The End of Fire and Ice

chapter 5: one step closer

" Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before."
ೃ⁀➷ The Raven

┊ ➶ ｡˚ 　　°

After that rather eventful interrogation session, I deferred to eating lunch alone in my room. At least there, I was free from leering eyes and unanswerable questions.

The time vanquished itself as I became increasingly fixated on my fear of discovery. Fear they'd discover my secret place. Fear they'd discover my secret thoughts. Fear they'd discover it all, and hurt me to get it.

And even then, terming it a 'discovery' is an overtly gracious act. They wouldn't discover it. They'd beat me into submission until they decimated my resolve.

I now faced an invisible countdown of how long till they completely clipped my wings. Till I could no longer wander or wonder.

Too soon did I admit that, despite my fears and strain, I had to attend the socializing session.

So, with partly aching legs and a fully aching back, I made my way down to the first floor where the common room was located.

As soon as I arrived, I was met with the cheery face of Sunghoon, which managed to do my heart some good considering how shit my day had been .

"Hey, Jin! You're not looking like you feel too good, did something happen?" He gave me a once-over as he spoke, concern already bubbling up.

"What do you mean?" I spat out, narrowing my eyes at him in hopes of distracting him from the fact that something did, in fact, happen. The pain plaguing my back is entirely my fault and I don't need to burden Sunghoon any more than I already am.

"It's pretty hard to miss that limp you've got going on. Did you fall down the stairs? Or is it because of the run?"

"It was just the run. You know it's been a while since I've done that kind of thing."

"I'm sorry about that by the way. I wish I could have done something to get you out of there but we got separated."

"It's not your fault. If I keep getting paired up with other people, I might just become a better runner. Maybe it'll do me some good. Anyway, what are the guidelines for today's socializing session?" My eyes flickered to the sign posted up in the center of the large room and I was wishing I wouldn't have to stumble over to it.

"No new guidelines but since another year has passed, we have switched who we're supposed to socialize with."

"Oh, right. I nearly forgot. I'll go look at the list to see who I got." Here's hoping everyone is cursed with temporary blindness while I crawl to that sign.

"No need, I already looked for you. You got Park Jongseong."

"You've got to be shitting me." I have never felt so utterly betrayed by the universe. "Who the hell did you get?"

"I got Lee Heeseung. Since this is our last year in here, I think they are sticking us with someone of the opposite power so we'll be better prepared...and Heeseung's pretty chill for someone with fire powers," he said, shooting me a sly wink as he finished with what he would call a joke and I would call an atrocity to verbiage.

"That was so funny I almost laughed," I deadpanned. "Now where can I find that no good cheetah ass mother fucker," I grumbled looking around at the large common room before I heard an irritated cough resonate from behind me.