"𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐭. 𝐖𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞."
Seven boys running, trying to discover what the fever gave them while balancing everything it took a...
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The maids have forbidden us to visit Sunoo-hyung today. I'm not sure why. The others are as clueless as me and it makes me nervous. I don't understand what the maids are thinking or planning with us. Do they trust us? I want to laugh. Of course they don't.
I'm weary all morning. Usually I'd go to Sunoo-hyung's room and hang out with him, away from the maids' eyes and ears. But I can't today. And Sunghoon-hyung is busy in the infirmary. Normally, I wouldn't mind, but today the morning feels endless. The boys finished quickly our duties in the kitchen and so I'm forced to wait alone until my hyung finishes with his duties. The other orphans stare at me.
I try to make myself invisible. A week ago they were praising me and joking around with me. Now they see me like a bug. If only I could talk to Sunghoon-hyung. I'm worried about what the people here think of us. I'm worried about the nightmares I've been getting as well. I'm worried about my insomnia that lures me into the woods at night. I'm worried about my thirst, my hunger. I need to tell him. I need to get away from the boys' stares.
Finally, I can't take it and walk to the infirmary. I don't care if he's not done yet. I need to speak to someone. I need someone to tell me what is going on. Not increase my worries, like Jay-hyung's theory has done.
As I'm walking down the hallway, a voice stops me.
"Niki!"
The Mistress walks up to me with a friendly smile that makes me anxious. Her presence has put me on edge from the very beginning, but since the day at the courtyard, it unnerves me.
"I'm glad I found you," she says. "How have you been?"
"Um...fine."
"I realise I haven't spoken with you lot for a while and I apologise. Especially after the little scene the other day, I didn't mean to scare you. I've been preoccupied with caring for your friend and have neglected you."
I don't know what to do or say. I only wanted to go to Sunghoon-hyung. And now she's here being all friendly. What does she mean?
"I haven't seen you dance lately," she comments.
"Jay-hyung has stopped playing music," I answer, unsure if it counts as an excuse.
"It would be a shame if you stopped dancing." She thinks for a moment. "I don't believe Rui gave you a full tour of the orphanage when you arrived. Follow me, I know some place you may like."
The Mistress begins down the hallway, walking past the infirmary. I wonder if hyung is doing fine in there. He's so skinny now and with his new vomiting he looks so pale. But I'll have to check on him later.
"The previous owners of this house were a wealthy family," the woman tells me as we walk towards the unknown end of the hall. "They fancied the arts and decorated the place to suit their taste. The daughters studied ballet and had their own studio."
She pulls out a key ring and searches for a long silver one. We've reached the end of the corridor and go down a set of stairs I didn't know had been there all this time. At the foot is a wooden door that the Mistress unlocks.
"Go on, have a look," she gently urges me.
A dance studio? In the orphanage? I walk inside hesitantly. The room is wide and white with windows on the ceiling that look onto the back side of the house. There is a barre on the side that is the length of the studio. Perfect for dancing. The last time I'd been in a room like this I'd been a little boy. I haven't danced in so long.
I turn to the Mistress to thank her. "It's perfec—"
She locks shackles on my ankles before I realise what's going on.
"I don't know what your plan is," she says, her voice turning cold, "but I won't let you out until you're fixed or dead, vampire."
My heart sinks.
No, this isn't happening.
"I'm not what you think," I try and scramble forward, but she backs away. The chains weigh on my legs. This can't be happening. "We're not... it isn't like that!"
She nears the door, clutching the keys to her chest.
"That's what your friend said too, and yet he turned into a monster at the first sight of blood."
"Sunoo-hyung..." I gasp. What did she do to him? Why was his room off limits?
"Wait, you can't leave me here!" I plead and run towards the door, but the chains hold me back and I fall.
This isn't possible. The others... my brothers! I scream.
"Let's see how long you survive the sun," she says before stepping out.
