"I told you we should have called a taxi," Addai grumbled, taking Mine's backpack so it wouldn't be tangled on the gates.

"I thought our line was fine," Mine passed his subway card on the machine, opening the gates. "Don't blame me!" Mine grumbled in return, yawning afterward.

Mine and Addai finished their night shift classes a little later than usual and swore that the station would be without any problems that almost dawn. The students had already left, leaving the a rapid teleportation booth out of remaining trips. Well, the teachers were out of luck that night.

They walked along the empty sidewalks and deserted streets.

Earlier, Addai asked if he could call a cab, but Mine told him their line was working fine once he took it the past few days, and no problem was found.

Well, they didn't expect to find a big, yellow sign warning the rails loosened, and they were fixing it that late at night.

Cabs were expensive that late at night, so Mine told Addai he knew an alternative route. His friend wasn't much pleased, but he followed the stubborn tutor of his anyway.

"I'm so sleepy..." Mine yawned again, rubbing his eyes. Well, Mine was tired not only by his classes but also by the rehearsals he attended the previous day, so his body and soul were reduced to ashes.

"We're almost at the next station," Addai yawned as well.

Once the streets were empty, they walked right in the middle of the road. No cars, bikes, or motorcycles were near, so there was no harm in doing that.

The stores were closed, and the lights were turning too dim, sharpening Addai's senses when they reached a specific point from that route.

“Stay close to me,” Addai took one of Mine’s hands, holding it as they walked down the no-more empty streets.

Mine looked around, and maybe because he was tired, he didn't notice important details before. His steps turned slower, and he blinked a couple of times, trying to recognize those streets, lights, and ambiance.

“Tsk… there are some weird people ahead,” Addai clicked his tongue, pulling Mine closer to him.

Mine was still a little sleepy, mixed with tiredness from an exhausting workday. All he wanted was to lay in his bed or sit on the subway bench and rest, even if it was just five minutes.

He slowly looked around, identifying an overturned trash can and some people sitting on the dirty floor with who knows what. Other people were leaning against the walls, and others were heading towards a specific place that he didn't know where it was.

One of the people sitting nearby got up and, as if he didn't want something, he approached Addai with something in his hands. Even though it was dark, Mine could see that something was shining, and that was more than enough to scare him.

“It’s just a lighter,” Addai whispered to Mine, whose eyes turned calm again. “Let's keep walking. They are too high to notice us.”

Walking among modern zombies, Mine and Addai walked a few more steps forward, and loud, muffled music began to bother both tired teachers. A nearby billboard was on, emitting vibrant, mesmerizing lights.

Mine glanced at it. He found it good, but… it was oddly familiar.

A specific muffled song called Mine's Attention.

He knew that song.

He knew that billboard.

Oh.

Mine effectively began paying more attention to his surroundings.

Oh no.

It was the way to the Pub.

How did he not suspect it before?! Could this be an automatic reflex?

Slowly, his muscles began to contract as if they were completely cramped... But he didn't have time for that.

He then began to walk a little faster and even faster than Addai, who followed him, trying to keep up with his hurried steps.

The station.

He needed to get out of there.

I need to reach the station.

It’s close.

I can do it.

Then, he began to feel his neck tighten, his throat close, and his entire body heat up. He felt a pulse of adrenaline course through his veins and was ready to start running until...

“Look! He’s pulling a man for a night at the Pub!” a whistle here.

“The little one is surely hot!” another whistle there.

Mine tried to cover his already covered body from head to toe.

His eyes started to get glossier and he eventually rubbed his face, still pulling Addai to walk faster - to avoid confusion due to how Addai sometimes walked quickly and sometimes slowed down with each insult and insinuation.

Mine felt terribly dirty.

He felt reduced to an object.

That hurt.

That was awful.

“Hey, sweetie,” someone called in a dark alley, oddly close to him.

Mine's legs suddenly froze.

Addai almost collided with Mine but managed to maintain his posture and stayed very close to him. The adrenaline that coursed through Mine's entire body before was now being transferred from his limbs to his heart, which was pulsing so fast that he could feel the pulse in his mouth and skin.

“How much you sellin’ him?” the person asked, and Addai's eyes turned sharp.

A grabby hand tried reaching for Mine and examining his skin - maybe the "product's" quality - but Addai exchanged places and faced the weird person with a weird grin spreading on his face.

“If you dare to speak again, I’ll break your filthy teeth into crumbs,” he growled and the person scurred away in a terrible state of fright.

Addai’s voice turned different for an instant, but Mine didn’t notice that and saw more people gathering around them while his legs refused to move an inch.

Oh no.

Their surroundings mixed in a sole blur.

Move legs, move!

Mine couldn’t focus on anything.

He felt eyes lingering in his skin.

He felt ghost hands trying to pull him away from his sanity.

All eyes were on him.

Help.

He looked at Addai with his eyes widened in fright and horror.

“I-I’m s-scared,” Mine voiced in a quiet and meek voice, hot tears rolling down his cheeks.

His stomach felt sick, and he didn't know his lungs could handle such a suffocating sensation, nor how his throat could bear such ache. 

His hair was in an ashy blue hue, and only the roots still were ashy green, and his eyes were now tainted with a purplish color mixed with the usual pink. Addai never questioned why that happened, and now it wasn’t time for that, but somehow, he was and wasn’t recognizing his friend in front of him...

... but he knew it was the same Mine he knew.

“Focus on me,” Addai gently scooped Mine into his arms.

That was surprisingly warm, like when you take a hot shower after facing a sheer cold weather.

"Do you want me to take care of them?" Addai asked, and his voice turned acid, resembling a growling.

Say yes! That maniac inside him screamed.

"Just… take us out of here," Mine voiced instead, resting his head on Addai's chest.

"Very well."

Everything went dark around them.

Addai's warmth was still present, but Mine felt his surroundings blur as if they were in a pitch-dark room with no single ray of light. The darkness was suffocating, but a warm hand caressed his cheeks, and a reassuring voice crossed his ears.

“Close your eyes, please."

Addai’s voice was different. Even though Mine was curious, he still closed his eyes, hiding his face on Addai’s chest even though he couldn’t see it. His breathing shuddered and faltered a couple of times as he felt they were walking an eerie, peaceful walk.

Where were the voices?

Where was he?

So, he slowly opened his eyes and noticed his surroundings were still very misty, but the mist was more like a black fog.

"It's safe for walking now," Addai said, placing Mine on the floor and taking his hand. "I'll guide you."

Mine nodded, closing his eyes again, and they calmly walked forward.

What was happening?

“Keep your eyes closed until I tell you to open them,” Addai said, guiding Mine’s walk.

Mine looked up without Addai noticing.

Addai’s appearance had changed.

His fluffy hair was still there, but somehow there was something more in the middle of his curls and fluffiness. His eyes weren’t the usual gentle. In fact, they were harsh, and somehow, he seemed to enjoy whatever was happening around them. His face seemed to be way more mature as if he had aged a little bit.

But before he could call for his name, someone’s voice was weirdly crystal clear for him to hear.

“What’s going on here?!” the person shouted and directed a whirlwind in the duo's direction.

Addai chuckled. His chuckle was deep and throaty.

He absorbed the whirlwind and made it dissipate effortlessly with a wave of his free hand. Behind him, Mine saw something dark, swaying and viciously slamming the floor, and when the shockwave tried to hit the person... Addai redirected the blow to the side, avoiding the person.

He squinted his eyes and snorted.

“I smell you have things with Mine, maybe a bond,” Addai said, unfazed, but didn't lay a finger on that mysterious person. “You're damn lucky," he chuckled.

"Y-You..." the person voiced, and Mine noticed their voice was translating their nervous state.

"Look at him, Mine. What do I do with him?” Addai asked with his usual voice, and he dissipated the mist around them.

Mine looked at the person and gasped.

“Younri!”