Chapter 11
The sequence of luring the monster to the dispatch room is not easy. My body is aching for an unknown reason and my knees are already bleeding from how many times I strip on the floor. The dispatch room is very far away from here. We've been running in hours and sometimes we're looping around. But we trust Junghwan. We finally arrive in another hallway with huge windows not far away from us. From here, I can see the outside. It's already night? How fast the time went by here?
We reached the bridge- it looks like a bridge and cells underneath. It's dark in here and the only source of the light guiding us from the darkness are the small lights that stick on the walls of each cell down there.
I gasp when I feel Homin's hand slip into my hold. I quickly turned around and see him stumble on the way. I run back to him but something pulled him away. "Homin!" I screamed his name.
I run after them, ignoring Junghwan's call but I can hear him following us.
However pulling Homin, it's fast. I can't match its speed. I run and run before jumping and grabbing Homin's hands. He's crying while screaming for help. I tried to stand on my feet but even me is dragging along with him.
"Don't let go alright?!" I hissed, pain shooting my body.
"I'm scared to death!" He cried, holding my hands tight.
I transform my feet into something like the legs of an owl. I curled myself while holding him and when I spotted an open room, I quickly clawed my feet on the doorway- tagging my feet onto it.
I heard the monster roar and the wall I'm stepping is cracking until it breaks. Homin and I scream as we are dragged fast by the monster.
He pulled us and I found myself flying to the monster, and now- it's holding my neck and Homin too.
I can't see it, it's too dark here. I touched its skin and confirm it, it's also a claw. This person might be one of area 1?
When the lights turned on, I saw Hyunsung. It's Hyunsung?! Is that why the monster is too strong because it's Hyunsung?! What is he doing here?!
He threw Homin on the floor before me. We both groan in pain. Homin.
"Sunie!" My heart skip a beat when I heard Junghwan's voice. I move my head to look at him but Jihae suddenly appeared in front of my eyes with his hawk wings spread.
He grab my nape and dragged me to the stairs. I winced when his claw dug into my flesh. I tried to look at Homin and saw him with Junghwan already while glaring at Hyunsung. I saw the white wings of a bat behind his back. Hyunsung has wings too?!
Jihae throw me down on the stairs. I feel rolled down on the stairs and my head hit hard on the edge of the stairs.
My vision is already blinking in red. I tried to move but everything is spinning. I can't get up. I feel the blood flowing down my face.
I get up shaking and look up at Jihae who is now stepping down on the stairs. He suddenly flew fast that my eyes didn't even catch him- already in front of me and holding my neck. His eyes were all black and he looks like a raven, a demon with horns on his head.
"I don't really like you with someone. Hyunsung sure feels the same way as I do." He said with his sinister voice.
"What do...you want?!" I tried to speak.
"Show me your horns." His command and my horns showed on their own even I didn't want to show it to him. I whimpered when I feel him touch my horns. "You can't control your wings yet." He whispered.
If Hyunsung has wings, of course, I am too but I don't know how to bring it out. I stared at Jihae. When I first meet him, he seems friendly but why he's acting like this?
Where's Fin? He is the dove and the total alternative of Jihae.
Jihae moves his hand to my face. His claw cut my skin. I closed my eyes in fear. Jihae has the ability of incredible speed and it's useless to fight him, especially he has wings.
"I like you," He whispered out of nowhere and before I could even react I feel his lips pressed hard against mine.
I'm stunned for a while before I realized that I need to move. I struggled away, pushing him away but he hold my head hard that it almost broke my skull as his wings wrapped around me.
I don't know what is happening, why Jihae suddenly acted like this. Did he like me all along? I hissed between the kiss when I feel his fangs biting my lips as he slide his tongue inside my mouth.
"What a wonderful sight!"
My heart pound faster inside my chest when I heard grandfather's voice. Jihae pulled away and look at grandfather. He pulled me close to his body and hug me causing me hard to breathe. I looked up at Hyunsung and see him looking down at me.
Where's Junghwan and Homin?!
"Shh...relax..." Jihae whispered. Can he feel my heartbeat?
"You're trespassing hawk and dragon but I'm quite happy to see you kissing the deer. Do you want to be mated?" He chuckled. "But of course, that dragon up there doesn't one too."
"Every word has a different meaning in this place," Jihae said. "Mating is like making your life connecting to the person you like the most."
The grandfather chuckled. "Indeed." Just then, we were shocked when Hyunsung suddenly flew down from the stairs but he didn't hit the floor. He regained his balance and didn't fall on the ground.
I snap out from my shock and immediately, swung my horns and hit Jihae on his horns too. He groans from the pain and lets me go. I trash away before kicking him. I hurry up to get back on my feet and run-up to the stairs. Junghwan and Homin hurriedly help me up.
"What a shame useless teens!" I heard the grandfather shout along with Jihae's angry scream.
I looked back at Hyunsung and caught him being hit by Jihae's wings, commanding him to get me immediately. Hyunsung whimpered but quickly follow Jihae. The grandfather didn't run after us.
I don't know what is happening but I feel like Jihae become another person and Hyunsung seems like he was forced to hunt me. Both of them are stronger, I know that and there's no way for us to fight them back aside that we can change into something inhumane.
Junghwan suddenly stops causing us to stop too. From in front of us, there's Fin, standing before us. His face is all gloomy and sullen. His hair is now blonde and he's covered in blood. His dove wings have the stain of blood and his aura is kind of bad. Fin looks like he also leaked in blood just like what happened to me. But damn, he looks like a ghost.
He slowly turned his head up. His eyes aren't blue now but white. It suddenly glows for a split of seconds but enough to blind us from the brightness.
I don't know what happened next but I can't hear anything aside from the ear-piercing beeping sound. I opened my eyes and my vision is already all red with static? I don't know but my vision is red and static. I can hear my heartbeat loud and clear in my ears. My breathing is heavy. I can't breathe properly, everything is so heavy. I can't move my body either. Did Fin... stun us?
Everything is blurry and I can't hear anything but I can hear muffled voices. I feel myself being lifted when I looked up. I see nothing but blurry.
I tried to blink my eyes, fixing my vision. I tried my best to move again. I tried but...I can't...
When I woke up, I found myself inside an unfamiliar room. I looked around and found Junghwan's brother beside me with Junghwan and Homin. The candle is the only light that guides us from the darkness. I groan and they look at me. His brother quickly touched my face.
"He's burning," He said as he wipe the sweat on my forehead and the blood. "His wounds is been infected by Fin's flash." He mumbled.
"I thought he stunned us?" Homin asked.
"A dove can stun you, blind you, and make your wound worsen. Dove is the opposite of a lizard. Since Sunie is a lizard, he can be damaged."
"Wait, I thought he's a deer? And that sick bastard said that he can't control his wings!" Junghwan almost yelled out. "I don't know anymore and I thought I am the lizard."
"Sunie is a rare species. Think about what is a rare species?" Homin inserted.
"A dragon? Because his claw looks like that." Junghwan confusedly answered.
"No. He's an owl." Homin whispered. "And I think it's the first time that doctor created an owl. The ability of an owl is healing, regenerating and he can sense if something weird going on."
"We are human that is!" I immediately intervened between my whimpers.
"His fever is too high. We need to get him treated immediately." Junghwan's brother said.
Both brothers helped me up while Homin is the one who guide us to the infirmary. I figured out that we were hiding inside a cube storage room. Homin is holding the candle while protecting it from the wind as we run.
"Why are they here?! I thought this the grandfather's dinner time!" His brother asked while we still running.
"I don't know either! But one thing I know!" Junghwan huffed an air, holding my waist tightly. "They come here for Sunie! Those sick bastards! I think they obsess already!"
"I just remember one thing! There's a file about their mental-"
Homin didn't finish his words as the loud explosion was heard in the entire ward. The ground shook and everything seems to crash around us. I gasp when the ground we were stepping on cracked and the next thing I knew- everything went dark.
-
I heard something like a flickering bulb above me maybe. I slowly opened my eyes and to my horror, I was surrounded by rocks- no, a brick. I can't see any exit and the only light that gives me in this tiny hole. That light is nearly to give in. I tried to crawl and push the bricks but my hands can't move them. My hands suddenly slip to the bricks down the sharp object. I whimpered in pain as my palm cut by it.
I look at my palm that has a long cut. I forced it to be healed but for some reason, it didn't heal. All my wounds didn't heal but it is only gotten worse.
I moved backward using my elbows to steady myself and kicked the other bricks. I kicked it and kicked it until my barefoot hurt as the shards stuck on my skin. My body is aching and I don't think I have enough energy to get out of here. I fall to the ground, enduring the pain in my entire body. The bulb above me flicked shut. It's pitch black. I can't see anything. My heart pounding hard inside my chest and my skin turns cold for an unknown reason. My vision is blinking red and the wound on my head is stinging.
I don't know what happened back then but all I could remember was that there was a loud explosion and everything break down. Is someone planting a bomb in the ward?
Is it finally over? Of course not. But my life is ending here. I took a deep sigh and just in time when the bricks above me is been pulled away. My eyes hurt when the lights hit my eyes. I closed my eyes and turned to the side. I curled into a ball and covered my head.
"Sunie are you alright?!"
I immediately open my eyes as soon I heard Junghwan's voice. I looked up and see him. I can't stop my tears flooding out in my eyes once I saw his face again. He held out his hand and grab my arm. He pulled me out of that cube look like a room with ruins surrounding me.
I looked around and see emergency lights in the whole area.
"What happened here?!" I asked and looked around. When I looked where I was before, the ruins are already gone- instead, it's a room? What? Did I hallucinate?
Junghwan is just staring at me weirdly. He touched my forehead. "You still burning." He said with his brows are furrowed.
"I know...something happens here! Where's Homin and your brother?!"
But Junghwan didn't speak at all, instead, he told me to follow him. I watched him in confusion. I senses something was not right. The way Junghwan is acting weird gives me an uneasy feeling. He stop when he noticed that I'm still standing on my ground.
"Why are you still standing there? Do you want to know where they are?" He asked but he didn't even turn around to look at me and his voice is kinda weird?
I'm hesitant for a while before deciding to follow him. He continue walking as I walked too behind him. When we pass the windows I saw nothing from outside but pitch black. Where am I?
Why I can't see the outside?
"Uhm...Junghwan?" I called but he didn't respond. "Do you think...something is odd going on here?" But he didn't respond.
I looked down at my feet and I realized something. Why I can walk properly without flinching in pain? All I know, I'm badly hurt.
I jump in surprise when something hit the window beside me. I looked at the window and see the smudge fingerprints? Wait, what is that I'm seeing? I can see something outside from the window.
I walked closer to the window and looked closer to it. My eyes widen when I saw my body behind Junghwan's brother and them- running away from...the twins?
Wait...do I...
I feel my body begin shivering in horror as my heart pounds dangerously inside my chest. I slowly looked at Junghwan with fear. I gasp as soon I saw Fin already standing where Junghwan was. His both eyes are glowing but I can see the two black dots on his eyes. He's covered in blood and screams horror.
"You're...my...life..." His voice wasn't his voice but sounds like a robot with mixed voices of his, Jihae and Hyunsung.
"What are you saying?! I don't get you!" I shouted.
He tilted his head and slowly form a wide smile with not-so-normal size as his eyes turned red. "Reunited...one...let's...as..." He said with his horror voice. He steps closer to me. I noticed the knife he was holding. He lifted his other hand, allowing the dim lighting to glint off of the smooth surface of his blade as if frightened me. "Shall we begin?"
Fin suddenly run to me and strike his knife on my shoulder but I quickly blocked it by covering my arms. I winced when the sharp part of the knife cut my arm. I kicked him on the stomach, sending him to the ground. I took that as my chance and immediately run fast as possible. I didn't stop until I feel safe. I can hear Fin's footsteps behind me and his fast ragged breathing. I don't know what is happening but I'm scared. Fin isn't Fin anymore. The Fin in this world is a monster. He only wants to do is to kill me!
I climbed up the stairs and opened the door I see. It leads me to another hallway. I didn't stop running until I reached another door again. Another long hallway spread before me. I rushed to another door and opened it. It was dark in here but I can barely see.
I see something on the table. I get it and found UV light. I switch it on. Its color was red. What? Now, this world gives me a creepy light?
I scanned the table again and found a mirror with a note that stick on it. I read the letter.
'Am I pretty?'
Huh? Oh, now it's about the slit woman I think?
I looked at the mirror and to my surprise, I can see the reality through the mirror. I can use this to get back to reality. I move it around; looking around and this room looks cleaner than this world. I can also use this UV light and this mirror to solve something.
I run out of the room. I watched my surrounding, just making sure that Fin didn't follow me here. I used the mirror and see the polished hallway.
Right, where I'm supposed to go?
With the help of UV light, I can see the letters written on the wall by blood. It says, 'Life can be connected to the other one.' 'Not two but more.'
"Don't let him get you..."
I gaps and turned around. I shone the red light to where that voice could be. Did he tell me not to be captured by Fin? Of course, I won't. I'm not stupid.
When I looked back ahead to the hallway- I saw the girl running back to where I had just gone. She wasn't wearing anything and there was even a tube that struck on her uterus and abdomen. What the heck is that?
Something in my head was telling me to follow her. Despite my fear, I gather all of my sanity and walked to where she go. I don't know why my mind telling me to go where she is. Is there something important that she wanted to show me?
I turned off the UV light and explore the hallway. I wonder where she goes?
"Right...down..." That whisper again.
I run and walked to the hallway but I stop as soon I heard Fin's ragged breathing. I checked the right side hallway beside me and I saw him walking with his head low. I wonder who is this chasing me? I move the mirror on him.
I see the real Fin walking so slowly with blood all over him. He's looking down too.
Wait a minute. So that Fin is Fin? And since I'm in the afterlife- underworld maybe? He can sense my presence or most like, my spirit so that is why he is chasing me?!
But why kill me? Why does he want to kill me in this world? I froze when he looked up and saw me. I quickly run away. I heard him scream wait but in this world, it's muffled and scary. An inhumane voice that pierced my ears.
I head to the stairs and run down. The voice said...right. I turned to the right corner and run. Just the exact time when I saw that girl again running to the left corner. I run to where she run and confirm that she went inside the delivery room?
Why did she go here?