"*What are you doing here, lurking in front of these forbidden rooms?*" Emma's voice cut through the eerie silence. "*Agh!* You startled me!" Anya spun around, her eyes wide with alarm as she gazed at the ominous red-zoned rooms.
"Nothing," Anya replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was just... coming back."
Emma's brow furrowed with concern. "*How's your hand now?*" she asked, her eyes scanning Anya's bandaged hand.
"It's fine," Anya reassured her, wincing slightly. "Just a little pain, but it's manageable."
As they stepped into the room, Anya's ears were assaulted by the same haunting whisper:
"*This is your world... the world you desired.*"
She froze, her heart racing.
"*What's wrong?* Why did you stop?" Sangwon asked, his voice laced with concern.
"I... I heard something," Anya whispered, her eyes darting around the room.
Emma's expression was skeptical. "*But I didn't hear anything*," she said, her voice firm. "I'm right here with you."
Gyeon Wo was already lost in a deep sleep, oblivious to the tension. Emma yawned, exhaustion etched on her face. "*I'm going to sleep too*," she murmured. "I'm drained from all this suffering. Who knows what twisted game we'll have to play next, or what we'll have to do to survive?"
As Emma drifted off, Sangwon sat on the bed, his eyes fixed on Anya. She tried to tie her hair back, the stray strands irritating her like a persistent nuisance.
Anya's hair clip slipped from her trembling fingers, dropping to the floor with a soft clink. The pain from her stab wound was excruciating. Sangwon swiftly picked it up and began to tie her hair back, his gentle touch sending shivers down her spine.
'Let me do this,' he whispered, his warm breath caressing her ear.
Anya's heart was racing, her pulse pounding in her chest like a drumbeat. 'What now? My heart might explode!' she exclaimed, her voice barely above a whisper.
As Sangwon's fingers danced through her hair, Anya felt butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She couldn't help but wonder what was happening to her.
'Thank you,' Anya murmured, her voice laced with gratitude.
Just as Sangwon finished tying her hair, a sudden flash of light illuminated the room. A new tattoo materialized before their eyes, its symbols pulsing with an otherworldly energy.
'Everyone, claim your new power alliance!' a voice boomed, echoing through the halls.
The sound jolted Emma and Gyeon Wo awake, their eyes snapping open in unison. 'After this, you'll gather in the dining hall to eat,' the voice continued. 'Otherwise, you'll go hungry.'
Hanjuk's eyes gleamed with malevolent intent as he hummed a twisted tune. 'Lalalalala... We should eat to our heart's content to survive well,' he crooned, his smile twisted and sinister
They made their way to the dining hall, the tension palpable. After eating, they retreated to their rooms, the silence heavy with unspoken fears and doubts.
Emma was low-key hyped, clapping for Anya like she was at a concert. 'You're a total Sangwon stan, ain't ya?' she teased, grinning from ear to ear. 'I'm one too, tbh!'
Anya's face lit up like a thousand watts as she smiled, and Sangwon was totally caught up in the moment. Her smile was straight fire, like a ray of sunshine after a long, gloomy day.
Anya turned to Emma, her curiosity piqued. 'Didn't you notice those red-zoned rooms were straight up weird?' she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Emma shrugged, looking clueless. 'Nah, I didn't vibe with it.'
Anya's eyes sparkled like diamonds. 'I think those rooms might be the key to something lit,' she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Emma's advice was real talk. 'Don't overthink it, just get some rest. We're all hella tired.'
As the others zoned out, Anya's gaze lingered on Sangwon. She leaned in, closing the gap between their beds, and gently stroked his hair. Her heart skipped a beat as she whispered, 'Why so fine?' The words were lost in the silence, but her feelings were real. Eventually, she dozed off, her hand still touching Sangwon's hair.
Anya was lost in a dark dream, someone shoving her into a pitch-black room. She jolted awake, her heart racing like a jackrabbit.
'What the heck was that?' she thought, wiping the sweat from her brow. Just a bad dream, right?
But the memory lingered, like a ghostly presence haunting her mind. Anya's curiosity got the better of her. 'Those red-zoned rooms are seriously creepy,' she thought. 'What if they're hiding something major?'
Anya tossed off the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed. 'Time to get some answers,' she muttered to herself. But fear crept in, like a thief in the night. 'What if I disappear or worse? Who'll save Sangwon?'
Despite her doubts, Anya steeled herself and made a beeline for the forbidden rooms. 'I gotta know what's going on,' she thought, her determination burning brighter than any fear.
With a deep breath, Anya pushed open the door and stepped into the unknown. The red glow enveloped her like a shroud, and she felt a thrill of excitement mixed with fear. What secrets lay hidden in these mysterious rooms?
Ahh... Anya's eyes snapped open, and she was like, 'Where am I?' Her mind was racing, and she was totally confused. 'What happened? Am I in those forbidden red-zoned rooms?'
She looked around, and her eyes went wide. 'Why are there so many mirrors?' she thought, her heart pounding in her chest. She spun around, but the mirrors just kept going, reflecting her image in every direction.
Anya's eyes darted around the room, and she was like, 'Where's the door? Where's the room I came through?' She realized that this place was totally different from the one before.
'Is it another world?' she wondered. 'Another realm? A parallel pocket?'
Anya's mind was blown, and she was trying to wrap her head around it. She felt like she was trapped in some kind of crazy dream, and she couldn't shake off the feeling that something wild was about to go down.
Anya's eyes widened in agony as she clutched her wounded hand.
'Ahh... it hurts!'
she cried out in pain. She looked around frantically, wondering what to do next. 'Where to go, I don't know what to do,' she said, feeling lost.
Just then, a stunning blue butterfly fluttered into view, its iridescent wings shimmering in the light. Anya's eyes locked onto the butterfly, and she felt a surge of curiosity.
'What are you now, another tattoo?' she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The butterfly danced around her, its movements mesmerizing, before vanishing into one of the mirrors. Anya's heart skipped a beat as she stared at the mirror.
'Where did that butterfly go? Butterfly disappeared in that mirror, should I go in there?' she wondered, her voice laced with concern. Without hesitation, she stepped into the mirror, and a whole new world unfolded before her eyes.
Anya's eyes widened in awe as she took in the breathtaking scenery. The world was a serene blue and white themed paradise, filled with butterflies, fireflies twinkled like tiny stars, and vibrant flowers swayed gently in the breeze. The atmosphere was electric, pulsing with positive energy.
'What is this place?' Anya breathed, her eyes wide with wonder and a hint of puzzlement.
Another blue butterfly appeared, and Anya's expression turned thoughtful. 'Are you trying to tell me something like those movies and dramas?' she asked, her voice tinged with skepticism and curiosity.
The butterfly led her to a patch of chamomile flowers, and as Anya leaned in to investigate, the flower suddenly healed her wounded hand. Anya's eyes widened in surprise, and she looked at the flower with a mix of amazement and puzzlement. 'Wow... how did you do that?' she whispered.
As she walked a bit more, Anya stumbled upon a mysterious place that sent shivers down her spine. It was eerily similar to the world she'd been in before, where games decided her fate. But this time, the air was thick with anticipation, not dread. The blue butterfly fluttered ahead, vanishing into the entrance like a whispered secret.
As Anya followed, the silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the soft rustling of unknown forces. She entered a realm that was hauntingly familiar.
"If you want to see what's in these rooms, you've to play a game," a voice echoed, its words dripping with an otherworldly menace.
"If you don't pass the game, you'll get trapped here... forever."
Anya's heart skipped a beat as she processed the stakes.
"Even here the concept is same," she thought, her mind racing with possibilities.
"Now should we start the game?" the voice asked, its tone like a ticking time bomb.
Anya's voice was barely above a whisper. "But what's the game, I don't even know so how am I supposed to play?"
The voice replied, its words like a puzzle wrapped in mystery.
"You've to predict whether you'll be able to win against this world and be able to see what's in these rooms or not... and second thing that you've to predict is whether you want to go back to that hellish world or not."
Anya's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she had to make a decision, but the uncertainty was suffocating.
"Now let's start, tell your first prediction," the voice echoed, its words hanging in the air like a challenge, waiting for Anya's response."
"I'll win the game and uncover the secrets," Anya declared, her voice laced with determination, though her heart trembled with doubt.
"As for the second prediction, I'd want to return to that hellish world – Sangwon is my everything, my reason for being," she confessed, her words barely above a whisper.
The voice echoed, its tone a mix of intrigue and challenge, "Let's see if your predictions hold true." With that, power weapons materialized before her, transforming into tattoos on her wrist, just like in the previous world.
"Explore this world, and you'll need these powers to survive," the voice instructed.
"If you succeed, the butterfly will guide you back to this place, and your prediction will come true. But if you fail, you'll be trapped here forever."
Anya took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay ahead. "I have that world's tattoos as well," she whispered to herself, a surge of confidence coursing through her veins.
As she ventured forward, a sudden jolt sent her stumbling.
"Aghhh!
What was that?" she cried out, shocked and disoriented, as something attacked her, propelling her forward with unexpected force, leaving the mysterious place behind.
As Anya struggled to her feet, a strange light materialized, casting an ominous glow. It seemed to be targeting her, and as it grazed her arm, she felt a searing pain.
"Aghh!"
Anya screamed, her eyes widening in terror.
"So, this light can incinerate me if it touches any part of my body,"
she realized, her mind racing with fear.
Panic set in as she frantically thought, "What do I do now?"
The butterfly, her only guide, had vanished, leaving her to fend for herself. In desperation, Anya touched one of her tattoos, and a gleaming red sword materialized in her hand.
With lightning-fast reflexes, she positioned the sword in front of the light, and a protective shield burst forth, deflecting the burning energy. A countdown timer appeared, taunting her:
"Shield must be maintained for 30 more seconds to neutralize the threat." Anya's heart pounded as she wondered,
"Will the light disappear, or will I?"
The uncertainty was suffocating, but she held her ground, her sword steady.
The seconds ticked by, each one an eternity. Finally,the timer hit zero, and the light vanished .