OUTBREAK (SEASON 1)
SIGNALS
Author
HQ | ATEEZ mafia Safe house / 10:42 am
the sound of a fist slamming onto the metal table echoed through the dimly lit room.
San
She bumped into you, Hyung..
San said sharply, pacing
Jongho
we were seconds from stopping the courier. now we've lost the sample.. again
Hongjoong remained calm, seated at the table. with arms crossed. the others surrounded him - Wooyoung leaning against the wall
mingi chewing his lips in frustration, and Seonghwa tapping keys on a laptop, while Yunho, San, Yeosang & Jongho were sitting there with a
mad look.
Hongjoong
I said abort for a reason!
Hongjoong replied
Hongjoong
you didn't see her face..
Yunho
she's just a girl!
Yunho said, trying to cool the tension.
Hongjoong
no
Hongjoong said, voice low.
Hongjoong
Ive Seen thousands of faces in this game. civilians, mercenaries, traitors. hers didn't fit. her timing didn't either
he stood up, looking at the digital man projected on the wall. a flashing red marker traced the Couriers new location - Back inside a high
security government facility.
Jongho
if the government succeeds in refining this virus...
Jongho spoke with a serious but scared tone
Jongho
we're looking at a total population control. not death. submission
Mingi
and who knows what kind of submission!
Seonghwa
the masses won't even know they've lost their minds
Seonghwa added
Wooyoung
it's like a leash inside their minds and bloodstream..
Hongjoong glanced at the screen again then said flatly
Hongjoong
run facial recognition on the girl I want everything. her name, her family, where she was born - I want to know why she was there
Giselle
You ran into Who!?
Giselle nearly choked on her Coffee
Yujin groaned, covering her face with both hands.
yujin
can we not bring it up every five seconds please
Giselle
but you said he was hot!
Giselle teased with a sly grin.
Giselle
mysterious, glowy eyes, dressed like a bond villain. honestly, sounds like fate
Yujin laughed despite herself
yujin
he had a gun Gigi.. he could've killed someone
Giselle
yeah... but he didn't, because you spilled your vending machine coffee on him and saved the day. so really, youre the hero. congrats!
Yujin rolled her eyes and sipped on her now cold coffee. something still felt off about the whole thing. that guy wasn't just some thug
he moved like someone trained. someone dangerous. and when their eyes met- there was something behind his stare.
before she could say more, the TV above the counter switched to breaking news.
news man
another leak from the biotech company raises concern among whistleblowers who claim the government is experimenting with neurological
news man
control agents under the guise of virus containment..
the anchors voice cut off suddenly
Giselle had grabbed the remote and the turned it off.
yujin
HEY
Giselle
don't spiral
Giselle said firmly, looking at her with serious eyes.
Giselle
you already don't sleep well I'm not letting you fall into another rabbit hole.
Yujin nodded, but her mind was already racing. first her dads death years ago. then yesterdays encounter and then the news was catching up
to what she'd feared for years. the government was hiding something big.
Author
Yujins house | night - 9:27 pm
the kitchen was dim except for the under-cabniet lights. Yujins mother stood at the sink, her face pale as she clutched the phone in one
hand,
mom
YOU DON'T GET TO CALL ME NOW
she snapped.
mom
AFTER EVERYTHING!? YOU THINK YOU CAN THREATEN MY CHILDREN!
her voice cracked slightly, but her anger didn't falter.
mom
I SWEAR, IF YOU COME NEAR THEM - IF YOU EVEN BREATHE IN THEIR DIRECTION - I'LL BURN YOUR COMPANY TO THE GROUND!. YOU HEAR ME?!
she slammed the phone down and didn't notice yeji. standing at the doorway, her fave tight with concern.
Yeji
Mom?
yeji asked quietly
Yeji
what was that?
their mother turned slowly, the masked of calm slipping back on.
mom
nothing
she said with a small smile
mom
just an old mistake... trying to come back
Author
yeji didn't buy it. but she didn't push it further
Author
pretend It's night lmao
Author
College campus dorm path | later that night - 11:48 Pm
Yujin walked alone across the quiet path that led to her dorm. her earbuds were in. but the music was low. her thoughts were too loud.
suddenly, something fluttered past her, landing on a nearby bench. a bird. but not just any bird - a red cardinal. she slowed to a stop
it's tilted it's head at her, as if studying her. then, it looked sharply to the right - down a darkened alley behind the biology building.
chirp. and then it launched into the air and flew in that direction with a unsettling speed.
Yujin stood there, watching.
it wasn't the bird that unsettled her.
it was the strange feeling that it wanted her to follow.
end of episode 2