10: (THE DEVIL'S GAME)

The apartment was silent, save for the hum of the refrigerator and the occasional shuffle of fabric as Seungbae sat at his desk, flipping through files that had begun to feel like an obsession.

The walls were covered in crime scene photos, maps, and scribbled notes—connecting dots that refused to form a clear picture.

Hyunwoo sat on the couch, legs sprawled, lazily tossing a stress ball in the air.

"You look like shit," he muttered, catching the ball one last time before setting it down.

"Have you even slept?"

Seungbae ignored him. His fingers tapped against the desk, his thoughts a storm.

"There's something we're missing," he said under his breath, eyes flickering across the documents.

"Something right in front of us."

Hyunwoo sighed, stretching. "Or maybe," he drawled, "you're too close to it. Ever think about that, Detective?"

Seungbae shot him a look, but Hyunwoo just smirked.

For days, they'd been hunting Sangwoo—if he was even alive. Evidence pointed in conflicting directions: security footage that shouldn't exist, phone calls that came from nowhere, bodies that matched his style but had no definitive proof linking back to him.

And yet, Seungbae knew.

He knew.

Oh Sangwoo was out there.

Breathing. Watching. Waiting.

"Why are you even helping me?" Seungbae asked suddenly, breaking the silence. His voice was sharp, suspicious.

Hyunwoo raised a brow. "What, you don't trust me?"

"I don't trust anyone," Seungbae said flatly.

Hyunwoo chuckled. "Well, you should. At least a little. You might actually live longer."

Seungbae didn't answer.

But Hyunwoo's eyes lingered on him for a second too long. Like he saw something there—something deeper, something Seungbae didn't want seen.

And then—

A knock at the door.

Both men stiffened.

Hyunwoo was the first to move, sliding a hand toward his gun. Seungbae followed, quiet as he approached. The knock came again, light. Almost teasing.

Seungbae exhaled sharply, then yanked the door open.

No one was there.

Only a small package.

Wrapped neatly. Carefully. Deliberate.

Hyunwoo let out a breath through his nose. "That's not creepy at all."

Seungbae crouched, inspecting it. His gut churned. He could feel it—the wrongness.

Hyunwoo sighed, rubbing his temple. "You're gonna open it, aren't you?"

Seungbae didn't answer. He just did.

Inside was a phone.

It buzzed to life the second he touched it.

A message appeared.

"Miss me?"

Seungbae's grip tightened.

And then—

The screen flickered, switching to a live video feed.

His breath caught.

It was Yoonbum.

Bound. Gagged. Wide-eyed. Terrified.

And standing right behind him—Sangwoo.

Smiling.

Watching.

Seungbae's world went cold.

And then, the screen went black.

ー

The apartment was silent, the weight of what they'd just seen pressing down like a vice. Seungbae's breath was steady, but his grip on the phone was anything but. His knuckles had gone white, his fingers twitching against the screen.

Hyunwoo, standing just behind him, exhaled sharply. "Shit," he muttered, rubbing a hand through his hair. "That was—"

"Sangwoo," Seungbae cut in, voice sharp. Final. There was no doubt now. No second-guessing. The bastard was alive.

The phone buzzed again.

Another message.

"Tick, tock, Detective."

Hyunwoo stepped closer, reading over Seungbae's shoulder. "He's playing with you," he muttered.

Seungbae didn't answer. He couldn't. His mind was already in overdrive, dissecting, calculating. Where was Yoonbum? The background of the video had been dark—concrete walls, dim lighting, a basement? A warehouse? A trap.

Hyunwoo placed a hand on the desk, his fingers tapping against the wood. "We need a plan."

Seungbae finally looked at him, eyes sharp. "We?"

Hyunwoo gave him a look. "You really think I'm letting you go after that psychopath alone?"

Seungbae clenched his jaw. "I don't need backup."

Hyunwoo scoffed. "Sure, and I'm the President."

He stepped forward, tone lower now, more serious.

"Look, I get it. You want to put this guy in the ground, or behind bars, or whatever the hell you've been fantasizing about for the past few years. But if you go alone? You're dead. And if you die—who's left to stop him?"

Seungbae's eyes flickered, the truth in those words hitting something deep. He hated to admit it, but Hyunwoo was right.

This wasn't just about justice anymore.

It was about finishing this.

And Sangwoo—

Sangwoo was waiting.

—

Yoonbum's Fear

The room was cold. Too cold. Yoonbum's body trembled, but whether it was from the temperature or the terror clawing at his insides, he didn't know.

His wrists ached where the rope dug in. His breathing was shallow, ragged through the gag.

And across from him—

Sangwoo watched.

Leaning casually against the wall, head tilted, eyes gleaming in the dim light.

"So," he murmured, voice smooth as ever. "You must've been so lonely without me."

Yoonbum's chest tightened. He squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head.

A chuckle. Low, amused.

"Still playing hard to get?" Sangwoo pushed off the wall, slow, deliberate. Stalking. "That's cute, Bum. Really, it is."

Yoonbum flinched when fingers brushed his cheek. He couldn't do this again. He couldn't—

Sangwoo leaned in, lips ghosting over his ear.

"Did you miss me?"

A strangled sound left Yoonbum's throat. His heart wasn't supposed to feel like this. It wasn't supposed to be hammering for the wrong reasons.

Sangwoo's fingers trailed down his neck, over his shoulder, before finally gripping his chin—forcing Yoonbum to meet his gaze.

Those eyes. The same ones that had haunted him in dreams, in memories, in every waking second of his life.

"You're mine, Bum," Sangwoo whispered, almost tender. "You always were."

Tears burned at the edges of Yoonbum's vision. This wasn't real. This wasn't happening.

And yet, when Sangwoo's lips curled into that familiar smirk—

It felt like coming home.

—

Back at the apartment, Seungbae pulled on his jacket, checking his gun. Every movement was precise, controlled. A predator preparing for war.

Hyunwoo, watching him from the doorway, clicked his tongue. "You're tense."

Seungbae shot him a glare. "No shit."

Hyunwoo sighed, grabbing his own gun. "Look, I know you hate me—"

"I don't hate you."

Hyunwoo blinked. "Wow. That almost sounded nice."

Seungbae rolled his eyes. "I hate Sangwoo. You? You just piss me off."

Hyunwoo grinned. "See? Progress."

Seungbae ignored him.

The phone buzzed again.

A location.

A warehouse outside the city.

Hyunwoo glanced at it, then at Seungbae. "It's a trap."

"Obviously."

A pause.

Then—Hyunwoo smirked. "Guess we better not keep the bastard waiting."

Seungbae didn't say it.

But he agreed.

And as the two of them stepped out into the night, heading toward the final showdown—

Sangwoo smiled.

Waiting. Watching.

Because this was always part of the game.

And he was about to win.

ー

The drive to the warehouse was silent, tension thick between them. Seungbae's grip on the wheel was tight, his knuckles white as he sped through the empty streets. Hyunwoo sat in the passenger seat, checking his gun, his expression unreadable.

Everything felt too perfect. Too planned.

Sangwoo wanted this.

The bastard had always been two steps ahead—always.

Seungbae's mind raced. Why now? Why show himself? Why give away his location so easily?

Hyunwoo finally broke the silence. "This could go to hell real fast."

Seungbae exhaled sharply. "I know."

"And we're still doing this?"

Seungbae shot him a look.

Hyunwoo huffed a laugh, shaking his head. "God, you're a stubborn asshole."

Seungbae didn't respond. His mind was elsewhere. Focused. Sharpened. Ready.

Sangwoo wouldn't take Yoonbum for no reason. This wasn't about torture—not just that. There was something more. Something worse.

And Seungbae was going to end it.

No more games. No more near-misses.

Sangwoo was either going to prison or the grave.

ー

The ropes dug into Yoonbum's wrists, cutting off circulation. His fingers felt numb, his body trembling as he tried to steady his breathing. He couldn't afford to panic—not now.

Sangwoo was pacing in front of him, slow, lazy strides like a predator waiting for its prey to break.

"Do you think they'll come for you, Bum?"

Sangwoo mused, tilting his head. "Do you think Seungbae will actually save you?"

Yoonbum swallowed hard. He wanted to believe it. He wanted to believe that someone—anyone—would pull him out of this nightmare.

Sangwoo crouched in front of him, smirking. "Maybe you should've just run away with me when you had the chance."

Yoonbum's breath hitched.

Because, deep down—he had wanted to.

And that made it worse.

Sangwoo chuckled, leaning in close.

"I missed you."

Yoonbum shut his eyes.

"Did you miss me too?"

Silence.

A hand gripped his chin, forcing him to look up.

"Bum," Sangwoo whispered, voice dangerously soft. "Don't lie to me."

And for a second—just a second—Yoonbum let the truth slip.

"Yes."

Sangwoo's grin widened. "See? That wasn't so hard."

But then, his fingers tightened, nails digging into Yoonbum's skin. "Too bad you don't get a choice anymore."

The lights flickered above them. A slow, mechanical hum filled the air.

And Yoonbum realized—this was never about him.

It was about them.

Seungbae. Hyunwoo.

This was a trap.

And they were walking straight into it.

ー

The warehouse loomed in front of them, metal doors rusted with age. The air was thick with something foul—something wrong.

Seungbae stepped out first, gun drawn. Hyunwoo followed, quieter, eyes scanning the area.

"See any movement?" Hyunwoo murmured.

Seungbae shook his head. "He's here. Watching."

Hyunwoo smirked. "Creepy bastard."

They moved in sync, slipping through the side entrance. The inside was dark, filled with the scent of oil and decay.

And then—

A voice crackled over an unseen speaker.

"Right on time, Detective."

Seungbae stiffened.

Sangwoo.

Hyunwoo cursed under his breath. "Of course he has a fucking intercom system."

The voice continued, smooth and taunting. "You really never give up, do you? All these years… still chasing me like a rabid dog."

Seungbae's grip on his gun tightened. "Where's Yoonbum?"

A low chuckle.

"Close."

Seungbae's stomach turned.

Hyunwoo nudged him, pointing toward a dimly lit hallway. "That's where the sound's coming from."

They moved quickly, boots scuffing against the concrete. The tension grew with every step, every flickering light overhead.

Then—

A door at the end of the hall.

Seungbae didn't hesitate. He kicked it open.

Empty.

Just a chair. A rope. Blood splattered on the floor.

And a recorder.

Hyunwoo swore. "Shit."

Seungbae pressed play.

Static.

Then—Sangwoo's voice.

"Tick, tock."

A beep.

And suddenly, the walls shook with the force of an explosion.

ー

The blast threw Seungbae and Hyunwoo backward, debris raining down. The heat scorched the air, fire licking at the walls.

Seungbae groaned, his ears ringing, his body aching from the impact. Smoke filled his lungs as he forced himself to sit up.

Hyunwoo coughed, pushing himself up beside him. "That crazy fucker—he planned this."

Seungbae spat blood onto the ground. "Of course he did."

A sound echoed through the ruined hall.

Footsteps.

Slow. Leisurely.

And then—

Sangwoo stepped into view.

Dressed in black, his usual smirk in place, a knife glinting in his hand.

Seungbae raised his gun—

Bang.

The bullet missed.

Sangwoo moved fast, closing the distance before Seungbae could fire again. The knife sliced through the air, aimed straight for his throat—

But Hyunwoo was faster.

He shoved Seungbae aside, the blade grazing his arm instead of his neck. Blood spilled, but Hyunwoo didn't falter.

"Sangwoo, you sick fuck," Hyunwoo snarled. "You just love making an entrance, don't you?"

Sangwoo laughed. "And you just love getting in my way."

Hyunwoo lunged, swinging a punch—Sangwoo dodged, effortlessly.

Seungbae scrambled to his feet, gun in hand, ready to fire again—

But Sangwoo was already gone. Disappearing into the smoke.

The warehouse groaned, flames creeping along the walls.

Hyunwoo clutched his bleeding arm, cursing. "We have to get out of here."

Seungbae ignored him, scanning the area. "Where's Yoonbum?"

Silence.

Then—

A weak cough.

Seungbae turned, spotting a figure collapsed against the far wall.

Yoonbum.

Bound. Barely conscious.

Seungbae didn't think. He ran.

Kneeling beside him, he quickly untied the ropes. "Bum—hey, stay awake."

Yoonbum's eyes fluttered open. He looked at Seungbae—really looked at him.

And then, barely above a whisper—

"He's not done."

Seungbae barely had time to react before Yoonbum shoved him aside—

And a bullet tore through the space where his head had been.

Seungbae hit the ground, rolling, his gun snapping up—

But Sangwoo was already gone.

Again.

His laughter echoed through the burning warehouse.

And Seungbae realized—

This was only the beginning.

ー

Smoke billowed through the warehouse, thick and suffocating. The fire was spreading fast, the heat pressing against Seungbae's skin as he crouched beside Yoonbum.

His heart pounded, adrenaline flooding his veins. Sangwoo was still out there.

Hyunwoo staggered over, still clutching his bleeding arm. "We need to move—now."

Seungbae didn't argue. He grabbed Yoonbum, throwing one of the man's arms over his shoulder. He was barely conscious, body limp and trembling. God, he looked so weak.

Seungbae tightened his grip. Not today.

They pushed forward, navigating through the collapsing warehouse. Embers rained from the ceiling, the walls groaning as the structure threatened to come down. Every step felt like a gamble—one wrong move and they'd be buried alive.

A door loomed ahead. Their only escape.

Seungbae reached for it—

Click.

His body went rigid.

Hyunwoo cursed. "Fucking—"

A tripwire.

A soft mechanical whirr filled the air.

And then—

A countdown.

00:05

00:04

00:03

"MOVE!" Seungbae roared, throwing himself and Yoonbum forward.

Hyunwoo barely made it through before—

BOOM.

The explosion tore through the hallway, flames chasing them as they hit the ground outside.

The impact knocked the air from Seungbae's lungs. He rolled onto his side, coughing, ears ringing.

Silence.

Then—laughter.

Seungbae's head snapped up.

Sangwoo stood in the distance, just beyond the smoke, watching.

Smiling.

Like this was all just some entertaining game.

Their eyes met.

A challenge. A promise.

Then—Sangwoo turned and disappeared.

Seungbae's fists clenched. Not this time.

He tried to push himself up, but a weak hand clutched his sleeve.

Yoonbum.

His lips trembled, voice barely above a whisper. "P-please…"

Seungbae hesitated.

Yoonbum's grip tightened. His eyes—filled with something desperate, something twisted— met his.

"…don't let him go."

ー

Sirens wailed in the distance, flashing red and blue lights painting the night. The warehouse burned, firefighters struggling to control the blaze.

Paramedics swarmed around them, checking wounds, taking vitals.

Seungbae barely registered it. His gaze was locked on Yoonbum, who sat wrapped in a blanket on the back of an ambulance.

Something about him was…off.

His fingers clenched around the fabric. His breathing was slow, too even, too calm.

Hyunwoo sat beside Seungbae, his arm freshly bandaged. He followed Seungbae's stare and sighed. "He's not gonna be okay after this."

Seungbae didn't respond.

Because deep down—

He wasn't sure Yoonbum even wanted to be saved.

And that?

That terrified him more than anything.

ー

Far from the burning wreckage, Sangwoo leaned against a graffiti-covered wall, watching the city lights.

He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, took a slow drag.

Then, he pulled out his phone.

A message.

To: Yoonbum "Did you enjoy our little reunion? :) Don't worry, love. We're not done yet. See you soon. <3"

A smirk curled his lips.

The game wasn't over.

Not even close.