Rivalry and roses

e attic door handle,

hrowing his weight against

ly across the attic. "There's anot

ded on the other

elibera

. Mo

. "Whoever that is-th

gain, quieter, b

ou still can

the back of the attic where an old,

re! Help me p

usty hatch until it creaked open with a

rattled violently-someone wa

ing against the metal as she hauled herself onto the sloped roof. J

ed a gla

outline, tall and lean, with his head slig

ne buzz

u're fast, little

bbed her wri

f the roof, dropping into the

ped for breath,

creen, her thumb hovering

oice cut thr

is... he knows too muc

chest

wants me t

head, his protect

to chase him un

linted with s

see who ca

h shook

tely get me in t

reached Kendrick Storage u

t was the narrow, hidden passage behind a false wall. It led them deeper into th

oard covered in photos, maps, and

"Mina... someone's been wa

as she pulled down on

randfather's

ail. But you're not the only one. He's coming. Be careful o

d in her ears. "Boy w

oice cracked

omg

buzzed in

ew

e been leading you all along. It's cut

"He's... not just some random p

r in the room flickered to life on its ow

ideo start

ting beside her grandfather

ly his, echoed through the speakers: "I'll prote

blood r

d. "He was part of this

jector

buzzed one

ttle fox. Don't trust the ones who seem safest. So

chest as she whispered: "B

epped f

came a smooth, calm v

and Jere

e emerged-lean, sharp-eyed, with slightly messy hair

o didn't need to chase tr

said, hands in his pockets, co

heart

are

hem slowly, his ga

it meant something, like s

en leaving qui

pped between them, protect

epened, but his vo

ous fox who doesn't know when to stop digging. Jer

Are you the one who's be

m just making sure you don't get y

eared leaving both

the reveal, the sound of footsteps echoed down th

ugging at her sleeve. "M

hone screen like it held all the answ

the ones who

apped, sharper this

of storage units, the walls closing in as the footsteps

played in her he

lain's the one wh

nto the cool night, lungs burning, hearts hammer

Beomgyu know where we were? Ho

dn't answer

etched. Just a

m, suspicion creeping in

bout him, d

ad snapped up

voice cracked. "The day I got the firs

in

ne buzz

. She hesitated

en, casually leaning against a wall

. "I could've warned you earlie

es glinted

n't who you

eo cut

orward. "Mina, you can't belie

ind was spir

ne buzz

. Blurry. But cle

emi

o a man i

ays before Mina ever

t tightening. "Jerem

ace fell. "I

l text appeare

lways cuts the deepest.

best friend. Beomg

uld sh

whispered, her grip t

know if I should be runnin