𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳-𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 || 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱

𝟮𝟮. 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗺𝗲?

"Hara, is that you?"

The words hit me like a sudden gust of wind. My body freezes, my hands trembling as a wave of fear and pain crashes over me.

"Hara?"

A touch on my hand makes me flinch. I lower my gaze, trying to calm my racing heart, but it's hard to ignore the sharp sting of the moment.

"It's you..." Namra's voice is soft, almost in disbelief.

I force my eyes open again, meeting the faces of my friends. I was about to walk away, to disappear into the fog, when suddenly someone grabs my arm and turns me toward them.

"You're alive," Onjo says, her voice filled with shock and wonder.

Her eyes search mine, as if trying to make sense of it. But I can't look at her, can't meet her gaze. I turn away, focusing instead on Gwinam, who stands behind the group, arms crossed, watching with an unreadable expression. Daesu steals nervous glances at him, while Hyoryung huddles behind him, clearly uneasy.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Onjo presses, her voice a little softer now, a little more vulnerable.

I open my mouth, but no words come out. I don't know what to say. I don't know how to explain any of this.

"Shit, and why are you still alive?" Mijin's voice cuts through the tension, her tone blunt. "I thought you were gone for good."

Hari glares at her. "Mijin, seriously."

"What? I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking," Mijin mutters, crossing her arms.

I glance at Gwinam again. His patience is wearing thin, his eyes dark with irritation.

'Eat them'

The voice rings in my head, a familiar pull I can't ignore. The headache is sharper now, throbbing violently against my skull. Maybe Gwinam was right after all. The hunger is growing stronger, but I force myself to ignore it, clenching my fists and trying to keep my vision clear.

"Hara?" Onjo's voice snaps me back to reality. "Are you okay?"

I look at the group—everyone's watching me, waiting for an answer. Hari is sitting next to Wujin, watching him with a nervous hope, but his condition hasn't changed. He doesn't seem to be turning, but the worry lingers in the air.

"Did you do that?" Suhyeok's voice breaks the silence. He tilts his head toward Wujin. "Did you cure him?"

"She did," Gwinam replies casually. "Pretty impressive, huh?"

"Why are you butting in?" Daesu snaps, his tone sharp. "You're not even supposed to be here."

"Leave him," I whisper, not wanting to hear any more of this.

"Hara, don't you remember what he did?" Hyoryung's voice shakes with concern. "He tried to kill us. He even tried to kill you."

Daesu grabs a shovel and points it at Gwinam, his voice low with menace. "What if he tries that again?"

"He won't," I say firmly, stepping between them. "He's—"

"He's what? Did you hit your head during that explosion? How can you side with him?" Daesu cuts me off, his frustration bubbling over.

"I'm just..." My voice falters, but I try to keep my composure.

"Why is everyone acting like this?" Gwinam's voice rises with frustration. "Hara and I are practically family now."

He steps forward and drapes his arm over my shoulder, a gesture that feels oddly protective but only makes everyone stare. The tension is palpable. Suhyeok is the first to move, pulling Onjo away from Gwinam with a protective urgency. He reaches for my hand, but I instinctively pull away.