Chương 2: Her

"R-Ryan…" a trembling voice whispered through the phone.

"How did you get this number?" he asked.

What followed was the sound of quiet sobbing, muffled yet gut-wrenching.

He sighed, attempting to mask his concern. "What do you want?" he muttered, his voice low.

Then, her words struck him like a knife: "Sky Tower… Come pick up my body there."

The call ended abruptly.

"Wait! No! *****! Don't—DON'T DO IT!" Ryan screamed into the lifeless receiver, his heart pounding in his chest.

He slammed the phone down and clenched his fists. "Shit!" he cursed, grabbing his scarf and jacket in one fluid motion. The cold outside would bite, but that was the least of his concerns.

"TAXI!" he hollered as he stumbled out onto the street, waving frantically. A yellow cab screeched to a halt.

"Sky Tower, now!" he barked, diving into the back seat. The urgency in his voice was enough for the driver to floor it without question.

"Please… don't do it…" Ryan muttered under his breath, his hands trembling as he clenched the edge of the seat. He knew her well—knew the lengths she would go to make him pay.

...

"HAAAAAA!" The blue-haired young man gasped as he jolted upright, drenched in sweat. His chest heaved, and his disoriented gaze darted around the dim room.

[A nightmare again?]

"…Yeah. Something like that," he muttered, his voice still shaky as he tried to steady his breathing.

[You've been having them a lot lately. Don't you think it's a sign?]

"A sign of what?" he scoffed, brushing damp strands of blue hair out of his eyes.

[That she's close.]

He froze for a moment, his widened eyes betraying the unease he tried to suppress. But he quickly masked his reaction, forcing himself upright as he grabbed the stairway railing.

"How long was I out?" he asked, changing the subject.

[An hour till dusk,] the voice replied.

"Great," he grumbled, running a hand through his hair. He cursed under his breath as he descended the staircase, skillfully avoiding the guards patrolling the halls.

It was a miracle no one had caught him sleeping here. If they had, he'd be facing severe punishment—or worse, losing critical points for next month's evaluations.

[Why do you keep refusing to merge with your blessing?] the voice pressed.

"I just need more time," He said tersely, slipping behind a pillar to avoid a passing guard.

[Time for what? To keep living like this? Weak and indecisive?]

"More time to get my shit together! My head's a mess, alright?" he snapped.

[It's sickening to watch you squander your potential. You know how powerful you could be.]

"…And you know the corruption will come," He said, his voice quieter now. He peeked around the corner, ensuring the path ahead was clear before moving forward.

[It's about her again, isn't it?]

"Don't. Bring. Her. Up," he hissed through gritted teeth.

[Why not?]

"Just don't," He shot back, his tone final.

The voice sighed, fading momentarily into silence.

As the young man navigated the corridors, he expertly evaded sensors and cameras. Tripping any of them would expose him instantly.

[So, you're afraid. Afraid of losing what little humanity you cling to. Afraid of what the corruption might strip away.]

"….,"

[You can't avoid the truth forever. Either you take control of your fate, or it takes control of you.]

"For once... Just let me be," he whispered, and the voice fell silent.

...

-Click.-

The door creaked open.

The young man hesitated, peering inside. The faint sound of running water echoed from the communal baths. The dorm was coming to life; it wouldn't be long before classes began.

As he closed the door, a voice called out.

"Took you long enough."

His head snapped upward, his eyes narrowing as he spotted a shadowed figure sitting on the top bunk.

"Who are you?" he asked, disinterested, already pulling off his blazer and preparing for a hot shower.

"You can call me Eric," the figure said, flipping the light switch.

He squinted against the sudden brightness. His gaze locked onto the man's golden-blond hair and piercing green eyes.

"…You," he muttered, his voice low.

The figure smirked.

"Long time no see, banished prince."

He exhaled sharply, a sense of dread settling in his chest.

"Great," he muttered bitterly.

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