Chapter Fifteen: Echoes on Air
Date: May 18th
Location: KBS Broadcasting Station, Seoul
The newsroom pulsed with tension. Eunha sat in the dim control room, her fingers hovering over the console. Onscreen, the timer counted down —
00:00:30 until live national broadcast.
In Studio B, the anchor sat poised in front of the camera. A blurred still from the video played behind her — Sae-jin's terrified eyes caught mid-motion.
Mira's producer leaned in. "Once this airs, there's no going back."
She didn't blink. "It's already too late to go back."
---
Elsewhere: Aura Entertainment, CEO's Office
Mr. Goh wasn't at his desk.
In his place, a sealed white envelope lay propped against a porcelain tiger sculpture. One word written on it:
> "Insurance."
The head of legal ripped it open. Inside were:
A list of "hush contracts" issued between 2017–2024
A flash drive labeled "TRAINEE FILES — CLASS B"
And a handwritten note:
> "If this airs, activate Protocol Black."
---
Back at the Studio
LIVE.
The anchor inhaled deeply and began:
> "Tonight, we interrupt regular programming to deliver material of urgent national interest.
Viewer discretion is advised. The footage you are about to see is unedited and may be disturbing."
The screen cut to the video.
Silence. Then chaos.
The unseen man's voice. Sae-jin's defiance. Ji-hoon's intervention.
The scuffle. Screams.
Static.
But just before the video faded, a new clip played — added by an anonymous source.
> Sae-jin, speaking directly to the camera.
Bruised. Barefaced. Brave.
> "If you're watching this… I'm alive.
But not safe.
He has others."
The broadcast was cut mid-frame.
Blackout.
---
Across the Country
The hashtag #WhereIsSaejin trended instantly.
Fans stormed Aura's official app, demanding answers.
News anchors scrambled. Rival networks aired screenshots.
But something darker moved behind the scenes.
---
Ji-hoon's Apartment
His phone buzzed.
A blocked number.
He answered. Silence. Then a woman's voice — whispering:
> "They know she's not dead. They'll come for you next."
Click.
Outside his window, across the street, a black van idled. No license plate.
---
Eunha's Safehouse
Eunha closed her laptop and reached for the burner phone Ji-hoon gave her.
She sent one text to a single contact — "Eagle."
> 🕶 "They've activated Protocol Black. She's still alive. We need to get her out."
The reply came seconds later:
> 🦅 "Then we burn them all."