Chapter Text
Jihoon sat at the table in the cafeteria, surrounded by faces both familiar and new. Soonyoung was beside him as always in his dreams, his presence a quiet comfort, but there were two others he instinctively recognized—Seungcheol and Jeonghan. He knew their names without question, even though he couldn't place how or why. Along with Wonwoo, who sat a bit farther down the table, they were all here, sharing one last breakfast before Seungcheol had to leave for the simulation pod.
The mood in the cafeteria was heavier today, the weight of Seungcheol's departure looming over the table. Jihoon watched as Jeonghan's eyes flickered with barely concealed emotion, his hand clasped tightly in Seungcheol's. The ache of their impending separation was palpable, like a silent promise that no matter how much they loved each other, the distance would soon stretch too far.
Jihoon's chest tightened. He could already feel the sorrow building for himself and Soonyoung. This would be them too in a few months as well. Seungcheol and Jeonghan were just the beginning. Seungcheol will be going now, jeonghan will follow him in 2 months and then Soonyoung will go in 10 months and then Jihoon will follow soon after...
"I'll be fine," Seungcheol said with a half-laugh, though the words didn't sound quite right. "I'm going in first. That's just the way it goes. But you've still got time, Jeonghan. Two months before you have to go as well."
Jeonghan's lips trembled, but he didn't say anything. Jihoon reached out, resting a hand gently on Jeonghan's arm, but the action felt small against the magnitude of what was coming.
After a long silence, Seungcheol reached into his bag and pulled out a small, carefully wrapped package. "Here," he said, sliding it across the table to Jihoon. "I got you something."
Jihoon raised an eyebrow as he opened the gift, his heart suddenly beating faster. It was a vinyl record, the black circle smooth in his hands as he examined it. The label read: What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.
"I pulled a few strings to get this one," Seungcheol said, his voice low. "It's my first vinyl. I thought... you might want to remember me with it."
Jihoon felt his throat tighten. "You didn't have to do this," he whispered, looking at Seungcheol, the weight of the moment pressing down on him.
"I wanted to," Seungcheol said with a soft smile. "And Jihoon... take care of Jeonghan for me, yeah?"
Jihoon nodded, the ache in his chest growing with every word. "I will. I promise."
"I... I don't know how to face it," Jihoon whispered, his voice barely audible. "I don't want to be alone when you leave, when Soonyoung leaves too as well. When all of you go..."
Seungcheol reached out, giving Jihoon a firm, reassuring clap on the back. "You won't be alone, okay? You've got Wonwoo, Soonyoung... and even if I'm not around, you've still got us in here." He tapped his heart, a smile flickering through his sadness. "You've got each other."
But Jihoon couldn't shake the weight of his words. He couldn't stop thinking about the emptiness that would follow, the quiet void after Seungcheol, and then Jeonghan, went into their simulation pods. "This is the beginning of the end, Seungcheol," Jihoon said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Soon, it'll just be me left. I won't have anyone."
Seungcheol's smile faded, but he shook his head gently. "You'll have them. And you've always had me. We'll always be with you, Jihoon. No matter what happens."
The weight of his words felt like a promise, but Jihoon wasn't sure how to hold onto that promise when everything seemed to be slipping away.
As the conversation slowed, Jeonghan's quiet sobs filled the space between them. He leaned his head against Seungcheol's shoulder, unable to hold it back anymore. Jihoon watched them, feeling like a stranger in his own life, knowing that soon he'd be standing in the same position. Soonyoung would be taken too, and then Jihoon would be left to grapple with the emptiness.
"I can't do this without you," Jeonghan whispered, his voice shaking. Seungcheol kissed the top of his head offering him the smallest of smiles despite the sadness.
"You won't be alone," Seungcheol promised, his voice quiet but resolute. "You all have each other."
"Thank you for everything," Jihoon murmured, his hand gripping the vinyl a little tighter as if it might somehow keep Seungcheol from slipping away from him.
Soon after the group began to rise, gathering their things. Seungcheol's departure was coming too soon. Jihoon stood, watching his friends exchange farewells, the sadness weighing on all of them like a silent, unspoken agreement.
And then Soonyoung pulled Jihoon aside. His voice was soft but firm as he looked at Jihoon, a quiet reassurance in his eyes. "I'll be here with you, Jihoon. Until the end."
Jihoon looked at him heart heavy. "Until the end," he whispered back, knowing that the road ahead would be long and uncertain—but at least, for now, Soonyoung was still by his side. They still have 10 months to spend together and Jihoon well make damn sure he cherishes every single second they still get together.
Jihoon wakes with a start, the memory of Jeonghan and Seungcheol lingering like a faint echo in his mind. He sits up slowly, his heart heavy with confusion. He had never dreamed of them before—never remembered their faces or felt the bond they once shared. It had always been Soonyoung in his dreams, constant, unwavering, the only person he saw at the back of his memories. But now, these two new figures leave a bittersweet ache he can't shake.
He presses a hand to his chest, breath shaky. They were more than friends, more like a family to him. Jeonghan's soft, emotional eyes, Seungcheol's quiet strength—they had laughed together, stood by each other cared for each other. Yet, it feels like another life, ripped away by a cruel hand he couldn't fight. The fact he forgot them for so long hits harder than it should, for Soonyoung at least he had his dreams but for them, it was a total blankness, as if... as if they never existed...
What else had been stolen from him?
The sound of movement draws Jihoon's attention, breaking his train of thought. Eunha was already up, stretching lazily in the living room. Her usual indifference today is replaced by an unexpected brightness as she notices him. Usually, she is more like a side existence in his life....well fake life, just there, doing the minimum possible to annoy Jihoon as if afraid doing the wrong thing might drive him away, just another figment of this stupid reality so seeing her today this bright surprised him.
"Good morning," she chirps, a smile spreading across her face. "I was thinking, maybe we should go out tonight. Maybe dinner? Or I could come with you to work!"
Jihoon blinks at her, still disoriented by her sudden eagerness, her eyes gleamed with anticipation, and she steps closer bouncing in her steps toward the door.
"I mean, we never hang out," she continues, trailing him as he gets up and starts moving around to gather his things creeped out by her antics. "And I could help out at the vinyl shop. It'd be fun!"
"I don't think that's—" Jihoon begins, but she cuts him off, her expression pleading.
"Come on, Jihoon! Just once? You can't keep ignoring me forever."
Jihoon sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Not today, Eunha," he muttered, grabbing his coat. "I've got errands to run first."
Her face falls slightly, but she does not push further knowing when it is too much to push Jihoon away.
Jihoon slips out of the apartment, the crisp air outside a relief against the claustrophobia that seemed to cling to him indoors and well the one from Eunha's constant presence. He heads straight to the bakery, his thoughts circling back to his dream. He needs to see Soonyoung before he can go about his day.
As soon as he steps through the door, his eyes find Soonyoung who was standing behind the counter arranging some sweets. The connection between them was instant, a quiet understanding passing in that single glance. Jihoon desperately wanted to ask if he was okay, to reach out, and to confirm that Soonyoung felt it too—the weight of everything pressing down on them. That the day before wasn't a dream and that the other also was on the same level as him. But he couldn't. Not yet.
"Playground," Jihoon murmurs, his voice barely audible. Soonyoung gives him a subtle nod in retort, his expression neutral to anyone watching but heavy with acknowledgment. Then his usual smile comes back as he asks Jihoon what he wants
"I hope you did have a good night" Soonyoung says cheerfully but even Jihoon can easily see the dark circles under his eyes, it must have been a rough night for him.
"It was okay" Jihoon winces slightly and Soonyoung raises an eyebrow but doesn't elaborate, they will talk about it later that night eitherway.
Eunha caught up to them soon after fussing over how she wanted cookies her chatter filling the air as she pulls Jihoon outside. Soonyoung's mouth turrn downward in a small pout but he raises his hand in almost hesitant bye and Jihoon smile back raising his own back before he gets dragged outside.
Eunha clings to him the whole day more than usual, her presence a suffocating reminder of the system's watchful eyes. Jihoon plays along, nodding absently at her words, his mind elsewhere. She was just an algorithm after all any wrong move and it would be transmitted right away into the system. She was probably specifically programmed to keep an eye on him, a closer spy from the inside.
That night, he finally manages to pull away after it gets too much to space her clutches. "I need some air," he tells her, his tone leaving no room for argument and reluctantly she lets him, her gaze following him around as he move around the apartment before he leaves.
He slips out of the apartment, his feet carrying him quickly to the playground. The faint hum of streetlights buzzing above as Jihoon spots Soonyoung waiting, leaning against the swings playing with his fingers.
Their eyes meet again, and for the first time that day, Jihoon felt the tension ease out of him. He wasn't alone in this—not entirely and at least now he can really breathe without feeling that watchful eye following him whatever he does.
The playground was eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the turmoil in Jihoon's mind. The memory of the dream clung to him, vivid and unrelenting. He glances at Soonyoung, sitting beside him on the swings, he was waiting all day to be able to talk to him about it, about their friends, their family.
"I had a dream," Jihoon begins, his voice barely above a whisper. "About them. Two people I didn't even know I knew—Jeonghan and Seungcheol. But in the dream, they were more than strangers. They were..." He pauses, struggling to find the right words. "...family, almost."
Soonyoung stops fiddling with his fingers and turns to him sharply, surprise flickering in his eyes. "Jeonghan and Seungcheol," he says slowly, testing the names as though they were unfamiliar. "I dreamt about them too. Jeonghan's smile... Seungcheol's laugh. It felt real, Jihoon. Like they were a part of us."
Jihoon exhales shakily. "Seungcheol gave me something. A vinyl. My first one. Jazz. He said it was for me to remember him by. I didn't even realize until now that my love for jazz came from him. But I've always felt this... connection to it, like it was a part of me. Like it was a bigger part of just randomly liking a kind of music, It was a memory of him."
Soonyoung's brows furrows as he nods slowly. "I've been holding onto something too. Jeonghan used to carry this little compass. He said it didn't work, but it reminded him of direction—his purpose. I found a compass like that years ago and kept it.... well months ago? i don't know how the timing works anymore in here to be honest but even though I didn't know why. It was him, Jihoon. I was holding onto a piece of him."
The weight of their shared realization settles between them like an unspoken promise. Jihoon looks up at the stars, their cold light barely comforting. "They were taken from us. Just like everything else. In such a cruel way. We shouldn't have to rediscover the people we loved not like this, they shouldn't have been taken from us, from our memories in the first place."
Soonyoung's gaze drops to the ground. "It is cruel. But it also means they're still with us in some way. They left pieces of themselves that the system couldn't erase. That at least should mean something."
Jihoon's thoughts shifts to the day's strange events. "Something weird happened today," he says, breaking the silence. "Eunha... my girlfriend" He adds with a wince he remembers that he never did mention her name before or who she was to him. " my fake one Or well whatever you want to call her... Anyway she wouldn't leave me alone all day. She wanted to spend time together, visit me at work—things she's never done before and it's gotten so suffocating to a point I almost slipped and said something."
Soonyoung frowns at that. "I got a message too. From my... brother." He hesitates, his voice lowering. "Only, I don't have a brother. I know that for a fact. But the text was so real, like he was coming to visit me soon."
Their eyes meet once again, the realization dawning on both of them. Jihoon's voice was grim as he speaks. "It's the system. It's trying to fill the gaps. It's creating these fake relationships to keep us anchored here, keep us connected and attached any way they could."
Soonyoung nods slowly. "It's because we're waking up, Jihoon. They know we're becoming aware. If we break free, the simulation collapses. That's why they're trying so hard now to find any way to stop us."
A chill ran through Jihoon at the thought. The system wasn't just trapping them; it was actively fighting to maintain its control. "We have to be careful," he says quietly. "But we can't stop. If we're this close, we can't let them keep us here. we've been remembering so many things too, For once in my life I feel like myself then I have been for months."
Soonyoung reaches out, his hand brushing against Jihoon's, fingers touching but not reaching further to each other as if afraid if they did what that might entail. "We won't stop," he says firmly. "But we need to be smart. They're scared. And scared systems make mistakes."
Jihoon nods, determination hardening in his chest. Together, they had to find a way out. The system had taken enough from them. It was time to take their lives back—piece by piece, memory by memory even if they had to tear it out of the system themselves.
Jihoon sat in his room, staring at the empty wall, the silence of the night heavy and unyielding. A soft knock startled him, and when he opened the door, he found Jeonghan standing there, his figure outlined by the dim hallway light.
"Jeonghan?" Jihoon asked, surprised. He did not expect that the other might visit him, at least not today especially that Jihoon was not aloud to roam around after dark, but both Seungcheol and Jeonghan had a good record with the organization, they were not completely obedient but they were smart enough to know how to get things done without getting caught, something both Jihoon and Soonyougn still struggle with.
"Hey," Jeonghan said with a faint smile. His eyes were tired, red-rimmed, and yet he carried an air of quiet resolve. "Mind if I come in?"
Jihoon stepped aside, letting Jeonghan enter. Soonyoung was on cleaning duty so he wouldn't be back for an other hour or so anyway so it would be only them two. The older boy moved to sit on Jihoon's bed, his hands fidgeting with something in his pocket. Jihoon noticed the way Jeonghan's shoulders sagged, as though the weight of the world had finally settled on them. It has been two harsh months on him after all, since the day they took Seungcheol, Jeonghan's spirits were gone, he was quite, dark circles on his eyes, head always down and smile nowhere to be found. Jihoon does not know what that feels like but he could imagine what it means to try to live without the love of your life.
"I'm leaving tomorrow," Jeonghan said softly.
The words hung in the air like a funeral bell. Jihoon swallowed hard, his throat tight. It was too soon, too soon to lose his hyung... Jihoon was not ready.
"I know," Jihoon replied.
Jeonghan nodded, his gaze fixed on the floor. "I've been thinking about it all night—what to say to you before I go. But I keep coming back to the same thing: It's too late for me now. Once I'm gone, I'm... gone."
"Jeonghan—" Jihoon began, but Jeonghan held up a hand, cutting him off.
"It's okay," Jeonghan said, his voice trembling but steady. "I'm sad, but at least I won't have to come back to an empty room anymore. Seungcheol won't be here, and honestly, I don't think I could take it anymore. I'm exhausted..."
The mention of Seungcheol made Jihoon's chest ache. He remembered their last breakfast together, the laughter that had felt so forced, the vinyl record that now sat like a relic on his shelf.
"You're stronger than me, Jihoon," Jeonghan continued. "You'll have to be. You'll be the last one standing."
Jihoon looked at him, his eyes burning. "How am I supposed to do that? How am I supposed to watch everyone leave one by one and just... stay here?"
Jeonghan leaned forward, his expression softening. "You'll find a way. You always do." Jeonghan had too much faith in him, so did Seungcheol... And so they all do. Sometimes that faith, that trust intimidate him so much that he needs to take a moment away to steady himself... He was not as strong as they think he is...
There was a long silence, the weight of their unspoken fears pressing down on them. Finally, Jeonghan reached into his pocket and pulled out a small brass compass. He turned it over in his hands for a moment before holding it out to Jihoon.
"Here," he said. "I want you to have this."
Jihoon hesitated, staring at the compass. "Your compass?"
Jeonghan noddes with a small, bittersweet smile. "This was the last thing I kept with me from my parents, I had to beg them to let me keep it. My father always said, 'Always know your purpose, Jeonghan. Your directions. Even if everything goes wrong, north will never change. North is always the way.'"
Jihoon took the compass, the cool metal cold against his palm. The needle quivered slightly before settling, pointing unwaveringly north.
"Keep it with you, I want you to have it." Jeonghan said. "When you feel lost, just look at it. Remember that no matter how messed up everything gets, there's always something constant. Something you can hold on to."
Jihoon's vision blurred with tears, and he clenched the compass tightly in his hand. "I don't want you to go."
Jeonghan reached out, placing a hand on Jihoon's shoulder. "I know. But this isn't goodbye, Jihoon. Not really. You'll keep a part of me with you, just like I'll keep a part of you. We are a family after all, always been."
They sat there for a while longer, the silence between them filled with unspoken words, until Jeonghan finally stood to leave.
As he reached the door, he turned back, his eyes soft but determined. "Be strong, Jihoon. For all of us."
And then he was gone.
The word pulses in Jihoon's mind as he jerks upright, his breathing ragged. His fingers instinctively grazes the empty pocket where he felt the compass should be. But it wasn't there. Yet, deep in his chest, he knew—he was certain—that it existed within this false reality. It had found its way into Soonyoung's hands, as if their shared bond had summoned it from a deeper truth. Soonyougn did tell him after all that he had that compass with him. Why was it with him though? Jihoon had no idea.
Eunha's voice drifts in from the kitchen. "Jihoonie, breakfast is ready! Your favorite!" It was infact not his favorite but Jihoon did not bother to comment on that.
He presses his palms to his temples, trying to shake off the lingering haze of the dream. Jeonghan's words echoed, heavy and resolute: Always know your purpose, Jihoon. North will never change.
The memory's weight bore down on him. Jeonghan and Seungcheol—figures he had never remembered before—had somehow left imprints so vivid it felt as though they were in the room with him. He couldn't reconcile it. The warmth, the trust, the friendship—parts of him that had been stolen and replaced with this lifeless imitation of existence. Jihoon will never forgive whoever was responsible for destorying hi life like this, For stealing everything that matters from him.
He ignores Eunha's repeated calls, his thoughts spiraling as the day wore on. Eunha, however, seemed determined to break through his silence. She followed him relentlessly, her cheerful chatter filling every quiet moment just as the day before.
"Jihoonie, look! I made lunch for us! Your favorite—seaweed soup, just the way you like it." It was not.
"Jihoonie, I was thinking, maybe we should go shopping later. Or we could go to your work together!" He did not want to.
Jihoon barely responded back, his answers clipped and cold. The weight of the dream—and the growing realization that he was a prisoner here—gnawed at him. Every passing second was a reminder of this prison he was stuck in. By evening, his patience snapped.
As Eunha sat beside him, prattling on about plans for the weekend, Jihoon turned on her, his voice sharp.
"Stop it, Eunha!" he shouts, his frustration erupting. "I can't do this anymore!"
Her smile falters, her expression flickering as if struggling to compute his outburst. "What do you mean?"
"I mean this," Jihoon gestures around the apartment. "You, this life—none of it is workingl! I don't want you. I don't want any of this! I want out!"
Eunha's face falls and for a brief moment, she looks genuinely hurt. Then, as if on cue, something mechanical shifts in her expression. Jihoon found it easy once he figured the truth to see the algorithm changes, the inhuman wayes she would move or try to act, it was unnatural and it always creeped him up. Her lips trembles, mimicking human sadness, but the spark in her eyes was too artificial, too controlled. Jihoon could see it clear as day.
"Okay," she says softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
The abruptness of her words sent a chill down Jihoon's spine. He stood up, a sense of unease settling over him. He expected a fight, maybe more resistance but not complete silence, something felt completely wrong. As he turns toward the door, muttering something about needing air, Eunha's voice stops him.
"Jihoonie..."
He barely had time to glance over his shoulder before a sharp, blinding pain explodes at the back of his head. His vision blurres, and the room tilts. Darkness enveloping him.
When Jihoon wakes up, the soft hum of the simulation greeted him, a specific sound Jihoon learned to recognize, a weird hum he always hear but never was able before to identify. He blinks slowly, his head throbbing. He was back in bed, the blankets tucked tightly around him. Eunha sat beside him, her hand stroking his hair.
"You're awake!" she exclaimes, her tone bright and filled with artificial relief. "Oh, Jihoonie, you scared me so much. You fainted earlier, but it's okay. Everything's okay now because I'm here."
Jihoon froze, his breath caught in his throat. Her words, meant to soothe, sent ice through his veins. He did not faint, Jihoon was pretty sure it was more than just fainting....
She leans closer, her smile wide and unnatural. "Don't worry about anything, baby. I'll take care of you. You just need to rest."
His heart raced as he stares into her eyes. They were kind, warm even, but something about them felt wrong—like they were searching for something, monitoring his every move. Even the pet name that was supposed to comfort him made him recolt so bad, hands trembling next to his sides. He trys to sit up, but Eunha presses him back down, her grip firm.
"No, no," she says gently eyes boring into him. "You need to stay here. I'll take care of everything."
Jihoon swallows hard, his thoughts spiraling. It was no longer just a simulation trying to pacify him—it was actively resisting him, pulling him back into its fabricated reality. And if it meant hurting him in the process so be it.
As Eunha's humming filled the room, Jihoon clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. He wasn't trapped because he lacked strength; he was trapped because the system feared what would happen if he broke free. And that knowledge was his weapon.
But for now, he had to play along. He really needs to get out of here as fast as possible.
"Okay," he murmures, forcing a small smile. "Thanks, Eunha."
Her face lit up with satisfaction, but Jihoon's mind was elsewhere. He wasn't giving up—not now, not ever.
*************
Jihoon's heart pounds in his chest as he slips silently from the apartment, careful not to wake Eunha. He needs to breathe, to think, to see Soonyoung. The air outside felt different, as if it understood his need to escape, to hold onto whatever shred of control he had left. He made his way to the playground, where Soonyoung was already waiting, his eyes alert as though he had been expecting Jihoon.
Before Jihoon could even speak, Soonyoung reached into his pocket and pulled out the compass. Jihoon's breath caught seeing it in reality felt much more emotional, each engraving on its back it felt so much nostalgic he felt tears crawling at the back of his eyes to be let out.
"You have it..." Jihoon trails off, his voice barely above a whisper.
Soonyoung looks at the compass in his hand and he nods. "It's... just something I've kept with me. Since I remembered. I thought I should bring it along with me today." He shruggs, but there was something in the way his fingers wrapped around it that made Jihoon's chest ache.
Jihoon stares at the compass, his mind racing. "I know it was with me. How could you...?"
Soonyoung nods slowly. "I guess it was meant to be. We're connected, Jihoon. Our memories... they didn't come together at the same time, but we share them all the same. This, this is part of us. Even if it was with you, I guess it was meant to reach me so I could hold on to it like a lifeline until you came along here to find me."
Jihoon's gaze lingers on the compass, suddenly overwhelmed by the realization. "It's... it's the first time we didn't share a memory," he murmures, a quiet sadness settling between them. Soonyoung did not see the dream he had with Jeonghan.
Soonyoung didn't speak, but the silence felt heavy. Instead, he reaches toward Jihoon's hand and tucks the compass into his hold then closes his fingers over it patting his hand after it. The warmth of his touch grounded Jihoon for a moment, before he spoke again.
"You had a dream," Soonyoung said gently. "What was it about?"
Jihoon nods, the memory surfacing in vivid detail. "Yeah... It was about the compass, when Jeonghan gave it to me. He said, 'Always know your purpose, Jihoon. Your direction... even when everything else goes wrong, north will never change. North is always the way.'"
Soonyoung's expression softened. "He was right, wasn't he?"
Jihoon didn't answer immediately. Instead, his thoughts wandered back to the day Jeonghan had visited him before he left for the simulation. The sadness, the loss. But Jeonghan had given him something valuable: a purpose, a direction. He couldn't forget it now, not when it was so clear in front of him.
"I don't know," Jihoon whispered. "How could there be a north here?" He held up the compass, but it spun aimlessly in his hand, refusing to settle on any direction. "How can there be a north in a place like this?"
Soonyoung looked at Jihoon, a small frown tugging at his lips. "This is a simulation, Jihoon. There's no real direction here. We're trapped in it. But... it's not about the direction anymore, is it? It's about what we make of it."
Jihoon swallowed hard, staring at the compass again. He couldn't accept it, couldn't let go of the idea that there had to be something more, something real. But Soonyoung was right. The world around them was warped, artificial, and they were stuck in it.
"Yeah," Jihoon said finally, his voice barely audible. "I guess you're right."
But the unease didn't leave him. The feeling of being lost—trapped in a world that wasn't his—pressed on his chest. They didn't have a north, didn't have a direction, but they still had each other. That was something, at least.
"So, what now?" Jihoon asked, breaking the silence. He tugged at Soonyoung's sleeve fingers reaching timidly for him. Soonyoung stares down at their hands for a second then a small smile paints on his face as he lets the other slip his fingers in his hold then squeezes his hand in comfort. "Let's go somewhere. I feel... better when I'm with you."
Soonyoung smiled softly and nodded. "Where do you want to go?." He paused for a moment, his eyes flicking around nervously.
Jihoon stops for minute looking around as well then he smiles playfully at the other "I know a place, where this all have begun." Soonyoung does not question him. Anything, anywhere, to escape the claustrophobia of this world.
They walked toward the vinyl shop, the familiar hum of the city fading behind them as they ventured deeper into the streets. Something felt off tonight—Jihoon couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched—but he didn't say anything. He just needed to focus on the present.
Inside the vinyl shop, Soonyoung seemed almost giddy, his fingers brushing over the records with a sense of nostalgia. "I was so excited when I heard the vinyl you gave me," he said, his eyes lighting up with the memory. "I almost went crazy trying to figure out the songs I kept hearing in my dreams, but I never could. It was like... I knew them, but I didn't."
Jihoon smiled, remembering how Soonyoung had reacted when he first played that record. "I've got a list," Jihoon said with a grin. "Of almost every song we've ever heard in our memories."
Soonyoung raised an eyebrow. "A list?" he asked, impressed. "How?"
Jihoon just shrugged, his grin widening as he walked closer to the older. "It's a secret."
"Oh is it?" Soonyoung smirks hand sneaking toward the other"s waist and pulling him toward him, Jihoon huffs in surprise but doesn't pull away, the moonlight coming from the window making his eyes shine as he stares into the other's eyes.
Soonyoung leans his forehead a bit toward the other and they move slightly backward neither of them looking around them, It felt extremly freeing and peaceful to be able to hold each other like that once again.
Records tumbles to the floor with a loud crash. Just as fast as their moment started and Jihoon groans in frustration pulling away from the other to look at the damage, they apparently managed to puch a shelf that was standing behind them and now it was a mess of records on the floor. Soonyoung just laughs, rubbing his neck awkwardly.
"Sorry," Soonyoung says, bending down to help pick up the mess. "I'm always making a mess, huh?"
Jihoon shakes his head, but then Soonyoung freezes, eyes wide. "Jihoon, has this trap door always been here?"
Jihoon turns to look, and sure enough, under the shelf that had just fallen, there was a trap door. He knells down, pulling at the handle. It opens easily, revealing a set of stairs leading down into a dimly lit corridor.
"What the hell?" Jihoon mutters, glancing up at Soonyoung. "I don't remember this being here." But could they even trust any memory they have about this place anymore?
Neither of them hesitates. They steps into the stairwell, It was now or never, they needs to grasp any hope to find out anything about this place, any piece of information could help them find a way out.
As they descends, Jihoon felt the familiar, sterile air pressing down on him. The lights overhead flickered, casting strange shadows along the walls. It felt wrong, like they had stepped into another world—one that was even deeper than the simulation they had already been trapped in.
At the bottom, Soonyoung pulls out the compass again, his hands steady but his gaze searching.
"It's pointing north," Soonyoung says, his voice tinged with surprise.
Jihoon looks around them. The hallway stretching in both directions, but the compass was unwavering. It points toward one of the tunnels, glowing faintly as if it were guiding them.
"Let's go," Jihoon said, his heart pounding. "We don't have much time."
Together, they follows the compass, unsure of where it would take them, but certain that whatever it was, it was the first real direction they had found in a long time. And if there was direction in this place then maybe they were on the right path to uncover whatever it was.
Jihoon and Soonyoung reach the end of the narrow, dimly lit corridor. The metallic core before them throbbed softly with a strange, unearthly pulse. Jihoon's eyes flickered over the strange contraption, still processing what had just happened. The compass had led them here, and in the low light, its needle still spun in lazy circles, stubbornly pointing forward as if the world beyond didn't matter.
Jihoon exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair. "North... Yoon Jeonghan, you absolute genius."
Soonyoung, still breathing heavily from the unexpected journey, shot him a puzzled look. "What do you mean?"
Jihoon turns to him with a bittersweet grin. "It's Jeonghan. Remember what he said?" He mimicked the older's voice, "Always know your purpose, Jihoon. Your direction—no matter what happens, North will never change."
Soonyoung's brow furrows as the words echoed in his mind. "You think this is what he meant? This thing?" He gestured to the core.
Jihoon nodds slowly, his fingers curling around the edge of the compass. "It has to be. This is the center of everything—the control point. It's the algorithm... It's what decides everything in this place. It must be it. I can't believe it was this close to me all this time and I never knew." Jihoon shakes his head upon that.
They move closer to the core, surrounded by rows of monitors. Jihoon's heart sank as he took in the array of screens, each one displaying a different scene. There was the vinyl shop, the bakery, the playground, and their apartments. Every moment of their lives, their fake lives—every second they'd spent thinking they were truly free—had been observed. Watched. It was a confirmation for everything they felt these past few days.
Jihoon's breath caught in his throat. "We were always being watched."
Soonyoung's voice was a low murmur. "I... I thought we were just in a program. But this—this is different. It's like it's controlling everything."
Jihoon stepped closer to one of the monitors, feeling a chill settle over him. The images flickered, and he saw himself and Soonyoung at the vinyl shop, laughing. The playground, where they'd met in their shared dream. The apartments they'd spent so many hours in. It was all there—everything they'd done, everything they'd said. They'd never been alone. Not once.
"Who's on the other side?" Jihoon muttered to himself, his voice barely audible. He leaned in closer to the screen, tracing the outlines of his own face on the monitor. His heart pounded as his mind raced. Was it Wonwoo? Was it someone else entirely, someone controlling all of this from afar?
Soonyoung, standing next to him, seemed to read his mind. "Do you think they know we're here? Do you think they're watching us right now?"
Jihoon's eyes narrowed, his fingers lightly grazing the edges of the screen. "They have to be," he said quietly. "But who are they? And why are we still here?"
A cold dread washed over him. The reality of it all was too much to bear. His mind spun with questions, none of them having answers. He turned back to Soonyoung, his voice shaky. "We can't stay here. We have to find a way out."
As Jihoon's fingers brushed against the glowing core, the world around him seemed to warp. The light pulsed with a rhythm that he couldn't escape, and suddenly, a memory erupted in his mind. It wasn't like the others. This one was different, deeper, more real.
He was six years old, in his small, warmly decorated home. It was his birthday. The faint sound of laughter echoed in the living room, the cake set on the table, his parents' faces full of joy as they sang for him. Jihoon could almost feel the weight of the balloons against his small fingers.
But then, the door burst open. Screams shattered the cheerful atmosphere. Before he could understand what was happening, heavy footsteps echoed, and shadows overtook the warmth of the room. There were men—strange faces with cold eyes, masks obscuring most of their features. They moved quickly, methodically, and with a violence that left Jihoon frozen.
His mother cried out, her hands reaching for him to try to hide him, but one of the men was faster, dragging her away. His father fought back, but it was futile. Jihoon felt his heart pounding in his chest as his parents' bodies crumpled to the floor. The sound of their last breaths was seared into his mind.
He could see them now—his mother, her face frozen in terror, blood staining the floor beneath her. His father, slumped against the wall, his hand still outstretched towards Jihoon, as if trying to shield him. The memory twisted, sharp and suffocating, as Jihoon stumbled back, a scream clawing at his throat. The room was spinning, and the once vibrant colors of his childhood were replaced by the dull, haunting gray of death.
The men didn't care about him, though. They didn't notice the trembling child in the corner. They were there for one thing: him. They grabbed him by the arms, roughly yanking him from the floor. He was too young to understand, but the terror was clear, written across his parents' faces. As they dragged him away, Jihoon's world collapsed. He couldn't stop looking at them—his parents, who had given him everything, lying in pools of their own blood. He wanted to scream, to run back to them, but their cold eyes told him it was too late.
That was the day they took him—stripped him of his family, his home, his life.
The memory was so real, so raw, that Jihoon felt as if he were still there, trapped in that moment, powerless. His body trembled as the vision faded, but the horror clung to him like a second skin. He backed away from the core, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Soonyoung watched him, his face filled with concern. "Jihoon... what happened?"
Jihoon's voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. "I... I remember. I remember the day they took me. The day they killed them." His eyes were distant, haunted. "It wasn't just some abstract thing. It was real. I saw it. I saw them... die."
Soonyoung moved toward him, but Jihoon stepped back, shaking his head. "I thought... I thought I had forgotten. But it's all still there. Inside me. The blood... the screams... everything. How could I forget something so gruesome so painful like this... They killed them Soonyoung, I was just 6 years old, a child..."
A painful silence stretched between them as Jihoon tried to steady his breath. He couldn't escape it. Even now, in this twisted simulation, those memories would never let him go.
As Jihoon stood there, shaking from the weight of the memory, another one hit him—sharp and sudden, the pull of it overwhelming without him having to even reach toward the core, it was like he opened a dam of memories and couldn't stop them from seeping back into his consciousness. He was no longer a child on the cold, harsh night when everything had been taken from him. Now, he was somewhere new, somewhere safe, yet still haunted by the ghosts of his past.
He saw the faces of the others for the first time, albeit younger, all of them were young, their eyes full of warmth, their hands reaching out. Soonyoung had been the first to approach him, his voice full of resolve as he knelt down beside Jihoon, offering a gentle smile. "I'll protect you," he had promised. "You won't be alone anymore. I know it hurts but I won't leave you."
Jihoon remembered the feeling of Soonyoung's hand, warm and firm, as he had clasped it without hesitation, like a lifeline. Jeonghan and Seungcheol, both there, fussed over him with soft, comforting words, always hovering nearby. They were so gentle, like they knew the weight of his trauma, offering solace where there had been none.
And then there was Wonwoo, who didn't say much, but saw Jihoon's fear—saw how lost and scared he was—and had quietly handed him his favorite stuffed bunny. The soft fabric had comforted Jihoon more than anything, its familiar weight soothing his trembling hands. The way Wonwoo simply nodded, as if saying, I'm here for you without a single word, was more than enough.
Soonyoung had sat by his side for hours that night, his fingers never leaving Jihoon's hand. "I'm not going to let go of you," he had whispered. "No matter what, Jihoon, I'm here. Always."
The memory felt so real, so vivid. Jihoon's eyes filled with tears as he realized just how much those moments meant to him. They had been his anchors, his lifeline, in a world that had taken everything from him. Even if the world had tried to erase his memories, they remained, locked deep inside him. Their faces, their promises—they were his heart's only truth, a truth that no one could take away.
Tears stung Jihoon's eyes as the memory began to fade, and he was left standing there, heart heavy but full. The warmth of Soonyoung's hand, Jeonghan's quiet reassurance, Seungcheol's boisterous encouragement, and Wonwoo's steady presence—all of them remained imprinted on his soul.
His breath caught in his throat as the memory faded, the light from the core dimming. But the warmth of their presence remained, lingering in his chest. They were there for me. They always were.
Soonyoung's hand reached out to Jihoon, and without thinking, Jihoon grasped it firmly, the warmth and familiarity grounding him. The moment their eyes met, it was as if time itself hesitated. And then, without warning, another memory struck them both this time.
It was late, the stars outside their window barely visible through the haze of city lights. Soonyoung had been quiet all evening, his usual playful demeanor replaced by a strange, heavy silence. Jihoon had noticed, but he hadn't dared to ask. And then, after an hour of stillness, Soonyoung had finally turned to him. His voice, soft but certain, pierced the quiet.
"Jihoon... I've been holding this in for too long. I... I like you. More than a friend. More than anything I've ever felt for anyone."
The words hung in the air between them, thick and heavy. Jihoon's heart raced, unsure if this was real or if his mind had somehow created this moment from the fragments of his memories.
Soonyoung had taken a step closer, his hand finding Jihoon's again, holding it as if it was the only anchor in the storm of his emotions. His eyes were earnest, searching Jihoon's for some sign, some sign that his feelings weren't one-sided.
"Please don't say anything if you don't feel the same," Soonyoung had whispered, his voice shaking, but his gaze never leaving Jihoon's. "I just need you to know. I need you to know, because I can't go on pretending I don't feel this way."
The world seemed to blur around them as Jihoon processed the weight of Soonyoung's words. His chest felt tight, his mind racing. But before he could speak, Soonyoung had gently cupped his face, leaning forward slightly, as if asking for permission.
"Soonyoung," Jihoon whispered, his heart aching for the boy in front of him, the boy who had given him everything without even realizing it. But Soonyoung wasn't finished yet. His words were slow, measured, like he was trying to convince himself just as much as Jihoon.
"I never had anyone like you," Soonyoung continued, his voice growing more fragile as if the weight of his confession could break him. "No one ever cared for me. I was always... just there. But then you came into my life, and suddenly, everything changed. You're the first person I've ever truly needed. You're the only person I've ever truly loved. And I don't think I could live without you, Jihoon. You're my world."
Soonyoung looked down, as though the vulnerability in his words might crack him wide open. Jihoon's throat was tight, his chest heavy with the truth in Soonyoung's words.
"I'm scared," Soonyoung admitted, his voice breaking, soft and quiet. "I'm scared of what might happen, of losing you. But I know I'm not alone anymore. I have you. And that's all I need. You're everything to me, Jihoon. And I'm not letting go. Not ever. Even if you don't feel the same i will still be here, by your side like I have always promised you."
His hands were shaking now, but when they reached for Jihoon's, they were firm. It was as if that one gesture, that one connection, was the only thing that kept him grounded in the world.
Jihoon could feel the weight of Soonyoung's words pressing against his chest. He reached out, closing the space between them, his hand finding Soonyoung's, gripping it tightly.
"I promise," Jihoon said, his voice thick with emotion, tears threatening to spill. "I'll never let go either. You're not alone anymore. We're together."
Soonyoung's eyes softened, the tension in his shoulders melting away as he leaned in, forehead resting gently against Jihoon's. For a moment, the world fell away. The fear, the uncertainty, the overwhelming weight of everything that was happening—it all disappeared, leaving only the two of them.
"I love you, Jihoon," Soonyoung whispered, the words barely audible, but they were enough.
Jihoon felt his heart swell, the words echoing through him like a heartbeat. "I love you, too. Always."
And in that moment, nothing else mattered.
The moment Jihoon blinked awake from the dream, the vivid emotions flooded his senses, a rush of love and memories surging through him. His heart swelled with the intensity of everything they'd shared, everything they'd fought for.
Jihoon grinned as he stared at Soonyoung, the weight of everything they had fought for finally settling in his heart. The memories, the love, the connection—it was all coming back to him, clearer than ever before.
The full excess of how much he loved the other, he never did forget it, it was like a dull feeling in the back of his heart always pulsing, always reaching, looking for who it was aimed at. If there was something Jihoon did not forget, it was his love for Soonyoung even if he could not name what that feeling was at the time. And now he could, now he could feel the magnitude of his feelings, arms shaking and fingers unclenching with the need to reach toward his love.
"I know what we need to do," Jihoon said, his voice steady but filled with certainty. Soonyoung gave him a confused glance but remained silent, waiting for an explanation.
Jihoon's gaze drifted to the core and the monitors surrounding them, his mind racing with the realization he had just uncovered.
"If there's one thing I've learned from all this," Jihoon said, his voice steady with realization, "it's that this system has worked so damn hard to keep us apart. It's not just about control—it's about fear. Fear of what we could do if we came together, if we remembered who we really are. This whole simulation is based on an algorithm, right? Everything's automatic—no room for real feelings, no room for emotions. It's all about maintaining control. It doesn't know how to handle love, connection, or memories."
Jihoon paused, turning toward Soonyoung with a gleam in his eyes. Soonyoung blinked, still not fully grasping the gravity of Jihoon's words.
"Why do you think we started to remember? The more we felt, The more we remember, the more we feel, the more it weakens the system. Our emotions, our love, they're the cracks in its foundation. The more we gain our consciousness back, the more it can't contain us."
Soonyoung's face lit up with realization, but then he grinned, raising an eyebrow mischievously. "So you're saying... what? We need to have a little fun to break free? maybe a little..." his fingers dance over the side of Jihoon's arm suggestively.
Jihoon's lips curled into a playful smile. "Not exactly that... but close enough."
Without a second thought, Jihoon reached for Soonyoung's collar, pulling him into a kiss that was as deep as it was urgent. Their lips collided with an intensity that was all-consuming. It wasn't just a kiss—it was a declaration. A declaration of everything they had been holding back, all the emotions they had buried deep inside. A reminder of all the love they held within them, the love that been desperate to be let out into the world once more.
The kiss was raw, filled with everything they had missed, everything they had longed for. Jihoon could feel Soonyoung's heartbeat against his chest, feel the warmth of his body as if they were fated to be this close, this real. It wasn't about the simulation anymore—it was about them, about their connection, and the love that had always existed between them, even when they didn't know it.
As their lips parted, the sound of cracking echoed around them. Jihoon's heart skipped a beat as the monitors surrounding them began to fracture, a web of cracks spreading across the glass like a spider's web. The walls of the simulation were starting to break down. For the first time in what felt like forever, they were truly breaking free.
Soonyoung pulled away slightly, laughing softly. "If I'd known this would happen, I would've done this from the beginning." His hands found Jihoon's waist, pulling him closer, their bodies fitting perfectly together.
But then the core beside them began to hum. The light emanating from it grew brighter, stronger, as if it were alive. It pulsed with energy, making the air around them feel charged, like the calm before a storm.
Jihoon looked up, his heart pounding in his chest. "Soonyoung, it's... it's reacting to us."
Soonyoung smiled, his gaze soft but filled with intensity. "Good. Let's make it feel everything."
The light from the core intensified, blinding them for a moment. Jihoon could barely see through the brilliance, but he could feel Soonyoung's presence next to him, a steady anchor in the chaos. Holding so close to him as if afraid if he lets go they will be separated once again. The light seemed to grow brighter with every passing second, threatening to consume them whole. But they didn't pull away. They didn't stop.
Soonyoung leaned in, his voice barely a whisper. "I love you."
Jihoon's heart soared. "You're my universe. My everything. I would not have lived or survived if it was not for your existence in my life. My sweet anchor and my protector."
Jihoon's eyes glinted, the light around them giving him a pretty hua as if he was an angel walking on earth and Soonyoung could not hold back to not get back into kissing him once again now that he had his love in his arms once again.
And so they kissed again—deeper this time, more desperate, as if their very souls were entwined. The intensity of the kiss sent a shockwave through the room, causing the core to hum louder, brighter, until it felt like everything was about to collapse. But they didn't let go, they hold on much tighter to each other, If they were going to be caught, If this was to be the end at least they spent their last day together relishing in their love.
And then, the world around them exploded into light. The monitors shattered, the walls of the simulation breaking apart as if they were paper thin. The light was so bright, so all-consuming, that Jihoon could hardly see. His body tensed, but he didn't pull away. He didn't want to.
But as the light reached its peak, Jihoon's world went white. His eyes flew open, and he was no longer in the simulation. No longer surrounded by Soonyoung. No longer in the world they had fought to break free from.
He was sitting up in a sterile, empty room. The sides of his simulation pod were retracting, revealing the cold, white space around him. His eyes darted around, wide with confusion, as his heart raced in his chest.
The world outside was silent. The system, the core, the monitors—everything was gone. All that was left was him. Alone.
His breath came in shallow gasps as the realization hit him like a ton of bricks. He wasn't in the simulation anymore. He had broken free.
But the questions swirled in his mind. What now? What was this place? Was anyone out there? Was Soonyoung with him?
His memories had returned, but the disorienting emptiness of the place overwhelmed him. a loud, insistent alarm echoed through the sterile room, shaking him out of his dazed state. Panic clawed at his chest, he realized the alarm was blaring since the moment he woke up but his senses needed a minute to get back into working.
Instinctively he reaches toward his pocket and he feels the shape of the compass familiar and comforting. It was his first clue that this wasn't just another layer of the system's tricks. He pulled it out, and for the first time, it wasn't malfunctioning. It pointed the way. North.
His heart beat faster as the realization hit him. This was real—he had to get out, and he could finally escape. He needs to find Soonyoung first, he must be somewhere around here, Jihoon was so sure of it.
Jihoon hurried out of the pod, and the doors opened with a soft whoosh automatically for him. The hallway stretched out in front of him, white and endless. His mind raced as he darted down the hall, his body moving on autopilot as the compass seemed to guide him, pulling him along with its inexplicable force. The world around him blurred, the only thing anchoring him to reality the cold metal walls and the steady pull of the compass.
With newfound determination, Jihoon walked down the hall, each step echoing in the silence, until he collided with Soonyoung the minute he turned a corner. Both of their eyes widened in shock, a mixture of disbelief and relief flooding them. Soonyoung was dressed in a white jumpsuit, the same one he wore the day he was dragged into the simulation. Before either of them could speak, Jihoon's arms shot out, pulling Soonyoung into a crushing hug. His lips found Soonyoung's in a desperate kiss, full of emotion, of gratitude. They'd made it out. They were free.
"Did we really make it?" Soonyoung murmured, breaking the kiss but not the closeness.
Jihoon nodded, but his eyes were still scanning the hall. "I think so. We're here."
Soonyoung held him tightly, his hands shaking slightly as he responded. "I never thought this would end. I thought we were stuck there forever."
"I don't know if I can believe this is real. Are we really out?" Jihoon asked, pulling back slightly to look into Soonyoung's eyes, trying to convince himself that this wasn't another illusion
Just as they began to let their guard down, they heard footsteps echoing from down the hall. Without thinking, Soonyoung pulled Jihoon into a side alcove, the two of them holding their breath, eyes wide in panic.
As the footsteps neared, Jihoon's heart skipped. He recognized the voices.
"They can't be..." Jihoon whispered, barely able to believe it. But then Jeonghan stepped into view, followed by Seungcheol. Jihoon couldn't help himself. He darted forward, throwing his arms around them both in a sudden, desperate embrace.
"Oh my god, Jihoon..." Jeonghan's voice cracked as he pulled Jihoon close. "You're—"
"I'm here. I'm really here," Jihoon muttered through the hug, the tears threatening to spill. "We're all here."
They all pulled away, looking at each other in disbelief. It was Jeonghan who spoke first, his eyes searching the hall as if expecting more to be hidden in the walls.
"Where's Wonwoo?" Jeonghan asked, the nagging question pressing at the back of his mind.
Jeonghan's face tightened, but he didn't answer right away. He just started walking briskly down the hall, heading toward the control room. They followed him in silence, but every step felt heavier.
When they reached the door, it was open—an ominous sign. Inside, Wonwoo was hooked up to machines, tubes linked to his head, his body frail, almost lifeless. But his eyes were wide with anger, his voice hoarse as he screamed at them.
"Why the hell are you here?! I told you to run!" Wonwoo's eyes glowed red with frustration and something darker—guilt, maybe, or desperation. "Get out, now. Do you understand me? You can't be here!"
Jihoon's chest tightened at the sight of his friend, his heart breaking as the pieces of the puzzle clicked into place.
"No," Jihoon said, his voice barely a whisper. "We're not leaving you."
But Wonwoo didn't want their pity. "No!" He shouted again, his voice cracking. "You don't get it. I've done all of this to help you. Everything for you guys. But if you stay, I won't be able to save you anymore. I can't stop them. I'm tied to this system. I'm... I'm part of it now. And if it dies, so do I. You have to let me finish this. Leave now. Go!"
Tears filled Jihoon's eyes as he shook his head. "We're not leaving you, Wonwoo."
But even as they pleaded with him, even as Jeonghan reached out a hand toward him, Wonwoo screamed, his tears joining their own as he fought them off. "Please! I'm begging you! Leave before it's too late!"
"This was what you gave them in return... The deal to let me enter the same simulation Soonyoung was in." Jihoon trails off and Wonwoo stiffens for a second.
"I did what I had to do for you guys"
"Wonwoo you're hooked to a machine, this is not fair, this is not..." Jihoon trails away
"I GOT A CHANCE AND I TOOK IT NOW FUCK OFF HERE SO MY SACRIFICE WONT GO IN VAIN" he quits for a minute eyes softening "Let me save my family..."
And then, suddenly, there was no more arguing. Jihoon looked at Soonyoung, who nodded silently, his expression full of sorrow. Jeonghan sobbed loudly from next to him but they all knew they didnt have time, no more time to argue or even try to figure out how to get Wonwoo out... Maybe they can leave then come back for him?
They ran. They ran past the blinking monitors, past the machines that seemed to hold their lives together, toward the exit. They could hear the chaos behind them, the sound of machinery humming, the alarms still blaring. But the outside was close. Freedom was close.
Just as they reached the door, Jihoon looked back, his heart heavy, knowing what was coming. He turned back to Soonyoung, who gripped his hand tightly, their fingers entwined.
The world shook. The explosion came with a deafening roar, and everything went white.
The next thing Jihoon knew, he was outside the air fresh but tainted with the smoke of the explosion. They had made it. But at what cost?
Jeonghan didn't say anything. Seungcheol, too, stayed silent, his expression unreadable. Jihoon could see that they were both trying to come to terms with the loss of their friend. Jeonghan had been the one to lead them through the maze of hallways, his memories a steady guide. But even now, there was a void where Wonwoo's presence should have been. Jeonghan's eyes were distant, his thoughts far away. He wasn't speaking, just streaming the emotions from the loss as they walked.
Jihoon felt the weight of the situation crash down on him. They had made it out, but they had lost so much in the process.
At what cost? They had regained their freedom, but they had lost their brother, their friend, their lifeline.
"Wonwoo..." Jihoon whispered to himself, feeling the lump in his throat...
But then just as they got into a clearing they heard the sound of a helicopter flying over them and before they could do anything a few faceless white masked men dropped off them, weapons trailed at them
Maybe escaping was not as easy as they thought it would be...