Kill Me When You Can

13. The Point of No Return

The warehouse smelled of rust and rain.

Somewhere in the distance, a neon sign buzzed, its flickering light casting broken shadows through the cracked windows.

Minjeong stood near the entrance, gun in hand. She had followed Aeri's trail with practiced ease, the way a predator follows wounded prey.

But Aeri wasn't wounded.

She was waiting.

"You took your time."

Minjeong didn't flinch at the voice. She had already spotted Aeri—perched on the edge of an old table, one leg crossed over the other, a knife twirling between her fingers.

Casual. Controlled.

But Minjeong knew better.

"You didn't run," Minjeong observed, stepping forward. "That's not like you."

Aeri smirked. "Maybe I got tired of running."

Minjeong leveled her gun. "Or maybe you wanted to see if I'd actually do it."

Aeri tilted her head. "Would you?"

The question sat between them, heavy.

Minjeong's grip tightened. "You already know the answer."

Aeri's smile didn't waver, but her eyes darkened. "Then pull the trigger."

Minjeong exhaled slowly. This was the moment. The culmination of everything.

Aeri had saved her once. Given her the means to survive when she had none. But that was a lifetime ago.

And yet—

She didn't pull the trigger.

Aeri watched her, eyes sharp. "You hesitate."

Minjeong's jaw clenched. "You wouldn't."

Aeri's smile faded. "No," she admitted. "I wouldn't."

And that's when she moved.

Fast. A blur of motion.

Minjeong barely had time to react before Aeri closed the distance, knocking the gun from her grip. The weapon clattered to the floor, but Minjeong didn't panic. She had expected this.

Aeri's knife slashed through the air—aimed for her throat.

Minjeong twisted, barely dodging, countering with a sharp kick that sent Aeri stumbling back.

No words. No hesitation.

Just the raw, brutal dance of two people who had trained their whole lives to survive.

Aeri struck first—swift, calculated. Minjeong dodged, blocked, and countered. A blade sliced through the fabric of her sleeve, warm blood trickling down her arm.

She ignored it.

Aeri wasn't fighting to escape.

She was fighting to *win.*

Minjeong didn't know what she had expected—regret? A plea? A sign that this meant something to Aeri?

But Aeri was as ruthless as ever.

And Minjeong had no choice but to match her.

They moved in tandem—strikes and dodges, fists meeting skin, the air thick with tension.

And then—

A mistake.

Aeri's foot slipped on a patch of rain-slicked concrete. Barely a second, but enough. Minjeong seized the opening.

She grabbed Aeri's wrist, twisting it sharply—forcing the knife from her grip. It clattered to the ground.

And in the same breath, Minjeong shoved her against the wall, pinning her in place.

For the first time, Aeri was breathing hard. A thin trail of blood ran from her temple, her chest rising and falling.

Minjeong reached for the gun.

She pressed the barrel to Aeri's ribs.

Silence.

Aeri exhaled, slow. "Do it."

Minjeong's finger hovered over the trigger.

She had every reason to kill her. Every order, every instinct, every rule screamed at her to finish this.

And yet—

Aeri smirked, tilting her head. "You can't, can you?"

Minjeong's hand trembled.

Aeri chuckled, something almost fond in her voice. "That's the difference between us."

Minjeong's pulse pounded in her ears.

She should do it. She had to do it.

But her grip faltered.

And in that split second—Aeri moved.

A sharp twist—breaking free from Minjeong's hold.

A gunshot echoed.

For a split second, time stopped.

Minjeong's eyes widened as she turned, the scent of gunpowder mingling with blood. Someone had been hit—but who?

The answer came in slow motion, as the body began to fall.

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A/N: who do you think got shot? 👀 

should I build suspense and not reveal it right away 🤭

you'll see in the next chapter

hope u enjoy <3

bye and stay safe lovelies~