Annyeongz One-shots

94. Risk

Rain made the city look softer than it was.

Wonyoung liked closing shifts because of that - the way neon lights blurred against wet pavement, the way the café felt like a small glowing island in the dark. It was almost peaceful. Almost.

She wiped down the last table, checked the register twice, and tied the trash bags neatly. Her cousin had left an hour earlier, waving dramatically and shouting for her not to forget to lock the back door.

"I won't," she had laughed.

Now the laughter felt far away.

The clock read 11:47 PM when she stepped into the alley behind the café. Rain tapped against the metal fire escape above her. The alley was narrow, lined with overflowing dumpsters and flickering security lights. She pulled her hoodie tighter and dragged the trash bags toward the large bin.

That's when she heard it.

A car door slamming.

Voices.

Low. Urgent.

She froze.

It wasn't unusual for people to cut through the alley, but something about the tone made her stomach twist. She moved slowly, instinct telling her to stay quiet.

Then a body stumbled into view.

A man in a suit.

He was bleeding.

His tie hung loose around his neck, and his glasses were cracked. He looked disoriented - terrified.

"Please-" he rasped.

Before she could process what was happening, two other men stepped into the dim light.

Black coats. Gloves.

One of them held a gun.

The world shrank.

Wonyoung's breath stopped in her lungs.

"Thought you could run?" one of them said calmly.

The suited man shook his head violently. "I didn't say anything, I swear-"

The gunshot was deafening.

It echoed against the brick walls like thunder.

Wonyoung flinched, her hand flying to her mouth to stop the scream that clawed up her throat.

The man collapsed.

The rain didn't stop.

It kept falling, washing red into the drain.

Her heart pounded so hard she thought it would give her away.

Just leave. Just move. Slowly. Quietly.

She took one tiny step backward.

Her shoe splashed in a shallow puddle.

The sound was small.

But in the silence that followed the gunshot, it was loud enough.

The man with the gun lifted his head.

And looked directly at her.

For one second, they stared at each other.

She saw his face.

He saw hers.

"Hey," he said softly.

Run.

Her body finally obeyed.

She turned and sprinted toward the café door, fumbling with her keys, nearly dropping them. Her hands shook violently as she unlocked it, threw herself inside, and slammed it shut.