Lost in Tomorrow

Chapter 16 - Whispers of the Forgotten

Joon's breath was unsteady as he stared at the girl in front of him. Yuna. There was something about her presence—something that made the air feel heavier, like a storm was gathering just beneath the surface.

"You know who's responsible?" Joon repeated, his voice quieter now, careful.

Yuna's violet eyes didn't waver. "Yes."

Silence stretched between them. Sohyun glanced at Joon, waiting for him to say something, but he was still trying to process what this meant. Haneul had died searching for the truth, and now, just like that, it was standing in front of them in the form of this silver-haired stranger.

Rin, however, wasn't one to wait. She stepped forward, knife still in hand. "Start talking."

Yuna didn't flinch. Instead, she raised her hand and flicked her fingers.

And then—Rin's knife vanished from her grip.

Rin's eyes widened. She looked down at her empty hand, then at Yuna. "What the hell?"

Yuna turned her hand over, revealing the knife now resting in her palm. "You're not the only one who knows how to survive," she said smoothly, before tossing the weapon back.

Joon watched Rin catch it, her fingers tightening around the handle. He could tell she was trying to keep her composure, but Yuna had rattled her.

Daehyun finally broke the silence. "Enough with the tricks. If you really know something, then say it."

Yuna exhaled and walked towards an old table, brushing off the dust before sitting on its edge. "Do you know why you're here?" she asked.

Joon frowned. "We woke up here. That's all we know."

Yuna shook her head. "No. You were brought here."

Sohyun folded her arms. "By who?"

Yuna's lips pressed into a thin line. "By them."

The weight of her words sent a chill through Joon.

"You're going to have to be more specific," Daehyun said impatiently.

Yuna looked at him, her expression unreadable. "Tell me… have you ever questioned why this world is the way it is? Why the people in the city are so... empty?"

Joon thought back to the way the people moved through the streets like lifeless shadows, their eyes glued to the holograms, their minds lost. "They're controlled," he said.

Yuna nodded. "Exactly. And the ones who control them… are the ones who brought you here."

Joon's heart pounded. This was bigger than he had imagined.

"Why?" Sohyun asked, her voice quiet.

Yuna's fingers traced the edge of the table. "Because you don't belong here. And that makes you dangerous."

The Truth Behind the City

Joon clenched his fists. "Then why didn't they kill us the moment we arrived?"

Yuna met his gaze. "Because they needed to study you first. See if you were a threat."

Rin's voice was sharp. "And? Are we a threat?"

Yuna's lips curled into the faintest smirk. "You will be."

The weight of her words settled over them like a storm cloud. Joon could feel the tension in the air, the way everyone was processing what she had just said.

Daehyun exhaled sharply. "So what? They just sit back and watch us until they decide we're not worth keeping around?"

"No," Yuna said. "They already decided."

A cold shiver ran down Joon's spine. "What do you mean?"

Yuna looked him dead in the eyes. "They've started hunting the others."

Joon's breath caught. "Others?"

"There are more like you," Yuna confirmed. "Scattered, hiding. But one by one, they're being erased. And you're next."

An Unseen Enemy

A loud noise suddenly echoed from outside. The distant hum of drones.

Yuna stiffened. "They're here."

"Shit," Sohyun hissed, reaching for her gun.

Joon's mind raced. "How did they find us so fast?"

Yuna stood, pulling her hood over her head. "They always knew where you were. They were just waiting for you to lead them to me."

Joon's blood ran cold.

"You used us?" Rin snapped.

Yuna's expression didn't change. "I gave you the truth. Now you decide if you want to live or die."

The sound of mechanical footsteps grew louder. They didn't have time to argue.

"Move!" Daehyun barked, shoving open the back door.

They sprinted into the alley, their shadows stretching under the neon glow of the city lights. Above them, drones scanned the streets, their red eyes searching.

Yuna kept pace beside Joon, her movements eerily smooth, like she wasn't even touching the ground.

Joon's heart pounded. If they were really being hunted… then this was just the beginning.

And he wasn't sure they'd survive what came next.

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To Be Continued...