I can't look away.

      It looks like millions of tadpoles swarming around the black mud water.

      A skin-crawling sight, but too fascinating to look away.

      The black mist leaned closer. I leaned away from it until my body hits the floor, I fell on my bottom.

      I couldn't move. It's as if its invincible eyes hypnotized me from escaping.

      I heard shuffling footsteps behind me. I couldn't talk either, my voice has yet to escape from my throat.

      The mist leaned closer, our distance became smaller. From my peripheral vision, its hand extended as it curled its limbs around my body.

It was cold.

It was dark.

I couldn't see anything.

The jelly-like mist eats me whole.

And I can't fight back.

      A scream pierced the chaotic air. Suddenly, the mist splits into two. I feel myself being pulled away from the dirty black jelly, its residue sticks to my skin before it was pulled away.

"I got her!" It was Hoseok.

      Namjoon wielded a final blow with a long object to the mist and splitting them into uneven floating dusts. He took off running with Hoseok who carried me away.

      Behind the blurry vision, I saw the separated parts of the black mist gathered around, creating another form before the door closed, blocking my view from witnessing the abomination.

      "Is she okay?" I heard Yoohyeon's voice. My vision blurred and slowly went into focus to meet the worried eyes of the group.

      I groaned and straightened myself, Hoseok's arm supported my waist. "What the hell was that?" Namjoon spoke. I was unsure of who he's asking.

      I hunched over, weak as I ran out of energy. The mist must've suck out all the energy within me. The urge to rest and sleep was strong, but I controlled myself not to fall into slumber.

      "You better explain yourself of what just happened out there", ordered Namjoon, pointing at me with a sharp glare.

      "Not now, Namjoon. Don't you see her state now, she's dead tired!" Hoseok said, defending me.

      "If it's not now, then when? She could be the dead one, for all it takes!" Namjoon accused, making me snapped at him.

      "Don't jump into conclusions. We all know that the dead one isn't human. She's human and she doesn't associate with the black mist", Hoseok said.

      Namjoon sighed but has yet to leave his ground. "Then why isn't she hurt when the mist touches her? Look at Yoohyeon!" Namjoon gestured at the injured girl.

      The area above her feet was full of bulbous scabs, blood flooded the wounds. I immediately pushed myself from the floor and walked towards her, ignoring the massive fatigue within me.

      Yoohyeon and Handong were sitting on a sofa, so I kneel in front of them and started tearing the end of my dress strips by strips until the bottom part of my dress is above my knees.

      Yoohyeon winced and grimaced by a touch of cloth on the injuries. I wrapped the cloth around Yoohyeon's scabs, layers by layers until it is sufficient enough to stop the bleeding.

      Yoohyeon thanked me and Handong smiled. I nodded with a tight lipped smiled and stood up.

      I looked around the room for some time to be alone. The room was almost the same arrangement as the doll room, but with absence of dolls.

      I spotted a crusty wooden door and walked there. My legs wobbled as I take a step and I stumbled. I heard shuffling footsteps coming forward to help me and I extended a hand out to them to stop them.

      I continued walking for the door and twisted the doorknob. I closed the door behind me and slide down my back against the door.

I was alone in a bedroom.

***

      I realised I dozed off when a knock woke me up. I yawned and stretched my arms before standing up and  opened the door.

I still felt tired.

      "Sorry, did I disturb you?" Yoohyeon asked guiltily. She limply entered the room and closed the door. I lead her to the bed and we both sit at the edge of the bed.

      "Is your leg okay?" I asked worryingly, glancing at the bandaged leg.

      Yoohyeon lifted up her leg and admiring it with a cute pout before letting it rest. "It does hurt, but it's healing so that's all it matters."

      I sighed in relief. "That's good. I'm glad", I said.

      Yoohyeon squeezed my shoulders. "I was actually amazed that the black mist didn't hurt you."

"You watched it?"

"Everyone did."

      "Oh" was I all say while scrunching my eyebrows. I was worried of what they would think of me.

      "Don't worry. Namjoon is always like that. He is a good leader so he wants the best for his group, and sometimes us too", she mumbled the last sentence.

I shrugged. "I hope you're right.

      Silence hovers the atmosphere. I hold my left fingers with my right hand, staring at my hands nervously, my mind was a complete mess despite the short rest.

Then a question clicked a switch in my mind.

"Yoohyeon."

"Hm?"

"The dead one. Hoseok says it wasn't human."

      Yoohyeon nodded. "Of course it is. Just like the name Death itself. It's not human, but it lingers above us", she said as a matter-of-factly.

"Can you explain more?"

      "Sure. The dead one is a part of the black mist that we confront just now, or that's what the book said. But it plays a bigger part or you could say it is the leader to all of this shenanigans. The black mist is its underlings, just like a king and its slaves."

      I nodded understandingly. "I know this is wrong, but.."

      "You did it anyway", she chuckled. I laughed. "Yeah..but, I eavesdropped Hoseok and Handong's conversation. They talked about dreamwalking."

      "Ahh, that. All of us girls have that ability. But the book says they're different types of sleepwalking."

"Do you know specifically?"

      Yoohyeon scrunched her eyebrows together. "Not all of them I know, unfortunately. The book says like 'Loss', 'Death', 'Danger', 'Future'. Some stupid stuff."

      "There's more to it but I just couldn't remember of how thick that book is! Imagine it's this thick!" Yoohyeon uses her two fingers to describe the thickness of the book. I laughed at how fun and spontaneous she is when she just looked scared a moment ago.

      I thought about an idea and searched the room until I found a few old yellowed papers and a pencil. I returned to sit beside Yoohyeon.

"Tell me more."

***

      "This paper is so thin! It's like made of papyrus or something", Yoohyeon complained.

      "What's papyrus?" I asked. Yoohyeon raised both of her eyebrows. "Do you learn history?"

"I don't even remember being here, how do I learn history?"

"Hmm...good point."

      I continue writing down every single details she explained, spending hours and hours in the bedroom.

He reads.
She walk.
He leads.
She talk.

      "That sounds poetically mocking, but useful." I commented.

      "Good talk, No Name. Good talk", she said. I stifled a laugh.

She

She who see future.
She who see loss.
She who see danger.
She who see death.
She who see guidance.
She who see fortune.
She who have none.

But the none is who it cherishes most.

      "Wow", I exclaimed and looked at her in awe. "How do you even remember all of these?"

      Yoohyeon tapped her finger against her head with a triumphant look. "I have a strong memory."

      I snorted. "You just said you couldn't remember but what is this?" I asked. Yoohyeon rolled her eyes playfully with no answer.

      "Everyone sees but why the dead loves the one who have none?" I asked.

      Yoohyeon rested her chin against her palm. She pressed her lips together before she spoke.

       "The annoying book says so, but we don't understand the reason why", she whined.

"What is it?"

"The none is a friend."

Chapter 6 updated!

I'm home! Woohoo! 🐎

And still in the car because my parents have some stuffs to deal with.

Anywhale, THANK YOU FOR 100+ READS! 🙌 I woke up to find my fic achieved such goal and I'm very grateful about it.

A BIG, BIG THANK YOU TO MY LOVELY READERS.

I will do well in the next chapters 😀

Thank you soooooooo much!