~𝟭𝟲~

(Third person)

"Are you sure, Chan Hyung? I didn't see anything."

"I'm positive, Lee Know. She's got the gun. We've got to get it from her," Chan said over the comms.

"But how? It's not like we can just walk up to her and grab it off her leg. She'll freak."

"I know, I know... Just let me think."

But that wasn't going to help them. Chan knew that. He stood in his corner of the room; eyes glued to every movement Ava made. She seemed off, nervous almost. Like she didn't want to do this. But he knew that. Maybe there was something else going on. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder. Changbin walked past him toward the door to the men's bathroom. When he opened the door, the other boys were already congregated inside. Chan stepped in after Changbin and locked the door.

"So, what's the plan, Chan Hyung?"

"I think our only option is cutting off her escape route and getting her out of here."

"But she has to kill someone before escaping, doesn't she?"

"Yes, but I can't see a way to stop her."

"Let me talk to her," Seungmin suggested.

"What'll that accomplish? How is that any different from the rest of us talking to her?"

"Hyunjin, I understand your point, but there's no need to-"

"What do you suggest we do, Pretty Boy?" Seungmin asked.

"I'll talk to her. She trusts me."

"She trusts me too. Oh, but you just want to be the hero, don't you? Prince Hyunjin, always trying to save the day-"

"Stop it. Both of you. This isn't about who she trusts more. This is about keeping her alive long enough to get her out of here. Got that?"

All the boys fell silent at Chan's strong tone. He sounded genuinely angry, a very seldom occurrence.

"Now, the only way to stop her from shooting the target is by getting him out of here before she shoots him. Then we can get her out. Jeongin, you think you can hack the cameras?"

"Yip. I just need a computer."

"Done. Any objections?"

"If this doesn't work and she kills the guy, what then?" Han asked.

"Then we get her out and take it from there."

"And if it does work? If we get her out, what then?"

Han's question was quite shocking. What would they do if it worked? Would they press charges? Would there be an investigation? Chan took in a breath.

"I don't know. We'll see what happens and take it one step at a time. But one thing I do know is that we will not leave her. Not ever again."

The boys all nodded. They put their hands in, making a pile. Then the circle broke, and they left the bathroom one at a time, taking their designated spots again. Chan somehow got hold of a laptop and got it to Jeongin, who got hacked into the cameras almost immediately. Ava had just started moving toward her commander again. He handed her a photo. Jeongin froze the image and zoomed in. Chan felt his blood run cold at the sight of the picture in her hand. He had to get her out of there. Immediately. He ran into the crowd, shoving people out of the way. When he got to her, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her out of the crowd, dragging her to the door. The other boys had caught on by then, following them. Ava pulled her wrist from Chan's grip, stopping.

"What is wrong with you? What is going on?"

"You can't go through with this. You'll get yourself killed."

"I might get killed either way. I have a mission."

"This isn't a mission, this is suicide. That man in the picture, he's the Head of the Federal Government. If you kill him, you're as good as dead."

"Then so be it."

Just as she turned around again, a gunshot rang out through the crowd, making the boys and Ava duck out of instinct. The bullet had lodged itself in the wall behind Ava. If she were standing, it would have gone through her forehead. The boys all pressed their comms, the suits spreading over their evening wear. Chan grabbed Ava's wrist and made a beeline for the door of the room, but the crowd was blocking their way. He swore under his breath. Another bullet whizzed past Chan's shoulder. He ducked and felt Ava press a gun into his hand, handing it to him.

"Where did you even get this?"

"You don't want to know."

(First person, Ava's perspective)

After that, all hell broke loose. We had tipped a table over, hiding behind it. Bullets were lodging themselves in the table, splintering the wood. It wouldn't hold out for long.

"Get out of here. Get the boys out. It's me they want."

"No. I won't leave without all of my team members. Besides, we don't even know who's shooting at us."

Chan looked scared. For the first time since I met him, he looked truly terrified. It broke my heart, knowing it was my fault.

"Jeongin, can you see anything?" Chan asked, the younger boy looking at a screen.

"Nothing. They must have shut the cameras down. But I think I can get them back up and running."

"It'll take too long. This table won't last more than a minute more."

Lee Know had sweat beading beneath his hairline. I tried to think, but it was like my brain was fried. Until it hit me.

"I've got a plan."

"If it involves you getting taken or us leaving you here, remove that idea from your brain right now," Chan said sternly.

"It doesn't, but I need you all to trust me. Okay? On three, we all start shooting at them. I'll explain the rest as we go on."

"I hope this works," I heard Felix breathe next to me.

"On three, okay everyone. One.... Two... Three!"

We all stood up, shooting at the opponents. As the boys kept shooting, I snuck away from them, trying to get behind the enemy without them seeing me. The boys were running out of time. I got behind enemy lines, just as the boys ran out of bullets. The enemy hadn't seen me yet, but I sure saw them. And my blood boiled in my veins. It was my commander, standing side by side with federal agents. This was all a ploy to get us killed. Not just me, but the boys too.

I jumped out from where I was hiding. I shot two agents in the head before they realised what had happened. Then another agent came at me. He leapt at me, but I dodged. I kicked him in the neck, knocking his wind out. Then I stepped on his chest, trying to keep him down. The next agent came for me. And another. And another. Something wet was dripping down my face. I couldn't tell if it was blood or sweat. I had somehow managed to kick off my shoes, making it slightly easier. The boys had joined in. We were disarming agents left and right. Finally, I got to the man I had wanted to take down for good.

"Agent Noyes. Nice fighting. Let's see if you can keep it up."

I waited for him to attack. He leapt and I dodged, punching him. He grabbed my leg, but I wiggled free, kicking him in the nose. He tried to get up, but I knocked him down and pressed my foot to his neck.

"Any last words?"

"Actually, yes," he choked out.

"And what is that?"

"Good luck."

He raised his arm over his head, a gun in his hand I hadn't noticed was there. He aimed it directly at Han's chest. My eyes went wide as the sound of a gunshot rang out through the room. It was as if everything was in slow motion. The bullet hitting Han. Him collapsing to the ground. I jumped over bodies to get to him, landing on my knees next to him. I took his hand, squeezing. His breathing was ragged and uneven.

"Hold on, Han. We'll get help."

I could hear Chan calling an ambulance behind me. Lee Know knelt down on Han's other side, taking his free hand. I quickly grasped Han's wrist, switching off the bulletproof suit. I gently pushed up his shirt, wanting to check the damage. Just below his ribs on the right side, a huge blue bruise was growing. I felt as if my heart was ripped in two. My eyes snapped up as Han started gasping for air. Not a second later, paramedics came bursting through the doors. I helped them get him onto the stretcher. As they rushed him away, I tried to follow, but Lee Know grabbed my elbow. He pulled me into his chest, rubbing away the tears on my cheeks that I didn't even feel before. He rested his chin on my head, not letting me go.

The worst thing was that I couldn't even get myself to cry. I had witnessed my teammate get shot and yet I didn't feel sad. I just felt like I was disconnected from my body. I was completely numb.