I was holding a yellow-stained paper, folded into a small square with a size of my palm.

      Curiousity gets the best of me. I unfold the paper with jagged edge and read the words scrawled with blood instead of black ink. My heart dropped as I read it again and again.

This can't be.

      Suddenly, my surroundings glitches like a broken system in computers. Assuming that she can't hold it much longer, I folded the paper and insert it into the pocket of my dress. However, the material of my dress feels odd.

It was a silky texture.

      Everything started to glitch terribly, distracting me from my main objective. I hastily walked passed a circle of seven bodies surrounding seven skulls of the boys. When I reach the book stand, the bodies and the skulls started to disappear into nothingness, left with two familiar girls and two skulls.

JiU-unnie and Dami.
Jin and Yoongi.

      Could it be that the others disappeared because we claimed what's ours after we encounter the dead one?

      I looked around, recalled exactly where the book should be. I remembered peeking at JiU, Handong and Dami, holding hands and closed their eyes as they concentrated on their full energy for the ritual. They placed the book into the mirror. A mirror from Handong's doll room.

      However, the book was on the book stand where I am.

      I believe that I'm in the mirror when I noticed the pointer of a clock hanging on the wall moves anticlockwise.

      I pursed my lips, anxious of the book that lays in front of me. A black velvet cover, rusty black chains with a lock of a skull.

      I grab the book with my trembling hands. I ran over my fingers through the velvet cover. I ripped open the black chains easily, baring the book.

      Just as I did that, everything disrupted into mixtures of colors. My head started to get dizzy from the random mix of colors, trapping me in the madness.

      A thought clicked in my mind. I took out the paper from my pocket and unfold them. I flip through the book until there was a torn page. I brought the paper closer to the jagged part.

It fits perfectly.

Then darkness envelopes me like a grave.

***

      I pushed SuA's hand away from me and scurried backwards until my back bumped against a dressing table. I grasped my head tightly as the throbbing pain escalated. It felt as if my brain inflated that it might burst into pieces of meat. I gasped desperately for air and coughed as I choked. 

     The throbbing subsided. I placed my palms against the floor, slowly took in a huge amount of air. My eyes stings that tears brimmed around my waterline. I stayed like that until I was back to normal.

      I lifted my head up to find SuA worried sick, her eyes widened in utter shock. I squeeze my eyes closed briefly before I open them again, a tear streamed down my cheek. I groaned as I staggered to stand up on my own two feet, using my hand to lean against the dressing table. 

"You look terrible", said SuA.

      "Well, your nose is bleeding", I told her. She blinked before swiping her fingers below her nose, blood staining at the tips of her nails. She covered her nose and looked around for something to wipe it off. Then she looked down to my jagged silk dress.

      "No", I said. "If I tear it off again, my underwear will be exposed", I joked.

      SuA laughed heartily. "I would be embarrassed if that happen", she said with a smirk. She uncovered her nose and reached for the end of her dress. 

      As soon as she throw the blanket away, the white color of her dress peels to reveal black spots before they turned completely black. 

      She feigned ignorance of it with no reaction as she tore it off, pulling the cloth hard until she ripped it off into a short cloth. She fold it into a palm-sized cloth and dabbed her nose.

      Then, her expression changed to grim. I looked at her with anticipation, waiting for her to speak up. 

      "Handong, Dami and JiU. Before you came here, they did a ritual involving the book."

"What about it?" I asked restlessly.

"Do you know that the book went missing?" she asked.

I nodded.

"They hide it in the mirror", she said.

      I rolled my eyes and hanged my head up, a stressful sigh escaped from my lips. "Are you kidding me?" I breathed. 

"I know, it sucks", she said.

"Ha ha, nice one", I reply.

      SuA smiled with a snort before she looked serious. "When I first wake up, there was a paper."

"Did it say anything?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Yeah, it was written in blood."

"What did it say?" I asked, growing impatient.

***

SuA

      I hesitated to start talking about the writing in that paper. My heart started to thump like a loud drum, my mind was in chaos as I internally panic. Gladly, I'm the type that didn't show emotions often.

So I lied.

      "I don't know. I assumed that you can't hold it longer so the letters kinda glitches and swirl around, so I can't tell what it says", I said smoothly without a stutter as if it was a matter-of-fact. No Name's lips formed a thin line, disappointment drawn on her face.

      The silence lasted for about a minute. She pushed herself from the dressing table and stably stand up. "I guess I should let you rest. Sorry for making your nose bleed", she apologized sincerely.

"The feeling's mutual", I replied with a smile. She nodded and twisted the doorknob.

      "Hey!" I stopped her. She turned around with both her eyebrows raised. "Thanks for saving me. You have my gratitude", I said.

      She grinned. "The feeling's mutual", she repeated my words before she shut the door closed.

***

      I walked across the living room. A huge amount of air escaped from my throat. Whatever that dreamwalk is, being conscious about it was too painful to bear. Gladly, my life was not taken yet.

For now.

      I was about to stepped forward when a hand pushed me harshly against the wall. A sharp knife makes its way to my face as it dashed swiftly. 

Then its end halted an inch from my pupil.

      Another hand stopped the perpetrator's wrist, the silver knife quivers violently. "Cut it out, Siyeon."

      Hoseok's voice was strict, glaring daggers at Siyeon. Siyeon's eyes widened as she noticed that she failed to attack me.

      She scoffed and roughly pulled her hand from his grasp. She pushed the knife into her pocket, looking at Hoseok and me scornfully before she walk away without a word.

      I froze at my spot. Hoseok waved his hand in front of me which dragged my attention to him. Later, Yoohyeon joined in with a concerned look on her face. "Are you okay?" she asked. I replied her with a nod although I'm not sure myself. I was still in shock after what happen.

"Follow me", Hoseok said as he pulled my arm towards the door, Yoohyeon tagged along.

      "Hoseok, what if the black mist attacked us?" asked Yoohyeon insecurely. Hoseok smiled in a reassuring way. "Trust me, I know how to get passed them", he said. Then we walked out of the room without anyone else's notice.

***

Left then right.
Hallway after hallway.
Room after room.
Stairs after stairs.

      Hoseok sure know his way to go down to the ground floor. His hand never let go of me whereas Yoohyeon never let go of mine either as she looked scared, nervously looking around, playing a role as our eyes to spot any danger.

      As we walked down to the last stairs, I recognised​ the hall immediately.

      This hall was exactly where I first woke up in this house. The burnt furniture was still there where I left it, a small mountain of ash and dust piled up on the floor. Waxed candles melted into an uneven shape of dried liquid.

      My eyes wandered around the area with awe. Then I got distracted when Hoseok pulled me to a door. When he opened it, a heart-stopping view catch my breath.

It was a dried lavender field.

      The spacious land was full of lavender, its dull color was in contrast with the soft orange, morning sky.

It was no longer dawn.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Hoseok asked.

      I hummed a yes, still awestruck of the view. As if the fact that I'm the dead one vanished just like that.

      Hoseok smiled brightly like a Sun. "One day, we'll escape from this house and walk along this field, together. No matter how beautiful the lavenders are, they never defeat your grace", Hoseok uttered.

      I blushed and glanced shyly at him. Yoohyeon giggled like a child. "I can't with you two", she almost squeeled.

      We gazed at the dancing field as it flows with the wind, enjoying the silence and the fragrance wafted around the hall.

      "We can't get out, though", Yoohyeon whined. She stood in front of the entrance and reach her hand out. Her hand stopped against an invincible wall, her palm flattened against it.

      I was discouraged by the fact that we can't escape from here. I walked towards Yoohyeon, Hoseok's hand releases his grip from mine.

      Yoohyeon stepped back to give me space. I did the same as she did. I stretched my hand out. As expected, my palm felt a wall, a texture like a clear glass.

      "Hey, something's wrong with your hand", informed Yoohyeon, a hint of fear in her voice.

Then I noticed it.

      Black smoke escaped from my hand, seeping through my skin. I scrunched my eyebrows together, panic sets in. When I want to pull my hand away, my palm seems to stick against the invincible wall.

I couldn't let go.

      Hoseok and Yoohyeon helped me, forcefully pulling my hand away. However, it won't budge.

      Suddenly, a strange force pushed them away from me. They fell to the floor, their back created a loud thump against the floor.

      I breathe rapidly and desperately tried to pull my hand away again but to no avail. Suddenly, my hand surpassed the wall, pulling forward to the outside.

      Before I could even react, a scorching burn threatened to cripple me, the pain around my hand became more and more intense. I screamed in agony as I pulled my hand again and again.

Then it works and I fell backwards.

      Hoseok and Yoohyeon caught me from falling to the floor. I gritted my teeth, bearing the immense pain as the fiery hot sensation sizzled my skin.

      The sight of my hand was enough to make me regret for what I did.

      Blood seeping out of my fingers as if a knife swiftly cut the skin. My hand scalded red from the immense heat.

      A loud roar echoed the hall. I heard Hoseok cursed under his breath before he lifted me up from the floor, sliding his arm under my knees and another arm against my back.

      We immediately rushed upstairs before the monster could catch us.

Chapter 17 updated!

DIBIDIBIDIS THANK FOR 500+ READS 🙌🙌🙌

Well there's not much to talk about because this is what you called 'SPEECHLESS' ayeee 😏😏😏

Yes, yes. I know this chapter doesn't have the suspense or the fun but trust me, the next or two chapter will have them, and probably another downfall to this story.

Thanks for reading, leave a vote and donut forget to comment 😘

Chapter 18 coming your way ~