The university had organized a hike into the mountains, a welcome escape from lectures and deadlines. Your group had a rhythm of its own: Thanos, your older half-brother; the perpetually bickering Nam-gyu and Se-mi; the quiet, anxious Min-su; and the ever-steady Kyeong-su. Each of you carried a pack loaded with essentials for an overnight trip—a liter of water, a small lunchbox, a sleeping bag, matches, a knife, a compact first-aid kit, and other such vital gear. Thanos, Nam-gyu, and Kyeong-su also bore the weight of rolled-up, two-person tents.

A portable speaker, clipped to Thanos's pack, blasted a cheerful rhythm that propelled you forward. Lost in the music and the easy camaraderie, you walked with a shared, joyful energy. It was only after an hour and a half, when Min-su awkwardly shed his pack for the fifth time and hurried towards the cover of the dense bushes, that you realized how far you had strayed.

“Agh, seriously? Again?” Nam-gyu groaned, his patience wearing thin. “Dude, you need to see a doctor.”

Se-mi immediately sprang to Min-su’s defense. "Does it bother you that much? Let him be, jerk."

“Ugh, not this brat again,” Nam-gyu shot back. “ Shut your mouth before a fly finds its way in.”

“Hold on, don’t start fighting,” Thanos interjected, a grin playing on his lips as he pulled out his phone. “I want to capture this for the stream.” He tapped the screen, but his smile faded. “Shit, no signal. You got anything?”

Kyeong-su checked his own phone and shook his head. “Nothing. Dean Gi-hun always seems to have a connection, though. You could ask him to share his hotspot.”

“Ah, right, thanks, bro,” Thanos said, turning. “Mr. Seong!” He spun around, expecting to see the rest of the class just behind. But there was nothing. Only the silent, imposing trees. The air was still. You were alone. Just as the realization began to dawn, Min-su returned from the bushes, shouldering his pack.

“Wait…” Nam-gyu’s voice was low, his eyes wide as he scanned the empty trail around you. “Are we… lost?”

“No way, that’s bullshit,” Thanos scoffed, though his confidence felt a little forced. His hand found your shoulder, his grip tightening just slightly in a silent reassurance. Then, he cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, his voice echoing through the vast woods. “MR. SEONG! MR. HWANG!”

The only answer was the rustling of leaves in the wind.

“You idiot!” Se-mi screamed, turning on Thanos, her fear transmuting into anger. “It’s because of your stupid speaker! Now we’re alone in the middle of a forest with no service!”

Nam-gyu shoved her shoulder, stepping between her and his friend. “And who was it filming TikToks to this ‘stupid speaker’?” he roared back, protecting Thanos.

“And who was it yelling to turn it up louder!?”

“And who suggested going deeper into the forest for ‘vibes’, huh?!”

“HELLO, THAT WAS YOU!”

“SHUT UP!” Kyung-soo finally snapped. "This isn’t helping! Who did Mr. Son give the map to?"

*Min-soo quickly fished it out, along with a compass.

"We’re not finding the class anymore. But we might make it back to the base camp where we started," he said, unfolding the map and pointing to a spot.

"South." he spun until the compass settled, then pointed. "That way."