Silent Lies

A Game of Secrets

The message had left Seungcheol, Jeonghan, and the others on edge. For the first time since they'd begun investigating the disappearances, they felt a glimmer of hope and dread in equal measure. Someone knew the truth, someone who had managed to survive, and this unknown survivor was reaching out to them from the shadows, urging them to hurry.

Seungcheol sat in his dimly lit apartment, staring at the note. The words swirled in his mind, taunting him, pulling him toward answers just out of reach. The last few days had been a blur—he and Jeonghan were piecing together every clue, combing through files, meeting at odd hours, strategizing with the others. Their time together felt like stolen moments, where the lines between their professional mission and their personal connection began to blur.

His phone vibrated, snapping him out of his reverie. It was Jeonghan.

"Did you get the address?" Jeonghan's voice was calm, but Seungcheol could hear the urgency beneath it.

"Yeah," Seungcheol replied. "It's an old warehouse on the edge of town. Not exactly the most welcoming spot, but... it's all we've got."

They agreed to meet there with the rest of the group. Mingyu, Hoshi, Joshua, and Vernon had already volunteered to join them, bringing equipment and backup. Seungcheol knew it was risky, but this was their best lead yet, and they couldn't afford to miss the chance.

Later that evening, they arrived at the warehouse.

It was a sprawling, dilapidated structure, its windows shattered and walls covered in graffiti. The atmosphere was thick with unease; every sound seemed amplified in the silence, every shadow like a warning. They moved quietly, checking their surroundings and ensuring they weren't being watched.

Mingyu's flashlight cut through the darkness, casting an eerie glow over the rows of empty crates and rusted machinery. "This place is a maze," he muttered. "Why would anyone want to meet here?"

Joshua placed a hand on Mingyu's shoulder, offering a reassuring smile. "It's probably the only place they could stay hidden. People don't come here willingly."

Seungcheol exchanged a look with Jeonghan, his instincts on high alert. They led the way, with the others close behind, maneuvering through the narrow corridors of the warehouse. Hoshi, ever the optimist, kept up a steady stream of quiet chatter to lighten the tension, but even he couldn't mask the unease in his voice.

As they moved deeper into the warehouse, Seungcheol felt an inexplicable pull, as though the answers he sought were waiting for him in the shadows. He knew Jeonghan felt it too; he could see it in the way his gaze darted around, tense and wary.

Finally, they reached a small, enclosed area at the heart of the warehouse. A faint light flickered from a hanging bulb, casting long, twisted shadows over the walls. And in the center of the room stood a man, his face half-hidden by a hood, his posture rigid. And in a swing  he came towards them in very scary wayyy each and everyone got scared they were not expecting it they can say all of their hearts skipped a bit after seeing him. His eyes darted to the group, scanning each of them before landing on Jeonghan with a look of recognition.

"You actually came," the man said, his voice hoarse. His gaze shifted to Seungcheol, and his lips twisted into a faint, humorless smile. "I knew he would drag you into this," he said, nodding toward Jeonghan.

Seungcheol's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"

The man lowered his hood, revealing a scarred face with hollow, haunted eyes. "I was one of the lost," he replied, his tone bitter. "One of the forgotten patients of that place." His gaze hardened, and he added, "And I know who's behind this."