Hana's body moved before her thoughts fully formed—silent, precise, assassin-fast. In one fluid motion, she twisted her wrist, activating the hidden blade strapped beneath her sleeve. The steel slid out with a soft metallic whisper.
Jisoo didn't hear it.
He was still counting.
"Three—"
Hana struck.
Her blade sliced across his forearm, just enough to break his grip—not enough to maim. His hand released her with a startled curse.
Hana spun, vaulted over a fallen log, and sprinted toward Woojin.
The assassins reacted instantly.
"Stop her!"
Too slow.
Hana's foot hit the ground once, and she launched herself upward. She landed between Woojin and the nearest assassin, blade flashing like lightning.
One down.
Two down.
Three—she kicked in the throat, sending him collapsing against a tree.
Woojin scrambled to his feet, breathing hard. "I told you not to come alone—"
"Be quiet," she snapped, stabbing another attacker in the leg. "And stay behind me."
"You're bleeding."
"I'll bleed later."
They fought back-to-back, Hana cutting through the circle while Woojin swung his dagger with terrified determination. His strikes weren't perfect, but he didn't freeze. That mattered.
"Behind you!" Woojin shouted.
Hana ducked, letting a blade slash through empty air. She elbowed the attacker hard, then swept his legs, sending him crashing down.
Woojin exhaled shakily. "I think I got one."
"You stabbed his foot," she said.
"Still counts."
Hana almost laughed—almost—until a shadow moved behind them.
Jisoo.
He approached slowly, blade drawn, fury simmering underneath his calm expression.
"Enough," he said softly. "You've embarrassed yourself long enough."
Hana pushed Woojin behind her. "Stay back."
"Hana—"
"Please," she said without looking at him. "I can't protect you if you're in front."
Jisoo raised his blade. "You chose your little scholar over your own family. Over Father. Over everything."
"I chose myself," she said. "For the first time in my life."
His jaw tightened. "Then don't expect mercy."
He lunged.
---
THE DUEL THAT COULD END HER
Their blades collided with a ringing clash. Jisoo was faster than before—sharper, more focused. He moved like a man whose entire purpose was to bring her home dead or alive.
Hana struck low—
Jisoo blocked.
He slashed high—
She deflected.
He swept her legs—
She back-flipped out of reach.
Woojin watched helplessly as steel clashed in a deadly rhythm he couldn't understand. Hana moved like fire; Jisoo moved like a shadow. Every hit echoed with years of shared training, childhood rivalry, unspoken resentment.
"Hana!" Woojin shouted as Jisoo forced her backward.
She heard him—but she couldn't respond. Not now. Not when Jisoo's blade was inches from her throat.
He slashed again. Hana dodged, barely. The blade grazed her cheek, drawing blood.
"Hesitation," Jisoo murmured. "Father was right. You've gone soft."
Hana growled, slamming her knee into his ribs. He staggered but recovered instantly.
"I got stronger," she hissed. "Strong enough to leave."
"Then prove it."
His next attack knocked her blade from her hand.
"HANA!" Woojin cried.
The weapon skidded across the dirt, landing near a tree.
Jisoo lunged for a killing strike.
Hana dropped to her knees and ducked under his blade, rolling toward the fallen weapon.
He followed, relentless.
She grabbed the blade, spun—
But Jisoo grabbed her wrist mid-swing and pinned her to the ground.
His knee pressed into her chest. His blade hovered inches from her throat.
"Hana," he breathed, "you can't win. Stop fighting."
"Never."
Something snapped inside her—a feral instinct she had buried long ago. She twisted, dislocated her own shoulder, and slid out from beneath him.
Jisoo's eyes widened. "You—"
Hana rammed her head into his jaw.
The force sent him stumbling back.
She grabbed her shoulder, gritted her teeth, and slammed it back into place with a sickening pop.
Woojin gagged. "Why would you— how did you— that's not—"
"Woojin," she said breathlessly, "focus."
---
THE ESCAPE
Jisoo recovered quickly, wiping blood from his lip.
"You're still a monster," he said softly.
"No," Hana whispered. "I'm finally human."
She didn't wait for his next move.
"HOLD ON!" she shouted to Woojin.
Woojin blinked. "Hold—what—"
She grabbed his arm, threw a smoke bomb at her feet, and sprinted into the forest, dragging him with her.
The clearing erupted into chaos.
Assassins coughed, blinded. Jisoo shouted orders. But Hana and Woojin were already deep into the trees, weaving through branches and leaping over roots with desperate speed.
"Hana," Woojin panted, breathless, "you're—way—too—fast—"
"Try harder."
"My legs are not built for—mountain sprinting!"
She didn't answer. Her ears strained for pursuit. Her instincts screamed danger, louder than ever.
"Did they follow?" Woojin asked between gasps.
"Not yet," she said, though her tone darkened. "But they will."
They ran until Woojin nearly collapsed. Finally, Hana pulled him behind a massive fallen tree and crouched low.
Woojin bent over, hands on his knees. "I… I think I died twice."
"You're alive."
"Barely."
Hana pressed her ear to the ground.
Footsteps. Many.
"They're tracking us," she whispered.
Woojin swallowed. "What do we do?"
She met his gaze.
Her voice was steady—too steady.
"We separate."
Woojin's eyes widened in horror. "No."
"They want me, not you. If you stay with me, you die."
"And if I leave you, you die!"
Hana grabbed his face with both hands. "Listen to me. I know their tactics. I know how to lose them. But you… you're a beacon in the dark. You make noise. You breathe too loud. They will find you if you stay near me."
His eyes softened with fear. "I don't want to leave you alone."
Hana's throat tightened.
"You won't be," she whispered. "I'll find you again."
"Hana—"
She leaned in and pressed her forehead to his.
A rare, fragile touch.
"Please," she whispered. "Trust me."
Woojin closed his eyes. "Always."
She swallowed hard.
"Go east. Toward the river. Don't stop. Don't look back."
"What about you?"
"I'm going to give them something else to chase."
She stood, exhaled slowly, and took off running in the opposite direction.
Woojin watched her disappear into the shadows—
his heart screaming
his feet refusing to move
his mind begging her to come back.
But Hana didn't look back.
She ran toward the danger.
Toward her father.
Toward the past she'd tried to bury.
And toward the fate she could no longer escape.