Moments 2.0 | Sweet Home | Cha Hyun Soo

Chapter 9: Light and Dark

Eunhyuk led Hyun through the dimly lit corridors, their footsteps echoing softly in the silence. As they approached the security office, Eunhyuk unlocked the door and ushered Hyun inside. The room was utilitarian, with monitors mounted on the walls displaying different sections of the building and makeshift plans scattered across a cluttered desk.

Eunhyuk wasted no time. He brushed aside a stack of papers from the desk and pulled out a notebook filled with meticulous calculations and diagrams.  He pointed to a series of calculations and diagrams scattered before them, detailing the dwindling resources and the critical state of their electricity supply.

"We're running on limited power," Eunhyuk explained, his tone grave. "I've already cut power to the non-essential areas,  but we won't have much running electricity left. We need to gather any form of power or electronics we can find—batteries, candles, anything useful."

'By we, he means me'. Hyun thinks silently as Eunhyuk continues to explain.

As Eunhyuk continued to outline the situation, Hyun's mind flickered with the whisperings of his inner monster. "They don't care about you," it hissed, "they're just using you to do the dirty work."

He knew it was true, that they were using him, it was better to send him than risk themselves.

At the end of Eunhyuk's explanation, there was a moment of silence as Hyun processed the gravity of the situation. Eunhyuk's next words cut through the quiet, firm and resolute. "We're counting on you."

Hyun glanced up, meeting Eunhyuk's gaze with a nod of understanding. He sighed, knowing there was no choice but to agree to Eunhyuk's plan. Their survival depended on it.

As they exited the security office together, Hyun's mind was already consumed with the task ahead. The weight of responsibility bore down on him heavily, his steps measured and purposeful. Yeonha, who had been hovering at the other side of the door, eavesdropping due to a lack of anything better to do, narrowed her eyes at Eunhyuk before approaching Hyun.

Stopping him as he slung a backpack over his shoulder and picked up his modified spear, Yeonha lightly called out, "Hey, wait up, Hyun." 

Hyun turned to find Yeonha standing there, her expression a mix of concern and resolve. He looked at her quizzically.

"I'm coming with you," Yeonha stated firmly, her gaze meeting Hyun's. "You don't have to go up there alone y'know. Let me grab my things."

Eunhyuk, who had followed Hyun out of the office, intervened swiftly. He stepped in front of Yeonha, his expression firm and tone of voice matter-of-fact. "You're not going."

Yeonha furrowed her brow, her determination unwavering. Sure the tenants had appointed Eunhyuk as their defacto leader, but she was starting to get annoyed by him deciding what everyone should and shouldn't do."You made the rules yourself, Eunhyuk. Always travel in pairs, right? Hyun doesn't have a buddy. I'm volunteering."

Eunhyuk's frustration flickered across his usually stoic features. He glanced briefly at Hyun, silently urging him to support his decision with a pointed look. "Yeonha." Eunhyuk began, his voice tinged with concern. "You were running a high temperature earlier. If you're sick—"

"I'm not sick," Yeonha interrupted defiantly, cutting him off. "Feel my forehead if you must. Stick a thermometer in my ear. I'm not burning up at all."

Hyun, caught between their conflicting arguments, weighed his options silently. He didn't know for sure if people turning into monsters could still get sick. But on the off chance that Yeonha was unwell and her condition worsened during their search, he didn't want to put her in danger.