Fate in the Rain

The Man on the Tracks

The KTX train stood frozen on the tracks, its alarms blaring into the cold night, the Korean countryside a dark blur beyond the open emergency door. Kang Min-jae’s heart pounded as he gripped Soo-jin’s hand, her breath ragged beside him. Lee Soo-kyung stood on the gravel below, her g*n steady, her sharp features illuminated by the train’s flickering lights. Beside her was the scarred man, his face weathered yet hauntingly familiar, his eyes fixed on Soo-jin with a mix of sorrow and command. “Soo-jin,” he said again, his voice heavy, “it’s time to come home.”Soo-jin’s body stiffened, her backpack—holding the USB drive and documents that could topple her father’s empire—clutched tightly to her chest. “Who are you?” she demanded, her voice shaking with defiance and confusion. “My home is not with you.”Min-jae’s mind raced, the letter from Soo-jin’s mother, Hye-jin, to his own mother, Eun-ji, burning in his memory: The evidence is in Busan. Ji-hoon’s revelation about Soo-jin’s uncle, Lee Min-soo, supposedly dead but alive, echoed alongside the scarred man’s words. Was this him? The uncle who’d faked his death to escape Choi Enterprises? Or another of her father’s enforcers, sent to drag them back?Behind them, Joon-ho’s struggle with Ji-hoon filled the train car, the clatter of their fight drowned out by passenger shouts and the screeching alarms. Joon-ho’s men blocked the car’s exits, their silhouettes dark against the flickering lights. Min-jae’s bag, with the unsigned Choi Foundation contract, felt heavier than ever—a reminder of the life he’d rejected for Soo-jin’s fight. The emergency stop had bought them seconds, but they were cornered, the tracks outside offering no cover.“Min-jae,” Soo-jin whispered, her eyes locked on the scarred man. “We can’t let them take us.”He nodded, his pulse hammering. “Stay behind me,” he said, stepping toward the open door, shielding her from Soo-kyung’s g*n. His eyes flicked to Ji-hoon, pinned by Joon-ho but still fighting, his knife glinting on the floor. “Ji-hoon!” Min-jae shouted. “We need you!”Ji-hoon kicked free, grabbing the knife and slashing at Joon-ho’s arm. Joon-ho cursed, blood staining his tailored coat, giving Ji-hoon a chance to scramble toward Min-jae and Soo-jin. “Go!” Ji-hoon yelled, his voice hoarse. “I’ll hold them off!”Min-jae didn’t hesitate. He pulled Soo-jin through the open door, leaping onto the gravel below. The cold air hit like a slap, the countryside’s darkness swallowing the train’s glow. Soo-kyung raised her g*n, but the scarred man grabbed her arm, his voice sharp. “Not yet,” he said. “We need them alive.”Soo-jin stumbled on the gravel, Min-jae steadying her as they sprinted toward a cluster of trees lining the tracks. The train’s alarms faded, replaced by the crunch of their footsteps and the distant howl of a siren. Ji-hoon’s shouts echoed behind, followed by a gunshot that made Min-jae’s heart lurch. Had Ji-hoon been hit? There was no time to look back.They ducked into the trees, the scent of pine and damp earth thick in the air. Soo-jin’s breath came in gasps, her eyes wide with panic. “That man,” she said, her voice trembling. “His voice—I’ve heard it before. When I was a kid, before my mother left.”Min-jae’s mind spun. “Your uncle?” he asked, pulling her deeper into the woods. “Ji-hoon said he’s in Busan, but…”“I don’t know,” she admitted, her hand tightening on his. “But if he’s with Soo-kyung, he’s not on our side.”The trees thinned, revealing a narrow road cutting through the countryside, a flickering streetlamp casting a weak glow. Min-jae scanned the darkness, his instincts screaming they weren’t safe. The sirens grew louder, likely police responding to the train’s emergency stop, but Min-jae didn’t trust them—Choi Enterprises’ reach was long. “We need to keep moving,” he said. “Find a way to Busan.”Soo-jin nodded, pulling the burner phone from her backpack. “My contact—my uncle, if Ji-hoon’s right. I need to warn him.” She dialed, her hands shaking, but the call went to voicemail. “No answer,” she whispered, fear creeping into her voice.A rustle in the trees made them freeze. Min-jae pulled Soo-jin behind a boulder, his heart pounding as footsteps approached. A flashlight beam swept the ground, and Soo-kyung’s voice cut through the night. “They’re close,” she said. “Fan out. The boss wants them alive, but accidents happen.”The scarred man’s voice followed, softer but firm. “No accidents, Soo-kyung. She’s family.”Min-jae’s breath caught. Family. The word confirmed it—the scarred man was Lee Min-soo, Soo-jin’s uncle. But why was he with Soo-kyung, the woman tied to Min-jae’s mother’s death? The letter, the evidence, their mothers’ alliance—it all pointed to a betrayal deeper than they’d imagined.Soo-jin’s eyes met his, her face pale but resolute. “We can’t trust him,” she whispered. “Not until we know the truth.”Min-jae nodded, his mind racing for a plan. The road ahead led to a small town, its lights faint in the distance. If they could reach it, they might find a bus or a ride to Busan. But Soo-kyung’s flashlight was closing in, her footsteps deliberate. Min-jae spotted a ditch running parallel to the road, overgrown with weeds. “There,” he whispered, pointing. “Stay low.”They slid into the ditch, the cold mud soaking through their clothes. The flashlight beam passed overhead, Soo-kyung’s voice fading as she moved toward the trees. Min-jae’s hand found Soo-jin’s, their fingers intertwining, a silent promise to keep going. The lock on Namsan’s fence, their vow to return, felt like a distant dream, but it fueled him.They crawled along the ditch, the town’s lights growing closer. A gas station appeared, its neon sign flickering, a single employee dozing at the counter. Min-jae helped Soo-jin out of the ditch, her face streaked with mud but fierce with determination. “We can hitch a ride,” she said, scanning the empty lot. “Or steal a car.”Min-jae raised an eyebrow, a faint smile breaking through his tension. “Steal a car? You’re full of surprises, Choi.”She managed a small smile, her eyes softening. “You’re rubbing off on me, rain boy.”The moment of levity vanished as headlights flared behind them. A black SUV screeched into the lot, Joon-ho stepping out, his arm bandaged from Ji-hoon’s knife. Lee Soo-kyung and the scarred man—Lee Min-soo—followed, their faces grim. But it was the figure emerging last that stopped Min-jae cold: Ji-hoon, his hands bound, blood dripping from a gash on his forehead.“Min-jae!” Ji-hoon shouted, struggling against his captors. “They knew about the train! Someone sold us out!”Joon-ho’s smile was venomous. “Smart boy,” he said, his eyes on Soo-jin. “But you’re out of moves. Hand over the bag, Soo-jin, and maybe your friend lives.”Soo-jin’s grip on her backpack tightened, the USB drive inside their only leverage. Min-jae stepped in front of her, his voice steady despite the fear. “You’re not taking her,” he said. “Or the evidence.”Lee Min-soo stepped forward, his scarred face unreadable. “Soo-jin,” he said, his voice softer now. “I’m your uncle. I tried to protect you, to keep you out of this. But you’ve gone too far. Give me the drive, and we can end this without blood.”Soo-jin’s eyes narrowed, her voice cutting. “If you’re my uncle, why are you with her?” She nodded at Soo-kyung, whose g*n hadn’t wavered. “Why are you helping my father?”Min-soo’s expression flickered, pain crossing his features. “It’s not what you think,” he said. “Your mother wanted this—wanted you free. But there’s a cost. Give me the drive, and I’ll explain everything.”Min-jae’s heart pounded, Ji-hoon’s warning—Someone sold us out—ringing in his ears. The gas station’s lone employee had vanished, the sirens in the distance growing louder. They were surrounded, out of time. Min-jae’s eyes flicked to a rusty pickup truck parked nearby, its keys glinting in the ignition through the open window.“Soo-jin,” he whispered, his voice urgent. “The truck. On my signal.”She nodded, her eyes locked on his, trust anchoring them. Min-jae counted silently—one, two, three—and bolted for the truck, pulling Soo-jin with him. Joon-ho shouted, Soo-kyung’s g*n barked, and a bullet grazed the ground near Min-jae’s feet. They dove into the truck, Min-jae slamming the key into the ignition as Soo-jin scrambled into the passenger seat.The engine roared to life, tires screeching as Min-jae floored it, the SUV’s headlights blinding in the rearview. Ji-hoon’s shout echoed—“Run!”—before another gunshot silenced him. Soo-jin’s breath caught, her eyes glistening. “Ji-hoon,” she whispered, her voice breaking.Min-jae’s hands shook on the wheel, the road blurring as he sped toward the town. The SUV followed, its engine a low growl. “We’ll make it,” he said, more to convince himself than her. “Busan. The evidence. We’ll finish this.”But as they rounded a bend, a figure stood in the road, illuminated by the truck’s headlights—a woman, her auburn hair glinting, her face eerily familiar. Soo-jin gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “Mother?” she whispered, as the figure raised a hand, signaling them to stop.