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The words snapped Minjun out of his daze, though his body refused to cooperate. He raised his head slowly from where it rested on his knees, his bloodshot eyes meeting the piercing gazes of the two men standing before him. Intimidation radiated from the sneers etched on their faces, making his stomach churn.
His arms strained weakly against the rough ropes digging into his wrists, his sore flesh screaming for relief. He barely mustered the strength to whisper.
"Ahn... Minjun." His voice was hoarse, each word scraping painfully against his raw throat.
The men exchanged glances, their expressions unmoved by his response. They resumed their hushed conversation, their voices low and conspiratorial, as if he were no more significant than a passing shadow.
"P-please," Minjun stammered, his jaw trembling as he fought to steady his voice. "I won't tell anyone. I just... I just want to go home."
The shorter of the two let out a sudden bark of laughter, sharp and cruel. "You're an Ahn, huh? Figures. In that case, you already know what happened to your house."
Minjun's chest tightened, panic swelling like a tidal wave. "B-but—"
"No buts." The man's interruption was like a slap, cutting through Minjun's feeble protests.
The taller man rose from his seat with unnerving ease, his every step deliberate as he approached. Without a word, he let a slim, gleaming knife clatter onto the floor by Minjun's feet.
"Kill us and escape, then," he said coolly, his tone devoid of any genuine challenge. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he winked, a gesture so casual it sent a chill down Minjun's spine. He turned on his heel, retreating to his place beside his companion, where they watched with eerie calmness.
Minjun's gaze fell to the knife. The dim light caught its polished surface, making it gleam ominously. Fresh tears pooled in his eyes, blurring his vision as despair clawed at his chest. His breathing hitched, and he shook his head.
"No..." he whispered, his voice cracking under the weight of his terror.
"No?" The taller man arched a brow, leaning forward slightly as if mocking the very idea of refusal.
Minjun shook his head again, more vigorously this time, though it did little to quell the trembling in his body.
"I ca-can't... my hands," he choked out, letting an unplanned sob escape his lips. His fingers were numb, frozen from the blood flow cut off by the ropes. He writhed weakly against his restraints, but it was no use.
"Poor you," the shorter man sneered, retrieving the knife with a flourish.
Minjun's shoulders shook as his tears began to fall freely. He buried his face against his knees, muffling the broken sobs that tore through him.
