Lying on an old, makeshift mattress, Jisoo stared at the cracked ceiling, her eyes wide open, her heart pounding with dull anticipation. The beams creaked in the night wind, the distant rustlings... everything seemed more intense, amplified by the absence of any other human activity. But it wasn't simple worry that kept her awake. It was something else, a persistent unease, a feeling that there were things hidden behind this facade of fragile normality.
She sat up slowly, her movements careful not to wake Yoona or Rain, who were asleep nearby. Yoona, though so strong, looked strangely vulnerable in her sleep, her face relaxed. As for Rain... his irregular breathing showed he was having restless dreams, perhaps nightmares. Jisoo looked away.
— "They need rest... I need answers."
Quietly she grabbed her backpack, which contained her tools: a fully charged phone, an infrared camera, a low-intensity flashlight, and a small knife hidden in her boot. She hesitated for a split second, then slipped the knife into her belt. Just in case.
Gently pushing open the creaky cabin door, she slipped outside. A cold breeze caressed her skin, and she inhaled deeply. The camp was chokingly quiet, too quiet. Jisoo activated her camera, switching to infrared mode. The landscape changed instantly, pale outlines instantly revealing details the human eye would have missed. She fixed the lens on the floor, on the walls, looking for clues invisible in the daylight.
Her heart raced. She knew she was venturing into territory where healing could become a burden. But she couldn't help it. She had to understand.
Jisoo moved cautiously, her footsteps muffled by the hard-packed earth. The crackle of a twig under her shoe, the light rustle of her jacket against her bag, and, more disturbingly, Strange sounds coming from the darkness. Whispers? Gentlemen? Hard to say.
She approached a building on the outskirts of the camp, a shack more dilapidated than the others. The door hung rickety on its rusty hinges. But what caught her attention was the ground in front of the entrance. She activated the infrared camera and lowered the lens.
Traces. Long, dark trails stretched out in jagged lines, as if something—or someone—had been dragged inside. She crouched down, touching the earth with her toe. The sticky texture and metallic smell left no doubt.
— "Dried blood..." she whispered quietly, activating her camera's microphone beforehand. "Observation number: blood trails leading to an abandoned building. The blood is dry, but not old. The smell is still strong."
His stomach tightened, but fear quickly gave way to determination. She pulled out her knife, clutching it discreetly in her left hand, then pushed open the door with her fingertips. A high-pitched squeak sounded, making her wince. So much for discretion.
Inside, it was pitch black, but the infrared camera revealed a scene worthy of a nightmare. The walls were stained with dark marks, splatters of dried blood forming patterns. On the ground, worn, blood-soaked ropes lay beside rusty chains. In one corner, a warped metal cage, too small for an adult... but just big enough for a child.
Jisoo felt a shiver run up her spine. The air was thick with the smell of rusty iron and rotting flesh.
— "Observation number two: Clear signs of confinement. Presence of chains, ropes, cages... traces of a struggle. Possibly captives. The atmosphere is stifling, the smell... unbearable."
She moved slowly, observing every corner. She lowered the camera, a tattered doll, stained with dried blood. Suddenly, a noise. Light, but distinct. The creaking of a floorboard, just behind her. Her heart exploded in her chest. She hastily turned off the camera light and pressed herself against the wall, holding his breath. The knife clutched in his trembling hand.
One step. Then another. Slow, shuffling. She risked a glance through a crack in the wall.
A figure. Thin, gaunt, moving awkwardly in the darkness. The light of a lantern briefly revealed a face... or what was left of it. The skin was marbled with black veins, parts eaten away by corruption. Empty eyes, without the slightest spark of conscience.
The creature sniffed the air, as if sensing her presence. Jisoo closed her eyes for a moment, praying to herself. Don't move. Don't breathe.
The figure finally moved away, disappearing into the shadows. Jisoo waited for several seconds, until silence returned. Her legs trembled. She knew then that it wasn't a simple anomaly. It was much darker than she had imagined.