I
WIRES
"Saeran... Saeran...? C'mon, wake up. It's just a nightmare." His eyelids fluttered open; The darkness that had been haunting his eyes was now far removed from him as the heat from artificial lights hit his eyes. Lila was staring at him with very worried eyes. Normally when he had a night terror he would awake all alone in the darkness except for the unnatural blue light of his computers to illuminate the room.
It wasn't uncommon for him to go through a cycle of nights where he lived the same sort of nightmares, but for some reason, they had gotten even worse since he had gotten out of Mint Eye. Saeran had the feeling that it had something to do with the fact that his body was still biting him in the ass with withdrawal symptoms. He may have gone many days without feeling it when they first escaped but it caught him to him. He could feel nausea burning in the pit of his stomach and he wanted to curl up into a ball.
"What...?" He could only stare at the brown-haired woman, monetarily confused by his surroundings. This didn't look like the barren walls of the Magenta compound. The colors were far too dim to ever match the whites that had been used to paint the walls. Oh, right. They weren't in Mint Eye any more, they were staying at his brother's place for the time being.
Lila's hand brushed the hair from his forehead where it had clumped together with sweat, and almost immediately her hand recoiled. A frown appeared upon her face. "You're burning up, I knew I shouldn't have gone to sleep earlier when you told me to. I knew better. Ugh, why didn't you tell me it was happening again, Saeran? I could've done something before it got worse."
Saeran opened his mouth to say something but she shook her head. "No, no, don't you try to argue with me about it, you took care of me back at Magenta, and now I'm going to take care of you."
There was really no point in telling her otherwise.
"...okay," he said.
"I'll be right back."
It was hard for Saeran to be able to accept that kind of help. However, Lila didn't give him much of a choice in the matter when it came to making sure that he was okay. She just did what she wanted to do and kept doing it.
This was going to take a while for him to get used to it.
Those first few days that they had spent together in this bunker had been a blur to him. He had been so exhausted that he slept most of the time and it didn't allow him to come to grips with everything. It had been naive of him to expect that he would just alright because he was out of Mint Eye, or that he would just be okay with Lila holding his hand. It was a lot more difficult than that; And while he had been exhausted and certain that his problems were long gone, Lila seemed to know better, and she was just waiting in bated breath for him to stumble so she could offer her hand and help him get back up again.
While Lila was balancing on a scale back at Magenta, her personality hadn't been able to flourish. Now that they were free of that place and living together in this bunker, she had really made herself known as a charismatic girl. She was a doer, that much he had known but it hadn't been obvious to him until just recently. The way that she stayed awake with him throughout the night to make absolutely sure that his night terrors didn't scare him awake. The way that she acted without saying anything... like she just knew what he needed.
It was moments like that when he remembered that she had been in such a bad space not too long ago, and she knew very well what she wanted from others even if she wasn't getting it. Lila was far more of a blessing then he deserved.
He shut his eyes and waited for her to return.
"Wow. I had seen this place in pictures before but it really doesn't do this place any justice. This is way different than a CG in the middle of a game. I can't believe how big it is. He really wasn't exaggerating. No wonder it took Jumin's team a few days to check for any clues and clean it out. It's just a freakin' labyrinth in here," She looked around the room.
Saeran had to agree with her sentiment. "...I didn't expect him to live like this."
Lila held his hand as they walked through the threshold of the bunker past the protected gate and heavy doors revealed a living space that seemed far too big for just one person; but the added benefit of this much space meant that he had just about whatever he needed at his fingertips and he wouldn't have to reach out to anyone to make a fuss. She seemed a bit awed by the space, whereas he wasn't sure how to feel about it. A part of him was still bothered by the idea of being in this space where his brother had once been.
She glanced at him, "Well, I'm going to make sure Jumin held up his offer of restocking the kitchen. Are you going to look around as well?"
"I'll need to update his security system," he said. "If it's anything like what Yoosung Kim has been telling me then I really don't want to have to sing Happy Birthday in Arabic to get inside."
Lila smiled, the expression on her face was exasperated. "You can call him just Yoosung, you know?"
"Oh, yeah. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that I've been talking to the RFA in this capacity... it's just a reflex." He glanced away, looking a little embarrassed. His social cues were not up to par with most people. He knew how to mind his manners but that was about all he understood to do when he was around others.
"You'll get used to it," She reminded him. "It's hard with the RFA for me too. I'm still floored talking to you sometimes. Remember, I thought you guys were just video game characters before I came here." She didn't seem to have the same problem that he was having but he appreciated that she empathized with him.
"Yeah... right," He merely nodded his head and began to walk down the corridor. Lila went one way and he went another way.
It was strange that the first room that he wound up walking into was the very room he had wanted to see. There were nearly a dozen screens and drivers into the corner of the room. Less than two weeks ago, his brother had been in this space fighting him. It was clear when he saw the computers and the layout that he had thought that Saeyoung would have. This room was the place where his brother had spent most of his time. He ran his fingers against the familiar keys of the keyboard.
"So... this is where he was."
This is where he had been all this time.
While Saeran was lost between Jihyun and Rika, Saeyoung had been trying to work himself to death for both of their sakes. Sometimes, he couldn't believe that information even though it had been handed to him. Old habits tend to stick no matter how hard he tried to push them away. He was slowly trying to desensitize himself to his brother, so every time he thought about him or every time he was in this space he wouldn't feel like he was going to be sick. It wasn't as bad as it could be -
but the sensation was lingering no matter how hard he fought it.
Baby steps... taking baby steps to the next milestone. That's what Lila had told him to visual. There was no need to rip off the bandaid all at once in this circumstance. He didn't have to think about making up with Saeyoung, or anything. His goal was to make sure that his brother was alive and that he could be free to make his choices from now on. That was what he deserved at the very least; He didn't deserve to be killed by their Father or his actions, nobody deserved that fate.
Saeran took in a deep breath and booted the computers to life. He ignored the feelings in his gut and set out to work. He had to make sure that everything was just right so they would be safe. Numbers and letters blurred into each other, and he seemed to lose track of time when he worked. It took him some time to reroute around the passwords and locks, but by the time he reached what he needed, it only took a few minutes to change the codes.
Who in their right mind would implement the kind of pass locks that Saeyoung did?
He knew the guy to be a sadist when he wanted to be, but some of the things that his friends told him were downright ridiculous. It seemed smarter just to use a long string of numbers and letters, that's what he had drilled into his own passwords. He didn't dare do something ridiculous like forcing people to recite a foreign language and sing songs while dancing to a specific tune.
Saeran could only shake his head in exasperation.
If the circumstances weren't so grim then he doubted he would be able to understand the kind of person that his brother had become since they had last seen each other as children.
It wasn't until Lila appeared at his side that he knew that he had been working himself too hard. She tapped his shoulder to catch his attention and then rested her hand against on top of his. "Hey, are you okay? You've been in here for a while and... I know you said you were fine with staying here in the meantime but... we don't have to if you're uncomfortable with it," She squeezed his hand. "There's always another option if this is too much for you, Saeran. You've already pushed yourself way more then anyone thought you could. I don't want you to feel like you have to do this."
He squeezed back. "If I work with... Saeyoung's setup then it just saves me time and I don't have to worry about bothering Jumin for anything I need. I can use whatever he has left to my advantage for locating him. Jumin said his drivers weren't too far wiped out, so most of his stuff is still there. That's going to make a huge difference in our search... and besides, just the fact that you're here with me makes it easier to be here."
"Well, I wasn't just going to go back to my apartment, Saeran. That just doesn't feel like home anymore."
"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow.
Lila smiled at him. "Home is... wherever I'm with you."
Saeran was shaken from his thoughts when footsteps came from down the hall and back into the room.
Lila hadn't taken too long, she seemed to figure out where everything was without too much work. She pressed a damp rag to his forehead, humming a melody underneath her breath "This should help the fever come down if only a little bit, I managed to find some medication as well... let it be known that Seven has an organizational system like mine. It's what I lovingly call controlled chaos. He puts his junk where I wind up putting mine and thank goodness for that."
She handed him a pill and helped him down it with a glass of water. The sensation wasn't all that thrilling but he wasn't bothered by his gag reflex any longer... not after months of forcing himself to drink the acidic concoction that Rika had personally crafted with her cohorts.
"...thank you, Lila." He mumbled. Was this warm feeling what it would be like to have a caring person in your life? Would it have felt this safe and gentle had his Mother treated him and his brother with love and respect? If it was, Saeran never wanted to lose this feeling; He wanted to cling to it and never ever let it go far from his embrace.
"It's no problem, Saeran... please try to get some rest, okay?"
Wisteria has entered the chatroom.
Jaehee Kang has entered the chatroom.
Wisteria: Looks like I'm awake for the day. (,,꒪꒫꒪,,)
Wisteria: So much for sleeping in.
Wisteria: Good morning, Jaehee!
Jaehee Kang: Good morning to you as well, Lila!
Jaehee Kang: I hope you had a pleasant night all things considered with the chaos in the background.
Jaehee Kang: You and Saeran are well?
Wisteria: Well... I'm okay.
Wisteria: Saeran is still having trouble with his health. I knew it would catch up with him sooner or later. He's going to rest today and I'll have no butts about it!
Wisteria: He's just exhausted himself this past week... going from one extreme to the other like the tip of a hat.
Jaehee Kang: He works without complaint and often long hours...
Jaehee Kang: I can't say much as I do the same myself, but I do hope he feels better soon.
Wisteria: I'll say. (ノ^∇^)
Wisteria: Speaking of exhausting work...
Wisteria: The calls and emails haven't stopped flooding into C&R, huh?
Jaehee Kang: Not at all. ( ´•̥̥̥ω•̥̥̥` )
Jaehee Kang: It has been... tiring. But we've managed to get through the brunt of it.
Jaehee Kang: It doesn't help that Mr. Han has left Elizabeth in my care most of the time.
Wisteria: ೭੧(❛▿❛✿)੭೨ I believe in you, Jaehee! Keep your head up!
Wisteria: Haha. If I wasn't so worried about Saeran, I would offer to help you with Elizabeth.
Jaehee Kang: I appreciate the offer, but I've roped Yoosung into helping with that.
Wisteria: Making himself useful. Oh boy.
Yoosung has entered the chatroom.
Yoosung: (゜´Д｀゜) It's true, I'm a glorified babysitter.
Wisteria: Frankly, I'd consider it an honor. Jumin doesn't trust anyone with his cat.
Yoosung: ...I guess if you put it that way.
Yoosung: Saeran is alright... right?
Wisteria: Yeah. He's just exhausted. Don't ask him cause he won't admit it.
Wisteria: ୧༼✿ ͡◕ д ◕͡ ༽୨ If I have my way he's going to rest today.
Wisteria: You know what they say about short people. We're angry because we're closer to the pits of damnation than the rest of you.
Yoosung: I wouldn't try and stop you;;;
Wisteria: I know you wouldn't. ;)
Yoosung: Especially not after seeing how determined you are to protect Saeran...
Wisteria: (✿´ ꒳ ` )
Wisteria: He's very precious to me.
Wisteria: I'd do anything for him.
Jaehee Kang: Ah, lovebirds.
Yoosung: You're telling me... (˵¯͒⌢͗¯͒˵)
Wisteria: Also, has anyone heard from Zen since yesterday?
Jaehee Kang: He's been getting swarmed a lot more recently because of his performance. He's been trying to stay out of the eye as to not deter from the real issues.
Yoosung: He said he was going to take a day to relax!
Wisteria: I figured. Well, he does love attention from his fans so that's not all that bad. But I'm relieved to hear he's taking care of himself.
Wisteria: Jaehee, would you let Jumin know that I appreciate all that he's sent to Saeran and me? I haven't been able to get through to him. I assume he's been taking calls left and right.
Jaehee Kang: Will do.
Jaehee Kang: He's been handling most of the talking with the government and any reputable sources. So I'm not surprised that you haven't been able to speak with him.
Yoosung: I
Yoosung: No, Elizabeth!
Yoosung: Oh, gosh, I need to stop Elizabeth from-
Yoosung: I'll talk to you later.
Yoosung has left the chatroom.
Jaehee Kang: I should probably go and make sure they're alright.
Wisteria: Understandable.
Wisteria: I'll talk to you later today, okay?
Jaehee Kang: Right! o(^▽^)o
Jaehee Kang has left the chatroom.
Wisteria: Even as things change... it feels like you guys still stay the same compassionate people.
Wisteria has left the chatroom.
Primula Vulgaris is the scientific name of the flower that he showed to me with a smile on his face. Otherwise known as primrose, a common primrose. In the language of flowers, it often means to convey, "I can't live without you".
It was the first flower that Saeran saw the day after we escaped; the dew on the morning bud caught his eye and he told me about it. He said it reminded him of me. I only turned red and gave a small push to his arm to tell him that I was embarrassed about that. Ever since the moment that I met Ray- no, since the moment that I met Saeran, ever since we had gotten close to one another it grew harder and harder to ever think of leaving his side and going back to where I came from.
I didn't dare think about going back home even once. It actually hasn't crossed my mind since we had started working with the RFA to try and locate Saeyoung. My mind had been firmly planted on staying at Saeran's side until we figured out where he had been hidden.
The Prime Minister had been arrested.
But he would say nothing of Saeyoung's whereabouts.
Our investigation of their childhood home had helped no answers, and while we had taken care of the monster that threatened the livelihoods of Saeran and Saeyoung, it didn't give us Saeyoung back. It just didn't feel like things were working out in our favor at all. Just when Saeran and I had escaped Mint Eye, we had losses to consider with our victories.
I gave one last fleeting look at Saeran's sleeping form and stepped out of our room to explore Seven's bunker.
It really didn't live up to the pictures that I had seen. There were so many rooms and seemingly hallways upon hallways. It reminded me of a labyrinth, and I wasn't fond of puzzles. The moment that I saw Saeyoung in the flesh I was going to give him a stern talking to for living in a place like this. It was too big for him! I couldn't imagine this kind of luxury nor did I think he thought twice about it. I had found myself in his garage, and then the kitchen, and then miscellaneous bedrooms spread with his costumes and gadgets instead of the room I had been searching for.
After walking into the wrong one, I managed to find the right one.
His set up wasn't all that different from Saeran's. There were plenty of screens and the room was beyond chilling. I understood that they had to keep things from overheating but the involuntary shiver that ran down my spine reminded me of the reality of their work. Saeyoung and Saeran were hackers, and they had the ability to destroy countless things if they wanted to do it. That wasn't what either of them wanted to do at their core; So, the thought didn't bother me as much as it should have.
I stared at the artificial light coming from the monitor as if it could give me a clue.
"Where are you, Saeyoung?"
The Prime Minister had been tight-lipped whenever anyone tried to question him about him. The way he spoke without batting an eyelash left a sick feeling in my stomach. I didn't want to believe that he or Vanderwood had been killed... they had lived in so many other horrible situations that it would have been laughable if this could kill either one of them. Also, it made me feel a pang of guilt for not reaching out to Saeyoung before it had become too late for me to do so.
So many times I had tried to hint to him that I might have known more then I should have but he just didn't get to seem to get the hint. I had been no choice but to stop myself from telling him about Saeran clearly. It was for my own safety. Had I said too much when my life was in danger then Saeran wouldn't have been saved at all. But I felt so guilty about all of it. I hadn't breathed a word of this guilt to Saeran... nor was I going to do it. All of this was because of the game that I installed on my phone to play with, and because I had made a lot of mistakes by trying to play the field.
I lifted my phone in my hand and stared at the Mystic Messenger app.
"And no matter how hard I try to wrap my head around it, I don't understand how Cheritz was able to make a game about the RFA. Even if they have somebody who knows about the hidden leylines... they shouldn't be able to know anything about them just because of that."
That thought had been bothering me for days.
My Dad had likened it to realities existing upon realities. He said that I needed to open my eyes to the possibilities. He spoke of many leylines and many exits and entry points. I couldn't imagine how many of them existed and knew about the locations of more than just one of them. The leylines didn't have to lead to this universe, either. They could have lead to other times or places. If one reality exists, who was to say that multiple other realities didn't exist? Who was to say that psychics and sensitive people couldn't tap into the universe and see into the lives of other people without realizing it?
If that was the case... then I struggled to wrap my head around the realization that I could have wound up in a universe with wizards or something had I not walled right into this one. That was an existential crisis in a handbasket. Pushing those thoughts to the back of my head, I shook my head and tried to focus on the task at hand.
I pursed my lips and sat down in Seven's chair, booting the computer to life and hooking my phone up. not have been a hacker, but if there was any chance of information existing in the game that could have given me answers to Saeyoung's location then I was going to try and find it. This dimension wasn't the Mystic Messenger that I had played... I didn't even know if it existed as an option in the code. When Saeran had managed to briefly open the game... all he found was pieces of the common route where the game hit a bad end and his counterpart destroyed everything in some capacity.
We hadn't spoken at length about that since that time. Part of the reason why he snapped out of his psychosis was that he saw himself in a way that he couldn't turn away from. If he kept on that path as Unknown then he would lose himself... and whatever we had in the process. I didn't bring it up, and nor did he ask me anymore about it. However, we both understood that the information in the game was something that nobody should have their hands. It would have to be dealt with in the future.
I hadn't tried to open it since I had gotten here.
It was worth a shot.
Clicking the icon, the game tried to boot up but it crashed, giving me a 404 error instead. How had Saeran been able to recreate the information from all that broken code? No matter what I did, every file that I tried to open would be a jumble of numbers and letters with things that only vaguely made sense to my eyes. "Are you serious? Don't tell me we're going to have to rework it all the way over again to get back my information... I can't go back home just to get the answer right now. I don't even know if the game would work back home either... ugh."
Technology just wasn't cooperating!
"What are you doing, Lila?" My shoulders tightened at the sound of Saeran's voice echoing through the once quiet room. He was standing in the doorway behind me with his arm resting against the door frame. It had only been an hour or two since I had gotten him to go back to sleep, and he was still in no shape to be on his feet.
I took in a nervous breath of air, not looking back at him. "I thought I told you to get some rest. What are you doing out of bed?"
"You were gone... so I... I kind of thought... I just... that..." he trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
I understood what he was trying to say to me, and it made my heart ache. I spun around to face him and my face sank at the sight of Saeran looking at me with that tired look. There were the faintest traces in his expression that reminded me of the way that Ray had on his face when he desperately wanted someone to embrace him tightly. I hadn't seen that in a while. I had the slightest inkling that that's who I speaking with at that moment. "I didn't want to disturb you, that's all. This is the first time in days that you've slept peacefully. I couldn't bring myself to bother you."
He didn't say anything which only lead me to confirm that suspicion.
I let out a sigh. Standing to my feet, I walked over to him and peered up at his eyes. He wasn't wearing his colored contacts at my insistence that he did not sleep in them. It was strange to see him with the golden color around his irises, but I found that liked it. I reached up and brushed my fingers against his cheek. "It's been a while since it's been just you awake, Ray. I thought you understood that I wasn't ever going to leave you. I promised you that you couldn't get rid of me no matter what happened."
Ray did a double take and then looked at the ground. "How did you know it was me?"
I smiled. "I know you and Saeran will take a while before your two personalities blend back together with the way that you both wanted. It's only been a week and some change since we got away from Magenta. It was beyond optimistic to expect this would be a smooth ride. You've both been doing very good this past week but I figured that sooner or later one of you would wind up more dominant than the other depending on what you were feeling in the moment."
"You aren't upset?" he asked, softly.
"Of course not! I love all of you. It doesn't matter if you're Saeran or Ray or whoever you are in the moment... my heart stays the same no matter what," I shook my head. "You just have to let me know who I'm speaking with when these things happen. That way I know how to help you handle the problem, and I don't misname you."
His shaking hand reached up and pressed against my hand, keeping it close to his heart.
"I'm sorry I frightened you," I murmured. "I'll try not to do that next time."
"It's okay... you're with me now," the glimmer of joy returned to his eyes. "That's all I need."
I nodded. "Yeah. I feel better knowing you're with me too, Ray."
I smiled at him, and then looked behind me at the abandoned computers. I took in a breath, "Look, I was trying to see if I could tinker with the game myself. It hasn't worked since I got here, and I know it can be opened because you did it once already. I just need to know if the game knows where Saeyoung is right now. If there's any chance that there's even the smallest clue, I need to find it, Ray."
"Do you really think it might know something, princess?" He stared at the monitor, unsure. "I don't recall seeing anything but turmoil in the future at my own hands and... there was nothing about him at that moment I had it that spoke of his kidnapping... at least, I don't think there was anything there. I only remember seeing... the bad endings. I don't think it's a good idea to mess with it again."
"I don't like touching this anymore then you do." I was nervous about it. Saeran had only alluded to those realities where Mint Eye won. There was never any word of the timeline we lived in. Still, the pieces about everyone's weaknesses were not a good thing to have in hand. "But I don't know if we can leave it at just that suspicion. We have to know for sure. I don't want anyone to know about what the game has on it, but if it could help us even just a little with finding him... I think it's worth trying to pry the information out again."
"...I'll think about it."
I nodded. "Thanks. That's all I'm asking. I won't be able to get this open without your help, Ray... and if it turns out there's nothing, we'll wipe the information out again."
He didn't seem pleased with the idea. "Yeah. That would be for the best. Nobody should have access to that information."
I agreed with that. "In the meantime, we can count on Jumin's task force to help us find out anything else. I know that with your power and his power at the helm, sooner or later, we'll find him, but I fear for his physical and mental health if it takes too long."
"Me too," he admitted. "I don't know how bad he must be out there..."
"We'll find him, Ray. I know that we will. It's just going to take a lot of work... and doing things that aren't always the best thing. Speaking of which, neither you nor Saeran is going to work for the rest of the day. You're going back to bed right now! This time I'm going to stay with you so you don't crawl out of there again."
His face turned a familiar shade of crimson.