The Name You Whisper In Dreams
Chapter 1: Cell 17-B
Bhumi (Author)
📖 Chapter 1: Cell 17-B
A dimly lit, sterile underground cell. Cold metal walls. Surveillance cameras blink silently. Teenagers in black uniforms are huddled in silence. Among them, two boys—one with fiery eyes and another with a haunting calmness—sit back-to-back.
[Taehyung, whispering softly as he writes notes in a small hidden notebook]
TaeTae
Tae (Age 10 years): "They taught us blood heals… but they never said whose pain it costs."
[Jungkook, quietly doing push-ups beside him]
kookie
JK ( Age 13 years): "Pain is the only language they respect. You either learn to speak it… or you disappear."
[Tae closes his notebook, voice trembling slightly]
TaeTae
Do you think we’ll ever get out of here?
kookie
[Jungkook stops mid-push-up, eyes hardening]
We will. Not as subjects. Not as experiments. As who we really are.
Guard
[Guard voice echoes outside the cell]
Subject 0317 and 0318. Arena testing. Now.”
[Jungkook offers his hand to Taehyung, who hesitates only a second before gripping it tightly.]
kookie
(soft but deadly), Never did. Never will.
Arena Lab
Cold arena floor. Scientists in white coats watching. Multiple teens circled around. Taehyung and Jungkook are shoved into the center.
[Lead Scientist, clipboard in hand]
Scientist
Let’s test the syncing capacity between the omega healing and enigma strike. Begin simulation. If failure exceeds 3 minutes… eliminate Subject 0318."
kookie
[Jungkook snarls under his breath to TAE]
Don’t listen. Sync with my rhythm. Just like we practiced.
Tae
[TAE nods, clutching the pressure point on his neck—a recent implant]
I’m not afraid. As long as you’re here."
Scientist
Objective: 97% sync ratio. Enigma will attack. Omega must recover and sustain. Begin.
kookie
[Jungkook steps forward, fists clenched. His aura is cold and fierce. Taehyung stands across from him, trembling slightly.]
(calm, low voice)
Follow my steps. Left dodge, right sweep. Don’t absorb all the hit—redirect it.
Tae
(nodding, breathing shallow):
I remember. I... I can do this.
[Simulation activates. Drones fly above, mechanical fighters drop into the arena. Jungkook instantly launches into motion—precise, fast, brutal. Taehyung moves in rhythm, keeping up, healing minor cuts almost instantly.]
[Scientist 1, excitedly watching monitors]
“Sync rising—88%... 92%... 95%... It’s working!”
[Inside the arena, Taehyung begins to stagger—his hands shaking, breath ragged. A deep gash appears across his shoulder from a glitched drone strike.]
Jungkook notices, immediately shifting his stance. He should finish the simulation... but—
kookie
(gritting his teeth):
“TAE, stop. Don’t push more.”
Tae
(barely able to speak):
“I can... I’m not weak, Jungkook...”
kookie
(softer, stepping in front of TAE):
“You’re not. That’s why I will hold back.”
[Instead of launching the finishing combo, Jungkook intentionally slows his strikes. He lands enough hits to complete the rhythm pattern but doesn’t activate his final Enigma burst.]
[Final Score: 93.4% Accuracy – Simulation Ends]
Scientist
[Scientist 2, frowning]
“Why didn’t the Enigma unit engage full strength? This score is below optimal!”
Head
[Lead Scientist narrows eyes, noting Jungkook’s expression on the monitor]
“…He’s protecting him.”
[TAE collapses to his knees, blood seeping but slowly clotting as his healing kicks in. Jungkook kneels beside him immediately, shielding him with his body.]
kookie
(voice calm but fierce):
“You want a perfect weapon. He’s not a weapon. Neither am I.”
Scientist
[Scientist speaks into the mic coldly]
“If failure continues, Subject 0318 will be discarded. Emotion is a defect.”
kookie
[Jungkook stares directly at the camera]
“Then delete me first.”
Head
Silence. The glass screen flickers. Someone behind it clenches their jaw. But the announcement simply says:
📢 “Subjects return to Cell Block 17-B.”
Back to the Cell (17-B)
Heavy steel door opens with a metallic hiss. Two guards carry a small, limp 10-year-old boy—his uniform soaked in sweat and blood. Behind them walks a slightly taller, sharper-eyed boy, barely 13, his fists still trembling with fury.
[Inside the Cell. Lights are dim. Cold floor. Jungkook rushes to Taehyung as guards drop him carelessly and leave.]
kookie
(gently, holding Taehyung):
“Tae... breathe. Slow. Let the healing begin.”
Tae
(voice tiny, broken):
I tried... Kookie... I didn’t want to fail…
kookie
(pressing Taehyung’s small hand to his chest):
“You didn’t. You were perfect. Don’t say that again.”
Tae
(tears gathering, whispering):
“It hurts... deep inside... I can’t fix it fast this time.”
kookie
(hugging him close):
“I know. You need 24 hours. Just rest. I’ll keep watch.”
Taehyung, pale and exhausted, curls into Jungkook’s lap. His body trembles from strain, his wounds glowing faintly as the healing process begins slowly.
Tae
(eyes fluttering):
“Kookie... what do you think it feels like… to be hugged by a mother?”
kookie
(silent, then whispers):
“Warm. Soft. Safe. Nothing like this place.”
Tae
“Do you think she’s out there? My mother?”
kookie
“She has to be. So is mine. Maybe… maybe they’re looking for us.”
Jungkook looks up at the camera blinking above them. Not with fear. With hatred
kookie
“One day, I’ll break every wall of this place... and take you out under real sunlight.”
[Surveillance Room]
Scientists watch silently. One notes Taehyung’s delayed healing with interest.
Scientist
“Subject 0318’s healing cycle triggered a 24-hour delay. No instant recovery this time.”
Scientist
“Should we separate them for stricter testing?”
Head
“No. Their bond is unpredictable... but the only stable sync we’ve ever recorded. Let’s observe.”
Back in the cell, Jungkook gently covers Taehyung with his own uniform jacket. Despite his small age, he acts like a protector… like the only warmth Tae’s ever known.
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