Why am I different?

Chap 10: The Pandora box

Minjun shivered in his crouched position. His knees were held to his chest, his head down between his knees and his arms around his shins. He lifted his head, expecting Junho's concerned face to fill his vision but only seeing nothingness. It was cold. So cold, dark and damp. He lifted his hands in front of his face but could not make out the shapes of his fingers. A cold wind blew causing him to shiver again and he saw the tiny movements of his fingers trembling. He rubbed his arms to gain some heat, the coldness of his palms against his arms causing him to tremble slightly. He blew a breath and felt the fog against his face. He should be afraid, panicking even, but the only feeling he had was numbness. His heart was as emotionless and cold as his surroundings.

"Where am I?" he croaked.

He was replied with silence. A silence so deep he could hear ringing in his ears and his every heartbeat. He stood up, unintentionally backing into the cold stone wall against his back. He hastily stepped away, the cold already seeping into his spine. Trying to keep the cold at bay, he folded his arms and hunched his shoulders. He put one foot atop the other in an effort to keep as little contact with the freezing floor as possible, only then realizing that he was barefoot. What had happened? Where was he?

He furrowed his brows as he tried to recall his most recent memories. He had a fight. That's right, a fight. With who? Taecyeon... Oh. He felt a prick in his heart but it was numbed, as if there was a glass wall between him and his emotions. Why were they fighting?

"Don't think about that. You need to move." A voiced suddenly whispered from somewhere in the dark.

Minjun whirled, trying to find the voice but all he could see was darkness that went on for eternity.

"Who's there? Come out so I can see you," Minjun croaked again, his voice rough as if he had not used it for years.

He tried to feel afraid but could not reach the full extent of the emotion, only experiencing a hint of it.

"Go on," the voice coaxed, flowing like silk in his ears. "Move forward,"

As if compelled by it, his feet took a step, then another.

"Yes, that's it. Go on now, keep moving," it cajoled, as if speaking to a small child.

It was so unlike him to throw caution to the wind but it felt right to listen to the voice. It comforted him in the vast darkness.

"Who are you?" he tried again. His voice was stronger now.

"I am you."

"What?" Minjun knitted his brows in confusion though the emotion he felt was dulled. His steps faltered to a halt.

"No! You must keep going!" the voice whispered urgently.

Minjun felt a gust of wind pushing him forward, making him shudder against the cold.

"Go!" another voice accompanied the first, more urgently this time.

"You must hurry!" a third voice overlapped the second.

Soon, multiple voices whispered in a chorus, urging him to keep walking.

"Move!"

"Must hurry!"

"Don't stop!"

"Okay! Okay! I'm moving! I'm moving!" Minjun tried to hush the voices as he lifted his foot off the ground to resume his journey. "But where are we going?"

Unconsciously, he had included the voices as if they were real beings. It was odd but again, it felt right.

"You'll know."