felt unstable, shifting, cracking. Behind me, something chased me—not visible, not human. Just there. Its presence pressed against my spine, cold and suffocating.
I screamed—
And fell.
I jolted awake, gasping.
My heart hammered violently, my hands trembling as I pushed myself upright. Sweat clung to my skin despite the cold air in the room.
"Fuck," I whispered.
The dream clung to me like smoke.
I dragged a hand through my hair and glanced around. Curtains half-open. Grey morning light leaking in. The room smelled faintly of detergent and gun oil—comforting, in a twisted way.
Sleep was impossible now.
I slipped out of bed and padded into the kitchen, barefoot. The fridge light blinded me as I opened it, stared blankly, then shut it again.
Nothing felt right.
So I grabbed my phone and typed into the group chat.
Nam: going for a walk.
I didn't wait for replies.
I pulled on clothes quietly—
a loose black hoodie, sleeves falling past my wrists,
dark grey cargo pants hugging my hips just enough to hide the knife strapped beneath,
black sneakers scuffed from years of running—from fights, from memories.
I tied my hair low, messy, unbothered.
No mask.
No badge.
Just Nam.
I closed the door softly behind me.
--------
Outside, the town slept.
Empty streets stretched endlessly, bathed in early morning light. Houses stood quietly, windows dark, secrets locked behind walls. The air was crisp, cool against my skin, carrying the scent of dew and distant rain.
I walked.
Through narrow alleys where shadows clung stubbornly.
Past parks where swings moved gently in the breeze, creaking softly.
Across streets so quiet they felt unreal.
For a moment, I let myself breathe.
Then I saw it.
A small coffee shop.
Warm yellow lights glowed through fogged windows. The sign outside flickered slightly, handwritten letters reading OPEN.
It looked safe.
I went in.
A bell chimed softly.
Inside, the scent of coffee wrapped around me instantly—rich, bitter, warm. Wooden tables, soft music playing low, only one person behind the counter.
A boy.
Early twenties. Dark, slightly messy hair. Black apron. Tired eyes that carried too much weight for someone his age.
"Hey," I said.
"One latte, please," I added, waving lazily.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied, voice flat, exhausted.
I sat near the window and opened my phone.
Yesterday's photos flooded the screen.
Jack laughing too hard.
Anna holding a drink like she'd never known pain.
Yuri smiling softly, like a guardian watching over us.
I smiled.
For a few seconds, life didn't feel like a curse.
"Here you go."
"Oh, thanks—"
Then I saw the nametag.
ETHAN
My breath caught.
"…Ethan?" I said.
He turned.
"Yes?"
My pulse spiked.
"Uh… are you busy?" I asked carefully.
"Do you wanna talk?" he replied, confused.
"If you're not," I smiled.
"…Okay."
He sat across from me.
"So what's your name?" I asked.
"You already know."
"No. Full name."
He leaned back, studying me.
"Ethan. Ethan Cross."
I sipped my coffee.
Outwardly calm.
Internally screaming.
WHAT THE FXCK.
HELL NO.
HOW CAN HE BE HIM?? BRO DOESN'T EVEN LOOK LIKE A CRIMINAL.
I NEED TO TAKE HIM BACK TO ANNA!
SOB..SOB..
I glanced briefly at the CCTV camera.
"Wow," I muttered. "You don't get shy or stutter now. Improved."
"What?" he asked as he raised a brow.
"Name's Selen—" I stopped. "Nam. It's Nam."
"You don't look Korean."
"I get that a lot."
(Note: Selena is originally Russian but as she changed her identity so now she is Korean.)
I inhaled.
"Can you listen to me?"
"Yeah," he said slowly. "But… have we met before?"
Oh shit.
(Note: they met when Ethan said something to Anna in chapter 3).
"Nope," I replied instantly. "Never seen you."
"…Alright." He nodded. "Continue."
"My sister," I said softly. "Miya. I was five. She was six."
His eyes softened.
"Christmas Eve. A gang broke into our house. They killed my parents." My voice trembled. "They took her."
Silence.
"…That's sad," he said.
"Details?" he asked later.
"I don't know much."
"…Would you like to hear mine?" he asked.
"Still trusting?" I muttered. "Guess we're alike."
"What?"
"Nothing."
I met his eyes.
"And yes, Mr. Cross. I'd love to hear your story."
He stared at the table.
"I was ten. My family owed money. A man came dressed in black—said he was delivering food." His voice dropped. "My mom realized too late."
He swallowed.
"She rushed me into the back, stuffed clothes into a bag, kissed me, hugged me… and pushed me out."
His hands trembled.
"I heard her scream."
My chest tightened.
"I ran. Cold night. Nobody helped." He laughed bitterly. "But he found me anyway."
I stayed silent.
"He kept me. Locked me in basements. Dark rooms. When he kidnapped kids… he gave me a knife." His jaw clenched. "If I didn't kill them, he tortured me."
I felt sick.
"I was sixteen when a girl saved me." His voice softened. "Anna."
My heart skipped.
"She made me believe I could be normal. We promised to stay together."
He laughed hollowly.
"She left. No note. Nothing."
He stopped.
"I became something else after that," he said quietly. "The Black Lantern—"
The café door opened.
A customer entered.
He stood.
"Can I get your number?" I asked quickly.
"…Yeah."
I saved it as My Twin.
---------
By the time I reached the apartment it was 9 AM, chaos had resumed.
"WHERE WERE YOU?!" Anna yelled.
"... Just Coffee," I smiled.
Noah stood waiting.
His face was serious.
"It's time," he said.
The room went silent.
"The Black Lantern killer has stopped."
My stomach twisted.
"But that's not the end," Noah continued. "Now comes the real mission."
He laid out the plan.
"Jack. You'll pose as the personal bodyguard of CEO Liam."
Jack nodded.
"Anna. You'll hack everything. Financials. Communications."
She exhaled slowly.
"Nam," Noah turned to me. "You'll infiltrate Liam's mafia. Gain trust. Collect evidence. Kill if necessary."
Silence.
"This mission has no guarantee," Noah said quietly. "You may not come back alive."
Jack met my eyes.
We smiled faintly.
Yuri hugged us tightly.
"The cars are outside. Come back alive."
Fu Geng adjusted his glasses.
"Good luck."
Anna hugged us last.
"My babies," she cried.
"Between Anna at noon a surprise is coming for you, please be good with it."
I said to her as I texted Ethan to come to xxxxxxx address at 12PM.
As the cars pulled away in opposite directions, I stared out the window.
Two roads.
Two lies.
One truth buried in blood.
In this world, in which me and Jack were now stepping in, a single mistake could kill you.
And the only way to survive—
Was to become deadlier than the darkness chasing you.
Narration:
I wish...
They do come back alive...
Together...
Unchanged....