THEY took their steps inside the fancy, gigantic mansion and were greeted by silence. Knowing that everyone is still asleep, because it was around two o'clock in the morning, they headed towards the second floor as quietly as possible, still holding each other's hands. The dog, Kkami, followed them with its tiny feet, and Mal made sure to whisper a word of reassurance so he didn't wake the entire house with his barking voice.

They entered a big, luxurious bedroom, colored in black and white, with all type of furniture placed neatly in place.

"Noona, can I sleep beside you tonight? I... It's going to take me a while to get used to the place..." he questioned shyly, avoiding her gaze. She squeezed his hand tighter, then nodded.

"Of course, Innie, take your time. You can sleep beside me whenever you want, and I want you to make yourself at home. Because you are at home, okay?"

He shook his head with a weak smile, then muttered a reply of agreement.

"Thank you,"

"Come in, Kkami,"

As soon as he changed into his pajamas, he sat down on the bed and waited for the older girl to change her clothes, and to settle their briefcases in the room. She sent him a smile as she sat down next to him, sighing while she realized that they could finally relax now.

Her muscles relaxed as she lied down on one side of the bed. She glanced at the boy and smiled, then stretched her arm out, inviting him over.

"Would you like a hug?"

He nodded swiftly and hurried towards her, hugging her waist close in the process. He nuzzled his face into her neck, then closed his eyes and tried to relax.

"I love you, noona," he whispered, sighing heavily, as if some invisible weight has been lifted over his shoulder.

"I love you too, Innie. Sleep tight."

He muttered a small reply, then allowed himself to be swallowed by the darkness, finally falling into a deep, peaceful slumber.

☂︎

The monitor gave loud, steady beats, declaring the wellbeing of the patients attached to it.

The doctors watched the seven patients in silence while waiting for the medicine to kick in after a few moments.

Any second now.

Any second now would be a perfect timing for one of their awakening.

Would the medicine work?

Or would they have to declare their failure to the families and apologize for the withholding of the corpses, then endure the responsibilities and the consequences that followed?

Would they have to-

Their train of thoughts were interrupted by two, new voices, followed by loud gasps of pain and shock.

The nurses rushed to the two beds and immediately got to work, changing the IVs and pressing on a few buttons.

Felix let out continuous, shaky gasps of shock and pain, sharp, unbearable pain radiating through his back.

"O-Oh, my God!" he began through his tears, trying to reach out to grab the small of his back but failing, "M-My back hurts! It hurts a lot!"

The nurse stared at him in a neutral, monotone expression.

"He says his back hurts. We need to run some tests."

Nurses rushed to his side and helped him lie down despite his shaky sobs, bringing in a new machine to the room.

"Put him back to sleep until we find what the problem is." The doctor ordered while flicking a long, sharp syringe between his fingers.

Felix let out a small, tearful groan as he felt the pain radiating through his back. The doctor hurried towards him and ordered the nurses to hold his arm down. Letting the syringe close to the soft skin, he stabbed it causing more sharp pain through the patient's body.

The 18-year-old let out another, deep groan as his breath hitched, the room spinning before his eyes.

"I-I want to see my family. My girlfriend-" he muttered in a weak, broken tone, "I want to see my girlfriend. Please,"

The nurses stared at him sympathetically before they rushed to the other bed not too far away from him.

Felix glanced at the bed, only to see the familiar sight of his friend Chan, groaning weakly in pain.

Tears filled his eyes as his vision blurred, then realized that the drug was finally kicking in. His head spun and ached, his eyes felt heavy, his muscles uncontrollably relaxed.

And before he knew it, he was falling into the darkness, with little he could do about it.

All he could focus on was his desire to meet his lover, his friends, his family members once again, to ease the pain of what had happened only a few days earlier.

How come none of them were there for him at the hospital at that moment?

Where were his parents?

Where was his beloved girlfriend?

Where was Jeongin?

All he wanted a certain physical touch that he desired so much. And for all he knew, he wanted his girlfriend beside him.

His heart ached as his train of thoughts fell into the darkness before his eyes.

Where on earth was everybody?

Were the seven of them now forgotten?

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