Highway to Seoul

The rain fell hard on the windshield. Min kept his eyes on the road. The highway stretched out ahead, dark and slick. The city lights of Gyeongju faded behind him. He felt the weight of the envelope in his lap. The paper inside was still half‑read. The warning note from the mysterious man was folded in his pocket. He could not forget his sister's voice. Soo‑jin had begged him to meet at the warehouse. He had turned away. He told himself the board meeting was the only chance to save the company. The board meeting was in Seoul, early morning. He needed to be there before sunrise.

The car hummed under his hands. He shifted gears smoothly. The unknown car behind him kept its lights low. It followed at the same speed. Min tried to ignore it. He focused on the road. He thought of his grandmother, Sun‑hee. Her voice on the tape had been soft and worried. She had asked him to help the family. He had promised to think about it. He had not spoken to her since he left. He wondered if she was still alive. He felt a pang of guilt.

The highway curveed through a low hill. The rain turned into a mist. The headlights cut through the fog. Min saw a sign for a toll booth ahead. He could not afford to stop. The board meeting was in a few hours. He had no time to waste. He pressed the accelerator. The sedan surged forward. The car behind him did the same.

A sudden flash of headlights appeared in his rearview mirror. The unknown car was now close enough to see the outline of its driver. The driver wore a dark coat, the same as the man who had warned him. Min's heart thumped hard. He wondered if the rival was finally catching up. He tried to remember the warning note: "Do not trust the man in the coat." He had no idea who to trust.

Min reached the toll booth. The barrier was open. He slowed just enough to pay. He fumbled for cash, but his wallet was empty. He reached for his phone to call Park Dong‑won for help, but the signal was weak. A voice crackled: "...Dong‑won?" He whispered, "Dong‑won, it's Min. I need a favor."

The line died. The rain hammered the car. He saw the car behind him slow. It stopped a few meters back. The driver rolled down the window. A hand reached in, holding a small black box. Min could not see what was inside. The hand tightened around the box, then the driver lifted his head. A face was hidden behind a baseball cap. The cap was dark, the eyes hidden.

Min felt a cold shiver. He could not see the man's face, but he could feel the danger. He thought about the board meeting. He could not afford to be delayed. He could not afford to be captured. He thought about the envelope. He could read the rest of the note later. Right now, his focus was on staying alive.

He glanced at the road ahead. The highway entered a long tunnel. The tunnel lights flickered. The unknown car stayed still, its engine humming. Min could hear the faint sound of the box being moved. He realized the driver might be planning something. He could try to speed through the tunnel and lose the car. He could also try to stop and talk. He could also pull over at the next exit and hide.

He made a quick decision. He pressed the gas pedal hard. The sedan roared into the tunnel. The rain was gone, replaced by the echo of his engine. The lights above his head were white and harsh. The car behind him followed, but its speed seemed to lag. Min felt the car shake as he pushed it faster. The tunnel curved left, then right. He could hear the faint click of the box being opened.

A sudden flash of red light filled the tunnel. A police cruiser appeared, lights flashing, blocking the lane. The police officer shouted through the intercom, "Pull over!"

Min slammed the brakes. The sedan screeched to a halt. The unknown car behind him also stopped, but the driver did not move. The police officer stepped out, his boots echoing on the concrete. He raised his hand, pointing a gun toward Min's car.

Min's breath caught. He could see the officer's gun glint in the dim light. He could also see the driver in the other car reaching for something under the seat. The box the driver had held was now gone. Min realized the driver might have taken a weapon.

The officer shouted again, "Hands where I can see them!"

Min lifted his hands slowly. He tried to stay calm. He could feel the envelope pressing against his thigh. He could feel the folded warning note in his pocket. He wondered if the warning note had any truth about the man in the coat.

The officer stepped closer, his gun still trained on the sedan. He glanced at the other car. The driver lowered his cap, revealing a face Min recognized. It was Park Dong‑won.

Min's mind raced. Park Dong‑won, his loyal employee, had been at the shop earlier. He had never seen him in a police uniform. He wondered if Dong‑won was part of a trap. The officer turned his gun toward Dong‑won. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.

Dong‑won raised his hands, holding the empty box. "I was trying to protect you," he said, voice shaking. "They sent me to watch you. The board... they have hired men to stop you."

The officer stared at Dong‑won, then at Min. The tension was thick. The rain outside the tunnel drummed on the concrete. The clock on the dashboard showed 04:12 a.m.

Min knew the board meeting was in a few hours. He knew Seoul was still far away. He knew his sister was waiting with proof. He knew his grandmother needed him. He also knew the police could arrest him for leaving the country without permission. He felt trapped between the officer, Dong‑won, and the unknown threat.

A distant siren wailed. It grew louder. Another police car entered the tunnel, its lights flashing. The officer raised his gun higher, aiming at the sedan's driver side door.

Min's heart hammered. He could try to talk his way out, he could try to drive away, he could try to hide in the tunnel, or he could call Soo‑jin for help. The choices were all risky.

He braced for what would happen next.