Eclipse of the Chronos || JJKx Reader ✓

20: Fragments of Hope

With the stabilization of the Chronos Core, Y/n and Jungkook moved swiftly through the winding corridors of the facility. Their hearts raced with the thrill of having overcome the drone, yet an underlying tension remained. They knew that while they had achieved a significant milestone, their journey was far from over. Seokjin was still out there, and they needed to find him before time slipped further from their grasp.

As they navigated the facility, Y/n’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. The intensity of the moment had forged a deeper connection between her and Jungkook—one that was becoming increasingly hard to ignore. Their shared struggles, the adrenaline of the battle, and the way he had shielded her from harm lingered in her mind. Each glance they exchanged held unspoken words, a silent acknowledgment of their growing bond.

Jungkook paused in front of a series of doors lined against one wall. "We should check these rooms for any additional information or clues about Seokjin," he suggested, scanning the area with heightened senses.

Y/n nodded, her curiosity piqued. "I wonder what they were working on in this facility. If we can find any logs or documents, it might lead us to him."

As they began to explore the first room, a sterile laboratory filled with high-tech equipment and screens greeted them. The room was dimly lit, casting long shadows across the floor. Y/n stepped inside, her heart racing with excitement and trepidation. The atmosphere felt heavy with the remnants of experiments and secrets left behind.

Jungkook moved to one of the screens, tapping the interface to activate it. "Let’s see if there’s anything useful here." The screen flickered to life, displaying a series of files and data logs.

Y/n joined him, her eyes scanning the information as he navigated through the system. "Look at this," she pointed out. "There’s a file labeled 'Project Chronos'—it might contain details about Seokjin."

Jungkook clicked on the file, and a holographic display projected a series of images and diagrams into the air. Y/n leaned in closer, her heart racing as she recognized some of the faces depicted in the files—scientists, engineers, and at the very end, a familiar face—Seokjin.

"It’s him!" Y/n gasped, pointing at the holographic image of Seokjin, looking determined and engaged in discussion with others. "What does it say?"

Jungkook scrolled through the information. "It looks like they were developing technology to manipulate time, possibly for warfare or defense purposes. Seokjin was a key figure in the project, leading research on temporal energy."

Y/n felt a mix of admiration and concern. "He was here, right in the center of all this. But why would he disappear? Did something go wrong?"

Jungkook's expression turned serious. "It’s possible that he realized the implications of their work and chose to distance himself. Or maybe he was trying to protect something… or someone."

A flicker of hope ignited within Y/n. "If we can find more about what happened during the project, it might explain where he is and how we can reach him."

They sifted through the files, uncovering fragmented logs detailing experiments gone awry, discussions about the potential dangers of their technology, and cryptic references to a "failsafe" that Seokjin had insisted on implementing. The more they uncovered, the clearer it became that something dark lay beneath the surface of the facility’s intentions.

"Here’s something interesting," Jungkook said, his voice steady but edged with urgency. "There’s a reference to an escape plan that Seokjin devised. It talks about a hidden exit and a backup location."

Y/n's heart raced. "A hidden exit? That could lead us directly to him!"

Jungkook nodded, scanning the data. "It looks like it’s located in the lower levels of the facility. If we can reach that section, it might lead us to Seokjin."