Chapter 12: The Ambush

I felt a surge of adrenaline as I saw the group of men in black suits standing outside the nondescript building. The syndicate.

I grabbed Tae-Oh's arm, pulling him back into the shadows. "It's a trap," I whispered. "We have to get out of here, now."

Tae-Oh's eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking towards the syndicate's men. "I don't think so," he said, his voice low and deadly. "I think this is exactly what we've been waiting for."

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized what Tae-Oh was planning. "You can't be serious," I said, trying to keep my voice down. "We're outnumbered, outgunned... we don't stand a chance."

Tae-Oh's smile was cold and calculating. "That's where you're wrong, Ji-Hyun," he said. "We have the element of surprise on our side. And we have me."

I felt a surge of fear as I realized that Tae-Oh was planning to take on the syndicate single-handedly. "Tae-Oh, no," I said, grabbing his arm again. "You can't do this. It's suicidal."

Tae-Oh's eyes flashed with anger, but he didn't shake me off. Instead, he leaned in close, his voice barely above a whisper. "I have to do this, Ji-Hyun," he said. "I have to make them pay for what they did to me."

I felt a pang of sympathy for Tae-Oh, but I knew that I couldn't let him do this. "There are other ways to make them pay," I said. "We can work together, come up with a plan..."

Tae-Oh's expression was unyielding. "I've already come up with a plan," he said. "And it doesn't involve you or anyone else getting hurt."

I felt a surge of fear as I realized that Tae-Oh was planning to sacrifice himself. "No, Tae-Oh," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "You can't do this. We need you."

Tae-Oh's smile was sad, almost melancholy. "You don't need me, Ji-Hyun," he said. "You're strong enough to take care of yourself. And Yoon-Ah and Joon-Oh will help you, won't they?"

I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. "Yes, they will," I said. "But that's not the point. The point is that we need you, Tae-Oh. We need your help to take down the syndicate."

Tae-Oh's expression softened, just for a moment. And in that moment, I saw a glimmer of the man he used to be, before the syndicate had destroyed him.

But then, his mask slipped back into place, and he was once again the cold, calculating stranger I had met in the alleyway.

"It's too late for that, Ji-Hyun," he said. "I've made my decision. And now, it's time for me to go."

I felt a surge of fear as Tae-Oh turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd. I knew that I had to follow him, to try and stop him from doing something crazy.

But as I turned to Yoon-Ah and Joon-Oh, I saw that they were already moving, following Tae-Oh at a distance.

I nodded, feeling a sense of determination. We would follow Tae-Oh, and we would try to stop him from getting himself killed.

But as we moved through the crowded streets, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were walking into a trap. The syndicate was waiting for us, and they would stop at nothing to take us down.

I felt a surge of fear as we turned a corner, and I saw the syndicate's men waiting for us. They were armed to the teeth, and they looked like they meant business.

Tae-Oh walked straight into the ambush, his eyes fixed on the syndicate's men. And as we followed him, I knew that we were in for the fight of our lives.

The syndicate's men opened fire, and we dove for cover, returning fire as best we could. The streets were chaotic, with civilians running for cover and cars screeching to a halt.

I saw Tae-Oh take down several of the syndicate's men, his movements swift and deadly. And I saw Yoon-Ah and Joon-Oh fighting bravely, taking down anyone who got in their way.

But despite our best efforts, we were outnumbered. The syndicate's men just kept coming, wave after wave of them.

I felt a surge of fear as I realized that we

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***