°BACKSTABBERS°

chapter 11

I folded the note and tucked it into my pocket, my mind already shifting gears. If I was going to destroy Jimin's plan, I needed to move now.

Quietly, I left my room, the dimly lit hallways adding to the tension in the air. Every step was deliberate, my senses heightened. I didn't look around too much-didn't want to draw unnecessary attention. I headed toward the servant quarters where I knew I'd stashed my disguise earlier.

The room was empty, just as I'd hoped. The clothes I'd hidden were still there: a loose-fitting guard's uniform, a pair of glasses, a cap, and a face mask. Quickly, I changed into them, ensuring every detail of my appearance was concealed. The loose fit helped obscure my figure, and the mask and cap hid most of my face.

Satisfied with the disguise, I stepped out, keeping my head low. It wasn't uncommon for guards to move around the estate, so I blended in as best as I could. No one gave me a second glance as I walked down the hallway, my heart racing in my chest.

The security room wasn't far, but every step felt like an eternity. I replayed the plan in my head-how I'd slipped those guards a dose of sedatives earlier that morning. They should be unconscious by now. Still, my grip tightened on the small object in my pocket, just in case something had gone wrong.

When I reached the door to the security room, I hesitated for a moment, listening for any sounds inside. Nothing. Slowly, I pushed the door open and stepped in.

Just as I'd planned, the two guards were slumped in their chairs, unconscious. I sighed in relief, closing the door behind me.

The room was dimly lit, multiple monitors flickering with live footage from every corner of the estate. The hum of machinery filled the air, but otherwise, it was eerily quiet. I wasted no time, moving to the main console and pulling out my phone.

The system was simpler than I'd expected-Jimin's arrogance, perhaps, thinking no one would dare infiltrate his inner circle. I navigated through the security feeds, bypassing the firewalls with the codes I'd memorized. Each click brought me closer to uncovering his plan.

As I accessed the data, the screens revealed more than just security footage. There were logs-timelines of shipments, encrypted files labeled with terms like "Project Eclipse," and even surveillance footage of key players moving through the estate.

My fingers flew over the controls as I pulled up each file. I used my phone to capture everything-pictures of the logs, recordings of the screens, anything that could be useful later.

The deeper I went, the more horrifying the scale of Jimin's plan became. There were targets, lists of names and locations, all tied to a coordinated attack that would be devastating if left unchecked.

Sweat beaded on my forehead as I scrolled through the final set of files, ensuring I hadn't missed anything. My phone was almost full with all the evidence I'd gathered, but I couldn't afford to leave a single detail behind.

Just as I finished, a faint sound outside the door made me freeze. Footsteps.

Someone was coming.

I quickly shut down the system, erasing any signs of my tampering, and slipped my phone back into my pocket. My heart pounded as I looked at the unconscious guards. There wasn't time to move them or make this look natural.

I adjusted my cap and mask, making sure everything was secure. Then, I grabbed a clipboard from the desk, trying to look as casual as possible.

The footsteps stopped right outside the door. My fingers gripped the clipboard tightly as the handle turned.

The door opened, and another guard stepped inside, his eyes narrowing as he saw me.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his tone suspicious.