Episode 29 – Rust & Ruin
The sea clawed at black cliffs outside the derelict fish factory. Rusted walls rattled in the wind, windows gaped like broken teeth.
Inside, the air stank of salt, mildew, and old blood.
The killer paced, cracked white mask gleaming in faint moonlight. His breath rasped, each exhale broken by quiet giggles.
"Pretty flowers," he murmured, glancing at Miran, Guen, and Dohee — bound and bruised, forced to sit against a damp wall.
"Don't you move," he hissed, blade glinting in his shaking hand.
---
Guen's pulse raced.
Pain throbbed at her temple, but her gaze stayed sharp. If I can distract him…
Dohee sat quietly, fear tightening her chest, but her mind calculating: pipes, crates, exits. If Alex comes, he'll come fast.
Miran's wrists bled where rope cut skin. Her body trembled — but inside burned something hotter than terror.
I won't freeze, she promised herself. Not this time.
---
The killer turned his head sharply. "Who first?" he sang, broken voice echoing. "Who screams prettiest?"
Miran's breath hitched. Guen's jaw tightened. Dohee swallowed her panic.
His steps wavered toward Guen.
---
Outside:
Tires skidded on gravel. Kevin, Alex, and Minjae jumped from the van.
Moonlight caught steel: Kevin drew a concealed pistol; Alex flipped a small combat knife; Minjae cracked his knuckles, eyes dead calm.
"Factory's big," Alex hissed. "Split?"
Kevin shook his head. "Together. Fast and loud."
Minjae's teeth flashed in a cold grin. "Good. I feel like hurting someone."
---
They crept up to a rusted side door, metal flaking under Kevin's gloved hand.
Inside, shadows moved. Kevin signaled: On three.
One… two…
---
Inside:
The killer's knife lifted, trembling, towards Guen's cheek.
Miran couldn't stop herself. "Leave her alone!" she screamed, voice raw.
His masked face snapped toward her. "You first, then?" he rasped.
He lurched forward.
---
Miran braced for pain — but Guen kicked out, foot catching the killer's shin. He staggered back, cursing.
Dohee seized her chance, twisting her tied wrists against the edge of a crate, rope fraying.
"Now, Miran!" Guen gasped.
Miran lunged forward, slamming her shoulder into the killer's knee. He snarled, blade slicing the air.
He backhanded her hard; pain exploded across her face, stars bursting behind her eyes.
---
At the door:
Three.
Kevin kicked it open, steel crashing against concrete. The team poured in, shadows turning into fury.
---
Minjae was first.
He ripped the killer away from Miran, fist crashing into the masked face. Bone cracked under the punch; the killer shrieked.
"Don't you touch her!" Minjae roared, voice like thunder.
---
Kevin knelt beside Guen, hands flying to cut her ropes. "Are you hurt?" he demanded, breath ragged.
"Not bad," she gasped, blinking tears. "Go — stop him!"
---
Dohee broke free just as Alex reached her. His hand gripped hers — fast, desperate.
"Idiot," he rasped, voice breaking. "Don't you dare get hurt again."
She almost sobbed, squeezing his hand back.
---
The killer, staggering, ripped free from Minjae's grip.
A gun appeared in his shaking hand, rusted and ugly.
"Don't come closer!" he screeched, voice cracking. "Or I'll —"
Minjae didn't pause. His face was pure rage, dark eyes locked on the killer.
"Go ahead," Minjae growled, stepping closer. "Shoot me."
---
Dohee stood frozen — right in the gun's line.
Time slowed.
Miran saw it — the killer's finger tightening.
No, her mind screamed. Not Dohee!
She threw herself forward, body moving before thought.
---
Bang.
Pain — white‑hot, blooming through her back, stealing breath.
She fell, gasping, knees cracking against the concrete.
Dohee's scream split the air. "Miran!"
---
Minjae's roar tore through the factory.
He lunged — his fist colliding with the killer's jaw, gun clattering away.
Another punch — another — blood splattering across rusted walls.
---
Kevin grabbed Minjae's arm. "Enough — you'll kill him!"
"He deserves worse!" Minjae spat, voice ragged.
"Not here!" Kevin barked. "We need Miran alive!"
---
Alex dropped beside Miran, voice shaking. "Hey, chemical girl — stay with us, stay with me!"
Miran blinked, pain a dull roar in her skull. "It… hurts," she whispered.
"I know," Alex rasped, hand pressing the bleeding wound. "You're gonna be okay. Just… don't close your eyes."
---
Minjae knelt beside her, hands hovering uselessly. His breath came in ragged bursts.
"Why?" he whispered, voice breaking. "Why did you jump in?"
Miran tried to speak, tears mixing with blood. "Didn't… want her to die…"
Minjae's chest shuddered. For a moment, rage drained — leaving only something raw and terrified.
---
Guen pressed her scarf against the wound. "Kevin, ambulance — now!" she cried.
Kevin was already on his phone, voice clipped, "Gunshot wound. Female, mid‑twenties. Breathing shallow."
---
Sirens wailed in the distance.
Dohee sobbed, hands smeared with Miran's blood. Alex crushed her close, voice hoarse. "She saved you," he whispered. "She saved you."
---
Miran's vision blurred.
Pain receded — replaced by crushing exhaustion.
Her last sight before darkness: Minjae's face, pale and stricken, his lips forming words she couldn't hear.
Then — nothing.
---
Outside:
Lights flashed red and blue on the wet concrete.
Police swarmed. Medics lifted Miran's limp form onto a stretcher.
---
At the ambulance door, a doctor's voice was urgent. "She's alive — but losing blood fast. Who's family?"
"We are!" Minjae snapped, voice raw.
Kevin grabbed his arm. "Let them do their job."
---
Police:
"What happened? Who's the shooter?"
Kevin's voice was cold steel. "Some psycho kidnapped them. We found them, stopped him."
"Who are you people?" an officer barked.
"We were on vacation. Saw them missing. Lucky," Kevin lied, expression flat.
---
The police looked from bloodied Minjae to shaking Dohee, to Miran's pale face.
"Lucky," the officer echoed, though suspicion burned in his eyes.
---
Sirens faded into the night, taking Miran away.
And in the blood‑stained factory, the killer lay unconscious, wrists cuffed.
But for Minjae, Kevin, Alex, Guen, and Dohee — the real fear had only just begun.
---
> Next episode teaser (Ep 30):
Hospital chaos: surgery, waiting, guilt.
Police questioning — the team lies to protect themselves.
Minjae nearly loses control.
Miran regains consciousness — weak, but alive.