Light High | •° RIIZE °•

11. FIRST DISCLOSURE

Hyeon's pov

I woke up with a jolt, the pain from my body almost overwhelming. My limbs were sore, making every movement a challenge. I turned my head slowly to see Seunghan resting his head on the side of my bed, looking as peaceful as a sleeping rabbit. A soft smile tugged at my lips despite the discomfort.

"Seunghan..." I whispered, hoping to rouse him from his slumber.

He remained deeply asleep, so I reached out and gently brushed his hair away from his face. Just as I did, the door creaked open, and Wonbin stepped inside. His cheerful demeanor faltered upon seeing me awake.

"Oh... Sorry. I'll go," he mumbled, his face a mask of confusion and something else—regret, perhaps. Without waiting for a response, he turned and left.

Seunghan stirred at the commotion, his eyes fluttering open. "Did you wake up?" he asked groggily. "Do you need anything, Hyeon?"

I nodded towards the water bottle on the table, too far from the bed for me to reach. Seunghan immediately stood up, retrieved the bottle, and helped me drink.

"You should go," I said quietly. "It's getting late."

"Are you sure? I can call Eunbi or someone to stay with you if you want," he offered.

I shook my head, appreciative but firm. "No need, Seunghan."

"Alright. Then take care and get some rest," he said, giving me a reassuring smile before leaving.

Once Seunghan was gone, I gazed out of the window at the encroaching twilight. The thought of being weak was unbearable; I had to rescue Yeon soon. My mind was still tangled with the events of the day. The message I had received earlier buzzed back into my thoughts.Ding... My phone vibrated with a notification. I reached for it, wincing at the effort it took, and saw a new message from an unknown number.

Unknown contact:

Meet me at the school backyard. Today 12:00 am.

Who could this be? I wondered, my curiosity piqued. The message was cryptic, and my initial thought was that it might be a prank. Yet, the message was clear enough that I decided to check it out.

The time was only 4:00 pm, so I settled in for some rest, letting the hours slip by. Before I knew it, the alarm was ringing, and it was 11:50 pm. I prepared myself to leave, still uncertain of what I might find.

Stepping into the cool night air, I made my way to the backyard. The darkness was deep, with only the occasional hoot of an owl and the whisper of the wind to break the silence. The backyard was deserted, and a sense of unease began to creep in. I almost turned to go back when a voice cut through the silence.

"Wait... I'm sorry I was late."

I turned to see a familiar figure stepping into the moonlight. It was Sohee, the 6th ranker, whom I had only spoken to a few times. His appearance was unexpected and confusing.

"So... are you the one who sent that message?" I asked, trying to steady my voice.

"Yeah..." Sohee nodded. "You should have mentioned that you knew about the school's history."

"Well, you never asked," he replied with a touch of irritation.

"Sohee, what do you know?" I pressed, eager to learn more.

"Okay then, brace yourself for the most unrealistic story you've ever heard," he said, taking a seat on a nearby bench. I joined him, intrigued by the promise of a tale that seemed outlandish.

"This school was established in the early 20th century by a shaman," Sohee began. "Back then, shamans were highly respected and feared. The shaman who founded this school—more of a dormitory for shamans—was instrumental in teaching them various spells and secrets."

"That means Mr. Kim isn't the original owner of the school?" I interjected, trying to piece together the information.

"So it's common knowledge," Sohee confirmed with a nod. "I'm surprised you didn't know. It passed into Mr. Kim's family in 1988, through deceitful means, and the shaman who had originally founded it cursed the school."

I frowned. "Cursed? What do you mean?"

"Some students believe the last rankers go missing due to this curse," Sohee explained.

"That's not true," I said firmly. "They're locked away in a room until they die."Sohee's eyes widened. "How do you know?"

"I have my sources," I replied, my tone sharp.

"So the curse is actually a death wish for all the blood relatives of the Kim family," Sohee continued, his gaze drifting up to the starlit sky.

"How are they still alive, then?" I asked, perplexed.

"Maybe you already know the answer. If not, you'll find out soon enough," Sohee said cryptically.

"Alright, thank you for the information," I said, preparing to leave. Just as I was about to turn away, Sohee's voice stopped me.

"Do you think I don't recognize you, Dumbie?"

I turned back, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"I don't know why you're hiding, but remember, I was your best friend for a reason. I hope you'll open up to me soon," Sohee said, his voice tinged with a mix of nostalgia and sadness. He walked away, leaving me standing alone with tears brimming in my eyes. The weight of his words, and the memories they stirred, was almost too much to bear.

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Maybe there's a hint. Any theories upto now?