Home • atz

Chapter 42

Congratulations! You survived. Barely.

I found myself in the white subspace that contained nothing but the sentient ink. I stared up at the inky banner. Sensing some mockery in the delivery. 

With the first time, you celebrate my death and now it’s my survival. 

Get well soon ^-^

Great, it knows how to use emoticons. 

Transitional stage, get ready to run. 

Oh god- 

I started running, leaving behind the inky mass that started collecting itself out of the banner it was on. It was a repeat from before. This time, the inky swirl managed to stain more of my white skirt. I noticed with time that the skirt was longer and lighter, billowing behind despite the absence of air and thus, wind in the space. I didn’t have to run for long as a door popped into view. Without another second to lose, I grasped the knob and threw the door open. I spared a glance back at the floating black swirl, saluting before walking through the doorway. 

•••

The first thing I noticed was the mass of white that decorated my limbs. I shut my eyes tiredly and reopened them to a figure looming over me. The figure was out of focus but I could recognise the outline and scent as he waved a hand over my face. 

“Can you hear me? If you can hear me, blink twice.” 

Sounds were muffled as if my head was stuffed with cotton. I exhaled deeply and glanced to the side, vision refusing to focus. Sharp pain climbed up my neck just from turning my head minutely. I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the pain to subside. It dissolved into a periodic throb from the back of my skull. Belatedly, I raised my heavy limbs only for it to drop, hanging off the side of the bed.
 
“You shouldn’t be moving.” The smell of antiseptic with underlying hints of floral permeated from the flurry of fabric that fretted around to keep me still. “This is the third time today and it’s barely half the day.” 

My arm was laid back to my sides and tucked tightly under the covers. I tried to struggle out of my restraints but it was futile. A heavy sigh sounded from my side before I felt the bed sink in and a hand carding through my hair. I relaxed into the touch. 

“Any updates?” A new voice asked. 

“No definite signs of response yet.” 

“It’ll be soon.” The voice reassured.

“Right now it’s no different from dealing with a fussy child.” 

I opened my eyes again, this time my vision gradually cleared. 
“What.” I croaked out. 

The room froze. I heard the proximal body suck in a breath.

“Did you hear that or have I officially lost it?” 

“Hwa, you might want to actually check it yourself.”

The fingers combing through my hair untangled themselves to slowly move in front of my face. I simply followed the finger, brain a little muddled to understand the intent behind the action. 

“Joong!” I heard Seonghwa rejoice, “A response.”

The other person moved into my line of sight.

“Welcome back.” Hongjoong smiled. 

“What.” I repeated, this time a bit louder. 

“You nearly met Jesus.” Hongjoong casually commented, plopping himself in one of the chairs.