**Chapter 7: The Isolation Experiment**

The machinery's cacophony reached a deafening crescendo, and the lights flickered with an otherworldly intensity, as if the very fabric of reality was unraveling around them. Sang-woo's grip on his emotions began to slip, and he felt a creeping sense of dread seeping into his bones. Sae-byeok, however, seemed to be drawing strength from the chaos, her eyes burning with a fierce determination. As suddenly as it had begun, the machinery fell silent, and the lights stabilized, casting an eerie stillness over the room. The abrupt change was disorienting, and Sang-woo stumbled forward, his hand reaching out to steady himself against the cold metal wall. Sae-byeok's gaze never wavered, her eyes fixed on some point beyond him. The silence was oppressive, heavy with anticipation, and Sang-woo felt his heart pounding in his chest like a drum. He turned to Sae-byeok, searching for some clue as to what was happening, but her expression was enigmatic, her eyes veiled. A low, smooth voice cut through the silence, echoing off the metal walls. "Welcome to the isolation experiment. You have been sealed in this room for 48 hours with no external stimuli. Your reactions will be monitored and analyzed." Sang-woo spun around, trying to locate the source of the voice, but there was no one in sight. The words seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Sae-byeok's gaze shifted, her eyes scanning the room with a calculating intensity. "They're watching us," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "We need to be careful." The voice continued, its tone uninflected. "Your basic needs will be provided for. Food, water, and sanitation facilities are available. You will be released when the experiment is complete." As the voice fell silent, Sang-woo felt a growing sense of unease. They were trapped, with no escape, and no way to communicate with the outside world. The thought sent a shiver down his spine, and he turned to Sae-byeok, searching for reassurance. Her eyes met his, and for a moment, they just stared at each other, a silent understanding passing between them. They were in this together, and they would have to rely on each other to survive. The room seemed to shrink, the metal walls closing in on them like a vise. Sang-woo's breath came in short gasps, and he felt his heart racing with fear. But Sae-byeok's steady gaze held him fast, a anchor in the storm. As the minutes ticked by, the silence grew thicker, more oppressive. Sang-woo's mind began to wander, conjuring up dark scenarios and gruesome fates. But Sae-byeok's presence kept him grounded, a reminder that they were still alive, still holding on. And then, without warning, the room's intercom crackled to life, and a new voice spoke, its tone dripping with malice. "Let's begin the game. You have 48 hours to work together, to find a way out. But be warned, the rules will change, and the stakes will rise. Are you ready to play?" The voice fell silent, leaving Sang-woo and Sae-byeok staring at each other, their faces set in determined expressions. They knew that they had to work together, to trust each other if they were going to survive this twisted game. But as they stood there, the darkness closing in around them, Sang-woo couldn't shake the feeling that they were already losing.