Her Song, His Heart

The Breaking Point

The days were blending together, each one darker than the last. The weight of Mannon’s absence hung heavy in the air, suffocating them all. Chan’s determination had turned into desperation, and it showed in the tension that never seemed to leave his shoulders. His eyes were sharp, his movements swift as he directed the search. Every moment felt like an eternity.

But the longer it went on, the more he realized how little he knew. How helpless he was to protect her.

“Any news?” Chan asked, his voice strained as he approached Hyunjin, who had been combing through contacts, searching for any leads on her whereabouts.

Hyunjin didn’t look up. His face was pale, his eyes tired, but there was fire behind them—relentless determination. “Nothing. Not yet.”

The silence that followed was thick with unspoken fear. The others—Felix, Seungmin, and even Han—were doing their best to remain strong. But they were all struggling, their masks cracking under the pressure.

---

Mannon’s world was spinning. The man had bound her hands tightly behind her back, and the cold cement floor was rough beneath her knees. Her mind was a whirlwind of fragmented thoughts, slipping through her fingers like water. The voices were louder now, growing more distorted, more painful.

She screamed, pulling at her hair, trying to block them out. The sound of her own voice made her feel more alone than ever. She was trying to focus, trying to remember everything that had kept her grounded: Chan’s voice, Hyunjin’s smile, the warmth of her friends.

But it was all slipping away. The panic started to rise, a choking pressure in her chest. The world seemed to be closing in on her.

And then, in the midst of the madness, she heard his voice. Soft, familiar, like a whisper in the storm.

“Breathe, Mannon,” Hyunjin’s voice cut through the chaos in her head. “Just breathe.”

She wasn’t sure if she was imagining it or if he was really there, but she clung to that voice, clung to that feeling of safety.

“Hyunjin…” she whispered, barely able to make the sound through her dry throat.

---

Back at the hotel, the search had gone cold. Chan could feel his heart pounding in his chest, his thoughts running wild. His phone buzzed in his pocket, the screen flashing with a message. He opened it quickly, his eyes scanning the words.

“We have a lead.”

His heart skipped a beat. “This is it,” he said, rushing toward the door. “This is our chance.”

The group followed him, the fire of hope reigniting in their hearts. Hyunjin was right behind Chan, his eyes wide with anticipation.

They couldn’t lose her. Not now. Not ever.

---

Mannon couldn’t tell if she had been screaming for hours or if it had only been a few minutes. Her body was shaking, her mind fractured. The voices were relentless now, invading every corner of her thoughts. She didn’t know how much more she could take.

“Please... stop...” she sobbed, clutching her head in her hands. “Please, make it stop.”

But the man didn’t care. He just watched, his eyes dark and unblinking. He leaned down, whispering in her ear, his breath hot against her skin.

“You’re mine,” he hissed, his fingers tightening around her arm. “No one will come for you.”

Mannon recoiled from his touch, fear flooding her veins. She could hear the voices growing louder, clearer now. Their words blurred together in a twisted symphony of terror.

“Hyunjin...” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

And then, in a flash of clarity, a memory surged forward—Hyunjin, his warm eyes, his smile, the way he had always been there for her. The connection they shared. She clung to that memory, letting it fill her mind.

“I won’t let you down,” she whispered through her tears. “I’ll hold on. I’ll fight.”

---

The group arrived at the address with tension in every step. They were close now. They could feel it in the air, a quiet, desperate hope threading through them all. Chan’s heart was racing, his breath shallow.

This was it. They had to save her.

As they burst into the building, the air thick with tension, they rushed through the halls, searching for any sign of her. Every corner, every door—nothing. Their hearts were in their throats, the fear that had been building now turning into pure panic.

But then, in the farthest room, they heard a faint noise—screaming, sobbing, pleading.

“Mannon!” Hyunjin yelled, pushing forward, his body a blur of motion. His heart was pounding in his chest, his hands shaking as he reached the door.

He burst through it, his eyes landing on her, broken and trembling on the floor. The man was standing over her, his expression twisted with triumph.

Without thinking, Hyunjin lunged forward, knocking the man to the ground with all his force.

“Mannon!” he shouted, rushing to her side.

She was barely conscious, her body trembling with fear and exhaustion. Her eyes were unfocused, but when they met his, there was a flicker of recognition.

“Hyunjin,” she whispered, barely able to speak.

He held her close, his hands shaking as he stroked her hair, his voice soft but full of urgency. “I’ve got you, Mannon. I’m here. You’re safe now.”

---

As Chan and the others took care of the man, making sure he was detained and secured, Hyunjin stayed by Mannon’s side, his eyes never leaving her face.

“You’re going to be okay,” he whispered to her, his voice filled with a mix of relief and desperation. “I won’t let you go again.”

Mannon closed her eyes, exhaustion overtaking her, but she allowed herself to lean into him, trusting him completely.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to... I didn’t want to...”

“Shh,” Hyunjin murmured, brushing her tears away. “You don’t need to apologize. I’m just glad you’re safe.”

And as they sat there, the world around them slowly beginning to settle, both of them knew that something had shifted between them—a bond stronger than before.

But for now, all that mattered was that Mannon was safe. And Hyunjin would never let her go.