He felt like shit when he woke up, his body screaming in pain. His eyelids felt heavy, having to force them open as he felt the air shift around him.

"Wooyoung!" A familiar voice called out his name. "Oh God, Wooyoung!" He groaned, squinting his eyes at the harsh light that welcomed him.

"Yun... Yunho?!"

*~*~*~*~*

Wooyoung is scared. No, scratch that. He is terrified of what is currently happening. When Yunho had sent that message, he thought that maybe he was joking around with the players. But, he didn't seem to be the person that would play jokes to scare them like this.

He was curious but more worried about the idea of Yunho being in danger. He couldn't help but leave his house and immediately go on his way towards Yunho's home before Sangie or Mingki send any information. Although, he knew that he can't go in all alone.

What if the intruder is still there waiting for them? If he is able to take Yunho down, then there is a huge possibility that he will lose immediately.

Everything that he feels felt worse when one of the members in the group, minihong, sent a location without the context of what's going on. He could only deduct that he is in possible danger similar to Yunho.

PowerJongho, Wooyoungie, choisatan and 4 others

minihong
music studio
anyang, gyeonggi-do
if I dont reply for another 30 minutes u know where to find me
minihong sent a location

Wooyoungie
what?
ur jokinf right?
yah @minihong

He took deep breaths to calm himself. Ignoring the annoyed murmurs of people around him as he shoves the train ticket to leave the train station quicker. He kept his attention glued on his phone, though he kept checking on his surroundings to make sure that nothing would go wrong.

There was this unsettling feeling creeping in him, which is why he made sure that he is constantly surrounded by a crowd to make him feel safe and under watch, but he knew that soon he had to find someone to come with him when he enters the area Yunho's living in.

He speedwalks out of the station, calling in a cab with urgent hand gestures. He double-checked if the cab driver is not faking their identity and other necessary safety measures.

It may seem that he is overreacting with the whole thing. But what could he possibly do when there is a possible abductor coming for them? He is not risking anything to regret everything, in the end, he will take anything to make sure that all of them are safe.

PowerJongho
Fuck
We have to act fast
Like now. Whoever is nearest at their home.
Go now.

Wooyoungie
im already close to yunho's
im in the street, so no need to come here
just go and check on @minihong quickly

That was a lie. He wants anyone in the group to come here with him or else he will hesitate to go inside. He doesn't know what's waiting for him.

Sangie
that's weird
didnt @mingkisong just told you where he lives seconds ago
you also know yunho's name before hong go to tell us

He breathed in disbelief, clenching his jaw towards Sangie. He knew that the other is growing suspicious towards him, especially that he seems to have an idea where Yunho lives. Sangie analyses everything behind their messages, reading between each and every one of their words. He observes the movements they make and tries to connect everything.

Nonetheless, it's slightly comforting to him that he's not the only one who is analyzing everything and being suspicious of all of them. Though, there's no way that he is not defending himself from the suspicion.

Wooyoungie
so what?
just because i know does that mean im the one responsible for this?

Hwa_Mars
Look, everyone. We have to focus on Yunho and minihong at the moment. We can discuss this after we assure ourselves that they are okay.

choisatan
im on my way to yunho yoo
@Wooyoungie i know u said that u dont want any of us but its bad to go alone
we dont know what we r dealing with
though im hours away

He doesn't exactly have a vague description of choisatam, he doesn't seem to chat that much to be able to tell his personality through the screen. In that case, he couldn't help but feel wary. After all, none of them have met personally and they don't even slide in each other's direct messages.

You received a new message from choisatan!

Accept / Decline

choisatan

choisatan
choisatan sent a sticker
hi im omw there
where should we meet?
im san btw

Wooyoungie
ngl, im still suspicious of you
but my name is my username minus the ie
let me send you the exact location
Wooyoungie sent a location

choisatan
kk
oh also
this is how i look so we dont go up to strangers

I just got off the station just going to take a cab now

Wooyoungie
okay
i still dont trust you but here's me

im inside the 7-11 store
please hurry, theres not much people here
i dont like the idea of being alone

choisatan
dw
im on a cab now
ill be right there
u still w me?

Wooyoungie
yh
thank u
for volunteering to go with me
idk if i could actually go there by myself

choisatan
i dont really know all of you
but
were here for each other
wait for me k?
keep texting me so ik that ur safe

Wooyoung can't help but let out a smile. As he said, he doesn't know who San is and how he acts yet from the messages alone, he could tell that is most likely a genuinely kind person that means no harm. He immediately felt comfortable towards him even if they haven't talked that much, though he will have his guard up at all times.

He sent a sticker to San then clicked out of the chat to check on the notifications that kept pinging from the group chat.

PowerJongho, Wooyoungie, choisatan and 4 others

Hwa_Mars
Thats right
So that means @PowerJongho. @mingkisong and @Sangie will be going to minihong's?
It might take me 3 hours by train to arrive there

mingkisong

uh
guys?

Hwa_Mars
Is there something wrong?

PowerJongho
What's wrong?

choisatan
r u okay?

mingkisong
not to alarm any of u
but my phone is glitching
and i keep getting notifs that says
may luck be on your side

Sangie
That phrase is familiar

There's no denying that it is oddly familiar to him. He couldn't see the recognition by the text, but in his mind, it registers itself as something he has heard of somewhere.

He snaps out of his thoughts when he receives a chat from San, telling him that he's in front of the store and wants to inform him before entering. He looked up and let his eyes slide towards the glass door. A person pushes open the door, looking around before it settles at Wooyoung.

San waves at him, walking towards him. Wooyoung smiled and waved back, standing up from his seat. He checks in on the group chat before they make their way towards Yunho's house.

PowerJongho
Isn't it from the game?
The introductory of Orphic before the game officially starts?
Now that you say it. Hyung said that he had been getting notifs from that game.

Wooyoung sucked in a breath, the realization setting in him. From the game? He realizes that Hong sent a screenshot from the game containing Yunho's personal information which they shouldn't even have. That means...

Wooyoungie
r u saying that this is all connected on the game?
thats fucked up

choisatan
im scared
doesnt that mean that well all be targeted

He glanced up from his phone. San is standing with trembling hands holding his phone, eyebrows furrowed and lips formed into a small frown. He gulped in fear, then let out a shaky sigh.

Hwa_Mars
We have to be careful then
No one must stay alone.
@choisatan @Wooyoungie are the both of you together now?

Wooyoungie
yh, we are.

"Let's start walking? We need to check on him quickly." San broke the silence between them, shoving the phone in his pant pockets. Wooyoung hesitantly nodded, moving to exit the store.

"So..." San slowly started, side-eyeing Wooyoung. "How did you know Yunho? If you don't mind me asking." He knew that this conversation would be brought up sooner. There's no denying that all of them are questioning the familiarity that Wooyoung has with Yunho.

"He's a childhood friend. Though, I don't think he knows that I actually play the game." Wooyoung explained, "I assume that it was him when he told his nickname. It was only confirmed when Hong sent the screenshot."

"How do you know that he still lives here?" Wooyoung shrugged. As usual, he recklessly went towards where Yunho lived back when he still lived in this area. He isn't sure if his house is here, but Yunho hadn't said anything about moving house from the last time they talked.

"I'm just following my guts. I'm not into seeing anything any deeper than it should be." He eyes the metal plates displayed in front of the houses then pointed to one of them. "Keep checking the metal plates, I'll just open the group chat real quick." San nodded, then they continued to walk as Wooyoung pulled his phone from his jean pocket.

PowerJongho, Wooyoungie, choisatan and 4 others

Hwa_Mars
Good @Sangie, @mingkisong, both of u go together and @PowerJongho and I can go together.

PowerJongho
I'm already with Hwa btw.

Hwa_Mars
@Sangie @mingkisong?

Wooyoung waited for a few minutes for a reply from both of them but neither responded to Hwa, it made him feel uneasy because what if they disappeared too and they didn't know?

He hadn't realized that he halted on his steps, and it seems that San hadn't realized it either as he is too busy checking the names on each house.

He could feel an unsettling feeling creeping at him. He looked over his shoulders, scanning the area around him to make sure that nothing was following them.

"Wooyoung?" He shrieked, jumping and almost throwing his phone as a defense before relaxing to see San. "Woah, it's just me. Are you okay?" San asked, hesitantly offering a hand for Wooyoung to hold.

Wooyoung accepted the offer, "I'm- I'm just scared. I felt uneasy all of a sudden." He confessed with a sigh. "Have you found Yunho's home?" He immediately changed the subject, not wanting to elaborate on it any further. Luckily, San understood and let go of the topic.

"I found it. I was about to ring the doorbell but the gate was unusually open." San saw the gate lock unhinged when he pushed open the gate door. He turned around to tell Wooyoung before he got himself in trouble for walking inside.

"Then there was actually an intruder." His worry shot up upon hearing the news, "Did you see any more weird things?"

"I haven't fully checked in yet. Should we check or call the police?" The police would have been a much better option, but considering that they are unsure of the situation and they have no idea what's happening, they couldn't really just come up to the police station with a confession that the game is the one at fault.

"Let's just check in quickly. We have to find Yunho." He doesn't know what he would expect to see and he is feeling a lot of complicated emotions.

They don't have to say it out loud, but they are trembling in fear upon going through the gate and fully stepping inside Yunho's house. They could see the front door slightly ajar, and it's quite unsettling to them.

"We're going to be okay." San assured, "We just have to stick to each other and we absolutely can't keep our eyes off each other." Wooyoung took a deep breath and nodded.

They walked closer. Wooyoung pushed open the door as San readied himself for anything to come out but nothing did. They are greeted with a sight of an empty living room with no one seeming to be in sight.

Slowly, they crept inside in high alert. San nudged Wooyoung and pointed towards the kitchen. "There's glass on the floor."

Wooyoung was startled when he accidentally hit the flower vase on the counter and it almost fell on the floor. Grimacing, he muttered under his breath. "Why the fuck is this on a kitchen counter?"

"It looks out of place, do you think Yunho used it as a defense?" Wooyoung shrugged, he honestly doesn't know what to think. All his mind is screaming is to find Yunho and get out.

"I don't know, but let's move quickly. I don't like the vibes of this house." And so, they went around each room in the house together, checking in at every corner to check if Yunho is somewhere to be seen.

But, to no avail, they went back to the living room empty-handed.

"There's literally nothing here." San grumbled, "Wait, I have to pee." As he was about to leave, Wooyoung grabbed his wrist.

"Wait, what if..." He didn't have to continue the sentence for the both of them to understand what he's aiming for.

"How about you wait outside of the bathroom? I won't lock the door, and we can just shout if one of us is in trouble." That seems a more plausible solution for the temporary problem.

Wooyoung paced in front of the bathroom door, in the hallway while he waited for San to finish. That is when he heard a loud thud echoing in the hallway, surprising him and making him back up to the wall.

"San?" He called out. His heart was beating rapidly and his frantic eyes searched for the source of the noise. "San?"

"Yeah?" San answered back. "Is there something wrong?" He could hear a flow of water running inside the bathroom accompanied by San's tapping foot while washing his hands.

"No, I was just checking in on you." He laughed out in relief, "You finish?" The doorknob rattled as San went to turn it.

"I'm just about to- What the heck?" Wooyoung snapped his head, running immediately toward the door. "Did you lock the door?"

"No! The door can't even be locked from here." He reaches out to try and turn the doorknob. "You didn't lock it?"

"No, I'm sure that I didn't." There's clear distress in his voice, "I'm sure I didn't so you'll have access to it." His voice is slightly muffled due to the barrier between them, which doesn't help the unsettling feeling hitting him once again.

"Fuck, open you damn door." Wooyoung aggressively pushed and pulled the doorknob, tears springing in his eyes. "Fucking hell." His heart thundered in his chest, breath growing harsher and harsher. It didn't help that there was an undeniable presence that he could feel, making him look around while trying to open the door.

"Move away from the door, I'm going to try and break the doorknob," San suggested, he seems to know what he is doing. Wooyoung moved away from the door, but still close enough to reach it. He could hear San kicking the door, running up to it and slamming his body, trying to break the door but every method he tried didn't seem to work.

"I'm scared. San... I don't want to be alone." Wooyoung cried out, tugging on the doorknob again. He doesn't want to leave San alone even for just a minute, in fear that San would be the next victim.

Wooyoung froze, seeing a shadow pass on the hallway from the corner of his eyes. "San, is there a bathroom window there?" He asked, his ears catching the faint footsteps.

"Yeah, it's small but-"

"Go out of the fucking window. Now." Wooyoung hurried, "Get the fuck out of here, San. Do anything to get yourself out."

"Wooyoung? What's happening?" He turned around and stuck his back on the door. "Wooyoung? Talk to me! I'm not leavi-"

"Get out. Please. For me?" He silently cried out, the footsteps growing more audible and the same shadow appearing again. He could see that someone is standing just right around the corner.

He searched for his phone inside his pockets, pulling out and immediately opening Instagram to start a video call on the group chat. The ringing was loud in the empty—or not so empty—house.

"Wooyoungie?" A different voice answers the call, he looks down to see Hwa answering the call. "What's wrong? Where's choi?"

"Hwa." Wooyoung cut him off, "Go and get San, chat him, call him, do anything to reach and just... just get him please." He could hear San shouting from outside that he'll go inside and get him.

"Why?" Another male appeared on the video, "Why? What's going on?"

"It's here. Whoever the per-" His phone pinged with a notification. The familiar logo of the game appears on the notification bar. He heard a maniac laugh echoing in the house then a loud ringing deafening his ears.

He dropped his phone, raising his hand up to cover his ears. He fell down on his knees, his eyes shut in pain. "A brave soul that you are." He could hear someone speak in the midst of the noise. "Let's begin the game."

He tried to open his eyes and look up at the person, however, as soon as he turned his head, a hand covered his eyes, and a cloth shoved in his mouth to shuffle his scream.

A scent made its way to his nose, making him feel drowsy and fall asleep with one last thought running in his head. I hope the video call is still ongoing. Otherwise, I would have done this for nothing.