Screaming tore through Yujin's throat, raw and agonizing. Blood pooled on the cold stone courtyard below, spreading like dark ink over the white snow. He lunged forward, his legs shaking violently as he tried to throw himself down the stone steps toward Hanbin's lifeless form. Before his boots could clear the threshold, a hand clamped around his wrist. Ricky's grip was absolute iron. Cold fingers dug into his flesh, pinching skin against bone with a force that made Yujin gasp in sudden pain. "Let go!" Yujin thrashed, kicking out wildly, but the tall blond didn't even flinch. Gyuvin appeared on his other side, his face a mask of pale, calculated panic. "We have to move, Yujin," Gyuvin muttered, his voice dropping into a low, rumbling register that vibrated against Yujin's ear. Red bands of bruised flesh were already blooming across Yujin's pale skin as Ricky dragged him backward. Boot heels scraped against the polished floorboards of the corridor. Cold air from the courtyard seemed to chase them, carrying the scent of copper and fresh snow. "He's dead," Yujin choked out, tears blurring his vision into a smear of whites and grays. "He's down there, Ricky, we have to get him!" Ignoring his pleas, Ricky pulled him harder, hoisting Yujin's slight frame almost off his feet. Expansive, high-ceilinged reception lobby loomed ahead as they burst through the double doors. Panic had already infected the rest of the group. Hao was pacing near the front desk, his hands buried deep in his dark hair, pulling at the strands until his scalp turned red. Matthew huddled in a corner armchair, his knees tucked tightly against his chest, breathing in rapid, shallow gasps. "What was that sound?" Taerae demanded, his voice cracking as he looked toward the corridor. Gunwook stood near the center of the room, his large frame rigid, fists clenched so tight his knuckles shone white. Jiwoong was already on his phone, furiously tapping the screen, his jaw set in a hard, desperate line. "No signal," Jiwoong spat, throwing the device onto a nearby coffee table. "Nothing. Not even emergency services." Ricky finally released Yujin, shoving him gently toward Gyuvin, who immediately wrapped his long arms around Yujin's trembling shoulders. Yujin stumbled, his skin burning where Ricky's fingers had been. A dark, deep red ring was already forming on his wrist, a physical stamp of Ricky's terrifying strength. "Are you okay?" Gyuvin whispered, his lips brushing the crown of Yujin's head as he held him tight. Tears spilled over Yujin's cheeks, his voice entirely gone as he pointed back toward the courtyard. "Hanbin," Yujin managed to gasp out, his chest tightening to the point of pain. "He... he's gone. He's dead." Gasps echoed through the high-ceilinged lobby. Matthew let out a choked sob, burying his face in his hands. "What do you mean dead?" Gunwook took a step forward, his eyes wide. "He was just with us. He went to get logs for the fire!" Sudden, violent vibration shook the entire floor beneath their feet. A high-pitched, metallic whine pierced the air, growing louder by the second. Heavy, industrial-grade steel shutters began to drop from the ceilings. Screeching metal scraped against metal as the massive barriers descended over every single window. Darkness swallowed the natural light of the afternoon, replaced only by the dim, artificial glow of the lobby's chandeliers. "Run!" Jiwoong yelled, sprinting toward the main double doors of the hotel entrance. Before he could even reach the threshold, a massive steel plate slammed down with a deafening crash. Vibration rattled the teeth in Yujin's skull, throwing him off balance. Gyuvin caught him easily, holding him flush against his chest, his grip tightening to a suffocating degree. "Locked," Gunwook whispered, slamming his fists against the cold steel barrier that now covered the main entrance. "It's completely solid." Dust swirled in the dim light, illuminated by the flickering bulbs above. Hao walked backward, his eyes fixed on the reception desk. "Oh god," Hao breathed, his voice barely a whisper. "Look. Look at the wall." Everyone turned, their eyes following Hao's trembling finger. Painted in thick, wet crimson across the dark mahogany reception wall was a message. Wet drips of blood slid down the polished wood, pooling on the marble counter below. Spelled out in jagged, frantic strokes were five horrifying words. *Next is your turn, Yujin.* Silence descended on the room, heavy and suffocating. Yujin felt the air leave his lungs, his stomach turning over as the words burned into his retinas. "Me?" Yujin whispered, his knees finally giving out completely. Gyuvin sank down with him, keeping his arms locked around Yujin's waist, anchoring him to his chest. "It's a sick joke," Taerae stammered, his eyes darting frantically between the message and Yujin. "Who did this? Who could have done this?" "We're locked in," Matthew cried, his voice escalating into pure hysteria. "We're trapped in here with a killer!" Ricky stepped closer, his gaze fixed entirely on Yujin's pale, tear-streaked face. "No one is getting to you, Yujin," Ricky said, his voice eerily calm amidst the chaos. "I promise you. No one." Cold realization washed over Yujin as he stared at the bloody letters. This wasn't just a random attack. Hanbin's life had been snuffed out like a candle, his throat torn open, his body discarded in the snow. And it was all because of him. His very presence in this hotel had signed Hanbin's death warrant. "This is my fault," Yujin whimpered, shaking his head as he tried to pull away from Gyuvin's suffocating hold. "He died because of me. He's dead because I came here." "Don't say that," Gyuvin murmured, his fingers gently tracing the line of Yujin's jaw, forcing him to look up. "You didn't do this. We're going to keep you safe." "How?" Jiwoong demanded, spinning around to face them, his eyes wild. "How do we stay safe when the doors are solid steel? There's no way out. The phone lines are cut. We have no service." "We find a weapon," Gunwook said, his voice hard. "We search the kitchen. There have to be knives, heavy tools, something." "And what if the killer is already inside with us?" Hao asked, his voice shaking. Nobody answered. Fear hung in the air, thick and palpable. Yujin looked at Ricky, who was watching him with a strange, intense focus that made a shiver run down his spine. Ricky didn't look scared. Even Gyuvin, despite his frantic words, felt too steady, his heart beating a slow, rhythmic thud against Yujin's back. It was unnatural. Their best friend had just been brutally murdered, yet these two seemed entirely consumed by something else. Me, Yujin thought, a sickening spike of dread piercing his chest. They were looking at him like he was the only thing that mattered in a burning house. "Let me go," Yujin whispered, trying to push himself off the floor. Gyuvin's grip tightened, his fingers digging into Yujin's ribs. "Stay close to me, Yujin," Gyuvin whispered, his breath warm against his ear. "It's dangerous to wander off." "I need space," Yujin choked out, his claustrophobia flaring up as the heavy steel doors seemed to shrink the lobby around them. "Listen to him, Gyuvin," Taerae said, stepping between them. "Let him breathe. He's having a panic attack." Gyuvin slowly let his hands slip away, though his dark eyes never left Yujin's face. Ricky took a step forward, blocking the path to the main corridor. "We need to secure the perimeter," Ricky said, his tone commanding. "Jiwoong, Gunwook, come with me to check the kitchen. The rest of you, stay here. Do not leave this room." "I'm not staying here with that on the wall," Matthew sobbed, pointing at the bloody threat. "We don't have a choice," Hao said, his voice flat with despair. "We are trapped." Shadows seemed to stretch across the room as the generator hummed, struggling to keep the lights on. Yujin looked down at his wrist, where the red band left by Ricky's grip was already turning a deep, painful purple. It looked like a collar. He rubbed the bruised skin, a terrible suspicion beginning to root itself in his mind. Ever since they arrived, Ricky and Gyuvin had been acting strange. They always seemed to know where he was, what he was doing, who he was talking to. At first, he thought it was just their overprotective nature, a byproduct of their long friendship. Now, trapped in this metallic tomb with Hanbin's blood drying on the wall, it felt like something much worse. "Yujin," Gyuvin's voice broke his train of thought, soft and dripping with concern. "Are you cold? You're shivering." "I'm fine," Yujin snapped, his voice sharper than he intended. Gyuvin's eyes narrowed slightly, a brief flash of something dark and dangerous crossing his features before it was replaced by his usual gentle expression. "Don't be like that," Gyuvin said softly. "We only want what's best for you." "Hanbin is dead," Yujin whispered, tears threatening to spill again. "How is this best for anyone?" Ricky didn't answer, his face an unreadable mask of stone. "We need to move to the center of the room," Jiwoong suggested, his voice tight. "Away from the corners. If someone tries to ambush us, we'll see them coming." Gunwook nodded, moving a heavy oak table to create a makeshift barrier. "Everyone sit down," Gunwook ordered. "We keep our eyes open." Yujin sat on the cold floor, his back pressed against the reception desk, directly underneath the bloody message. He could smell the copper tang of it, thick and sickeningly sweet. It felt like a physical weight pressing down on his chest, making it impossible to breathe. Every breath he took felt like he was inhaling Hanbin's final moments. Ricky sat directly opposite him, his legs crossed, his intense gaze locked onto Yujin like a predator watching its prey. Gyuvin sat right beside Yujin, his shoulder pressing against Yujin's, an unwanted source of heat in the freezing room. They were flanking him, boxing him in. Even with their friends just feet away, Yujin felt completely isolated. He was trapped in a cage within a cage. "Why did the shutters go down?" Matthew asked, his voice trembling. "Hotel security systems must have been triggered," Jiwoong replied, his brow furrowed in thought. "Or someone manually activated the lockdown from the control room." "Where is the control room?" Taerae asked. "Probably the basement," Gunwook said. "But without a keycard or a code, we won't be able to get in. These systems are designed to keep people out." "Or keep them in," Hao whispered. Heavy silence settled over them once more, punctuated only by the wind howling against the steel shutters outside. Yujin closed his eyes, trying to block out the terror, but the image of Hanbin's body falling into the snow played on a loop in his mind. He remembered the way Hanbin had smiled at him earlier that morning, promising to make his favorite stew for dinner. Now, Hanbin was gone. And the killer was still out there, watching, waiting for the perfect moment to strike again. Yujin felt a cold sweat break out across his forehead. He had to get out of here. He had to find a way to escape, not just from the killer, but from the suffocating presence of Ricky and Gyuvin. "Yujin," Ricky said, his voice cutting through the silence. Yujin opened his eyes, staring back at Ricky. "I'm thinking about how we're going to survive," Yujin said, his voice steadying. "You don't need to worry about that," Gyuvin whispered, his hand gently squeezing Yujin's knee. "We'll handle everything." "Like you handled Hanbin?" Yujin blurted out, the words slipping past his lips before he could stop them. Silence descended on the room instantly, thick and terrifying. Jiwoong and Gunwook stared at him in shock. Gyuvin's hand froze on Yujin's knee, his fingers tightening slightly. Ricky's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flickering in the dark irises. "What is that supposed to mean, Yujin?" Gyuvin asked, his voice dropping to a dangerous quiet. "Nothing," Yujin stammered, realizing he had gone too far. "I... I'm just scared. I don't know what I'm saying." "We know you're scared," Ricky said, his voice smooth and devoid of emotion. "But don't accuse us of anything. We are the only ones who can protect you." "He's just panicked, guys," Hao intervened, placing a hand on Yujin's shoulder. "We're all out of our minds right now." "Yeah," Taerae agreed. "Let's not turn on each other. That's exactly what the killer wants." Yujin pulled his knees closer to his chest, burying his face in his arms. He felt the weight of Ricky and Gyuvin's gazes like physical blows, pressing him down into the floorboards. They weren't angry; they were possessive. It was a terrifying realization. They didn't care about Hanbin's death. They only cared about how it affected their hold over him. "Power is going to fail soon," Gunwook warned, looking up at the flickering chandeliers. As if on cue, the lights flickered violently, casting long, distorted shadows across the mahogany walls. "We need to find flashlights," Jiwoong said, standing up. "Now, before we're left in the pitch black." "I'll go with you," Gunwook said. "No," Ricky commanded, his voice sharp and absolute. "We stay together. No one splits up." "We can't just sit here in the dark!" Jiwoong argued. "It's safer than wandering into a trap," Ricky countered, his eyes locked onto Jiwoong. Tension in the room was palpable, a fragile thread ready to snap at any second. Yujin kept his head down, his heart hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird. He could feel the cold draft from the steel doors, a constant reminder of their isolation. They were entirely cut off from the world. No one was coming to save them. Real threat was sitting right beside him. --- Minutes dragged by like hours in the suffocating gloom of the locked lobby. Matthew continued to sob quietly, his head resting against Hao's shoulder, while Taerae paced a small five-step line back and forth near the blocked windows. Gunwook had found an old brass fire poker near the hearth, gripping it like a lifeline. "We need a plan," Jiwoong said, his voice hushed but intense. "If we're stuck here until morning, we need to take shifts watching the halls. We don't know how the killer got in, or if they have access to the master keys." "I'll take the first watch," Gunwook offered immediately. "I'll do it with you," Jiwoong added. Ricky remained perfectly still, his eyes never straying from Yujin's small, curled form. "You should sleep, Yujin," Ricky murmured, his voice cutting through the whispered plans of the others. "How can I sleep?" Yujin whispered, his voice cracking. "How can any of you act so calm? Hanbin is dead. He's outside in the freezing cold, and we're just... sitting here." "Crying won't bring him back," Ricky said, his tone chillingly pragmatic. "Have some decency, Ricky!" Hao snapped, glare fixing on the blond. "He was our friend. He's been our friend for years!" "And my priority is keeping Yujin alive," Ricky countered, his gaze shifting to Hao, cold and unyielding. "If you want to waste your energy weeping, go ahead. But don't expect me to join you." Gyuvin leaned closer to Yujin, his fingers gently brushing a strand of dark hair away from Yujin's forehead. "Don't listen to them," Gyuvin whispered, his voice a soothing balm that made Yujin's skin crawl. "We're here. We won't let anything touch you. You're safe with us." "Safe?" Yujin looked at Gyuvin, searching the elder boy's dark eyes. "Look at my wrist, Gyuvin. Ricky did this. Is this what safety looks like?" Gyuvin's gaze drifted down to the purple bruising ring on Yujin's delicate wrist. A strange, hungry look flickered in Gyuvin's eyes before he masked it with a soft sigh. "Ricky was just scared of losing you," Gyuvin murmured, lifting Yujin's bruised hand and pressing his lips gently to the center of the palm. "We both were. If you had run out there, you would have died too. We can't let you die, Yujin. We won't allow it." Yujin snatched his hand back, his heart hammering in terror. This wasn't normal. Their possessiveness was a suffocating weight, a trap tighter than the steel shutters sealing the windows. "I want to go home," Yujin whimpered, burying his face in his hands as a fresh wave of tears escaped. "Soon," Gyuvin promised, his hand resting on the back of Yujin's neck, fingers gently kneading the tense muscles there. "As soon as this is over, we'll take you away. Somewhere far from here. Somewhere no one can ever find you." "Where no one can hurt you," Ricky added from across the circle, his voice a dark promise. Yujin shivered, realizing the horror of their words. They didn't want to save him to return him to his life. They wanted to keep him. Forever. And Hanbin's death was just the beginning of the nightmare. --- Sudden darkness fell over the lobby as the generator gave a final, dying groan. Total blackness enveloped them, thick and absolute. Screams erupted from Matthew and Taerae as panic flared anew in the pitch black. "Stay where you are!" Jiwoong shouted over the noise. "Nobody move!" "Gyuvin? Ricky?" Yujin whispered, his hands reaching out blindly in the dark, desperate for any sense of direction. Cold fingers immediately clamped around his hand, while another pair of hands gripped his waist from behind, pulling him back against a firm chest. "We're here, Yujin," Gyuvin's voice whispered directly into his ear. "We'll always be here," Ricky's voice murmured from his other side. Yujin felt completely trapped, sandwiched between their bodies in the freezing dark. Suddenly, a soft hum vibrated through the air above them. As the lights flicker and die, a mechanical click echoes from the ceiling, and a hidden camera's red lens blinks to life, tracking Yujin's face with terrifying precision.

Chapter 2: Steel Doors and Painted Lies