The Silent Vows | VSOO (18+)

17.

She straightens, panting.

And just like that—it's quiet again.

For now.

The hallway ahead stretches into darkness.

This is it.

Minho is inside.

Jisoo exhales, wiping the sweat from her brow, her knuckles white around her gun.

We exchange a look.

No turning back now.

She nods once.

I push the door open.

Minho is waiting for us.

He's seated at his desk, completely at ease, a glass of whiskey in his hand, a slow smirk curling on his lips.

I raise my gun.

He doesn't flinch.

"Right on time," he muses. "I expected you an hour ago."

Jisoo's hand tightens on her gun. "You talk too much."

Minho chuckles, setting his glass down.

"You've come all this way to kill me," he muses. "But I wonder—how prepared are you to actually pull the trigger?"

Jisoo takes a step forward. "Try me."

Minho smiles.

Then—

The second door bursts open.

And two guards shove someone inside.

Jungkook.

His face is bruised, his hands tied behind his back, blood trickling from his temple.

Minho hums. "You didn't really think I wouldn't see through your little inside man, did you?"

Jisoo stiffens beside me.

Minho leans back, enjoying this. "So. Here's the deal."

His eyes flicker to me.

"You put the gun down—or he dies."

Time slows.

Jisoo grips her gun tighter.

Jungkook meets my eyes. He doesn't say a word.

Minho waits, amused, patient.

I know this game.

He's done it before.

And I know how it ends.

Jisoo is breathing too fast.

I see it before she even moves.

I know what she's going to do.

And I won't let it happen.

So I move first.

I lower my gun.

Jisoo whips toward me. "Taehyung—"

I don't look at her.

I just step forward.

Minho smirks, victorious. "Good boy."

He motions to his guards.

They shove Jungkook aside—and grab me instead.

Jisoo screams my name.

Gunshots explode.

I feel it—before I even hear it.

A sharp, burning pain in my stomach.

Jisoo shoots wildly, desperately, but Minho doesn't even flinch.

He just watches as I fall to my knees.

Jisoo runs to me, catching me before I hit the ground.

"Tae—Tae, stay with me," she whispers, her hands pressing against my wound.

There's so much blood.

I smile faintly.

I didn't want this for her.

Didn't want her to be the one who had to choose.

So I chose for her.

She's crying now. Desperate. Furious.

Minho kneels beside us, tilting his head.

"What a waste," he sighs.

Jisoo lunges.

The knife flashes—

And then—

Minho staggers.

For the first time, his smirk disappears.

He looks down.

Jisoo's blade is buried in his stomach.

And for the first time—I see fear in his eyes.

Jisoo twists the knife. Slowly.

"You should've killed me first," she whispers.

Minho gasps. Chokes.

And then—

He falls.

It's over.

But all I can think about—

Is that I can't feel my legs.

Jisoo presses a shaking hand to my face.

"Stay with me," she begs. "Please, stay with me."

My body is cold.

My vision blurs.

I reach up, fingers brushing against her cheek.

She leans into it.

"I love you," I murmur.

Her sob breaks me.

And then—

Everything fades.