Through The Storm: Chapter 4
Title: Through the Storm Chapter 3 Rating: Mature (Some adult themes) Contains: Slow burn, PTSD, Trauma, Underaged drinking/smoking, some violence Characters: Mingi, Fem OC, Jongho, Yunho AU: Aged up Military!Mingi, Aged up Professor!Yunho, Aged down Teen!Jongho Masterlist | Ao3 | AFF | Wattpad Previous Chapter - Next Chapter Synopsis: Areum is a college student trying to keep her life together. Between school, her part-time job, and taking care of her younger brother, every day feels like a blur. She doesn’t have much time to think about herself or the things she’s been through. She just keeps moving forward. Then she meets Mingi, someone who somehow makes everything feel a little lighter. He’s easy to talk to, easy to be around, and before she realizes it, he starts becoming an important part of her days. Through him, Areum starts to find a bit of peace in the chaos, learning that maybe it’s okay to lean on someone else once in a while. But as she begins to rebuild her sense of peace, she soon realizes that some truths can’t stay buried forever and that her parents’ deaths might not be as simple as they seemed.
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Areum was back in the lab, gloves on, lab coat buttoned, the familiar hum of equipment buzzing around her like white noise. She stood over a row of samples, carefully checking the pH readings, but her mind kept drifting back to Jongho.
He had come home late again despite her new rules. She didn't know when he came home since she had fallen asleep waiting for him. But he did do one thing she asked, even though it was late.
He had replied to her texts apologizing.
“Distracted today?” Mingi’s voice drifted in from the other workstation, calm and warm like usual.
She blinked and looked up. “What? No– well… maybe a little.”
He tilted his head, glancing at her notes. “You logged 7.2 twice. I don’t think the universe is that neutral.”
Areum let out a small laugh, realizing her mistake. “Guess I’m not as focused as I thought.”
Mingi grinned and leaned against the counter. “Careful. You’re gonna cause a reaction.”
She cringed, her brows creasing together “Did you seriously just make a chemistry pun?”
“I’m just trying to bond,” he said with a shrug, completely unfazed. “It’s part of the formula for lab morale.”
She stared at him for a beat before groaning. “Please stop.”
“I can’t– I’m under pressure,” he added, gesturing toward the pressurized hood behind him.
Areum rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips. “You’re the reason I need that fresh air break.”
“Perfect,” Mingi replied, already peeling off his gloves. “Then it’s working.”
After grabbing their coffees, Mingi led Areum to a new area she’s never been to yet. Areum had never thought to explore the base, she didn’t feel the need to. As they walked, Mingi made sure to match his pace with hers, fully aware that because of his long legs he tends to walk ahead of everyone.
Soon they got on the path that led into the garden trail. Areum looked around, they were surrounded by trees and different types of plants and flowers with a small man-made stream running through it. She also noticed in the distance some soldiers jogging down one of the trails.
“I didn’t know we had this here,” Areum finally said, “I always imagined military bases would be boring and bland.”
Mingi let out a playful scoff “We’re a military base, not a prison, I promise we’re not boring–I’ll have to show you around sometime.”
She smiles into her coffee. “Sure.”
“So you major in biochem right? Any idea what you wanna do or where you wanna go when you graduate?”
Areum let out a thoughtful hum before shrugging “I’m not sure yet, there’s a lot of options, I was planning on checking out my options and maybe doing some shadowing during summer break…”
“You should consider our lab as an option, it’ll be an easy transition for you, from intern to full-time–” he sees a bench by the stream, gesturing towards it “let’s sit over there.” She follows his lead, taking a seat on the bench along with him before replying.
“I was considering it, but I want to explore my options before I make a choice.”
She held her cup in her lap, leaning against the back of the bench as she hung her head back, closing her eyes and just enjoying the feeling of the sun on her skin.
“I’m curious, what made you want to work in the lab? A staff sergeant working with science wasn’t something I expected to see…” she opens her eyes, lifting her eyes to look at him. He was leaned forward, arms resting on his thighs as he swirled his coffee around in its cup.
“It’s a long story really…”
“I’m all ears, I don’t mind a long story.”
He gives her a quick glance, then brings his gaze back over to the flowing stream.
“Ever since my mom got cancer I wanted to get into cancer research and wanted to learn more about different diseases,” after taking a sip from his coffee he leans back against the bench.
He began explaining the story to her.
When he was younger his mom was diagnosed with cancer, it was a tough time for them and he did all the research he could on it to understand it better. She eventually beat it and had no more signs of the cancer but the joy was short lived because a year later she fell ill again. The cancer had come back, and with vengeance. The chemo wasn’t working and she seemed to just be getting worse and worse. She became so skinny and frail.
Mingi fell into depression watching his mother suffer. His grades started slipping, slowly losing his friends, he shut himself out.
And when the cancer finally took her life he fell into a spiral. He started getting drunk with some losers, smoking weed, skipping classes and getting into trouble. It wasn’t until his friend almost got beat to death that reality finally hit him.
He realized he needed to get it together before he ruined his life. So he decided to follow in his fathers footsteps and join the military. He was able to study while he was there and get his degree.
“Joining the military helped me get it together, gave me structure and discipline,” he looks over at her and smiles. “Sorry if I bored you with that story.”
“It was actually interesting, I think I just learned a lot about you…” Mingi’s story of how he lost himself after his mothers death reminded her of Jongho. She wondered; if she were to have Mingi speak to him, would he come to his senses? Would he even listen?
“Got something on your mind?”
She shook her head. “No…just when you talked about how you became after your mothers death, it sounded a lot like Jongho, although I don’t think he’s been drinking or doing any kind of drugs…at least not that I’ve noticed.”
Mingi chuckled.
“Not to freak you out, but he’s probably just good at hiding it.”
Her lips formed into a small pout “I hope not…”
Mingi had to look away when he saw her pout, fighting the smile tugging at his lips. It wasn’t fair how effortlessly cute she could be. To cover it, he let his eyes drift toward the soldiers running drills in the distance, as if their pacing suddenly demanded his attention.
A moment of silence stretched between them, but it wasn’t awkward. Areum’s eyes followed the squirrels darting across branches and the birds weaving overhead, her thoughts drifting toward the quiet rhythm of nature. For her, the stillness felt grounding, a brief escape.
Mingi, meanwhile, wasn’t nearly as calm. His mind churned with questions, things he wanted to know about her, pieces of her life he wanted to fit together. It had been a long time since he’d felt this drawn to someone.
Finally, he broke the silence. “So… anything you like to do in your free time these days?” Great, interesting question Mingi.
Areum hummed thoughtfully before answering.
“Well, when I’m not buried in assignments or studying, I usually just keep myself busy with house chores or errands. I picked up a part-time job too, it helps fill the time, and I need the extra money anyway. Other than that, there’s not much else… unless you count the regular meetings with my brother’s teachers and principal.”
Mingi looked at her in disbelief.
“Do you ever rest? Or have fun at all?”
Areum chuckled, shrugging. “Mm… I did all the fun stuff before. Now I’ve got more responsibilities.”
He frowned at her words. “Who says responsibilities mean you can’t relax? You’re still allowed to breathe.”
“I’m fine. Really. I’m not that tired.” Or at least she didn't want to admit that she was. Exhausted, would really be the best word to describe her current condition. She checked the time on her phone, then stood. “We should head back.”
He rose with her, though his brow stayed furrowed. “Are you sure? Half the time you come into work looking like you haven’t slept in days. Dark circles all the way down to the ground,” he teased.
She rolled her eyes, laughing under her breath.
“I swear I’m not exaggerating!”
“We all have sleepless nights,” she shot back. “You come in looking like a zombie yourself sometimes.”
“And who says I’m not a zombie?”
They walked side by side toward the building, their footsteps slow against the gravel path. The closer they got, the more Mingi debated with himself. He wasn’t usually one to push, but something about her made him want to try.
Just before they reached the door, he stopped. “Hey.”
Areum looked up at him, curious.
“Why don’t you let me take you out sometime? Nothing like a date! Not trying to be weird, just something fun. You deserve a break.” Well that was smooth. He mocked himself.
Her lips parted, as if she wanted to protest, but the sincerity in his eyes made her reconsider. After a beat, she smiled faintly.
“Alright… just once.”
“Good,” he said, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. He pulled out his phone. “Then I’ll need your number.”
She reached for his phone as he held it towards her, fingers brushing for the briefest second before she typed in her number. When she handed his phone back, Mingi locked the screen, a small smile playing at his lips.
“I'll let you know once I've got something planned,” he said, pushing the door open for her.
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Yeosang had a way of slipping into Jongho’s days, always close enough to notice, never obvious enough to call out. A shoulder brushing his in the hallway, fingers grazing his when passing back a pen, a foot nudging his under the cafeteria table, all of it done with that unreadable half-smile, as if he knew exactly what he was doing.
When they studied together, Yeosang leaned in a little too close, his arm pressed against Jongho’s as he pointed something out in the textbook. His breath would stir the air by Jongho’s ear, and when Jongho tensed, Yeosang only tilted his head with that same sly curve of his lips, pretending it was nothing at all.
Even gaming wasn’t safe. Side by side, controllers in hand, Yeosang would “accidentally” bump his shoulder whenever he scored a win, or leave his knee resting against Jongho’s for minutes at a time, as if he didn’t notice. Jongho noticed every time.
Piece by piece, the moments stacked up into a rhythm Jongho couldn’t ignore. He didn’t know if Yeosang was teasing him, testing him, or simply existing in that infuriatingly close space on purpose.
It wasn’t until today that Jongho finally began to understand Yeosang’s little game.
The two of them had slipped away to have lunch in the school’s old wing. Most of it was abandoned now, except for a few classrooms claimed by the clubs, which made it the perfect quiet area for anyone who wanted to be left alone.
They sat on the floor of an empty room, eating side by side while Yeosang carried most of the conversation. When the food was gone and the lunch boxes tucked away, they leaned back under the window, the silence settling around them.
For a while, it was quiet. Then Yeosang spoke, his voice softer than usual.
“You know, my dad wants me to be a lawyer. He’s always pushing me toward it.”
Jongho turned his head, watching him carefully. Yeosang almost never talked about himself, this was the first time Jongho had heard him open up.
“I don’t want to be a lawyer though,” Yeosang continued, his fists tightening in his lap. “And I don’t get why he cares so much when he’s never even around. He doesn’t know a thing about us. When he does come back?” He gave a bitter laugh. “He just throws money and gifts at us, like that makes up for anything. And my mom… she doesn’t say a word. Just drinks. Sometimes I wonder if either of them really know Yeonjoo and me at all.”
Jongho’s chest tightened. He kept his voice steady. “What do you want to do, then?”
A small smile tugged at Yeosang’s lips. “I want to be an idol. I love singing, dancing… but my dad says he’ll disown me if I try. I go to classes anyway. After school, on weekends in secret.”
The words lingered in the air before Yeosang let out a soft sigh and leaned over, resting his head on Jongho’s shoulder. The sudden weight startled him, making him tense but only for a moment. Slowly, he allowed himself to relax. The warmth was steady, grounding in a way that caught him off guard.
“What about you? What do you want to do?”
Jongho hesitated. In the past he might have answered easily, game development, building worlds and adventures. But that spark had burned out. These days, he barely touched the things he used to love. The hours slipped by with him doing nothing, letting himself waste away.
Dreams felt pointless now.
He gave a small shrug, eyes dropping to the floor. “I don’t know anymore.”
Yeosang tilted his head up, watching him carefully. He knew Jongho had been carrying more than he let on, losing his parents, spiraling because of the sudden loss, but he didn’t press. Whatever storm Jongho was holding inside, Yeosang figured he’d share it when he was ready. For now, he let the silence fill the room.
Yeosang hadn’t realized how long he’d been staring until Jongho’s voice pulled him back.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Their faces were only inches apart now. Yeosang’s eyes flicked down to Jongho’s lips before curling into a small, playful smirk.
Jongho raised a brow when he caught it. “Why do you keep staring at me?”
“Oh… nothing. I was just thinking.” Yeosang shifted, turning fully toward him, his hand braced lightly against Jongho’s thigh for support. Their eyes locked, breaths mingling, lips hovering close but not touching.
Jongho’s pulse spiked, heat crawling up his neck. He swallowed hard, throat tight, and unable to look away.
Yeosang inched closer, teasing, letting the tension grow between them without closing the gap. He didn’t move further, just held the moment, letting it stretch.
And just as Jongho’s resolve cracked, just as he was about to bridge the space between them, the school bell rang.
Yeosang pulled back with a sly smile, as if the whole thing had been deliberate. He rose to his feet and grabbed his lunch bag, and Jongho followed suit.
But just as they reached the doorway, Jongho’s hand shot out. He caught Yeosang by the shoulder, spun him around, and pressed him back against the wall. Before Yeosang could react, Jongho’s lips were on his.
Yeosang’s eyes widened in surprise, but the stiffness lasted only a second. He relaxed into it, tilting forward as if to deepen the kiss only for Jongho to pull away first. A small smirk tugged at his mouth as his tongue flicked across his bottom lip, a wordless challenge hanging in the air.
After school, they made their way back to Yeosang’s place. Neither of them brought up the kiss, it hung between them in silence, unspoken but far from forgotten.
They spread their books across the desk and worked through their homework, the quiet room filled only by the sound of scratching from their pencils as they wrote and the occasional buzz of a phone. Later, they ordered takeout and ate side by side, their conversation drifting to safer, ordinary things.
When the food was gone, Yeosang booted up the console. They settled on his bed, controllers in hand, because Jongho refused to sink into the beanbags Yeosang kept around.
When the game ended it popped up the rankings on the screen, Yeosang had snatched first place, while Jongho got second. Yeosang turned to him with a wide grin.
“Seems like once again I’ve topped you. Guess I’ll always be on top, huh?”
Before the words could fully settle, Jongho shoved him back against the bed, climbing over him and pinning his hands down against the mattress on either side of his head. His face hovering inches from Yeosang’s, his smirk sharp.
“Who’s topping who now?”
Heat rushed to Yeosang’s cheeks. His eyes widened, then narrowed, lips caught between his teeth as he tried to mask the nervous flutter in his chest. He hadn’t expected Jongho to flip the game on him so boldly, the shift left him unsteady, caught between surprise and a thrill he couldn’t quite hide.
“Top this, top that—” Jongho’s voice dropped lower, darker. “If you wanted me to top you that badly, you could’ve just asked.”
Yeosang’s lips parted, but no words came. For once, he couldn’t muster the usual retort, couldn’t push back.
“What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?” Jongho tilted his head, bringing Yeosang’s wrists together pinning them above his head with one hand. His other hand slid to Yeosang’s chin, thumb teasing across his lower lip.
“You might ‘top’ me in grades. You might top me in a game,” Jongho leaned closer, his breath brushing warm against Yeosang’s ear. “But don’t forget one thing…”
His voice sank to a whisper.
“I’ll always be on top—and you’ll be right here, underneath me.”
The words sent a shiver straight through Yeosang’s body. A soft, broken whimper escaped before he could stop it, betraying the heat rushing to his face.
Jongho then pressed his lips against Yeosang's in a deep, heated kiss, their tongues moving together. Yeosang’s wrists squirmed against Jongho's tight grip, but he didn’t budge. Heat built quickly, the tension from earlier igniting into something neither of them tried to stop. One thing led into another, clothes tugged and shifted, the heat rising between them.
By the time it all slowed, the two of them were tangled together beneath the sheets, skin warm and breaths heavy. Jongho’s arm rested around Yeosang’s waist while Yeosang curled into his chest, his fingers absentmindedly tracing lazy circles against Jongho’s skin.
Jongho didn't know what got into him. He never moved this quickly with anyone and was never one to want to let the tension break him. That's not to say he was regretting it, no, he just couldn't understand his own actions.
He questioned himself for a moment. Did he do this because he had feelings for Yeosang? Or was he just lonely, and wanted to fill the void inside of him?
Whatever it was, he'd figure it out later. Right now? Right now he just wanted to enjoy the warmth of his body against his own.
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Mingi moved with long, forceful strides, each step landing in a heavy thud that echoed his unspoken frustration. His jaw was tight and his fists clenched as he made his way to the General’s office. He walked straight past the secretary and stopped in front of the large wooden double doors.
“Sergeant Song, I’ll alert him of your—”
Mingi raised a hand, signaling her to wait. Closing his eyes, he drew in a few steady breaths, grounding himself. Once calm, he adjusted his cap and uniform, then gave the secretary a short nod.
She picked up the phone, her tone professional as she informed the General of his arrival.
“Go ahead,” she said after hanging up.
Mingi gripped the door handle and pushed it open, slipping inside. He closed the door carefully behind him before stepping forward to the front of the general’s desk. Standing tall, he brought his hand up in a salute.
“At ease. Sit down, Mingi,” his voice was deep and gruff.
And so he does. He lowers his arm and sits on the seat across from the general's desk.
Mingi already knew what this conversation would be about, and he wasn’t looking forward to it, especially not with the way he had been summoned.
He had been in the middle of his lab duties, focused on his work, when a soldier appeared at his side.
“The General needs to speak to you,” the man said.
Mingi barely looked up, waving him off. “Tell him I’ll come once I’m finished here.”
But the soldier didn’t budge. His voice firm.
“He wants to speak to you now. Says he doesn’t care if you’re in the middle of something.”
So here he was, as ordered.
“When are you going to stop fooling around playing scientist and start taking things more seriously?”
Mingi’s fingers twitched against the armrest.
“You’re wasting your talent being in that lab when we need your skills and focus here. Move up the ranks. This is the special forces we’re talking about, Mingi.” The older man leaned forward, forearms resting on the desk. “We need you. Everyone has been on my ass to convince you to accept the position.”
Mingi’s lips pressed into a thin line. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to move up or join the special forces. Part of him wanted to prove himself, to see how far he could go. But he also couldn’t let go of the lab. He had dreams of studying diseases, of maybe one day finding a cure that could stop others from suffering the way his mother had.
What made him hesitate wasn’t the opportunity, it was the way it was forced on him. Every time his work was belittled, called childish or a waste, it only pushed him further away. Pride ran stubborn in his veins, and if they thought they could corner him, he’d refuse out of spite.
“Mingi, when are you going to answer me?”
Oh, I don’t know. Maybe when you stop being a general and start being a dad.
Was what he wanted to say, but he wasn’t in the mood for another argument.
“I told you. If I change my mind, I’ll come to you myself.” He rose from his chair. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a job to be attending to, Sir.”
The older man let out a sigh as Mingi reached the door. His hand closed around the handle, but before he left, he turned back.
“If you’re really looking for someone skilled and talented to fill that spot, I’d recommend Sergeant Choi San. He’s hard-working and sharp. You won’t be disappointed.”
With that, he stepped out, closing the door behind him.
And as if he wasn’t irritated enough, his phone began vibrating non-stop in his pocket. He pulled it out to see that he was getting spammed with messages from an unknown number. He almost threw his phone but instead he simply just unlocked his screen, blocked the number, and deleted the messages before stuffing his phone in his pocket.
He had more important things to be worried about and he wasn’t going to let his emotions get the best of him.
And so he enters the lab as if nothing happened and returns to work, catching up with the team and their progress.
Areum noticed there was something bothering him though. It was the look in his eyes. Despite the fact he was smiling when he spoke and worked like usual, his eyes were saying something else.
What they were saying? She wasn't really sure.
She felt like it wasn't her place to ask and didn’t want to push any boundaries so she held back on saying anything.
Still, she wanted to cheer him up.
When she took her break she ran up to the cafe, grabbing two coffees and a couple pastries before heading back towards the garden.
She found Mingi stretched out on a bench, cap tilted down over his face. Approaching quietly, she crouched beside him and gently poked his arm with her pinky, both hands full with coffees and a bag of pastries.
He looked oddly peaceful like that, cap tipped low, the world momentarily shut out. She felt bad for disturbing him.
“Sergeant…” Her voice was soft, careful not to startle him.
Mingi turned his head, pushing the cap up, only to find Areum’s face just inches from his. He cleared his throat and quickly sat up, ears turning red.
Areum straightened, smiling as she handed him his coffee before settling beside him and setting the pastry bag between them. “I got us a snack too.”
Mingi accepted the cup with a small nod. “Thank you. You didn’t have to get me anything.”
Areum just smiled, sipping her drink. Then she reached into the bag, pulling out a pastry and offering it to him. “Here, have some.”
He raised a hand, shaking his head. “I’m okay.”
Her shoulders slumped, a little pout forming on her lips. “Oh… okay then.”
The sight twisted something in his chest. She’d gone out of her way just to share this with him, and it wasn’t exactly gentlemanly to turn down a pretty girl, especially not one that's pouting at him with a sad look in her eyes.
“You know what? I changed my mind. I’ll have some.”
Her eyes lit up instantly, her smile blooming as she placed the pastry in his hand.
And just like that, the butterflies in his stomach went wild. God, that smile could kill a man.
He took a big bite and quickly looked away, trying to steady his racing heart.
“You feeling better?”
Mingi turned his head toward her, one brow raised. “Why are you asking?”
“Well, it looked like you were ready to kill a man earlier. Then when you came back, you just had this look in your eyes.”
“Oh, that.” He waved it off lightly. “Yeah, I’m alright. I’m over it already.”
She nodded, fingers fidgeting with the edge of her coffee lid. She wanted to ask what had happened, maybe even tell him that if he needed to vent, she would be more than happy to listen.
But she did not want to push. They were not that close yet, and it felt like crossing a line.
Mingi noticed. His gaze dropped to her hands. He had seen this habit before. Whenever something weighed on her mind or she felt nervous, she fiddled with her sleeves or whatever was in her hands.
“If you are curious about something, you can just ask. I don’t mind.”
Her fingers froze, her eyes lifting to meet his. “Ah… well, I mean I am. I just didn't want to push any boundaries since we are not that close and all…”
Mingi pressed a hand dramatically to his chest, wincing as if in pain.
“Ah! That hurt. I thought we were friends already.”
Areum felt relief, rolling her eyes playfully.
“So I'm assuming you want to know what got me all worked up like that?”
She nods.
“My Dad,” Mingi started, his tone carrying a touch of bitterness. “He thinks that just because he’s both the general and my father, he can order me around however he wants. I hate when he pulls me out of the middle of my work just to prove a point. I know he does it to show his authority.”
She stayed quiet, listening as he spoke. She remembered the last time they sat in this garden, when he had talked about his mother and it struck her how easily he spoke about himself. She hadn’t expected him to be so open. Beneath the teasing and calm exterior, there was a lot more weighing on him than he showed.
“Anyway, he’s trying to pressure me into focusing on the military, climbing up the ranks, all while calling my work in the lab a childish game.” He took another bite of the pastry and shrugged. “It’s nothing new, really. I just wish work wasn’t the only thing he ever talks to me about.”
Areum couldn’t really relate to what that felt like. Her parents had always made time for her and Jongho no matter how busy they were, and they never brought work home. Still, she could understand how frustrating it must be for him. Without saying anything, she shifted a little closer and nudged the pastry bag toward him with a small smile, her way of trying to comfort him.
He shook his head, smiling. “No thanks.”
His palm rested on the top of her head, lightly patting her.
“Thank you for listening, and for these.” He said, lifting the cup in his other hand and gesturing towards the pastry bag with his chin.
She nodded, returning his smile as a warm, fuzzy feeling spread through her from the way his hand rested on her head.
“You can always talk to me about anything. I’ve been told I’m a great listener and comforter!”
“Yeah? I’ll take you up on that then. The same goes for you, by the way. I’ve also been told I’m a great listener.” He grinned widely and gave her head another gentle pat.
His hand lingered for a moment, fingers brushing lightly through her hair, making her stomach flip.
She wasn’t used to this kind of casual affection, but she liked it. It made her feel warm and wanted.
“Come on, we should head back.”
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The night was quiet, the kind of silence that made every sound stand out. Two figures slipped through a gap in a rusted fence, flashlights flicking on in brief bursts as they stepped onto uneven ground. Cracked concrete and debris stretched out before them, damp with the lingering chill of the evening.
“Hard to believe anything’s still here,” one muttered, sweeping his light low to the ground.
The other knelt, gloved fingers digging through loose gravel and splintered wood. “He hid it somewhere. People like him don’t just leave things lying around. Keep looking.”
They moved slowly and deliberately, overturning fragments of rubble, lifting pieces of twisted metal. Their voices stayed low, swallowed by the dark.
“Nothing,” the first man said finally, frustration bleeding through. “Same as before.”
“Then we come back,” the second replied, standing. “It’s here. We just haven’t found it yet.”
They slipped back through the fence as quietly as they’d entered, their footsteps fading into the night. The site remained still, holding its secrets.
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