tw: mentioned blood
Y/n crouched in the shadows, the dim light of the cargo hold barely reaching her as she surveyed the large, neatly arranged crates around her. The ship rocked gently with the waves, and the quiet sound of footsteps echoed faintly from above deck, but down here, it was eerily silent.
Most of the boxes were wrapped carefully, some even reinforced with wood frames, suggesting that whatever was inside was valuable. As Y/n inspected her surroundings, a thought crossed her mind.
"Do I have to break this box? If there's something illegal here, it would make sense for them to hide it well."
She shifted her gaze toward the crates positioned further back, stacked more discreetly behind the larger ones. The most hidden boxes... she reasoned. If there's anything suspicious, it would be in those.
Slowly, Y/n moved toward the far corner, where the largest crates shielded smaller ones from view. She picked the smallest, least conspicuous box first, her logic being that something illegal wouldn't be obvious or easily accessible. Her fingers brushed the edge of the wooden crate, and she carefully pried it open, her magic slightly amplifying her strength. The wood creaked, splitting just enough for her to peek inside.
Nothing.
Her brows furrowed in frustration as she found only mundane cargo, such as tools, textiles, ordinary goods. This doesn't feel right, she thought, moving on to the next hidden crate. Each time, the results were the same. Ordinary items, nothing unusual, nothing illegal.
"What am I missing?" Y/n wondered, feeling the tension build inside her. She knew they had to find something tonight, or the operation would be a failure, and she couldn't shake the feeling that danger was lurking close by. There has to be more to this...
But no matter how deep she searched, she kept coming up empty-handed.
As Y/n moved from crate to crate, the cargo all seemed perfectly normal, wrapped in neat packaging and placed with care.
'Could this really be just an ordinary ship?' she wondered.
But as she stood between the rows of crates, her keen senses picked up something strange. There was a faint sound, almost like a whisper, a dull, almost imperceptible thud, coming from beneath her feet. She crouched down, placing her hand on the floorboards, and felt the subtle vibration.
What's this?
Her eyes darted around until she noticed it. A small, barely noticeable hatch, hidden beneath a pile of wooden planks.
Jackpot.
Y/n's pulse quickened as she gently pushed the planks aside, revealing the entrance to what appeared to be a hidden compartment.
She hesitated, her hand hovering over the device Soobin had distributed earlier. One press would send an electric current to the others, signalling them that something was amiss.
'Should I press it now?' Y/n pondered. But if she was wrong and this was just a maintenance room or storage area, she'd be disrupting the entire operation, possibly throwing off everyone's investigations.
Not yet.
Gathering her resolve, Y/n decided to check it on her own first. She lifted the hatch carefully, the metal hinges groaning softly. The space below was much deeper than she expected, and far darker. A gust of stale, cold air hit her face, and she felt her nerves tighten. She climbed down slowly, slipping into the shadows of the lower deck.
The air was thick, and the darkness seemed to press in on her. Her heart pounded in her chest as she cautiously made her way forward, careful not to make a sound. Then she saw them, figures, just ahead, moving quietly in the dim light of a lantern. There were three of them, speaking in low voices, their conversation masked by the steady creaking of the ship.
Y/n pressed herself against the wall, keeping her breaths shallow.
"Okay, this is getting real. What are they hiding down here?" Y/n thought to herself.
She peered around the corner, trying to assess the situation without being noticed. The men were standing near a large metal container that didn't look like the rest of the cargo she'd seen. It was sealed tight, and one of them was checking the lock with deliberate care.
Could this be it?
Y/n's pulse quickened. She needed to get closer without alerting them. Quietly, she moved along the shadowy edge of the room.
She thought she was close enough when she could make out fragments of their conversation.
"...if we don't move these tonight, we'll lose our chance," one of them said, his voice low and urgent.
"The boss will have our heads if we don't deliver," another added, his tone laced with fear. "Did you check the crate? We need to make sure the goods are intact."
Goods? What kind of goods?
She edged closer, heart racing, until she had a clear view of what was happening. One of the men stepped forward, pulling open a crate with a swift motion.
The moment the lid came off, her stomach dropped. Inside the crate were bundles of shimmering vials, something Y/n didn't know what it is, but it couldn't be good. There's a horn as well, it has the shape like her own horn.
'Did they kill a demon to obtain it?' Y/n didn't really want to think about it.
"Look at this!" one of the men exclaimed, his eyes widening with greed. "We could make a fortune if we get these to the right buyers."
This is it. This ship is definitely connected to the black market!
Y/n's finger hovered over the button, her instincts screaming at her to call for help. But just as she was about to press it, a sudden jolt of electricity ran through the device, signaling that someone else had already done so.
Her heart sank, the seventh ship.
Hanni and Haerin.
It was discussed before that they would infiltrate the last ship.
Y/n's mind raced as she pictured Hanni and Haerin in danger. She clenched the device in her hand, battling the rising panic.
'If I press the button now... the team will have to split up.'
There were only eight of them, and if they had to deal with two emergencies at once...
Her gaze darted toward the three men she had just engaged. 'I mean... It's only 3 of them'
Her mind made up, she released her grip on the button.
"I can take them" she whispered.
Just as Y/n prepared to focus back on the men, her vision blurred, and she felt a sharp pain at the back of her head. A wooden plank had struck her, sending her reeling forward.
For a few seconds, everything went black.
She barely had time to react as another blow came her way, a fist this time, aimed straight at her face. Y/n raised her arms to block it, her body acting on pure instinct.
Just as she regained her footing, a punch landed hard against her face, the force sending pain radiating through her skull and leaving her with a blossoming black eye.
With adrenaline surging, she fought to keep her focus sharp.
Y/n could feel the magic thrumming beneath her skin, urging her to respond. However, she shouldn't make a scene.
The first man lunged again, this time with a wild swing aimed at her midsection. Y/n sidestepped, allowing the momentum of his attack to carry him past her. She took a moment to channel her magic into her limbs, fortifying her strength and agility.
"Is that all you got?" she taunted, her voice steady despite the throbbing pain in her face.
The men exchanged glances, annoyance flashing in their eyes. They surged forward, trying to flank her. Y/n's instincts kicked in. She twisted away from another punch, feeling the rush of air as it barely missed her. Using the opening, she struck back, delivering a sharp kick to the nearest man's knee. He crumpled to the floor, grunting in pain.
"Get her!" one of the remaining men shouted, charging at her with renewed determination.
Y/n ducked just in time, narrowly avoiding another wooden plank aimed at her head. She could hear the wood whooshing through the air, a reminder of how close she was to being overwhelmed. With a burst of agility, she sprang to the side, sending her elbow crashing into his ribs. The man staggered, winded.
The last man, now desperate, attempted to tackle her to the ground. Y/n reacted instinctively, using her magic to enhance her strength. As he lunged, she sidestepped again, pivoting on her heel to deliver a powerful roundhouse kick to his back. He hit the ground with a thud, groaning in frustration.
"Two down," she muttered, turning her attention back to the first man, who was slowly regaining his composure.
He lunged at her again, but this time Y/n was ready. With a quick motion, she reached for a crate, using it as a shield to deflect his attack. The wood splintered upon impact, giving her just enough time to counterattack. Y/n channeled her magic into a focused strike, sending a wave of energy that knocked him off his feet.
As he landed beside his companions, Y/n caught her breath, her heart racing. She had taken hits, but she was still standing.
"Haha, way to go, myself. Now's my chance to call for backup," she said out loud, reaching for her device. But before she could press the button, she heard a commotion behind her.
Two more men, drawn by the noise, burst into the cargo hold. Their eyes widened in shock at the scene before them, their companions sprawled on the floor, groaning in pain. Without hesitation, they spun around and bolted toward the captain's room, panic evident in their shouts. "We need to sail now! There's trouble!"
"For god's sake," Y/n hissed under her breath.
"I can't let them get away!"
She pressed the button on her device, sending out a silent call for backup, then turned on her heel and sprinted after the two men.
The narrow hallways of the ship felt like a labyrinth, but her target was more than clear.
"Stop!" she yelled, her voice echoing through the metal corridors.
"No!" the men glanced back, their faces a mix of fear and anger, but they didn't slow down.
Y/n pushed herself harder, using her magic to enhance her speed.
However, suddenly an all-white bird swooped past her, a flash of brilliant feathers catching her attention. For a split second, she was distracted, watching as the bird darted through the air.
Then, the bird transformed mid-flight, shifting into Kai. He landed solidly on one of the men, his foot driving down. The man let out a startled yelp, collapsing to the ground in an instant, unable to react.
Before Y/n could fully process what was happening, another figure emerged from the shadows. A large beast, resembling a wolf but with the sleek build of a dog, sprinted toward the last man. Y/n's eyes widened in recognition as the beast transformed, revealing Yeonjun. He lunged forward and grabbed the last running man by the collar, yanking him off his feet and pinning him against the wall.
The remaining man squirmed in Yeonjun's grip, eyes wide with panic. "Get off me! You don't know who you're messing with!" he shouted, full of desperation.
Y/n felt a wave of relief wash over her.
As Yeonjun secured the last man, Y/n felt her body give in to exhaustion, her legs collapsing beneath her as she sank to the floor. The adrenaline that had fueled her through the fight now dissipated, leaving her drained and panting heavily.
"Are you okay?" Kai asked, concern etched on his face as he stepped closer.
Y/n nodded weakly but couldn't muster the strength to rise just yet. "How did you guys... get here... so fast?" she managed to ask, her voice a whisper, still panting heavily.
Yeonjun chuckled, the tension in the air lightening slightly. "We were already on the ship when you pressed the button."
Kai stepped in, "When we seize the seventh ship, you still haven't appeared, which is a weird thing. So, we start to get worried and decide to check on the ship you were in."
Yeonjun knelt down beside her, "Y/n, are you sure you're okay? You took quite a beating back there."
"Actually... no, I'm dizzy," she admitted.
Kai and Yeonjun exchanged glances. "Let's get you somewhere safe to sit down," Kai said, shifting into a more supportive stance.
"Let me stay like this for a moment," Y/n said, leaning against nearest wall. The boys were unable to hold back their laughter. "Sure, take all the time you need," Kai teased, grinning at her.
Just then, the rest of the Elites along with Minji, Hanni and Haerin rushed onto the scene, "Y/n! Are you okay?" Hanni and Haerin said at the same time, their voices overlapping.
"Uhh, yes! I mean no, I'm dizzy!" Y/n replied, trying to sound coherent but failing miserably.
Hanni's eyes widened as she noticed the blood trickling down from the back of Y/n's head. "Oh no! Y/n, you're bleeding!" Without a second thought, she pulled out a handkerchief and quickly froze it a little bit with her magic before pressing it firmly against Y/n's wound.
Yujin, always the drama queen, gasped loudly. "Y/n! Don't close your eyes! You can't sleep! You're not allowed to sleep!" She pointed an exaggerated finger at Y/n, clearly trying to make the moment more intense.
Y/n, closing her eyes, muttered, "I'm okay! I'm just dizzy, that's why I'm closing my eyes. I'm not going to sleep!"
"Just remember," Yujin said, trying to be serious but failing miserably, "the next time you get dizzy, try not to go full 'sleeping beauty' on us, alright?"
"I promise," Y/n said, still chuckling. "I'll save the dramatic fainting for when I really need it."
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I don't know what to feel right now. Hanni will be present at the assembly/hearing tomorrow. Honestly, I'm scared of how what I'll hear might change me. I'm afraid of hearing what's really been happening to Newjeans all this time or what consequences Newjeans will face for telling the truth. But I'm also afraid that the truth might not align with the story I've believed until now.
For now, I can only hope for the best for Hanni. I hope that whatever she wants to convey can be expressed well, backed by evidence that can open other people's minds as well. Hopefully, this issue will be resolved quickly, and we can go back to enjoying music and moments with Newjeans again.