Lee Know stood a few steps away from Han and I.N, his gaze sweeping over the endless, white expanse surrounding them. He couldn’t shake the unease twisting in his chest, even though I.N was awake now, sitting quietly beside Han. The place felt oppressive in its emptiness, as if it were holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
Han sat cross-legged on the ground, keeping a protective hand on I.N’s shoulder as if to anchor him. I.N, though conscious, was unusually quiet, his brows furrowed as if lost in thought or still piecing together fragments of his memories.
“We need to figure out how to get out of here,” Lee Know said, his voice breaking the tense silence.
“We know that,” Han replied, his tone clipped. “But it’s not like this place is giving us any clues, is it?”
“I’ll look around,” Lee Know said, ignoring Han’s tone. “You two stay here. Don’t move unless I tell you to.”
Han immediately frowned. “Are you serious? What if something happens to you—or to us—while you’re off playing explorer?”
“That’s why I won’t go far,” Lee Know shot back, his voice firm. “We can’t just sit here and do nothing. If there’s a way out, I’ll find it.”
Han opened his mouth to argue but stopped when I.N placed a hand on his arm. “It’s fine,” I.N said softly, his voice steady. “We’ll stay here, Hyung.”
Lee Know nodded, casting a brief glance at both of them. “Good. Don’t wander off. I’ll be back soon.”
He walked off cautiously, his steps deliberate as he moved just far enough to scan the surroundings but still within sight of Han and I.N. The white surface beneath his boots felt unnervingly smooth, almost like glass, yet there was no reflection—just an infinite void.
“Anything?” Han called out, his voice echoing faintly.
“Nothing yet,” Lee Know replied without turning back. He pressed his fingers against the ground, as if hoping to feel a vibration or some sign of life, but there was only the cold, unyielding stillness.
Han sighed heavily, watching Lee Know’s back with a mixture of frustration and concern. “This place is messing with us,” he muttered under his breath.
“Maybe,” I.N said quietly, his eyes still scanning the horizon. “But if anyone can find a way out, it’s Lee Know-hyung.”
---
As Lee Know carefully moved a few steps further, I.N watched him intently. “If anyone can find a way out, it’s Lee Know hyung,” he said confidently.
Han let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. “You’re not forgetting he’s one of the members of Paboracha, right? Not exactly the brains of the group.”
I.N glanced at Han, tilting his head innocently. “But hyung, Lee Know Hyung might not be smart, but he’s strong. If we need a way out, he can just force something open.”
Han blinked at the unexpected response, his mouth opening and closing a few times. “Are you—”
“Fair’s fair,” I.N continued with a completely straight face. “God didn’t give him brains, but at least He gave him strength.”
Han stared at the younger boy, speechless. For a moment, he couldn’t decide whether to laugh, be offended on Lee Know’s behalf, or agree wholeheartedly. In the end, he just sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’re lucky Irino can’t hear you right now.”
From a few steps away, Lee Know turned his head slightly, his brows furrowed in suspicion. “What are you two whispering about? Stay focused!”
Han quickly covered his mouth to hide a laugh, while I.N merely shrugged, looking far too smug for someone who had just roasted their strongest hyung.
Han tightened his grip on I.N’s shoulder, his expression softening. “Let’s hope you’re right.”
Meanwhile, Lee Know paused in his exploration, narrowing his eyes at a faint flicker in the distance. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but it sent a shiver down his spine. He clenched his fists, muttering to himself, “What is this place hiding?”
Turning back to check on Han and I.N, he saw them exactly where he’d left them—together, watching him with the same mix of worry and hope. It was enough to keep him going, even as the strange, oppressive air of the space seemed to grow heavier around him.
The flickering in the space grew more intense, making it harder to tell where the edges of the blank world ended and began. Sometimes it was blindingly white, sometimes it turned into an ominous black void that felt suffocating.
Lee Know moved cautiously through the unstable space, his determination unwavering. The further he went, the harder it became to orient himself, the ground beneath him shifting unpredictably. He stumbled more than once, his hands scraping against the strange, unyielding surface.
“Lee Know hyung!” Han’s voice echoed faintly through the flickering, guiding him like a lifeline.
“I’m coming!” Lee Know gritted his teeth, pushing himself up again. His legs felt heavy, and every step seemed harder than the last. Still, he pressed on, until finally, he saw two familiar figures through the chaotic light and shadows.
Han and I.N were standing close together, both visibly tense. Relief washed over their faces when Lee Know finally reached them, breathing heavily but determined.
“Hyung, are you okay?” I.N asked, stepping closer.
“We can’t risk getting separated again,” Lee Know said firmly, straightening himself. “Everyone, hold hands. No matter what happens, we stick together.”
Han nodded quickly and grabbed I.N’s hand on one side and Lee Know’s on the other. I.N gripped tightly, his hand trembling slightly but holding on with all his strength.
As the flickering around them intensified, the three of them stood firmly, hands clasped together. The space warped and twisted around them, but they refused to let go. They didn’t know what was coming next, but they were determined to face it together, no matter what.
The space around them was a whirlwind of fear and uncertainty, the flickering light and shadows causing the walls to pulse with each passing second. The tension was palpable—each breath heavier than the last, as if the very air itself was thick with dread. Despite everything, they clung to each other, trying to hold onto whatever connection they could find in this distorted, chaotic world.
Then, something shifted. Through the flickering chaos, they saw five familiar figures
---
Aksara