Chapter 2: The Girl Who Knows
Joon remained in the alley, his back pressed against the cold wall, his breaths shallow and uneven. His pulse still thundered in his ears, the echo of the drone's mechanical voice replaying in his mind.
"Unauthorized individual detected."
What did that even mean? Was he an intruder in this world? If so, then who had brought him here—and why?
He forced himself to take slow, deep breaths, calming his racing thoughts. One thing was clear: this world was dangerous. The people were mindless, the drones were hunting him, and somewhere—somewhere in this lifeless city—was another traveler from the past.
And that girl…
She had recognized him.
Joon's hands clenched into fists. He had to find her again.
The Silent Streets
Cautiously, he stepped out of the alley and back onto the wide, empty street. The sun hung in the sky like a frozen clock, radiating unnatural warmth. The air was eerily silent—no wind, no voices, no signs of real life. Only the soft hum of invisible machines, watching, waiting.
Joon's mind reached out instinctively, but all he could hear were the same empty, looping thoughts from the people trapped in their homes.
"New episode releasing soon!"
"Buy this now! Limited time offer!"
It made his stomach churn. Was there no one in this world who still thought for themselves?
Then, he felt something different. A mind that wasn't just repeating advertisements. A mind that was thinking. Really thinking.
His heart leaped.
It was faint, like a whisper in the wind, but it was real. The girl.
He turned sharply, following the thread of her thoughts. His footsteps were quiet against the strange, smooth pavement. He moved cautiously, scanning the balconies above, the doorways, the flickering screens reflecting in the windows.
Then, he saw her.
She stood at the end of the street, partially hidden by the shadow of a massive glass building. Her long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her eyes darted left and right, scanning for something.
Or someone.
Joon's breath caught.
She was looking for him.
A Warning
He took a hesitant step forward, unsure if he should call out to her. But before he could make a sound, she turned her head sharply and locked eyes with him.
For a split second, Joon saw it—raw, unmistakable fear.
She raised a finger to her lips, signaling him to stay silent.
Joon froze.
She glanced over her shoulder, then back at him. Her thoughts slipped into his mind, though they weren't directed at him.
"Not safe. Not here."
Joon's pulse quickened.
She gestured subtly, her fingers curling in a way that said, Follow me. Then, without another glance, she turned and disappeared around the corner.
Joon hesitated for only a second before sprinting after her.
Into the Depths
She moved fast, weaving through narrow alleyways and deserted streets, her footsteps barely making a sound. Joon struggled to keep up, his body still weak from whatever had brought him to this world.
After what felt like an eternity, she slipped into the shadows of an old, abandoned building—a structure that looked out of place in the sleek, metallic city. Its walls were cracked, its windows shattered, and vines had begun reclaiming its surface.
Joon followed her inside, his breathing ragged.
The moment the door shut behind them, she turned on him.
"You're not supposed to be here," she whispered, her voice sharp, accusing. "Who are you?"
Joon hesitated. He had a thousand questions, but so did she.
"My name is Joon," he said, his voice low. "I don't know how I got here. I just… woke up in the street."
She studied him carefully, her dark eyes narrowing. "You're not chipped," she muttered.
Joon blinked. "What?"
She reached toward him, pressing two fingers against the back of his neck. Joon flinched at the touch, but she quickly withdrew.
"No implant," she murmured. "That means you're really from the outside."
Joon's stomach churned. "The outside? What does that mean?"
The girl exhaled, her shoulders tensing. "This world—this city—isn't what it looks like. It's not real."
Joon frowned. "What do you mean it's not real? It looks pretty real to me."
She shook her head. "It's controlled. The people here—they don't think, they don't feel. Their minds belong to the system."
Joon swallowed hard. He had already seen it—the mindless people trapped in their glowing screens, their thoughts filled with nothing but advertisements.
"The system…" he echoed. "The drones?"
She nodded. "And much worse."
Joon's fingers twitched. "Then why are you different?"
She hesitated.
"Because I never let them take my mind."
Silence stretched between them. Joon could feel the weight of her words, the hidden pain behind them.
But he had to ask the one question burning in his mind.
"There's someone else," he said slowly. "Someone like me. A man. He has telekinesis."
The girl's eyes darkened.
Joon's breath caught. She knew.
"You've heard of him," he whispered.
She hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. He exists. And if you're here… that means they are looking for you, too."
Joon felt a chill crawl up his spine.
"Who?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The girl took a shaky breath.
"The ones who built this world."
A Question That Changes Everything
Joon felt his mind spin. He wasn't just in the future—he was in a place that had been built, controlled, and carefully managed. And if this other traveler was here, if they were looking for him…
Then what was the real purpose behind all of this?
His fists clenched as he met the girl's gaze.
"What happens to people like us?" he asked.
She didn't answer right away. Instead, she looked away, her fingers tightening into fists at her sides.
Finally, she spoke.
"They erase us."
Joon's breath caught.
Erased?
As in… wiped from existence?
Or something worse?
And then, one last question slipped into his mind, unshakable and terrifying.
"If they know I'm here… how much time do I have left?"