SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: You are reading [Threshold Walker: The Silver Circuit]
Jin woke to the steady beep of medical monitors.
His eyelids felt weighted with lead as he forced them open. The room came into blurry focus—sterile white walls, advanced medical equipment, and a reinforced observation window instead of a door.
This was definitely not a normal hospital room.
'Where am I?'
He tried to sit up, only to discover restraints around his wrists and ankles. An IV drip fed clear fluid into his arm, and electrodes were attached to his temples and chest.
The silver lines were everywhere now, faint but persistent—tracing the edges of the room, the equipment, even his own body. When he looked down, he could see them following the veins in his arms, pulsing gently with his heartbeat.
"Subject is awake," announced a clinical female voice over an intercom. "Notifying Agent Song."
Jin turned his head toward the observation window. A technician in a white lab coat watched him from behind a monitoring station. Beyond her, he glimpsed a larger facility—other rooms similar to his, staff in both medical and tactical gear moving purposefully.
"Hey!" Jin called out, his voice raspy. "Where am I? What is this place?"
The technician didn't respond, focused on her monitors instead.
Jin pulled against the restraints, panic rising. His head throbbed painfully, and when he tried to focus on the silver lines, the pain intensified to a splitting headache.
The door to the observation area opened, and Agent Song Hye-Rin entered, followed by a medical officer in a Division uniform. They spoke briefly with the technician, who gestured toward the monitors.
Agent Song nodded and approached the intercom.
"Mr. Jin," she said, her voice cool and professional. "I'm Agent Song Hye-Rin from the Threshold Containment Division. You're in a secure medical facility following a Class 3 Threshold event at Seoul National University Hospital."
"Why am I restrained?" Jin demanded.
"Standard protocol for individuals exhibiting E-Tier or higher Threshold sensitivity," she replied without hesitation. "Particularly those who displayed... unusual abilities during a breach event."
Jin's blood ran cold. They had seen what he did with the silver lines.
"Where's Dr. Ha?"
"Dr. Ha Ji-Ah is being debriefed in another section of the facility," Agent Song said. "Her unsanctioned research into Threshold phenomena is under review."
The medical officer whispered something to Agent Song, who nodded. She pressed the intercom again.
"I'm going to ask you some questions, Mr. Jin. Your cooperation will determine how comfortable your stay with us will be."
Jin said nothing, but his eyes narrowed.
"How long have you been experiencing Threshold perception?"
"I don't know what that means."
Agent Song's expression didn't change. "The silver lines, Mr. Jin. How long have you been seeing them?"
Jin hesitated. "About a month. They started in dreams, then... I began seeing them while awake."
She nodded as if this confirmed something. "And your father is Dr. Seo Jin-Woo, correct? The researcher who disappeared during the First Breach five years ago?"
Jin stiffened. "How do you know about my father?"
"We know a great deal about your father's work," Agent Song replied. "Including his research on the convergence circuit. The same circuit you're now connected to."
The monitors began beeping faster as Jin's heart rate increased. The silver lines around him pulsed in response.
Agent Song noted this with interest. "Your Threshold signature is remarkably similar to your father's. The genetic factor in sensitivity is still being researched, but your case provides compelling evidence."
"My father didn't just disappear, did he?" Jin's voice was tight with emotion. "What happened to him? What did you people do?"
"We didn't do anything to your father," Agent Song said, showing the first hint of emotion—irritation. "His own research led to the First Breach. He chose to enter the Threshold."
"Liar!" Jin shouted, straining against his restraints.
The silver lines flared brilliantly, and several monitors sparked and failed. The technician jumped back from her station as it shorted out.
Agent Song remained calm, though her hand moved to the weapon at her hip. "Control yourself, Mr. Jin. Emotional outbursts trigger Threshold resonance in E-Tier sensitives."
Jin fell back against the bed, suddenly exhausted. His nose began bleeding, warm droplets trickling down his face.
The medical officer rushed into the room, quickly checking Jin's vitals and wiping away the blood.
"Classic symptoms of Threshold Sickness," the doctor said clinically. "Epistaxis, fatigue, increased neural activity in the limbic system."
"I'm not sick," Jin protested weakly.
"On the contrary," the doctor replied, shining a penlight into Jin's eyes. "Threshold Sickness affects approximately 68% of individuals with sensitivity above F-Tier. Your case is progressing rapidly."
Jin noticed the doctor wore thick gloves when touching him, as if he were contagious.
"The human brain and nervous system weren't designed to perceive or channel Threshold energy," Agent Song explained from the doorway. "Extended exposure causes progressive symptoms. First minor—headaches, nosebleeds, insomnia. Later more severe—neural degradation, cognitive fracturing, eventually coma."
Jin thought of his mother, bedridden and fading. "That's what my mother has, isn't it? She was exposed during the First Breach."
A flicker of something—perhaps sympathy—crossed Agent Song's face. "Yes. Min-Seo was present when your father activated the first convergence point. Her exposure was brief but significant."
"There's a cure," Jin said desperately. "There has to be."
The doctor and Agent Song exchanged glances.
"The Division has developed treatments that can slow progression," Agent Song said carefully. "But no permanent cure has been discovered."
"Dr. Ha—" Jin began.
"Dr. Ha's unorthodox methods have produced interesting results," Agent Song interrupted, "but nothing conclusive. Her work lacks proper protocols and safeguards."
The doctor finished checking Jin's vitals and stepped back. "He's stable for now, but his neural patterns show increasing Threshold integration. I recommend beginning the stabilization protocol immediately."
Agent Song nodded. "Proceed. I'll inform Director Choi of his condition."
As the doctor prepared a syringe with pale blue liquid, Jin felt a chill. "What is that?"
"A compound that temporarily reduces Threshold sensitivity," the doctor explained. "It will help manage your symptoms and slow progression."
"I don't want it," Jin said, pulling away as much as the restraints allowed.
"It's not optional," Agent Song stated. "Unless you prefer accelerated neural degradation."
Before Jin could protest further, the doctor injected the substance into his IV line. Almost immediately, Jin felt a cool sensation spreading through his veins. The silver lines dimmed, becoming fainter but not disappearing entirely.
"We'll be transferring you to our primary research facility tomorrow," Agent Song informed him. "Director Choi is very interested in your case."
"I'm not going anywhere," Jin said, though his voice sounded distant even to himself. Whatever they'd given him was powerful.
Agent Song's expression remained impassive. "Rest, Mr. Jin. We'll continue our discussion once the medication has stabilized your condition."
She turned to leave, but Jin called after her: "Why don't you have them?"
She paused. "Have what?"
"Silver lines," Jin mumbled, fighting against the encroaching drowsiness. "Everyone has them... everywhere... but not you. You're... empty."
Something flickered across Agent Song's face—surprise, followed by something harder to read.
"Interesting observation," she said, then left without another word.
As the medication pulled him toward unconsciousness, Jin heard the doctor speaking to someone else who had entered.
"Threshold integration progressing faster than predicted... genetic markers consistent with S-Tier potential... worth noting his observation about Agent Song's null field..."
The voices faded as darkness claimed him again.
Jin didn't know how much time had passed when he next awoke. The room was dimmer, running on night-cycle lighting. His mind felt foggy, but the silver lines had returned to their previous intensity.
A soft tapping sound drew his attention to the observation window.
Dr. Ha stood there, wearing a Division visitor badge. She held up a small digital tablet with text displayed:
Don't speak. They're listening.
Jin gave a slight nod to show he understood.
She typed quickly, then showed the screen again:
Threshold Walking ability confirmed. They're transferring you to Facility 17 tomorrow. No one leaves there.
Jin's eyes widened. He mouthed: "Help me."
Dr. Ha nodded and typed:
Security changing at 2 AM. Be ready. Your ability is the key.
She quickly deleted the message as a security guard approached. Dr. Ha smiled pleasantly and showed the guard her badge. After a brief exchange, she gave Jin one last meaningful look before leaving.
Jin closed his eyes, feigning sleep until the guard moved on. When he opened them again, he concentrated on the silver lines around his restraints.
'If my ability is the key...'
He focused on the brightest silver line crossing over his right wrist restraint. Remembering how he'd pushed back the entity in the laboratory, Jin tried to channel that same feeling—not pushing away, but pulling the silver energy toward himself.
Pain blossomed behind his eyes, but the silver line brightened. Where it crossed the restraint, the material seemed to become subtly transparent, as if losing substance.
Jin pushed harder, blood trickling from his nose as the restraint became more transparent. With a final surge of effort, he pulled his wrist upward—and it passed partially through the restraint, as if the material had become semi-solid.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Ability [Partial Phasing] has awakened!
Jin froze, staring at his freed hand in shock. He quickly wiped the blood from his nose and looked around to ensure no one had seen. The observation room appeared empty for the moment.
One limb at a time, Jin repeated the process, each attempt coming easier than the last. Within minutes, he had freed himself from all restraints, though the effort left him dizzy and weak.
Carefully removing the monitoring equipment, Jin slid off the bed. His legs nearly buckled beneath him, but he steadied himself against the wall. The hospital gown they'd put him in offered little protection or dignity, but that was the least of his concerns.
He approached the door and examined its electronic lock. Silver lines ran through the mechanism, pulsing with energy. Jin placed his hand over the lock and concentrated.
'Not just passing through... disrupting the system...'
The lock sparked, and the door slid open with a soft hiss.
Jin peered into the corridor. It was empty, but he could hear voices from a nearby security station. A clock on the wall read 1:47 AM.
Fifteen minutes until the security change Dr. Ha had mentioned.
Steeling himself, Jin slipped into the corridor and began making his way toward what he hoped was an exit. The silver lines were his guide now, showing him paths that seemed to fluctuate between realities.
As he moved, Jin noticed something strange—some of the silver lines were converging toward a specific direction, like a current in a river. Following this flow, he navigated through the facility, narrowly avoiding security patrols twice by ducking into empty rooms.
At 1:58 AM, Jin reached a service corridor that led to a loading dock. Two guards stood by the exit, checking their watches and talking about the upcoming shift change.
Jin pressed himself against the wall, heart pounding. He had no way past them without being seen.
Suddenly, the lights throughout the facility flickered and died. Emergency lighting kicked in seconds later, casting everything in a red glow reminiscent of the hospital during the breach.
Alarms began blaring, and a computerized voice announced: "Security systems compromised. Initiating containment protocol."
The guards by the exit immediately raised their weapons, looking around nervously.
"Control, this is Loading Dock 2. What's the situation?" one of them spoke into his radio.
Static was the only response.
Jin watched as the silver lines throughout the facility pulsed erratically, like they had during the entity breach. But this felt different—more controlled, deliberate.
'Dr. Ha,' he realized. She was creating a diversion.
As the guards moved to secure the inner door, Jin saw his chance. He darted forward, staying low and using the shadows created by the emergency lighting.
Just as he was about to reach the exterior door, one of the guards turned.
"Hey! Stop right there!"
Jin didn't hesitate. He focused on the silver lines and pushed—not at the guard, but at himself. For a brief, disorienting moment, Jin felt like he was everywhere and nowhere at once. Then he was past the guards, through the door, and outside in the cool night air.
Behind him, the guards shouted in confusion, unable to comprehend how he'd moved past them so quickly.
Jin didn't wait to see if they figured it out. He ran, following the strongest current of silver lines leading away from the facility.
After several blocks, he spotted a familiar figure waiting in the shadows of an alley—Dr. Ha, with a backpack and what looked like actual clothes.
"Impressive," she said as he approached. "You're adapting to your abilities faster than I anticipated."
"What did you do back there?" Jin asked, gratefully accepting the backpack.
"Created a controlled electromagnetic pulse that resembled a threshold fluctuation," she said with a small smile. "The Division is remarkably predictable in their response protocols."
Jin ducked behind a dumpster to change into the provided clothes—jeans, t-shirt, hoodie, and sneakers.
"Where are we going?" he asked as he emerged.
"Somewhere safe," Dr. Ha replied, already walking. "But first, we need to meet someone who can help us stay off the Division's radar."
"Who?"
Dr. Ha's expression turned grim. "Someone who knows more about the circuit than anyone alive. Someone who knew your father well."
"Who?" Jin repeated, falling into step beside her.
Dr. Ha glanced at him, her eyes reflecting the silver lines only they could see.
"The Collector."
Author's Note: Jin's powers are developing quickly! What do you think the Division really wants with him? And who is this mysterious Collector? Share your theories in the comments!
Coming Next: Chapter 4: The Escape - Jin and Dr. Ha race through Seoul as Division agents close in, and a new ally with unusual abilities comes to their aid!