Season two, chapter sixty-nine

"Bound by duty"

IT HAS BEEN STATED by an individual in the past that the existence of bad individuals is enduring, thereby implying that their negative disposition remains unchanged. Their resurgence is inevitable, even in the face of repeated eradication. The existence of malevolence in our world is perpetual; there will always be individuals who derive satisfaction from observing others endure hardship, with others benefiting from this suffering. Consequently, the utmost priority becomes safeguarding the vulnerable for as long as possible.

Individuals who hold positions of greater influence, occupying the upper echelons of society in terms of their wealth, perpetually exhibit a tendency to marginalize those who are less fortunate, exerting an even greater control over individuals who possess little to nothing, or who struggle to meet their basic sustenance needs. This state of affairs is highly improbable to witness any substantial alteration and shall endure indefinitely.

There will perpetually exist individuals of even greater abhorrence than the epitome of evil itself due to inherent characteristics. Equally, one ponders over the presence of such malevolent beings in this realm. How is it possible for there to be individuals utterly lacking in empathy towards their fellow human beings? Nonetheless, for the purpose of reshaping the world, it is imperative that these nefarious individuals, who are ubiquitous, undergo a transformative journey, albeit a feat that seems unattainable.

"Lee Chung-Jae. Are you saying he's alive?" Jangmul inquired with evident surprise in his vocal inflection, pointing towards the image of the man on the transparent board

"Yes, it was him" Thea acknowledged with a nod, elevating herself from her chair and commencing the action of extracting the adhesive note containing the term 'dead' from the picture documenting the individual believed to have passed away "Lee Chung-Jae"

"His body was found inside a burnt vehicle" Mo-tak addressed this matter with utmost gravity, seemingly unable to fully comprehend the information he was hearing, yet recognizing its logical coherence "They must've failed to identify him properly due to the burns or the autopsy report could've been forged"

"I see. He faked his own death all along" Jangmul acknowledged with a frustrated click of his tongue "That filthy bastard. He did all that just for the money"

"He wanted to stay under the radar and steal the cash after it was laundered" Mo-tak slammed his fist on the table in frustration "He probably didn't know that Mr. Hwang would interfere" He pointed to the aforementioned sketch affixed to the transparent board "But in the end, Lee Chung-Jae took the money"

"He acts as if the money belongs to him" Hana displayed a subtle smirk, accompanied by a sarcastic tone, as she intricately laced her fingers together on the table, revealing her clear dissatisfaction

"Hundreds lost their entire savings. Dozens committed suicide. Then, there are the family members and acquaintances" Mo-tak cautiously elucidated, his voice laden with hatred "The number of victims in this case... damn it. He's no different from the evil spirits. They're all scumbags"

"In any case, he tried to deceive the evil spirits. He'll be dead meat if they find out. So we need to hurry and—" Jangmul swiftly pointed out, his forehead creasing in the process

"No. They already know that he's alive" Thea disclosed, interrupting and recollecting what she had seen in Jae-youl's memories "They read the money launderer's mind before he died and are looking for Lee Chung-Jae now"

"We need to find him before they do" Mo-tak exclaimed, letting out a long, weary sigh "First, we should look into number 37, Lim Jae-youl. He was told to remove his tattoo and wait. It means they'll meet again. Right, Ms. Chu?" He turned to look at his superior, yet she remained silent, her gaze seemingly fixated on a distant point "Ms. Chu? Ms. Chu!"

"Yes?" Ms. Chu responded once she emerged from her contemplations, which undeniably puzzled the team, as she was not easily prone to distractions, suggesting that something was certainly occupying her mind

"It's unlike you to be distracted" Mo-tak expressed his curiosity about why Ms. Chu seemed so distracted, as she usually paid great attention to the ongoing discussions

"We should get going. Mun and Jeok-bong must be waiting at the treatment facility" Ms. Chu exclaimed as she retrieved her coat from behind the chair where she had been seated, effectively shifting the conversation topic

"I'm meeting Mun back at the hospital. Mr. Ma's mother will be discharged today" Thea announced, gently picking up her black coat from the table and observing Ms. Chu's peculiar demeanor with a focused gaze, as if attempting to unravel something about her

"All right. Take her home safely" Jangmul nodded in her direction "I should see how the new hospital word is doing" He uttered, rising from his seat as Thea made her way towards the exit of the company

Thea observed with a sense of relief as Mr. Ma's mother was carefully transported into the awaiting ambulance. Despite her continued unconscious state, her overall condition had markedly improved, allowing for her safe return home accompanied by diligent medical supervision. This outcome effectively mitigated any concerns or apprehensions that may have arisen.

"We should go too" Thea exclaimed, her petite smile on display as she adjusted her earpiece before gracefully pivoting on her heels

"About Lee Chung-Jae... he's our chance, right?" Mun questioned, halting Thea in her tracks with the weight of his grave tone "He's the only one who can tell us who Mr. Hwang is. He must know what a heinous man Hwang Pil-gwang is. If we can catch Lee Chung-jae..."

"We can stop them from getting close to Mr. Ma"Thea nodded in acknowledgement of Mun's intent "We must find Mr. Ma at all costs before the evil spirit within him grows stronger. Let's save him at all costs" she gently patted his shoulder with a reassuring smile

"Okay. I will save him no matter what" Mun remarked earnestly, locking eyes with Thea. However, his gaze appeared to soften upon meeting hers, as if just simply looking at her provided him with internal tranquility

"Okay" Thea's countenance emanated a sense of affection as she delicately stroked his velvety cheek, transporting him to ethereal realms through the sheer power of her tactile gesture. With a final smile, she gracefully pivoted and advanced towards the awaiting vehicle, leaving behind a young man with an accelerated pulse and rosy complexion

The mellifluous tune resonated from the vehicle's audio system amidst the cold night that enveloped them, while serenity serenaded them. Such moments were infrequent occurrences. Thea's delicate fingers lightly tapped on the steering wheel, synchronized with the rhythmic melody, her attention fixed on the obscure path lying ahead, solely illuminated by the vehicle's surrounding lights.

Despite the prevailing atmosphere of deep silence, Mun could not resist surreptitiously stealing glimpses in Thea's direction; it was as if they had been transported to a bygone era, reigniting his affection for her. Once again, he found himself captivated by her, with the sole difference lying in the exclusive ability she held to stir such emotions within him.

Unnoticed by Thea, he cast a sweeping gaze upon her exquisite countenance, attentively noting the subtle movements of her lips as she serenely harmonized with the resonating melody emanating from the radio. The mere thought of embracing her in a kiss evoked a fluttering sensation, akin to butterflies fluttering inside his abdomen.

He swallowed hard and cleared his throat, shifting his focus towards the adjacent window. His hands clenched tightly onto the seat belt fastened from his neck to his abdomen. The sensation of limited oxygen seemed to pervade the atmosphere, as if the sole replenishment could solely be acquired through the act of kissing her.

"Hold on" Thea interjected with urgency, detecting a sudden chill coursing through her entire being, prompting her to reflexively shut her eyes and incline her head sideways. Eventually, she unveiled her eyes, exhibiting a visage of terror, leaving Mun perplexed as he witnessed Thea's knuckles ligthening due to her intense grip on the steering wheel

Thea took a moment to comprehend the sight before her, while Mun subtly leaned forward, gesturing for her to communicate any concerns.

"They stepped into the territory with Mr. Park. It's definitely a trap" Mo-tak suddenly remarked through the earpiece, seemingly acknowledging Hana's repeated success in obtaining and disclosing crucial information

"And it's not just for us. They're going to lure Mr. Ma in" Thea added, her expression serious yet her voice trembling, as she pressed a button on the back of the earbud

"We still need to go there. We need to stop Mr. Ma. We can't let them toy with him" proclaimed Mun with equal seriousness and determination, his gaze momentarily fixating upon Thea in search of affirmation

Upon reaching their destination, it became evident that they had returned to the identical dilapidated apartment complex where they had initially encountered the young boy wearing a yellow hoodie. Mun was the first to swiftly alight from the vehicle, urgently and despondently calling out for Mr. Ma. With remarkable dexterity, he effortlessly bounded up to the second level, where he discovered Mr. Ma mercilessly throttling Mr. Park without an ounce of compassion.

"Mr. Ma. This revenge is meaningless. He wasn't the one who killed Ms. Lee" Mun desperately exclaimed, accentuating his plea by placing both hands in front of himself, attempting to pacify Mr. Ma's emotions

"What?"

"It was the man who approached you" Thea began to explain, her breath interrupted as she leaned her hand against the door frame "He used Mr. Park to kill Min-ji. It was Mr. Hwang's doing" Thea disclosed, taking small, deliberate steps towards him

"They're lying! It's nonsense!" The malevolent spirit within Mr. Ma exclaimed, its voice characterized by hoarseness "They're just lying to try to stop you" Thea expressed her concerns by shaking her head, nibbling on her lower lip

"Please trust us. The evil spirit inside you is manipulating you" Mun persistently tried to reason with Mr. Ma "We just need to get rid of it. Then—"

"Nonsense! He's telling you to give up on your revenge. Ma Ju-seok, this is your final chance" swiftly interjected the wicked spirit, deftly exerting influence over Mr. Ma "Final!"

"You have to trust us" Mun pleaded desperately in his voice, urging with his gaze for him to finally cease and trust in their abilities

"Please don't kill me" Mr. Park pleaded with difficulty, resulting in his voice being distorted, as he implored "Please don't kill me"

"Min-ji said the same thing" Mr. Ma exclaimed, turning his head macabrely towards him as he tightened his grip firmly on Mr. Park's neck "She begged him not to kill her"

"Mr. Ma" Mun shook his head, a faint voice escaping his lips as his desperate gaze remained fixed upon Mr. Ma

"And yet, you dare to get in my way just to save this worthless bastard?" His icy malevolent gaze first settled upon Thea and then onto Mun "My revenge is meaningless? Then, what's the meaning of sparing his life? What do I get out of forgiving Min-ji and Treasure's murder!?"

"Mr. Ma!" Both of them raised their voices in surprise as Mr. Ma forcefully turned Mr. Park's neck, both not really expecting Mr. Ma to send them flying with a huge burst of his psychokinesis

Thea's spine contorted in an unnatural manner upon colliding with the wall, while a foreign entity effortlessly penetrated her stomach, causing her to expel blood almost instantly. Gradually, she tilted her head downwards, aware of the piercing sensation of the sharp iron breaking through her abdomen.

"Thea..." Mun murmured with a horrified expression, his words resonating on the stunned ground "Mr. Ma..." Thea's fearful gaze fixated upon the man crouched before the lifeless body of Mr. Park

"No" Thea cried with considerable effort, as though enduring a myriad of agonizing stings upon her flesh, while grappling to articulate her words. Feebly, she tightly clung onto the metal rod that impaled her abdomen, as Mr. Ma commenced the absorption of Mr. Park's essence. A transformation occurred in his eyes, assuming a deep crimson hue, while dark veins materialized on his neck, and a resounding scream escaped his lips, reaching extraordinary decibels"The evil spirit has become more powerful. We need to catch him. We must..." Thea concluded her oration as she experienced respiratory distress caused by insufficient oxygen in her pulmonary system

"Mr. Ma..." Mun gasped in disbelief, grappling with the realization that the individual he held in high regard had just engaged in the act of homicide

"I warned you not to get in my way. I told you it was my final warning" Mr. Ma spoke solemnly, directing his unwavering gaze towards Mun with an air of detachment

"I begged you. I begged you to stop" Mun rose from the ground with a serious expression on his face "I begged and begged. But now, you've left me with no choice!" Consequently, they engaged in combat, and moments later, Mun successfully propelled Mr. Ma out of the building, subsequently proceeding to pursue him, leaving Thea behind alone within the empty apartment

Thea let out a deep sigh, pressing her head against the wall behind her, deep in thoughtful consideration on how to delicately handle the task of extracting the metal rod that had penetrated her abdomen. Every slight movement inflicted unbearable agony upon her, yet she felt a responsibility to aid Mun. Gathering her fortitude, she propelled herself forward with nimbleness.

She emitted an expression of anguish, feeling the unsettling movement of her internal organs. Thea crumbled onto the floor, debilitated, yet she experienced a sense of relief upon extracting the metallic object from her stomach. Struggling, she hoisted herself up from the ground, clenching her lower lip in pain as she applied pressure to the wound in her abdominal region to halt the flow of blood. Despite the apparent misfortune that accompanied her, as she endeavored to pass through the doorway, Gelly swiftly obstructed her path, fleetingly fixating her gaze on the blood trickling from Thea's stomach. With a derisive smile, Gelly effortlessly delivered a forceful kick, propelling Thea along the ground.

"Come on. You're boring me. Huh?" Gelly cunningly delivered a formidable blow to her visage as Thea made an attempt to stand, subsequently leaving her perched precariously on the brink of the structure. This act provided Gelly with great entertainment before she leaned down and forcefully drove her spiked gloves into Thea's throat "Don't worry. I'll take your eyes"

Thea tilted her head to one side, feeling the blood trickling down her neck "It's you..." she said with difficulty, weakly gripping Gelly's hand that was on her neck "...who should worry. I'm not alone, unlike you"

The sight of the newly arrived car's headlights temporarily obscured the vision of the white-haired woman, resulting in her tightly locking her teeth together in annoyance.

"Damn it!" Gelly discreetly uttered as she forcefully thrust the pointed tips of her gloves into Thea's neck, resulting in a resounding shriek of agony escaping her due to the intense torment emanating from her throat

"Thea!" They exclaimed in unison as they hastily disembarked from the vehicle, their faces contorted with expressions of sheer terror

"Thea!" Mun exclaimed, upon swiftly perceiving her anguished exclamation, which caused his heart to momentarily drop, he instinctively raised his hand aloft, employing his psychokinetic abilities to instantaneously disentangle Gelly from Thea, exhibiting not a trace of hesitation

Thea released a prolonged exhalation of reassurance, sensing the weight of her drooping eyelids and impaired vision, with just a faint perception of Gelly's erratic movements on the ground, hastily striving to depart from the deserted dwelling. The discomfort in her abdomen and neck had dulled her physical senses, engendering a profound drowsiness that compelled her to shut her eyes. As an intense luminous glow inundated her field of view, an outline materialized, briefly capturing her attention before darkness enveloped her entire existence.

"Thea!" he emitted a piercing cry while tenderly embracing his unconscious partner, his hands inadvertently smeared with blood resembling an artist's palette. His respiration accelerated and his cardiac rhythm surged to an extent where tears welled up in his eyes, as his quivering hands desperately endeavored to cease the hemorrhage emanating from Thea's neck and abdomen, diminishing her lip color with every fleeting moment.

She couldn't die, she had made a solemn commitment to stand by his side indefinitely. Would it be possible for her to disregard or invalidate that pledge?

She possessed no ability to depart abruptly.

He had no intention of permitting it.

As his tear-filled eyes met the unwavering gazes of his fellow teammates, who stood motionless, they beheld a poignant sight. With hands trembling, he clutched Thea's unconscious form against his chest, seeking solace in the belief that it could somehow diminish the overwhelming anguish that consumed his soul.

Author's note;

I visualized the scene resembling the photos I displayed in the banner initially; it affected me deeply, evoking sentimental emotions that I could not suppress 😭 Similarly, I offer my apologies for the delay. However, for those who have not read the updated story description, I will be posting new content every Wednesday, at the latest by Thursdays 👼

Question of the day: Have you ever become so attached to someone that you cannot let them go thereafter? 😃

I have had this experience with fictional characters; some may consider me crazy, but I do not regret it. ✨I will see you in the next chapter! 🌷