DANCE WITH THE DEVIL

EPILOGUE

The clock ticked ominously, each second echoing like a heartbeat in the oppressive silence.

Shadows loomed, and the air was thick with tension as footsteps approached, their rhythm steady and deliberate. Darkness enveloped them, swallowing any hint of light. Then, the sounds of clicking shoes halted abruptly, and a warm breath brushed against the back of his neck. He flinched, a shiver running down his spine.

"I think you know what I want," a deep voice whispered, the words low and menacing, right next to his ear. "You have one minute."

Panic surged through him. "I didn't! I didn't mean—"

"Didn't you mean to assault my family, or didn't you mean to push my buttons?" The man's tone was chilling, almost playful, as he leaned in closer. "Either way, the result is the same."

"I'm just here to track!" Brix stammered, his heart racing. Desperation clawed at him, fighting against the suffocating darkness.

"Clearly. And?" the man pressed, his voice a low growl.

"I didn't mean—"

"No, you genuinely meant it. It's just that my wife saw you," he replied, his voice dripping with disdain. The unmistakable sound of a gun being cocked echoed in the dark, sending ice through Brix's veins. "Name?"

"I won't do it again!" Brix's voice trembled, desperation spilling from his lips.

"Is that your name?" the man shot back, his patience wearing thin.

"Brix!" he shouted, the name escaping in a desperate gasp.

"Hmmm, okay, Brix," the man mused, his tone shifting to a mocking lilt. "Since you took your sweet time tailing my wife and daughter, I'll be the one to play with you now!" A sinister laugh followed, sending chills coursing through Brix's body.

Without warning, the ropes binding Brix's wrists were untied. "Run, fucker. Make sure to hide well," Jaemin said, his voice calm yet laced with an underlying threat.

Brix blinked, the sudden freedom both a relief and a terror. He stumbled back, his heart racing, instincts screaming at him to flee. The dark void around him felt more alive than ever, and he turned to escape, his mind racing.

"Time's ticking, Brix!" Jaemin called after him, amusement dancing in his tone. "I'd hate to have to come find you!"

With that, Brix bolted into the night, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he vanished into the shadows, the man's chilling laughter echoing in his ears.

Brix sprinted through the darkened streets, the night air biting against his skin as his heart hammered in his chest. He had to get away, to put as much distance between himself and that man—Jaemin—who had radiated a terrifying calmness. The threat had felt real, palpable, and he couldn't shake the feeling that Jaemin was watching him, waiting for him to make a mistake.

As he rounded a corner, Brix ducked into a narrow alley, trying to steady his breathing. He pressed his back against the cold, damp brick wall, straining to listen for any sign of pursuit. The sounds of the city seemed muted, the world around him a blur of fear and adrenaline. He had to think. What had he done to bring this upon himself?

He remembered being tasked to track Jaemin's family—an assignment that had seemed straightforward enough at the time. Yet, now it felt like a death sentence. Brix cursed under his breath. He had been so careless, too eager to prove himself.