The scene shifted once more. Rain poured relentlessly from the dark sky, drumming heavily against the ground. Riven had just emerged from a dungeon after a grueling solo raid, the cold water soaking through his clothes instantly. He looked up at the heavy, grey clouds, a sudden, sharp unease twisting in his chest. A foreboding feeling that something terrible was about to happen washed over him.
He shook his head, trying to dismiss the thought. "I hope Yeonghon is alright," he murmured to himself before walking past the other people around him, his mind heavy with worry.
Meanwhile, Jihan was pacing back and forth, his phone pressed to his ear. The line rang and rang, but there was no answer.
"Is something really wrong, or is my mind just playing tricks on me?" he whispered, anxiety creeping up his spine. He tried calling again and again, his frustration growing with every failed attempt. Just as he was about to give up, he saw Riven approaching.
"Hyung... have you visited Yeonghon yet?" Jihan asked quickly.
"No... not yet. Why?" Riven replied, his voice cold and detached, yet laced with an undercurrent of tension.
Jihan hesitated, fear evident in his eyes, but he forced himself to speak. "Yeonghon hasn't been answering his calls. He always answers... always."
He was practically shaking, begging Riven to go check on him. The atmosphere was chaotic with worry, but surprisingly, Riven agreed immediately.
Yeonghon's POV
Damn it! How long was I out? What happened?
The thoughts raced through my mind as consciousness returned. I tried to move, but my body felt heavy and restricted. My eyes snapped open, and I realized with horror that my hands and feet were bound by heavy chains, securing me to the bed.
"What the hell?!"
Panic set in. I frantically scanned the room, searching for anything that could help me break free. Then, I heard it—the distinct click of the door unlocking. My heart hammered against my ribs. I quickly shut my eyes and feigned sleep, holding my breath.
A hand gently touched my face. The skin was cold, but the touch was strangely familiar and comforting. Despite my fear, a sense of peace washed over me, and my eyes grew heavy once again, dragging me back into darkness.
When morning came, I woke up and sat up abruptly. The first thing I noticed was that the chains were gone.
"What happened? Where am I?"
Confusion clouded my mind. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood up, walking slowly toward the door. Just as I reached for the handle, the door was suddenly shoved open from the outside with force. It hit me square in the forehead.
"Yeonghon?! What are you doing here?!"
It was Jihan. I clutched my throbbing head, lying back down on the bed from the impact.
"I was just trying to leave... until you practically broke the door down," I groaned.
"I'm so sorry, Yeonghon! I didn't see you there!" Jihan panicked, apologizing repeatedly.
"Jihan, stop. It's fine," I said, standing up again.
"Yeonghon... there's something I need to tell you," he said seriously, suddenly locking the door as if afraid someone might hear. He explained everything that had happened while I was unconscious. How Riven had arrived, barging through the doors like a madman. Jihan couldn't even bring himself to look at Riven's face, but the aura he gave off was pure, unadulterated rage. Riven had found the men who took me, and he had made them pay—brutally. I could barely imagine how terrifying it must have been.
"And... Yeonghon," Jihan stammered, his voice trembling. "That man... he said that you are... a creation."
The word hit me like a bolt of lightning.
Creation.
My body reacted instantly. My vision blurred, and a searing pain exploded in my head, throbbing violently as if my skull was about to split open. The world spun, and then everything went black.
When I opened my eyes again, I wasn't in the room anymore. I was somewhere dark, endless, and empty. It wasn't a place; it felt like... nothingness. A void.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" I called out, my voice echoing into the darkness.
Then, I heard it. A voice. It was getting closer, louder, repeating the same words over and over.
Come back...
Come back...
The sound grew deafening, ringing in my ears like a shrill bell. I clutched my head, screaming.
"Help! Someone please help me!"
I looked down and realized I was sinking, the darkness swallowing me whole. Chains materialized out of nowhere, binding me again. I was so confused, so scared. Tears streamed down my face as I screamed until my throat was raw.
"Help... please... I don't want to die again!"
I was drowning in the abyss, sinking deeper and deeper until...
I jolted awake, gasping for air, my body drenched in cold sweat.
"Yeonghon! Are you okay?! You screamed so loudly..."
My body was frozen, paralyzed by shock. I couldn't move a muscle, only tremble violently. Then, a cup of water appeared in front of my face. Riven held it out to me. His presence was steady, and as I took a sip, my racing heart began to calm down.
"I... I had a really weird dream," I whispered.
"What kind of dream?" Jihan asked, his voice filled with worry.
Silence filled the room for a moment before I spoke. "It was so dark... and there were so many voices. They kept saying... 'come back'."
"It's just a nightmare," Jihan tried to reassure me.
But I looked up and saw Riven staring at me. His gaze was sharp, intense, and terrifyingly clear. In his eyes, I saw the truth. He knew. He knew exactly what was happening to me. And he knew what was coming next.
To be continued...