Lost in Tomorrow

Chapter 17 - The Chase Begins

The city was alive with flashing lights and the distant hum of drones. Joon's heartbeat thundered in his ears as he ran, his boots slamming against the pavement. The others followed close behind, their breaths coming out in ragged gasps.

"They're tracking us!" Sohyun shouted over the noise.

"We need to split up," Yuna said, her voice calm despite the chaos. "It's the only way to shake them off."

Joon hesitated. He didn't trust her. Not fully. But they didn't have time to argue.

"Fine!" Daehyun gritted his teeth. "Meet back at the old factory if you make it!"

Before Joon could say another word, Yuna darted down an alley, disappearing into the shadows. Rin cursed under her breath and followed. Daehyun and Sohyun turned in the opposite direction. That left Joon running alone through the neon-lit streets.

Nowhere to Hide

The city stretched out around him, a maze of towering skyscrapers and deserted roads. He could hear the whirring of drones above, their scanners sweeping the streets.

Think, Joon. Think.

He ducked into a narrow alley, pressing himself against the cold wall. The sound of mechanical wings grew louder.

A red beam of light passed over the entrance of the alley. Joon held his breath.

The drone hovered for a second. Then—

It moved on.

Joon exhaled slowly. His mind-reading ability flickered to life, scanning for thoughts nearby. Empty. No civilians. No safe places.

Just silence.

Until—

"There you are."

Joon spun around.

A figure stood at the end of the alley, dressed in all black. He wasn't a drone. He wasn't one of them.

But something about him felt… off.

Joon's body tensed. "Who are you?"

The man didn't answer. He took a slow step forward, and that's when Joon felt it.

Pressure.

His entire body locked up as if an invisible force had wrapped around him. His limbs refused to move. His chest tightened.

Telekinesis.

The stranger lifted a hand, and Joon was yanked forward, his feet leaving the ground. His back slammed against the wall.

Pain shot through his ribs. He gasped.

"Not bad," the man muttered. "You lasted longer than the others."

Joon's eyes widened. "Others?"

The man tilted his head. "You didn't think you were the only one, did you?"

The Second Traveler

Joon struggled against the invisible grip, his mind racing. This was it. The person he had been searching for. The other traveler.

But this wasn't a friendly meeting.

The man flicked his wrist, and Joon felt the air tighten around his throat. "You're not ready for what's coming," the man said, voice cold. "You'll only slow us down."

Joon's vision blurred at the edges. His lungs burned.

He needed to fight back.

Summoning all his strength, he pushed his mind outward. He wasn't just going to read this man's thoughts. He was going to invade them.

A sharp pulse echoed in his skull—

And suddenly, Joon was inside the man's head.

Flashes of memory—

A village burning.

A group of people in chains.

A child with silver hair, screaming.

Pain. Loss. Revenge.

Joon gasped as he snapped back into reality. The pressure on his throat loosened just enough for him to suck in a breath.

The man staggered back, eyes wide. "You—"

Joon didn't wait. He lunged forward, throwing all his weight into a punch. His fist connected with the man's jaw, sending him stumbling.

The telekinetic grip shattered.

Joon hit the ground hard, coughing as air rushed back into his lungs.

The man wiped blood from his lip, staring at Joon with something between curiosity and frustration. "You're stronger than I thought."

Joon forced himself to his feet. "Who are you?"

A slow smirk spread across the man's face.

"The name's Kyung. And if you want to survive, you better start running."

Nowhere is Safe

Kyung flicked his fingers, and the world around Joon exploded.

The walls of the alley cracked. The ground trembled. Garbage cans and debris were lifted into the air and hurled toward Joon.

He barely had time to react. He ducked, rolling to the side as a metal pipe smashed into the wall where he had just stood.

Kyung wasn't holding back.

Joon sprinted out of the alley, his muscles screaming in protest. He had to get to the others. He had to warn them—

But as he turned the corner, he skidded to a stop.

Drones. Dozens of them.

Their glowing red eyes locked onto him.

A robotic voice echoed through the streets.

"TARGET LOCATED. ENGAGING CAPTURE PROTOCOL."

Joon's stomach dropped.

He was trapped.

And this time… there was no escape.

---

To Be Continued...

Stay tuned for the next chapter! And don't forget to rate the story if you're enjoying it!