Jeno's POV
"Let the game.. begin!!"
Jaemin announced. When I blinked, I found myself in a different place.. but it looks like it's still inside the abandoned museum.
I am too busy examining my surroundings that I barely noticed the rectangle mirror looking back at me from the wall. The sides of it were broken, so I kept my distance from it.
I am only able to see myself in the mirror because of the lit candle on the table below the mirror. I looked at my face, then at the pair of wings on my back. They hurt so much from earlier that I thought I was going to faint again. I'm glad I didn't.
The wings were heavy. I looked down on my feet and saw that the edges of it were run aground. The white feathers were glinting for some reason.
I am no angel, considering there is a demon inside me.. even if there is none. No matter how many people told me that I looked like one or acted like one, I am still human and I make mistakes.
I certainly don't deserve these set of wings, but I have to keep them so my demon, Belphegor, wouldn't take over my body. I won't let that happen.
I glanced down at the table where the candle was. Beside the lit candle was a small bottle that has the word 'salt' on it. There was also a lighter. There was another candle beside the lit one.
I guess the game has indeed started.
Taking the things on the table, I left the room and placed the things in my jean pockets. I used the candle to find my way.. to find my friends.
The wings tore my hoodie so my hoodie was barely covering my body, making it quite cold. I tried moving my wings if it can be a cover for me and fortunately, I can control it. I tried to flap it, but they were too heavy to set flight in the air.
Since this is also a game of hide-and-seek, I gave up on calling for my friends. Lucifer, who is 'it', might find me. I decided to search them in silence.
I remembered the mechanics of the games. My heart tightened because of what is going on right now.
"Oh.. You turned pale. Are the games familiar to you?"
Jaemin's voice and statement went inside my mind. I shook my head and removed that thought.
Damn Jaemin.
"Ow." I lightly exclaimed when I felt a pluck on my.. wings. I glanced at my back and I saw a feather fall down. Is it because I cursed inside my head? Sighing, I promised myself I'll be careful more on my actions.
While I continued to avoid Jaemin and Lucifer, I was thinking about how he got into this situation. Did she pass something to Jaemin that made him turn into that? Into that daredevil who let us play this game once again?
My eyebrows creased. I'm sure she did, but I have no evidence. But what did she see in him to make her render such evil doing to him?
While I was in my thoughts, I noticed that the temperature dropped.
Then the candle went out.
"Ten.."
I heard Jaemin counting from behind me. I immediately took the lighter from my pocket and flicked it alight.
"Nine.."
The fire of the lighter made contact with the candle and the light returned.
The counting stopped.
I'm not going to lose this game to you.
I should probably leave this area and go find a place to hide.
I was worried about the others. How am I going to find them when two crazy people are around? Wait, they're not even humans.. both of them.
I saw the stairs and I went down, carefully taking each step.
This is too familiar. It was as scary as the last, but there's only two games now.
I reached this unknown floor and observed my surroundings using my candlelight.
I just noticed that this museum was circular shaped. There was a hole in the middle so you would be able to see what floor you are on. I ran next to the rails and quite had difficulties on the way because of my heavy wings.
My eyes lit up when I saw light two floors below me. Who could that be?
I looked up but saw none. I found one of them; four to go.
But how am I certain whom I found won't be the same person?
I sighed and narrowed my eyes at the other end of the floor where I'm in. I was alone.
I gasped and looked down when I heard a scream.
The candlelight I saw started to run. I also turned around and went to the place where I heard the scream. I know that Jaemin or Lucifer might be there, but I need to make sure my friends are alright.
I went down and down, not sure what floor I am on and what floor the scream came from. I stopped running. The wings are making it harder for me.
I arrived in the floor where I saw the light from earlier. I searched in that floor, looking at each room that was there.
I was busy searching when I felt a sudden tap on my back. I turned around in a jiffy and aimed the candle at whoever tried to get my attention.
"Chill, Jeno hyung," It was Jisung. He was carrying the same things as I. "Did you hear that, too?" I immediately knew he was talking about the scream. I nodded. "I didn't get to observe whose voice it was. Any guess?" I whispered. I don't want Lucifer hearing us.
His brows furrowed. "It sounded like Chenle." He worriedly said. What? Chenle?
"Let's find the others. Let's stick together, okay?" He nodded and we started to walk along the floor and when we saw no one, we went down, searching on that new floor.
I looked up at the floors from where Jisung and I descended, trying to find the same glow we have in our hands. I searched in the opposite side of those floors and saw one from high up above. Whoever was in there won't be able to see us.
I turned around but when I did, I saw no Jisung in sight. My heart started to hammer on my chest. "Jisung?" I whisper-yelled, trying not to catch the seekers' attentions.
I heaved a sigh of relief when I saw him exit the room closest to me. His head was low but it seemed like he was doing fine. "I was just here, hyung." He said and walked next to me. "Next time, don't walk away without telling me, alright?"
He nodded and placed his hand on mine. I raised a brow at him. "What's wrong?"
He raised his head and looked at me with those red eyes.
"You're 'it'."
•••
