EMERGENCE (vendetta trilogy#1)

•PROLOGUE•

"PL-PLEASE DON'T DO THIS.... PLEASE L-LET HER G-GO... I beg you, please..." the boy's initially ear piercing scream subsided into a defeated sob as he collapsed onto his knees, overwhelmed by the burden of trauma and violence unfolding right before his naive eyes.

"Pl-please, please leave my no-noona.... Hy-hyung, save her!" His ears resonated with heart wrenching wails and choked pleas from the younger boy, who was firmly restrained by two bulky men. Shame and despair washed over him as tears of vulnerability streamed down his face, mixing with sweat and dust, a reminder of his constant struggles and failures. He lowered his head, unable to bear witness to the atrocious assault any longer.

The opulent ivory hall, adorned with golden filigree and crystal chandeliers, resounded with blood curdling screams and cries from the girl, the beauty of the luxurious setting starkly mocking her suffering. The two boys begged and wept, helpless and trapped under the firm grip of the monsters in disguise, who laughed at their misery instead of showing even an ounce of mercy. Their faces blurred together, with cruel smiles and soulless eyes etched into his memory forever.

"Don't.... don't ra-rape me pl-please...."

Taehyung suddenly jolted awake, his distressed face drenched in sweat and tears, as he gasped for air. The familiar nightmare, even though a daily torment, somehow still managed to leave him breathless and shaken. It always ended with that desperate, helpless plea from her, the memory of her  tear filled eyes, begging to be saved, forever seared into his mind.

He scanned his surroundings wildly, his eyes darting with desperation as he struggled to banish the haunting memories of that unfateful night from his mind. His gaze finally settled on the familiar contours of his room, where the soft, grey tinted white walls seemed to mock his inner chaos with their serene calmness. The neat, uncluttered space, a supposed sanctuary, still felt suffocating. The silence was oppressive, almost claustrophobic. He could hear his own ragged breathing echoing through the stillness, the only sound accompanied by the soft whir of the air conditioner.

Taehyung's hand instinctively flew to his chest, as if to still the erratic pounding of his heart, which threatened to shatter his fragile composure. He took a deep breath, attempting to tame the turmoil within. His trembling fingers then wrapped around his phone, which buzzed incessantly with urgent notifications, its screen glowing like a beacon in the dimly lit room.

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The 'Seoul Times News' office buzzed with indistinct chatter and the occasional tapping of keyboard keys. In the background, the large flat screen displayed the latest news from the channel, its volume loud enough to be distracting yet still keep employees focused on their jobs as they typed away on their sleek workstations, neatly organized with files and laptops.

The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air as formally attired workers occasionally sipped their coffee to shake off any signs of tiredness. The sophisticated dark blue walls showcased abstract paintings and framed awards.

"Mia, can I please take on the coverage assigned to you by Ms. Hana?... I promise I won't snitch, I'm just bored." Iseul's persistent voice broke Mia's concentration, who was engrossed in typing on her laptop. Her fingers paused mid sentence as she let out a weary sigh before swiveling her chair to face Iseul.

"I'll never understand your obsession with putting yourself at risk, Iseul." She mumbled tiredly, her tone slightly laced with concern. As she stretched her arms overhead to relieve some tension, her eyes narrowed on the determined girl in front of her.

"Me too, girl... Guess I just love playing detective." Mia chuckled at Iseul's playful wink. "Alright, you can. But keep it down or else Hana will haunt me in my dreams." Iseul's face lit up as she threw her arms up in triumph, clapping enthusiastically while leaning forward to peck her friend's cheek, her tone sugary. "Yes! Thank you, cutie." She winked again, smirking, making Mia cringe and roll her eyes at the flirtatious remark.

That was Jang Iseul, a 25 year old embodiment of spontaneity. She believed too much in the "you only live once" mantra, and that's what drove her to pursue thrills that danced on the edge of danger and tested her courage, not the ordinary ones like jungle safari or skydiving, but adventures that could potentially risk her life.

Fittingly, her career path reflected her daredevil personality perfectly. Crime journalism wasn't just her profession, but her passion. She thrived on the adrenaline surge that consumed her whenever she witnessed and recorded illicit acts or scoured crime scenes for crucial evidence.

She would even stalk local wanted criminals in her free time, worrying her only family, her grandmother. However, Iseul wasn't one to be stopped, she was a force to be reckoned with. She had earned a reputation as 'the best at her job' with her sharp mind, unrelenting determination, and fearless pursuit of truth.

☄️☄️☄️