+ MISSION HUH? +

"Really?" Haechan's voice shattered the silence like a fragile thread snapping under too much pressure. It wasn't loud—if anything, it was barely above a whisper. But the weight of it carried through the warehouse, freezing everyone in their tracks.

The group turned as one, their eyes locking onto the source of the sound. What they saw left them speechless.

Haechan stood behind a massive stack of crates, his shoulders tense and his normally bright, mischievous eyes filled with heartbreak. A tear traced a solitary path down his cheek as he stared at Angel. Across from him, Angel stood like a statue, the unmarked package still in his hand, his expression unreadable.

"Really?" Haechan repeated, the word trembling under the weight of betrayal. His voice cracked, the disbelief and devastation spilling out like floodwaters.

Mark was the first to speak, his voice barely above a whisper. "What... what is happening right now?"

Angel took a step back, his jaw tightening as he slipped the package behind his back. "It's not what it looks like."

"Then what is it?" Victoria demanded, her tone sharp and unforgiving as she stepped forward. Her eyes burned with anger as she pointed directly at Angel. "Because it looks like you just sold us out."

"Victoria, don't—" Angel started, but his voice faltered under the weight of their stares.

"Don't what?" Victoria snapped, crossing her arms. "Don't call you out on your lies? This is why I never liked you."

Andrea stood slightly to the side, her fists clenched. Her gaze darted between Haechan, Angel, and the rest of the group, her anger simmering just beneath the surface. When Angel raised his gun and pointed it at Haechan, time seemed to slow.

"Step back," Angel warned, his voice steady despite the chaos crackling in the air. His finger hovered near the trigger.

Haechan didn't move. He didn't flinch. He just stared at Angel, his tear-streaked face etched with pain. "I trusted you." he said softly, the words cutting deeper than any weapon ever could.

Angel's jaw tightened, his grip on the gun steady. "I didn't have a choice."

"Bullshit," Victoria spat, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. She turned to Andrea, her tone laced with venom. "He's all yours if you want him."

Andrea's eyes narrowed, her anger boiling over. "Take him."

Victoria didn't hesitate. With a burst of speed, she lunged at Angel, her body colliding with his as they tumbled to the ground. The impact sent the gun skittering across the floor, but Angel scrambled to grab it. In the struggle, he accidentally pulled the trigger—twice.

The sound of gunfire rang out, deafening in the enclosed space. The group instinctively ducked for cover, their weapons drawn and ready.

Andrea felt the first bullet tear through her shoulder, the pain searing and immediate. She stumbled backward, her vision swimming as the second shot slammed into her waist. Her legs buckled, and she collapsed behind a stack of crates, clutching her side as blood pooled beneath her.

She bit down on her lip to stifle a cry, her body trembling as waves of pain radiated through her. She couldn't call out. Couldn't risk drawing attention to herself. So she stayed silent, her breaths shallow and uneven as she pressed her hand against the wound in her side, trying to stem the bleeding.

Victoria, oblivious to what had just happened to Andrea, was consumed by her fight with Angel. She pinned him to the ground, her fists flying with a rage she didn't even know she possessed.

"You think you can betray us and get away with it?" she growled, her voice raw with fury. "You think I'd let you walk away after this?"

Angel struggled under her grip, his hands grabbing at anything to push her off, but Victoria was relentless. Blow after blow landed, her anger fueling her strength as Angel's protests turned into grunts of pain.

Jaeda's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding. "Victoria! That's enough!"

But she didn't stop. Not yet.

While Victoria continued to subdue Angel, Jaeda barked orders to the rest of the team. "We have to secure the objective. Mark, Haechan—move now."

Mark tugged Haechan by the arm, snapping him out of his stupor. "Come on. We have a job to do."

Haechan followed silently, his mind racing. The image of Angel pointing a gun at him played over and over in his head, the betrayal sinking deeper with every step. His hands shook, his weapon feeling heavier than ever.

The rest of the team moved swiftly, navigating the warehouse as they retrieved the necessary intel. The tension in the air was suffocating, every shadow a potential threat. Jaeda's voice was a constant through their comms, grounding them as they worked to complete the mission.

By the time the mission was complete, Victoria had Angel restrained, his face bloodied but his defiance still intact. Jeno joined her, helping to drag Angel toward the exit.

"You think this is over?" Angel sneered, his voice muffled through swollen lips. "You have no idea what's coming."

Victoria tightened her grip on his arm, her jaw clenched. "Yeah? Well, you won't be around to see it."

When they reached the transport vehicle, Jaeda's security team was waiting. The guards grabbed Angel, locking his wrists in restraints as they hauled him toward the transport.

Victoria watched him go, her chest heaving as the adrenaline began to fade. Jeno placed a hand on her shoulder, grounding her. "You did the right thing."

"Did I?" Victoria muttered, her eyes narrowing as Angel disappeared from view. "I don't feel any better."

As the team regrouped, Victoria's eyes scanned the group, her expression darkening. "Where's Andrea?"

Jaemin froze, his heart dropping into his stomach. "She was right behind us."

Jaeda's head snapped around, her voice sharp. "Spread out. Find her. Now."

The urgency in her tone sent the team into a frenzy. They fanned out across the warehouse, their eyes scanning every shadow, every corner.

It was Chenle who found her.

"Over here!" Chenle's voice cracked as he shouted, his hands trembling as he knelt beside Andrea. She was slumped against a crate, her face pale and drenched in sweat. Blood soaked her shirt and pooled beneath her, the wounds on her shoulder and waist stark against her ashen skin.

"Oh my god," Jisung whispered, dropping to his knees beside her. "Andrea—don't be dead. Please."

Andrea's eyes fluttered open, her gaze unfocused. She tried to speak, but her voice came out as a faint, broken whisper.

The sound of Chenle's panicked cries sent the others racing toward them, their hearts pounding as the reality of the situation set in.