**Chapter 6: The Isolation Experiment**

The silence between them was oppressive, punctuated only by the steady hum of the machinery and the soft creaks of the metallic room. Sang-woo's eyes never left Sae-byeok's face, searching for any sign of weakness or resolve. He could sense the tension in her body, the coiled energy waiting to be unleashed, and he wondered what she was thinking. Sae-byeok's gaze slowly shifted, her eyes scanning the room as if searching for an exit or a weakness in the structure. The dim light cast eerie shadows on her face, making her look like a ghost trapped in a metallic tomb. Sang-woo's heart went out to her, and he took another step forward, his voice barely above a whisper. "What do you think they want from us?" he asked, his eyes locked on hers. Sae-byeok's gaze snapped back to his, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Then, in a low, husky voice, she spoke. "I think they want to see how we react to stress, to isolation. They're trying to break us, to see how far we'll go." As she spoke, the hum of the machinery grew louder, and the air seemed to vibrate with an increasing sense of tension. Sang-woo felt his heart racing, and he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. But he couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, that unblinking eyes were trained on them from the shadows. Suddenly, the lights in the room began to flicker, and the hum of the machinery grew even louder. Sang-woo felt a jolt of fear, and he turned to Sae-byeok, his eyes wide with alarm. "What's happening?" he whispered. Sae-byeok's face was set in a grim expression, her eyes fixed on the center of the room. "I think it's starting," she said, her voice low and even. As she spoke, the lights flickered again, and the machinery hummed louder, creating a cacophony of sound that seemed to shake the very foundations of the room. Sang-woo felt his heart racing, and he turned to Sae-byeok, his eyes locked on hers. In that moment, they were united in their fear, their uncertainty. And as the lights continued to flicker, and the machinery hummed louder, Sang-woo knew that they had to rely on each other if they were going to survive this ordeal. The thought sent a surge of adrenaline through his system, and he took another step forward, his eyes locked on Sae-byeok's. "We're in this together," he repeated, his voice firm. This time, Sae-byeok's expression changed, a small smile playing on her lips. It was a fleeting moment, but it gave Sang-woo hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could survive this after all. As the lights flickered on and off, casting eerie shadows on the walls, Sang-woo and Sae-byeok stood frozen, their eyes locked on each other, waiting for whatever came next. The machinery hummed louder, and the air vibrated with tension, but in that moment, they were a team, united against the unknown.