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"Hey, guys..."

Sehun's voice came through, skeptical. ""Are you serious, or are you just messing with us? Don't joke around with us over the radio."

"I'm serious, Sehun," Y/N replied, her voice unwavering. "I'm sitting right in front of it."

Jin's voice followed, more cautious. "Then why connect us now? What do you need? Do you have the keycard? Have you gone inside yet?"

Taehyung quickly joined in, his curiosity piqued. "Yeah, what are you waiting for? If you've found it, why not go in?"

Jimin and Suga immediately stepped in to quiet them down, both of them knowing better than to bombard Y/N with questions right now.

Y/N's voice crackled through the radio, frustration thick in her tone.

"Well, it's not easy, alright? The most frustrating part of this is the damn technology!" Her voice rose in irritation. "I've been staring at this stupid side panel on the gate, pressing every button, checking wires, flipping switches! I keep thinking there's something I'm missing, but nothing's happening! This is bullshit! I was just a kid when all this started-how am I supposed to know how any of this works? Now I've made a damn nest of wires with my own hands! What the hell am I supposed to do with this?!"

There was a brief silence before Sehun's voice cut in, calm and steady. "Y/N, calm down. Just breathe. We get it, you're frustrated, but take a breath."

Hobi's voice followed, firm but soothing. "Yeah, Y/N. Take a moment. You've got this."

Minho's voice was all practicality. "Listen, we're here now. Just focus. Don't let frustration cloud your thinking."

Y/N huffed into the radio, trying to hold it together but still seething. "The reason I connected with you all... I didn't want to keep coming back here. It's hard. That's why I hooked you up with the radio and walkie-talkie. But that damn radio-hours just to reach the frequency. And then, of course, I fell from a tree. Can't forget that, right? I've been traveling a week, but half my damn day was wasted with that stupid radio."

RM's voice broke through, reassuring but firm. "Y/N, it's okay. We're all connected now. You're not alone in this."

The group held their breath for a moment, waiting for her next response, hoping to calm her further.

Y/N took a deep, steadying breath, her voice shaky as she calmed the storm of frustration brewing inside her. "Okay, okay, I'm calmed now... but just-just tell me what I should do." She paused, narrowing her eyes as she glared at the radio. "Hyungsik, you're the oldest among us. You know more than any of them. Why are you silent now? Why aren't you saying anything?"

A heavy silence stretched over the line before Hyungsik's voice finally cracked through, firm but filled with a sense of urgency. "Y/N, get away from that damn door. Now. Get as far from it as you can, and don't stay close where anyone might overhear you, especially not while you're talking to me. Just follow my instructions, okay?"

Y/N's grip tightened on the walkie-talkie as a sharp chill ran through her, her pulse quickening. "Hyungsik, what the hell is going on? What do you mean? What's so dangerous about me staying near the door?"

There was a brief but tense pause before Hyungsik's voice softened slightly, but the urgency didn't leave. "There are cameras around the area. Hidden ones. You may not even see them, but they're there. Especially at front, you know how those places are. They're always watching, Y/N. If anyone is alive in there, they've been tracking your every move. You've been out there for hours now... hours. If they've been keeping an eye on you, they know exactly where you are, and they might even know you're talking to us."

The realization crashed over her. Watched. For hours. The back of her neck burned as if unseen eyes were drilling into her, dissecting her every movement. How long had she been standing in the open, pacing, muttering to herself, fiddling with wires?

How much had she already given away?

Her feet moved before she could think, stepping back-then turning sharply as she slipped behind a large rock, pressing herself into its jagged surface. Her heart hammered against her ribs, breath unsteady as she tried to regain control.

The radio crackled with a sharp burst of voices. "Wait-what?" Jungkook's voice sliced through the static, disbelief and confusion lacing his words. "You're telling us there's someone alive in there?"

Taehyung's voice followed, heavy with urgency. "Are you serious? How could you even know until you open the damn door?"

Jin's voice cut through the chaos, softer and more measured, though still filled with concern. "Y/N, you've been out there alone for too long. It's not safe anymore. You need to be careful."

The barrage of voices made Y/N's chest tighten with a mix of anxiety and frustration. This was supposed to be a simple task-open the door, get inside, and see what was left-but now it felt like a giant, twisting knot of uncertainty and fear. She squeezed the walkie-talkie tighter in her hand.

Y/N hesitated for a moment, still absorbing the weight of their words. "I've been out here since morning..." She paused, a nervous laugh escaping her. "Hell, I ended up making a damn nest out of wires. And you know... I've checked the panels, walked the perimeter, but so far, nothing major-just a few minor encounters. I did fall, though... probably made more noise than I should've. Maybe they heard that. Maybe that's why they're still watching me."

The silence that followed told her everything. No one was laughing. They could hear the unease in her voice.

Suga's voice pierced through, blunt and unwavering. "Y/N, stop thinking so hard about it. You're already exposed. If they've been watching you since the morning, it doesn't matter now. You've already done the hard part-your presence is known. You're not hiding anymore. So, stop being afraid of what's behind that door. It's either nothing, or it's something worse than we can even imagine."

Y/N's heart skipped a beat, and she glanced nervously over her shoulder. Her mind spun with the blunt reality Suga had just thrown at her. The idea that there was no point in being cautious, no point in hiding anymore, hit her like a slap in the face. She'd been exposed since the moment she arrived. The thought of it gnawed at her insides.

Jimin's voice came through again, as if to emphasize Suga's point. "Exactly. It's already done. If they've been watching you since morning, then they know everything already. There's no point in being scared now. You need to go in, get what you need, and get out. But do it carefully, Y/N. Stay sharp."

Hyungsik's voice suddenly cut through the chatter, firm and commanding.

"No. You are not going in. You are coming back, now," Hyungsik said, his tone cold and decisive, leaving everyone on the other side of the radio in stunned silence.

Even Y/N, who had been expecting some kind of pushback, was shocked. Her mouth opened, her mind racing to process what he had just said. What was he thinking?

"Hyungsik-what?" Y/N asked, with a mix of disbelief and confusion. "What do you mean, 'not going in'? We don't have time for this! I've been out here all day, and I'm so close to getting inside-why are you stopping me now?"

On the other side, the hall fell into an uncomfortable silence. Jungkook, Taehyung, Jimin, Minho, Sehun, RM, Suga, Jin, and Hobi all exchanged confused glances, waiting for Hyungsik to explain himself. But he didn't speak, his eyes locked somewhere in the distance, his thoughts seemingly far removed from the conversation at hand.

Sehun spoke first, his voice laced with confusion. "What's going on? Why isn't he answering? Does he know something about the door?"

Minho let out a quiet sigh, his hand resting on his chin as he watched Hyungsik. "Maybe he's trying to figure something out.... We need to trust him."

RM, ever the leader, spoke next, his voice low but commanding. "Hyungsik, if you've got answers, we need them now. Y/N's out there, and we're running out of time."

After Hyungsik told Y/N to back off, his words hung in the air like a smothering fog. He didn't say anything more, his face drawn tight with tension.

Y/N's voice crackled through the walkie-talkie again, cutting through the stifling quiet. "Hyungsik, you've gone silent again. What's wrong with you, huh? Tell me-what is it? You know how to open the bunker, don't you?" Her tone was sharp, frustration barely masked.

Hyungsik didn't answer. His gaze remained fixed on the ground, his hands clasped tightly in front of him. Jin knelt beside him, his face grim. He placed a firm hand on Hyungsik's shoulder and gave it a slight shake, his voice low but unyielding.

"Hyungsik. Did you hear her? She said you know how to open that bunker. Is she right?"

Hyungsik's lips parted slightly, but no words came out. His jaw tightened, and his head dipped further.

"Why?" he finally whispered, his voice strained, cracking under invisible weight.

"Why not?" Jungkook snapped from across the room, his arms crossed, frustration evident. His voice carried a biting edge. "She's already exposed to whoever's inside. What's the point of hiding it now? What are you waiting for?"

Hyungsik's head shot up, his eyes dark and glinting with suppressed anger. "And then?" he barked, his voice louder now. "Let her walk straight into a death trap? You want to send her down into that pit, Jungkook? To die for nothing?"

A chill seemed to settle over the room. Jungkook's confident expression faltered, and he shifted uncomfortably.

Suga stepped forward, his arms uncrossing, his sharp eyes narrowing at Hyungsik. His voice was calm, calculated, but there was no mistaking the edge in his tone. "What do you mean by that? What are you not telling us, Hyungsik? You've been acting strange since this started-telling her to back off, then going silent. Now this. What's going on in that head of yours?"

Hyungsik's hands trembled slightly before he buried his face in them, dragging them down in frustration. His voice was low, almost defeated, as he muttered, "You wouldn't understand."

"No, you're right," Suga shot back, his voice rising just slightly. "I don't understand. That's why I'm asking."

Hyungsik clenched his jaw, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the walkie-talkie. Finally, he exhaled sharply and raised it to his mouth.

"Y/N," he said, his voice unsteady but audible.

"I'm here," she replied quickly, her tone clipped. "You finally ready to talk?"

Hyungsik's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. "Listen to me. I know you've worked hard to get here. I know how much you've sacrificed. But... you need to stop. Right now. Turn around and come back. "

Y/N froze. For a moment, her breathing was the only sound on the other end of the line. Then she spoke, her voice cold, bristling with anger. "What are you saying? Are you telling me to give up? After everything? After a week of tracking, walking, fighting-just turn around and let it all go to waste?"

Hyungsik's grip on the walkie-talkie tightened, his knuckles straining against the skin. His voice, when it came, was sharp and raw, a desperate edge bleeding into his words. "And what if it's not worth it, huh? What if this is it for you? One wrong step, and you're dead, Y/N. Do you get that? Dead."

His voice broke on the last word, but he pushed on. "You already found the card. You found the bunker. That's progress-huge progress. Why can't you just take that and leave? Why do you always have to take such big risks? You think survival is about being brave? It's not. It's about being smart. Calculated. Every damn move has to count."

Y/N's voice, cold and unwavering, cut through the static. "You're still not telling me the truth. If it's so dangerous, then help me. Tell me what's behind this door. Stop talking in riddles, Hyungsik. What aren't you saying?"

A long, tense pause. Jungkook shifted his weight, his gaze flickering between his friends as the silence deepened. His eyes met Taehyung's, then Jimin's. He could feel the tension mounting, but no one spoke.

There was a long, tense pause. Hyungsik's hand shook slightly as he brought the walkie-talkie closer to his mouth, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"Pretend you can't hear me."

"What?" Y/N's voice was sharp, confused.

"Pretend the radio's broken," Hyungsik said, his tone urgent, almost frantic. "Play with the wires, hit it, throw it if you have to, but make it look like you've lost communication. Do not go near that door, Y/N. Stay away from it. We'll figure this out later, but not now. Not like this."

His voice changed suddenly, growing colder, darker. Y/N realized with a jolt that he wasn't speaking to her anymore.

"And to whoever's listening," Hyungsik said, his voice turning into an icy, venomous warning. "I know you're there. I know you've been listening to every word, every single word. You think you're clever, playing games with me, but let me make this perfectly clear: You do not want to get involved in this. If you're behind that door, if you're hiding out there, I dare you to come out. If you're looking to make a move, if you think this is the time to strike, think again. You will regret it."

A tense silence followed, the radio crackling like static in the void.

"You don't even know who you're messing with," Hyungsik continued, his tone now deadly serious. "Y/N isn't here to cause trouble. She's just looking for a place to stay, somewhere safe, a base. Nothing more. If you think you have any right to stop her, to harm her, you better think twice. She's not the one you want to mess with."

Everyone froze. There was no movement in the room, save for the subtle shifting of breaths and the faint rustle of clothing. Sehun's brows furrowed, and his eyes flicked to the others. His lips parted slightly, but no words escaped. RM jaw tightened as he processed what Hyungsik had just said.

Another crackle of static.

"If you're not in that damn bunker, if you're somewhere else, I'm telling you now: Stay the hell away from us. If you come even an inch closer, I swear to you, you will regret it."

Jin rubbed the back of his neck nervously, his eyes glued to the radio. He cleared his throat, his voice a soft whisper. "What's going on here?"

The others remained quiet, their eyes wide as they listened intently, understanding that something far more dangerous was unfolding than they had initially realized. They exchanged glances, their postures stiffening.

The radio crackled softly in the silence that followed.

"Hyungsik," Y/N said, her voice quieter now, a slight tremor betraying her unease. "Who are you talking to? What's behind this door?"

But Hyungsik didn't answer.

"Y/N's voice crackled again through the walkie-talkie, though it was more controlled this time, as if the weight of Hyungsik's words had finally settled in. "Hyungsik, you're not answering my questions. You're just telling me to-"

"Don't question me, Y/N," Hyungsik's voice interrupted sharply, the command unmistakable in his tone. "I'm not trying to scare you. You're stronger than that now. Do what I said. Take your weapons, take your essentials. If you're holding anything-anything that weighs you down-drop it. And retreat. I'll be right here every damn second. You start doing your work, I'll make sure you're covered."

Y/N hesitated, but she didn't argue. Slowly, she started fixing her bag, tightening the straps and making sure her essentials were secure. The items she had been carrying were still useful, but now she checked them again, ensuring they wouldn't slow her down. The radio, the map, the water-everything had its place. She paused only to glance at the bunker one last time, the sight still lingering in her mind like a haunting shadow.

"Wait." She muttered under her breath, before turning to face the towering tree beside her. "Let me take the radio from the tree."

With swift, practiced movements, she started climbing the tree. Her boots gripped the bark as she reached for the radio, her hand steady despite the sudden spike of adrenaline coursing through her veins. It was a quick operation, but she was efficient. In one smooth motion, she snatched the device from its hiding spot and slid back down the trunk. The rustle of her movements in the branches echoed through the otherwise still surroundings.

She slid the radio into her bag, the top half left open to avoid the signal cutting out.

"Done," she murmured to herself, her hands now free to adjust the walkie-talkie to her chest pocket. It was a makeshift solution, but it would keep her connected, even as she moved quickly.

She took one last glance at the bunker before turning away, the feeling of finality lingering in her chest.

Hyungsik's voice came again, clear and commanding through the static. "You start walking. Don't worry. I won't leave you till you reach the tunnel. Even if this takes you a week. Got that?"

Y/N froze mid-step, her brow furrowing in disbelief. Her voice was low, almost incredulous. "How do you know about the tunnel?"

She didn't even get a chance to finish her question before Hyungsik's voice cut her off once more, the tone even colder than before. "Stop asking me questions, Y/N. Just do what I'm saying."

There was no room for argument.

The silence after his command was thick. Y/N stood still for a moment, her gaze flicking back to where the bunker lay hidden. There was a moment of hesitation, but it quickly passed as she took another step forward, trusting in Hyungsik's words. She had no other choice.

Meanwhile, back with the others, the room was tense. No one spoke. They just exchanged glances-Jimin's eyes narrowed, Hobi's hand tapping lightly against his thigh, and RM's brow furrowed in thought. Suga's gaze remained sharp, though his lips were pressed into a thin line, almost as if he could sense the larger picture unfolding.

They all wondered: Should they say something? Should they stop her? Or should they stay still and trust that Hyungsik knew what he was doing?

---

The tension in the hall was thick, pressing down on everyone like an unseen weight. No one spoke. The only light came from the flickering flames of the fireplace, casting elongated shadows across their faces. The radio and walkie-talkie, placed in the center of the floor, crackled softly, the only real sound breaking the heavy silence.

Jungkook, Taehyung, Jimin, Minho, Hyungsik, Sehun, RM, Suga, Jin, Hobi, and Jiwoo were spread across the room-some sitting on the worn-out sofas, others on the floor. Their gazes were fixed on the device, ears straining for any hint of movement, any sign of trouble. But for a long time now, there had been nothing.

On the other side, Y/N was just as silent. The only sound from her end had been the crunch of her boots over dried leaves, the occasional rustling from unseen stalkers lurking too close-creatures she had silenced in a single precise strike of her katana. But now, for hours, there had been nothing but her breathing.

She was tired. They could hear it in the way her breaths had turned shallow, slightly uneven. She was climbing-probably the mountain nearby. The effort roughened her breathing, and with every exhale, they could almost feel the chill that must've been settling around her.

She had chosen to climb. That much was clear. Staying on lower ground at night was too much of a risk. Up high, she would have a vantage point, a temporary place to rest. It was a smart move. But they also knew how brutal that climb was.

No