A deafening explosion ripped through the tension in the cold, dim room, shattering the oppressive silence.

Concrete dust rained down from the ceiling, the walls trembling with the force of the blast, the very foundations of the building shuddering under the impact. Arrow's smirk vanished instantly, replaced by a look of sharp, panicked alarm as his head snapped toward the door, his eyes narrowed with a dangerous intensity.

Gunfire erupted outside, sharp, relentless bursts echoing through the underground corridors like a violent war drum, the sounds reverberating through the narrow passages with a deafening ferocity.

Arrow cursed under his breath, his composure crumbling under the weight of the sudden chaos, exchanging a sharp, frantic glance with the woman beside him, his usual arrogance replaced by a desperate edge. "Run," he barked, his voice clipped and harsh, the playful mockery gone, replaced by a sense of urgency and panic.

The woman hesitated, her jaw tightening with annoyance and defiance, her pride refusing to give in to fear. "I don't take orders from-"

"RUN!" Arrow roared, cutting her off, his voice laced with a desperate desperation, his carefully constructed veneer of control finally shattering under the pressure of the situation.

She threw a final, venomous glare at Winter, her eyes promising retribution, her words a chilling threat.

"You'll wish you died today," she hissed, then turned and sprinted toward the stairs, her heels clicking furiously against the floor, her movements frantic, her haste a testament to the danger that was now upon them.

Winter's body sagged slightly, exhaustion and blood loss pulling at her with a heavy, insistent force, her muscles screaming in protest, her vision wavering. But her heart surged with a fierce, wild hope, a surge of adrenaline overriding the pain and the exhaustion.

They're here.

Outside, chaos reigned supreme, the battle for control now unleashed.

The moment Lia's maps confirmed the underground layout, Yeji didn't waste a single second, her movements swift and decisive. She leapt from the vehicle, her gun drawn, her eyes sharp and focused, motioning for the team to advance, her command clear and precise. "MOVE!"

Ryujin hurled an explosive toward the back entrance, her actions swift and calculated.

BOOM!

Metal twisted and warped, smoke billowing outward in a thick cloud, the reinforced door blasted off its hinges with a violent force, creating an opening into the heart of the enemy's territory.

Yuna and Chaeryeong exchanged a brief nod, their eyes communicating a silent understanding, before rushing in, their movements sharp, precise, and deadly. Gunfire erupted, bullets slamming into walls, ricocheting off metal, and tearing through flesh, as they advanced, ducking behind crates, their boots pounding against the cold concrete, their actions fluid and efficient.

"SPREAD OUT!" Yeji commanded over the comms, her voice sharp and authoritative, her words cutting through the sounds of gunfire. The team split seamlessly, covering each corridor, their movements coordinated, their footsteps echoing in the maze-like structure, each member a deadly force moving with purpose.

Karina moved like a shadow, her rage simmering beneath the surface, controlled only by years of discipline and training. She kicked down doors with relentless precision, her movements fluid and efficient, her focus laser-sharp as she searched-hoping-fearing the worst.

Empty.

Empty.

No Winter.

Her heart pounded louder than the gunfire, her breath catching in her throat, her fear battling with her determination.

Ryujin and Yeji cleared another corridor, bullets flying, bodies dropping like puppets with severed strings. Yeji's expression was carved from stone, her focus razor-sharp, her actions precise, but even through her controlled exterior, she could feel it-Karina's desperation bleeding into the mission, her urgency echoing in the team's advance.

And then-

Karina found the door, her gaze fixed on the metal, her mind racing with a sudden certainty.

Something about it felt different, the metal warped in a subtle way, the silence behind it feeling heavy and oppressive. A gut feeling, a desperate hope, a terrifying fear.

Without hesitation, she slammed her shoulder against it, bursting through with violent force, her body fueled by adrenaline and a desperate longing.

There she was.

Winter.

Bruised, bloodied, bound, but alive, her spirit unbroken, her eyes defiant despite the pain.

Karina's heart clenched, her breath hitching in her throat, her body reacting instinctively, every muscle tensing with a mixture of relief and terror.

"WIN-"

Arrow stepped out of the shadows, his presence a sudden and unwelcome intrusion, his gun pressed against Winter's temple, his threat immediate and deadly. His smile was back, cruel and mocking, eyes glinting with a twisted sense of triumph, his arrogance undiminished.

"Drop it," he ordered, his voice sharp and confident, motioning with his weapon, his finger lingering dangerously on the trigger. "Or she dies."

Karina froze, her body tense, her mind racing with calculations, her eyes fixed on Winter, her senses on high alert. She saw the blood on Winter's face, the bruises marring her skin, the trembling of her body-but her eyes? Winter's eyes were still defiant, her spirit unbroken, her will refusing to yield.

Karina's jaw clenched, her hands shaking, her mind fighting a war with her heart. Slowly, deliberately, she began to lower her gun, her movements controlled, her focus unwavering-

But she didn't stop, her actions a calculated deception, her will unyielding.

In a blink, she pivoted, her body moving with the speed of a striking viper-

BANG!

BANG!

Arrow's body collapsed to the ground, his lifeless eyes still locked in that final, arrogant smirk, his demise as sudden as it was brutal. But Karina didn't even spare him a second glance, her attention fixed solely on Winter, her focus unwavering.

Her gun clattered to the floor, her actions now driven by pure instinct, the need to reach Winter overriding all else.

She was already moving, her body a blur of motion, rushing toward Winter like gravity itself had shifted, like nothing else in the world existed, her movements guided by a force that was stronger than logic or reason.

Karina dropped to her knees beside her, the cold concrete biting through her tactical pants, the chill a distant sensation compared to the burning urgency that coursed through her veins. Her breath hitched, her body trembling with a mixture of relief and fear, her gaze fixed on Winter's battered face. Winter's face was battered, her lip split, blood caking her temple, the sight a gut-wrenching reminder of the ordeal she had endured.

But her eyes-those stubborn, defiant eyes-fluttered open, locking onto Karina's, her gaze a beacon in the darkness.

A weak smile tugged at the corner of Winter's bruised mouth, her lips cracked and bleeding, her voice a mere whisper. "Took you long enough, stupid," she rasped, her voice hoarse and cracked, but her words laced with a familiar teasing tone.

Karina ignored the quip, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for the restraints, her fingers fumbling with the blood-slick ropes binding Winter's wrists above her head, her emotions raw and exposed.

"Shut up," she whispered under her breath, her voice thick with emotion, her fingers gently freeing Winter from her bonds, her touch surprisingly tender.

The rope finally gave way, and Winter slumped forward, her body weak and exhausted-

But Karina was already there, her arms a protective barrier, catching her before she could hit the ground, her movements gentle as she pulled Winter into her arms, cradling her carefully, as if she were a fragile thing that could break at any moment.

She is.

And she almost lost her.

Karina's throat tightened, her forehead resting briefly against Winter's, her touch a desperate confirmation of her warmth, her breath, her very existence.

Footsteps thundered down the hall, a sudden intrusion into their intimate moment. Yuna burst in, her gun raised, her movements sharp and wary, her expression tense, her body poised for action-

Then her face crumpled with relief, her features softening with an overwhelming wave of emotion. "Winter!" she cried, rushing over and dropping to her knees beside them, her voice filled with a mixture of relief and concern.

Winter gave a tired grin, her gaze fixed on Yuna, a small smile playing on her bruised lips. "Hey, Yuna. Miss me?"

Yuna laughed, a sound that was choked with emotion, tears welling up in her eyes as her hand brushed Winter's tangled hair, her touch gentle and reassuring. Karina didn't laugh, her focus entirely on Winter, her movements precise as she wiped the blood from Winter's face with shaking hands, inspecting every bruise, every cut, every mark of the ordeal she had endured.

"We need to move," Yeji's voice snapped from the doorway, her tone sharp and commanding, but her eyes softening slightly as she saw Winter alive, her expression revealing a mix of relief and a renewed sense of urgency, her words a reminder that their mission was not yet complete.

No time to waste.

They carried Winter out, Karina's arm wrapped securely around her waist, supporting most of her weight, her touch a silent promise of protection. Winter's legs barely cooperated, her body limp with exhaustion, but she refused to fully collapse, her will pushing her forward, her pride refusing to let her give in to her weakness-not in front of Karina.

They reached the vehicle, Yuna helping to lift her into the backseat while Chaeryeong immediately began treating her wounds with what little supplies they had, her touch swift and efficient. Blood, bruises, bandages-the scene a stark reminder of the violence they had endured.

Winter winced, her body protesting against every touch, but her spirit wasn't broken, her will refusing to be crushed.

"You know," Winter mumbled weakly, her gaze drifting up to meet Karina's, a small smile playing on her bruised lips, her words laced with a teasing tone. "If this was your plan to get me to finally rest, you could've just asked."

Karina glared at her, her expression a mix of exasperation and concern, her hand moving instinctively to protect.

SMACK.

A light but firm slap to Winter's shoulder, a gentle reprimand laced with underlying affection.

"Be serious," Karina muttered, her jaw clenched, her voice low and rough with emotion, though her hands were gentle as she continued wiping the dried blood from Winter's cheek, her every touch a silent act of caring.

Winter's tired chuckle made Yuna laugh through her tears, a mix of relief and exhaustion filling the cramped vehicle, the tension beginning to dissipate with the realization that they were all still alive.

Back at the safe house, the tension hadn't lifted completely, the weight of their recent ordeal still hanging heavy in the air.

The second they arrived, Karina was out of the vehicle, her movements swift and efficient as she helped Winter inside, her actions guided by an unwavering protectiveness, with Yuna trailing closely behind, her eyes fixed on Winter, ready to assist in any way she could. Winter was barely conscious, her head resting against Karina's shoulder, her breaths shallow but steady, her body limp with exhaustion.

They were halfway through the door when Yeji appeared, blocking the entrance, her presence a stark reminder that their conflict was far from over. Her face was stone-cold, her arms crossed over her chest, her posture a barrier that refused to be broken, her gaze unwavering.

Karina's steps faltered, her body tensing, her instincts screaming in warning. "Move," she growled, her voice low and dangerous, her body poised for a confrontation.

Yeji didn't budge, her presence unwavering, her gaze fixed on Karina, her control still intact. Instead, she leaned in slightly, her voice calm but cutting, her words laced with a subtle warning. "Be careful, Yu."

Karina's grip on Winter tightened, her protectiveness reaching a new level, her body reacting instinctively to the implied threat. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

But Yeji didn't answer, her silence as unnerving as her words.

She just turned on her heel, walking away with her squad following behind, leaving Karina standing there, her heart pounding not just from the lingering anger, but from a deeper sense of unease, a fear that was now threatening to consume her.

She stood frozen for a second, her mind reeling, Yeji's words echoing in her mind, a haunting reminder of the potential dangers that still lurked ahead.

Be careful.

Karina swallowed hard, forcing the thought away, pushing back against the fear, choosing instead to focus on Winter, the woman in her arms, her priority now and always. Then she adjusted her hold on Winter and stepped inside, the door slamming shut behind her, the sound echoing like a final punctuation mark to the chaos, leaving the outside world behind.