The dorm room was silent, filled only with the rhythmic breathing of the six boys asleep around Jungwon. The dim glow of the moonlight cast soft shadows across the room, but even with the peaceful atmosphere, Jungwon couldn’t sleep.

His thoughts kept circling back to the photo album. The skinned bodies. The blurred faces. The door.

He turned his head, glancing at the others.

Heeseung had one arm thrown over his face. Jay was curled up slightly. Jake’s breathing was soft, his chest rising and falling steadily. Sunghoon was sleeping on his side, completely still. Sunoo’s lips were slightly parted, his face peaceful. Ni-ki had his legs sprawled across his blanket, shifting occasionally.

Jungwon bit his lip. He wanted to wake them up, but… seeing them so peaceful made him hesitate.

Sighing quietly, he slipped out of bed, grabbed his hoodie, and left the room.

---

A Midnight Walk

The cool breeze brushed against his skin as Jungwon strolled through the empty school halls. The silence was strangely comforting, though it didn’t erase the eerie feeling that always lingered in the air.

He kept his hands tucked into his hoodie pocket, his feet moving aimlessly.

Then—

He stopped.

At the very end of the hallway, where he knew there used to be a dead end, there was an empty wall.

Jungwon’s brows furrowed. That… wasn’t there before.

Curiosity stirred inside him. Slowly, he stepped forward.

Then, suddenly—

His necklace began to glow.

The soft light from the pendant illuminated his hands, and words appeared across its surface.

“Find me.”

A chill ran down Jungwon’s spine.

His fingers hesitantly brushed against the wall. It looked solid, but when he knocked—

Hollow.

His breath caught.

Jungwon pushed against the wall.

It gave way.

A dark, hidden passage revealed itself.

A staircase spiraled downward into pitch-black darkness.

Jungwon swallowed. His instincts screamed at him to turn back, but his curiosity was stronger.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside.

---

The Hidden Hallway

His only source of light came from the glowing necklace around his neck. The air was damp, filled with the scent of rust and decay.

As Jungwon ventured deeper, he noticed cells.

Some were built into the walls, others hung from the ceiling, rattling as a cold breeze passed through. Inside them…

Skeletons.

Bones, broken and twisted. Some had their arms chained to the walls, skulls cracked open. Others lay slumped against the rusted iron bars, their hollow eye sockets staring directly at him.

Jungwon felt his stomach churn.

This wasn’t just a basement. It was a prison.

His breathing grew uneven, but he forced himself to press forward.

The deeper he went, the more gruesome the sight became.

There were stains on the walls. Dark. Dried.

Blood.

Jungwon bit his lip hard to keep himself from panicking.

Then, at the very end of the hallway, his steps slowed.

His heart stopped.

The door.

It was exactly like the photo.

Rusty. Brown. Old.

Jungwon’s fingers trembled as he reached for the handle. He could feel something calling to him from behind the door, something waiting.

But just before he could touch it—

A hand grabbed him from behind.

Jungwon gasped, but before he could react, a strong arm wrapped around his waist, pulling him into the shadows.

A thick, dark cloth was thrown over both of them, hiding them completely.

Jungwon’s breathing quickened, panic creeping into his chest.

Then, he heard it.

Footsteps.

A flashlight beam swept across the hallway.

Someone was here.

Jungwon held his breath, his heart pounding against his ribs.

The light passed over the prison cells, lingering on the skeletons. Jungwon could feel the presence of the person standing just meters away.

Then…

The light moved on.

The footsteps slowly faded into the distance.

Jungwon let out a shaky breath.

Carefully, the cloth was pulled away.

Jungwon turned around—

And met Ni-ki’s eyes.

---

Escape… Almost

Ni-ki’s usual playful demeanor was gone. His expression was tense, serious.

“We’re leaving. Now,” he whispered, his hand still gripping Jungwon’s wrist.

Jungwon was too shocked to protest as Ni-ki dragged him back through the hallway.

His legs moved on instinct, his body still trembling slightly.

But just as they reached the exit—

A loud creak echoed behind them.

Jungwon whipped around.

His blood ran cold.

The door had opened.

And standing in the doorway was a woman.

Obese, her deformed body barely fitting through the frame. Her clothes were soaked in blood.

Jungwon felt like the air had been knocked out of his lungs.

Her eyes locked onto him.

She grinned.

Jungwon barely had time to react before Ni-ki yanked him through the exit, slamming the wall shut behind them.

They both stumbled back, panting heavily.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then—

BANG.

Something slammed against the hidden wall.

Jungwon and Ni-ki froze.

Another BANG.

Then…

Silence.

Ni-ki’s grip on Jungwon’s wrist tightened. “We’re never coming back here.”

Jungwon, still shaking, could only nod.