No Way Out

It was supposed to be a fun weekend. After years of late-night hangouts, game nights, and holidays spent together, Namjoon, Jin, Yoongi, Hobi, Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook decided to do something different this time: an escape room experience. Namjoon had found a place far outside the city, shrouded in mystery, that promised the ultimate challenge. It was a bit of a drive, but they all agreed the excitement was worth it.

"How hard can it be? We are all smart," Namjoon had said confidently while booking the experience.

But none of them were prepared for what the night would turn into.

The escape room was located in an old mansion hidden deep in the woods. When they arrived, a dense fog rolled through the air, and the air seemed heavier, colder. Hobi shivered, clutching his jacket tighter.

"I-I don't know about this, guys," Hobi muttered, eyes wide as he glanced at the darkened windows of the mansion.

"Come on, Hobi, it's just a game," Jin said, ruffling his hair in an attempt to ease the tension. He was always playing the role of the eldest, trying to keep everyone grounded.

Jungkook smiled, pulling Taehyung closer by the waist, his eyes glinting with excitement. "Yeah, don't be scared, hyung. It's just an escape room."

Jimin exchanged a knowing look with Jungkook. He had known about Jungkook and Taehyung's secret relationship for a while, and though they were good at hiding it, moments like these were obvious to him.

Yoongi, however, seemed distracted. He was fiddling with his phone, trying not to let his gaze linger too long on Jimin. Namjoon noticed but kept his silence. The dynamics of their friendship were always complicated, and tonight would test those bonds in ways they couldn't imagine.

As they entered the mansion, the door shut behind them with an unsettling thud. The air inside felt different, suffocating almost. They were greeted by an eerie silence, punctuated only by the creaking of old wood. The room they were in had a low, flickering light that barely illuminated the peeling wallpaper and old furniture. There was no sign of an escape game host, no guide, just an old clock on the wall, ticking away the seconds.

"Okay, this is officially creepy," Jimin whispered, his fingers brushing against Yoongi's arm, almost by accident.

Yoongi flinched slightly at the contact but didn't pull away. "Yeah... something feels off."

Namjoon walked forward, trying to shake off the odd feeling. "It's just part of the experience. I'm sure they are watching us through cameras. We should start looking for clues."

They began searching the room, flipping over dusty books and examining old portraits. As the minutes passed, the tension among them grew.

"I found something!" Jungkook called from the far corner. He had opened a drawer, revealing an old key with a note attached. The note read: "The real test begins now. Trust no one."

Everyone froze as they read the words.

"Well, that's... ominous," Jin muttered, trying to keep his voice steady.

Before they could process the note, the lights flickered and went out entirely. In the pitch-black darkness, someone screamed—it sounded like Hobi.

"Guys? Guys? Where are you?" Hobi's panicked voice cut through the dark.

"I'm here!" Namjoon called, his voice calm but strained. "Everyone stay still. I will find a light."

In the chaos, Jimin stumbled backward, bumping into Yoongi. "Watch it," Yoongi snapped, though his tone was more anxious than angry.