THE TRUSTED BETRAYAL

"The more you uncover, the harder it becomes to tell who is playing the game and who is the prey."

The room was silent, the air heavy with tension as Jieun stood in front of Nari, her expression calm and unreadable, a sharp contrast to the fear etched across Nari's face. Nari's hands trembled as she took in the unsettling wall of photos and notes behind Jieun, all connecting back to her brother, Minho. Jieun's calmness only heightened Nari's unease; she could feel her pulse quickening, her heart racing with the urge to run, but her legs felt glued to the spot.

Finally, she managed to whisper, her voice unsteadies and barely audible. "Who… who are you?"

Jieun's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze cold and unyielding. "The same person I've always been," she replied, her voice low. "Only now, you see a part of me that was never meant for anyone else to know."

Nari swallowed hard, glancing over her shoulder as if looking for an escape. But just as she took a step back, Jieun moved swiftly, catching her arm and gripping it tightly. Before Nari could even think to resist, Jieun guided her out of the room, closing the door firmly behind them, her expression unreadable.

"Let go of me, Jieun," Nari protested, fear flashing in her eyes, but Jieun only tightened her hold, leading her into another room down the hall. She closed the door with a calm, almost frightening precision before turning back to Nari, her face shadowed in the dim light.

"If you try to run, you'll make things harder for both of us," Jieun said, her tone even, though her eyes held an intensity Nari had never seen before. She gestured for Nari to sit, waiting until she complied before speaking again.

"This isn't something I wanted anyone else to know," Jieun began, her voice softening slightly. "But since you've seen everything, there's no point in hiding it now." She took a deep breath, her gaze turning distant as she began to recount her story. "This all started with my brother, Minho. They took him from me…my only family. And now I'm going to find out why."

Nari's initial fear started to dissolve as she listened, replaced by a growing understanding and a deep sense of horror. Jieun's words were laced with pain, each one heavy with the weight of her loss. She told Nari everything—from Minho's mysterious "removal" from the school, the secrets she had unearthed, the clues that led her to suspect that Minho had been marked, targeted, and ultimately silenced by those who wielded power within the school.

Jieun's voice trembled slightly as she spoke of her brother, her stoic exterior faltering for a brief moment. "Minho was all I had," she admitted, her gaze fixed on some distant point beyond the room. "And they took him from me without a second thought, without remorse. I can't just let that go. I won't."

As she finished, she turned back to Nari, her voice cold and steady once more. "If you try to interfere… if you create problems for me…" She hesitated, her expression hardening. "Then you'll have to keep quiet. Forever."

The silence that followed was thick, the weight of Jieun's threat hanging in the air. But Nari, to Jieun's surprise, didn't flinch. Instead, she met Jieun's gaze with a newfound determination.

"No," Nari said, her voice soft but steady. "I'm not going to stay quiet. But not because I'll create problems for you." She took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she reached out and placed them over Jieun's. "I'm going to help you, Jieun. Minho deserves justice, and if you're willing to take this risk, then so am I."

Jieun blinked, momentarily stunned, her carefully maintained composure faltering. She had expected fear, hesitation, maybe even betrayal—but this unwavering loyalty caught her off guard. Nari squeezed her hands, her expression resolute.

"I don't know how you've managed this on your own," Nari continued, her voice filled with a mix of sadness and admiration. "But you don't have to do this alone anymore. I'm with you—no matter what it takes."

A hint of relief flickered across Jieun's face, though she quickly masked it, nodding slowly as she released Nari's hands. "You understand what this means, right?" she said, her voice steady but her gaze intense. "If you're with me, there's no turning back. You'll be putting yourself in just as much danger as I am."

Nari nodded; her expression unwavering. "I understand. I'm ready. Just… tell me what to do next."

Jieun took a deep breath, allowing herself a rare moment of vulnerability as she met Nari's determined gaze. The weight of her mission felt slightly lighter now, with someone by her side who understood the risks and shared her resolve. She straightened, her voice quiet but firm as she spoke, "Then we plan. And we stay one step ahead of them."

The two girls shared a moment of silent understanding, a pact forged in the quiet of that room, bound by their shared pain and determination.

The school was eerily silent, shadows pooling in the corners of the hallways as Jieun and Nari moved cautiously through the building. It was past midnight, the time when the halls felt more like a maze of secrets than a place of learning. Jieun's heart pounded as they reached the door to the hidden passage, they knew the black-masked man frequented.

Nari nodded at her, mouthing, Be careful. Jieun gave a slight nod back, steeling herself as she pushed the door open and slipped inside. She and Nari had laid their trap, leaving fake documents with sensitive information about Minho in a spot they knew would draw the masked man out.

Jieun took her position in the shadows, her eyes trained on the faint glint of the folder they'd left on a table in the center of the room. She held her breath as a dark figure slipped into the room, moving with a quiet precision that made her heart race. There he was—the black-masked man.

He scanned the room, his sharp gaze landing on the bait. Just as he reached for it, Jieun stepped forward, her voice cold and defiant. "Looking for something?" The man's hand froze, and he turned to face her with a slow, almost measured calm, as though he'd anticipated her appearance. His masked face betrayed no emotion, but the stance of his body radiated a clear challenge. Without a word, he lunged, his movements swift and deliberate.

Jieun dodged, narrowly avoiding his outstretched hand, and immediately countered with a sharp kick aimed at his ribs. He blocked her attack effortlessly, catching her ankle and twisting it in an attempt to throw her off balance. She gritted her teeth, pulling herself free and landing a quick jab to his shoulder, but he absorbed the impact with barely a flinch.

They circled each other, each attack met with a precise counter. Jieun moved quickly, aiming punches and kicks that the black-masked man deflected, his expression unreadable beneath the mask. She threw a punch toward his face, but he grabbed her wrist, twisting her arm behind her back and pulling her close. She could feel his breath against her ear, his voice low and chilling.

"You're out of your depth, Ms. Park," he taunted, tightening his grip on her wrist.

With a quick movement, Jieun stomped on his foot and spun out of his grasp, her eyes blazing with determination. "Who are you?" she demanded, frustration lacing her voice.

The man chuckled, his laughter cold and mocking. "You're about to find out." He lunged again, this time with greater force, his strikes relentless and powerful. Jieun blocked his punches, but he was faster, more skilled, his movements almost mechanical. His hand shot out, aiming for her throat, but she ducked, bringing her knee up to his side, landing a solid hit that made him stagger back.

Jieun threw a punch, only for him to grab her wrist and twist her arm back, pulling her close. His voice was low, his breath brushing her ear. "You should have stayed out of this."

With a fierce glare, she stomped on his foot and managed to wriggle free, spinning around and lunging forward to catch him off guard. She grappled for his mask, her fingers managing to hook under the fabric. As she pulled, it loosened, revealing familiar eyes glinting with a steely determination. Her breath caught as she took in his face.

"Taewon"

For a moment, disbelief rooted her to the spot. The boy who had once been her confidant, her ally, now stood before her as the very enemy she'd been fighting to uncover.

Taewon smirked, his gaze unwavering, an unsettling calm in his eyes. "Shocked to see me, Ms. Park Jieun," he murmured, voice laced with a dark amusement. "Or should I say… Park Sarang?"

Jieun's heart raced, her mind spinning with questions. "You… You were behind this all along?"

He tilted his head, his smile turning cold. "You really have no idea what's going on, do you?" His tone dripped with condescension. "I'm here to clean up the mess your little investigation has stirred up—and protect you from making it worse for yourself."

Jieun narrowed her eyes, her shock morphing into anger. "Protect me? By trying to silence me? You think tying me up and throwing me into the shadows will help?"

Taewon's gaze hardened, the faint amusement in his eyes disappearing. "I'm not here to silence you. But if you keep pushing, you're going to get yourself killed. You've put yourself on their radar, and they won't hesitate to erase anyone who threatens them."

She took a step back, the betrayal stinging. "And you… What are you, Taewon? Some kind of enforcer for them?"

A muscle in his jaw tightened, his eyes flickering with something almost like regret before he quickly masked it. "I'm here for evidence. Proof to bring down the people behind this nightmare. But my mission doesn't include babysitting you, Jieun. I don't have time to keep saving you from yourself."

Before she could react, he lunged forward, grabbing her wrists with a vice-like grip. She struggled, fighting with everything she had, but he was relentless, his grip iron-strong as he forced her back against the wall.

"Enough," he hissed, pulling out a zip tie and securing her hands. "Stay here. I don't have time to keep cleaning up after your mess."

"Taewon, you can't—" Jieun struggled, her voice a mix of anger and desperation. But Taewon only shook his head, his face cold and unyielding.

"I can, and I will," he replied, his voice calm but filled with warning. "If you know what's good for you, stay out of this."

He backed away, giving her one last look—a complex mixture of frustration and something unreadable—before he turned, locking the door behind him as he left.

As Jieun fought the black-masked man, Nari slipped through the silent hallways, her steps light but purposeful. She was on edge, her heart racing as she recalled Jieun's words: they needed concrete evidence of the school's secrets, not just vague suspicions. Tonight, she'd gone in deeper than ever, following rumours of hidden passages in the basement that supposedly led to areas "off-limits" to students.

After a few wrong turns, she found herself at the base of a staircase she hadn't seen before, tucked behind a utility closet door. Taking a steadying breath, Nari descended, each step creaking ominously under her weight. The air grew colder, mustier, as if the walls themselves held secrets. At the bottom of the stairs, a heavy metal door stood ajar, casting a faint glow from a flickering bulb inside. She entered cautiously, feeling an icy prickle of fear crawl up her spine.

Inside, the space opened up into a stark, cold room filled with rows of metal filing cabinets and small locked boxes. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, and on a large metal table lay several stacks of files labelled with names and photographs of students—many of whom she recognized. She took a step closer, her eyes scanning the disturbing contents of each file.

Each folder contained detailed records of students' behaviour, surveillance photos taken without their knowledge, and, in some cases, psychiatric evaluations. Scribbled notes in the margins of certain files described students as "high risk" or "exhibiting deviant tendencies." Nari's heart pounded as she flipped through the reports, her stomach twisting as she realized the level of control the school was exerting on its students. They weren't just monitored—they were being profiled, labelled, and tracked like criminal suspects.

But it was the last cabinet at the far end of the room that caught her attention. The drawer was slightly open, a single red file peeking out with the word "Protocol X" stamped across it in bold letters. Nari hesitated before pulling the file free, a cold sense of dread settling over her as she opened it.

Inside were documents that detailed a program she could hardly believe: Protocol X appeared to be an experimental project designed to "eliminate deviant behaviour" by using invasive psychological tactics. It outlined methods such as forced isolation, physical intimidation, and staged events meant to break down a student's mental stability. The files documented how students were manipulated, and in some cases, subjected to what seemed like torture—such as prolonged sleep deprivation, or being threatened with harm to loved ones.

One name stood out, repeated multiple times in connection with "Protocol X." Minho Park. Her eyes widened in horror as she read the notes describing his "failure to comply" and his "extreme resistance to corrective measures." A final note marked with a bold red X read: "Subject deemed unfit for further correction. Removal authorized."

Nari's hand flew to her mouth, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. She was reading the details of her friend Jieun's brother's targeted harassment, sanctioned by the school itself. They hadn't just silenced Minho—they'd systematically broken him down.

A chilling detail in the file revealed that Minho had managed to discover the secret behind "Protocol X" and had begun documenting his findings. In retaliation, he was placed under intense surveillance and subjected to the school's most brutal corrective tactics until he could "no longer pose a threat."

Her heart thundering, Nari quickly took photos of the documents, her hands shaking as she recorded every page. The school wasn't just covering up bad behaviour—it was running a controlled system of mental and physical manipulation against its own students, ensuring those who resisted would either comply… or disappear.

She stuffed the files back into the drawer, making sure everything looked undisturbed, and turned to leave. But just as she was about to exit, her eyes landed on a small, locked metal box on a nearby shelf labelled "Restricted - Active Subjects". It was chillingly familiar, and a spark of dread washed over her as she noticed Jieun's name on a label stuck to the side.

The realization hit her like a punch—Jieun was next.

Nari hurried through the quiet streets, clutching the hidden documents tightly against her chest. The weight of what she had discovered pressed on her, every instinct urging her to move faster, to get to Jieun before anyone noticed her absence. She glanced over her shoulder, her heart racing as she slipped through the shadows, finally reaching Jieun's front door.

As her fingers brushed the doorknob, a flash of memory washed over her—Jieun's calm but serious face as they'd made their plan.

In the dim light of Jieun's room, the air between them had been thick with tension. Jieun's voice was low and steady as she looked directly at Nari, her tone laced with urgency. "If you find anything, don't wait for me," Jieun had said, her gaze unwavering. "Whatever happens, bring it here. Even if I'm not back yet."

Nari had felt a pang of worry but forced herself to nod. "What do you mean, 'if you're not back'? You're coming back. Right?"

Jieun's eyes softened for a brief moment, the shadow of uncertainty flickering in them before she hid it behind her usual resolve. "Just promise me," she insisted. "If anything feels wrong, if something happens, you come back here. Don't wait for me. Don't look back."

Nari had nodded, but her heart had felt heavy. Deep down, she sensed that Jieun knew something she hadn't shared, a feeling that this mission was more dangerous than she was letting on.

The memory faded, and Nari took a steadying breath, her grip tightening on the files. She could feel Jieun's warning echoing in her mind, filling her with a sense of urgency she couldn't ignore.

She unlocked the door and slipped inside, her footsteps light as she closed it behind her. The house was quiet, almost too quiet, amplifying the tension thrumming through her. Nari made her way to Jieun's room, her pulse racing as she spread the documents across the desk, quickly sorting through the files she had managed to collect.

As she scanned the pages, the grim reality of what they'd uncovered settled over her again—Protocol X, the horrific program targeting students like Minho, and Jieun's own name listed among the active subjects. A chill ran down her spine as she realized the full implications of the evidence. This wasn't just about Minho. Jieun was in immediate danger.

A faint sound outside broke her focus, and she froze, instinctively glancing toward the window. She could feel her pulse hammering, a fear creeping in that someone might have followed her after all. Jieun's warning echoed in her mind: If anything feels wrong… don't look back.

Gritting her teeth, Nari returned to the files, quickly taking photos of the documents to make sure they had backup evidence. Every click of the camera felt louder than it should, but she forced herself to focus, ignoring the growing unease.

The longer she waited, the more certain she became that something was wrong. Jieun should have been back by now.

Nari's instincts had been right. The faint sound outside wasn't just her imagination—it was someone, or something, lurking in the shadows.

Just as she finished photographing the documents, a muffled thud came from the hallway. Her breath caught, and she froze, her fingers tightening around her phone. She strained to listen, each second stretching unbearably, her heartbeat loud in her ears.

she heard a soft knock at the door, followed by the creak of it opening. She froze, her heart racing. She hadn't expected anyone, let alone at this hour. She took a steadying breath and turned around, only to see Taewon standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable.

"Taewon?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper, laced with shock and confusion. She hadn't told him anything about Jieun's investigation, and yet here he was, as if he knew exactly where to find her. "What… are you doing here?"

He took a step closer, his gaze intense. "I could ask you the same question, Nari," he replied calmly, his eyes darting briefly to the papers on the table. "Where's Jieun?"

Nari hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "I… I don't know," she stammered, trying to maintain a steady tone. "She's supposed to be here, but she isn't back yet."

Taewon's eyes flicked back to her, his expression darkening. He took another step toward the table, his gaze settling on the files she had laid out, and Nari's stomach twisted as she saw something shift in his demeanour—something cold and calculating she hadn't seen before. His usual warmth was gone, replaced by a chilling calmness.

"What's all this?" he asked, his tone low as he reached for the files, flipping through the documents with a casual familiarity that felt oddly unsettling. The realization struck her that he wasn't surprised by what he was seeing. He knew exactly what was in these files.

Before she could react, Taewon's hand shot out, gripping her arm tightly. "Nari, I didn't want to have to do this," he murmured, his voice low, almost regretful. In one swift motion, he reached into his pocket, pulling out a small vial. Before Nari could even cry out, he pressed a cloth over her mouth, and a faint, sweet scent filled her senses.

Her vision blurred as she struggled against his hold, but his grip was firm, unyielding. The room around her spun, her body weakening as her mind tried to process the betrayal. Her last thought before slipping into unconsciousness was of Jieun—had Taewon gotten to her, too?

As Nari's body went limp, Taewon gently lowered her to the ground, his gaze softening for a fleeting moment. He knelt beside her, checking her pulse to ensure she was okay, before returning his attention to the documents on the table. He quickly gathered the files, placing them in his bag.

But in his haste, he didn't notice Nari's phone lying on the floor nearby, its screen glowing with the images she had taken of the documents. Nari had managed to back up the evidence—unbeknownst to him.

Taewon took one last glance around the room, his expression unreadable, before disappearing into the night, leaving Nari unconscious and unaware of the backup evidence she had preserved.