Prince's Gamble | HAOBIN

26. Threat of You

Zhanghao awoke with a start, his chest rising up and down as he struggled to control his breathing. Sweat beading on his face, he felt clammy all over as he forced himself out of the bed. Running to the bathroom, Zhanghao wretched up his most recent meal into the toilet. 

Gagging slightly still, Zhanghao got up to look at himself in the mirror. His face looked like a ghost—eyes hollow and skin pale as the dream played over in his head. Dream, more like nightmare. Washing his face before rinsing out his mouth, Zhanghao was pleased to see the color begin to return to his skin. 

Taking deep breaths, he walked back out of the bathroom, plonking himself on the side of his bed. He couldn't help but address the worry that now sparked in the back of his mind. His dreams had meaning now, didn't they? But if that was true, then what did this one mean? The only unfortunate conclusion Zhanghao could draw was, Hanbin's eventual death. 

As much as Zhanghao wanted to deny, it was as if his dream was warning him by showing him all the faces of people he had murdered. Telling him he was a threat, and that he should stay away from Hanbin. No. Zhanghao thought, pushing away the idea of separating himself from Hanbin. He would be careful, yes, but he didn't like the thought of being away from Hanbin as there seemed to be much bigger threats to Hanbin than himself at the current moment. 

Looking at the clock on the wall, Zhanghao realized it was 6.00am. Four hours exactly until the final round would commence. Sighing, Zhanghao laid back onto his bed as his mind continued to buzz with anxiousness. He didn't fall asleep until the sun had begun to rise but his brain was tired and so he gave into sleep. 

—

"Zhanghao.." A voice teased into Zhanghao's ear. Waking up slowly, Zhanghao opened his eyes to see Gyuvin leaning over him. In the foreground was Ricky, also looking to Zhanghao. "Zhanghao, it's nearly 9.30, you need to get up." Gyuvin told him. 

Groaning, Zhanghao sat himself up, gazing out the window. The sun was now fully risen, shining bright over the Kingdom. Just then, the door opened, letting a frantic looking Hanbin into the room. He had rushed into the room, but at the sight of Gyuvin and Ricky he slowed while his expression dropped into one of reassurance.  

"Oh good. I was just about to wake Zhanghao, but you got here before me." Hanbin said, "Zhanghao c'mon, you're going to be late." Hanbin continued, looking at Zhanghao who was still in bed, "You know it's late if Gyuvin has come to wake you." Hanbin nodded towards Gyuvin.

Gyuvin frowned playfully, "He's right."    

Listening to Hanbin, Zhanghao pushed himself out of bed and headed for his closet to change. Grabbing his normal pants and jacket that he wore during the competition, he got dressed before taking a quick look at himself in the mirror. 

Turning his hips, he gazed at himself. Last one.. He thought. Last time he would ever had to wear this outfit. As he stared at the mirror, he stuffed his hands into his pockets, only to feel something sharp stabbing his hand. Grasping the sharp contents he pulled it out of the pocket, opening his hand to look at it. 

It was a sort of silver charm, although broken into lots of tiny pieces now, just like the one he had seen in his dream. The one in his dream which Hanbin had been holding. Furrowing his brows, Zhanghao walked out of the closet, still holding the glass pieces. 

"Hanbin, what's this?" He said, staring at Hanbin. 

Hanbin gave him a confused look before something seemed to click in his mind and his eyes lit up, "Oh that's—well.." He began to stammer before two guards barged into the room, heading for Zhanghao. 

With three swift, quick movements, the guards took a hold of Zhanghao, one holding him steady while the other took out a long syringed needle. Not letting Zhanghao question, the guard plunged the needle into his neck, making Zhanghao's body limp as his hand dropped and the silver pieces fell to the floor. 

Ignoring Hanbin, Gyuvin and Ricky's questions and protests, the guards carried Zhanghao out of the room, leaving the rest. 

"Did you know that was going to happen?" Ricky asked Hanbin. 

Hanbin turned towards him, "No. No, I didn't."

—

Zhanghao began to regain consciousness with the feel of wind whipping his face, drying out the moisture in his eyes as he opened them. As he stared out he realized he was standing on the edge of a metal doorway, one which attached to that of a large metal helicopter. Looking up, he could hear the loud sound of the rotor blades turning fast above him. 

Below him, Zhanghao realized he was at least ten thousand feet in the air, the trees mere specks of green in his sight. Between him and the ground was many large metal and glass platforms that almost looked like broken parts of buildings. 

Over his clothes, someone had fitted a large black harness with his sword strapped underneath. Realizing there was a hand holding him up from behind, Zhanghao turned his head only for the guard to speak.  

"Don't pull the parachute until the siren goes off." The guard said. 

And then he pushed Zhanghao. Feet and arms flailing about as his mind began to panic, Zhanghao understood. Falling training.