SHADOW IN YONSEI [juyoonz]

Chapter 12: Allies From the Past

Author pov

The days after the escape were tense. Hye Rin's recovery was slow, and though her strength was returning, the group knew their enemies wouldn't give them the luxury of time.

Ji Soo gathered the team in the main room of the safe house. "We have one last piece of data to retrieve, but the next facility is even more secure. We can’t do this with just the four of us."

Hye Rin, sitting on the couch with Eun Ji by her side, looked up sharply. “I might know someone. Two people, actually.”

Seo Yeon raised an eyebrow. “And who are these mystery recruits?”

Hye Rin leaned back, her gaze distant. “They’re people I trained a long time ago. I saved their lives when they were kids and taught them everything I knew before… well, before I left them behind.”

“Can we trust them?” Seo Yeon asked skeptically.

“Yes,” Hye Rin said firmly. “They owe me their lives, but more importantly, they’re family.”

---

Reuniting with the Past

Hye Rin led the group to a small gym tucked away in a quiet neighborhood. Inside, two women were sparring in the ring, their movements fluid and precise.

The taller of the two had sharp features and short, spiky hair. Her fighting style was aggressive, every strike a calculated risk. The other was smaller and wiry, with long braided hair and a knife strapped to her thigh. Her speed and precision made her a formidable opponent.

The fight ended abruptly when the smaller woman pinned the taller one to the mat, a smirk on her face. “Gotcha, Mina.”

Mina groaned. “You always cheat, Hana.”

Hye Rin stepped forward, her voice carrying across the room. “You two haven’t changed.”

Both women turned, their eyes widening in shock.

“Hye Rin?” Mina said, her voice filled with disbelief.

Hana was faster, vaulting over the ropes to pull Hye Rin into a tight hug. “It’s really you!”

Hye Rin chuckled, wincing slightly. “Easy, Hana. I’m still recovering.”

Mina joined them, her expression softening as she pulled Hye Rin into a brief hug. “We thought you were dead.”

“Not yet,” Hye Rin said, smiling faintly. “But I need your help.”

---

Old Bonds, New Challenges

Back at the safe house, Mina and Hana listened intently as Ji Soo outlined the mission.

“We’re taking down the organization that’s been controlling everything from the shadows,” Ji Soo explained. “But this next facility is their stronghold. Without you two, it’s a suicide mission.”

Hana leaned back, her fingers tapping the hilt of her knife. “You know we’re in, but what’s the catch?”

“It’s dangerous,” Seo Yeon said flatly. “And if we fail, none of us are walking out alive.”

Mina smirked, crossing her arms. “Dangerous is our specialty.”

Eun Ji watched the interaction with a mix of curiosity and jealousy. Seeing how easily the two women connected with Hye Rin stirred something in her chest, but she pushed it aside.

Later that night, she found Hye Rin sitting outside, staring at the stars.

“You really care about them, huh?” Eun Ji asked, sitting beside her.

Hye Rin glanced at her, surprised. “Of course. I saved them when they were kids. They’ve been through hell, and they deserved better. Training them gave them a fighting chance.”

Eun Ji nodded, her voice soft. “They look up to you.”

“They’re family,” Hye Rin said, her gaze steady. “But so are you.”

Eun Ji’s cheeks flushed, and she looked away. “You’re so frustrating, you know that?”

Hye Rin chuckled, nudging her gently. “You love it.”

---

The Mission Begins

With Mina and Hana on the team, the group felt stronger than ever. Each member brought unique skills:

Hana specialized in stealth and knife combat, able to slip into places unnoticed.

Mina was a demolition expert, her fiery personality matched by her love of explosives.

Seo Yeon balanced combat with strategy, always thinking two steps ahead.

Ji Soo was the tech genius, hacking into systems with ease.

Eun Ji proved herself in close-quarters combat, surprising everyone with her adaptability.

Hye Rin, despite her injury, remained the heart of the team—a natural leader who inspired loyalty.

The facility was massive, its security tighter than anything they’d faced before. Ji Soo guided them through the blueprints, and the team moved with precision.

Hana slipped ahead, taking out guards silently. Mina set small charges to create distractions. Seo Yeon and Hye Rin led the main assault, their movements synchronized.

Everything seemed to be going according to plan until an unexpected lockdown trapped them in the central control room.

---

A Dangerous Betrayal

As alarms blared, Seo Yeon’s expression darkened. “This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

Ji Soo worked furiously on the computer. “The system was overridden. Someone knew we were coming.”

Before anyone could respond, a voice crackled through the speakers.

“Well, well. Look who’s back,” the voice said mockingly.

Hye Rin’s blood ran cold. She recognized the voice—it was the organization’s leader, a man she thought she’d killed years ago.

“You didn’t think you could escape your past forever, did you, Hye Rin?” the voice continued.

Hye Rin’s jaw tightened, her fists clenching. “He’s alive.”

Eun Ji stepped closer, her hand brushing against Hye Rin’s. “We’ll get through this. Together.”

---

End of Chapter 12