Yuna:
The door had barely closed behind him when something inside me snapped again.
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No.
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This wasn't how it was going to end.
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Not with him walking away.
Not with me staying behind.
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I didn't think.
I didn't hesitate.
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I ran.
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The door flew open as I rushed out, my bare feet hitting the cold floor as I followed him down the hallway.
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"Ethan!"
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My voice echoed through the space, sharp, urgent.
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He didn't stop at first.
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"Ethan, wait!"
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That made him pause.
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Just enough.
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I reached him, my breath uneven, my chest rising and falling quickly as I grabbed his arm.
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"I'm coming with you."
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He didn't turn immediately.
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For a moment—
He just stood there.
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Then slowly—
He looked at me.
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His expression was already hard again.
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"No."
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Simple.
Cold.
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But I didn't step back.
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"I'm not asking," I said.
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His eyes narrowed slightly.
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"This isn't a choice you get to make."
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"It is when it's my life too," I shot back.
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A flicker of irritation crossed his face.
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"You don't understand what you're walking into."
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"Then let me see it," I replied instantly.
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His jaw tightened.
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"No."
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I stepped closer.
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"If I'm in danger anyway, then I'd rather be with you than locked away," I said, my voice softer now but no less firm.
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That hit.
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I saw it.
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For a second—
His expression shifted.
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But it wasn't enough.
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"You're staying," he repeated.
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My heart pounded harder.
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"Why won't you just listen to me?!" I said, frustration breaking through again.
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"Because you're not making sense."
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"I am!" I insisted. "You're just not hearing me!"
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He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.
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"Yuna—"
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Before he could finish—
I stepped forward.
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And kissed him.
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It wasn't planned.
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It just—
Happened.
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My hands grabbed his shirt as I pulled him closer, my lips pressing against his with urgency, desperation, determination all mixed into one.
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For a second—
He didn't react.
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Then—
His hand came to my waist instinctively.
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But he didn't deepen it.
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Didn't take control.
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Because he knew what I was doing.
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After a moment—
He pulled back.
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His gaze dropped to mine.
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Sharp.
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"…You think that's going to change my mind?" he asked.
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I didn't look away.
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"Yes."
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A pause.
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Then he shook his head slightly.
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"No."
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My chest tightened.
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"Stay here."
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"I'm not staying," I said immediately.
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His expression hardened again.
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"At any cost."
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The words hung in the air between us.
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Heavy.
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Serious.
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Real.
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He stared at me.
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Longer this time.
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Not just annoyed.
Not just angry.
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Thinking.
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Calculating.
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Because he knew—
If I said that—
I meant it.
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And if he forced me to stay—
I would find another way.
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Maybe a worse way.
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He exhaled slowly.
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"…Damn it," he muttered under his breath.
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His hand moved to his forehead briefly before dropping again.
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Then—
He looked at me.
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Really looked.
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"Fine."
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I froze.
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"…What?" I whispered.
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"You're coming," he said.
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My eyes widened.
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Shock.
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"You agreed?" I asked, almost not believing it.
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His gaze didn't soften.
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"Don't misunderstand," he added immediately.
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The tone returned.
Firm.
Controlled.
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"You follow my orders."
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I nodded instantly.
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"No questions. No acting on your own. No trying to prove anything."
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"I won't," I said quickly.
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"And if I tell you to stay back—you stay."
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"I will."
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A pause.
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He studied my face.
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Making sure.
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Because this wasn't a game.
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This wasn't a compromise.
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This was a risk.
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"…You stay close to me," he said finally.
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I nodded again.
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"I will."
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Another moment passed.
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Then he turned.
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"Let's go."
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And this time—
I followed.
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Not chasing.
Not arguing.
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Walking beside him.
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Together.
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The guards straightened as we passed, surprise flickering across a few faces—but no one said anything.
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Because no one questioned Ethan.
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And if he allowed it—
Then it was decided.
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We stepped out of the base.
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The morning air hit differently now.
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Cool.
Sharp.
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Like the calm before something dangerous.
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Cars were already waiting.
Men prepared.
Weapons ready.
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Everything in motion.
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Ethan walked ahead, his presence shifting again into that controlled danger, that quiet authority that made everyone fall in line without a word.
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But this time—
I was part of it.
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He opened the car door.
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Looked at me once.
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"Last chance to stay."
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I shook my head.
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"I'm not going anywhere."
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A brief pause.
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Then he nodded.
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"Get in."
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I did.
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The door closed behind me.
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And as the car started moving—
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There was no turning back anymore.
The car door shut with a quiet, heavy sound, sealing us inside as the engine started and the vehicle began to move. For a moment, neither of us spoke. The air felt different now—tense, focused, carrying the weight of what was about to happen. I glanced at him, sitting beside me, his posture straight, his gaze fixed ahead like nothing else existed.
"Where is Luca… and Elena?" I asked softly, breaking the silence.
He didn't look at me immediately.
"They left earlier," he replied after a second, his voice calm but distant. "They've already taken their positions."
I frowned slightly, turning my body a little toward him.
"Then why are we going late?"
This time, he looked at me.
Just for a second.
And that one look said everything.
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"Because of you."
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The words weren't harsh.
But they weren't soft either.
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I blinked, then gave a small, awkward smile, looking down at my hands.
"Sorry…" I murmured, my voice quieter now. The guilt settled in quickly, even though I had fought so hard to come with him.
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He didn't respond right away.
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Instead, his gaze shifted back to the road ahead, his expression unreadable again.
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After a moment, he spoke.
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"From now on, you don't move without me."
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I looked at him again.
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His tone had changed.
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It wasn't just instruction anymore.
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It was a rule.
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"You stay beside me," he continued, his voice low, controlled. "No wandering. No stepping away. Not even for a second."
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I nodded slowly.
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"Okay."
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"And keep your eyes open," he added.
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I straightened slightly.
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"Watch everything," he said. "Corners. Entrances. People. Movement. If something feels off, you tell me immediately."
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My heartbeat picked up a little.
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This wasn't just him protecting me.
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He was preparing me.
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"I will," I said, more serious now.
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He glanced at me again, as if measuring whether I truly understood.
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"This isn't like before," he continued. "No hesitation. No panic. You stay alert."
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I took a quiet breath and nodded again.
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"I understand."
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For a moment, silence returned.
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But it wasn't uncomfortable.
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It felt… focused.
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Like both of us were stepping into something we couldn't avoid anymore.
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I looked out the window briefly, watching the world pass by, my reflection faintly visible in the glass.
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Then I looked back at him.
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"You won't leave me alone there… right?" I asked, softer this time.
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His jaw tightened slightly.
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"No," he said.
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Simple.
Certain.
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And for some reason—
That was enough.
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I leaned back into the seat, exhaling slowly, trying to steady myself.
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Because whatever was waiting ahead—
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I was going to face it.
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With him.
The car sped forward, cutting through the early morning silence as the city slowly faded behind us. The roads became emptier, the surroundings rougher, more isolated—like the world itself was stepping back from what was about to happen.
I shifted slightly in my seat, my fingers brushing against the cold metal hidden beneath my jacket. The weight of the gun felt different now—not like a prop, not like something from a movie.
Real.
Dangerous.
I glanced at Ethan again. His focus hadn't wavered for even a second. Every movement of his eyes felt calculated, every breath controlled.
"Ethan…" I said softly.
He didn't turn, but I knew he was listening.
"…after this is over… what happens?"
There was a pause.
A long one.
The kind that made my chest tighten.
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"We see if there's anything left to go back to," he replied.
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I didn't know what that meant.
And maybe—
He didn't either.
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Suddenly, the car slowed slightly.
Ahead, I could see faint structures in the distance—broken walls, rusted metal, the outline of the abandoned factory. It's different from the first factory, it's a bit small and I can smell the weird medicines.
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My heartbeat quickened.
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Ethan's voice came again, lower now.
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"Get ready."
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And just like that—
The moment had arrived.