Chapter 17: The Trap Tightens

The car’s engine hummed quietly as YN drove through the darkened streets, the documents she had taken from her childhood home spread out across the passenger seat. Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, knuckles white, as she replayed the events of the night in her mind. Someone had been in the house, someone who wanted those documents just as badly as she did. The realisation left a cold, creeping fear in the pit of her stomach.

She couldn’t go back to the apartment couldn’t risk leading whoever was after her straight to Jisoo. Instead, she drove aimlessly for a while, trying to think of a safe place to hide. Eventually, she found herself on the outskirts of the city, pulling into the parking lot of a small, run-down motel. The neon sign flickers ominously in the night, casting eerie shadows on the cracked pavement.

YN paid for a room in cash, not wanting to leave any trace of her whereabouts, and quickly slipped inside. The room was as dingy as she expected faded wallpaper peeling off the walls, a lumpy bed, and a flickering overhead light. But it was a place to hide, and right now, that was all she needed.

Once inside, YN barricaded the door with a chair, her heart still pounding with adrenaline. She spread the documents out on the small motel table, her eyes scanning over the faded letters, yellowed newspaper clippings, and black-and-white photos. The more she read, the more the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place, painting a picture of something far darker and more complex than she had imagined.

Her father’s letters were the most disturbing. They spoke of secret meetings, dangerous men, and a project that was far from legal. Her father had been trying to distance himself from whatever they had been involved in, but Namjoon’s father had refused to let him go. The last letter, dated just a week before her father’s death, was filled with fear, fear for his life and the lives of his family.

As YN pieced together the timeline, her stomach twisted with dread. Her father had known too much, had tried to get out, and for that, he had paid the ultimate price. Now, she was caught in the same web of danger, her life hanging by a thread.

One of the documents caught her eye a small, leather-bound journal that had been tucked beneath the letters. YN opened it, her hands trembling as she read the entries. The writing was her father’s, each page filled with cryptic notes about "The Project," warnings about Namjoon’s father, and a list something her father referred to only as "The List."

The journal mentioned that this list contained the names of everyone involved in "The Project," including those who had orchestrated the cover-up. Her father had hidden it somewhere, hoping that if anything ever happened to him, someone would find it and expose the truth.

But the journal didn’t say where the list was hidden.

YN’s heart sank. The list was the key to everything, but without knowing where to find it, she was back to square one. Frustration bubbled up inside her, mixing with the fear and uncertainty that had been growing since this nightmare began.

Just as she was about to give up for the night, her phone buzzed on the table. The sound was jarring in the silence of the motel room, and YN’s heart skipped a beat as she reached for it. A new message had appeared on the screen, sent from an unknown number.

*Meet me where it all began. You know the place.*

YN’s blood ran cold. There was only one place it could mean the park near her childhood home, where she and Namjoon had first met as children. The place where she had first noticed him watching her, where their strange, obsessive connection had begun.

Every instinct screamed at her that it was a trap, that she should stay far away. But if there was even a chance that Namjoon had the answers she needed, she couldn’t ignore it. She had to know the truth, even if it meant walking into danger.

YN quickly packed up the documents, shoving them into her bag, and left the motel. The drive to the park was a blur, her mind racing with fear and anticipation. The streets were eerily empty, the city quiet in the early hours of the morning.

When she arrived at the park, the place was deserted. The playground where she and Namjoon had played as children was bathed in the pale light of the moon, casting long, dark shadows across the grass. The swings creaked softly in the breeze, the only sound breaking the silence.

She stepped out of the car, her breath fogging in the cool night air. Every nerve in her body was on edge, her senses heightened as she scanned the area for any sign of Namjoon. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, her instincts telling her that she wasn’t alone.

"YN," a voice called softly from the darkness.

She turned sharply, her heart pounding in her chest. Namjoon stepped out from behind a tree, his expression unreadable. He was as composed as ever, his eyes dark and intense as they locked onto hers. But there was something different about him, something that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Why are you doing this?" YN demanded, her voice trembling despite her efforts to stay calm. "What do you want from me?"

Namjoon took a step closer, his gaze never leaving hers. "I’m not here to hurt you, YN. I’m here to protect you."

"Protect me?" YN’s voice wavered between anger and disbelief. "You’ve been stalking me for years, controlling my every move. How is that supposed to protect me?"

"Because there are people out there who want you dead," Namjoon replied quietly, his tone serious. "People who will do anything to keep the truth hidden. I’ve been watching you because I knew this day would come."

"I don’t believe you," YN snapped, taking a step back. "You’ve lied to me, manipulated me. How do I know this isn’t just another one of your games?"

Namjoon’s expression softened slightly, a hint of regret in his eyes. "I’ve made mistakes, YN, but this isn’t a game. I need you to trust me. Your life depends on it."

"Why should I?" YN challenged, crossing her arms defensively. "You’ve been hiding things from me from the start."

"I’ve been trying to protect you from the truth," Namjoon said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I can’t keep you safe if you don’t let me."

YN’s heart raced as she considered his words. Part of her wanted to believe him, to trust that he was on her side. But the other part, the part that remembered the years of stalking, the lies, the manipulation screamed at her to run, to get as far away from him as possible.

"What truth?" YN asked, her voice trembling. "What aren’t you telling me?"

Namjoon hesitated, his gaze flickering with something unreadable. "The list. Your father’s list. It’s the key to everything."

YN’s breath caught in her throat. "You know about the list?"

"Yes," Namjoon admitted, his tone heavy with the weight of the secret. "My father told me about it before he died. It’s why they killed your father. He was going to expose them all."

"Where is it?" YN asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Where did my father hide it?"

Namjoon shook his head, a look of frustration crossing his face. "I don’t know. But I can help you find it. Together, we can end this."

YN felt a mix of hope and fear. Could she really trust Namjoon? Was he truly on her side, or was this just another one of his manipulations?

Before she could respond, a noise from the darkness caught her attention a rustle of leaves, the crunch of footsteps on the grass. Her heart leaped into her throat as she turned towards the sound, every muscle in her body tensing.

"YN, we need to go," Namjoon said urgently, grabbing her arm. "Now."

But it was too late. Out of the shadows, figures emerged, their faces obscured by the darkness. YN’s blood ran cold as she realised they were surrounded.

"Give us the documents, YN," one of the men ordered, his voice cold and menacing. "And no one gets hurt."

YN’s mind raced, panic flooding her veins. She glanced at Namjoon, his expression unreadable as he tightened his grip on her arm.

"You’ll have to kill me first," Namjoon said, his voice calm but deadly serious.

The men advanced, their intentions clear. YN’s heart pounded as she realised the gravity of the situation. She was trapped, with no way out.

"Run!" Namjoon shouted, shoving YN towards the car.

Without thinking, YN sprinted towards the car, her heart pounding in her ears. She fumbled with the keys, her hands shaking as she tried to unlock the door. Behind her, she heard the sounds of a struggle, grunts, shouts, the thud of fists against flesh.

Finally, she managed to get the door open and threw herself inside, slamming it shut behind her. She started the engine, her hands trembling as she gripped the steering wheel.

"Come on, Namjoon," she whispered, her eyes darting to the rearview mirror. She saw him fighting off the men.

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