✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

The atmosphere in the room had a weight to it as everyone settled into their positions, glancing now and then toward Y/N's closed door. Some were visibly trying to mask their concern, while others were clearly unable to do so.

Hyungsik and Minho emerged from the basement, their footsteps heavy on the stairs. The tension in the room became palpable the moment they entered. It wasn't just their appearance that caused the shift-it was what they had just come from. The basement held secrets. Secrets that only they knew.

As they crossed the threshold of the hall, RM's eyes narrowed slightly, and Suga's lips pressed into a thin line. Both had been silent, waiting for any sign of a solution or reason for Y/N's withdrawal, but now the arrival of Hyungsik and Minho only raised more questions.

RM's gaze flicked toward them, his jaw tightening, but he didn't speak immediately. Instead, he waited, his posture straight as though assessing them from the core. The tension was almost suffocating, and even the faint crackle of the fire did little to ease it.

Suga, sitting across from RM, gave a subtle shake of his head as his eyes briefly met RM's, signaling a mutual understanding. There was something off about Hyungsik and Minho's return-something that didn't sit right.

Jin and Jiwoo, sensing the undercurrent of suspicion, exchanged a glance before continuing with their duties, setting the table as a subtle attempt to divert attention.

Meanwhile, Minho caught the sharp stares from RM and Suga. He met their eyes for a moment, but his expression remained unreadable. Hyungsik, trailing a few steps behind, seemed slightly more tense, but he, too, was careful not to show any signs of discomfort. He knew this moment was coming.

Sehun, sensing the shift, stepped forward. His tone was calm, but there was an edge to his words. "Is everything alright down there?" His eyes flicked toward the two men, but there was no mistaking the way his gaze lingered on them.

Minho finally responded, his voice steady but lacking any real warmth. "Everything's fine. Just... clearing things out."

Suga's voice broke through the quiet tension, his tone hard, yet tinged with something else-disappointment? "Clearing things out," he repeated, the words hanging in the air like an accusation. "You two were down there from a day. It's just... strange, isn't it?"

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, everyone instinctively looking to Minho and Hyungsik for an explanation. But neither of them seemed eager to provide one, and RM's piercing gaze only seemed to intensify.

Jimin shifted uncomfortably, trying to break the tension. "You know, there's stew ready. We can... talk about this later, right?"

Taehyung, still lying on the couch, shifted slightly, clearly straining against his injuries as he tried to speak. "We can't keep pretending like nothing's happening, though. Whatever is going on... it's affecting all of us." His eyes briefly met Hyungsik's and Minho's, then flicked toward Y/N's door. "She's been up there all day. We need to make sure she's okay."

Hyungsik finally broke his silence, his eyes briefly locking with Suga's before shifting to the rest of the group. "We're trying, alright? We're all doing what we can." His voice was low, but firm. "Y/N... She needs time."

Suga's glare softened slightly, but his skepticism remained. "Time. Right."

The tension in the room was thick, but it didn't break just yet. As the minutes dragged on, everyone seemed to recognize that this moment-whatever it was-wasn't going to pass easily. Trust wasn't so simple anymore.

And still, Y/N's door remained closed, the silence on the other side almost louder than the conversations in the room.

The group waited. The storm was coming. And they all knew that when it did, there would be no more hiding from the truth.

---

The room had settled into a quiet hum, the soft crackling of the fire barely masking the tension that lingered like a specter. Shadows danced on the walls, cast by the flickering flames, and the silence stretched, heavy and unbroken. Every pair of eyes was trained on Y/N's door, waiting, anticipating, yet no one dared to speak.

Night had fallen, and the hours dragged on, thick with unspoken questions and restrained worry. Some were slouched on sofas, others stood against the walls, lost in their own thoughts. Still, the weight of collective anticipation hung palpably in the air.

Then, faint footsteps broke the stillness.

Y/N stepped into the room, her boots barely audible against the worn wooden floor. A bag was slung over her shoulder, its strap cutting across her chest. As the firelight illuminated her figure, it revealed fresh scratches on her arms and the faint scar on her cheek-evidence of whatever trials she'd faced while she was away.

She didn't flinch under their stares. Her gaze swept over the room, taking in their tense expressions. For a brief moment, her eyes lingered on each of them, holding their attention with quiet defiance. There was something raw in her presence-an unspoken strength that silenced even the faintest whisper of doubt.

Without a word, she crossed the room and sank into one of the sofas, the bag sliding from her shoulder to the floor. Its soft thud was barely audible, yet it carried the weight of everything she was about to say.

The silence stretched further, a taut thread on the verge of snapping.

Then, Y/N's voice broke through, low but steady. "Ask the questions you want to ask. I'll tell you everything you want to know."

Her tone carried an edge-a calm finality that left no room for argument.

The room froze, her words crashing into the group like a tidal wave.

RM and Suga exchanged uncertain glances, their expressions unreadable but undeniably conflicted. Hobi and Jin sat frozen, their wide eyes betraying shock. Near the doorway, Hyungsik and Minho stood still, having just emerged from the basement. Their expressions flickered with surprise and a touch of relief, as though a burden had been lifted without warning.

Jungkook, Taehyung, and Jimin exchanged quick, hesitant glances. Each seemed caught between curiosity and apprehension, waiting for someone to break the silence.

Finally, Sehun spoke, his voice soft and measured. "You don't have to do this if you're not ready," he said, concern lacing his tone. "No one's forcing you."

Y/N offered him a faint smile-a small, knowing curve of her lips that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Sehun," she said gently, "I've already made my choice. I trust you all. We're family. I'm ready."

Her words carried a vulnerability that wasn't lost on anyone in the room. She leaned forward slightly, her gaze sweeping over them once more. "I don't want to keep you in the dark anymore. You've waited for me-never pushed, never demanded answers. Now, I'm ready to give them."

Her attention shifted to Jin, Suga, Hobi, and RM, her tone sharpening slightly. "So, listen. Because I'm not holding back."

The room remained still, her words hanging in the air. Then, as if to ground them all, Sehun nodded. "We're here for you, Y/N. Whatever it is, we'll listen. We've got your back."

The tension eased, just a fraction, and Y/N gave a grateful nod.

Her gaze flicked to Hyungsik and Minho by the doorway. They stood as though rooted in place, their expressions unreadable. With a soft chuckle, Y/N tilted her head. "Why are you two still standing there?" she asked, her voice light but pointed. "Don't you want to know what's next?"

Minho's brow furrowed, but he stepped forward, his voice steady. "Alright. We're here. Tell us everything. No half-truths."

Y/N nodded, her expression softening. "You'll get the whole truth," she promised. "But it won't be easy to hear."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the group again, searching for hesitation. When none came, she took a deep breath. "Before any of you came into the picture, Minho and I were working on something. A lead. It wasn't just scavenging supplies or forming alliances. It was about digging deeper-about figuring out how this all started and, maybe, how it ends."

Jin leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "You've been investigating the origin of the outbreak?"

"Yes," Y/N replied. "Quietly, because the last thing we needed was more chaos. Hyungsik joined us later, and with his help, we've gotten further than we could've on our own."

Hyungsik finally spoke, his voice firm. "I had maps. Documents. Contacts. I brought them to Y/N and Minho because I believed in what they were doing. If there's even a chance we can understand this virus better, we have to try."

Suga's gaze sharpened. "And you kept this from us because...?"

Minho's voice cut in, sharper than Y/N's. "Because it's dangerous. Knowing this puts a target on your back-and on anyone else who knows."

Jungkook frowned. "So you were protecting us?"

"Yes," Y/N said firmly. "It wasn't about trust. It was about keeping you safe."

Hobi's expression softened, but concern flickered in his eyes. "Y/N, we're a team. You don't have to do this alone."

"I know," Y/N said quietly, "and I'm grateful for that. But some risks are better taken by a few."

Taehyung crossed his arms. "So what happens now? You've told us this much. Are we part of this, or are we still in the dark?"

Y/N smiled faintly. "If you're willing to take the risk, then yes, you're in. But understand-this isn't just about survival. The truth might not be what we want to hear."

Jimin leaned back, his expression resolute. "We've faced worse. Whatever it is, we'll handle it together."

Sehun nodded. "You've had our backs from the start, Y/N. Now it's time we have yours."

For the first time that night, Y/N felt a weight lift off her shoulders. The fire crackled softly in the background, but the silence that followed was one of unity, not tension.

Sehun leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his sharp eyes fixed on Y/N. His voice broke through, calm but laced with curiosity. "So that's why you go out so often," he said, his words slow and deliberate. "But... we've never seen Minho or Hyungsik disappear like you. They're always here. Why's that?"

Minho and Hyungsik exchanged a glance, an unspoken conversation passing between them. Minho was the first to respond, his voice steady but tinged with a hint of defensiveness. "She goes out alone," he admitted, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. "We stay behind to make sure everything's fine here. Someone has to keep things running smoothly."

Hyungsik nodded in agreement, his expression softer but no less serious. "It's not that we're not involved. We are. But Y/N... she's the one who takes the risks. She insists on going out there alone. And honestly, we let her, because we trust her instincts. She knows what she's doing."

Suga leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze landing squarely on Y/N. His tone was blunt, cutting through the room like a blade. "So you've been working on this for all this time. But have you found anything?"

His eyes narrowed slightly as he gestured toward Y/N, his expression a mix of frustration and concern. "Because looking at you-at the state you're in-it's clear you're not just wandering around aimlessly or falling off hills for fun. You always come back with injuries. Serious ones."

The group shifted uncomfortably at Suga's words, their eyes darting to Y/N, who sat quietly, her gaze unwavering despite the weight of his accusation. She tilted her head slightly, a small, wry smile playing at the corners of her lips. "You're right, Suga. I don't just roam around for fun." Her voice was calm, but there was a quiet strength behind it.

She leaned forward, resting her forearms on her knees, her gaze steady as she addressed the group. "And no, I don't come back empty-handed. I've found things. Clues. Evidence. Pieces of a puzzle that we're trying to put together. But it's not as simple as just finding something and bringing it back. It's dangerous out there. You all know that."

Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, no one spoke. Then, Hyungsik added, his voice firm, "What she's doing out there, what we're doing... it's not something we take lightly. We wouldn't be risking this much if we didn't believe it was worth it."

Minho nodded, his expression hardening. "Y/N doesn't take unnecessary risks. If she's coming back with injuries, it's because she's doing something important. Something that matters."

The room was silent again, the weight of their words settling over everyone. It was clear now-this wasn't just about secrets or trust. It was about something bigger, something that could change everything. And for the first time, the group realized just how much Y/N, Minho, and Hyungsik had been carrying on their own.

RM's sharp eyes flicked between Y/N, Hyungsik, and Minho, his curiosity unwavering. "So," he said slowly, leaning back in his chair, "what have you found so far? After all this time, what's the big secret?"

Y/N's gaze shifted briefly to Hyungsik and Minho, silently seeking their approval. Both gave subtle nods, and Y/N sighed softly before addressing the group. Her voice was calm but carried a weight that made everyone lean in slightly. "Well," she began, "we all know about Kang Joon, don't we? Our first enemy. The reason we're even in this town hall in the first place."

The mention of Kang Joon stirred emotions in the room. Hobi muttered under his breath, Suga's lips pressed into a thin line, and Sehun's hand balled into a fist. Jimin scoffed, "That bastard's a pain in the ass," and Jungkook nodded, his jaw tight, confusion clouding his features.

Taehyung exchanged a brief, knowing glance with Y/N. Their eyes locked for a moment too long, and Y/N's breath hitched-shallow hard, and unmistakable enough for everyone to hear. She quickly lowered her gaze to the floor, silent, her posture stiff and tense, as if bracing for something unseen.

Fear flickered in Taehyung's eyes, his hand clenching into a fist. It wasn't confusion, but understanding-something darker and more unsettling. His body tensed as if the weight of unspoken knowledge had finally dawned on him. He wanted to stand, to act, but the fear kept him seated, frozen, his fingers twitching in agitation.

The others noticed the change but couldn't make sense of it. Hobi's usually bright demeanor faltered, confusion taking over. Jin's eyes narrowed, struggling to understand what was happening. Sehun's usual calm slipped, his posture stiffening. Minho and Hyungsik exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of what they were witnessing. Jimin furrowed while Jungkook shifted, looking between Y/N and Taehyung, his confusion deepening. Even Suga's stern expression softened, as if sensing the tension but unable to grasp its source.

The room fell into a heavy silence. Finally, RM spoke, his voice calm but firm. "And how is he related to what you've found? What's his connection to all this?"

Y/N didn't answer immediately. Instead, she glanced at Hyungsik, her expression unreadable but charged with meaning. Hyungsik hesitated, his brows furrowing as he weighed his words. Finally, he broke the silence, his voice steady but laced with unease. "Well, he's connected to a lot, but let's leave the details for later. For now... when Y/N started uncovering things, she stumbled upon something chilling. A secret none of us were prepared for."

He paused, and all eyes turned to him, the room thick with anticipation. Minho picked up where Hyungsik left off, his tone clipped. "She found evidence of a hidden lab. Not just any lab-one tied to a catastrophe from years ago. A place where something big went down. Something that still haunts us."

The room erupted into murmurs, but Y/N raised a hand, silencing them with a single gesture. "That lab wasn't just a lab. It was connected to something bigger. Something darker."

Jin's voice was skeptical, though his curiosity was piqued. "And what exactly is that?"

Y/N's lips pressed into a thin line. "Hyungsik confirmed the lab's existence after I showed him what I found. But it's shrouded in secrecy-almost as if someone wanted to erase it entirely."

Hyungsik nodded grimly. "It's not just secrecy. It's layers of lies, misdirections. Whoever set it up didn't just want to hide it-they wanted to bury it."

"So what's the plan?" Jungkook asked, brows furrowing. "You found the lab, but what's next?"

Y/N's gaze sharpened, and her voice grew resolute. "Because I don't think the lab is where the real research happened. It's a decoy-a front to throw people off. The real work was conducted somewhere else... in a hidden bunker."

"A bunker?" Sehun echoed. "Are you serious? An entire underground facility? Hidden in the middle of nowhere?"

"Exactly," Y/N confirmed. "And finding it is like searching for a needle in a haystack. But it's out there. I know it is."

"And you're risking your life to find it?" RM asked, his voice a mixture of admiration and frustration. "Those places aren't near civilization. Do you even know what you're walking into?"

"I know," Y/N said firmly. "But if we don't look, who will? If there's a chance this bunker holds answers, I can't ignore it."

RM shook his head, frustration growing. "How? Do you even have a lead? These bunkers don't just pop up. They're designed to disappear."

Minho defended her. "She's not wandering blind. We've pieced together enough to narrow it down. And Y/N doesn't stop until she gets results."

Suga spoke up, his tone more somber. "It's not just about being smart. If the people behind this wanted to bury it, they'd make sure no one ever found it."

Y/N locked eyes with him. "Then I guess it's a war I'm willing to fight. If we don't dig deeper, we'll never know. And I'm not going to let the past destroy our future."

The words hung in the air, the weight of them pressing down on everyone.

Hobi broke the silence, his voice uncertain. "How does Kang Joon fit into all this?"

Y/N leaned back in her chair, taking a deep breath. "Kang Joon is the reason I found the bunker and the lab in the first place."

The group exchanged wary glances, but Jimin leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "What does he have to do with this?"

Y/N motioned for Hyungsik to join her, then sat down. "Four or five months ago, Kang Joon drugged me and held me captive for two days. It was Sehun, Suga, RM, Jungkook, Jimin, and Taehyung who came to rescue me."

Her words stirred unease in the group. They remembered the horror of that time-her bruises, the blood, the rage. The memory was still fresh.

"I'll never forget the look on your faces when you saw me like that," Y/N said with a dry chuckle, bitterness in her voice. Some smirked grimly, others clenched their fists.

"When I woke up, I went straight to the treehouse with Saans. We thought Kang Joon had disappeared, but we were wrong. He ambushed us. We managed to overpower him, tied him up. And judging by the bruises, I'd say you all left a strong impression."

The group chuckled dryly, but Y/N's tone grew serious. "We kept him captive for a month. I searched his belongings, desperate for answers. Saans and I interrogated him, but he wouldn't talk. So, I decided to go to his hideout myself."

Y/N reached into her bag, pulling out a weathered folder. The edges were frayed, stained with dirt and faint smudges of blood. She placed it on the table with deliberate care, as if the weight of its contents might shatter the fragile silence in the room.

"That's where I found these files," Y/N said,