Chapter 13: High-Speed Car Chase
The city lights blurred past Ji-Yeong and Jong-Su as they raced through the streets, the roar of the engine echoing in their ears. They had just finished gathering crucial intel on the masked man’s whereabouts when they realized they were being followed. The tension in the car was palpable, each man focused and ready for what was to come.
Ji-Yeong gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white.
"We need to lose him," he said, glancing in the rearview mirror.
"He’s gaining on us."
Jong-Su looked back, his eyes narrowing as he spotted the masked killer’s car weaving through traffic.
"Turn right up ahead," he instructed.
"We can take the side streets and try to shake him off."
Ji-Yeong nodded, his jaw set with determination. He yanked the wheel to the right, the car skidding slightly as it took the corner at high speed. The tires screeched against the asphalt, and Ji-Yeong’s heart pounded in his chest.
"Nice one," Jong-Su said, keeping an eye on their pursuer.
"But he’s still on us. We need to find a way to slow him down."
As they sped through the narrow streets, Ji-Yeong’s mind raced. He spotted a construction site up ahead and quickly formulated a plan.
"Hang on," he said, swerving sharply to avoid a barricade.
"I have an idea."
The car bounced over uneven ground, the impact jarring their bodies. Ji-Yeong navigated through the site, dodging machinery and piles of debris. Behind them, the masked killer’s car struggled to keep up, smashing into obstacles and losing ground.
"Almost there," Ji-Yeong muttered, his eyes scanning for an exit. He spotted a narrow alleyway and headed for it, the car barely squeezing through.
Jong-Su exhaled sharply as they emerged on the other side, back onto a main road.
"We bought ourselves some time, but he won’t be far behind."
Ji-Yeong nodded, his focus unbroken.
"Let’s make it count. Any ideas?"
Jong-Su thought quickly, his mind racing. "There’s a parking garage a few blocks from here. If we can get inside and find a spot to hide, we might be able to lose him."
"Got it," Ji-Yeong said, speeding up.
"Direct me."
Jong-Su guided Ji-Yeong through the city streets, each turn bringing them closer to their goal. The masked killer’s car was still behind them, but the distance between them had grown.
"There it is," Jong-Su pointed out, spotting the entrance to the parking garage. "Get in there, quick!"
Ji-Yeong swung the car into the entrance, the sudden change in direction causing their pursuer to overshoot. He quickly navigated up the levels of the garage, looking for a place to hide.
"Over there," Jong-Su said, pointing to a shadowed corner. "Park and turn off the lights."
Ji-Yeong did as instructed, the car coming to a halt in the dark. They sat in silence, listening for the sound of the masked killer’s car. Moments later, they heard it enter the garage, the engine echoing off the concrete walls.
"Stay low," Ji-Yeong whispered, ducking down in his seat. Jong-Su followed suit, their hearts pounding as they waited.
The sound of the engine grew louder, then softer as the masked killer drove past their hiding spot. Ji-Yeong and Jong-Su held their breath, praying they wouldn’t be discovered.
After what felt like an eternity, the engine noise faded, and the garage fell silent. Ji-Yeong peeked over the dashboard, scanning for any sign of their pursuer.
"I think he’s gone," he whispered, his voice shaky with relief.
Jong-Su nodded, sitting up slowly. "Let’s wait a few more minutes, just to be sure."
They sat in the dark, the tension slowly easing as the minutes ticked by. Finally, Ji-Yeong started the car again, keeping the lights off as he navigated to the exit.
"That was close," Ji-Yeong said, his grip on the steering wheel relaxing. "Too close."
Jong-Su sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, but we made it. Now we just need to get back to the others and share what we’ve learned."
Ji-Yeong nodded, feeling a surge of determination. "Let’s do it."
---
As they drove back to their headquarters, Ji-Yeong and Jong-Su discussed their next steps. The information they had gathered was crucial, and they needed to make sure it got into the right hands.
"We need to be more careful," Jong-Su said, glancing at Ji-Yeong. "The masked man is getting bolder, and he’s not going to stop until he gets what he wants."
"I know," Ji-Yeong replied, his expression serious. "We need to stay one step ahead of him. And we need to protect Chin-Sun. She’s still in danger."
Jong-Su nodded, his mind working through their options. "We’ll figure it out. Together."
---
Back at their headquarters, the rest of the group was waiting anxiously. Chin-Sun, disguised as Min, looked up as Ji-Yeong and Jong-Su walked in, relief flooding her features.
"Thank goodness you’re okay," she said, rushing over to them. "We were so worried."
"We’re fine," Ji-Yeong assured her, though his heart still pounded from the chase. "But we had a close call. The masked man was following us."
Jong-Su nodded, his expression grim. "We managed to lose him, but he’s not going to give up. We need to be on high alert."
Ye Joon stepped forward, his face set with determination. "What did you find out?"
Ji-Yeong and Jong-Su shared the details of their encounter and the information they had gathered. As they spoke, the group’s resolve hardened. They knew the stakes were high, but they were ready to face whatever came their way.
"We need a new plan," Ji-Yeong said, looking around at his friends. "One that will keep us safe and help us take down the masked man once and for all."
Chin-Sun stepped forward, her eyes filled with determination. "We’re in this together. We’ll do whatever it takes."
Jong-Su nodded, his expression fierce. "Agreed. Let’s do this."
---
The group spent the next few hours strategizing, their minds focused on the task at hand. They knew the road ahead would be dangerous, but they were ready to face it together.
As the night wore on, Ji-Yeong found himself alone with Chin-Sun. He glanced at her, his heart swelling with affection. "You were really brave today," he said softly. "I’m proud of you."
Chin-Sun smiled, her eyes shining. "I’m just doing my part. We’re a team, right?"
"Right," Ji-Yeong replied, feeling a surge of warmth. "And we’ll get through this. Together."
---
As they prepared for the next phase of their plan, Ji-Yeong couldn’t help but feel a sense of hope. They had faced danger and come out stronger, and he knew that together, they could overcome anything.
The high-speed chase had been a test of their skills and their resolve, but it had also brought them closer together. And as they moved forward, they were more determined than ever to bring the masked man to justice and protect the ones they loved.
Chin-Sun had been practicing Min's songs tirelessly for weeks. Her singing lessons with Ji-Yeong had been grueling, but she was starting to feel more confident. Tonight was a big performance, and she couldn't afford to make any mistakes.
As she stood backstage, she took deep breaths, trying to calm her nerves. The Prism members were busy with their pre-show rituals, but they occasionally glanced her way with supportive smiles. Ji-Yeong, as usual, was focused and intense, going over the setlist with the stage manager.
"You got this, Chin-Sun," Jong-Su said, giving her a thumbs up.
"Just remember to relax and have fun."
"Thanks, Jong-Su," she replied with a nervous smile.
"I'll do my best."
Ji-Yeong walked over, his expression serious. "Remember to hit the high notes with confidence. You've practiced this enough times."
Chin-Sun nodded, feeling a mix of anxiety and determination.
"I will. Thanks, Ji-Yeong."
The lights dimmed, and the crowd's roar grew louder. The Prism took the stage, and Chin-Sun followed, her heart pounding in her chest. As the music started, she found her rhythm, moving and singing just like Min. The fans didn't seem to notice any difference, and that gave her a boost of confidence.
Everything was going smoothly until they reached the song that had the highest notes. Chin-Sun took a deep breath, preparing herself for the challenging part. She closed her eyes and sang with all her might, but just as she reached the high note, her voice cracked unexpectedly.
It was loud and clear, and the audience fell into a stunned silence for a moment before bursting into laughter. Chin-Sun's face turned bright red, and she glanced at Ji-Yeong, who was trying to hide a smirk.
"Keep going," he mouthed, trying to encourage her.
Chin-Sun pushed through, finishing the song despite the embarrassing mishap. When the song ended, the audience erupted in applause and cheers, but the jokes started immediately.
"Did Min hit puberty again?" one fan shouted, causing another wave of laughter.
Another fan yelled,
"I knew our oppa was young at heart!"
Chin-Sun tried to laugh it off, but she could feel her embarrassment rising. As they moved into the next song, she focused harder, determined not to let it happen again.
Backstage, during a quick break, Ji-Yeong approached her. "You did well, despite the crack. Just focus and don't let it get to you."
"Thanks, Ji-Yeong," she said, trying to smile. "I'll do better."
The rest of the concert went without any further incidents, and by the end of the night, Chin-Sun felt a bit more relaxed. The fans had enjoyed the show, and despite the voice crack, she had managed to pull off a convincing performance as Min.
After the concert, the group gathered in their dressing room. Jong-Su handed Chin-Sun a bottle of water and patted her on the back. "You were great out there. Don't let that one note bother you."
Ye Joon chimed in, "Yeah, it happens to the best of us. Besides, the fans seemed to think it was funny."
Chin-Sun sighed. "I just hope they don't think something's wrong with Min."
Ji-Yeong crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. "The fans have already started making jokes about it. They'll probably think it's just a funny moment. No big deal."
Ho-Sook entered the room, a bemused expression on her face. "Well, it seems like Min's sudden puberty is the talk of the fan forums. But overall, the concert was a success."
Chin-Sun groaned. "Great, now I'm a meme."
Jong-Su laughed. "Hey, at least you're a famous meme. That's something, right?"
Chin-Sun couldn't help but laugh along with him. "I guess so. Thanks, guys."
Ji-Yeong nodded. "Just keep working on your singing. You're doing well, but there's always room for improvement."
Chin-Sun appreciated his straightforwardness, even if it was sometimes harsh. "I will. Thanks, Ji-Yeong."
The group spent the rest of the evening unwinding and talking about the concert. Despite the mishap, they were all proud of how Chin-Sun had handled herself. It was a small setback, but it hadn't derailed their mission.
The next day, the jokes about Min's voice crack were all over social media. Memes, fan art, and playful comments flooded their accounts. Chin-Sun couldn't help but laugh at some of the more creative ones.
"Look at this one," Jong-Su said, showing her a meme of Min with exaggerated features and the caption, "When puberty hits you at the worst time."
Chin-Sun giggled. "Okay, that one is pretty funny."
As the days went by, the jokes started to die down, and the fans moved on to other topics. Chin-Sun continued her rigorous training, determined to master Min's songs and performance style.
One evening, during a particularly intense rehearsal, Ji-Yeong called for a break. "Let's take five. Chin-Sun, I want to go over that high note again."
Chin-Sun nodded, wiping sweat from her forehead. "Okay."
As the others took a break, Ji-Yeong stayed with her, going over the song note by note. "You're improving, but you need to control your breathing better."
"I know," Chin-Sun said, focusing on his instructions. "I just get nervous sometimes."
"Don't be," Ji-Yeong replied. "You have the talent, you just need to trust yourself more."
His words were encouraging, and Chin-Sun felt a surge of determination. "Thanks, Ji-Yeong. I'll keep working on it."
As they resumed their rehearsal, Chin-Sun felt more confident. She knew there would be more challenges ahead, but with the support of The Prism and her own determination, she was ready to face them.
The Prism's journey to uncover the truth and bring justice to Min was far from over. But each small victory, even the humorous mishaps, brought them closer to their goal. And for Chin-Sun, every step of the way was a chance to prove herself and grow stronger, both as a performer and as part of the team.