Dream Is A Killer

Chapter Three

An empty distance between Venus and Mars is all there is right now. It's hard to tell that a planet ever existed between the other two. It's a terrifying scene up close. But what's even more terrifying is the possibility of this happening again.

"Your report, general." Minho's voice brings him back to the present, and he rubs at his temples.

"You should see this," he clicks a button to share a video. "This was taken by our station orbiting Mars, and accordingly, every other station present at the time surely has a copy as well." He looks up at the video again, sees how Minho's eyes widen as Earth turns to a burning star before totally exploding. The remains could hardly form floating rocks, and Kibum can clearly see the point where it almost turned into a black hole instead.

"This is disastrous."

"I can think of one culprit." Minho sighs and leans back in his chair. "The council will get a word of this soon."

"I know. You don't have to remind me."

"Five princesses have disappeared with no proof of murder. That means four other planets aside from Earth faced the same fatal fate."

"If she's capable of destroying planets all the way from Ester, then everyone's doomed, but," he raises a finger. "She can only do so with fifteen other planets."

"We don't know that for sure." Minho looks at him through the screen. "If you don't want to convince yourself with it, then I'll have to say it to your face again. We're not certain that she's incapable of rebirthing other princesses, or if there are already others that we do not know about," he pauses. "Besides, who would want to risk it?"

"I cannot go with full force to Ester, Kibum. She could threaten Choi."

"I know." Minho squints his eyes at him. "This is why you should know one more thing." He taps to close the video screen. "After Earth's destruction, we found someone floating in space."

"You found someone floating in space?" Minho raises his brows.

"Perfectly healthy and unharmed with all vitals working properly," he smiles. "Say hello again to your white-haired friend."

🪐

There's ringing in his ears, and he can't remember when he fell asleep. There's a soft mattress beneath his body that makes him frown and open his eyes. Wasn't he thrown in a cell with that psychopath? The sight greeting him makes him open his eyes wider, because apparently, he is moved to a palace instead. Oh, no, no. That means it happened again. He lost his memories again. He blinks and takes a deep breath before sitting up on the bed, and he's glad that he's not naked this time. There's a silky material that he knows it's not Earth's that his outfit is made of, and a duvet covering the rest of his body. Did someone mistake him for someone else? But that's not what stops his breathing. Next to him on the bed is extremely long white hair that he realizes belongs to himself when he goes to pull at it. Did he forget a year of his life? No scratch that. When he goes to gather it, it's too long for one year. Two then?

"I see you're finally awake." He snaps his head to the side, eyes widening again when he sees the person speaking to him. "We've met before, if you're able to recall."

"General Kibum," he nods slowly. When did Choi return to Earth? The door opens, and Taemin can recall the first person who gets inside as well. The soldier who saved his life. Accompanying Minho –who seems to be in complete distress– is an old man walking with a cane. He's staring through him with pierced gaze that makes Taemin uncomfortable.

"Taemin," Minho addresses him. "Welcome to Choi." It gets Taemin's attention back on him. Did he just welcome him to Choi? Choi never hosts any strangers. "Allow me to formally introduce myself. I'm Captain Minho, Leader of Choi fleet and Minister of Defense." What? Taemin only blinks at him. "Of course, you know General Kibum," he nods at the latter. "And this is Mentor Jaeho," he introduces the old man who's still scrutinizing him. "Was he informed?" He asks Kibum.