Insanity ||J.JK||

09- A Dangerous Curiosity

-Remember you can't escape yourself

Alena's POV

I held the USB drive in my trembling hand, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. It felt heavier than it should have, almost as if it carried the weight of everything that had happened last night.

 The sleek black surface glinted faintly in the morning light, the small insignia etched on its side barely visible. It didn't look like something ordinary—this was expensive, exclusive, and it had somehow found its way into my possession.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my nerves as I set it down beside my laptop. For a moment, I debated throwing it away, forgetting it ever existed. But curiosity, or maybe something deeper, gnawed at me. What was on it?

My fingers hovered over the touchpad, hesitation creeping in. 

"You don't want to know, Alena," I whispered to myself, yet my hand moved on its own, plugging the drive into the laptop's port with a soft click.

The screen blinked to life, and a folder appeared almost immediately. My pulse quickened as I opened it.

Restricted Access: Code Required.

A password-protected file. Of course, it wouldn't be that easy. I stared at the prompt, biting my lip. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, unsure what to even attempt.

"Think, Alena," I muttered.

The insignia on the drive flashed in my mind. It was sleek, a combination of two letters intertwined, A and O. Could it mean something? I tried typing the letters, but the screen rejected it instantly.

Suddenly, the air in the room felt suffocating. I backed away from the laptop, rubbing my hands over my face. Why was I even doing this? What if this thing was dangerous?

A knock at the door snapped me out of my thoughts. My heart skipped a beat as I turned toward the sound, fear gripping me tightly.

"Alena" Yuri's voice called from the other side.

I exhaled shakily, closing the laptop and pulling the drive out in one quick motion. "Yeah?" I replied, shoving the USB into my pocket.

The door creaked open, and Yuri stepped inside. "You've been in here for a while. What are you doing?"

"Nothing," I lied, forcing a smile. "Just... needed a moment to myself."

Yuri studied me for a second, her brows furrowing slightly. "Okay. Well, breakfast is ready. You should eat."

"I'll be there in a minute," I said, watching her leave.

As soon as the door shut, I pulled the USB back out and stared at it, the unease bubbling inside me once more. I needed answers, but more than that, I needed to figure out how deep this rabbit hole went—and whether I'd already fallen too far.

With a determined breath, I grabbed my bag and slipped the drive inside. 

There is someone who can crack it, someone who can tell me what the hell is going on. And I know who could help me with this.

Taehyung

The thought hit me like a bolt of lightning, igniting a flicker of hope amidst the chaos swirling in my head. If anyone could figure this out, it was him.

 Taehyung had always been the tech genius, the one who could decode anything, no matter how complex or encrypted.

I had always known Taehyung was different. Not just because of his calm demeanor, his disarming smile, or the way he could fix anything with a few clicks on his laptop.

There was something more to him...something he never fully explained. We'd never talked about his past much, and I never pushed him to. He'd never told me what he'd done before we met, before he became the Taehyung I knew, laid-back, quiet, and always so sharp with technology.

But whatever he had been involved in, whatever had shaped his mind into the weapon of tech brilliance he was now, I knew it had to be significant. 

It was one of those unspoken things between us, the silence of a past he'd chosen to leave behind. I'd respected that, never asking, never prying. But today, as I stared at the ominous folder on my screen, I knew I had to reach out to him.

I grabbed my phone from the desk, my fingers trembling as I searched for his contact. The name "Tae🐻" popped up on the screen, and I hesitated for a moment before hitting the call button.

The phone rang twice before his deep, familiar voice answered.

"Sup bitch? You don't usually call this early." His voice spoke from the other end.

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. "Tae, I need your help. And it's... serious."

There was a pause on the other end. I could almost hear the shift in his tone, the playful edge giving way to concern. "Serious, huh? What's going on?"

I glanced at the USB drive still plugged into my laptop, its insignia glinting under the light. "Can I come over? It's better if I show you."

Taehyung didn't hesitate. "Of course, though I was getting ready to leave for the cafe i'll stay back, we can go together later, I'll be waiting."

I ended the call, my heart pounding in my chest. Whatever this was, whatever I was about to uncover, it felt like stepping into quicksand.

Grabbing my bag, I stuffed the USB drive into a hidden pocket, making sure it was secure. This was no longer just about me. 

Now, it involved Taehyung too. I couldn't help but feel guilty for dragging him in this. He's been my friend since I was like 15, he's been much like an older protective brother, but we treat each other's just like friends, he's 4 years older, he's 28 while I'm 23.

I couldn't help but always think why does he not have a proper job at this age? like he works in cafe just like me.

I shook my head cursing myself "This is not the time to think all of this Alena, get a grip on yourself you've a lot to dig right now" I spoke biting my lips.

And deep down, I couldn't shake a feeling gnawing in me, something bad is about to happen, i can feel it, I hope I'm wrong.

But for now, I have to play it safe. I can't risk Yuri getting dragged into this.

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