Lost in Tomorrow

Chapter 10: Slipping Through the Cracks

Joon stared at the stranger, his mind a swirling mess of exhaustion, grief, and disbelief. They had appeared out of thin air—literally—and now stood before him like they had all the time in the world.

He still couldn't process what had just happened.

Haneul was gone.

His hands clenched into fists, nails digging into his palms. The memory of her lifeless body haunted him, burned into the back of his eyelids like a curse. He had barely escaped, but for what?

For this?

This person who seemed far too amused at his misery?

Joon finally found his voice, though it came out hoarse.

"Who the hell are you?"

The stranger grinned. "Took you long enough to ask."

They shifted their weight onto one foot, arms crossed over their chest. "Let's just say I've been keeping an eye on you."

Joon's eyes narrowed. "That's not an answer."

The stranger gave a lazy shrug. "You're right. But it's the best you're getting right now."

Joon exhaled sharply. His mind was screaming at him to be cautious, but at the same time—

He needed to know.

The stranger let out a dramatic sigh and finally crouched down to his level. "Alright, fine. Since you're giving me that look, I'll throw you a bone."

They leaned in, voice lowering into something just above a whisper.

"I'm just like you."

Joon froze.

"What?"

The stranger's smirk widened. "You heard me."

Joon's heartbeat thundered in his ears.

They were like him? Another one from the past?

His mind raced, but before he could press for more, the stranger did something that made his breath hitch.

They flickered.

For a brief second, their entire body became translucent, their form melting into the air like a ghost before solidifying again.

Joon's stomach dropped.

That wasn't just stealth.

That was something else entirely.

"You're—" Joon's voice cracked, realization dawning on him. "You can turn invisible."

The stranger waggled their eyebrows. "And intangible. Don't forget that part—it's what makes me so fun."

Joon's mind reeled. He had spent weeks believing he was alone in this world, the only one who didn't belong.

But now—

Now, there was another.

"How?" Joon whispered.

The stranger's expression flickered—just for a second, just long enough for Joon to catch a glimpse of something darker behind their playful mask.

Then, as quickly as it had come, it was gone.

"That's a long story," the stranger said breezily. "And right now, we don't have time for long stories."

Joon didn't like the way that sounded.

"What do you mean?"

The stranger's grin faltered slightly. "I mean—" they tilted their head, eyes flicking toward the shadows behind Joon. "You've got company."

Joon's blood turned to ice.

He spun around.

At first, he saw nothing. Just the eerie silence of the abandoned tunnels, stretching into darkness.

But then—

A figure stepped into the dim light.

Joon's breath caught in his throat.

It was an enforcer.

But something was wrong.

Unlike the enforcers he had seen before, this one wasn't wearing a helmet.

Their face was visible.

And it was human.

But their eyes—

Something about them was off.

They were glazed over, unfocused. Empty.

Like a doll's.

Joon's pulse quickened.

The stranger beside him clicked their tongue. "Ah. You really pissed them off, huh?"

Joon swallowed hard. "What's wrong with him?"

The stranger sighed. "You ever hear of the hollowed?"

Joon shook his head.

The stranger smirked. "Guess you're about to meet one up close."

Before Joon could react, the hollowed enforcer moved.

It was too fast.

One second, it was standing at a distance.

The next—

It was right in front of him.

Joon barely had time to throw himself backward as a fist slammed into the ground where he had been standing. The impact cracked the concrete.

Joon's chest heaved.

This wasn't a normal enforcer.

Something was seriously wrong.

The stranger let out a low whistle. "Yikes. They really sent one of these guys after you?"

Joon gritted his teeth. "Explain. Now."

The stranger rolled their eyes. "Long story short? The Architects have ways of breaking people."

Joon's stomach turned.

"What do you mean 'breaking'—"

The hollowed enforcer moved again.

Joon barely dodged in time, the force of the attack sending shockwaves through the tunnel. His mind reached out instinctively—grasping for thoughts, for anything—

But there was nothing.

His ability wasn't working.

Joon's breath hitched.

The stranger sighed dramatically. "Yeah, that's the worst part. These guys? No thoughts."

Joon's blood ran cold.

No thoughts. No emotions. No humanity left.

Just an empty shell.

The Architects had done something to them.

They had hollowed them out.

Joon's chest tightened. He needed to run. He needed to move.

But the enforcer was too fast.

Joon braced himself for the next attack—

But it never came.

Because in the blink of an eye—

The stranger was gone.

Joon's breath caught. "Wha—"

And then—

The enforcer jerked violently.

Joon barely registered what happened before the enforcer flew backward, crashing into the tunnel wall like something had yanked them away.

The stranger reappeared a few feet away, shaking out their hands. "Whew. That was close."

Joon's brain stuttered.

"You—"

"Phantom Shift, remember?" The stranger winked. "You'd be amazed at how useful it is in a fight."

Joon's pulse thundered.

They hadn't just turned invisible.

They had gone intangible—moving through the enforcer and taking them down from the inside.

Joon exhaled sharply.

He was definitely in over his head.

The stranger stretched their arms. "Well. That was fun."

Joon shot them a glare. "You call that fun?"

The stranger grinned. "Hey, it's all about perspective."

Joon shook his head. He didn't have time for this.

He turned back toward the fallen enforcer. They weren't moving.

Joon swallowed hard.

"How many more of them are out there?"

The stranger's smirk faded slightly.

"A lot."

Joon exhaled through his nose. "And what do they want?"

The stranger tilted their head.

"You already know the answer to that, don't you?"

Joon clenched his fists.

They wanted him.

His mind-reading ability.

His power.

The Architects weren't going to stop.

And now, after what had happened to Haneul—

They were sending something far worse than enforcers after him.

Joon's breath came slow and steady.

He had to end this.

Had to find a way to fight back.

But first—

He turned back to the stranger.

"I don't trust you."

The stranger placed a hand over their heart, gasping dramatically. "Ouch. And here I thought we were bonding."

Joon ignored them. "But I need answers."

The stranger grinned. "Now we're talking."

Joon took a step forward.

"What's your name?"

The stranger's smirk widened.

They took a step back—and vanished.

Their voice echoed through the tunnel.

"Guess you'll have to catch me first."

Joon exhaled sharply, his frustration bubbling.

But before he could move—

The tunnel shook violently.

And then—

The ceiling began to collapse.