Eclipse of the Chronos || JJKx Reader ✓

17: Beneath the Surface

The atmosphere in the building shifted as Y/n and Jungkook ventured deeper into the maze of corridors. Each step echoed, reverberating off the metallic walls, as if the structure itself was alive and aware of their presence. With every turn they took, Y/n felt a blend of anticipation and dread. They were inching closer to the core—yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that something lay hidden beneath the surface, waiting to emerge.

“Do you think Seokjin has been here?” Y/n asked, breaking the heavy silence that had settled between them. Her voice felt small against the vastness of the abandoned facility.

Jungkook glanced at her, his expression thoughtful. “If he’s connected to Project Chronos, he may have been involved in some capacity. This place is critical, Y/n. We might find clues about him here, or at least answers about the project itself.”

The thought of Seokjin being so close yet so far sent a surge of determination through Y/n. She focused on Jungkook as he moved with fluid precision, his sensors activated and alert for any anomalies. Watching him work—so capable, so alive—reminded her that he was not just a machine, but something more complex.

As they continued through the building, they stumbled upon a vast atrium filled with the remnants of what had once been a bustling research hub. Broken glass and overturned furniture littered the floor, while vines and creeping plants began to reclaim the space, nature creeping in to take over the artificial world.

“Look at this,” Jungkook said, pointing to a large screen mounted on the wall. It flickered to life at his touch, revealing fragmented video footage. The image was distorted, but Y/n could make out figures moving purposefully within the frame.

“Is that… a lab?” she asked, stepping closer to get a better view.

“Yes. It appears to be a part of the Project Chronos research facility. Let’s see if we can extract any data from it,” Jungkook replied, already working on bypassing the security lock on the footage.

As the screen cleared, Y/n watched in fascination as scientists in lab coats scurried about, their faces a mix of excitement and fear. The footage showed them working on advanced technology, pieces that looked familiar yet impossibly advanced.

“Wait,” she said suddenly. “Is that Seokjin?”

A figure with familiar features appeared on the screen, focused on a console with a look of intense concentration. His eyes darted back and forth, revealing a blend of determination and anxiety.

“It is him,” Jungkook confirmed, his voice steady. “He was here. This could lead us to where he is now.”

Y/n felt a rush of emotions at the sight of Seokjin. Relief washed over her, but it was quickly accompanied by a pang of worry. What had he been doing here? And why had he left?

As the footage continued, it showed a sudden surge of energy in the lab. Alarms blared, red lights flashed, and scientists scrambled in chaos. Y/n’s heart raced. “What happened?”

Jungkook leaned closer, analyzing the data. “It seems like there was a containment breach. They were working with volatile materials. We need to find more information on what triggered it.”

The screen flickered, and Jungkook pressed a few more keys, trying to stabilize the footage. “Let’s see if we can locate the source of the breach.”

Y/n held her breath as the screen displayed a series of graphs and data points, detailing energy levels and fluctuations. As Jungkook deciphered the information, Y/n could see a pattern emerging—a connection that might reveal where Seokjin had gone.

“Got it,” Jungkook said, pointing to a sequence of readings that spiked dramatically. “This energy surge corresponds with the timeline of the breach. It could lead us to another part of the facility. We need to check it out.”