OUTBREAK (SEASON 1)
THE SIGNAL
Author
college campus | morning - 8:47 am
it was a normal morning. or, at least it pretended to be.
Yujin walked through the courtyard with her usual routine coffee in one hand, stress chewing away at her mind. the other her anxiety had
been on edge lately, but she blamed it on finals and lack of sleep - not the man with a gun she ran into, not the strange. behavior from her
mom and definitely not the red cardinal from last night. breathe. focus. it's just a day.
she found her seat in class nodded at her professor, and opened her notes. but just outside the tall glass windows, she noticed something
strange. a flock of pigeons - once loitering near the food court -- suddenly launched into the sky in perfect unison. ten minutes later
walking between classes, she saw a stray cat freeze, look up, and sprint into a storm drain. even the usually lazy golden retriever that
belonged to the psychological professor tugged fiercely ok it's leash towards... nothing
"animals sense things" her father would say if he was here. "things we can't"
she brushed it off. her anxiety didn't need another spark
Author
unknown location | high-rise office - Time Unknown
the office was luxury in shadow. moonlight filtered through tall windows casting long glassy beams across marble floors and black leather
a man sat behind a massive desk, cigarette in one hand, old files in the other. spread across the surface were photos, old blueprints, and
lab ID cards. a watch. a key. a worn name tag with a faded photo.
Dr.Elias [REDACTED] - bio risk division. .... Yujins father.
the man exhaled smoke slowly, deliberately, staring at the ID Like it still had power. he reached beneath the papers and pulled out an aged
photograph. A woman - Yujins mother - smiling, standing next to Elias. happy and unaware
Unknown
you should've stayed gone
the man muttered. he grounded the cigarette into the photo, the ember hissing as it sizzles over her face.
Author
ATEEZ HQ - base. - 11:22 am
Seonghwa typed rapidly at the computer, eyes narrowing at the encrypted data feed on the screen across from him.
Hongjoong stared at a projection of the government facility.
Seonghwa
no public movement
Seonghwa said.
yeosang
the samples inside their bio-level-6 vault. no signs of tampering yet.
Hongjoong
yet
Hongjoong echoed grimly.
Yunho
they'll isolate it. refine it. turn it into a. control mechanism.
Wooyoung tossed a file onto the table
Wooyoung
I dug deeper on the girl. Yujin Hwang. college student. no criminal record. dad was a doctor.. worked under the biotech division years ago.
Wooyoung
that was before he died Of unknown reasons.
San leaned forward.
San
the same division responsible for the first version of the virus
Yunho glanced over
Yunho
so either she's just unlucky...
Hongjoong
... or she's already involved
Hongjoong finished.
Hongjoong
even if she. doesn't know it..
Jongho crossed his arms
Jongho
we need to watch her from a distance. no contact yet
Hongjoong didn't respond
he was still thinking about her eyes. the fear. the timing. the coincidence.
he didn't believe in coincidence anymore
Author
Yujin walking home | evening - 7:02 pm
the sky was darkening, casting long shadows on the sidewalk as Yujin walked towards her off campus dorm her bag bounced softly against her
hips. she looked tired but calm. at least until her phone buzzed with a text from her mom.
mom
Don't come home tonight. please stay on campus. lock your doors.
Yujin stopped walking. that was strange. she was about to call when her phone rang. Hyunjin. she answered immediately
yujin
Hyunjin?
his voice came through, panicked
Hyunjin
Yujin where are you?! are you ok?
yujin
I'm fine, I just got a weird text from mom-
Hyunjin
Yujin... mom's gone
she froze her knees nearly buckled.
yujin
what?.
Hyunjin
yeji and I got home and the front door was open - Mom's stuff is still here. her phone. her purse. but she's gone.
Yujins blood ran cold
yujin
Did you call the police?
Hyunjin
we can't-
his voice cracked.
Hyunjin
yeji said if they're the ones who took her, going to them could make it worse
Yujin stared into the night as the wind picked up. something was wrong her wrong
from a nearby rooftop, unseen, a dark silhouette moved silently, watching her.
episode 3 End