Chapter 16: Chapter 16: The Ghost and The Predator

The street was too quiet.

Not the peaceful kind of quiet—the kind that came before a storm.

Sky’s grip on the wheel tightened. His eyes swept the alley, assessing, calculating.

Joong and Dunk were trapped.

Joong crouched behind cover, expression focused, gun ready, but outnumbered.

Dunk was pressed against the wall, a hand clamped over his bleeding arm, breathing hard but still grinning like the idiot he was.

And then—five men surrounding them.

They were closing in. Slow. Confident.

Because they thought they had already won.

Sky exhaled once.

Then—he moved.

---

Silent. Precise. Deadly.

Sky stepped out of the car, his presence as a ghost in the night.

They didn’t see him.

They wouldn’t—until it was too late.

His footsteps were silent. Calculated. A predator moving through the dark.

The first man never even had a chance.

Sky’s arm snapped out.

His elbow slammed into the guy’s throat—a sharp, brutal hit that crushed air before a sound could escape.

The man choked, collapsing, hands clawing at his neck.

Sky didn’t stop.

Didn’t hesitate.

He caught the man’s gun before it hit the ground—

And fired.

The second man went down instantly.

Joong, watching from cover, smirked. "Took you long enough."

Dunk, still hunched against the wall, let out a breathless laugh. "Holy shit. I think I’m in love."

Sky ignored them.

He was already moving again.

---

The remaining men finally realized they weren’t alone.

Too late.

One turned—gun lifting—

Sky’s bullet found its mark first.

Three down.

The fourth one was smarter.

He didn’t shoot.

He lunged.

A blade flashed under the streetlight, aimed straight for Sky’s ribs.

Sky let him come.

At the last second, he twisted—

Caught the man’s wrist—

Yanked hard.

The knife clattered against the pavement.

Sky’s knee slammed into the man’s ribs with a sickening crack.

The man staggered, wheezing.

But Sky wasn’t done.

One final strike to the jaw.

The man crumpled.

Four down.

Joong exhaled sharply, adjusting his grip on his gun. “Damn, Captain.”

Dunk, still clutching his arm, grinned through the pain. “Okay, but tell me that wasn’t hot.”

Sky rolled his eyes. “Shut up, Dunk.”

Dunk winked. “Make me.”

Joong smacked him on the back of the head. “You’re literally bleeding. Can you flirt later?”

Dunk groaned. "So bossy, P'Joong. You could just say you’re jealous."

Joong looked seconds away from shooting Dunk himself.

Sky, meanwhile, was already turning toward the last man.

The fifth guy was running.

Sky’s gun lifted—

But Joong was faster.

A single, clean shot.

The man crashed onto the pavement.

Sky lowered his weapon. His voice was cold. "We’re done here."

Dunk groaned dramatically. "We should really start charging people to watch Sky fight."

Joong sighed, grabbing Dunk’s good arm to drag him toward the car. "Shut up, you’re bleeding. Get in."

-----

Back at HQ

The squad room was tense.

Santa and Perth stood near the screens, arms crossed, watching the entrance.

Nani was pacing. His hands clenched, unclenched. The restless energy of someone who couldn’t sit still, who was waiting for something—someone.

Then—the doors opened.

Sky stepped inside, calm as ever.

Joong followed, tossing his gun onto the table with a sigh. Dunk, still grinning despite the blood on his sleeve, flopped onto the couch.

But Nani—

Nani moved.

Before Sky could say a word, Nani was in front of him.

His hands lifted immediately, brushing over Sky’s jacket, his arms—searching.

Checking for injuries.

Sky stilled.

The squad did too.

Because Nani never did this.

Never let himself show this much.

“Are you okay?” Nani’s voice was low, tense.

Sky arched a brow. “I wasn’t the one bleeding.”

Dunk, slumped against the couch, groaned dramatically. “Thanks for the reminder, Captain.”

Nani didn’t laugh. Didn’t even look away from Sky.

Instead, his fingers brushed over Sky’s face.

A quick, instinctive movement.

Checking.

Sky caught his wrist—gently.

His voice softened just slightly. “I’m fine, Nani.”

The squad exchanged looks.

Joong leaned toward Santa, muttering under his breath. “Since when does he—”

Santa smirked. “Since Sky started letting him.”

Nani hesitated for a second longer.

Then, finally, he exhaled, pulling back.

Sky let him go.

---

Joong rolled his shoulders. “Alright, let’s patch up before we all collapse.”

Santa clapped his hands together. “I’m on Dunk duty.”

Dunk squinted at him. “What—”

Santa pushed him back onto the couch. “Sit still, dumbass.”

Dunk hissed as Santa peeled back the bloodied fabric. “You could be gentler, y’know.”

Santa smirked. “You’ll live.”

Perth, meanwhile, was already back at his monitors, fingers flying over the keyboard.

Sky crossed his arms. “What did we miss?”

Perth’s expression was unreadable. “You guys need to see this.”

---

The Face on the Screen

The air shifted as the surveillance footage played.

A dark alley. A grainy image. A figure standing just outside the streetlights.

Not attacking.

Not interfering.

Just watching.

Sky’s jaw tightened. “This isn’t one of the attackers.”

Joong muttered a curse. “Then who the hell is he?”

Santa squinted. “Looks like he’s been watching for a while.”

Dunk, now bandaged, tilted his head. “Kinda creepy.”

But Nani—

Nani went still.

Something in his chest tightened.

Because he knew this man.

The shape of his face.

The way he stood, unmoving.

The feeling of something just on the edge of memory.

But when he reached for the name—

Nothing.

Just static.

His pulse kicked up.

Joong’s voice cut through. “Nani?”

Nani’s mouth was dry. “…I know him.”

Sky’s gaze snapped at him.

Joong straightened. “Who is he?”

Nani’s hands curled into fists. “…I don’t know.”

Santa frowned. “You just said—”

“I know him,” Nani interrupted. His voice was tight. “But I can’t remember from where.”

Silence.

Then Perth’s voice, quieter now. “…You sure?”

Nani’s head tilted slightly, eyes still locked onto the screen.

There was something about the way the man stood.

Like he wasn’t afraid.

Like he belonged in the shadows.

Nani swallowed hard. “…Yeah.”

----

Before anyone could press further, the intercom buzzed.

“Chief Sakda wants you all in the conference room.”

Sky exchanged a look with Joong. That was fast.

Santa exhaled, stretching. “Guess we’re getting answers.”

Dunk groaned. “You mean more questions.”

Still, the squad moved.

But Nani lingered.

Just for a second longer.

Staring at the face of a man who knew him.

A man he should have known too.

And for the first time in a long time—

He was afraid to remember.

-----

The conference room was dimly lit, the air thick with unspoken weight.

At the center of the room, three men in dark suits were waiting.

Chief Sakda stood nearby, arms crossed, his usual relaxed demeanor now razor-sharp.

The squad filled the room with a guarded expression.

"Take a seat everyone"

Sky didn’t move. “Who the hell are they?”

One of the man tilted his head slightly. “Interpol.”

The room became colder than usual.

The atmosphere feel, tense, guarded. They weren’t just dealing with another department. This was Interpol.

Sky instincts buzzed. Something was off.

These weren’t just bureaucrats.

These were people who knew something they didn’t.

And then—the man in the center spoke.

“Captain Wongravee.”

Sky’s gaze snapped at him.

The lead agent was tall, lean, and dangerously composed. Mid-forties, sharp features, an air of quiet authority that demanded attention.

His ID was clipped to his jacket. "Agent Matteo Laurent. Interpol."

His tone was cool. Detached. But there was something behind it—something that made Sky’s instincts scream.

This man wasn't just here to share information.

He was here for Nani.

---

Santa leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "Interpol, huh? Must be serious if you guys are crawling out of your cushy offices."

Laurent didn’t blink. “It is.”

Perth’s fingers hovered over his tablet. "And why exactly is Interpol involved in our case?"

Laurent’s gaze flicked to him. "Because it’s not just your case anymore."

Silence.

Sky’s jaw clenched. "Then what is it?"

Laurent leaned forward slightly. “An unfinished operation.”

He turned his head—and his sharp gaze locked onto Nani.

And just like that—the air in the room changed.

---

Sky’s body went rigid. Joong straightened.

Dunk, still sore but alert, frowned. “Wait—what?”

Laurent didn’t take his eyes off Nani. "You were part of it."

Nani’s breath hitched.

His fingers curled against the table. "What?"

Laurent tilted his head slightly, studying him. "You don’t remember, do you?"

Nani felt something in his chest tighten.

Something dangerous.

Because he didn’t.

Not fully.

But something inside him reacted.

Sky felt the shift instantly. His fingers twitched at his side. “Start explaining. Now.”

Laurent exhaled slowly. “Three years ago, we know an informant embedded deep within the international drug network.”

He tapped the classified file in front of him.

“A ghost.”

Sky’s pulse spiked.

Joong exhaled sharply. Santa’s smirk faded. Perth’s fingers tightened on the table.

They all knew the stories.

The legend of the unnamed undercover operative. The one who dismantled entire drug rings without a trace.

And now—

Laurent looked directly at Nani.

“It was you.”

---

The Trigger

Something cracked.

The moment the words left Laurent’s mouth—

Nani felt it.

Like a dam breaking.

The room tilted. His pulse roared.

And then—

It hit.

---

The Flashbacks

Darkness.

Smoke.

The scent of blood and fire.

Gunshots—too loud.

Pain—too sharp.

And then—

A voice.

“Run, Nani.”

His breath hitched.

Another flash—someone grabbing his wrist. Dragging him through the chaos.

“Don’t look back.”

His pulse roared in his ears.

A gunshot—too close this time.

Then—

A body collapsing.

Red pooling beneath him.

His chest clenched, a sharp, twisting pain—

And just before the memory could fully take him—

The world tilted.

And then—everything went black.

---

Nani’s body lurched. His breath hitched sharply.

Sky was already moving. “Nani—”

Then—Nani collapsed.

Sky caught him before he hit the ground.

The squad snapped into action.

Joong’s chair scraped back. “Shit—what just happened?”

Santa took a step forward. “Is he—”

Sky’s hand tightened on Nani’s shoulder. “He’s breathing.”

Dunk, uncharacteristically serious, cursed under his breath. “That was not normal.”

Laurent watched carefully.

His voice was unreadable. “…It’s starting.”

Sky’s head snapped up. “What the hell do you mean?”

Laurent finally leaned back, arms crossed.

“He’s remembering.”

-----

Waking up

The first thing Nani felt was cold.

It settled deep in his chest, twisting through his ribs, curling into his spine.

He wasn’t sure if it was real or if it was just the memories creeping in.

Then came the voices. Distant. Muffled.

Someone was calling his name.

But that wasn’t the voice he heard in his head.

“Run, kid.”

Nani’s breath hitched.

The moment shattered—the memory slammed into him like a tidal wave.

---

Three Years Ago

The safe house was supposed to be secure.

Thanom had promised him that.

Nani had been running too long, too deep. After twelve years inside Thupa’s network, he was finally supposed to come home.

But instead—the walls exploded with gunfire.

Thanom shoved him hard against the floor. “Nani, MOVE—”

Too late.

A bullet ripped through his handler’s side.

Nani’s hands were on him instantly, pressing against the wound. “Captain—hold on, we’ll get you out—”

“Shut up.” Thanom’s breath was labored, but his grip was still strong. His fingers dug into Nani’s wrist, grounding him. “Listen to me.”

Nani was shaking his head. “No. You’re gonna be fine.”

Thanom’s lips twitched—that half-smirk he always had when he knew Nani was lying to himself. “You were always a stubborn brat.”

Nani’s chest ached. “Stop talking like that.”

But then—

Gunfire. Too close.

Nani snapped his head up—just in time to see Elias Carter—the Interpol agent—turn toward the sound.

“Cover me!” Elias shouted.

But there was no time.

Another gunshot—

Nani saw the blood bloom across Elias’s chest before he even felt himself scream.

Elias stumbled. Fell.

But even as he hit the ground, his hand was still reaching for Nani.

His lips parted. One last message.

“Don’t—trust—”

Then—nothing.

The light left his eyes.

Nani stopped breathing.

Because suddenly, it hit him—they’d been betrayed.

Someone sold them out.

Someone they trusted.

And then—everything was red.

Gunfire.

Blood.

Screaming.

Thanom’s grip tightened on his wrist, pulling him back.

“RUN, NANI!”

“No—”

“GO—”

Nani’s body finally obeyed.

He ran.

And he never stopped.

---

The Trauma

Nani woke up with a choked gasp.

His chest seized. His breath hitched. His vision swam between past and present.

He was trapped between both.

Gunfire in his head.

Elias’s body.

Thanom’s voice—

“Run, kid.”

Hands.

On his shoulders. Holding him steady.

He fought them instinctively, panic lashing out. “Let me—”

“Nani.”

The voice cut through the storm.

Familiar. Steady. Real.

Sky.

Nani’s breath shuddered.

“Breathe.” Sky’s grip wasn’t harsh. Wasn’t forceful. Just there. Unmoving.

Nani squeezed his eyes shut. His whole body was shaking.

Sky was still there. Still holding him.

“I—I couldn’t save them,” Nani whispered. His voice was wrecked.

Sky didn’t let go.

But when he spoke again, his voice was lower. Firmer.

“No.”

Nani froze.

Sky’s arms tightened—just slightly, just enough to keep him grounded.

“They died protecting you.”

A sharp breath hitched in Nani’s throat.

Sky exhaled slowly. “There’s a difference.”

Nani felt his control slipping.

His whole life, he had been running. Carrying the weight of ghosts he never talked about.

But now—Sky wasn’t letting him run.

Nani’s body gave up fighting.

His head dropped forward, pressing against Sky’s shoulder.

Sky let him.

Didn’t pull away.

Didn’t say anything else.

Just held him there.

Nani’s fingers curled into Sky’s jacket, gripping like it was the only thing keeping him tethered.

And maybe it was.

---

The Squad Watches

No one spoke.

Santa and Joong stood near the doorway, unreadable.

Dunk and Perth exchanged a glance—one that finally held understanding.

Because now, they got it.

Nani wasn’t just running from an old case.

He was running from ghosts.

From the people who had died for him.

And Sky—the only one who had seen it all up close—was the only one holding him together.

Joong exhaled, shaking his head. “…Damn.”

Santa’s smirk was nowhere to be seen. “Yeah.”

Dunk scratched his head, awkward. “…Should we, like… do something?”

Perth, voice quiet for once, muttered. “No. Let him have this.”

And for the first time, the squad stopped asking questions.

Because Nani was finally breaking.

And Sky wasn’t letting him fall alone.