Phantom | WayV [...]

⁛≻Chapter 13≺⁛

◸Chapter 13: The Difference◿

Mei covered her ears. The screams that she was convinced were her dreams were now her reality. Every now or then the lights would wipe out. Screams would erupt. Maids would die. Or guards would die. 

Bodies were building up. 

There were a total of four dead people so far, including the Queen, each dying in a different way each time. There was a muffled conversation happening in the background but Mei couldn't focus. Her heard was racing in her chest, the beats echoing in her ears, bouncing of the hands cupping her ears close.

A tap landed on her shoulder and Mei looked up, the pop of noise making her flinch as her ears picked up on clear noises. Some were panicked, some were trying their best to sound calm. Her eyes met Xiaojun's and he gave her a worried look. 

His shaky hand held a glass of water to her and she took it, drowning the liquid down her parched throat. He took a seat next to her and they were enveloped in silence filled with shouts of Kun and Hendery giving out orders. 

Xiaojun: You must be terrified.

Mei only hummed, her eyes darting to the prince who was now in clean attire, a maid cleaning off the blood from his face with a wet cloth. His eyes were trained to the floor. Every body that lost its life had its blood dropped on the prince. 

There were no more doubts. The only royal left alive had his life in danger and the Phantom was coming for him. 

Xiaojun: Do you regret coming here?

She looked over at him. 

Mei: W-What?

Xiaojun: Do you... regret reaching the East?

Mei: ... Yeah... I mean... I could die next and the worst part is I don't have anyone who will probably miss me or bury me with missing tears.

She said with a disheartened chuckle, hand wiping away her tears.

Xiaojun: I'll miss you...

She met his eyes, lips parting to take a deep breath. He looked back at her, intently. 

Mei: Me? Why me?

Xiaojun: You're the only one who cared for me when I was going crazy. You never called me a madman. You respected me when I was in the lowest class. Even below you.

Mei sniffled, a warm feeling filling her chest.

Xiaojun: And maybe you won't die. Maybe you can get out of here. Live somewhere else... happily. Leaving the past in the past.

Mei: Do you wish for that, sir?

Xiaojun: I do... I hoped I had never seen the Phantom that night. I wish I never got accepted into this court all those years back.