{HIATUS} Éternel: Between Two Worlds (#3)

xviiii. So Far Away

ultra sad times: activate

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An electric shock ran through my body as I jolted upright, my breath erratic and my heart close to exploding within me. The fear that had compiled during my nightmare didn't seem to fade after I woke, and it only worsened as I came to my surroundings. Ahead of me, in the Jinsei Chamber, was Maya - dead.

Her body floated in the Jinsei, arms spread and head tilted as if she were ascending to something greater than our world. A longing that I could follow her resonated deep within me, but I knew there was nothing beyond our world. Just eternal darkness.

Though, if I had to compare the two, I wouldn't say much was different, especially now.

With a heavy breath, I pulled my blanket further up, the cold from the open doors of the Chamber starting to bite at my skin. It was a miracle that I hadn't developed a flu or pneumonia after staying up in the Jinsei with Maya's body for two straight days. I barely ate anything, only drank the water that the members would bring up for me occasionally.

The boys worried about me constantly staring at Maya's body in the Jinsei, but I felt closer to her, seeing her right in front of me. I wouldn't be able to last five minutes away from her.

The covering overhead fluttered slightly as a rush of wind blew into the chamber, goosebumps rising on my skin as the cold made contact. I glanced up, watching the ripples in the blanket hoisted above me.

The members decided to set up an area for me to sleep in, located in the entrance area, right after the doors, and adjacent to the Jinsei itself. It was an easy way to watch Maya and the entrance at the same time, just to make sure I knew who was coming in.

On the ground were mattresses, blankets, and sleeping bags, along with other necessities like water and some food, but I had yet to touch them. Overhead was a large sheet of fabric, the outer corners nailed into the stone walls, draping from a few feet ahead to where I was sitting. It was almost like a large, open tent.

Earlier today, the guys decided to join me every day to keep me company. Though, they wanted to speak with the others first to explain what happened, and learn what we had missed over the past three years.

I looked at Maya, my eyes locking on her face, oddly at peace. Only God knows the horrors she's gone through here without us.

"Hyung."

My head snapped to the doors, Namjoon walking past the Banshees and into the chamber, joining me at my side. The corners of my lips twitched slightly, almost raising into a smile, but the thought of smiling while the love of my life was dead right in front of me felt so wrong.

Namjoon sat on the mattress beside me, slipping under the blankets and setting down his backpack on his lap. After unzipping the pockets, he pulled out my phone, a tiny black device plugged into the charger slot.

"Your phone is fully charged. That thing will keep it charged," Namjoon said, gesturing toward the small device.

"How?" I asked, Namjoon laughing quietly and shaking his head.

"I don't really know. Axel designed it. She told me it's powered by temperature or something. Charges your phone faster when it's hot, but it still works in the cold?"

"Axel... that woman is a genius," I smiled and placed my phone beside me, then leaned over to see what else Namjoon had. The moment I saw him pull out a pair of chopsticks, I scoffed and turned away.

"Come on, you need to eat. It's been two days, you've barely had anything," Namjoon groaned, shoving the plastic container filled with meat and rice into my face.