Chapter 1
Chapter 1
**“He’s sprinting toward the dark alley on the right! Take the shortcut!”**
**Me:** Got it.
Without hesitation, I bolted forward, my legs moving on pure instinct. The city was alive with the hum of traffic, and the night air was thick with the sounds of distant car horns and hurried footsteps. My heart raced as I dashed across the busy streets, narrowly avoiding a speeding taxi that swerved just inches from me. I felt the cold rush of wind against my face, the sound of my sneakers pounding against the wet pavement echoing in the empty alleyways.
Then, I spotted him—a man, tall and broad-shouldered, weaving through the night like a shadow. I was closing in. With one final burst of energy, I reached out, grabbing his arm and throwing him to the ground with a loud thud. It was only when I heard the crash that I realized how hard I’d tackled him. His face was contorted in surprise, and I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of triumph.
**Me (thinking):** *How did I end up here?*
You’re probably wondering why I was chasing some stranger down an alley, right? Let me rewind a little—this is not the life I ever imagined.
I’m John Maree, a secret government agent working for the South Korean government. My life is... far from ordinary. But let me tell you, this wasn’t always the case. If you’d asked me a year ago, I would have told you my life was perfect. But **perfect** is a mirage, isn’t it?
My parents were the most loving, supportive people a kid could ask for. I never doubted their affection, their care. Then there was my sister, Vienna—**cruel**, **self-absorbed**, and always too busy with her own life to care about anything or anyone else. Vienna was ten years older than me, and she treated me like a nuisance. She was in university, living it up with her friends, partying through the night while I stayed home, dealing with my mischievous, **clumsy** little brother, Brian,5 years younger than me.
**Me:** *Why do I always have to babysit him?*
But that’s just the way it was. While Vienna was out partying until dawn, I was stuck with Brian—who had the tendency to get into all sorts of trouble. He was **adorable**, sure, but let’s face it—he was a handful. I loved him, of course, but my life felt like one constant cycle of cleaning up after him, fixing his mistakes, and making sure he didn’t burn down the house while I wasn’t looking.
Then, at 10 years old, I did something extraordinary. I was **brilliant**—already a seventh-grade student, and I managed to earn straight A’s, without even breaking a sweat. I wasn’t just academically gifted, though; I was a prodigy. I spoke **perfect** English at the age of two. People would often look at me and ask how a ten-year-old could talk like an adult.
I spent a lot of time with my best friend, Yakuzi—an **introverted** boy two years older than me. Yakuzi was from Japan, and we connected on a deeper level. I never judged him for his reserved nature. He was **quiet**, **serious**, but also the most loyal friend I could ever have.
But as much as I loved Yakuzi, things at home were always tense. And when things went south, it all started to unravel.
