Everything went silent.
The sharp crack of the sniper's shot still rang in Nam's ears as the world around him seemed to slow down. He felt his body jerk forward, the momentum of the bullet just inches from his chest. But there was no pain. No immediate death.
For a split second, Nam was convinced it was over. That he was going to fall. That the battle, the chase, the entire ordeal would end here. But instead, he felt something cold and metallic strike the side of his neck.
A tranquilizer dart.
His vision blurred.
He tried to fight it—tried to maintain control—but the weight of his body seemed to vanish, and his legs gave out beneath him. He collapsed to the snow-covered ground with a dull thud.
His eyes barely managed to stay open, his muscles refusing to respond. In the fading light, he could just make out Kai's silhouette, standing tall and unyielding in front of him.
"You were always too predictable, Nam," Kai said, his voice full of mockery. "I knew exactly how this would play out."
Nam's heart pounded in his ears, but his body wouldn't obey. His limbs felt heavy as if they were made of stone. Kai walked toward him slowly, his boots crunching in the snow. He crouched down, staring into Nam's eyes with an almost predatory gaze.
"You thought you could catch me. But you never understood the game," Kai continued, a smirk creeping onto his face. "You were just a pawn in something much bigger."
Nam's head lolled to the side as the drug started to take full effect. He couldn't respond, but he wanted to scream. To fight back. But his body refused to move, to react.
Kai stood up, taking a step back. "I always knew you'd follow me. That's why I let you. But now you're just another casualty in this endless game."
With a flick of his wrist, Kai reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small device. He pressed a button, and in the distance, the sound of helicopters began to echo through the forest. The roar of the engines filled the air, signaling the arrival of reinforcements.
Nam could barely make sense of the situation anymore. His thoughts were fragmented, his vision too hazy to see clearly. All he could do was watch as Kai turned and started walking away, leaving him behind. The helicopters were getting closer.
"You know," Kai's voice echoed one last time, "You were never meant to win. And now… you're mine."
Nam's last thoughts before he lost consciousness were filled with rage and disbelief. This wasn't how it was supposed to end. The betrayal cut deeper than any wound. Kai had played him from the beginning.
The darkness took over, and with it, Nam fell into the void.
Hours later, Nam woke with a violent jolt.
His body ached, every muscle sore from the intense struggle he had just endured. His head throbbed, and his eyes had trouble adjusting to the dim light of the small, confined space he was now in. His hands were bound behind his back, and his legs were shackled to the floor.
He was in some kind of underground facility. The walls were made of concrete, and the air smelled of dampness and decay. His pulse quickened as the reality of his situation set in.
He was trapped.
But he wasn't alone.
A figure appeared in the doorway, silhouetted by the light from the hallway. It was a woman. Tall, with sharp features and dark, calculating eyes. She stepped into the room, the sound of her boots clicking against the cold floor echoing.
"I see you're awake," she said, her voice smooth and calm. "I was wondering when you'd come around."
Nam struggled against the restraints, but it was no use. His body was still weak from the tranquilizer.
"You," he croaked, his throat dry. "What… what is this?"
The woman smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "You've been very useful, Nam. But all good things come to an end, don't they?"
She stepped closer, inspecting him as if he were some kind of specimen. "Kai was right. You were a pawn in a much larger game. And now that you're no longer of use to him, well... let's just say we're going to see how much value you really have."
Nam's mind raced. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to fall into place, but there was still so much he didn't understand. Who was this woman? What was her connection to Kai? And why had he been left alive, just to be captured again?
"You'll never get away with this," he spat, his voice thick with defiance.
The woman raised an eyebrow, unfazed by his words. "I think you'll find that we're always three steps ahead of you, Nam."
She turned to leave but paused at the door. "Oh, and by the way, you won't be seeing Kai again. Not unless you want to end up like the others. Understand?"
Nam clenched his fists, his teeth grinding together. He would not go down like this. He couldn't. Not after everything he had fought for.
As the door slammed shut behind her, leaving him in darkness, he made a silent vow to himself.
This was far from over.