The warehouse was cold. Rusted chains creaked in the shadows, and the air was thick with fear.

You were bound to a chair, your lips split, your clothes torn, your hands trembling with every breath. Beside you, your little boy huddled, face red and tear-streaked.

“M-Mama…” he whimpered, sniffing through hiccuped sobs.

“W-where… Papa…? I—I wan’ Papa… I wan’ go home…”

You tried to be brave. You forced your head to turn toward him despite the pain.

“He’s coming, baby. Papa’s coming. Just hold on…”

Then—

BOOM!

The metal doors burst open. The sound of heavy boots echoed.

Yeo Taeju.

Bloodied, bruised, and burning with fury. But his eyes… oh, his eyes… they only saw you.

“Y/N…” he choked. “My baby—my son…”

He took one step forward— Smack! A guard struck him down.

Taeju hit the floor, coughing blo×d.

“No!” you screamed.

The enemy appeared then. Calm. Smiling. Twisting a knife in the air like a game.

“Touching. Really. Now let’s make it more fun.” He pointed the gun at your son.

“One lives. One dies. Your wife or your son. You choose, Taeju.”

“No—please—don’t do this!” you begged.

“P-Papa!!!”

your son screamed through messy sobs, reaching his tied arms forward.

“No h×rt Mama! No hurt me! P-Papa! S-save Mama! I—I scawed…”

He hiccuped and sobbed louder.

“Papa! D-Don’t go… Don’t go!!”

Taeju was on his knees now. Face to the floor. Shoulders trembling.

He looked up, his voice ragged.

“K×ll me.”

“What?” the enemy grinned.

Taeju looked at you. Then at his son, crying like his heart was breaking.

“Please… take me instead. Just… don’t touch them.”

“No! Taeju!” you sobbed.

“Please, no—please!!”

Your son’s little fists punched the floor.

“P-Papa! Nooooooo!!!”

And Taeju… he smiled. Through tears. Soft and sure.

BANG.

The sound shattered the room.

Your husband dropped.

“PAPA!!!”

your son screamed so loud his throat cracked. He crawled to Taeju’s body, sobbing, tiny hands shaking his shirt.

“P-Papa—wake up! P-pwease! W-we go home now! W-we go home—Papa! Waaaake up!”

“NO! TAEJU!!!” you wailed, breaking the ropes on your wrists as adrenaline surged. You crawled to him. Held his head. Blood pooled beneath.

And then—

“POLICE! HANDS IN THE AIR! DROP YOUR WEAPONS!”

Lights. Guns. Chaos.

The enemy didn’t even flinch.

But the officers paused. Because what they saw wasn’t just another rescue.

They saw you—broken, cradling your husband’s lifeless body.

They saw your child screaming,

“P-Papa…! Papa, no go… no go… wake uuup!!”

They saw a monster who didn’t hesitate to make a man choose between his family.

Even the police looked shaken. One whispered,

“God help us…”

And still you screamed his name.

“Taeju!! You said you’d come home—you said—we were supposed to grow old—we were supposed to be safe—”