17 DAYS TO GO | KWON SOONYOUNG

35

Kang Hana

No matter where I searched, I couldn't find DEATH. I needed answers, right then. It was getting closer to the end—there were just two days left. It was Thursday evening while I strolled the campus of our school.

Lots of colorful decorations and confetti covered the campus. Whether or not my efforts to save Soonyoung had been successful was really beyond my comprehension. Even though I had the opportunity to save him, the thought of him vanishing broke my heart.  

"Hey", A male voice called out to me from behind, and although I assumed it was one of the boys, I was mistaken. Along with Sooyoung and me, the boy was in our class. "Hello," I responded to his greeting. Soon, we were making our way along the paths, step by step.

"I wanted to talk to you" I prodded him to continue further. It was the first time we had ever interacted, despite being in the same class. The boy appeared to be one of the students, calmer and less bothered, even though I was one of the outcasts. 

"You know my name?" He asked, hesitantly, "Obviously. Kim Jinwoo" He turned abruptly to look on the other side, a grin appearing on his lips. "So what did you wanna talk about?" While taking advantage of the holiday and getting ready for the school festival, students could be heard yelling and screaming.

I suddenly missed my friends who were busy rehearsing for the festival competition. Unaware that I was grinning at our memories, I suddenly ran into a group of people. "You okay!" Jinwoo supported my weight as I staggered backwards.

"I'm good. Thanks" I straightened my poster, silently thanking him for holding onto me. "Wait-" I immediately whipped my head in the direction of the passing student crowd. My mind flashed back to a clear but fuzzy image. I felt as if I had seen DEATH.

"I really must leave right now. Can we talk later?" I was prepared to take a chance, no matter how small. Jinwoo appeared uncertain, "But," but I was running out of time to waste. "How about we have a conversation tomorrow or following the festival?"

My gaze was constantly darting to the area where I believed I had seen DEATH. "Ehh...fine" Bidding him goodbye, I hurried towards the backside of the school. Without even realizing it, I was sprinting.

The rear of our school was largely empty and remained so for the most part. "HELLO?" I called out in the darkness, eager to get answers from DEATH. The stillness had merely reflected my own voice back to me.

Inching closer and deeper towards the backyard in the quietude, I tried scouring the area for any signs of the supernatural being. I let out a deep sigh and repeated my greetings. "HELLO?"

"Hey, sweetheart!" A hand emerged and forcefully pushed me against a neighboring wall, depriving me of breath. "W-who a-re you?" With tears welling up in my eyes, I writhed in the man's hold.

The man had a familiar yet distinct appearance. His aura was complex, with shades of black and dark. There was a sinister smile on his face as his grip and grin got stronger. "LET ME GO!" The man instantly covered my voice with his hands after hearing me yell.

"Brother dear knows better than to let a nobody to return back in time" The realization caused my eyes to enlarge. He was referring to DEATH. The familiarity that I couldn't point out earlier was becoming clearer as I scanned his features.

Of course, DEATH was ominous and frightening, but this man was something else entirely. His aura was more darker and stronger than his brother. "Sorry for being a jerk and not introducing myself"

He smiled at me, his hands closing more firmly on my mouth. "The name is HAVOC," he said, bowing his head and meeting my gaze. "My brother is stupid to allow a little boy's simple life to obstruct universal actions." Thoughts were racing, but nothing was really happening.

My only thought was to get away from this man as quickly as possible. He screamed nothing but danger. I struggled to free myself from his firm hold, wriggling and screaming, but to no avail. The blood flowing through my body was starting to rush up towards my face, sweat profusely dripping down.

For all I could kno, HAVOC could kill me right there and then. "I know you aren't able to comprehend what is going in with you, so let me clear it up for you" His steps abruptly reversed, and I felt every muscle in my body tense up, wanting to run as fast as my feet could carry me, only to find my feet stuck on the ground.

It felt like my legs were cemented to the floor beneath me, no matter how much I twisted or turned. "Dont fret too much, you'll only tire yourself" realisation deemed upon me, HAVOC was probably using his supernatural power to stop the movements of my lower body.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" My face was wet with tears as I screamed. I was beginning to feel the effects of his overpowering aura. "You will not be able to save KWON SOONYOUNG no matter how hard you try."

HOLY SHIT-

Convince me otherwise that RUN TO YOU, doesn't seem like an OST to u🤚🙂‍↔️