weakness of queens - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

The city pulsed with an eerie quietness, as if it was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. The night had settled in, wrapping everything in its dark embrace, but for us, the darkness was home. The events of the previous night still lingered in our minds. That photograph, the ambush at the docks, the whispers of an enemy from our past-it was all starting to make sense.
We were being hunted.
But what they didn't realize was that we were the predators, not the prey.
The penthouse was silent except for the soft clink of glasses being set down on the marble counter. Lisa leaned against the bar, her fingers tapping rhythmically as she studied the spread-out files in front of us. Jisoo sat cross-legged on the couch, spinning a knife in her hands, while Irene stood near the window, her expression unreadable as she gazed at the city below.
"This isn't random," Rosé said finally, breaking the silence. "They've been planning this for years."
I leaned forward, my fingers tightening around the armrest of the chair. "We've made a lot of enemies, but this feels personal. This is someone who knows us. Someone who's been watching."
Jisoo smirked, tossing her knife in the air before catching it effortlessly. "Then let's turn the tables. If they want to play, we'll show them the real game."
Irene turned from the window, her eyes cold and calculating. "We find them first. And we end this."
A Lead in the Shadows
The club was packed, bodies swaying under dim, flickering neon lights. Music pounded through the air, the bass reverberating through the floors. But we weren't here for entertainment.
Lisa and I moved through the crowd, our presence commanding attention, though no one dared to approach. We weren't just anyone. We were the rulers of this city, and even in a place like this, power was an unspoken language.
At the VIP section, Seulgi was already waiting, a drink in her hand as she casually observed the room. She lifted her chin slightly, signaling towards a man seated in the far corner, his face partially hidden in the shadows.
"That's our guy," she murmured as we slid into the booth beside her.
I studied him carefully. He was nervous, his fingers tapping against his glass in an erratic rhythm. He knew something. And he was terrified.
I leaned forward, resting my arms on the table. "I hear you have information for me."
He swallowed hard, his eyes darting around the room as if he expected someone to drag him away at any moment. "I shouldn't be talking to you."
Lisa smirked, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. "But you are."
He exhaled shakily, then pulled out a crumpled piece of paper, sliding it across the table. I picked it up, unfolding it slowly. The name scrawled across the page made my blood run cold.
"They're back," he whispered. "And they want revenge."
I clenched my jaw, my grip tightening on the paper.
We had buried this enemy years ago.
Or so we thought.
Return of a Ghost
Back at the penthouse, the atmosphere was tense. Irene paced the room, her expression unreadable, while Jisoo leaned against the wall, her arms crossed.
"This isn't possible," Rosé murmured, staring at the name on the paper. "They disappeared. We made sure of it."
"Apparently, we missed something," I said, tossing the paper onto the table. "And now they're coming back to finish what they started."
Lisa exhaled sharply. "So what's the plan?"
Irene finally stopped pacing, turning to face us. "We find them first. And this time, we don't leave any loose ends."
Jisoo smirked, cracking her knuckles. "Now that's a plan I can get behind."
I met Irene's gaze, a silent understanding passing between us. We had fought too hard, built too much, to let someone from our past rip it away from us. This wasn't just about survival anymore.
This was about reclaiming our throne.
The First Strike
The warehouse was abandoned, the air thick with dust and the lingering scent of gasoline. It was the perfect place for a confrontation.
We moved silently, our weapons drawn, our footsteps barely making a sound against the concrete floor. The information we had gathered led us here, and if our enemy was truly back, this was where we'd find the first clue to their whereabouts.
A sudden noise made us freeze.
Lisa signaled to the left, and Jisoo nodded, moving swiftly into position. Rosé and Irene took the right, their movements precise, calculated. I stayed in the center, my gun raised, my senses sharp.
A shadow flickered across the room.
And then the lights exploded.
Glass shattered around us as the overhead bulbs burst, plunging the warehouse into darkness. My heart pounded, but I didn't panic. We had been in worse situations before.
Then, a voice echoed through the space, chillingly familiar.
"You should have finished the job when you had the chance, Jennie."
I stiffened, the grip on my gun tightening.
"I don't make the same mistake twice," I called back, my voice steady.
A low chuckle. "We'll see about that."
Gunfire erupted, bullets cutting through the darkness. I dove behind a stack of crates, firing back blindly. Lisa and Jisoo moved in sync, taking down the first wave of attackers while Irene and Rosé covered our flank.
A figure appeared in the shadows, barely visible. I took aim, but before I could pull the trigger, they disappeared into the darkness again. Whoever they were, they were toying with us.
Lisa cursed under her breath. "We need to get out of here. Now."
Irene fired one last shot before nodding. "Agreed. This was a warning."
We retreated quickly, moving as one, covering each other's backs as we made our way to the exit. The moment we stepped outside, an explosion rocked the building behind us, sending flames shooting into the sky.
Jisoo whistled, watching the fire rage. "Damn. They're making a statement."
I stared at the inferno, my heart pounding. "So are we."
Rosé exhaled, brushing dust off her jacket. "What's next?"
I turned to them, my determination burning brighter than ever. "We go to war."