Plague 2023 (Plague 2022 Season 2)

Episode 38

BENEATH THE SURFACE OF DECEIT: WHITE OF UNCERTAINTY

The van came to a halt in front of a large, imposing white building, its stark exterior illuminated by cold, artificial lights. The sight of it sent a wave of dread through Sae Joon Hyun, Eunhye, and Yuri—the three who recognized the place all too well. Memories of their harrowing escape from this very building flooded their minds, but there was no turning back now.

One of the doctors exited the van first, a woman with a calm demeanor who immediately removed her mask. Her name plate read "Kim Ha-ram." With a professional air, she turned and opened the van door, her expression unreadable as she motioned for Jaeyeon and the others to step out.

One by one, they emerged from the van, their hands still tightly clasped together, a silent symbol of their unity in the face of the unknown. Ha-ram’s voice was soft, almost soothing, as she said, “Follow me, please.” There was no hint of malice in her tone, but the group knew better than to trust appearances. They nodded in unison, moving as a single unit as they followed her inside the building.

Eunhye’s heart pounded in her chest as they crossed the threshold. She had never wanted to set foot in this place again, not after the blood, sweat, and tears it took to escape. But here they were, walking back into the belly of the beast, driven by the desperate need to save Sae Joon Hyun’s life.

As they made their way down the sterile, white corridor, the oppressive silence of the building weighed heavily on them. Every step echoed off the polished floors, a constant reminder of the emptiness surrounding them. Finally, they came to a halt in front of a large white door, its surface pristine and unmarked.

Hye-jin, who had been walking with them, turned to address the group. “We’ll treat Sae Joon Hyun here,” she said, her voice crisp and authoritative. Her gaze settled on Jaeyeon, then flicked briefly to Yon and Hailey. “As promised, Yon, Hailey, and you,” she said, nodding at Jaeyeon. “You may stay with him.”

Jaeyeon met her gaze with a steely resolve, giving a curt nod. He could feel Sae Joon Hyun’s grip tighten slightly in his hand, a silent plea for reassurance. Without hesitation, Jaeyeon led the way into the room, Yon and Hailey close behind. Hye-jin and Ha-ram followed, and the heavy door swung shut behind them with a soft, ominous click, leaving the rest of the group standing in the hallway.

For those left behind—Eunhye, Yuri, Hamin, Su-yeong, and Eugene—the uncertainty was unbearable. They exchanged anxious glances, the separation from their friends amplifying their fear.

One of the remaining doctors stepped forward, a young woman with a name plate that read "Kim Ha-neul." She offered a tight, almost forced smile. “I’m Kim Ha-neul,” she began, her voice less certain than her colleagues’. “You’ll have to follow me to your rooms. The rest of them have work to attend to.”

As if on cue, the other nine lab coat-clad figures dispersed silently, their presence as fleeting as shadows. The starkness of their departure left an eerie void in the corridor, and the group had no choice but to follow Ha-neul as she led them down a long, winding hallway.

Eunhye’s mind raced with thoughts of escape, her instincts screaming at her to stay alert. “She looks quite vulnerable,” Hamin whispered to Yuri, his voice barely audible.

Yuri nodded in agreement, her expression hardening with resolve. “Remember what Jaeyeon told us,” she whispered back. “We need to stay close and figure out how to leave this place, while getting all the best treatment and information.”

They fell into a tense silence as Ha-neul led them to a large, sterile room with ten metal bunk beds neatly arranged in rows. The room was devoid of any other furniture, its white walls and floors giving it an uncomfortably clinical feel. The only hint of surveillance was the cameras mounted in each corner of the ceiling, their lenses unblinking as they monitored the room.

“You guys can wait here,” Ha-neul said, her tone now laced with a hint of impatience. She turned to leave, but before she could take a step, Yuri suddenly burst into tears, her wails echoing through the empty space.

“Ahhhh! Why is this happening? Why! What did we do to deserve this?” Yuri’s cries were loud, desperate, and heart-wrenching. The others, caught off guard, exchanged shocked looks. But then, from the corner of her eye, Eunhye caught a subtle wink from Yuri.

Eunhye understood immediately—Yuri was putting on a show, drawing attention to herself as a distraction. They had to play along. The others quickly caught on, their initial panic giving way to silent approval.

“Ahhhh! Oh why are you doing this to us?” Yuri continued, her voice escalating in pitch and intensity.

Ha-neul sighed, her earlier calm starting to fray. “Please, calm down,” she said, her tone losing its softness. “We’re not going to do anything to you.”

“Liar!” Yuri shrieked, her voice raw with fake anguish. “There must be so many of you here, all working to turn us into zombies!”

Ha-neul’s patience finally snapped. “Ugh, seriously,” she muttered. “We’re only twelve people here, excluding the two CEOs. Relax. We won’t harm you. Just sit down and let me leave now.” Without waiting for a response, she stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

As soon as the door closed, Yuri’s tears vanished, replaced by a look of grim determination. She quickly scanned the room, her eyes narrowing as she noted the locations of the cameras. “There are four cameras that I can see,” she whispered to the group, her voice steady now. “One in each corner. There might be more, but those are the obvious ones.”

She sat down on one of the lower bunk beds, her gaze fixed on the floor as if deep in thought. But then, without warning, she began crying again, this time louder and more frantic. “Waaahhhh! She said they’re only twelve people, but that doesn’t mean they can’t harm us! I’m so scared, people. I mean, this is the only room on this floor, and that too, at the end!”

Eunhye knew exactly what Yuri was doing—she was cleverly feeding them information, all while maintaining the act for the cameras. It was a risky move, but they had no other choice. They needed every piece of intel they could get if they were going to survive.

Eunhye walked over and sat down beside Yuri, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Okay, okay. Calm down,” she said, her voice gentle. “There’s nothing we can do right now anyway. Just relax.”