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Aiko & Heeseung
As the group set out to explore the facility, they were all struck by how impressive and sophisticated the place was. It felt like an entirely different world compared to the wreckage they had been living in for months. The sterile white hallways were lined with sleek, modern technology. Bright lights reflected off the polished floors, and the whole building felt alive with the hum of machinery and quiet conversations of scientists going about their work.
Sunoo was the first to marvel at their surroundings. "Damn, this place is crazy. It's like we walked into a futuristic movie or something."
Ni-ki's eyes were wide as he peered through the glass windows of various labs. "Look at all this tech! It's like they're preparing for something big here. Do you think they're working on a cure or something?"
Jay laughed, nudging Ni-ki's arm. "You're thinking too much, man. Just enjoy the fact that we're not out there running from Neomorphs for once."
Sunghoon nodded, though he couldn't hide his curiosity either. "Still, it's kind of crazy, right? Like, why haven't we heard about this place before? You'd think people would have been flocking here for safety if they knew about it."
Jake, walking alongside them, looked impressed but cautious. "Maybe that's the point. Maybe they don't want people to know about it."
The group continued to wander, passing through various areas that were all meticulously designed. There were labs with massive digital screens displaying data none of them could understand, medical wings where they had been tested earlier, and even recreational areas that seemed untouched by the chaos outside.
"Heeseung, this place is unbelievable," Aiko said softly as they walked side by side. "I never imagined anything like this still existed."
Heeseung remained silent, his brows furrowed in thought. While the others were clearly in awe, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The facility was too perfect. Too clean. And there were too many places they were being told not to go. He didn't trust it.
"Yeah," he muttered absently, his eyes scanning their surroundings. "It's something."
Aiko glanced at him, sensing his tension. "What's wrong?"
Heeseung stopped walking, turning to her with a serious look in his eyes. "I just... I don't know. This place, your mom, all of it. Something feels off. We need to be careful, Aiko. We can't just trust everything blindly."
Aiko bit her lip, nodding. Deep down, she shared his concerns, but she was still processing everything. It was hard to reconcile the mother she'd always thought about with the woman she'd met earlier.
As they continued exploring, they eventually found themselves in a large common area with wide windows that overlooked the outside world. For a brief moment, they could almost forget about the horrors beyond these walls.
