“I told you we should have called a taxi,” Addai grumbled, taking Mine’s backpack.

“I thought our line was fine,” Mine grumbled back, passing his subway card on the machine.

Mine and Addai had just finished their night shift classes way later than usual and swore that no problems would happen to their station, since it wasn’t rare that some occurrences happened in that line. However, they didn't expect to find a big, yellow sign warning that the rails had loosened.

If it wasn’t enough, the express teleportation booths were out of mana, and the officers would replenish them only in the very morning.

Well, the teachers were out of luck that night.

Mine rubbed his eyes, taking his backpack back from Addai’s hands.

He was exhausted.

The rehearsals were going smoothly, but they were extremely tiresome. Plus, the previous day’s session had been especially intense, and it wasn’t for nothing.

Solo performances were beginning to be reviewed, and Star’s main act wasn’t easy. So, Mine had to sweat his soul out to memorize the main steps and add a few more to give the performance more agility and delicacy.

The next day, his legs were screaming, and they didn’t expect they had to go home on foot. At least he wasn’t lonely walking along the empty sidewalks and streets.

“I’m so sleepy…” Mine yawned for the fifth time that night. All he wanted was to lie in his bed or sit on the subway bench and rest, even if it was just for five minutes.

“We’re almost at the next station,” Addai yawned as well. “Stay close to me,” he offered a hand, and Mine held it, rubbing his tired eyes.

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, fortunately, the main street was clear enough for them to walk.

Then, as they reached a certain point along the route, Addai’s senses sharpened.

“Don’t look around too much,” Addai whispered, and Mine nodded while he still held his hand as they walked down the no-longer-empty streets.

However, Mine was way too drowsy to get the advice and started looking around.

His steps were slower than Addai’s, and, trying to keep up the pace, he forced his eyes to stay sharp as well. With that, he spotted an overturned trash can and a few people sitting on the dirty floor with who knows what. Mine moved his head a bit and saw some more people leaning against the walls, and others heading to a dark alley.

A man suddenly appeared out of nowhere and stopped in front of Addai. He was holding something shining in his hands while he stared at the void. Mine softly gasped, and Addai pulled him closer.

“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. Soon, loud, muffled music began to bother both tired teachers. A nearby billboard was on, emitting vibrant, mesmerizing lights in the darkness.

Mine glanced at it, but his eyes were too sensitive from the darkness, so he looked away.

But when a specific muffled song started from the nearby Pub, his eyes widened in shock.

He knew that song.

He knew that street.

He quickly looked at the billboard, and his heart sank.

He also knew that billboard.

Mine effectively began paying more attention to his surroundings.

It was the way to Younri’s 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.

Slowly, his muscles began to tighten, as if on the verge of cramping— but he didn’t have time to dwell on it. Mine picked up his pace, walking faster and faster. In three steps, he was ahead of Addai, who quickened his steps to keep up with him.

He picked up his pace, walking faster… then faster still.

Soon, he was ahead of Addai, who quickened his steps to keep up with him.

He needed to go far away from there.

The station.

He needed to go to the station.

It was close.

He could do it.

Yeah, he could do it.

Without noticing properly, Mine’s neck tightened, his throat closed, and his entire body heated up. He felt a pulse of adrenaline course through his veins, and he was ready to start running and let go of Addai’s hand. He was about to-

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

“Again? Sheesh, that little one is sure something,” 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. He ignored the fact that Addai sometimes walked quickly and sometimes slowed down at each insult from the zombies.

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 steady himself, staying close at his side.

The insane adrenaline that coursed through Mine's entire body then centered in his chest. His heart was pounding so fast that he could feel the pulse in his mouth and skin. His ear buzzed, but he was frozen in his spot.

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

A grabby hand tried reaching for Mine and examining his skin, 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,” Addai growled, and the person scurried 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. Mine thought among the tsunami of thoughts.

Their surroundings mixed in a single blur.

Move legs, move!

Mine couldn’t focus on anything.

He felt eyes lingering on his skin.

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

All eyes were on him.

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

“I-I’m s-scared,” Mine stammered in a quiet and meek voice.

Hot tears were rolling down his cold cheeks while he pitifully looked at Addai. His stomach felt sick, and he didn't know his lungs could handle such a suffocating sensation, nor how his throat could bear such an ache.

His hair had taken on an ashy blue hue, with only the roots still clinging to their original ashy green. Mine’s eyes, once gentle and pink, were now tinged with a purplish shade that mixed irregularly with their original color.

Addai recognized Mine… and yet, somehow, he didn’t.

And despite that—he knew it was him, the same Mine he knew.

Addai approached Mine and wiped the hot tears from his cheeks, “Focus on me, okay?” he asked, and Mine nodded. “Then, excuse me.”

He gently scooped Mine into his arms, making him comfortable in his embrace. That touch was surprisingly warm, like when you take a hot shower after facing sheer cold weather.

“Do you want me to take care of them?” Addai asked, his voice acid and twisted.

“Just… take us out of here,” Mine whispered back, 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 if Mine was curious, he still closed his eyes, hiding his face on Addai’s chest. 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 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 his usual gentleness. 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. 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 ties with Mine, you’re damn lucky,” Addai chuckled, his voice twisted. Despite his menacing demeanor, he didn’t lay a finger on that mysterious person.

“Y-You..." the person stammered nervously.

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

Mine looked at the person and gasped.

“Younri!”