Y/N'S POV

He’s probably awake right now.

I’ve just secured a two-night stay at a rundown motel in a small, nondescript town. The building looks ancient, as though a strong gust of wind might topple it, but it feels oddly comforting to be surrounded by strangers—people who know nothing about me and whose lives I know nothing about.

For the first time in what feels like forever, I wasn’t being watched. Walking downtown from the motel, I indulged in pastries from the local bakery, exchanging light-hearted pleasantries with anyone willing to engage. These strangers had no idea who I was or where I’d come from. It was refreshing, liberating even. Yet, beneath this fragile sense of normalcy, unease churned in my stomach.

I couldn’t afford to stay too long. He would know soon enough—if he didn’t already—that I’d discovered his affair. And when he did, he’d come after me. I was certain of it. The thought sent a cold shiver down my spine. If he found me here, I needed to be ready.

When I left, I didn’t take much. Just a few knives, a gun—tools I’d taken for protection until I could secure something of my own. The cash I’d stolen had already been partially spent: the motel room, a bite to eat, and a bus ticket for an escape route that I hoped would carry me far enough away from his reach.

For now, though, I was here. In this decrepit little room with its peeling wallpaper and stale air, I could allow myself a brief moment of reprieve. The pen in my hand—another stolen artifact—twirled absentmindedly between my fingers, leaving faint smudges of ink on my skin. My brows knit together as unwelcome images of him invaded my thoughts, unbidden and relentless.

What if he managed to find me? Worse, what if he managed to drag me back? How could I face him again after everything?

A violent shudder coursed through me, and I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the thoughts away. I needed sleep, though it felt elusive, as though peace itself had abandoned me.

Just a few more days, I told myself. A few more days and I’d be free of him—free of the nightmare he had become. At least, I hoped so.

——

It was my last night here, and I found myself at the pub, a modest yet lively place, celebrating my impending departure. I ordered a single beer-not wanting to risk a hangover that would make tomorrow's bus ride unbearable.

The atmosphere was surreal, almost dreamlike. There I was, playing pool and darts, laughing and chatting with complete strangers as though we'd been lifelong friends. The warmth of their camaraderie was palpable: everyone seemed to know one another, and the sense of community was oddly comforting.

For a fleeting moment, it felt as though I was living a different life, a life unburdened by the suffocating weight of my past. No domineering mother hovering over me with her unrelenting demands. No overbearing criminal breathing down my neck, his shadow a constant presence. Just me, unshackled and breathing fresh air for the first time in what felt like forever.

But I knew better than to let my guard down. If I truly wanted to disappear, I'd have to head for a sprawling city where anonymity came as easily as breathing. Even now, I was surprised not to have spotted any of Jungkook's men tailing me.

Then again, they could be in disguise.

A weary sigh escaped my lips as I rubbed my temples, trying to keep the growing paranoia at bay. My thoughts swirled with possibilities, each one more unsettling than the last. I could feel myself spiraling when something in the corner of my vision made me freeze.

A man, impeccably dressed in a dark suit, stood in the shadows, his gaze lingering on me just a fraction too long for comfort. My breath caught as I tried to leave, but before I could make my way out, a hand gripped my wrist from a nearby table. Another man in a suit.

My heart raced as I yanked my arm free, only for him to rise to block my path. A quick glance around the pub revealed more of them, their presence now glaringly obvious. They were closing in.

Panic surged, but I refused to let it show. If there was one thing I knew how to do, it was to create chaos.

"I am not going back," I spat, my voice sharp and defiant. Without hesitation, I swung my fist into it. the man's face, sending him crashing into a nearby table. Drinks spilled, wood splintered, and the bar erupted in shocked silence.

Before I could step back, another man grabbed me from behind, his arms locking mine in a painful grip. Gritting my teeth, I drove my heel into his groin. He let out a pained groan, releasing me long enough for me to grab an empty beer bottle and smash it over his head..

The room stood still for a heartbeat, and then someone shouted, "BAR FIGHT!"

All hell broke loose. The pub transformed into a storm of flying fists and broken furniture. Adrenaline coursed through me as I snatched a billiard cue, snapping it over my knee. Armed with the jagged sticks, I charged at the suited men, striking at their hands to disarm them before delivering swift blows to their pressure points.

One lunged at me, but I ducked, sending him sprawling onto the pool table. Around me, the chaos intensified-tables shattered, glasses flew, and shouts filled the air. I knew the police would arrive any second. I needed to escape.

My eyes darted around until I spotted an exit. Without hesitation, I sprinted toward it, slamming the broken sticks into the door handle to jam it shut behind me.

Breathing heavily, I turned, only to find a familiar face blocking my path. My stomach dropped.

"Eunwoo," I murmured, crossing my arms defensively. His expression was a mixture of sorrow and resolve.

"Y/N, you need to-"

"What? Go back?" I interrupted, my voice rising. "I don't care about Jungkook anymore, Eunwoo. What he did just pushed me to leave faster. This was always going to happen." My voice cracked, betraying my anger and exhaustion.

His tired eyes softened, but his movements didn't. Slowly, he reached behind his back, and my heart sank as he revealed a gun.

A tranquilliser.

"Don't make me do this," he whispered, his voice tinged with regret.

Fury bubbled within me, eclipsing my fear. "Big mistake," I growled. With a snap of my wings- hidden until now-I lunged at him. Before he could react, I wrenched the gun from his hands and struck him hard across the nose.

He crumpled to the ground, groaning in pain, but I didn't stay to watch. Folding my wings, I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, heading straight for the motel.

As I approached, my stomach clenched at the sight of black SUVs in the car park. It wasn't a coincidence. Moving swiftly, I climbed through my motel window, careful not to be seen. My bag was already packed, and within seconds, I was out the door and on my way to the bus stop.

The schedule showed a bus arriving any moment. I tapped my foot impatiently, stopping only when I spotted its blue peak cresting the hill.

When the bus arrived, I spared one last glance at the chaos behind me suited men tearing through my motel room, police cars screeching to a halt outside the pub. The horn blared, pulling me back to the present.

I boarded the bus and slumped into a seat at the back, clutching my bag tightly to my chest. As the countryside blurred past the window, I let my eyes drift to the map. My destination: Daegu.

It was far, crowded, and the last place Jungkook would think to look. With a new name, I could vanish completely.

Still, part of me hesitated. Despite everything, there was a sliver of love for him buried deep within me, a part that didn't want him to face the consequences of his sins.

I sighed, leaning against the window as sleep tugged at my heavy eyes. When I woke, I'd be miles away. Far from him. Far from it all.

——

After a while, the sharp blare of the bus horn jolted me from my light slumber as the vehicle rolled to a halt.

Groggily, I opened my eyes, blinking against the daylight streaming through the window. What I saw made me pause, my breath hitching in awe. Towering skyscrapers stretched toward the heavens, their glass facades gleaming in the sun. The sight was surreal, almost otherworldly. Slowly, I stepped off the bus, and the moment my feet hit the pavement, the soundscape of the city washed over me. The bustling noise—the cars honking, people shouting, laughter mingling with urgency—it was an echo of what my old life used to sound like.

How long had it been since I last stood in a place like this?

The question tugged at me until I turned back to the bus driver, a sudden desperation compelling me. "What’s the date today?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

His reply hit me like a punch to the gut. I nearly stumbled back, my mind reeling.

A year. Maybe longer.

I had been trapped for more than a year. And somehow, that didn’t shock me as much as it should have. No wonder it had felt like an eternity—every second back then had dragged on, heavy and suffocating.

I wandered aimlessly through the busy streets, surrounded by a sea of strangers, and for the first time in forever, I felt my lips curve into an unrestrained smile. The chaos, the rush, the noise—it all felt like a kind of heaven to me. The best part? Not a single soul here knew me or the chains I had once worn.

No one knew the weight I carried, and I didn’t care about theirs.

Eventually, my legs began to ache, and I found myself gravitating toward a worn, slightly scruffy bench on the edge of the pavement. I sank down onto it with a relieved sigh, tilting my head back until my eyes traced the outlines of the skyscrapers above. They stood tall, steadfast and immovable, symbols of resilience and strength.

I needed to be like that.

But the enormity of the task ahead hit me hard, and I let out a quiet groan, dragging myself back to my feet. My steps carried me toward the nearest bank, my thoughts resolute.

I was starting over—building a new life from scratch.

Nothing, nothing, would stop me this time.

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Two Years Later…

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