The cold, sterile air of the safe house pressed down like a physical weight, thick with unspoken tension and simmering emotions.

Karina's footsteps echoed sharply against the concrete floor as she suddenly stopped, her rigid posture betraying the storm of emotions raging beneath her blank, composed expression.

Without turning, she spoke, her voice low and sharp, each word precise and cutting. "Yuna. Follow me."

Yuna stiffened, her body reacting to the sudden command, but quickly caught up, falling into step beside Karina, her movements careful and deliberate.

"Are you going to keep disobeying my orders?" Karina's words sliced through the air like glass, the question a sharp accusation disguised as a statement.

Yuna didn't hesitate, her answer immediate and unwavering. "No, Lieutenant." Her voice was firm, her tone filled with a loyalty that tried to bury the lingering guilt and self-reproach that plagued her.

Karina gave a curt nod, her face unreadable, her gaze fixed on some distant point, her thoughts clearly focused on the task ahead. "We're going. With or without Yeji's squad."

Yuna's eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across her face, but she masked it with practiced ease, nodding in quiet agreement. There was no room for questions now, no time for doubt, only the certainty of action.

They moved with a swift, purposeful efficiency, gathering weapons and supplies, their movements coordinated and practiced. The faint sounds of equipment clattering against metal stirred Ningning, who was seated nearby, her arm wrapped in fresh bandages, her expression a mix of concern and worry.

"Where are you going?" Ningning's voice was strained, the question laced with a palpable concern for her teammates.

Karina's sharp gaze cut to her, cold and final, her face revealing none of the turmoil raging inside her. "Stay here. Heal. That's an order."

Ningning clenched her jaw, her lips pressing into a thin, defiant line, but she didn't argue, her understanding of Karina's unwavering resolve all too clear. She knew better than to challenge a command when Karina was in this state.

Just as Karina was about to step out, her movements fluid and purposeful, Yeji's voice sliced through the tension, her words laced with a barely contained frustration.

"You can't go. This is suicide, Yu."

Karina didn't break stride, didn't even acknowledge her presence, her focus fixed on the mission, her movements sharp and resolute, until Yeji's hand shot out, gripping her arm tightly, her grip unyielding, her gaze determined.

Karina's head snapped around, her eyes dark and dangerous, a warning flicker of anger igniting in her gaze, the tension between them reaching a boiling point. "Let go unless you want to fight."

Yeji's grip tightened, her fingers digging into Karina's flesh, her gaze unwavering. "You can't. This isn't just about you. It's an order."

Karina's fist clenched, her breath sharp and shallow, the line between reason and reckless rage growing thinner with every passing second, her control threatening to shatter completely.

Before either could make a move, their bodies poised for a confrontation, another voice cut through the brewing storm, her presence a stark contrast to the tension in the room.

"Enough."

Giselle had arrived, her sudden presence a jarring interruption to the volatile atmosphere. She moved swiftly, wrapping her arms around Karina from behind in an unexpected gesture-not one of aggression, but of gentle restraint, her actions grounding, her touch a calming presence in the chaos.

She leaned in, her voice a soft whisper against Karina's ear, her words a gentle balm to her raging emotions. "Calm down. It's okay."

Karina struggled against her hold, her body trembling with restrained fury, her muscles coiled tight with tension, her will warring against the unexpected touch. But Giselle didn't let go, her embrace firm but comforting, a safe haven in the turmoil.

"I know where Winter is."

Karina froze, her body suddenly still, her muscles relaxing, her mind grappling with the sudden shift in information.

The words were like a needle to her heart, sharp enough to pierce through the fog of rage, a sudden, piercing truth that cut through her turbulent emotions. She twisted slightly, her eyes narrowing, her focus sharp and precise, her senses on high alert. "What?"

Yeji's interest was immediately piqued, her grip loosening but her guard still up, her gaze fixed on Giselle, her skepticism palpable.

Giselle released Karina slowly, stepping around to face them both, her eyes sharp and focused, her tone calm and measured, her posture radiating authority. "She's alive. One of my contacts confirmed it. She's being held underground, in one of the buildings."

Karina's chest rose and fell heavily, her mind racing, her thoughts processing the new information, the hope and fear mingling with her resolve, her renewed focus burning with an intense fire. She glanced at Yeji, their earlier conflict momentarily suspended-for now, at least.

Karina continued, her gaze intense, her words precise and unwavering. "I'm coming with Yuna. I'll give you the intel on-site."

Yeji scoffed, her arms crossing over her chest, her skepticism evident. "Karina, this makes no sense. You're acting reckless."

Karina stood her ground, saying nothing, her silence more deafening than any words, her gaze fixed on the task ahead, her resolve unyielding, her emotions carefully contained beneath a layer of cold, determined resolve.

Yeji's frustration grew, her jaw tightening, her patience wearing thin. But before she could push further, before their conflict could erupt once again, Giselle finally gave in, her voice now sharp and direct. "It's under the Mart. Hidden underground. There's a back entrance-we can get in without drawing attention."

The words acted like a switch, shifting the focus from their conflict to the mission at hand. Karina and Yuna moved without hesitation, determination carved into their faces, their actions precise and efficient.

Outside, Lia, Chaeryeong, and Ryujin were already waiting near the vehicles, a mixture of confusion and apprehension flickering across their faces as they saw Karina and Yuna emerging with Yeji, the team now fractured by the tension and the unspoken conflict.

"What's going on?" Ryujin asked, her hand resting casually on her holster, her gaze sharp and assessing, her senses on high alert.

Yeji didn't waste time explaining, her expression grim, her words brief and to the point. She simply pointed ahead, her command clear and precise. "Start the engine. We're moving out."

The engines roared to life, drowning out the unspoken words, the unanswered questions, the lingering doubts, the internal conflicts that threatened to pull them apart.

All that remained was the mission-and the fragile thread holding them together, a thin line between order and chaos.

_

The door creaked open again, metal scraping against metal, echoing off the cold concrete walls, the sound a violent intrusion that set Winter's nerves on edge. Her breath hitched involuntarily, her body tensing against the ropes that burned into her skin, her senses on high alert.

Arrow stepped in first, his presence as suffocating as before-but this time, he wasn't alone, his power diminished by the arrival of a new, more formidable threat.

A woman followed, her heels clicking sharply against the floor, each step deliberate and controlled, her movements radiating an unsettling confidence. She was dressed in a tailored, jet-black suit that clung to her like armor, every edge sharp, every detail screaming authority.

Her hair was sleek, her makeup pristine, her entire appearance an embodiment of calculated power. But it was her eyes-wild, predatory, with a glint of madness lurking just beneath the polished surface-that made Winter's heart race, her instincts screaming in warning.

Not like Giselle. Giselle knew how to wield power with grace, her influence subtle, her authority effortless. This woman? She wore insanity like a second skin, her presence volatile, her every move unpredictable.

Without hesitation, the woman strode forward, her movements swift and purposeful, and grabbed Winter's face, her fingers digging into bruises and split skin with a cruel precision, her touch a deliberate act of violation. Winter hissed, her jaw tightening as pain surged through her skull, her body reacting instinctively to the intrusion.

The woman tilted Winter's head from side to side, inspecting the damage like she was examining a cracked vase at an auction, her gaze cold and clinical, her actions calculated and precise. Then she clicked her tongue, mock sympathy dripping from her lips, her expression one of feigned concern. "Tsk, tsk... Arrow, darling, what have you done to this poor woman?"

Arrow merely shrugged, his ego bolstered by the woman's arrival, a lazy smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, his eyes meeting Winter's with a twisted sense of anticipation.

The woman's false pity evaporated in an instant, her expression shifting from mock concern to cold, calculating cruelty. Her fist-adorned with rings like jagged little knives-slammed into Winter's stomach, her actions swift and brutal, the violence a deliberate act of dominance.

White-hot pain exploded through Winter's core, the force of the blow sending shockwaves through her body. Winter gasped, the air ripped from her lungs, a strangled cry escaping her throat as she doubled over, restrained by the unforgiving bindings. The metallic taste of blood crept into her mouth, the pain a stark reminder of her vulnerability.

The woman leaned in, her breath warm against Winter's ear, sickly sweet with the faint trace of expensive perfume, her voice a low, haunting whisper.

"Poor girl," she whispered softly, almost tenderly, her words a strange mix of cruelty and feigned concern. "I almost feel bad for you."

Winter's fists clenched above her head, her nails digging into her palms, grounding herself against the wave of pain and the growing sense of dread, her inner strength refusing to yield to the darkness.

The woman straightened, brushing invisible dust from her sleeves, her actions meticulous and deliberate, her performance designed to intimidate.

"It doesn't have to be this way, you know." Her voice shifted, smooth and persuasive, dripping with false kindness, her tone a calculated blend of manipulation and cruelty. "Just tell me who sent you. I'll even be generous-I'll let you go after I eliminate your boss. Sounds fair, doesn't it?"

Winter's gaze remained locked on the woman, cold and unyielding, her silence her armor, her defiance her strength, her gaze unwavering, her resolve unbreakable.

The woman's smile faltered, her carefully constructed facade cracking to reveal a flicker of irritation, her annoyance barely concealed. She scoffed, standing tall, her eyes narrowing with disdain, her power seemingly amplified by the presence of her captive.

"Do you really think this is the worst that can happen?" She shot a disgusted glance toward Arrow, her contempt for his methods palpable, as if his brutality was beneath her, her actions designed to solidify her position as the more formidable threat. "I can make you beg for death, you know. You're not that special. No one will care if I kill you right here, right now."

Winter's jaw tightened, but she refused to flinch, refused to give the woman the satisfaction of seeing her fear. Her silence was her defiance, her unwavering gaze a challenge that dared the woman to try and break her.

The woman exhaled sharply, her patience wearing thin, her control slipping as her frustration grew. She stood, dusting off her immaculate suit, her movements precise and deliberate, then gave a curt nod, her decision final and unyielding. "Fine."

She turned to Arrow, whose smirk had only grown wider during the entire exchange, his eyes meeting Winter's, his gaze dark, predatory, filled with something twisted and unsettling.

Her heart pounded against her ribs, not from fear, but from the rush of adrenaline, from the rage simmering beneath the surface, her instincts screaming for her to fight, her will refusing to be broken.

Arrow stepped forward, his movements slow and deliberate, savoring every inch that closed the distance between them, his smile never wavering, his presence a dark and menacing threat.