The Seonghwa Orphanage stood like a forgotten relic, shrouded in darkness. Its once-pristine walls were now cracked, overtaken by creeping vines. A rusted gate hung loosely on its hinges, swaying slightly in the cold wind.
Seojin stared at the building, gripping her gun tightly.
"This place gives me a bad feeling," Minji muttered, adjusting the strap of her rifle.
Dojin exhaled sharply. "It's not supposed to feel good. Let's move."
The team slipped through the gate, keeping low. The only sound was the crunch of gravel beneath their boots.
Hyunwoo glanced at the shattered windows. "No guards outside. That's either a good sign or a trap."
Seojin pushed forward. "We assume the worst."
Kai, carrying his laptop, hesitated before stepping inside. "Jinho said the basement, right?"
Seojin nodded. "That's where we start."
The orphanage smelled of damp wood and decay. Their flashlights illuminated peeling wallpaper, broken furniture, and forgotten toys scattered across the floor.
Minji shuddered. "Creepy as hell."
They moved cautiously, checking every corner. Dust particles danced in the air, disturbed by their presence.
Then—a noise.
A faint creak echoed from above.
Everyone froze.
Seojin raised her gun. "We're not alone."
Kai whispered, "Please tell me that's just rats."
Dojin ignored him and signaled toward the hallway. "Basement entrance should be in the back."
They pressed on, muscles tense, nerves on edge. The deeper they went, the colder it became.
Finally, they reached an old wooden door. Rusted hinges groaned as Minji pushed it open, revealing a flight of stone steps leading downward.
A heavy silence settled over them.
Hyunwoo exhaled. "Here we go."
One by one, they descended into the darkness.
The air was thick with dust and something else—something rotting.
Kai coughed, covering his nose. "What the hell is that smell?"
Seojin's flashlight flickered over the walls. Old newspaper clippings were plastered everywhere, yellowed and brittle. Reports of missing children.
Dojin stepped closer, his jaw tightening. "This isn't just an orphanage…"
Minji ran her fingers over a rusted metal table. Her eyes darkened. "It was a testing facility."
Hyunwoo cursed under his breath.
Seojin scanned the room, her stomach twisting. Jinho had sent them here for a reason.
And then—she saw it.
A large metal door, slightly ajar. Faint light seeped from within.
She signaled the team. "Ready?"
Dojin kicked the door open.
They stormed inside—
And stopped cold.
A single chair sat in the center of the room. A person was tied to it.
Blood dripped onto the floor.
Jinho.
His head was slumped forward, his face bruised and swollen. His shirt was soaked in blood, but his chest was moving—barely.
"Shit," Minji hissed, rushing forward.
Kai hovered near the door, panicked. "Is he even alive?"
Seojin checked for a pulse. It was weak, but there.
Hyunwoo cut the ropes binding Jinho's wrists. "We need to move."
As they lifted him, Jinho stirred.
His lips parted. A whisper escaped.
"…Trap."
The air shifted.
Seojin's eyes widened. "Go! Now!"
But it was too late.
BOOM!
An explosion tore through the room, swallowing them in fire and smoke.
End of Chapter 60
Thoughts for Readers:
Did Jinho expect to be saved, or was this part of his plan?
Who set the trap—the Phoenix, or someone else?
Sneak Peek for Chapter 61:
The team is trapped under the rubble, separated and wounded. But in the chaos, a new enemy emerges—one even deadlier than the Phoenix.