Jeno moved swiftly through the apartment, his heart racing as he pulled on his black OH Two Zipper Ends Windbreaker Jacket. The fabric rustled as he zipped it up, a familiar sound that did little to calm the storm brewing inside him. He grabbed his pair of OH Essential GAT Sneakers and slipped them on, his mind already miles ahead, focused on the upcoming meeting with Renjun at the old warehouse.
His footsteps echoed in the stairwell as he rushed downstairs, the urgency of Renjun's message propelling him forward. He had no idea what to expect at the warehouse, but the cryptic nature of Renjun's text had set his nerves on edge. There was no room for error now; they were in too deep.
As he exited the apartment building, the cool night air hit him, but Jeno barely noticed. His mind was racing, replaying everything that had happened in the last few days. The woman who had died from alcohol poisoning, the mysterious figure they were chasing, and the growing sense of dread that had taken hold of him—all of it weighed heavily on his mind.
He pulled out his phone and quickly texted Jaemin and Haechan, letting them know he was on his way to the warehouse. As he sent the message, a thought struck him: what if this was a trap? Renjun had said it was urgent, but that didn't mean it was safe. The possibility that they were walking into an ambush crossed his mind, but Jeno pushed it aside. They had to trust Renjun—he had never let them down before.
Jeno reached the sidewalk and picked up his pace, heading toward the warehouse district on the outskirts of the city. The streets were quieter now, the usual hustle and bustle of the city winding down for the night. The further he walked, the more deserted the area became, the streetlights casting long shadows on the pavement.
By the time he reached the warehouse, his pulse was pounding in his ears. The building loomed ahead, its darkened windows like empty eyes staring back at him. Jeno hesitated for a moment at the entrance, glancing around to make sure no one was watching. Satisfied that he wasn't being followed, he pushed the heavy metal door open and slipped inside.
The warehouse was eerily quiet, the only sound coming from the faint hum of the city outside. Jeno's footsteps echoed on the concrete floor as he made his way through the dimly lit space. The warehouse was mostly empty, save for a few crates and stacks of old pallets scattered around.
"Renjun?" Jeno called out, his voice bouncing off the walls.
A shadow moved in the corner of the room, and Renjun stepped into view. He was dressed in dark clothing, blending into the shadows like he was born to them. His expression was tense, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by something far more serious.
"Over here," Renjun said, motioning for Jeno to follow him.
Jeno approached cautiously, his senses on high alert. As he got closer, he noticed that Renjun wasn't alone. A figure was slumped against one of the crates, their face hidden in the shadows. Jeno's heart skipped a beat as he realized it was someone he recognized.
"Is that...?" Jeno began, his voice trailing off as he took in the sight before him.
"It's Shotaro," Renjun confirmed, his voice grim. "He's been through hell, Jeno. They got to him before we did."
Jeno felt a surge of anger and fear as he knelt beside Shotaro. The younger man was barely conscious, his clothes torn and bloodied. His breathing was shallow, and his face was bruised and swollen.
"Who did this to you?" Jeno asked, his voice shaking with a mix of rage and concern.
Shotaro struggled to open his eyes, his voice barely a whisper. "I... I don't know. They kept me in the dark the whole time. They were asking about the woman, about what we knew..."
Jeno clenched his fists, the reality of the situation sinking in. This wasn't just about them anymore—whoever was behind this was going after anyone connected to their investigation. They had crossed a line, and now there were consequences.
"We need to get him out of here," Renjun said, his voice urgent. "I don't think it's safe for any of us to stay in one place for too long."
Jeno nodded, carefully helping Shotaro to his feet. The younger man winced in pain, but he managed to stand with Jeno's support. As they started toward the exit, Renjun's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen.
"It's Jaemin," Renjun said, answering the call. "We're on our way out now. Meet us at the safe house."
Jeno could hear Jaemin's voice on the other end, filled with concern. "Is everyone okay?"
"Shotaro's hurt, but he'll make it," Renjun replied. "We'll be there soon."
They made their way out of the warehouse, the cool night air hitting them as they stepped outside. The city felt different now, more dangerous, as if the shadows were closing in around them. Jeno's grip on Shotaro tightened as they hurried down the street, his mind racing with thoughts of what they were up against.
As they rounded the corner, Jeno caught sight of a black car parked on the side of the road. The driver's side door opened, and Jaemin stepped out, relief flooding his features when he saw them.
"Hurry, get in," Jaemin urged, opening the back door.
Jeno helped Shotaro into the car, settling him in the backseat before sliding in next to him. Renjun got in the front passenger seat, glancing back at the two of them.
"We're heading to the safe house," Jaemin said as he started the engine. "We'll figure out our next move there."
As the car pulled away from the curb, Jeno looked out the window at the city streets flashing by. The adrenaline was still pumping through his veins, but a sense of resolve settled over him. They were in deep, but they weren't backing down.
Whatever it took, they were going to get to the bottom of this. They were going to take down whoever was behind this nightmare.
And they were going to protect each other, no matter the cost.
