The warehouse reeked of rust, gasoline, and desperation. Dim light flickered from a single overhead bulb, casting jagged shadows that danced across the concrete floor like phantoms. Tae-hyun stood motionless, a crowbar gripped tightly in his hand, the cold metal biting into his skin. Before him, a man slumped in a chair, bound and bloodied, his pristine suit now a ruined tapestry of sweat, dirt, and crimson streaks.
"You think this is justice?" the man rasped, spitting blood with every word. Despite his trembling voice, his eyes dared defiance. "You're just like me-a monster."
Tae-hyun stepped forward, his boots crunching on shards of broken glass. His shadow loomed large over the man, the crowbar glinting ominously in the pale light. "Justice?" he murmured, his tone a chilling calm that made the room feel even colder. "Justice is a fairy tale they tell children. What I'm after is something far more... visceral."
The man's bravado faltered, panic flickering in his eyes. "It wasn't personal," he pleaded, the words tumbling out in desperation. "It was just business!"
Tae-hyun chuckled darkly, the sound devoid of humor. "Business?" he repeated, his voice slicing through the air like a blade. He circled the chair slowly, his boots echoing off the walls, a predator toying with his prey. "Do you know what's not business? Holding my father's blood-soaked body in my arms while your men walked away laughing." He stopped behind the man, leaning in until his breath was hot against the man's ear. "I've spent every waking moment since that night tracing your steps. Your face. Your voice. Did you really think I'd let you live in peace?"
The man thrashed weakly against his bindings, his facade crumbling. "Please," he stammered, his voice breaking. "We can work something out-money, power, anything you want!"
Tae-hyun pulled back, regarding the man with icy disdain. "You think I want your bribes? Your filthy, bloodstained deals?" He raised the crowbar, letting the light dance across its surface. "What I want," he said slowly, savoring each word, "is for you to feel what I felt. Helpless. Hopeless. Burning."
A wicked smile spread across his face as he stepped toward the exit. "Burn it down," he ordered, his voice a death knell.
"No!" the man screamed, his voice raw with terror. "Tae-hyun, please! I'll do anything! Don't-"
But Tae-hyun didn't look back. The flames caught quickly, roaring to life as gasoline ignited, consuming the warehouse in a feral blaze. The man's desperate cries turned to guttural shrieks, echoing into the night before the fire silenced him.
THIS WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING ....