Coded Life - Jeonglix

Chapter 3: Into the Underworld

The ride to his mother's house was a blur. Jeongin sat in the backseat of Zeria's sleek black car, Felix in the passenger seat, Zeria behind the wheel, and the rest of her crew following closely in another vehicle. No one said much, and that suited Jeongin just fine. His mind was a storm of grief, confusion, and rage that he still hadn't quite figured out how to deal with.

The funeral had been a muted, somber affair. Just close family and the few friends his mother had trusted with her secrets. Jeongin barely remembered what had been said—he had stood there, stone-faced, as people told him how "strong" he was and how "proud" his mother would have been. He didn't want to hear any of it. None of them knew the truth. None of them knew who she really was or what she'd gotten involved in.

But Zeria knew. And now, so did he.

His hands clenched into fists in his lap as he stared out the window. The landscape blurred past, a sea of gray buildings and faded storefronts giving way to the quiet suburban streets leading to his mother's house. The house he'd grown up in. The place that, until a few days ago, had been a symbol of warmth, love, and safety.

Now, it felt like a lie.

Zeria glanced at him in the rearview mirror, her expression unreadable behind her sunglasses. "You ready for this?"

Jeongin didn't answer. He wasn't sure he'd ever be ready for what came next. But what choice did he have?

"We'll get in and out," Felix said softly, turning in his seat to look at Jeongin. "It's not going to be easy seeing the house like this, but we're here."

Jeongin gave a small nod, though he didn't trust his voice enough to speak. He hadn't been back to his mother's house since he'd started living on his own, and now it felt like he was returning as a different person. A stranger.

Zeria pulled up in front of the house and killed the engine. The others filed out of the second car behind them—Chan, Minho, Changbin, Hyunjin, Jisung, and Seungmin. They stood in a loose formation, waiting for Jeongin to take the first step.

He forced himself out of the car, his legs heavy as lead, and stared at the familiar house. Nothing had changed on the outside. The white paint, the well-maintained garden, the neatly trimmed hedges. It looked exactly the same, and yet... it wasn't.

Zeria came to stand beside him, her face hard as stone. "She kept her secrets well, Innie. No one outside of our circle ever suspected what really went on here."

Jeongin swallowed, his throat tight. "What's... inside?"

Zeria's lips pressed into a thin line. "Everything you need to know. Everything your mother never told you."

He wasn't sure whether he wanted to know or not. But this was his life now. Whether he liked it or not, there was no turning back.

"Let's get inside." Zeria's voice was quiet but firm as she led the way up the stone path to the front door. The others followed, a silent, watchful presence that made Jeongin's skin crawl. He wasn't used to this—being surrounded by dangerous people who had pledged themselves to protecting him. It felt wrong. He didn't want their protection, but it was clear he needed it.

The door clicked open, and Zeria stepped inside first, her hand resting lightly on the knife holstered at her waist. Felix followed close behind her, scanning the space with the sharp eye of a hunter. Jeongin lingered in the doorway, his breath catching in his throat.

The house smelled the same. A mix of lavender and freshly baked bread, like his mother had just stepped out to run errands and would be back any minute.

"Come on, Innie," Zeria called softly. "We don't have all day."

Jeongin steeled himself and stepped inside, the weight of the house pressing down on him like a physical force. Every room, every piece of furniture, held memories. His mother laughing in the kitchen, sitting on the couch reading a book, tucking him into bed when he was a kid.