Part 56

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✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

Y/N walked up the stairs, her steps deliberate, everyone trailing behind her. Sehun, confused, called out, "Hey, what's on the second floor? There are only rooms where we all live."

Y/N smirked but didn't respond, her boots echoing on the wooden stairs. She kept walking, turning down the hallway until she stopped at the very last door in the corridor. She turned to the group and asked, "Who lives in this room?"

Everyone exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what she was getting at. Finally, Hobi spoke up, his tone hesitant. "This... this room used to belong to Saans. You were the one who told him to use it. After Saans, Suho, and the others left... no one's touched this room. We have so many other rooms that no one felt the need to use it."

Y/N nodded thoughtfully, a small, knowing smile forming on her lips. "So this room is abandoned, then? By all of you? Well, that might explain why none of you ever found the other part of the town hall."

At her words, everyone froze. Hyungsik blinked, stepping forward. "Wait, what? The other part of the town hall? What's that supposed to mean?"

Without answering, Y/N turned and pushed open the door, stepping inside. The others hesitated before following her into what appeared to be just another room. The walls were plain, the furniture sparse-exactly like the other rooms on the floor. There was no indication of anything unusual.

Y/N set Haru down on the bed. She smiled softly at the child, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Stay here for a minute, Haru. I'm going to show you something cool."

Haru, wide-eyed with curiosity, nodded and swung her legs back and forth on the edge of the bed.

Y/N then turned her attention to the large cupboard that stood against the wall, its size towering over everyone in the room. She studied it for a moment before placing her hands on its side, preparing to push.

Sensing her intent, Sehun and Jungkook quickly stepped forward. "Wait, let us handle it," Jungkook said, rolling up his sleeves. Together, the two of them heaved the heavy cupboard to the side with a loud scrape, revealing the wall behind it.

"Thanks," Y/N said, stepping back.

Everyone's attention shifted to the wall. At first glance, it looked completely ordinary-just like the surrounding walls of the room. But there, was a small hole that seemed out of place.

Taehyung leaned in, squinting. "Wait... what is this? Is it... some kind of spyhole?"

Hobi tilted his head. "Or maybe it's a vent? You know, for airflow or something?"

"Airflow? In a door?" Jin gave Hobi a flat look before turning back to the wall.

Jimin's eyes lit up with excitement. "What if it's one of those ancient secret mechanisms? Like, you stick your finger in, twist it, and boom-the door opens. That would be cool."

Jungkook, who was still standing closest to the wall after moving the cupboard, tilted his head. He reached out and knocked lightly on the surface.

Hollow.

Jungkook knocked again lightly on the wall, his eyebrows furrowed. "It's not that complicated. It's obviously a door that's been painted over to blend in with the wall. Just... this hole."

The theories kept coming, growing more ridiculous by the second. Someone even suggested that the hole was some sort of zombie trap sensor, which nearly sent Y/N over the edge.

And then, finally, she lost it.

Y/N doubled over, laughing so hard she had to grip her knees for support. Her shoulders shook as she gasped for air, unable to stop herself. "Oh my God, you guys," she wheezed, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

The group watched her, half-confused and half-amused.

"What's so funny?" Jiwoo asked, frowning.

Y/N straightened up slightly, wiping at her eyes but still laughing. "You're all... overthinking it so much!" She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but another laugh escaped her. "It's not a secret mechanism, or a spyhole, or some fancy contraption. It's just... a hole from when I removed the handle!"

The group stood in awkward silence for a moment, the realization sinking in. RM stepped forward, shaking his head. "You guys really do get carried away, don't you?"

Hyungsik nodded, smirking. "I think we all got too excited."

"Yeah," Jimin added, rubbing his neck. "I mean... I could've sworn it was some ancient mechanism. Guess I got a little too excited."

Hobi chuckled nervously, "At least we didn't start guessing about secret tunnels under the building. Yet."

"Wait, you were going to suggest that?" Jin raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.

Taehyung just shrugged, sheepishly scratching his neck again. "I mean, it wouldn't have been the weirdest thing."

The group exchanged chuckles, their embarrassment fading as they gathered themselves. Even Suga, standing off to the side, shook his head with a small grin. "You guys need to learn when to quit." He muttered, but the lightness in his tone showed he wasn't truly annoyed.

Minho, standing at the back, chuckled under his breath. "Good to know we've got a whole bunch of detectives in this group."

Y/N rolled her eyes, still smiling. "Alright, let's focus. We're not here for your wild theories." She motioned toward the hole again. "Can we get back to business?"

The group, now a little lighter and more relaxed, nodded and gathered around the wall, ready to continue their investigation, albeit a little more soberly than before.

Y/N faced the now-visible door and carefully hooked her finger into the hole. With a firm tug, the door creaked open, revealing something entirely unexpected-a staircase. The group leaned forward, their curiosity palpable, as they took in the sight. It wasn't dark or decrepit like they might have imagined; instead, soft light filtered up from below, illuminating the narrow steps. It was as though this hidden staircase had been waiting all this time to be discovered.

Everyone's confusion quickly turned into a torrent of questions.

"A staircase?" Jimin muttered, tilting his head as though he'd misunderstood. "Where does this even lead?"

"I was expecting a hidden room," Jungkook admitted, blinking at the unexpected sight. "Not... this."

Hobi nodded, his brows furrowed. "It doesn't make any sense. We've been living here for ages. How did no one know about this?"

Y/N smirked, leaning casually against the wall with her arms crossed. Her calm demeanor was in stark contrast to the others' growing disbelief. "Well," she began, her voice dripping with amusement, "have you ever really thought about this place? The second floor has, what, ten? Twelve rooms? And downstairs-counting mine-we've got six rooms total. That's it. Doesn't it seem strange? Where's the rest of the space? Even if you account for the halls and open areas, there's still something... missing."

The group looked at each other, the realization dawning on their faces.

"She's got a point," RM said thoughtfully. "We've never questioned the layout before. It always just felt... big."

Y/N didn't wait for further discussion. Without a word, she scooped Haru into her arms and began descending the staircase with confidence. The soft light grew brighter with each step, casting an ethereal glow on the walls around them. The others followed closely behind, their curiosity outweighing their apprehension.

As they walked, Haru rested her head on Y/N's shoulder and looked up at her with wide, innocent eyes. "Y/N, you're so cool, you know that?" she said, her voice full of admiration.

Y/N chuckled softly, her smirk softening into a genuine smile. She glanced down at Haru. "Am I, now? What makes you think that?"

Haru grinned, her small fingers toying with Y/N's jacket collar. "You find all the secret stuff. And you're not scared of anything."

Y/N stopped in the corridor and turned to face the group. "So, here we are again, back on the first floor," she said with a small smirk. "Let's explore this area first. Then, once we're done, I'll explain everything-when I did this, why I hid it, and all the rest. Sound good?"

The group nodded, their curiosity driving them forward as they stepped into the newly revealed area. The hallway opened up into a space that wasn't particularly large but wasn't exactly small either. It had the feel of a hidden common hall-its walls lined with faint scuffs and marks of past use, yet it still seemed oddly well-kept.

Some of them wandered further, their attention drawn to a balcony off to the side. A soft breeze filtered through as they leaned over the railing, revealing a new perspective of the surrounding area of the town hall.

YN stopped by a sturdy cabinet near the wall, gently placing Haru down on top of it. Haru looked around with wide eyes, her small hands gripping the edge as if trying to take in everything at once.

Y/N straightened, brushing her hands off as she turned to face the group, her eyes scanning each of them with a steady gaze.

"So, here," she began, motioning to the far side of the hall, "The third door of our weapon room over there. The other two doors, well," she paused and looked at them with a knowing smirk, "let me save you some time. You don't need to bother opening the one on that wall. It's not going anywhere."

She pointed to the door farther along from the weapon room. "That one leads into my office. Yes, I can come and go from my office and the weapon room from both sides-meaning both my private corridor and this one."

The group nodded, starting to piece it together.

"And as for the balcony," Y/N continued, her voice smooth but firm, "if you look closely, you'll notice I've barricaded one side. That's because it connects this balcony to the one on my side, which leads to the corridors of this floor. It's all connected, but not in a way anyone could easily access unless they knew how."

RM crossed his arms, eyeing the space carefully. "Impressive. I didn't even realize this place had so many layers."

Minho, always the practical one, nodded slowly. "I'm just trying to understand the logistics of all this. You've got access to everything from different angles, huh?"

Sehun stepped forward, his calm demeanor hiding the edge of intrigue. "So, this all connects to your side of the building? I see... you've got it mapped out well."

Hyungsik looked impressed but still a bit perplexed. "So you can move between all these rooms without anyone noticing? That's kind of genius, but also a little freaky."

Y/N stood tall, her eyes sharp as she addressed the group again, her tone steady but serious.

"Well," she began, motioning around the room, "this is just part of another building. You've already seen my office and the weapon room,the only thing left is that door over there." She pointed toward a heavy, unmarked door on the opposite side of the hall.

The group looked at each other, their interest piqued.

Y/N continued, a slight shift in her expression as she gestured toward the hidden parts of the hall. "Everything you've seen so far-the office, the weapon room, and that room-it's all been carefully hidden for a reason. The layout, the barricades, everything is designed to keep these places protected and concealed."

She paused, her gaze settling on each member of the group. "You all know now that I'm working to uncover the truth behind the virus. In my office, I've gathered everything I've found so far-classified information, sensitive documents. I can't risk it being out in the open or falling into the wrong hands. That's why it's hidden."

Y/N turned, motioning to the weapon room. "And then there's the weapon room. We can't afford for anyone to stumble across it and take our supplies. If someone got in, it could mean life or death for us."

Her tone shifted slightly, becoming more serious as she pointed to the final door. "And if you're wondering about that room-well, it's simple. Behind it is an emergency escape passage. In any crisis, that's our way out. It's hidden because, let's face it, an escape route isn't much use if a threat can follow us straight through it."

The group remained silent, processing the layers of thought and precaution Y/N had put into designing the space.

Taehyung furrowed his brows, his voice thoughtful. "So... everything you've built here is to protect those three things? Your work, our weapons, and our escape?"

Y/N nodded, her expression resolute. "Exactly. Everything I've done here is to make sure we stay one step ahead of any danger. These are the things that will keep us alive, and I'm trusting you all to respect that."

Suga's gaze lingered on the final door before he spoke. "Makes sense. And now that we know, it's our responsibility too, right?"

"Right," Y/N affirmed. "Now you know the layout and what's at stake. This isn't just about survival-it's about being prepared for anything."

Jimin leaned against the wall, exhaling slowly. "Guess that explains why you've been so secretive."

"She has her reasons," Sehun added, his voice calm. "And, honestly, I can't argue with them."

The group nodded in agreement, the weight of the moment settling over them as Y/N turned back to face the door.

The door opened easily, revealing another set of stairs spiraling downward. Without hesitation, Y/N led the way, Haru nestled securely in her arms. The group followed close behind, their footsteps echoing faintly as they descended deeper and deeper, the air growing cooler and heavier with each step.

It felt as though they were heading underground, perhaps into a basement, but the descent didn't end where they expected. Instead, they arrived at a small, dimly lit room. The air was stale, and the darkness pressed against them, only slightly relieved by the faint glow of Y/N's flashlight.

Haru shifted uneasily in Y/N's arms, her small voice trembling. "Y/N, is it safe here?"

Y/N glanced down at her, her expression softening as she reassured her with a calm, steady voice. "It's safe, Haru. I promise. Just stay close to me."

As Y/N moved forward into the shadowy space, the group exchanged wary glances, unsure of what to expect. Then, without warning, Y/N disappeared into the shadows, leaving the rest of them momentarily disoriented.

"Where did she go?" Taehyung muttered, scanning the darkness.

"Stay alert," RM said quietly, his tone steady but tense.

Suddenly, the faint creak of a hidden door filled the air, and a sliver of light spilled into the room. The group turned toward the sound to see Y/N standing at the edge of an open doorway, motioning them to follow.

"Come on," she called out, her voice firm but encouraging.

They stepped through the doorway and found themselves outside, standing on the sideline of the townhall. The area was quiet, the air fresh and crisp. Before them was a stunning view of the hillside, its towering silhouette framed by the glowing sun.

"This leads to the hillside," Y/N explained, her voice steady. "It's a hidden exit I made to ensure we always have a way out, no matter what happens."

The group stood in silence for a moment, taking in the sight and the weight of her words. This wasn't just an escape-it was a lifeline. A plan for the worst-case scenario.

Jungkook let out a low whistle, breaking the silence. "Okay, now this... this is impressive."

Jin nodded slowly, his voice tinged with admiration. "You really thought of everything, didn't you?"

Y/N's expression remained calm, though there was a hint of satisfaction in her eyes. "I had to. This world doesn't leave room for second chances."

Haru, now a bit more at ease, pointed toward the hill and whispered, "It's pretty."

Y/N smiled faintly, her voice softening. "It is. And it's our way to safety if we ever need it."

The group examined the door closely, their eyes tracing its seamless design. Unlike the other two doors they had encountered before-one requiring a strong push and the other with a hole-this one was completely different.

Sehun ran his fingers along the edges, his brow furrowed. "Well, this one's definitely hidden better. Blends perfectly with the wall color. No hole or anything this time."

Hyungsik leaned in, tapping the surface lightly. "It's almost like it doesn't exist. Feels like this one only opens from the inside."

Y/N nodded, her expression calm but firm. "Exactly. This one's designed to stay invisible and impenetrable unless you're already inside. It's another layer of protection."

Jin raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "And what if you need to get in from the outside? There's got to be a trick, right?"

Y/N smirked, folding her arms. "Of course. Every door has a way in. But it's a method I'll only share when it's necessary. For now, just know it's not something anyone can figure out easily."

Suga tilted his head, studying the wall. "Makes sense. The harder it is to access, the safer it is. But it's still impressive how well-hidden this is."

The afternoon sun poured through the nearby trees, casting a warm glow on the group as they stood in quiet admiration of Y/N's careful planning. Despite their questions, they knew this was only the beginning of the secrets the town hall held.

---

The group sat silently in the hall, the only sounds coming from the crackling fireplace and the occasional creak of the wooden floor. Everyone seemed lost in their own thoughts, weighed down by the tension in the room.

Meanwhile, Y/N had disappeared into the kitchen without anyone noticing. Moments later, the aroma of freshly toasted bread filled the air, snapping a few heads toward the table where she now stood. She carried a tray laden with bread, preserves, and a few other snacks, placing it on a table near the group.

"Alright, everyone!" Y/N called out in an exasperated but playful tone, hands on her hips. "Are you all planning to live on air now? Because if that's the case, I might as well eat all of this myself. Come on, lazybones-get up and eat before I charge you for it!"

The group turned toward her, blinking like they'd been pulled out of a trance.

"Wait-you were in the kitchen this whole time?" Jimin asked, looking genuinely surprised.

Y/N raised an eyebrow. "No, Jimin, I magicked this food out of thin air. Of course, I was in the kitchen. And while we're at it, you should know-" she gestured dramatically toward the table- "this is top-tier cooking. A masterpiece. Now get over here before Taehyung eats it all."

"Hey!" Taehyung protested, already heading toward the table. "I wouldn't eat all of it... just most of it."

"Calling dibs!" Jungkook announced, dashing past Taehyung.

"Dibs? On bread?" Jin rolled his eyes, standing up. "Jungkook, you're way too easily impressed."

"You're just mad I'm faster than you, Hyung," Jungkook shot back, grabbing a slice.

"Can I have jam, Y/N?" Haru's small voice cut through the chatter as she held Jiwoo's hand.

"Of course, sweetheart," Y/N said with a warm smile, crouching down to her height. "But make sure you grab it before Taehyung hogs it."

"I said I wouldn't!" Taehyung shouted indignantly, his mouth already half full of bread.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about him," RM said, finally standing and heading over. "The real threat is Jimin."

"Me?" Jimin blinked, clearly confused.

"Yes, you. Because, you know..." RM leaned in slightly, smirking as he delivered his jab. "You've got no jams."

The room erupted into laughter as Jimin groaned dramatically, burying his face in his hands.

"Why does this joke never die?!" he lamented, though the corners of his mouth

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