Poignant

Chapter Eighteen

Soojin's POV

I tapped on the steering wheel with anxiety, biting my lip as I tried to calm down. What if we were already too late? Anything could have happened in those thirty minutes that we were gone. From my own experiences, I know that a death could happen in any amount of time. A quick, painless three seconds. Or, a delicate, two day long torture.

I could feel a panic attack arising. It was beginning to get nauseating as all of the colors slowly blurred together. However, the hand that rested on my knee, rubbing small, comforting circles, kept me anchored.

At the red light, I looked over to meet Shuhua's warm gaze, dripping with unspoken concern. She flashed me a small smile, and with a pat on the knee, she took her hand off, looking out of the window as I pressed on the gas.

There would be no more stops. Not until we had parked at our destination.

"Are you guys all ready? It's not like we're going to have much time to plan when we get there. Unlike usual, we don't have a detailed blueprint of the building," Soyeon warned, pulling on her combat gloves. "It's been a long time since we've gone in completely blind like this. I think the last time was a year ago? It was before these guys showed up and caused this huge mess, I know that much."

Agreeing with a hum, I mindlessly followed Minnie's verbal directions until we got there. There was no more stalling. There was no more hiding. This was it. It was now a life or death situation. One wrong move, and I could potentially lose my sister's life, as well as my own.

I couldn't. I couldn't lose her. She had gone through too much to have her life cut short like this. She deserves to have a long, happy life with the people she chooses to include. Whether it be Soyeon or someone entirely different. She just deserves happiness and peace. A future that doesn't have her questioning if she'll be awake the next morning. A future that doesn't have her worrying about coming home to some kind of abusive relationship, romantic or maternal. She deserves to live normally. We all do. And today, it is to be decided if any of us get to have that dream that seems so far out of reach.

"Soo, you coming? Everyone has gone ahead already. Even Shuhua, which surprised me," Miyeon pointed out, fully suited up as she stood by the window.

"Yeah, one second," I replied, making sure I had everything that I needed, exiting the car and quickly running after her and the other girls.

I quickly stumbled my way through the dark alleyway that I had been running through an hour or so prior. Turn after twist, and twist after turn. It was unsettling to say the least. It felt as if there was a dark aura weighing down on my every move, despite the refreshing feeling of morning dew in the air.

Soon enough, I found myself side by side with my other members. Miyeon, our witty and analytical yet incredibly clumsy and sometimes slow, bomb technician and doctor, who has caused many issues but also saved all of us from death at least five times now. Minnie, our smart and calm gunwoman who has the sharp eye of an eagle, able to hit her target where she wants with ease. Soyeon, our brave leader who uses her genius level intelligence, and well thought out plans to command us all to victory. And Shuhua who stays as light as a feather on her feet, slashing into her enemies when it is needed most.

It was time. There was no more denying it.

"Okay, here's what's going to happen. I need you all to listen very closely now," Soyeon spoke, her voice as firm as her fiery eyes. "I want you guys to know that if I don't make it out of there, I am sorry for all of the pain and trouble that I have caused you. I know you guys would rather me express it with my actions instead of my words, but how about both? That couldn't hurt..."