Episode 35 – Lines Crossed
Smoke billowed into the night sky, curling above the crumbling hospital wing like a black omen. Sirens screamed, cutting through the roar of collapsing plaster and sparking wires.
Inside, CHIPER split at Kevin's shout:
> "Kevin and Guen — west wing! Alex, Minjae, Miran — east! Find the detonators, fast!"
Their feet pounded cracked tiles. Around them, the world felt moments from falling.
---
Kevin's lungs burned with each breath.
Dust stained the white of his shirt; Guen kept pace beside him, her eyes locked, steps sure despite the chaos.
They reached the stairwell; half of it had caved in, steel twisted like broken ribs.
"Guen, you shouldn't—" Kevin started, voice hoarse.
"Don't you dare," she snapped back, pushing past him.
For a second, his hand caught her arm — an instinct stronger than fear. Their eyes locked, heat and worry tangled so tight it hurt.
"I won't lose you," he breathed.
"I'm not yours to lose," Guen whispered — but her voice shook, betraying the words.
Then the moment vanished. They ran on.
---
In the east wing, Miran stumbled over rubble.
The air felt sharp as knives, each breath a fight. Ahead, Alex's scanner beeped, faint but urgent.
"Close," Alex gasped. "Thermal says twenty meters — storage room!"
Minjae didn't wait; he shoved past, grip like steel on Miran's wrist. "Move, chemical girl," he growled.
A low rumble shivered the ground. Miran looked up — a metal beam cracked from the ceiling.
"Minjae!" she screamed.
His reaction was violent and fast: he crashed into her, tackling her to the floor. The beam slammed behind them, dust and shards exploding like shrapnel.
For a heartbeat, everything froze.
---
Minjae hovered over her, chest heaving. His hand cupped her cheek, thumb brushing grit from her skin.
"You always get into trouble," he rasped, voice raw. "Always make me—"
His words died. Their faces were so close she could taste his breath, smell the sweat and blood and something darker beneath.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, tears smearing ash on her cheeks.
Minjae's hand trembled on her skin. "Don't say sorry," he rasped. "Just don't leave me."
Alex's voice cut through, harsh: "Minjae! The bomb!"
---
The storage room reeked of burned wires.
A red timer blinked down: 00:02:31.
Alex wiped sweat from his eyes. "One wrong wire and we all die."
"Which wire?" Minjae demanded, voice ice.
Alex swallowed. His vision blurred. It has to be red…
"Red," Alex croaked.
Minjae didn't hesitate. The cutter snapped shut.
00:00:39 — frozen.
For a breath, everything was silent. Then Miran let out a sob, burying her face in Minjae's shoulder. His arm curled around her protectively, jaw tight.
But Alex barely noticed. His eyes were on the decrypted line burning on his device:
> "The mole isn't a stranger. It's someone you trust most."
His pulse roared in his ears.
---
Across the ruined wing, Kevin and Guen found their bomb.
Kevin's hands shook as he knelt. Guen stood above, pistol ready, sweat trailing down her neck.
"Faster," she whispered.
Kevin's voice was gravel: "If I mess this up…"
"Then you mess it up together," Guen snapped, voice breaking. "You don't carry this alone, Kevin."
For a second, he looked up — and saw her: defiant, terrified, alive.
With a final twist, the timer died. Silence swallowed the hall.
Kevin rose. "You okay?"
"No," Guen whispered, tears mixing with grime. "But I'm here."
---
ZeroFace's voice crackled through the remaining speakers:
> "Well played. But this is only act one, CHIPER. Tick-tock."
The monitors died, leaving nothing but smoke and the hiss of broken pipes.
---
Outside, fire crews dragged them into cold night air.
The hospital still stood — blackened, bleeding smoke, but standing.
Alex leaned against a scorched ambulance, heart thundering. His gaze tracked Miran — bruised, dirt in her hair, but alive.
And Minjae — eyes locked on her, face dark with something wild.
Minjae stalked forward, grabbed Miran's arm. "You nearly died," he hissed, voice shaking. "You get that? You almost—It's always a burden to save you. Can't you be strong and believe in yourself, Miran?"
"I'm sorry," Miran whispered, shrinking.
Minjae shook her once, rage and relief twisted. Then he lowered his forehead to hers, breath ragged. "Don't ever do that again."
Her tears fell freely. Alex turned away, guilt gnawing. And we call ourselves heroes?
---
Kevin gathered them in the shadow of the ambulance.
His voice was rough stone. "ZeroFace wants to bury this city in fear. We stopped one plan — barely. But next time, they'll strike where we're weakest."
Miran's voice cracked. "And if we can't stop them?"
Kevin met her gaze. "Then people die. But we won't let that happen."
---
But Alex's phone buzzed, trembling in his pocket.
A single encrypted message:
> "Final target: CHIPER Headquarters."
His breath caught. They're not after the city anymore. They're coming for us.
---
Minjae turned to Miran, voice softer now.
"Come on," he murmured, tugging her hand. "You're shaking."
She flinched from his grip. "I… I'm okay."
His jaw clenched. "Don't lie to me," he growled, anger flickering — not just at ZeroFace, but at her fear.
Miran's lips trembled, but she stayed silent.
---
Later, at HQ, they regrouped.
Dust and sweat clung to them. The room felt smaller than ever.
Kevin rubbed a cut at his temple. "ZeroFace is after more than fear. They know our faces. Our weaknesses."
Minjae's glare was dark steel. "Then we hunt them first."
Alex opened his mouth — Should I tell them? — but the words caught in his throat.
Guen's eyes found his. "Alex…?"
"Nothing," he lied, voice hoarse. "Just tired."
But inside, panic coiled. If the mole is someone we trust… it could be any of us.
---
As dawn touched the sky, smoke still rose from the hospital ruins.
In the cold light, CHIPER stood together: bruised, shaken, but unbroken.
But trust — the glue holding them together — had begun to crack.
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