Lost in Tomorrow

Chapter 8: Shadows of the Forgotten

Joon's breath came in short, sharp bursts as he followed the masked woman through the darkened ruins. The ground beneath them trembled with distant explosions, and the mechanical hum of drones filled the air like a swarm of locusts.

He had no idea where she was leading him, but right now, there was no time to hesitate.

The woman moved like a ghost, slipping through the shadows with practiced ease. Joon struggled to keep up, his legs burning with exhaustion, but fear pushed him forward.

After what felt like an eternity, they reached an underground passage—a rusted metal door half-buried under debris. The woman yanked it open and motioned for him to follow.

Joon hesitated for only a second before diving in after her. The door slammed shut behind them, sealing out the chaos above.

For a moment, there was nothing but darkness.

Then—

A faint blue light flickered to life.

Joon's heart pounded as he looked around. They were in a tunnel, the walls lined with ancient cables and pipes. The air was damp, thick with the scent of rust and decay.

The woman exhaled, pulling off her mask.

Joon's eyes widened.

She was younger than he expected—probably around his age. Her dark hair was cropped short, her eyes sharp and calculating. A jagged scar ran along her cheek, but it did nothing to dull the intensity of her gaze.

She studied him for a moment before speaking.

"So, you're the one Seo-joon's been looking for."

Joon blinked. "Seo-joon was… looking for me?"

She nodded. "For a long time."

Joon's mind reeled. Seo-joon had never mentioned anything like that. In fact, he acted like Joon's arrival was unexpected.

But before he could press further, the woman spoke again.

"My name is Haneul."

Joon hesitated. "How do you know me?"

Haneul's expression darkened. "Because you're supposed to be dead."

The Survivor of the Purge

Joon's stomach twisted.

"You keep saying that," he said, his voice unsteady. "What does it mean?"

Haneul crossed her arms. "Do you remember how you got here?"

Joon frowned. "I… don't know. I woke up in the city one day. That's it."

Haneul exhaled sharply. "Then you don't remember the purge."

Joon's hands clenched into fists. "What purge?"

Haneul's gaze was unreadable.

"The Architects weren't just creating a utopia," she said. "They were erasing the old world. Every person they brought here—every mind they transferred—was rewritten. Their pasts were wiped clean. Their memories deleted."

Joon's breath hitched.

Haneul continued. "Most people… didn't survive the process. Their minds collapsed. Their bodies were repurposed."

Joon swallowed hard. "Repurposed?"

Haneul's expression was grim. "Turned into the citizens of the city. Hollow puppets, controlled by the system. That's why they all act the same. Why they never question anything."

Joon felt sick.

"All those people…" He trailed off, his stomach twisting. "They were real once?"

Haneul nodded. "But they're gone now. Only their shells remain."

Joon pressed a hand to his forehead. It was too much. Too much to process.

I was supposed to be one of them?

Why wasn't I?

Joon looked at Haneul. "Then why am I still me?"

She hesitated. Then, she gestured for him to follow her deeper into the tunnel.

"There's something you need to see."

The Room of Echoes

The tunnel opened into a massive underground chamber.

Joon's eyes widened.

The room was filled with cryopods—hundreds of them, stacked in rows like forgotten relics. Each pod was covered in dust, their glass exteriors fogged with condensation. Some were shattered, their contents long gone. Others remained sealed, dim lights flickering weakly inside.

"What… is this place?" Joon whispered.

Haneul walked past the pods, her fingers brushing against one of them. "This was one of the first facilities the Architects built," she said. "A storage unit for failed transfers."

Joon shivered. "Failed transfers?"

Haneul nodded. "Not everyone's mind could handle the rewriting process. Some rejected it. Others… fought back."

Joon stepped closer to one of the pods. The nameplate was rusted, but he could still make out the faint letters:

"Subject #005 - Status: Incomplete"

His pulse quickened.

He moved to another pod.

"Subject #013 - Status: Rejected"

Then another.

"Subject #002 - Status: Missing"

Joon's breath caught in his throat.

#002.

That was his number.

He stumbled backward, his mind spinning.

"I was supposed to be here?" he choked out.

Haneul's expression was unreadable. "Looks like it."

Joon ran a shaky hand through his hair. None of this made sense. If he was meant to be trapped here like the others, then how had he escaped?

Why was he still… himself?

He turned to Haneul. "Why am I different?"

Haneul hesitated. Then, after a long silence, she finally spoke.

"Because you weren't supposed to exist in the first place."

The Lost One

Joon's blood ran cold.

"What?"

Haneul exhaled. "You weren't part of the original transfer. The Architects didn't select you. You weren't meant to be here."

Joon's chest tightened. "Then… how did I get here?"

Haneul shook her head. "We don't know."

Joon clenched his fists. "But you said Seo-joon was looking for me. Why?"

Haneul hesitated.

Then, she walked over to one of the pods. Unlike the others, this one was still functional. A faint blue glow pulsed from its console.

She pressed a button.

The screen flickered—

Then, an image appeared.

Joon's heart stopped.

It was a picture of Seo-joon.

Haneul's voice was quiet.

"He wasn't looking for you to help you, Joon."

Joon's breath hitched.

"He was looking for you because he's the one who brought you here."

The world tilted. Joon felt like he was falling, even though he was standing still.

Seo-joon… had brought him here?

But why?

Why him?

Before he could even begin to process it, a sharp sound cut through the silence.

A metallic clank—followed by a low hum.

Joon and Haneul turned sharply.

A single drone hovered at the entrance of the tunnel, its red light flickering wildly.

Joon's stomach dropped.

Haneul cursed under her breath. "They found us."

The drone let out a piercing siren.

The walls shook. From deep within the tunnel, the sound of footsteps echoed toward them.

Joon's heart pounded.

"We have to go," Haneul said sharply, already pulling him toward the exit.

Joon's mind was still spinning. Seo-joon brought me here. The thought rang in his head over and over.

But there was no time for questions.

Because the hunt wasn't over.

It had just begun.