Only three of the seven Thirteen members remained, sitting together at a cafeteria table, enjoying their lunch during the break.
"Satya and Setta are doing much better now. After school, let's go visit them," Arkha said.
"I heard Jio and Niki's conditions have stabilized too, even though they still can't be transferred to a regular ward yet," Hesa replied.
"At least we know they're going to be okay," Arkha said.
"Yeah... hopefully," Hesa murmured.
They continued eating, but Hesa's gaze drifted toward Joan, who was sitting across from him. The younger boy simply stared down at his food in silence.
"The bell's about to ring, Jo. Finish your lunch," Hesa reminded him.
"Yeah," Joan answered absentmindedly.
"What are you thinking about?" Hesa asked.
"I-I've just been wondering... what if one of us gets hurt again?" Joan said quietly.
"Don't think like that. Just pray that everyone stays safe," Hesa reassured him.
Joan didn't reply. He simply continued eating.
Unknowingly, however, Joan's words began to weigh heavily on Hesa's mind.
He knew Joan hadn't said it without reason. Joan must have sensed it too—that Heeseung's gang was targeting all of them, trying to injure them... or even kill them.
"Hesa,"
Hesa turned to his side and looked at Arkha, who was sitting beside him.
"What are you doing in my classroom?" Hesa asked.
"Come on, we agreed to go to the hospital together after school, remember?" Arkha replied.
"Oh, right. I almost forgot."
Hesa began putting his books into his bag.
"Forgot, or were you spacing out? The classroom's already empty, and you're still sitting here," Arkha teased.
"I kept trying to deny it... but Joan's words from lunch are stuck in my head again."
After packing up, Hesa looked around and realized the classroom was now occupied by only him and Arkha.
"Isn't Joan with you?" Hesa asked.
"He went to the library first. The teacher asked him to return some books," Arkha answered.
"Then let's go meet him there. I'm worried about him being alone."
"Yeah... I was thinking the same thing."
The two of them headed toward the library together.
~~~~~
"I hope they don't leave without me."
Joan placed the books back onto their respective shelves one by one, occasionally glancing at his watch.
"There are so many books... and every one of them goes on a different shelf," he grumbled.
He pulled out his phone, intending to text Hesa and ask him to wait by the school gate.
Creeak!
Before he could send the message, the sound of the library door startled him, causing him to look up immediately.
Someone entered, followed by the sound of something hitting the floor.
Joan instinctively hurried over.
When he arrived, he found Hesa lying face-down on the floor.
"Hesa! What happened to you?" Joan exclaimed.
"Joan... you're still here."
Hesa quickly glanced toward the still-open door before rushing over to slide it shut.
"Are you okay?" Joan asked, becoming even more worried by Hesa's anxious expression.
"We need to hide."
Hesa grabbed Joan's arm and pulled him beneath the librarian's desk.
"They're here... the copies?" Joan whispered.
Hesa nodded.
"Arkha told me you were in the library after the teacher asked you to return some books."
"Yeah. I also had to put them back on the shelves, so it took longer. I was just about to text you and ask you to wait for me at the front gate."
"No. We decided to come get you instead. But while we were passing the garden, they attacked us... and we got separated."
Joan nodded in understanding.
"Let's stay here for a while."
"I have a feeling they'll check this place too," Hesa said.
Neither of them dared to leave their hiding spot.
Several minutes passed.
Then footsteps echoed from outside, slowly approaching the library.
"That's them," Hesa whispered.
"It could just be another student, or someone coming to the library. I'll check," Joan said.
"Not yet. Let's wait until they come inside, just to be safe."
Hesa had a point.
Realizing he'd been too hasty, Joan quietly remained beneath the desk.
Creaaak...
The library door opened.
A phone notification chimed.
Joan's eyes widened in shock as a hand suddenly covered his mouth while something sharp jabbed into his neck.
"Joanan Xavero... I've come to pick you up," the figure behind him whispered.
Meanwhile...
Hesa frowned as he looked at the message Joan had just sent.
It said that his family had already arrived at the school gate to pick him up.
"That's unusual... His family's picking him up today?"
He turned toward Arkha, who had just finished searching the library.
"Joan's not here. I guess he already went back to class," Arkha said.
"He just texted me. His family's waiting at the front gate, so I told him we'll meet later at the hospital," Hesa replied.
"That's good. Let's head to the hospital now," Arkha said.
The two of them began walking away from the library.
After taking only a few steps, Arkha turned around and noticed Hesa was still standing by the library entrance.
"Hey, aren't you going to close the door?" Arkha asked.
"Didn't you hear that, Khan?" Hesa replied.
"Hear what?"
"There was a sound coming from under the librarian's desk."
"I didn't hear anything. Hmm... maybe it was just a mouse."
Hesa stared at the librarian's desk for a few moments before finally deciding to close the library door.
~~~~~
Fortunately, Setta's condition had improved enough that he had been moved into the same hospital room as Satya.
"Well, look who's doing better now," Arkha teased with a grin.
"You came to visit us empty-handed?" Satya complained.
"Seriously. Go back and bring food," Setta added.
"Oh? Are we getting kicked out now?" Hesa laughed.
Everyone burst into laughter, knowing they were only joking.
"Can you go home yet, Sat?" Arkha asked.
"I'll be discharged this afternoon. I only got mugged, after all," Satya answered casually.
"'Only' got mugged?!" Arkha exclaimed in disbelief.
"I mean... it's not as bad as what happened to Setta."
"Did either of you see the person who attacked you?" Hesa asked.
"You already know the answer," Setta replied.
"Your own copies," Hesa said, earning nods from both Satya and Setta.
A loud growl interrupted the conversation.
"Whose stomach's putting on a concert?" Satya joked.
"M-Mine..." Arkha admitted sheepishly with an awkward grin.
"Let's just order some food online," Hesa suggested.
"Don't forget to order some for us too," Setta called out.
"You got it," Arkha replied.
Bzzzt.
All of their phones suddenly vibrated at the same time.
Arkha opened the message and immediately froze.
He looked over at Satya and Setta, who were just as shocked.
Hesa's reaction was different.
The older student gripped his phone so tightly that his knuckles turned white, anger clearly written across his face.
Arkha understood exactly how Hesa felt.
He himself was overwhelmed by both sadness and rage.
Because Joan had just sent a photo to their group chat—
A photo of himself tied to a chair, with his mouth sealed shut by duct tape.