Chapter 35: A Battle for Survival

The flashing red lights cast ominous shadows across the server room as Seojin held her gun steady, her finger hovering over the trigger. Donghae's smirk never wavered, his betrayal cutting deeper than any wound she'd ever sustained.

"Let him go, Donghae," she said, her voice cold and measured.

Donghae tightened his grip on Dojin's collar. "And what if I don't? Are you willing to shoot me, Seojin? Risk the noise? You won't survive this building without me."

"Funny, considering you're the one who just locked us in," she retorted.

From the corner of her eye, Seojin saw Dojin slowly reaching for a tool in his pocket. She gave the faintest shake of her head. Not yet.

The sirens in the hallway grew louder, accompanied by the sound of approaching footsteps. The Phoenix operatives were closing in.

The silence was broken by the abrupt slam of the server room door unlocking again. Jiwon burst in, his face smeared with dirt and his gun raised.

"Distract them, huh? You're welcome," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he scanned the scene. His eyes landed on Donghae and the way he had Dojin pinned.

"What the hell is this?" Jiwon demanded, his gun now trained on Donghae.

Donghae clicked his tongue. "A complication."

Seojin didn't wait for further explanations. In a fluid motion, she moved, slamming her elbow into Donghae's face and forcing him to release Dojin. Donghae staggered back, clutching his jaw, and Seojin pressed her gun to his temple.

"Talk. Now," she hissed.

Donghae glared at her, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "You wouldn't shoot me."

"Try me."

Before Donghae could respond, the door burst open again, this time revealing heavily armed Phoenix guards. Chaos erupted as bullets flew.

"Down!" Seojin shouted, dragging Dojin to the ground as Jiwon returned fire. Donghae used the distraction to dart for cover, leaving Seojin seething.

"We don't have time for this!" Dojin yelled, clutching his tablet. "I got the data, but they're going to cut off all exits if we don't move now!"

"Jiwon, cover us!" Seojin ordered, pulling Dojin toward the back of the server room. She scanned the walls, looking for another way out.

"There's a maintenance hatch here!" Dojin called, pointing to a panel in the floor.

Seojin yanked it open, revealing a narrow tunnel that led downward. "Go!"

Jiwon fired a few more shots before diving into the hatch. Seojin followed, her heart pounding as the sound of Phoenix guards filled the room above.

The tunnel was cramped and poorly lit, forcing them to crawl on their hands and knees. Behind them, the sound of their pursuers grew louder.

"This way leads to the utility basement," Dojin said, his voice tight with panic. "We can slip out through the loading docks if we're fast enough."

"Then we'd better be fast," Jiwon muttered, his jaw clenched.

They emerged into a dimly lit basement filled with industrial equipment and towering shelves. The air was thick with the smell of oil and damp concrete.

"Which way?" Seojin asked, her eyes darting around.

"There," Dojin said, pointing to a metal door at the far end of the room.

The team sprinted for the exit, their footsteps echoing in the cavernous space. But as they reached the door, it burst open, revealing more Phoenix operatives.

Seojin didn't hesitate. She fired her gun, the sound deafening in the confined space. Jiwon joined in, his shots precise and controlled. Dojin ducked behind a stack of crates, clutching his tablet protectively.

"We can't keep this up!" Jiwon shouted, reloading his weapon.

Seojin gritted her teeth. "We don't have a choice. Keep them back!"

From behind the crates, Dojin fumbled with his tablet. "I can trigger a fire suppression system in here. It'll buy us time to escape, but you'll have to hold your breath."

"Do it!" Seojin yelled.

With a few quick taps, Dojin activated the system. Jets of white foam sprayed from the ceiling, obscuring the room in a thick cloud. The operatives coughed and cursed, their movements slowed by the slippery floor.

"Go, go, go!" Seojin shouted, grabbing Dojin and pulling him toward the door.

The team burst through the loading dock exit and into the freezing night air. Seojin's lungs burned as she gasped for breath, but she didn't stop running.

Behind them, the sounds of pursuit faded as they disappeared into the maze of alleyways surrounding the building.

Finally, they collapsed against a wall, their bodies heaving with exhaustion.

"We made it," Jiwon panted, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"Barely," Seojin muttered, her mind already racing. Donghae's betrayal, the stolen data, and the Phoenix's growing threat all loomed large.

"Seojin," Dojin said, his voice trembling. "The data… you need to see this."

She took the tablet from him, her eyes scanning the screen. What she saw made her blood run cold.

End of Chapter 35

Sneak Peek for Chapter 36:

The stolen data reveals a horrifying secret about the Phoenix's next move, putting millions of lives at risk. Seojin and her team must decide whether to go public with the information or take down the Phoenix themselves.

What choice will they make?

Thoughts for Readers:

What do you think the data revealed?

How do you feel about Donghae's betrayal? Can he be redeemed, or is he beyond saving?

Share your theories!