Eugene sighed, checking his gun and loading it. “For men with such grand titles, they don’t seem too bright. How could they not notice they were being followed?”

Yon adjusted his weapon, glancing at Eugene. “Think about it, Beautiful,” he began, his tone playful. “They probably don’t suspect anything out of place if this is where they always come first. Besides, we’ve got all the walkie-talkies, and Hamin and Su-yeong are keeping those doctors in check.”

Eugene considered this, nodding slowly. “That… does make sense.”

ECHOES OF TERROR: STANDOFF IN THE VOID

Yon pulled out his walkie-talkie, the static humming softly as he pressed the button. “It’s Yon. You’re safe for now. Come out immediately, over,” he said calmly, though his alert eyes betrayed his readiness for anything.

The message crackled through to Eunhye’s walkie-talkie. Upon hearing Yon's voice, Jaeyeon immediately sprang into action. Without hesitation, he pushed open the door, scanning the large room. His eyes locked on Yon and Eugene standing in the center, their postures sharp and alert. The two were flanked by walls lined with smaller, ominous-looking doors, their weapons held firmly in a soldier’s ready stance, the barrels angled down but their grips steady.

Jaeyeon waved them over urgently, his movements precise and controlled. “Come here!” he mouthed silently, gesturing for them to join quickly. Yon and Eugene exchanged a glance, then nodded in unison before moving swiftly, their steps purposeful yet quiet. As they entered the room, Eugene’s gaze fell on Eunhye, Yuri, and Hailey, who were still desperately trying to wake their friends.

The sight struck him like a blow. Seeing his unconscious friends, connected to cold, mechanical machines, was too much to bear. Tears threatened to spill over, and though his face twisted with emotion, Eugene clenched his jaw, forcing himself to steady. There was no room for weakness here—not now.

Yon exhaled sharply, the weight of the moment pressing heavily on his shoulders. Without wasting a second, he joined the group, his hands firm as he began gently shaking another friend in an effort to wake them. Yuri, on the other hand, was nearly frantic, rocking In-Ha back and forth, her voice trembling with desperation.

“In-Ha, wake up! Get up!” she pleaded, her voice rising with each word.

Suddenly, a soft groan escaped from In-Ha’s lips, her eyelids fluttering open. Yuri gasped, her face lighting up in a mix of relief and disbelief. “Ah! She’s awake!” she cried out, her voice breaking with emotion.

Everyone in the room froze at Yuri’s words. Eunhye, Hailey, Yon, Eugene, Jaeyeon, and Sae Joon Hyun immediately turned their attention to the bed. In-Ha stirred, her eyes squinting as they adjusted to the harsh light pouring down from above.

She blinked, staring at the sterile ceiling with confusion etched into her face. Slowly, she raised her right arm instinctively to shield her eyes, but a sharp pain flared through her arm, forcing her to wince. Her hand dropped back down, and she turned her head to the side, her gaze landing on the needles embedded in her arm.

“What is all this…where am I?” she murmured, her voice faint and disoriented.

Her eyes wandered around the room, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. Machines beeped and hummed in the background, wires snaked across the floor, and her gaze finally settled on Yuri. The moment she recognized her friend, panic surged through her body.

“In-Ha, calm down,” Yuri said gently, trying to steady her friend’s rising fear.

In-Ha sat up abruptly, but the movement sent a wave of dizziness crashing over her. She clutched her head as pain shot through her scalp. Her fingers brushed against the syringes embedded in her hair, and she cried out softly.

“Miss, we’ll explain everything later,” Yuri said urgently, crouching closer to her. “But for now, we really need to get out of here!”

In-Ha’s wide eyes darted down to her own body. She was dressed in a plain, knee-length white gown, sterile and clinical. The sight contrasted sharply with Yuri and the others, who were clad in sleek black jumpsuits that seemed designed for movement and survival. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing thoughts, and nodded.

Without hesitation, she began pulling the syringes out of her arms. Each removal sent sharp pain through her skin, and blood trickled from the puncture wounds, staining her pale skin. Her jaw tightened as she fought through the discomfort, determined not to waste time. Once free of the needles, she swung her legs off the bed and stood on shaky feet.

The room fell silent for a moment as everyone absorbed the surreal reality of the situation.

In-Ha, though still wincing from the pain in her arm and head, joined the others in waking up the unconscious group. She moved with purpose, her hands gentle but firm as she shook one person after another. Slowly, the others began to stir, their eyelids fluttering open, confusion and fear evident in their expressions.

One by one, questions filled the air as they regained consciousness. “What’s going on?” “Where are we?” “What happened?” Their voices overlapped, each laced with panic. Some yanked the syringes out of their skin the moment they were told to, flinching at the sharp pain. Others hesitated, unable to bring themselves to touch the needles embedded in their flesh. For a few, the shock and anxiety were overwhelming—they froze, unable to comprehend the situation. Some sat blankly, their faces devoid of emotion, staring ahead as if their minds had shut down entirely.

In-Ha, recognizing their state of distress, stepped forward to help. Sae Joon Hyun, who had been standing guard by the door, turned to her. “Miss In-Ha, you’re the great scientist, the Choi In-Ha. You can do this. Help them,” he urged, his tone calm but firm.

She nodded without hesitation, quickly moving to those who couldn’t pull the syringes out themselves. “This will hurt, but we don’t have time to waste,” she said softly to each of them before carefully removing the needles. Blood trickled from the wounds, but In-Ha worked with precision, her hands steady despite the urgency pressing down on all of them.

The tension in the room was palpable as everyone finally came to their senses and stood together. Jaeyeon stepped forward, his gaze steady and commanding. He quickly assessed the group, ensuring they were ready to move. Beside him stood Eunhye, Yon, Eugene, Hailey, and Yuri, their expressions hardened with determination.

“No time to explain,” Jaeyeon said firmly, his voice cutting through the lingering confusion. “We need to leave. Now. Follow us. Don’t ask questions, just move.”

The group nodded hesitantly. Nothing made sense—why they were here, what had happened, or why they should trust these instructions. But in the face of the unknown, there was no alternative. Silently, they buried their questions and doubts, saving them for a time when survival wasn’t the immediate priority.

Jaeyeon gave a quick nod, turned on his heel, and led the way out of the room. They followed, jogging carefully behind him. The atmosphere was tense, every step accompanied by the distant hum of machines and the ticking of time slipping away.

The group reached the middle of the large room, its vast expanse filled with eerie silence. Suddenly, the sound of splintering wood echoed through the air. Jaeyeon froze mid-step, his eyes snapping toward the source of the noise. The door at the far end of the room burst open, and Ro-eun and Bangsuk stepped out, their white suits pristine despite the chaos.

Ro-eun’s sharp, handsome features were set in a calm, almost amused expression. His gem-encrusted cravat sparkled under the fluorescent light, adding an unsettling elegance to his presence. Beside him, Bangsuk exuded cold precision, his every movement calculated. He adjusted his coat meticulously before stepping forward, his lips curling into a sly grin.

“Ah, the captives are free, I see,” Bangsuk said smoothly, his tone dripping with mockery. He raised his pistol, the metallic click of the safety being disengaged ringing out. His sharp gaze locked onto Jaeyeon, who slowly turned to face him, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Bangsuk asked, his grin widening. The room seemed to close in, the air thick with tension.

Yon and Eugene immediately raised their weapons, their movements precise and synchronized. The barrels of their guns pointed directly at Bangsuk and Ro-eun. Yuri, Hailey, and Eunhye followed suit, their stances unwavering as they backed Jaeyeon.

For a moment, the room was still. A deadly silence fell as the two sides faced off, guns aimed, the balance of power teetering dangerously.