"Joanan Xavero... I've come to pick you up."
"H-Hesa...?"
Joan slowly opened his eyes, taking in the messy surroundings.
It was obvious now that he was inside an abandoned warehouse.
"I can't believe I didn't realize that wasn't Hesa..." he grumbled as he struggled against the ropes binding his hands behind the chair, trying to loosen them.
"Two choices... become a sacrifice or get killed? Or maybe... both."
His eyes fell upon the strange symbols painted across the concrete floor, surrounding the chair he was tied to.
Not long after, footsteps echoed from outside.
"Riki, that photo you took is terrible. Since his head's hanging down, you can barely tell it's him."
"Well, he was unconscious. It's not like I could pose him."
"You could've. Or at least found a better angle."
"Come on Jungwon. They're his friends. They'll recognize him even if the picture isn't that clear."
"Hmm... fair point."
The warehouse door creaked open, revealing the two who had been talking.
"Oh, you're awake." Jungwon approached Joan first.
"Need me to retake the photo?" Riki mocked.
"Sure. Though I think it'd look better if I beat him up first. Give the picture a little more decoration."
"Wow, that'd make it way more dramatic," Riki laughed as he raised his phone.
"Damn it! Why are you taking pictures of me?!" Joan shouted.
"So your little friends know what's going on."
Jungwon took Riki's phone and showed Joan the Thirteen group chat, where the photo of him had already been sent.
"We're supposed to kill every member of Thirteen one by one," Riki said with a wide grin as he stared at Joan. "But none of them have died yet."
Jungwon understood exactly what Riki was thinking.
The prey was already right in front of them.
"Honestly, I'd love to kill him now," Jungwon admitted. "But Heeseung's plan is to use this him as bait for Arkha."
He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled something out.
"From what you've told me, that red-haired brat keeps interfering. And this isn't even our dimension."
Slash.
"Ahh!"
Joan winced in pain as Jungwon suddenly sliced across his neck without warning.
"Since this isn't our dimension, we'd better add another layer of protection."
Jungwon smeared some of Joan's blood onto the dull side of his folding knife before carefully drawing strange symbols across Joan's cheek.
Joan refused to stay still, struggling to move his head despite the burning pain in his neck.
"My dear twin... can you sit still? Or do I need to make you?"
"Bastard..."
Joan finally stopped resisting when Jungwon gripped his chin with unnaturally sharp fingernails, deliberately digging them into his cheek. He even tilted Joan's head on purpose, making the cut on his neck sting even more.
"Ancient runes. I'm sure no one will be able to find you... except someone who's already a spirit."
Jungwon's sinister laughter echoed throughout the warehouse.
~~~~~
That night, Kayn was still sitting at his desk, finishing several school assignments.
"Done with this one... but I don't get the last problem. Guess I'll just ask my teacher."
He picked up his phone and messaged his teacher, who asked him to send a photo of the question.
Kayn aimed his camera at the worksheet.
Just as he was about to take the picture, faint words slowly appeared across the paper.
He decided to photograph the question first.
Only after sending it did he speak.
"So... what are you thanking me for, Kal?"
"Thanks for coming to the hospital today," his friend replied.
"You're talking like I'm some stranger."
"I'm glad you came... but sorry, I still haven't been able to find him."
"Is he trapped by some kind of spell?" Kayn asked.
"Something like that. But it could also become a trail once the spell starts weakening."
"So how do we do it?"
"They're still guarding him."
"So we wait until they leave... and Joan's alone."
"Exactly."
Kayn nodded in understanding.
"I can still try," his friend continued. "Just... not yet."
"That's good enough. Thanks, Kal."
"No problem."
Ding!
His teacher's reply arrived.
Following the explanation he'd been given, Kayn resumed working until every assignment was finally complete.
"Finally finished."
He closed his notebook and packed it into his school bag.
"They've probably gone home by now."
Kayn picked up the takeout he'd bought from a restaurant near the hospital, checked the contents to make sure it was the right order, then immediately left his apartment.
He walked straight toward another unit.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
A moment later, the door opened, revealing Hesa with a tired, worn-out expression.
"Are you okay?" Kayn asked cautiously.
"Y-Yeah."
"Sorry, but... can I stay here tonight? The electricity in my apartment is acting up."
"...Kayn?"
"Y-Yeah. Sorry about before... I asked Asta to come instead."
"That's fine. Come in."
Hesa stepped aside to let him enter.
"Looks like my apartment's going to be crowded tonight."
"Crowded?"
"Arkha's staying over too. We're all really scared because—"
Hesa suddenly fell silent, clutching at the pain tightening in his chest.
"I understand, Asta already told me what happened to Joan. I came here to help protect you too."
~~~~~
Morning arrived.
As usual, Hesa and Arkha went to school together.
However, once they reached school, they split up. Hesa headed to the student council room, while Arkha went straight to his classroom.
Even after arriving, Hesa remained lost in thought.
He couldn't stop worrying about Joan.
Especially after Kayn admitted he still hadn't been able to find him, though he promised he'd keep trying.
Kayn had also warned Hesa to be careful with the friends who were still hospitalized.
"Setta and Satya are recovering... while Heeseung's real objective is to drive me—or Arkha—insane through everyone else's deaths."
Hesa glanced at the stack of student council work waiting on his desk.
"There's not much. I can finish this on my phone later."
"I'd rather go to the hospital now."
He stood up from his chair.
Before he could reach the door, another student walked in.
"Bro, heading back to class already?" Jaehyuk asked.
"Y-Yeah. I'll get going first."
"Wait."
Jaehyuk instinctively stepped in front of him, blocking the doorway.
"You look pale. Haven't eaten breakfast?"
"I'll eat during lunch."
"Come eat with me now."
"Sorry, Jae. Something urgent came up."
Bzzzt.
Hesa's phone suddenly rang.
He frowned at the unfamiliar number.
A wrong number...?
Still, he answered.
"Hello?"
"Hi, my twin."
"Damn it! Where did you hide Joan?!"
"Hide him? I didn't hide him. He's right here beside me."
"Give him back! Now!"
"Sure... I'll return him."
"After I kill him. Hahaha."
Beep.
The caller hung up before Hesa could say another word.