THE LAST AUDITION

Chapter 18: Back to Korea

The flight from Mexico back to Korea was a blur. Jiyeon, Jasmine, and Young-so had spent most of the journey in silence, each lost in their thoughts as they stared out the airplane windows. The landscape below was a patchwork of clouds and city lights, but Jiyeon's mind was far from the beauty outside. Instead, she thought about the dangerous path they were about to walk upon returning to Korea.

Jiyeon wasn't sure what to expect when they landed, but she knew one thing for sure-nothing would be the same. The time in Mexico had given them clarity, but it also solidified the idea that they were walking straight into the lion's den. The stakes were higher now, and they couldn't afford to make any missteps.

As the plane touched down in Korea, Jiyeon felt a pang of uncertainty in her chest. Home. It had always felt like a place of comfort, a place of safety. But now, it felt like a trap. The company was no longer just a place where they practiced and performed; it was a place of hidden dangers, where the lives of her fellow trainees were at risk.

Jiyeon glanced at her friends-Jasmine was staring out the window with a determined expression, while Young-so was tapping her foot nervously, her eyes darting around the cabin. It was clear they were all thinking the same thing.

"We're back," Young-so said softly as the plane began to taxi toward the gate.

Jiyeon nodded. "Yeah. Back to the place where it all started."

They gathered their belongings in silence, the weight of what lay ahead pressing heavily on their shoulders. It felt like a long time since they had left Korea for their vacation, but in reality, only a few weeks had passed. Time had blurred for Jiyeon. It felt as though so much had happened in such a short period, and now, they were returning to a company that felt more like a labyrinth of secrets and lies.

The airport was busy as they stepped off the plane and made their way through the terminal. Jiyeon kept her head down, trying to blend in with the crowd, but the unease she had been feeling since leaving Mexico had only intensified. The feeling of being watched, of being under constant surveillance, was overwhelming. She felt like there was no escaping the eyes of the company.

When they finally emerged into the arrival hall, the familiar sight of the bustling crowds hit Jiyeon like a punch to the gut. The voices, the noise, the flashing lights-it was all so overwhelming. It reminded her of the first time she had come to Korea to pursue her dreams, when everything had seemed full of possibilities. But now, it felt like a cage.

"We should go straight to the dorm," Jasmine said, breaking the silence. "No one should see us together too much. We don't want to draw attention."

Jiyeon agreed. "Let's go. We need to regroup and figure out our next move."

The trio quickly exited the airport and hailed a cab. The ride to the dorm was short, but the tension in the car was palpable. Jiyeon's mind kept returning to the conversation with the old woman in Catemaco. Magic, black magic. She had a nagging feeling that the solution to their problems lay somewhere in the very thing she had been so skeptical about. But how could she believe in something so unbelievable?

Once they reached the dorm, Jiyeon, Jasmine, and Young-so entered through the back door, avoiding the prying eyes of other trainees. Their footsteps were quiet in the empty hallways as they made their way to Jiyeon's room. She dropped her bag onto the floor with a sigh of relief. It felt strange to be back-like a part of her was still in Mexico, still holding on to the hope that things could change. But now, it was time to face the reality of what they had to do.

"We need to be careful," Jiyeon said, her voice steady but filled with conviction. "The company is watching us. I know we're going to have to be more strategic now."

Jasmine sat down on Jiyeon's bed, crossing her legs. "We can't let anyone know we've figured out what's going on. We can't trust anyone here. Not even the other trainees. The fewer people who know what we're up to, the better."

Young-so nodded, but Jiyeon could see the worry in her eyes. "I don't like it. We're already in deep, and it feels like we're just waiting for the other shoe to drop."

Jiyeon felt that same sense of unease. She knew the company was dangerous, but now, it felt like they were stepping into the lion's den without a clear escape plan. Every step they took could be one closer to uncovering the truth-or one step closer to being silenced.

"We need to start by watching everything and everyone," Jiyeon said. "We need to gather intel, find out who's behind all of this, and how we can stop it. But we can't rush into anything. We have to move carefully."

Jasmine leaned back against the wall. "I still don't get it. If magic is involved-how do we fight it? We're not trained in anything like that. And who can we trust with this kind of information?"

Jiyeon exhaled deeply, her gaze focused on the floor. "I don't know. But I know one thing for sure. We can't back down. We owe it to everyone who's been taken. We can't just let this continue."

There was a long silence as the three of them absorbed the weight of their decision. They had come back to Korea, but the battle wasn't over. It had only just begun.

Later that night, as Jiyeon lay in bed, her mind racing with possibilities, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of comfort knowing she wasn't alone. Jasmine and Young-so were with her, and together, they were going to uncover the truth, no matter how dangerous or terrifying it might be.

Tomorrow would bring new challenges. But for tonight, Jiyeon allowed herself a moment of peace. Tomorrow, they would begin the next phase of their mission. And together, they would face whatever came their way.

They were back in Korea. And they were ready.