Linked

I

" You're next. "

The alarm went off, waking Yerin up from her sleep. She stretched her arms and legs out on the bed, then rubbed her eyes afterward. She sat up straight with her eyes still closed.

She always had nightmares when she would sleep. Not one dream has happened since she was young. So now she's used to the scary made up scenarios. But recently she noticed that her nightmares felt more real. She noticed that the characters were either people she has met, seen, or is friends with. Even one day she had one where her closest friend tried to kill her. When she woke up she was sore in the same places she was hit in the nightmare. Kind of like it was an alternate universe that she lived in.

She sat on the edge of her bed and slipped on her slides. Slowly she stood and walked into her kitchen where her best friend was cooking. She sat down with a yawn and watched the girl put the food on the plate. It almost made her laugh that this was the same girl who just tried to murder her in her nightmare.

" Eunbi? " Yerin called, her voice slightly raspy. " If you lived in an alternate universe where the population was slowly deteriorating and only the ones who were willing to kill would survive. If you had to kill me to save your own life...would you do it? "

The other girl furrowed her eyebrows as she thought about the question. " Maybe, but I would rather work with you instead of against you. Why the detailed question? "

" No reason, I just watched something like it somewhere on the internet. " Yerin said and began eating.

She couldn't stop thinking about her nightmares. They were all linked together. And it felt so real to her. She could control everything that happened in the dream. She still had her own real-life memories. She experienced pain in real life even though it wasn't really happening.

This alternate world she was in was toxic. Yet no humans were poisoned by it. But it did drive people insane and many tried to kill others, luckily succeeding, therefore, saving their lives for a short amount of time until the next person came for them. Yerin has killed many people in her nightmares. Even her closest friends. But it was different this one when she slept last night. Eunbi attacked her as if she didn't care that they were best friends. She didn't want to work with her life real life Eunbi did.

" Get dressed and meet me in the car, ok? " Eunbi said, washing out their plates and leaving the kitchen. Yerin stood up and walked to the bedroom. Her and Eunbi shared a room since they both had nightmares.

She searched through the closet and went over an outfit. She pulled it out and instantly remembered it. The same outfit Eunbi was wearing in the nightmare when she tried to kill her. She decided to put it back and get ready as told.
——
" Name. "

" Jung Yerin. "

" Age. Date of Birth. "

" 21. August 19th, 1996. "

" Why did you sign up, Yerin? "

The girl took a deep breath. " I've been having frequent nightmares and I think it's more than just an unpleasant dream. I think it's a sign. "

The worker looked at her and then laughed. " This must be a joke. Mrs.Kim only speaks to people with real problems- "

" This is a real problem. Just let me speak to her. " Yerin demanded. The worker sighed and wrote down numbers on a piece of paper and handed it to Yerin.

" This is the code to her office. It's right through that hall. " She said. Yerin took the paper and bowed before walking towards the office.

Kim Sojung is who Yerin went to see. An old friend of hers who she hasn't seen since middle school. She knew that Sojung had similar dreams to her. She thought that maybe they were linked. The only way she could get to Sojung was by coming to her office since the woman was never home. So she begged Eunbi to drop her off at the building before she went to work.

She put in the code and opened the door of the office. She immediately met eyes with the woman.

" Ah, she just entered. Thank you, Yewon. " Sojung said into the phone and pressed end call. She kept her focus on Yerin as the girl made her way over to her. " Jung Yerin. I'm surprised to see you again. "

" I just want to talk. About our dreams. " Yerin told her. Sojung crossed her legs and pointed to the seat in front of her. Yerin sat down and almost immediately started tapping her foot softly, a habit of hers when she's anxious.

" Yours is getting worse too I suppose? " Sojung asked. Yerin nodded, making the woman look at her. " I woke up bleeding from a wound before. Is yours that far? "

" No, I just am in a lot of pain when I wake. I don't really get wounded. " Yerin told her. " Maybe we can meet up in our nightmares and help each other. I have met everyone I know except for you. And you're the only person I know that has the same nightmare. Maybe we are linked. "

" Mines takes place in Seoul. I ran and hid there. " Sojung told her. " It's safer there. It isn't many people- "

" Mines is in Incheon. We aren't that far. Maybe I can meet up with you somewhere. I will try it out when I return tonight- "

" How do we know if we really are linked to the same dream? What happens if one of us wakes up? What will the other do if we can't really control our alternate life? What even is the point of all of this- "

" A few months ago. " Yerin began. " The news got a report about a toxic gas bombing in Japan. What if our dreams are preparing us for what is about to come? What if we find the source of the gas in the dream and then alert people in real life? There has to be someone continuously releasing that gas because if it wasn't the gas would've disappeared by now. "

Sojung smirked while looking at the woman. " I think you're on to something. "

" Where is the alternate you hiding? I will find you. "

" The World Cup Stadium. I am the only person in there. I will wait to the front door. "

Yerin smiled. " It's a plan. We have to protect ourselves or we will die in real life. I still don't understand how we could get hurt in real life through our dreams but it's better to be safe. "

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