Dead End | Jun-ho

23 | Lady In Red

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The previous evening; beautiful skies, a tension in the atmosphere she couldn't quite make out, him. Like a prediction of the next day, Aera woke up more content than ever, feeling warmer than usual. Her eyes fluttered open, quickly realising it wasn't some effect of an emotion, and it was simply the sun shining directly on her body like a manifestation of heaven itself; or where she felt like she was.

Memories from the night before flickered her vision, distracted by the events that had occurred. Talking for hours, watching the sunset, sleeping next to him.

Much to Aera's disappointment, he was no longer there, almost as if it didn't even happen and she'd dreamt the whole thing. He wasn't in sight either, nowhere to be seen.

She's hoped she would have woken up next to him, to prove it was real and not some imaginative lie. But, he was bare faced, and she wasn't allowed to see: a secret that may never be exposed.

The early morning soon went by, having to work in the kitchens once again. She hated how repetitive the days were, far better than playing in the games, but it was starting to get boring seeing the same walls everyday. It was the place that bored her, the horrors occurring within.

In contrast, everything about talking to Jun-ho excited her, realising this was the deepest connection she'd made in a long time. At least she had him, to give her hope and stop her from going insane. Aera silently laughed to herself at how quickly her attitude towards him had changed. She found it strange how she'd grown to like him, but there was just something there she couldn't quite comprehend. The girl decided to leave it down to the fact she didn't truly know who he was, or why he was doing this all for her.

Now on day five, there was only one more day left until she could finally get back to the real world, and not some atrocious place in the middle of nowhere. Although she had to admit, waking up to the sound of crashing waves and the sun kissing her skin was something she could get used to.

Aera had pushed her life behind her, realising in the first couple of games she probably wasn't going to make it. Now, she had a chance to live and go back home again. Aera hadn't even thought about what she was going to do, she couldn't stay on a bench for the rest of her life. It had crossed her mind to go back to her best friend, tell her that she was going to sort out her life and earn actual money.

They both reached the kitchens as simultaneously as yesterday. Aera sighed in defeat of the long, boring day ahead.

"Aera." The man half-whispered, gently grabbing her hand as she was just about to walk into the kitchen.

The girl swiftly turned around, curious to know what he wished to say. "Don't work too hard today darling. We've got somewhere to be later and I don't want you to be tired." He mentioned, giving no indication as to what they would be doing.

It only left her with curiosity, and knowingness that she definitely wouldn't be working hard. It was a simple task; stir ingredients together and wait for them to cook. Aera wasn't usually tired after her currently forced 'work', just bored and or overwhelmed from certain events. Leaving the doubts of yesterday behind, she spent the entire day wondering where they would possibly be going later.

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Glancing up at the clock had only made the day drag on more, it felt although the world was at a standstill, despite the constant rush in the kitchens. Surprisingly, nobody seemed to mind that she had stayed in the same two footsteps all day, staring into a pot of someone's yet to be dinner. The swirling mess sent her into a hypnotic state of wondering what this evenings events would consist of.