Rise Of The Fallen || KTH FF

Chapter 31: Web of Deceit

A dull ache reverberated through your skull as consciousness slowly returned. The sharp, metallic scent of blood lingered in the air, mixing with the faint odor of rust and damp concrete. Your wrists burned from the tight ropes that bound them, and your muscles ached from the awkward position you'd been left in. Every throb of pain reminded you of the brutal strike that had sent you into oblivion.

You blinked slowly, vision blurry, as the cold reality of your situation crept back into focus. The warehouse was as desolate as before, lit by a few flickering bulbs overhead. Mingyu stood a few feet away, a twisted smile tugging at the corners of his lips, as if he relished the sight of you broken and vulnerable.

"You're awake," he remarked casually, his voice carrying a mock sense of concern. "Good. We wouldn't want you to miss out on all the fun, now would we?"

You struggled to lift your head, every movement slow and deliberate as your body protested. Mingyu walked toward you, his footsteps echoing ominously in the vast space. He crouched down to meet your gaze, his expression smug as he examined the damage he'd done. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

"You know, Y/N," he began, his tone almost conversational, "I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. Ever since your father started his little crusade against the government. He thought he was so clever, so untouchable. But the truth is, he walked right into my trap."

You flinched at the mention of your father, a fresh wave of anger and confusion stirring within you. Even though your body was weak, your mind clung to the defiance that had kept you going so far.

"What are you talking about?" you rasped, your throat dry from hours of silence.

Mingyu chuckled softly, standing up again and pacing in front of you like a cat playing with a cornered mouse. "Your father thought he could outsmart everyone. He believed that creating the virus and unleashing it would give him control, that he could force the world to bend to his will in the name of avenging your brother's death. But the truth is, Y/N, he was just a pawn—my pawn."

Your blood ran cold as Mingyu's words sank in. You wanted to scream at him, deny what he was saying, but a part of you feared there was truth in his twisted confession.

"I knew exactly what your father was planning," Mingyu continued, his voice dripping with self-satisfaction. "I watched as he created his little virus, blinded by his grief and thirst for revenge. And when the time was right, I let him release it. You see, all this chaos—this destruction—it was never about your brother. It was about power. My power."

"You're lying," you whispered, shaking your head in disbelief. "My father would never have worked with you."

Mingyu's eyes darkened, his smile fading. "Oh, but he didn't know. That's the beauty of it." He leaned in closer, his voice a low hiss. "He thought he was in control, but he was nothing more than a puppet, dancing on strings I held from the shadows."

He stepped back, spreading his arms wide as though displaying the wreckage of the world around him. "Everything you've seen—the zombies, the fear, the breakdown of society—this was all part of my design. I've orchestrated every step, every move. And your father? He was so blinded by his own vendetta that he didn't even realize he was helping me bring about the endgame."

The room spun as you tried to process what he was saying. Your father—a man you'd once looked up to, a man who had claimed to want justice for his son—had been manipulated from the very beginning. And now, the destruction of the world was the result of that manipulation. Your stomach churned with nausea, both from the pain and the horror of Mingyu's revelation.

"But why?" you asked, your voice barely a whisper. "What do you get out of this?"

Mingyu laughed again, the sound cold and empty. "What do I get?" he repeated mockingly. "Power, Y/N. Control over a world desperate for order. With the device your father created, I can harness the full potential of the virus and use it to build something new. A world where people will be forced to follow my rule—or face annihilation."

Your breath caught in your throat as the weight of his plan became clear. The virus had never been about vengeance. It had always been about control—Mingyu's control over the chaos your father had unknowingly unleashed. And now, you were caught in the middle of it, a key piece in a game you never knew you were playing.

"That's why I need you, Y/N," Mingyu said, his voice softening slightly as he crouched down again, his eyes locking onto yours. "You hold the last piece of the puzzle. The device that your father created, the one you and your little friends stole—it's the key to unlocking the full potential of the virus. And you're going to lead me to it."

"I told you," you said through gritted teeth, summoning whatever strength you had left, "I don't know where it is."

Mingyu's face twisted into a cruel smile. "You will."

Without warning, he pulled a small, gleaming syringe from his pocket, the liquid inside glowing faintly in the dim light. He held it up for you to see, his expression one of pure malice.

"You see, Y/N, this little concoction here? It'll make sure you tell me exactly what I need to know."

Your heart pounded in your chest, panic surging as Mingyu advanced on you with the syringe. You struggled against the ropes, your body instinctively trying to fight back, but it was no use. The ropes dug deeper into your skin, biting into your wrists and ankles.

Mingyu's voice was a whisper in your ear as he leaned down, the syringe poised over your arm. "Don't worry. It won't hurt... much."

Your vision blurred, fear tightening around your throat as the needle drew closer. But just before it pierced your skin, there was a loud crash from somewhere outside the warehouse.

Mingyu froze, his eyes snapping toward the noise.