But i wasn't a liar ✔️[ENG ver]

Part 17

Part 17

Flashback – 8 Years Ago

Hyunjin had been running through the forest for nearly two hours. His legs burned, his breath came in ragged gasps, and his vision blurred with exhaustion. But no matter how far he ran, there were no streets, no people, no houses—just endless trees and the eerie sounds of unseen animals.

His heart pounded louder with every snapping twig, every distant growl. His body shook violently, his strength fading.

"I'm... so... scared!" he whimpered, his voice breaking as he trembled. 

Then—
A sudden, deafening screech tore through the forest.
His legs gave out
The world spun
And everything went black

7:00 AM

Yuhi strode into the room as usual, his voice sharp as a whip. 

"Everyone, up now! We have a lot of work to do today!"

The children jolted awake at his booming command. Felix, however, froze in fear—his eyes darting around, terrified of what they'd do when they realized **Hyunjin was missing.** 

The others hurriedly straightened their beds and lined up before Yuhi, who scanned them with a slow, calculating glare. 

"Wait..." His voice dropped dangerously. "Where's Hyunjin?"

"We don't know," the children murmured. 

Only Felix stayed silent, his breath shallow, his body rigid under Yuhi's piercing stare. 

"You." Yuhi pointed at him. "Where's your little friend?"

Felix flinched. "M-me?! I... I don't... know!"

"What do you mean, you don't know?" Yuhi stormed forward, seizing Felix by the collar and yanking him up. "You think I'm stupid?!"

Felix gasped, his legs kicking weakly. "I-I really don't—!"

"Liar." Yuhi's grip shifted, crushing Felix's wrist in his iron grasp. "I'll kill you. Come on."

"Ugh—! M-my hand—!" Felix choked out, pain twisting his face. 

Yuhi dragged him forward, his voice a venomous snarl. "You're about to learn what hell really looks like."

Hyunjin lay unconscious, his breathing shallow—until a sudden, sharp bark shattered the silence. A dog sniffed at him, its growls growing louder as its owner rushed over. 

"Oh my God!" The man—Roham—stared down in shock. "What's a boy doing out here?"

The barking jolted Hyunjin awake. His eyes flew open, locking onto the stranger looming above him. 

Roham wasn't old—maybe in his thirties—with a rifle slung across his back. A hunter. His voice was rough but not unkind. 

"Hey, pretty boy," he said, crouching. "You lost? This forest is no place for a kid."

Hyunjin's throat tightened. "I-I... was..." Fear choked his words. 

"Easy, son. Don't force it." Roham pulled a water bottle from his bag and held it out. "Drink."

Hyunjin grabbed it, gulping desperately like a man who hadn't tasted water in years. 

"Uncle..." he finally gasped. "They're... following me."

Roham's eyes narrowed. "Who? Where are your parents?"

"My friend..." Hyunjin's voice wavered. 

Roham sighed, then offered a calloused hand. "Come on. You're exhausted, and you need food. Up you go."