Y/n sat alone in her small apartment, the quiet hum of the refrigerator the only sound breaking the silence. Outside, the city buzzed with life, but here, time seemed to crawl. The clock on the wall ticked methodically, its rhythmic sound growing louder in the stillness.
She glanced at her phone for the umpteenth time, hoping for a call or message, but there was nothing. Not even a notification. The lack of contact had become a familiar torment since the day she received the letter.
It had been two weeks since the envelope arrived. The letter, with its crimson seal and a simple message, had shattered her world. "You have one final chance to make things right. Meet me at the old warehouse, midnight. If you don't, you'll never see him again."
Him. The "him" in question was Hoseok, her younger brother, who had been missing for months. Y/n had scoured every corner of the city, followed every lead, and exhausted every resource she had, but all to no avail. The letter was her only lead, and it terrified her.
As midnight approached, Y/n gathered her courage. She slipped on her coat, picked up the flashlight, and checked the revolver hidden in the drawer. She hadn't fired a gun in years, but she knew she might need it tonight.
The night air was cool and sharp as she made her way to the old warehouse. It was a relic from a bygone era, a hulking structure that had long since fallen into disuse. The surrounding area was deserted, and the streetlights cast eerie shadows on the pavement.
Y/n's heart raced as she approached the warehouse. The letter had been clear about the time and place, but she had no idea who had sent it or what to expect. She pulled the heavy door open and stepped inside. The warehouse was cavernous, the dark space filled with the scent of mildew and rust.
She shone her flashlight around, revealing piles of discarded machinery and old crates. Her footsteps echoed as she moved deeper into the building. Suddenly, a noise caught her attention—a scuffling sound from the far end of the warehouse. Y/n froze, her flashlight beam slicing through the darkness.
From the shadows emerged a figure, tall and menacing, cloaked in black. Y/n's breath caught in her throat. The figure held a cell phone up, the screen illuminating his face. It was a man she didn't recognize.
"You came," the man said, his voice cold and impersonal. "Good."
"Where's Hoseok?" Y/n demanded, her voice steady despite the fear gripping her.
The man smiled, a twisted expression that sent chills down her spine. "Before I tell you that, there's something you need to understand."
Y/n tightened her grip on the flashlight, her eyes never leaving the man. "What do you mean?"
"You see," the man continued, "this isn't just about Hoseok. It's about something much bigger."
He paused for a moment, letting the words sink in. Y/n felt a pang of frustration. "Just tell me where he is."
The man sighed and nodded. He gestured for her to follow him deeper into the warehouse. Y/n hesitated but followed, her senses on high alert. They reached a dimly lit office area at the back of the warehouse. The man flicked a switch, and a single lightbulb flickered to life.
On a table lay a set of photographs and documents. Y/n's heart sank as she looked at the images. They showed Hoseok, bound and gagged, in various locations around the city. Her hands shook as she picked up one of the photos.
"Why are you showing me this?" Y/n asked, struggling to keep her voice calm.
The man looked at her with a mixture of pity and disdain. "Because it's not just about your brother. It's about what he knows."
