5pm. The golden rays of the sunset shine through the window. Under the crystal Chandelier, two men are sitting at a dining table. One on each end. They are having dinner.
“What are your plans?” asks Jackson.
Jungkook glances at him : “What do you think of Russia?”
Jackson smiles : “I like it. The heaven for drugs and weapons. Let’s go to Russia together.”
It’s decided. They raise their glass.
“To Russia.”
“To Russia.”
They have just finished their entree of smoked salmon. The servants dish up their main course. Jackson adjusts his napkin and watches Jungkook’s reaction.
A plate with a medium cooked steak appears before Jungkook.
Jungkook flashes a sarcastic smile, then he leisurely picks up his knife and fork. As he cuts the steak into small pieces, the juice flowed out from the steak shows streaks of blood. He picks up a small piece with his fork and puts it in his mouth.
Jackson looks with approval.
Soon, Jungkook has finished his beef. Salad and dessert is served next.
Jackson stands up. He walks over to Jungkook : “I’ve had enough to eat. Please excuse me. I will give you a tour of the mansion tonight. When you finish your meal, one of the servants will show you to your room.”
Jungkook is about to put a slice of cake into his mouth. He does not even look at Jackson : “Ok.”
As Jackson is about to leave, suddenly, he notices from the corners of his eyes, that a force is coming at him. He tries to defend but it’s too late. There is something poking his throat. Jungkook has grabbed Jackson by his collar with one hand. And he is holding a fork by Jackson’s throat with his other hand.
Their eyes meet. Jungkook is not smiling. He has a look of disgust on his face.
A few minutes later.
“No more pathetic tests.” Jungkook lets go of him. He sits down and says : “My patience is running out.”
Jackson’s throat is a little red and painful from the poke. But he is not angry. He laughs : “Ok. Ok. I am not trying to test you. I just want to see you eat some red meat.”
Jungkook pays no heed to his words.
Jackson waves his hand. A few red laser dots on Jungkook’s body disappears. The snipers who are pointing their guns at Jungkook relaxes.
——————-
Night. In Lucas’s hospital room.
It’s almost midnight. But nobody intends to go to bed any time soon. All the IT specialists are sitting at their desk. The FBI agents and a rep from the army are gathered around a map, discussing the plan of attack.
Jimin is still very weak. His doctor orders him to get some rest. He has no choice but be wheel-chaired back to his room. But Lisa wants to keep up with the latest progress. She insists to stay on. But she is tired too. Soon she doses off in her chair. But after a short rest, she wakes up and immediately checks the screen. It’s a view of a ceiling in a dark room.
It is Jungkook’s bedroom. He is lying in bed, wide awake. They can hear his breathing. Every now and then, he turns his body, or sits up to drink some water.
After dinner, Jackson showed him around the estate. He invited Jungkook to his underground cellar to view some of his prized booties/body parts taken from his victims. He also showed him some people that he’s kidnapped and kept in cells. Jungkook did a quick count. There were more than ten people imprisoned, including Jisoo’s fiancé, Jin. He looked pale and terrified. He had lost a lot of weight since Jungkook last saw him. He was surprised to see Jungkook there. But he was too afraid to ask any questions.
Jackson said : “We’ll have some fun tomorrow.”
Jungkook smiled: “Sure.”
It was a ‘pleasant’ conversation. They didn’t say very much, but they seemed to understand what’s in each other’s minds. When they reached Jungkook's bedroom, Jackson made sure he was happy with the room before he said goodnight and left.
And Jungkook remained calm at all times. He took a shower, then got changed and lie down on the bed.
He has a little microphone in his ear, which means he can hear what’s going on in Lucas’s room. But he can’t speak. Because he is sure the room is wired.
Although Lisa can’t see Jungkook, she can see what he is seeing. Her heart follows his every move. She is concerned for his safety. Even though the army and the FBIs have surrounded the estate, it only takes a few seconds for Jackson to kill him if he wants to.
One of the FBI agent in Lucas’s room walks over to Lisa. He is in charge of ground operation for this case, a Caucasian in his forties.
Lisa smiles at him. He looks like a considerate and sincere man: “Lily, we commend you for your bravery and wisdom. How are you feeling?”
Lisa smiles : “I am fine. Thank you. I want to thank you too. It’s a risky plan and the FBI has put a lot of effort into this operation.”
In fact, so many people are involved in this operation - the media, FBI, the army, Maryland University criminal psychologist… Everyone is cooperating with Jungkook in setting up this trap for Jackson. This is why Lisa almost believed the existence of Jungkook’s split personality. This lie is too grand. It’s so ‘ridiculous’ that it’s hard not to believe.
The FBI agent laughs, He says seriously : “Justin has given a lot for our country. We have great respect for him. And Jackson is a cunning and cruel criminal. We cannot afford to let him slip. Therefore, we have no reason to refuse Professor Jeon’s requests.”
————-
A few hours later, Lucas comes to her.
This genius hasn’t slept for days. He looks tired. He quietly walks up to her, and takes a seat beside her. He puts something on the table that looks like a walkie talkie.
“He can hear you if you speak into this. Just press the red button when you speak.” Then he leaves and walks back to his seat.
Lisa looks appreciatively at Lucas. She picks up the device.
“Hi, Jungkook.” She speaks with a soft low voice.
Everyone in the room can hear their conversation. They all smile. Some of them turn around and look at her.
Lisa is not paying any attention to the rest of the people in the room. She is just staring at the screen. About one second later, Jungkook lifts his hand and touches his nose.
It’s a sign he’s heard her.
She feels both happy and sad at the same time. But more than that, she really misses him. A feeling that words alone cannot convey. She pauses for a while, then all she can say is a simple phrase of encouragement : “You can do it. I believe in you.”
Everything has come to a stand still. No one says a word.
After a while, Jungkook gets out of bed and switches on the light. He walks to the bathroom.
He stands in front of the mirror, and stare at his own image…
… to stare at her.
He wants her to see him.
Lisa looks at his handsome face. Then he bends down, splashes some water over his face and dries it with a towel. Then he looks into the mirror again, and gives a faint smile.
——————-
After their ‘greeting’, Lisa relaxed a bit. An FBI agent escorted her back to her room to rest. She asked the nurse to wake her up in a few hours. But when the time came, Jimin told the nurse it’s not necessary, that Lisa needed the rest.
If Jungkook was there, that’ what he will do! Rest well, Lisa. When you wake up, he will be back.
——————
In the control room.
They are ready for action. All the agents, officers and Lucas etc are doing their final briefing.
“5:20am.” says the agent. “Justin, in fifteen minutes, we will start our attack. The helicopter will come and bring you out.”
Jungkook is awake. He stands on the balcony, looking out to the surrounding woods and forests. He uses his finger to tap the marble table top his hand is resting on.
He’s survived the night. He looks at his watch: 5:26am. He walks back into the room and takes a sip of water.
“Knock… knock…” A strong tap on the door.
Everyone in the control room tenses up. They don’t expect Jackson to wake up so early in the morning.
Someone suggests : “Perhaps we should start our attack sooner.”
The chief in command keeps silent.
Jungkook opens the door. Jackson is standing outside his room in a white track suit. He leans against the wall and smiles at him : “Early bird catches the worm. I am about to go for my morning exercise. I’m sure you will be interested.”
Jungkook smiles.
———————
They are on the roof of the mansion. It’s an observation deck.
Standing on the deck, Jungkook has an unbroken 360 degrees view of an entire surrounding area - the meadows, the gentle slopes of the nearby hills, the forests… There are two sniper rifles strapped on the edge of a corner on the observation deck.
Jackson’s five body guards are standing not too far away from them, at a distance of around fifteen metres. Jackson picks up one of the rifles, he aims it to the ground, then turns his head towards Jungkook : “L115A3. It’s my favourite.”
Jungkook takes up the other rifle. He looks through the scope and says to Jackson : “Yes, it’s my favourite rifle too.” He glances at his watch. 5:32am. Two more minutes till the attack.
…….
The chief in command asks Lucas : “Have we penetrated his security system yet?”
Lucas smiles and adjusts his glasses : “Yes, of course.”
“Ok.” Chef in command orders : “No change to the original plan. We will attack in two minutes. Hunter no.1 Fighter Jet will assist Justin.”
………
Jungkook hears everything that’s said in Lucas’s room. But there is no change whatsoever in his facial expressions. He aims at a patch of grass. Suddenly he remembers Lisa.
Soon. My lady.
I will be back by your side.
“Choose your target.” He hears Jackson’s voice. He takes his eyes away from the scope and looks towards the ground. Jackson has ‘released’ his prisoners. From a distance, they look like ants crawling around.
Obviously, Jackson wants to use them as living targets. It’s a hunting game, using humans as their preys. From Jackson’s expression, Jungkook knows it’s not the first time he has played this game.
Jungkook looks at the ragged prisoners, he curls the edge of his lips : “Oh…. it’s too easy.”
Jackson’s face glows with joy.
Then they hear a few gun shots, and the laughter of a few man from somewhere that’s below the observation deck. Then all the prisoners panics and starts running.
“Is this… more fun?” Jackson asks.
Jungkook looks at him : “Well, I’ll give it a try. If you don’t mind, I would like to make the first shot.”
“Be my guest.”
Jungkook bends down. His eyes look through the scope once again. At the same time, he quickly glances at his watch.
Ten seconds to go.
Since Lucas has penetrated Jackson’s security system, the army is already hiding within the grounds of the estate,
He counts in his mind : “10, 9 , 8 …. 3, 2, 1!”
Engine sound.
The engine sound becomes louder and louder. Then they hear the sound and feel the movement of a whistling wind beneath them. In a spit second, Jungkook turns towards Jackson and points his rifle in front of Jackson’s heart.
But once Jackson heard the whistling wind, he instinctually draws out a gun and points it at Jungkook.
Their eyes meet. In close range. Two men, Two guns.
Jungkook’s gun is pointing at Jackson’s heart. And Jackson’s gun is pointing at Jungkook’s forehead. Jackson’s body guards were initially shocked by what’s happened. Then they quickly point their guns at Jungkook. One of them shouts at Jungkook : “Drop your gun.”
Then they heard some gun shots on ground level.
Jungkook looks coldly at Jackson. Jackson’s mouth curves into an ironic smile. Suddenly, he realises things are not quite going his way anymore.
“Oh shit!” He mutters.
Then Jungkook hears a voice speak to him from the control room : “ Justin, get down!”
He ducks down immediately. At the same time, Jackson pulls his trigger. The bullet misses Jungkook’s throat by centimetres. A helicopter hovers above them. There is a row of machine guns attached to it. The pilot fires at all those who are standing on the observation deck.
Smoke is everywhere. The body guards are shot. They fall onto the ground. Jackson sensed something was wrong so he followed Jungkook’s lead to duck down, but he was still a fraction too slow. His right leg is shot. Blood gushes out of the wound.
Jungkook wastes no time. He tries to shoot Jackson!
But Jackson is well trained. He manages to hide behind a table that is turned sideways. He tries to make his way to the stairs. If he can get downstairs quickly, he can run to the lift that takes him to his room, where there is a secret tunnel that he can use to escape.
Yet, he is not fast enough. A second helicopter comes up from behind. Another row of machine guns are pointing straight at him. At the same time, a few soldiers from the army have come up to the observation deck and surrounds him.
Jungkook stands up. He shakes off the dusk on his clothes. He looks at Jackson.
There is no way he can escape now.
Jackson’s face is pale. But he also looks relaxed.
“Put down your gun. Kneel down.” says one of the FBI agents.
He throws his gun away and reaches both hands to touch the back of his head. But he didn’t kneel down like the agent asked him to. Instead, he turns around and faces Jungkook.
He starts to laugh.
“Justin. Justin, Justin - You don’t understand, do you? You give yourself to save these foolish and mediocre people. But do they understand you? You choose a lonely path, and a foolish way to live.”
He is slowly stepping backwards, closer and closer to the edge of the deck. One of the agents asks Jungkook if they should shoot Jackson. Jungkook slowly shakes his head.
“Justin. I will die here today. But in the same way, your life also ends here.” He seems to have resumed his usual composure : “You didn’t win. We will meet again in hell… my Jungkook.”
He then jumps off the edge. Everyone runs towards the edge. They see a body falling in mid air, like a rock sinking to the bottom of the ocean, like a leaf flowing through the air towards the ground…
“Pang..” Suddenly, there is a huge explosion. His body becomes a fireball. Then all they see are ashes flying in the air and dripping like rain onto the ground.
No one speaks.
Jackson strapped a bomb to his body. Like Jungkook said before, he will not allow himself to be captured. Before his death, he turned himself into a ball of ash.
The officers and agents behind him continue with their rescue plan. The morning sun is shining. There is a golden glow over the estate. Jungkook looks around. The agents have reached the victims and are helping them to the ambulances.
He turns around, and boards the helicopter that is waiting to bring him to the hospital, where Lisa is waiting.