The hallway feels heavy, as if someone is putting pressure on it. Its walls are piled high with the weight of secrets. The air in that hallway seems to echo with a sense of ill omen. Occasional flickers of dim red light add more ominous glows. Yet, they disappeared into the darkness as quickly as they had appeared.

Click-Clack...

Despite the extensive darkness that overshadows every corner of the hallway, it still reveals tangled details of secrets that should have remained hidden. Even though there is no room or door in the passage, the walls seem to give a warning that a single misstep could transport one to an unimaginable place.

Click-Clack…

Despite the labyrinthine passages, a lone figure walked in the hallway. Even with their eyes closed, each step led them in the right direction. It was as if they had wandered these dark halls countless times before, so even a misstep couldn't make them lose their destination.

Click-Clack…

After an eternity of walking in the long hallway, the figure finally came in front of a door. Despite the considerable distance they had walked, not a single drop of sweat could be found on the figure's forehead.

As they raised a hand to touch the door, a chorus of voices echoed through the hallway.

WAIL…

The figure's hand halted mid-air. Those wails were filled with hostility. The figure opened their eyes, and a faint smile was visible at the corners of their lips. It seems they are unfazed by the hostile cries.

"You know I cannot get out of here now," the figure said.

WAIL…

The wails grow in intensity. Yet, the figure's smile also widens a little as they say, "But it won't be long before this door will open."

SWOOSH

Shadows converged from all sides when the figure spoke the last word. Those shadows created thousands of black whips and launched an attack on the figure as if they knew what this figure was trying to do and wanted to stop it.

Yet the figure remained in the same spot, without moving an inch, because each whip disappeared when it came closer to the figure, along with those shadows.

The figure didn't get irritated. Their eyes sparkled with pure joy as they fixed their gaze on the door. Yet, their smile stretched wider to the point that it could be called vicious.

Finally, the figure turned around and looked at a particular shadow—the shadow that was connected to the figure. Yet, this shadow wasn't reflected on any wall or the floor; it was standing right in front of the figure. The figure's expression turned sour as they came closer to the shadow. Irritatedly, they said,

“Tsk, I still feel pissed off whenever I see this bastard… But I'm happy today. You are leading the way I wanted you to.”

The figure turned towards the hallway wall, and once again, a smile came to their lips.

"Soon, the time will come soon.” After saying that, the figure started walking towards the dark hallway and vanished without a trace.

******

When I opened my eyes, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling. Calmly, I looked around my surroundings. It wasn't my bedroom or the infirmary. Instead of being in a familiar place, I was in a hospital room. I looked at the ceiling once again in confusion, and felt dumbfounded.

I attempted to sit up, but unfortunately, I couldn't move at all. When I looked at my body, I noticed the IV needle attached to my hand. I became more confused because nothing made sense.

I know I had a fever, but I don't think it was serious enough for me to be hospitalized. And there is no one with me to answer my questions. I tried to remember what happened and how I ended up in the hospital.

“I was talking with Mom? No, I was getting on the bus. No, not that. The last thing... The last thing that happened is…."

I furrowed my brow when I tried to collect the missing pieces of my memories. But my eyes widened at the same time when I remembered,

"Yes, Paxon… Paxon was looking at me and said… Urgh," I mumbled. However, all of a sudden, my head started to hurt, causing me to wince.

As the pain dulled a little, I realized I couldn't recall anything beyond that. Nothing at all. Not even any of the nightmares or that darkness I had seen in my dreams.

What's happening? There is no way I didn't go into those dreams. That's not possible.

My emotions turned into chaos as I thought about this. I'm trying to remember what happened after that, but nothing is coming to mind. Not knowing anything makes me feel lost, just like in those dreams.

All of a sudden, my vision became blurred, and the strength in my body slowly faded away, as if it were time for me to sleep.

Maybe if I fall asleep, I might find those answers in my dream.

But will I really learn anything?

My dreams or darkness never answered me.

Because of this, my uneasiness increased.

The door opened right before I lost consciousness. With that, all of that uncertainty vanished as if I had never felt it. I didn't need to look around because the door was right in front of me…

…..Jia came in. Strangely, the air in the room shifted as Jia stepped inside, and I felt a sense of relief. But it seemed Jia wasn't alone. She was talking with someone so softly that she didn't even realize I was awake.

I slightly tilted my head to see who came with her. However, my eyes turned towards Jia once again because she said my name.

“Bian!!!” She had a look of shock and disbelief as if she had seen a ghost.

……Okay, now I'm offended. Do I look like a ghost to her right now?

That's what I tried to say, but Jia ran toward me. The problem was her unbalanced speed, and I could tell she was going to fall on me.

“W…wait…Cough…” I was unable to say anything clearly and began coughing when I tried to speak quickly.

However, all of a sudden, Jia was lifted and set aside as if she were nothing more than a sack of rice bags. Both of us were stunned by the unexpected turn of events.

I looked at the rescuer with full gratitude. That person looked at me with a warm smile. “Good morning, princess,” they said.

However, all of the gratitude vanished when they opened their mouths to speak. Now both Jia and I looked at the person with disgust.

“Ewww, that's so cringe, Ethan,” Jia said.

“At least I'm better than you. Who almost falls on a patient?” Ethan's reply was laced with a hint of mockery.

Jia's face turned red with embarrassment when Ethan said those words. She also knew it could be bad for me if that happened.

“Th…th…that was a mistake. I didn't mean to do it,” Jia's words wavered as she looked at Ethan with watery eyes. “But you just said something cringe to a patient who might have just woken up.” Jia didn't back down and countered.

One time, I shifted my gaze to Jia and another time to Ethan. At this point, their little argument resembled two puppies… no, two cats hissing at each other. Now they just need to start fighting with their claws.

Hah… They completely forgot about my existence.

They have always been like this. Jia told me their relationship wasn't that good.

If it isn't good, then what is it?

Though I couldn't see Ethan's face, I could tell his ears had turned red. Jia's face turned redder than before. If it continued, her face might explode any second.

GIGGLE…

A smile came to my lips just from seeing them. Just a moment ago, my thoughts were scattered everywhere. I even gradually lost hope of collecting them.

My emotions weren't in my control either. But now, a lightness filled me as I watched them; it made me realize I wasn't lost. I could collect them in time.

Ha. Ha. Ha.

Unknown to me, I didn't even realize when my little smile became laughter. There is nothing negative in my mind, and it's been so long since I laughed like this.

My eyes became blurry because of tears; that's why I couldn't see their faces. But I could tell they had stopped their argument.

When Bian was laughing so hard, both siblings fell silent. The playful demeanor they had just a moment ago vanished instantly, and a serious expression took over as they looked at Bian.

"Thanks," Jia spoke as quietly as possible after some time. However, Ethan looked in another direction.