Cursed Hearts | ATEEZ

026

I held my breath as the kings and I stood in the entrance of the Palace of Atlas, watching as, one by one, the other contestants and champions stumbled out of the elevator, some out of breath, some beaten-up and bruises, all of them sending confused and surprised looks my way as they watched me stand there, nervously, King Wooyoung's hand resting firmly on my shoulder as he gave it a small squeeze.

I counted each and every one of them, getting increasingly nervous as time passed by, morning stretching into late afternoon as, finally, Taeyong staggered onto the polished marble floors, looking roughed up but otherwise okay as he went to stand next to the others, everyone's eyes fixed on the elevator doors as they shut and didn't open again.

There were only twelve contestants including me, I realized, feeling my heart sink. We were missing one. Wonho seemed to understand at just that second as well, his eyes widening as he looked over the group again and then back to the doors, looking confused, scared, about to say something as King Jongho beat him to it.

"Im Changkyun," the King of the South said, a shaky breath leaving my lips as the weight of the name hit me, "Im Changkyun, contestant from Sector 5, Santiago, did not make it through the third trial."

A heavy silence settled over the group as everyone fell quiet for a moment, the calm becoming almost suffocating before contestants and champions silently flooded out of the room and back into the palace, the youngest of The Eight Kings bowing his head slightly at the rest of us before slipping through the grand gate and walking into the night.

I already knew where he was going, I realized, remembering our hike up The Strongest Mountain back in the summer when he had showed me the beautiful nature, streams, and the view from his favourite place where he sometimes went to be alone, to think, to calm down at a place far from the chaos of Martell and the Palace of Atlas.

A small sigh escaped my lips as Taeyong left as well, quietly making his way up the winding staircase without as much as glancing over his shoulder to check on me, feeling disappointment but also understanding well up inside me along with a sliver of sadness.

"Let me help you with those," Wooyoung said as he turned to me, gesturing for the cuts along my arms and legs before his eyes locked on the shredded bandage around my injured hand, darkening slightly as the dried-up blood coating the bruised skin.

"It's fine, really," I assured him, feeling tired and sad and shaken up by the events I had been through today; climbing up and jumping off towers, running through the inner city of Tokyo and fleeing from groups of ninjas as they hunted me down. Yes, I had had enough action for one day, I told myself, eyes widening as the King of Autumn suddenly grabbed my arm and dragged me along with him.

"Your face is cut as well, and I'm sure you have bruises that are going to hurt if we don't tend to them, not to mention the burn on your hand, so stop being brave for a second and let me take care of you," he mumbled, refusing to meet my eyes as we turned a corner, Yeosang and San waving goodbye at me before disappearing out of sight, "Besides, it's not the first time you will be vising the hospital wing."

〄

When I woke up the following day, it was to warm sunrays filtering through the grand windows opposite my bed, bringing colour to my cheeks as I turned and pulled the covers higher over my shoulder, taking a moment to enjoy the soft cottons, linens, and silks everywhere around me before stretching and lazily making my way out of bed.

Despite Wooyoung's efforts, which I greatly appreciated, treating the cuts and bruises, not to mention my hand, had not been enough to prevent the exhaustion and soreness clinging to me like a heavy sheet, making it almost impossible to gather up the willpower needed to get into the shower, opting for the option number two instead and collapsing into the steaming hot bath by the balcony.