Author pov

The dawn broke over Yonsei University, but for Hye Rin and Eun Ji, the morning brought little solace. They had spent the night in Hye Rin’s cramped dorm room, pouring over the stolen files from the hidden lab. The revelations inside left them shaken but more determined than ever.

The file on Project Genesis was more detailed than they had anticipated. It outlined a plan to use advanced gene-editing techniques on students to enhance physical and cognitive abilities. The results were horrifying—several students had suffered irreversible side effects, while others had simply disappeared.

“This is bigger than I thought,” Eun Ji said, pacing the room. “If we don’t stop this, more people will be hurt.”

Hye Rin leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling. “The question is, how do we expose this without getting ourselves killed?”

Eun Ji paused. “We need proof—more than just these files. We need someone who’s seen this firsthand.”

Hye Rin’s eyes narrowed. “You mean one of the missing students?”

Eun Ji nodded. “If we can find one of them, we’ll have all the evidence we need.”

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A Dangerous Lead

Their first step was to find someone who could point them to the missing students. Hye Rin remembered the boy from “The Whisper Network.” She found him in the library, nervously flipping through a textbook.

“You again?” he said, glancing around as Hye Rin approached.

“I need your help,” Hye Rin said.

The boy hesitated. “I already told you everything I know.”

Hye Rin leaned in closer. “Not everything. You’ve seen the lab. Did you ever see the students they took?”

The boy looked away, his hands trembling. “There’s a place… near the edge of campus. An old dormitory that’s been abandoned for years. Sometimes, at night, I see lights on inside. I think that’s where they’re keeping them.”

Hye Rin’s eyes hardened. “Show me.”

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The Forgotten Dormitory

That night, Hye Rin and Eun Ji stood outside the old dormitory. The building was dilapidated, its windows shattered and walls covered in graffiti.

“This place gives me the creeps,” Eun Ji whispered.

“Stay close,” Hye Rin said, her voice steady.

They crept inside, the floorboards creaking beneath their feet. The air was thick with dust and the faint smell of mildew.

As they moved deeper into the building, they heard faint voices coming from one of the rooms. Hye Rin motioned for Eun Ji to stay behind as she peeked through a crack in the door.

Inside, she saw several students sitting in a circle, their faces pale and eyes hollow. A man in a lab coat stood in the center, speaking in a low voice.

“They’re conditioning them,” Eun Ji whispered, having moved up beside Hye Rin.

Hye Rin nodded. “We need to get them out of here.”

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The Rescue

The two of them devised a plan. Eun Ji would create a distraction while Hye Rin led the students to safety.

Eun Ji slipped away and triggered the fire alarm, causing chaos to erupt inside the dormitory. The man in the lab coat shouted for the students to stay put, but the blaring alarm drowned out his voice.

Hye Rin burst into the room, her presence commanding. “If you want to get out of here, follow me,” she said.

The students hesitated, fear etched on their faces.

“You don’t have to stay here,” Hye Rin urged. “I can get you to safety.”

Finally, one of them stood up, followed by another. Soon, the entire group was following her out of the building.

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An Unexpected Ally

As they made their way out, they were confronted by the figure in black combat gear. The figure raised a weapon, aiming it directly at Hye Rin.

“Not so fast,” the figure said, their voice distorted by a modulator.

Hye Rin stepped forward, shielding the students. “If you want me, come and get me.”

The figure hesitated, their stance faltering. “You’re not supposed to be here,” they said, almost as if in frustration.

Before Hye Rin could respond, the figure lowered their weapon and stepped aside.

“Go,” they said.

Hye Rin didn’t waste any time. She led the students out of the building and into the night.

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The Truth Unfolds

Back in the safety of Eun Ji’s apartment, the rescued students began to share their stories. They had been taken against their will and subjected to experiments that pushed their bodies and minds to the limit.

One of them, a girl named Soo Min, revealed that she had overheard the researchers talking about a “final phase.”

“They’re planning something big,” she said, her voice shaking. “Something that will change everything.”

Eun Ji frowned. “What do you mean?”

“They’re going to use the experiments to create an army,” Soo Min said. “And they’re starting with the students here.”

Hye Rin clenched her fists. “Not if we stop them first.”

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End of Chapter 5