The house was swallowed by an eerie silence, thick and oppressive — louder than a car crash, sharper than a drawn blade. Every glance exchanged across the room was a silent battle, the tension nearly visible in the stale air.
Today was the day.
The D-Day.
Finally, Mr. Justin, with his ever-impatient air, shattered the silence like a stone through glass.
"Are you kids just going to keep staring at each other?" he said dryly, leaning against the wall with arms folded.
"Honestly?" Leo muttered, running a hand through his messy hair, "I'm having serious second thoughts about this whole breaking-in plan."
"Are you crazy?" Carrie snapped, her voice low but fierce. "There's no backing out now. We're too deep in."
Leo sighed, glancing at Ava and Carrie with something close to guilt.
"No one's giving up," he said, voice heavier now. "It's just... I'm thinking, maybe it's too risky for you two. Me and Jae-wook can handle ourselves if things go south. But you—"
He let his words dangle in the air like a guillotine.
Ava's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Are you calling Carrie and me weak burdens?" she asked, sweetly deadly.
"No! That's not— Alex, help me out here!" Leo stammered.
Jae-wook stepped forward, arms crossed, face serious.
"Leo and I discussed it last night. There's a real chance things could get ugly, fast. Fists, blood — worse. It's not safe for you."
Mr. Justin let out a low scoff, a humorless chuckle.
"Making last-minute changes now, are we? How strategic."
"For once, I agree with Mr. Justin," Carrie said, stepping into the center of the room like a knight into a war council. "You need us. We're not standing down. Our plan won't fall apart just because you're scared." Her voice was steel.
A rare smirk pulled at Mr. Justin's lips.
"I like her," he said simply.
Then he reached inside his coat, pulling out a black leather folder and tossing it onto the table with a loud thud.
"What's this?" Carrie asked, suspicious.
"A gift," Mr. Justin said smoothly, flipping the folder open. "A map. It came yesterday — no sender, no note. Just this."
Carrie leaned in, eyes wide.
"A map to Na-eun's cabin," she breathed.
The group clustered around, studying the worn, intricate lines.
"This is amazing… but," Carrie hesitated, "what if it's a trap? Whoever sent this obviously knows we're up to something."
"Or... what if it isn't?" Ava said, her lips curling into a mischievous smirk. "Na-eun has enemies — powerful, desperate ones. Maybe one of them decided to lend a hand."
"But why?" Leo frowned, tapping the map.
"Think about it," Ava said, slapping her palm onto the table. "They know they can't take her down alone. So what do they do? They find a bigger predator. Us."
Mr. Justin chuckled softly, watching her.
"You're dangerously optimistic, Ms. Scott," he mused.
He turned to Jae-wook.
"You're too quiet. What's your take?"
Jae-wook tapped a finger on the map, thoughtful.
"It doesn't add up. If they're strong enough to get this map, why not finish her themselves? No… this has the fingerprints of something bigger. Something worse."
"Like Na-eun's new enemy, the one that keeps threatening her," Leo added darkly.
Ava let out a laugh, sudden and sharp.
"Come on! You seriously think some greater enemy needs our help?"
"She has a point," Mr. Justin admitted, running a hand through his graying hair. "Still, a tracker desperate enough would use bait. It's a gamble either way."
Jae-wook leaned closer, voice dropping.
"So we do the unexpected. If the map says left, we go right. If it says up, we go down."
"What if that's the trap?" Ava asked, brows raised.
"Ms. Scott," Mr. Justin said with a thin smile, "Sometimes to win, you have to risk stepping straight into the dragon's mouth."
Carrie nodded grimly.
"Let's just hope we choose the right mouth."
---
Meanwhile, elsewhere...
"Is it done?" Na-eun's voice sliced through the darkness like a blade.
"Yes, ma'am," Kang said, bowing low.
Na-eun exhaled a long breath through her nose, disdain simmering just beneath her calm exterior.
"I'm too old for these childish games," she hissed.
"Ma'am, we can arrange a vacation right away—" Kang began.
Na-eun shook her head slowly, the glint in her eyes colder than the moon outside.
"Not that kind of vacation."
With a rustle of silk, she disappeared into the shadows.
---
The sun had long since drowned behind the horizon. Stars glittered like broken glass across the black velvet sky. The moon hung low, casting ghostly silhouettes of Mr. Justin and the squad as they assembled under its glow.
Ava stood like a crimson goddess, draped in a bloody red body-hugging gown that seemed to melt into her skin, her makeup carved to haunting perfection. A sleek black limo purred behind her.
"So," she said, twirling once for effect, "how rich do I look?"
Carrie let out an excited squeal.
"Rich enough to make Na-eun sell her soul for your smile!"
"If she dresses like this more often," Leo whistled, "we might accidentally end up starting a family."
Mr. Justin's face twisted in pure disgust.
"Even I could do better than that sorry excuse for flirting."
"Focus," Jae-wook barked, checking his sleek wristwatch. "It's almost time. Stick to the plan. If anything goes wrong, press the side of your watch — it's linked directly to my contact at the police station."
"You involved the police?!" Carrie gasped.
"I have friends," Jae-wook said simply.
"Are we ready?"
Ava smirked, stepping into her role effortlessly.
"Born ready."
"Let's go." Carrie echoed, slapping her palm against Leo's outstretched hand. Ava joined in, then Jae-wook.
Mr. Justin just raised a brow.
"I'm too old for group huddles."
"Aw, come on, old man," Carrie teased. "Live a little."
"Was that an insult?" he asked, scandalized.
"Depends on how thin your skin is," Carrie winked.
Mr. Justin scoffed and waved them off.
Ava blew a kiss and slid into the waiting limo, the black beast swallowing her whole as it disappeared into the night.
"Isn't she just beautiful?" Leo sighed dramatically holding his chest.
"Focus, Romeo," Carrie snapped, elbowing him.
She turned to Mr. Justin, face serious now.
"What's the move?"
Mr. Justin smiled thinly, all business.
"Step one: break the security system without setting off alarms. Step two: crack the locks. Step three: dig up dirt — any dirt — on Na-eun. Even the tiniest scrap can burn her world down."
Carrie grinned, heart pounding with adrenaline.
"I like you more and more every minute, old man."
Leo clapped his hands.
"The earlier we move, the better."
"Agreed," Mr. Justin said.
Under the cold watch of the stars, the hunt began.