Unevitable | Ryeji |

Chapter 10: Emerging Peril

Yeji's pov:

I decided to focus on the murder cases instead of Hyunjin for now, because the life of Prisident and his family members are in danger.

As I was thinking about these things while leaning my head against my chair and staring at the ceiling, I hear a knock on my door.

"Come in" I say and Felix enters my office.

"Captain I feel like I have seen Hyunjin before-" Felix states and jolt up my chair.

"WHERE!?" I practically order him to speak even though I just cut him off.

"At the charity event, the one for the President's initiative," Felix continues, looking serious. "I didn't realize it at the time, but now that I think about it, I'm sure it was him."

I feel a cold shiver run down my spine. "Are you absolutely certain?" I press.

Felix nods. "Yes, Captain. I'm sure of it. He was there, mingling with the crowd, but something about his demeanor stood out to me. Now, with everything going on, it all makes sense."

"Didn't he say he was a photographer?" I questioned.

"Yes," Felix replied. "But it felt off. He was too focused on the people, not the event. It was like he was watching for something or someone."

I mulled over Felix's words, feeling the weight of the situation settle heavily on my shoulders. If Hyunjin was at the charity event, then he could possibly be a direct threat to the President and his family.

"Felix, we need to move quickly. Gather all the footage and photographs from the event. I want every angle covered. We need to see if we can spot Hyunjin in any of them," I instructed, my voice firm.

"On it, Captain," Felix said, already turning to leave.

"And Felix," I called after him, causing him to pause. "Good work. This might be the break we need."

He gave a short nod and exited the office, leaving me to my thoughts. I leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling once again. The pieces were starting to come together, but the picture they formed was dark and ominous.

I picked up my phone and dialed a number, waiting for the call to connect. "This is Captain Hwang Yeji. I need an urgent meeting with the President's security team. We have a potential threat on our hands."

Hanging up, I steeled myself for the challenges ahead. If Hyunjin was indeed involved, then we were dealing with something far more sinister than we initially thought. I couldn't afford to waste any more time. Lives were at stake, and I was determined to protect them, no matter the cost.

As I was about to get up and head out to meet with the President's security team, my phone buzzed. The caller ID showed it was Minho. I answered quickly.

"Minho, what's up?"

"Yeji, it's urgent," Minho's voice was tense. "Yeonjun has been harmed. He's in the hospital."

Despite my personal feelings toward Yeonjun, the news hit me hard. He was still the President's nephew, and this could complicate everything. "What happened?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"He was attacked. The details are still unclear, but it looks serious. You need to come to the hospital," Minho said.

I felt a rush of conflicting emotions-worry, anger, frustration. Yeonjun had always been a thorn in my side, and none of my team had any love for him either. But now, with him being the President's nephew, this couldn't be ignored. "Is he stable?" I asked.

"For now, yes. But it's bad, Yeji. You should see him," Minho insisted.

I took a deep breath, weighing my options. "Minho, I can't leave right now. I'm dealing with a potential threat to the President. Is there any indication this attack is related?"

"Not that we know of, but it seems too coincidental," Minho replied. "I think it's connected, but we need more information."

"Alright," I said, feeling the pressure mount. "I'll be there as soon as I can. But keep an eye on the security footage from the charity event. If you see anyone suspicious, especially Hyunjin, let me know immediately."

"Got it," Minho said. "I'll keep you updated."

Hanging up, I felt the weight of the world pressing down on me. I had to prioritize, but it seemed like everything was falling apart at once. Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself. First, the President's security. Then, Yeonjun. I couldn't afford to fail either of them, no matter how much I despised him.

I gathered my things quickly and made my way to the briefing room, where my team was waiting. Their faces were tense, reflecting the gravity of the situation. Felix was already pulling up the security footage from the charity event on the main screen.

"Alright, listen up," I started, addressing the team. "We have a potential threat to the President and his family. Hyunjin was spotted at the charity event, and we need to find out what he was doing there. Felix, get all the footage and photos analyzed. Look for anything out of the ordinary."

Felix nodded and got to work immediately.

"Minho just informed me that Yeonjun was attacked and is in the hospital. We don't know if it's connected yet, but we can't take any chances," I continued. I saw a few grim nods and exchanged looks. None of us liked Yeonjun, but his connection to the President made this personal.

"Hyunjin could be behind this," Felix said, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he reviewed the footage. "If he was at the charity event, he might have been planning something bigger."

"We need to act fast," I said. "Felix, focus on finding Hyunjin in the footage. Minho, I need you to coordinate with the hospital. Find out exactly what happened to Yeonjun and if there are any leads on his attacker."

Minho nodded, already pulling out his phone to make the necessary calls.

"And the rest of you," I continued, "start digging into any recent activities of Hyunjin and his associates. Look for patterns, connections, anything that might give us a clue about their next move."

The team dispersed, each member diving into their assigned tasks. I took a moment to steady myself, feeling the weight of the responsibility on my shoulders. I couldn't let personal feelings get in the way. Yeonjun might be a pain, but his safety, and that of the President and his family, was paramount.

I felt a renewed sense of determination. I wouldn't let Hyunjin or anyone else put the people I was sworn to protect in danger.

After making the call, I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes for just a moment. The weight of the situation was overwhelming, and I needed a brief respite to gather my thoughts. But as soon as my eyes closed, the flashbacks began.

I saw the scene clearly-the twisted wreckage of the car, the shattered glass glinting in the sunlight, and the anguished faces of the victims. The smell of smoke and blood filled my senses, and I felt the helplessness and guilt wash over me once again.

I forced my eyes open, breaking free from the grip of the flashbacks. My heart pounded in my chest, and my hands trembled slightly. I couldn't afford to let these memories paralyze me. Not now.

With renewed determination, I got up and joined Felix at the computer, ready to face whatever came next.

(A.N: I know Ryeji haven't met yet but bear with me 😭)