Haechan entered the group's room, a small backpack slung over his shoulder. They had all anxiously awaited his arrival, unable to sleep a wink. Despite the tension, they had managed to coax Winter into a few hours of rest, thanks to Karina, who the wraith had finally forgiven and now slept beside.

Since Jaemin's disappearance, Mark had taken to sleeping in the girls' room. They refused to be separated any longer, fearful of the consequences. Mark was the one who greeted Haechan at the door, and as soon as the intern stepped inside, everyone grabbed their bags while Karina gently roused Winter.

"Okay, so... I don't have much time to explain, but your friends are in danger, and we need to rescue them and get out of this facility." Haechan explained hurriedly, casting a glance at the door's small window to check for passing patrols.

"Why are you helping us?" Giselle inquired curiously.

"Because... I lost my friends here who came after receiving the signal. I don't want that to happen again." Haechan replied with a tinge of sadness and anger in his voice.

"What's going on here exactly?" Karina chimed in next, as Winter stirred awake and fixed her gaze on Haechan. Mark swiftly covered to prevent any screams, as Haechan panicked upon noticing Winter's presence.

Mark released his hold on Haechan once the intern had regained composure. Winter, startled, retreated behind Karina but still peered out from behind her shoulder.

"W-Why is a wraith with you? W-What—" Haechan stammered, but Giselle interjected to reassure him.

"We don't have much time to explain either, but Winter is different. She's harmless." Giselle reassured, offering Winter a comforting smile.

Once Haechan regained his composure, he tightened his grip on his backpack and nodded resolutely. They didn't have time for lengthy explanations, nor could Haechan dwell on his shock at learning about Winter. So, he pushed aside his unease and returned to laying out his plans. However, his nervousness around Winter still lingered palpably.

"Uh, okay. So, let me keep this brief. I'll press this button, triggering the facility-wide alarm and unlocking all the doors in the buildings. Our priority will be to locate Jeno and Lia." Haechan explained, his voice tinged with determination. He had spent nearly a year meticulously planning this operation—memorizing the labyrinthine layout of the facility, clandestinely acquiring copies of remote controls and keys, and, most challenging of all, feigning loyalty to Yunho despite his deep-seated resentment and the anguish of betraying his friends.

Haechan's friends had arrived months after the apocalypse struck, and their reunion had initially filled him with joy. But the disappearance of Jisung and Chenle the very next day had shattered his illusions, exposing Yunho's sinister machinations. Haechan had shared his harrowing revelations with them, his admiration for Yunho crumbling as the truth came to light.

The desolate surroundings of the facility were no accident; they were a grim testament to the military's ruthless pursuit of wraiths and raiders alike. Wraiths were subjected to cruel experiments, while raiders' bodies were offered as sustenance to Yunho's wife, Minji, now transformed into a grief wraith. Survivors, too, were subjected to Yunho's twisted experiments, as he sought to engineer a human-wraith hybrid and unlock the secrets of reversing the virus. Any survivors deemed expendable were fed to Minji.

When Giselle's group arrived, Haechan saw it as the perfect opportunity to set his plan in motion. With Ningning in their possession, he could leverage her against Yunho. He could no longer tolerate Yunho's madness.

The group fell silent, processing the horrifying truth Haechan had revealed. He cautioned them that Yunho might seek to capture Winter if he learned of her unique nature, adding another layer of urgency to their mission.

"What the hell?" Mark could only manage to utter, echoing the shock and disbelief shared by the group. Beneath their speechlessness lay a deep-seated fear for their friends and the unknown horrors they might be enduring.

"W-What about Jaemin? Ningning? Where are they?" Yuna's voice trembled slightly as she sought solace in Yeji's hand. Drawing strength from one another, they silently vowed to face whatever challenges lay ahead and emerge together.

"I managed to save and hide Jaemin. He's standing by to retrieve Ningning once he receives the signal. Our mission is to rescue Jeno and Lia. But..." Haechan paused, acutely aware of the grave danger inherent in their plan. Yet, with no viable alternatives, they had little choice but to press forward.

Against the might of the entire facility and the military, escape seemed their only hope for survival.

"Once I press this button, all the wraiths and humans subjected to experimentation will be released. We'll need to do everything in our power to navigate through the chaos and reach your friends. It'll be risky..." Haechan warned, his tone grave.

"So, our suspicions about the presence of wraiths here were correct. But still... what the hell." Yeji muttered, a mix of disbelief and fear evident in her voice.

"That's enough talk. We have to move, ready or not. Just follow my lead. I've disabled the CCTV cameras, but they'll be back online in fifteen minutes." Haechan declared, awaiting the group's confirmation of readiness.

With time running short and their resolve firm, the group knew they had to act swiftly. Armed with newfound knowledge, they were prepared to risk it all to save their friends. Their determination to rescue their loved ones fueled their resolve as they braced themselves for the perilous journey ahead.

As they all nodded in unison, Haechan took a deep breath and pressed the button. The blaring alarm reverberated throughout the building, accompanied by the haunting cries of mad and grief-stricken wraiths, and the thunderous footsteps of soldiers outside.

Before opening the door, Haechan turned back and handed Karina a katana, retrieved from their belongings. Sensing the significance of the gesture, Karina accepted it with gratitude, clutching the weapon tightly alongside Winter's hand, ready to embark on their mission to rescue their friends and escape the nightmarish facility.

Haechan also distributed whatever weapons he could salvage from the group's confiscated arsenal. With resolve in their hearts, he swung open the door, revealing a scene of chaos: wraiths being pursued by soldiers, lifeless bodies littering the hallway. The soldiers, preoccupied with containing the escaped wraiths, barely spared the group a glance as they hurried past.

Though they encountered a few wraiths along the way, the group pressed on, fueled by adrenaline and determination. Despite sustaining scratches, they ignored the pain, focusing solely on reaching their friends. Following Haechan's lead, they fled the building and raced towards the second one.

Inside, the soldiers' attempts to regain control over the escapees were overwhelmed by the sheer number of wraiths, much to Haechan's satisfaction.

Meanwhile, Karina, momentarily forgetting her fear and trauma, fought off wraiths alongside the group, silently praying for the souls of the fallen. With Winter's newfound strength aiding their efforts, they pressed forward.

In the room where Jeno was held captive, Mark cautiously approached his