Taming the Beast in the Backwoods
I'd love to crash for a day because I'm so damn tired, but after hearing I could drop dead any second, I can't relax enough to sleep. I swing by a convenience store in a rush, grab an energy drink, and hit the road right away.
"How long's the drive? I'm so sleepy I'm about to keel over."
93 miles. About 150 km.
I'm gonna lose my mind. "If I fall asleep, you take the wheel, got it?"
Understood.
I was a bit worried about dozing off, but as the caffeine kicked in, my head cleared right up. Once I got out of the city and onto the highway, a vast stretch of open road unfolded—one you rarely see in Korea.
"Perfect for flooring it—as long as the cops don't catch me."
I kept just under the speed limit, enjoying the Mustang's roar, when I pulled onto the shoulder. Glancing at the nav, the destination was close.
"Lemme see... about 6 miles left."
Almost there. "I figured he wouldn't be in the city since he sold his house, but damn, this is the middle of nowhere."
9 km more to the destination. Want to catch a quick nap?
"Nah, the thought of dying snapped me awake."
The North Carolina twilight cast long shadows as the sun dipped low, the Mustang's guttural exhaust shattering the forest silence. Kicking up red dust, the car screeched to a halt in front of a rundown fabric warehouse.
"Athena, we here?"
Yes, that's the old fabric warehouse you see.
The area was wide open, but no houses or buildings nearby—perfect spot for a shootout where no one would notice.
Master, I just detected an optical lens reflection from the second-floor window.
Chills ran down my spine. One wrong move and I'd be joining my parents. I shrugged off my jacket casually, rummaging slowly in the trunk for my gear.
They won't shoot while I'm doing this, right?
Probably not.
I stuffed everything into my briefcase and headed toward the warehouse, my heart pounding twice as fast.
You wanna take over now? I can't do this for real.
Understood.
Control shifted to Athena, switching me to a first-person gamer view. Step by step, I approached the warehouse—no bullets flew. I knocked—thud thud thud—and the door cracked open, revealing a bearded giant.
"What."
His voice alone made me want to bolt.
"Jacob Blackwood. I have a proposal for you."
Athena said it cool as ice, unfazed. The door swung wide, and suddenly my collar was in his fist as he slammed me against the wall.
"How do you know my name? Who sent you? Answer in three seconds or I'll put a hole in your gut."
Sensation returned to my body, the cold metal pressing into my stomach crystal clear.
Fuck. We're screwed, aren't we?
Don't worry, Master. I'm good at threats too.
Gun to my gut, but Athena replied calmly.
"Jacob, you don't have time to threaten me. Ethan's oxygen saturation is dropping right now. Seizure in about a minute—gonna arm-wrestle me over it?"
"...What the hell are you? How do you know that?"
"Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is I can save your son."
"Bullshit. We've tried everything and failed. You think you can do it?"
He was way more rattled than the spec-ops guys in movies.
This guy's pretty worked up, huh?
With his own kid on death's door, even a human weapon can't stay cool.
"At this rate, Ethan won't last the month—hell, not even the week. Why not bet on this miracle called me?"
Jacob's face twisted in conflict before he finally released my collar.
"You've come this far—you've seen what this place is like."
"Of course."
"Then you know: fuck with my son, and I'll blow your brains out."
Mommy... The stuff I brought better work. Please say it does.
I'd never prayed this hard in my life. Hell, I'd reenlist before doing this twice.
With the giant aiming at my back, Athena calmly unpacked the gear from the bag.
"Austin Holdings' clinical drugs are garbage—they just suppress symptoms. But this? It devours tumors at the cellular level and rebuilds nerves."
Glancing back, Jacob still looked skeptical.
"Let's get started."
Five minutes after injecting Ethan with the drugs and nanobots, his ragged breathing evened out into peaceful slumber. The death-rattle gasps turned to normal sleep sounds.
"How's that?"
The bedside monitor showed all vitals normalizing. A heavy thud—I thought Jacob had shot me in the head, but it was just his gun hitting the floor.
Stepping aside, I watched tears stream down his face as he stroked Ethan's head and whispered his name.
"Ethan... Ethan, you okay?"
His voice was soft, the total opposite of the threats he'd hurled at me. Cognitive dissonance hit hard.
How's it going? Success?
Yes, treatment complete. Now step out and seal the deal.
I'd half-expected a shallow grave in these North Carolina woods instead of Korea. Dodged a bullet there.
In what seemed like the living room, I scanned the warehouse interior as Jacob emerged from the bedroom. Tear tracks on a face that could snap an adult man in half? Super awkward. And control of my body returned.
...Hey. You started this—you finish it.
I mentally begged Athena, but silence. Sighing, I turned to Jacob.
"How's he doing?"
I expected a status update, but he strode over and dropped to his knees.
"Forgive my rudeness earlier. God or devil, I don't care—my life is yours now."
His 180 from ten minutes ago was jarring, but saving his dying kid? Maybe this was normal.
"Get up. I didn't save him to make you kneel."
He looked up, eyes no longer hollow and anxious but filled with a warrior's resolve.
"As I said, my life is yours. What do you want? Who do I kill?"
His intensity caught me off guard. No fumbling now—I played it cool.
"I didn't save your son to turn you into an assassin. Stand up first."
I helped him up and we sat on the sofa for the real talk.
"Let me introduce myself. Kwon Hyuk, from Korea."
"Korea?"
He'd clearly pegged me for CIA or military, so the surprise made sense.
"Yeah, not sent by the CIA or the army—relax."
"Then why seek me out..."
"I need someone to protect me. Shopped around, and you caught my eye."
Athena did all the legwork, but I spun the bullshit smoothly.
"Korea's got plenty of great bodyguards and spec-ops vets. Why fly to America for a deserter like me?"
His sharp question landed, but I'd anticipated it while pacing earlier.
"It's not just about marksmanship. With my tech, I need a shadow who won't ping any governments or agencies. Someone who officially doesn't exist but is world-class in skill."
Doubt faded from his eyes.
"Plus, you can pledge loyalty—best of both worlds, right?"
"...So, loyalty and protection in exchange for saving my son."
"Call it a deal or salvation. The cancer's cured, but keeping Ethan stable? That's on me."
"I've already decided to give you everything. Anything, as long as it doesn't threaten my son."
"Good. Deal sealed."
Smoother and faster than expected. Nailed the recruit.
Now you handle the rest. I'm wiped.
Understood.
Control back to Athena, who issued orders with crisper pronunciation.
"First, relocate. I'll write an address—come here tomorrow."
She scribbled on warehouse paper—an address I'd never seen.
Where's this?
The hotel for tonight.
"Clean this place spotless before you come."
"Got it. Thank you again."
Tension gone, drowsiness doubled, but I gripped the wheel and headed to the hotel.
"He won't stab us in the back, right?"
As if. He knows Ethan's lifeline is in your hands—probability of betrayal is zero.
Sleepy brain wasn't firing right.
"Floor it a bit. Cop ticket? I'll pay the fine."
I barely remember checking in, but I woke to morning light.
"Whoa, never slept this hard in my life."
More exhausted than an army march—I'd collapsed without even showering.
You missed breakfast, so grab brunch out.
Paid good money for this hotel and missed the buffet? Almost cried, but my fault for sleeping 10 hours.
Quick wash, change—Athena directed me to the parking lot.
"Why parking? Restaurants nearby."
Jacob's waiting. Chat and head out.
There, next to the rented Mustang, sat a beat-up pickup. No tints in America—a burly guy inside. Tap tap tap on the window, click—the locks popped.
Sliding into the passenger seat, a clean-shaven, sharp-looking Jacob greeted me.
"Good morning, Boss."
No more sickly eyes—just piercing gaze and neat appearance. Much better. This must be his real face. Boss, huh? He'd decided on that overnight.
"First time anyone's called me that. Good morning, Jacob."
Back seat: Ethan glued to his phone, watching NewTube.
"Hey, Ethan."
He shyly avoided eye contact. Hurt a bit after saving him, but up and healthy beat bedridden any day. Worth it.