GASLIGHTER // BBANGSAZ

22|Toxic dynamic 🚭❗

They finally arrived at a run-down part of town, where dilapidated buildings stood as silent witnesses to the passage of time.

The streetlights flickered, casting long, distorted shadows across the cracked pavement.

Minji parked the car in front of a shabby storefront, its once-bright sign now faded and peeling.

The windows were covered with grime, and the only light came from a single bulb hanging over the door, barely illuminating the entrance.

Hanni hesitated as she got out of the car, the eerie atmosphere sending a shiver down her spine.

She glanced nervously at Minji, who was already striding towards the door with a determined expression. "Minji, where did you find this place?" Hanni asked, her voice laced with unease.

Minji didn't bother looking back. "It doesn't matter where. Just stay close and keep your mouth shut."

Hanni bit her lip, feeling a pang of hurt at Minji's harsh tone but followed obediently. The door creaked as Minji pushed it open, revealing a dimly lit interior.

The smell of dampness and decay filled the air, making Hanni wrinkle her nose in disgust.

Inside, the store was a chaotic mess. Shelves lined the walls, cluttered with items that looked like they had been there for decades-rusted tools, old electronics, and stacks of dusty papers. In the back corner, a man sat behind a counter, his face obscured by shadows. He was older, with graying hair and a cigarette dangling from his lips.

His eyes, cold and calculating, followed the girls as they approached.

Minji stepped up to the counter, her voice steady and confident. "I need the IDs we talked about. And a gun."

The man raised an eyebrow, exhaling a puff of smoke. "You know what you're asking for, right? This isn't some game, kid."

Minji met his gaze without flinching. "I'm not here to play. Can you do it or not?"

The man smirked, clearly impressed by her bravado. "I can. But it's gonna cost you. And once you take these, there's no going back."

Minji nodded. "I'm aware."

Hanni watched the exchange with growing unease, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt like they were crossing a line, one they could never return from.

But Minji's determination left no room for doubt or hesitation.

The man rummaged through a drawer and pulled out two small packages. He slid them across the counter-fake IDs with their photos and new names, and a small handgun wrapped in a cloth. "These should do the trick. Just make sure you don't get caught. If you do, you didn't get them from me."

Minji took the items without a word, shoving them into her bag.

She handed over a wad of cash, which the man counted before nodding in satisfaction. "Pleasure doing business with you," he said with a grin that sent a chill down Hanni's spine.

Without another word, Minji turned and left the store, Hanni trailing behind her.

They got back into the car, the tension between them even more palpable now.

"We'll be heading to Vietnam" minji states setting confusion within hanni. But she remained silent daring not to anger minji anymore.

Hanni could barely contain her anxiety as they drove to the airport, her mind racing with a thousand questions. Finally, she couldn't hold back any longer.

"Minji, why are we going to Vietnam?" Hanni asked, her voice trembling. "Wouldn't it be safer to go somewhere else? Somewhere the police wouldn't think to look?"