𝕗𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 | ᴇɴ-

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞

We ran. All seven of us, like fools. When we were together we always seemed to act foolishly, but it didn't matter because it was fun. These six boys had come to become my family. We spent a lot of time together, playing around the castle grounds. Often outside with the fresh air and the old smell of trees around us.

Not that day though. That day was different from the beginning. It was one of the rare days in which we stayed inside. We were playing hide and seek, running to conceal ourselves from Jay-hyung while trying not to give away our location with our laughs.

Standing in the back, though, I could almost feel the curse settling over us right there. Looking at their backs speeding along the hallway I felt oddly tired, as if the darkness was blanketing us already, no matter how fast we ran.

"He's going to find you there, hyung!" Sunoo whispered to Heeseung.

"Only if you give me away," he answered, stepping into the wardrobe and closing the double doors after making a face at us.

I suppressed a laugh as I looked for a good hiding spot. Sunoo disappeared behind a curtain, along with our maknae, while Jake attempted to fit into a cupboard. In seconds, I was left alone with nowhere to hide.

"43... 44... 45..." Jay's voice came, nearing the end of the countdown.
I gave a quick turn to try to find a good spot. The southern landing was in shadows to my right. I supposed no one had cared to turn the lamps on that day. It didn't matter, the dark was a good place to hide. I made my way there, kneeling behind the door on the tiled floor. The light from the hallway pooled in the middle of the room.

"49... 50! Ready or not, here I come!"

My heart raced with excitement. If I was smart, I could outrun Jay-hyung and win the game. I had to be on the lookout for Jay's footsteps but a sudden noise distracted me. It sounded like a thump. As I scanned the hallway I located the sound coming from within the wardrobe Heeseung-hyung was in. He seemed to be moving. Then one of the doors opened and I saw his hand searching for something outside. Was he trying to mock Jay?

"Hyung!" I called softly, trying not to give myself away. Something in the way it moved alarmed me.

"Hyung, is everyth—"

His face came into view then. It was still in the dark when I saw him mouthing something to me, but I couldn't make out what it was. Was it a warning? Was he calling for help? I never knew. The next moment the doors closed again and later, when he came out after Jay-hyung opened the doors on him, he had gotten the fever.

We worried, but he claimed he would be fine. He asked us to stay away in case we got it too and locked himself in his room, but by then it was too late. The curse had already settled. And maybe I could've stopped it, but I didn't. I guess, I'll never know.

-Jungwon