Lookism: Unchained Fate

The next day, Joon-hyuk arrived at the place they had agreed to meet. The morning air was still cool, with a gentle breeze blowing through the open area. Their meeting place was a small park near the main road, not too crowded but strategically located for them to gather before leaving together. When Joon-hyuk arrived, the place was still empty. He glanced at his watch and realized he had arrived earlier than the agreed time.

Calmly, he sat on a park bench, enjoying the morning tranquility. His eyes occasionally observed his surroundings, watching people passing by. A few minutes passed without any sign of anyone arriving. He took a deep breath and started thinking, but his thoughts were interrupted when he heard a familiar voice calling his name.

"Joon-hyuk!!"

He turned toward the voice and saw Kim Mi-jin approaching with Lee Zin. Mi-jin waved enthusiastically, while Zin walked beside her with a neutral expression but still followed Mi-jin with quick steps.

Joon-hyuk stood up from the bench, waiting for them to approach. Once they reached him, Mi-jin smiled brightly.

"You got here early! I thought I'd be the first to arrive," Mi-jin said, slightly out of breath.

"I just didn't want to keep you waiting," Joon-hyuk replied casually. "But it looks like I'm the one who arrived first."

Mi-jin let out a small laugh before glancing at Zin, who was still standing beside her, looking at Joon-hyuk with a scrutinizing gaze.

"You look fine," Zin finally said, crossing his arms.

"Of course," Joon-hyuk replied. "I wouldn't miss this meeting."

Zin only gave a small nod before shifting his gaze. He might not talk much, but Joon-hyuk knew Zin cared—he just had a different way of showing it compared to Mi-jin.

Mi-jin then looked around. "It seems like the others aren't here yet. Should we wait here or get in the car first?"

Joon-hyuk glanced at the road, looking for any sign of the vehicle that would pick them up.

"Maybe we should wait a little longer. If they don't show up soon, we can get in the car first," he suggested.

Mi-jin nodded in agreement. "Alright, I hope they won't be late. I'm so excited!"

As they waited, they chatted casually. Mi-jin looked excited, while Zin remained calm, occasionally making short remarks. A few minutes later, the sound of a car horn echoed in the distance, making the three of them turn toward the source of the sound at the same time.

The car that would take them had finally arrived. Mi-jin eagerly patted Joon-hyuk's arm. "Let's go!"

Joon-hyuk and Zin followed Mi-jin, who was already walking toward the car, ready for their trip.

As the car stopped in front of them, the smooth hum of its engine filled the morning air. Joon-hyuk observed the vehicle—a black SUV that looked comfortable and spacious enough to accommodate all of them.

The car door opened, revealing Seong Yohan sitting in the back seat. Yohan's mother sat in the front seat beside an older man—the priest Yohan had invited for the trip. Mi-jin stepped into the car first, followed by Joon-hyuk and Zin.

Joon-hyuk sat in the middle row with Mi-jin, while Yohan's mother and the priest remained in the front. The priest, who was driving, glanced at the rearview mirror and gave them a friendly smile.

As they traveled toward the "Paradise Garden" campsite, the atmosphere grew quieter as their car moved along the rocky path deep into the forest. The sunlight that had previously illuminated the road was now filtered by towering trees, casting shifting shadows as the wind gently blew. The further they went, the more Joon-hyuk felt an unsettling sensation creeping over him. He glanced at Mi-jin and Zin, who also seemed to be feeling uneasy.

When the car stopped near the campsite, a middle-aged man with a friendly smile greeted them. His face was lined with wrinkles, but his sharp gaze seemed to be analyzing their every movement.

"Welcome to Paradise Garden," the man said warmly, though there was something odd about his tone.

Mi-jin gave a small smile, trying to shake off the awkwardness, while Joon-hyuk only nodded. The man gestured for them to follow him further into the forest.

They walked along a narrow path covered with dry leaves. On both sides of the trail, there were only ancient trees with massive trunks and roots sprawling in all directions. The air grew colder, making their skin crawl, even though there was no strong wind blowing.

After several minutes of walking, they began to see simple tents made of dull white fabric.

A wooden cross stood tall in the middle of an open field near the tents. Mi-jin, upon seeing it, instinctively brought her hands together in a prayer-like gesture to express her gratitude that her relationship with Yohan had improved today.

However, Joon-hyuk sensed something strange and immediately called out to Mi-jin.

"Mi-jin, come on, let's go," Joon-hyuk's voice broke her thoughts.

"Yeah." Mi-jin replied, then returned to join her friends.

But what she didn't realize was the horrifying sight that could make anyone's hair stand on end.

In front of the cross, a man was tied up, his body hunched over lifelessly. His skin was covered in deep wounds, dried blood staining almost his entire body. His face was swollen, one eye shut from the swelling while the other stared blankly in their direction. His lips were cracked, with fresh blood dripping from the corners. Large stones were scattered around him, some still smeared with blood, indicating that the man had been repeatedly pelted with them.

The man tried to speak again, but only a faint groan escaped his lips. His body trembled slightly, showing that he was still alive—but perhaps not for much longer.

"Sa… Save yourselves… report this… Euhhh…"