The streets stretched out ahead of them, quiet, unmoving. The school gates creaked as they swung shut behind the group, and just like that, they were back in the open.
Jin took the lead, his steps steady, focused. The others followed in a loose formation, their eyes shifting between the empty buildings, the abandoned cars, the city that no longer felt like a city.
The world wasn't destroyed. It wasn't in ruins. It was just... silent.
A few blocks in, Echo exhaled sharply. "You ever notice how much louder your footsteps sound when there's no other noise?"
Areum glanced around, her fingers flexing at her sides. "You're only noticing that now?"
"It's just weird." Echo kicked a stray bottle on the sidewalk. It clattered too loudly against the pavement, the sound echoing down the street. He winced. "See? That's unsettling."
"Then maybe don't do that," Daehyun muttered, rolling his shoulders.
