Scene 1: The Warehouse

The warehouse smelled of dust and old wood, the kind of place that had been abandoned long enough to collect stories but not long enough to be forgotten. Seo-Jun stood near the entrance, arms crossed, his gaze darting from the stacks of crates to the worn-out couch shoved against the wall.

There was a surprising amount of supplies scattered around—bottled water, canned food, even a small first aid kit. But what really caught his attention were the weapons. A knife lay on the table beside an unloaded pistol, and in the corner, a locked metal case that looked suspiciously like it belonged to someone who dealt in dangerous business.

Nikolai, on the other hand, looked far too comfortable. He had thrown himself onto the couch, stretching his arms behind his head as if he were lounging in his own home rather than hiding out from god-knows-who.

Seo-Jun frowned. “You’ve been here before.”

Nikolai smirked but didn’t deny it. “I have places.”

Seo-Jun narrowed his eyes. “You’re being really vague for someone who just ruined my life.”

The amusement in Nikolai’s face didn’t fade. “You ruined your life when you decided to help me, Teach.”

Seo-Jun let out a sharp breath and turned away, rubbing his temple.

Scene 2: The Reality Hits Hard

He sat down heavily on a wooden crate, his head in his hands. The weight of the situation was pressing down on him like an avalanche.

His students would probably think he was missing. His coworkers might have started asking questions. His phone—he dug through his pocket—was still dead.

He couldn’t call anyone.

He was stuck.

“Okay, seriously.” He lifted his head, his voice sharper than he intended. “Who the hell are you?”

Nikolai exhaled through his nose, rubbing a hand over his face before meeting Seo-Jun’s gaze. “Long story.”

Seo-Jun let out a frustrated laugh. “You think I have somewhere else to be?”

Nikolai studied him for a moment, then shrugged. “Fair enough.”

Scene 3: A Glimpse Into Nikolai’s Past

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. Nikolai leaned back against the couch, staring at the ceiling, his fingers tapping lazily against his knee.

Then he said, “Let’s just say I was born into the wrong family.”

Seo-Jun arched an eyebrow. “Mafia?”

Nikolai’s lips curled into a half-smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Something like that.”

Seo-Jun scoffed. “You don’t seem like the mafia type.”

That made Nikolai chuckle. “And you don’t seem like the type to bring home a half-dead criminal, yet here we are.”

Seo-Jun pressed his lips together, unwilling to admit that he had a point.

Scene 4: A Test of Survival Instincts

Seo-Jun sighed, rubbing his face. His whole life had turned into a crime drama overnight, and he had no idea how to navigate it.

He was still lost in thought when something whizzed past his ear.

A sharp thunk followed, and when he turned, there was a knife lodged in the wooden beam inches from his head.

Seo-Jun went rigid. “WHAT THE HELL?!”

Nikolai sat casually on the couch, twirling another knife between his fingers. “You flinched. That’s bad.”

Seo-Jun stared at him, then at the knife. “ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?!”

Nikolai shrugged. “If I wanted you dead, you’d be dead. Relax.”

Seo-Jun let out a strangled noise before storming over to yank the knife from the wall. “If you throw one more knife, I swear I’m stabbing you with it.”

He flung it back at Nikolai—badly.

It landed two feet away.

Nikolai burst into laughter. “We need to work on that, Teach.”

Seo-Jun groaned.

Scene 5: The Safe House Isn’t Safe

For the first time that night, silence settled between them.

Seo-Jun dropped onto the couch, pressing his fingers against his temple.

Nikolai’s voice was softer when he finally spoke. “Try to get some rest. We move tomorrow.”

Seo-Jun frowned. “Move? Why?”

Before Nikolai could answer—BANG.

A loud noise.

Then footsteps. Outside.

Seo-Jun froze.

Someone found them.

Nikolai was already on his feet, gun in hand. His voice was deadly calm.

“Change of plans, Teach.”

“Teach, Get Ready to Fight.”

Seo-Jun stared at him. “W-We’re fighting?! What do you mean fight?!”

Nikolai tossed him a knife.

Seo-Jun stared at it like it was a bomb.

“What am I supposed to do with this?”

“Defend yourself.”

“AGAINST WHO? THE YAKUZA?!”

Before Nikolai could answer, the door burst open.

Scene 6: Fight or Flight 

Four men stormed in, dressed in black.

Nikolai moved fast, taking down the first one in seconds.

Seo-Jun? He SCREAMED and dived under a table.

“Nikolai, DO SOMETHING!”

“I AM!”

Seo-Jun scrambled backward as a man lunged at him.

He kicked wildly—and accidentally nailed the guy in the face.

The man staggered.

Seo-Jun blinked. “Oh.”

Seo-Jun ran toward the kitchen area.

His hands landed on the first thing he could grab—a frying pan.

One of the men laughed.

“You gonna hit me with that?”

Seo-Jun gripped it tightly. “Bring it on.”

CLANG.

The man stumbled, dazed.

Seo-Jun gasped. “Oh my god, I think I killed him.”

The man groaned.

Seo-Jun panicked and hit him again.

He collapsed.

Nikolai glanced over, dodging another punch.

“Not bad, Teach.”

Scene 7: “Young Master, You Need to Stop.”

One of the men suddenly hesitated.

“Young Master, stop it! You need to go home!”

Seo-Jun froze.

Young Master?

He turned to Nikolai, stunned.

“Young Master?!”

Nikolai sighed. “Ignore him.”

“IGNORE HIM?! I’VE BEEN HELPING SOME KIND OF MAFIA PRINCE?!”

More cars arrived outside.

Nikolai grabbed Seo-Jun’s arm.

“Time to go.”

“No kidding!”

They ran into the alleyways.

Seo-Jun was dying. “I CAN’T KEEP RUNNING FOR MY LIFE!”

Nikolai didn’t even break a sweat. “Then run faster.”

Scene 8: A High-Speed Getaway

They stopped at an old garage.

Nikolai pulled a tarp off a motorcycle.

Seo-Jun’s eyes widened.

“Oh hell no.”

Nikolai tossed him a helmet.

“It’s either this or getting shot.”

Seo-Jun groaned, putting it on.

“I hate my life.”

The engine roared.

Mafia cars followed.

Seo-Jun screamed