Arc 7 : Lee know : Something he forgets

Lee Know woke up with a jolt, the sudden sensation of consciousness pulling him from a deep, unsettling sleep. His apartment was eerily quiet, the usual sounds of the bustling city outside muffled by the thick walls. He lay there, unmoving, staring at the ceiling, trying to shake off the strange fog that clouded his mind. His head felt heavy, like he had been carrying a weight he couldn’t explain. The room around him was dim, the curtains drawn tight, letting in only a sliver of sunlight. He didn’t remember falling asleep here, and that feeling of disorientation made his heart race. Slowly, he sat up, his legs dangling over the edge of the bed. Everything felt wrong, as if the world around him was just slightly out of place. He rubbed his eyes, trying to clear the grogginess, but the more he tried to focus, the more everything seemed to flicker, like an old TV set struggling to find a signal. Lee Know pushed himself to his feet, still trying to make sense of the situation. His apartment looked exactly as it always did—familiar and comforting—but it didn’t feel like his. There was an emptiness in the air that made his skin crawl. He reached for his phone, instinctively checking for any messages or notifications. His hand trembled as he unlocked the screen. What he saw made his heart skip a beat: There were no new messages, no recent calls. The contacts list was full, but it was odd—there was no one familiar listed under his contacts. The names were strange to him, even though some were clearly marked with "Stray Kids" behind them. Confusion washed over him. He scrolled through the list, his fingers shaking. There were so many names, but none of the faces from the pictures seemed familiar. It was like looking at a life that wasn’t his, and the more he looked, the more disoriented he became. "Who are these people?" Lee Know whispered, his voice trembling. The names, the faces—they should have meant something to him, but they didn’t. His own name was there, along with the others, but there was no memory of them, no connection. A strange feeling of panic began to rise in his chest. The flickering in his mind was growing worse, and the world around him felt distorted, like a dream that didn’t make sense. He rubbed his temples, trying to force the fog out of his mind. Something wasn’t right. He grabbed his coat from the chair, not even realizing he was still wearing his pajamas underneath. The door to his apartment felt like a barrier, something that separated him from whatever was beyond. He hesitated for a moment, but the fear bubbling inside him pushed him forward. He needed to figure out what was going on. When he stepped outside, the world didn’t feel right. The air was still, and there was no one around. The streets were eerily quiet, as if time had stopped, and Lee Know found himself trapped in a world that didn’t make sense. The buildings around him were strange, their shapes twisted and unfamiliar, as if they had been built in a hurry. Here's the expanded scene with Lee Know's feelings of confusion and frustration as he searches for something he "lost": --- Lee Know's heart pounded in his chest as he stepped into the hallway of his apartment. With every step he took, the unsettling feeling grew stronger—like something was missing, something important that he should have known but couldn’t remember. It was as if he had been living in this space for years, yet it felt empty, like a hollow shell with no soul inside. He stopped for a moment, standing in the middle of the hallway, trying to steady himself. The walls around him, once familiar, now felt suffocating. The air was thick with silence, and the quiet seemed to stretch endlessly. The feeling of emptiness pressed down on him, and the weight in his chest grew heavier with each breath. Why does it feel like this? He glanced around, his gaze darting from one room to another. Each door seemed to mock him with its normalcy. He tried to push the strange sensation aside, but it clung to him, making his skin crawl. Something’s wrong. Something is missing. Lee Know took a shaky step forward, moving towards the living room. The furniture was all in its usual place, the couch where he’d spent countless nights watching TV, the coffee table with half-empty mugs of tea from days past. But something was off. It was all wrong. It didn’t feel like his space anymore. He moved into the kitchen, hoping that the familiarity of the scent of coffee beans, the soft hum of the refrigerator, would ground him. But it didn’t. Instead, his eyes lingered on the countertop. The clutter was gone—there was nothing. No spilled sugar, no dishcloths carelessly tossed aside. The kitchen, once full of life and comfort, was sterile and empty. Why is it all so... perfect? Panic twisted in his gut. He slammed his palm against the counter, feeling the cold surface beneath his hand. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to remember. There’s something I’m supposed to know... something I’m supposed to have. His head was pounding now, the pressure building up like a storm inside his skull. His mind screamed for him to remember, but the harder he tried, the more elusive the memory became. Lee Know staggered into the bedroom next, his breath shallow, his body trembling. The bed was made, neatly tucked in as if no one had ever slept in it. He turned his gaze to the side of the room, expecting to see something—anything—that would offer a clue. But there was nothing. The wardrobe, the bedside table, even the pillows—all in their place, but nothing felt right. Where... where is it? He opened the closet, pulling out shirts and jackets in frantic motions, as if searching for something hidden between the fabric. He searched through the drawers, tossing clothes aside, his fingers trembling as he rummaged through everything. But nothing was there. Nothing that made sense. There were no photos, no memories, no signs of anyone else ever having been here. The aching emptiness started to suffocate him. The pain in his chest deepened, and he fell to his knees on the floor. His hands gripped the carpet, his heart racing wildly as the frustration boiled over. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. It felt like the walls were closing in around him. Where are they? Where is everyone? His mind raced back to the blurry pictures in his phone. The names. The faces. He could almost feel them there—like echoes of a life he once knew. But it was all a void, a black hole in his memory. He closed his eyes, desperately searching for something—anything— to hold on to. I’m not supposed to be alone here... Lee Know's breath came in short, jagged gasps as he reached for his phone again. His fingers were slick with sweat as he unlocked it, only to be met with the same names, the same unfamiliar faces staring back at him. He scrolled down, hoping to find someone—someone who would recognize him, someone who could fill the emptiness in his heart. But no one was there. Only strangers, their names and faces foreign to him. --- Lee Know clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. The ache in his chest refused to subside, and his frustration grew with every passing second. He stood up slowly, his legs feeling unsteady beneath him. This wasn’t like him. He was stronger than this—he had to be. He paced the length of his bedroom, his mind racing as he tried to piece together fragments of memories that didn’t exist. There was a gnawing sensation in the back of his head, an intangible thought that refused to surface. Who is he? Why do I feel like he should be here? Or it's not "He" but "they"? Lee Know forced himself to take a deep breath, his jaw tightening. He wouldn’t cry. He wouldn’t let the overwhelming emptiness get to him. Instead, he channeled his emotions into determination. If he couldn’t remember, then he’d figure it out step by step. Leaving the bedroom, he walked back to the living room, his sharp gaze scanning every corner. He opened cabinets, flipped through books, and checked every drawer. Each motion was methodical, precise, but the more he searched, the more barren the apartment seemed. He paused in the center of the room, staring at his reflection in the dark TV screen. His own face stared back at him, composed but shadowed with confusion. He pressed his fingers against his temple, trying to force the memory to come back. It’s here. I know it’s here. I just need to find it. A sudden thought struck him, and he pulled out his phone again, scrolling through the contacts one more time. The same names stared back at him, each one foreign and unfamiliar. He paused at the seven names with “StrayKids” next to them. His lips pressed into a thin line as he stared at the list. “StrayKids…” he muttered under his breath. The word felt heavy on his tongue, as though it carried a weight he couldn’t comprehend. He didn’t know why, but the name felt important, vital even. He opened the gallery app, scrolling through the blurry photos once more. He tried to focus on the images, willing them to come into focus, but they remained hazy. Only his face was clear, his expression blank and detached in each photo. His frustration bubbled up again, but he forced himself to remain calm. He wouldn’t let the unease consume him. If this was his reality, then he’d find a way to understand it. Steeling himself, Lee Know returned to the kitchen. He poured himself a glass of water, his movements deliberate and controlled. As he drank, his mind continued to churn, searching for the missing pieces of the puzzle. I’ll figure this out. Whatever it takes, I’ll figure it out. He set the glass down and walked to the window, staring out at the cityscape. The bustling streets below looked normal, but to him, they felt distant, almost unreal. His fingers tapped against the windowsill as he tried to make sense of it all. There’s something here. I just need to find it. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the apartment in shadows, Lee Know made a silent vow. Whatever was missing, whoever he was supposed to remember—he wouldn’t stop until he uncovered the truth. --- As night fell, Lee Know’s apartment grew unnervingly quiet. The faint hum of the city outside felt muffled, distant, like it belonged to a world he wasn’t part of. The stillness was almost suffocating, pressing against him as he sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his phone. The contacts list still haunted him. Seven unfamiliar names with "StrayKids" beside them. His thumb hovered over one of the names, uncertain if he should call. His instinct told him not to, as if reaching out might unravel something he wasn’t ready to face. Suddenly, the silence broke. A faint knock echoed through the apartment. Lee Know stiffened, his heart skipping a beat. It wasn’t the front door—it was coming from somewhere deeper within the apartment. He stood slowly, his senses on high alert. The sound came again, soft but deliberate, like someone tapping on wood. It was coming from the hallway closet. No one else is here… right? He hesitated before moving toward the closet. Each step felt heavier than the last, his pulse pounding in his ears. He reached for the door handle, pausing for a moment to steady himself, before yanking it open. Nothing. The closet was empty, just as he expected. Yet, as he turned to leave, his foot nudged something on the floor.