𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆. 𝑲𝑺

Thirty five

Warning: this chapter may not be suitable for some readers. Read at your own risk. 

Krist had successfully tracked down Tay's location. Tay was not hiding alone; he was accompanied by his brother, Kim, and a small group of six bodyguards who were undoubtedly there to protect him.

Krist, along with, Off and Knott, had cut the power supply to the building, plunging it into darkness. As the shadows enveloped them, Kim felt a surge of panic, prompting him to instruct one of the bodyguards to investigate the sudden blackout.

The bodyguard took a hesitant step into the pitch-black compound fence, his heart pounding in his chest. When he reached the end, he stumbled upon a horrifying sight: five of their men lay lifeless to the ground, their bodies twisted in unnatural positions. A wave of fear washed over him as he turned to rush back to Kim with the grim news, but before he could even take a step, Krist emerged from the shadows. With a swift motion, he seized the man by the neck and twisted it violently, the sickening crack echoing in the dark as life drained from the bodyguard’s eyes.

Meanwhile, back at Krist's home, chaos reigned. The bodyguards who had been stationed there for the past two months had also met their end, leaving Singto utterly unaware of the turmoil outside. The sudden blaring of the alarm jolted him out of the chair, and instinctively, he rushed toward the door. Surely, he thought, it must be Krist returning. 

When he flung the door open, however, he was met not by the familiar face of his husband, but by that of his new gateman, Apolo. 

“Oh, Apolo, is that you? What’s going on?” Singto asked, confusion clearly etched on his face. 

But instead of answering, Apolo brushed past Singto, entering the house without permission. Singto’s brow furrowed in surprise as he called after him

“Apolo? What are you doing?” 

“I want to talk to you,” Apolo replied in a voice that sent a shiver down Singto's spine. 

Before Singto could process the situation, Apolo began to slowly peel away a mask he had been wearing. As the face beneath the disguise came into view, recognition struck Singto like a thunderbolt. His body froze, caught between disbelief and a rush of emotions.

Kim anxiously awaited the return of the man he had sent to investigate the sudden power outage. The dim light of his phone illuminated his face, casting eerie shadows that seemed to dance in the corners of the room. In his right hand, he gripped a gun, the cold metal strangely comforting in a situation that felt increasingly perilous. He knew he had to be ready for anything.

Suddenly, a bright beam of light pierced through the darkness, momentarily blinding him. Instinct kicked in, and without thinking, he pulled the trigger, the gun firing wildly in the direction of the light as he shouted, "Show yourself! Who are you?" His voice echoed in the silence, tinged with fear and desperation.

Before he could regain his composure, a swift kick struck his hand, sending the gun skittering across the floor. In an instant, he found himself roughly yanked to his knees, his wrists gripped tightly behind his back. 

"Let me go! What do you want from me? Who the hell are you?" he yelled, twisting and struggling against the iron grip of his captor, but it was no use—his escape was thwarted.

The light flickered back on, and Kim's breath caught in his throat as he recognized the face of his captor. It was Krist. Stand nearby were Off and Knott, their expressions of anger. 

"Where is Tay?" Krist demanded, his voice low and threatening.

Kim remained silent, his lips pressed firmly together in defiance. "Speak up! Where is Tay?" Krist repeated, his patience wearing thin.