Rise Of The Fallen || KTH FF

Chapter 11: Infiltration

The silence was heavy as you moved through the sterile corridors of the lab, your footsteps soundless against the polished floor. The group had made it this far without triggering any alarms, thanks to Lisa's deft hacking skills. She had shut down the surveillance cameras and the automated guns that lined the entrance. For now, the lab was unaware of your presence.

The cold air inside the lab felt unnatural, like the chill that crept up your spine when you knew something was wrong. You followed Taehyung closely, staying alert as you passed rows of metal desks and shelves cluttered with research papers, machines, and vials of unknown substances.

"Alright, spread out," Lisa whispered, her voice a faint echo in the room. "We don't have much time before the backup systems reboot. Grab anything that looks important."

You nodded and quietly moved toward a large desk, covered in scattered papers and thick research files. The flickering fluorescent light above cast long shadows on the walls, giving the room an eerie feel. As you sifted through the documents, scanning for any clues about the virus or its origins, something caught your eye.

A picture.

It was tucked underneath a stack of files on the corner of the desk. You almost missed it, but the edge had stuck out just enough for you to notice. Your heart skipped a beat as you pulled it free and turned it over.

It was a photograph of a man—his face hauntingly familiar.

Your breath caught in your throat as you stared at the image. The man in the photo was none other than your father, Jeon Dae-hyun. He looked younger, his hair neater, his expression serious. But there was no mistaking it.

"What the—" you muttered under your breath, blinking hard to make sure you weren't imagining things.

Why was his photo here, in this lab, on this desk?

A million questions rushed through your mind, and your pulse quickened. What could your father possibly have to do with this? Had he been here? Was he connected to the virus in some way?

"Y/N, you alright?" Taehyung's voice pulled you back to reality. He was standing next to you now, his eyes scanning your face with concern.

You quickly shoved the photo into your jacket pocket, your heart still pounding. "I'm fine," you whispered, trying to keep your voice steady. "Let's keep moving."

But your mind was far from calm. The image of your father's face stayed with you, nagging at you, as you continued to search the desk for more evidence.

Taehyung glanced at you once more, as though sensing your unease, but he didn't push. Instead, he moved to the next desk, flipping through files and taking photos of anything that looked useful.

On the other side of the room, Yoongi and Jimin were quietly rifling through stacks of documents, while Lisa stood near the door, keeping an eye on the time. Every second counted.

You tried to refocus, scanning the papers in front of you. Most of them were notes about the virus—its mutations, the rapid spread, potential antidotes—but there was nothing concrete. No sign of Jeon Ha-joon or any real answers. Just more questions.

The hum of machines in the background grew louder, reminding you that time was running out.

"We've got enough," Jimin whispered, his voice strained. "Let's get out of here before anyone else shows up."

But your mind was still stuck on that photo. Why would your father's picture be here? Was this a mistake, or was there something more to the story than you'd ever known?

"Y/N?" Taehyung's voice was softer this time, more insistent. "We need to go."

You nodded, swallowing the rising tide of uncertainty. "Yeah, let's go."

Lisa motioned for everyone to follow her out, and the group moved swiftly toward the exit. But as you stepped through the door, you couldn't resist one last glance back at the desk where you'd found the photograph.

Should I tell Yoongi about this?

The image of your father's face burned into your mind, leaving you with a sinking feeling in your chest.