Echoes in the Darkness
It was a dream. I knew it was a dream. Those voices—ones I wanted to forget, couldn't forget, or desperately wanted to forget but couldn't—would visit me in my dreams from time to time.
When they started echoing in the darkness, all I could do was huddle up and wait for them to fade.
"Ah...."
I finally escaped the dream. My whole body was soaked in cold sweat. It was chilly, and my head throbbed faintly. I was still curled up just like in the dream.
Jeong In-ah barely managed to drag her heavy body upright. Her body ached a little, but she couldn't skip school again. She'd already missed too many days, and more than that, today was the practical exam.
"Achoo! Ugh. Ow...."
She sneezed, rubbed her stinging nose, and somehow got ready.
She went to school. The classroom was quieter than usual today. Everyone seemed tense because of the practical exam.
Do Seon-woo was there too. He usually showed up late or just barely on time, but for some reason, he was early today. His face was deathly pale, drained of color, and his eyes wandered blankly into space. He looked utterly exhausted at a glance.
Tap.
She lightly poked his shoulder with her finger while he spaced out. But Do Seon-woo didn't react, just kept staring into nothing. Was he really oblivious, or pretending not to notice?
"Hey!"
Unable to hold back, she raised her voice. Only then did Do Seon-woo turn his head.
"Where'd you leave your brain.... Uh....?"
Jeong In-ah trailed off mid-tease, her usual playful energy fizzling out as she took in his state. His eyes were unfocused, his lips cracked and dry, his complexion ghostly pale. He looked like a corpse.
"...Didn't sleep last night?"
Jeong In-ah asked carefully.
Do Seon-woo nodded. "A bit."
"Did you sleep at all? How much?"
"Hm... A little?"
"Ugh. Answer properly."
Jeong In-ah pouted. Do Seon-woo let out a small chuckle.
"Maybe I'm nervous... Couldn't sleep. But I'm fine."
"What's there to be nervous about? You'll ace it anyway."
Jeong In-ah flashed a big smile to encourage him. Do Seon-woo didn't reply, just lowered his head and dropped his gaze to the floor. He looked deep in thought.
"I have to do well. Can't afford any mistakes today."
Once he'd finished thinking, Do Seon-woo looked up and said. A faint smile played on his lips. But his eyes, gazing at distant mountains, were chillingly cold. Even his smile felt eerie and unnatural.
Jeong In-ah swallowed involuntarily, a chill running through her.
"You... You're really okay, right?"
"Of course. Can't mess up today...."
"...."
She had no idea what "can't mess up today" meant, but Jeong In-ah nodded and backed off for now. Do Seon-woo seemed in worse shape than she'd thought. Better to let him rest than keep bothering him.
Soon, Teacher Ha Ye-jin entered.
"The practical exam won't be at school. We'll head to the exam site. So—"
"Pfft-choo! Ow."
"...Everyone, please gather at the athletic field."
Ha Ye-jin finished her brief announcement, glanced at Jeong In-ah, and left the classroom. Jeong In-ah, who had accidentally interrupted with her sneeze, flushed red and bowed her head.
*
Buses were lined up at the athletic field. Kim Jin-seo boarded her assigned vehicle without much thought. For some reason, they weren't grouped by class but randomly assigned. Bus 1 had a few from Kindness Class, Patience Class, Charity Class. Bus 2 had Purity Class, Charity, Diligence... and so on. The pointless complication had turned the field into total chaos.
"Ha...."
Kim Jin-seo sighed the moment she sat down. She hated crowds so much she only attended Mass at off-peak times. She leaned back, closed her eyes, and took several deep breaths before the dizziness subsided. It hadn't been this bad before, but lately, the vertigo hit more often. Maybe from her diet.
"Mind if someone sits next to you?"
Someone spoke to her then. Kim Jin-seo glanced at the girl's face and shook her head.
"No."
"Then can I?"
"Do whatever...."
Kim Jin-seo turned to look out the window. She didn't care who sat there. Not the time to worry about it anyway.
The girl who sat was a classmate she knew only by face. No name, personality, or traits came to mind. No desire to know, either. Kim Jin-seo never bothered trying to befriend classmates. She'd stuck to that attitude ever since the horrific incident with the one kid who'd mistaken her kindness for affection.
"Nervous, huh? You too?"
"...."
Kim Jin-seo ignored the question, staring out the window. The girl smiled as if she hadn't expected a reply anyway and leaned back without another word.
Silence fell. Time passed, and the bus started filling up. Some kids excitedly chattered with friends lucky enough to be on the same bus. Others, like Kim Jin-seo, gazed lonely out the window with no one they knew.
Kim Jin-seo squeezed her eyes shut, trying to sleep. The kids' noise made it impossible. Why are they so hyped for an exam?
"Why're you sitting here?"
"What's wrong with it? No other seats anyway."
Then came two familiar voices. Kim Jin-seo opened her eyes and subtly turned to look. Do Seon-woo and Jeong In-ah sat side by side, chatting intimately. Jeong In-ah had the window seat but stared at Do Seon-woo and spoke.
"Wanna switch?"
"No... I'm just gonna sleep anyway."
Do Seon-woo shook his head, leaned back, and closed his eyes. He seemed ready to pass out immediately. Jeong In-ah tapped his shoulder.
Do Seon-woo slowly opened his eyes and grumbled irritably. "Ah, what."
"If you're sleeping, switch. Window's comfier."
"I'm fine...."
Reluctantly, Do Seon-woo stood and swapped seats with Jeong In-ah. Kim Jin-seo stared hard at them, but Do Seon-woo didn't notice. Jeong In-ah did, though. Their eyes met, and she furrowed her brow slightly before casually looking away.
All seated students, please fasten your seatbelts without exception....
Before Jeong In-ah's actions could raise questions, the driver's slurred voice crackled over the speaker. Soon, the bus departed.
Because Jeong In-ah had switched with Do Seon-woo, Kim Jin-seo could no longer see him.
"...What the."
Kim Jin-seo tilted her head, glancing at Jeong In-ah. It irked her for some reason, but she couldn't pinpoint why. Exhaustion dulled her thoughts anyway; she couldn't dwell deeply.
"What?"
The girl next to her poked her head in curiously.
"Why keep talking to me?"
Kim Jin-seo snapped coldly, hoping to shake off the overly friendly girl. Her tone and expression were icy.
"We're not close. Figured we could be from now on."
The girl beamed innocently, as if she'd anticipated the reaction. Kim Jin-seo stared, bewildered. What kind of kid is this? Most would back off scared or flustered by now.
"That guy's on our bus too. Do Seon-woo."
The girl continued undeterred. Kim Jin-seo eyed her warily.
"How do you know him?"
"Weird if you didn't. He's famous."
"Famous...? Why?"
"You seriously don't know?"
The girl looked shocked. Sure, he was somewhat known—good grades, achievements outside school, and holder of the Charity Holy Mark. But not that famous.
He stood out in his own way, but not flashily.
"That incident at school. He 'miraculously' died and came back or whatever. It was even in the news. No way you missed it?"
"Ah...."
She knew of the incident but not the news coverage. No time to check articles. Her father's illness had worsened critically, and Do Seon-woo had been unconscious, hovering between life and death. She couldn't face it sanely.
The girl went on. "You got an award with him early semester. I chatted with him briefly last time too."
"What about?"
Kim Jin-seo glared. The girl waved it off with a laugh.
"He was looking for you in front of our classroom, so I told him to wait."
"...."
"But he left saying he was busy. Total jerk."
The girl playfully pointed at Do Seon-woo. Kim Jin-seo felt quiet relief and unconsciously turned back toward the window, crossing her legs and arms as she stared outside.
"Not... that bad."
She defended him despite herself. He didn't deserve that label.
"He was. Could've waited a sec."
"Why wait? Who am I to him."
Kim Jin-seo chuckled resignedly and glanced toward Jeong In-ah. Only curly brown hair peeked out; she couldn't see what they were doing.
"Why say it like that?"
The girl frowned disapprovingly. The bus had hit the highway, speeding endlessly toward an unknown destination. Kim Jin-seo stared out tiredly and spoke.
"No need to wait. Just call."
"Wouldn't it be better to meet and talk?"
"What're you on about?"
"Huh? But, like, aren't you two...?"
The girl trailed off awkwardly, then leaned in, glancing around.
"...Dating? That's what I heard."
Kim Jin-seo whipped her head around in shock.
"What? That's ridiculous."
"Not? If it's school rules, just say so. Ma Yu-hyeon from Humility Class is—"
"No. Who said that crap?"
Kim Jin-seo demanded incredulously. The rumor itself didn't matter; baseless gossip about her irked her. For Do Seon-woo... the content might disgust him.
"Oh, not? Sorry, I didn't know. Just heard it and assumed...."
"Heard from who."
The girl bowed her head under Kim Jin-seo's piercing glare. Her sharp features made it intimidating. The girl clammed up in fear, but Kim Jin-seo kept staring until she answered.
Reluctantly, she did. "I, uh... Kids from Han Su-ryeon's group said...."
"Han Su-ryeon."
Kim Jin-seo repeated. Han Su-ryeon was well-connected and talkative. Her words carried more weight in rumors. Unless she clarified directly, it'd linger.
"Got it. And you—don't believe them next time."
She'd confront Han Su-ryeon later. The girl nodded at the advice.
"Okay."
"At least it's a good rumor."
Kim Jin-seo sighed softly. No rumors were best, but if there had to be, better not a bad one. This barely qualified, in her view. Do Seon-woo might feel differently.
"...There was talk he was two-timing, but nah, right?"
"Don't be stupid."
"Yeah, didn't seem like him!"
Kim Jin-seo pressed her forehead to the window and shut her eyes. Han Su-ryeon spreading nonsense annoyed her, but people swallowing it whole baffled her more.
"But... if not dating, what are you two?"
The girl asked cautiously—what were they, if not lovers? Kim Jin-seo hadn't pondered it much. Do we have to define it?
"Dunno... Me neither."
As she mulled, she recalled grabbing his hand days ago. It was ice-cold and rigid, like it might shatter if gripped too hard. But letting go felt like he'd vanish, so she held on. Stubbornness masked as fatigue. Looking back, she couldn't explain her impulse.
"So, what do you want you two to be?"
The girl's innocent tone hid her hope for a specific answer. Kim Jin-seo felt mild irritation but pondered seriously.
What do I want? Not just him around. But nothing specific beyond that. What I want from him is probably...
"Not answering?"
"...Shut up. I'm sleeping."
"Mhm."
The girl replied brightly and stopped pestering with questions or chit-chat. Kim Jin-seo leaned against the window and closed her eyes. Her head hurt. The questions floated in her mind.
*
We have arrived at the practical exam site. Students, please disembark in an orderly manner. Repeat...
I opened my eyes at the voice. I'd clearly slept, but it felt like I hadn't. Just closed and opened, and time had passed. The fatigue gnawing at my consciousness lingered.
No surprise—a few days' exhaustion wouldn't vanish with hours of sleep.
"Awake?"
As I gathered my wits and recalled the plan, Jeong In-ah asked. A strange, inscrutable smile tugged at her lips.
I nodded, and she continued. "Slept like a rock. Tired?"
"Yeah...."
I tried sounding fine, but my throat was hoarse. Jeong In-ah giggled.
"Looks like it. Let's go!"
She jumped up. I followed. My body felt heavy like wet clothes; my steps five times heavier. Physically and mentally, I wasn't fit for a normal exam.
Planning to take it abnormally anyway, aren't you?
"...."
I ignored Legba and trailed Jeong In-ah. We got off the bus. Students from other buses stood stunned by the sight. I joined them in gazing.
It was overwhelmingly grand. A barren wasteland where no grass grew. Dozens, hundreds of houses atop it. All ruined, dilapidated, eerie abandoned shells. Broken building debris, furniture, dishes scattered nearby—proof people once lived here.
The area you're seeing is your practical exam site.
A teacher's words over the mic stirred unrest among students. I kept surveying unperturbed.
Exam boundaries will have no-entry tape and proctors. Leaving the site will result in...
A massive village of ruins and dead trees, encircled by even larger mountains. Most striking: a crater in the center, like a meteor impact, concave in the village heart.
All students here knew the cause.
This is also the site of your battle against the Satan Cult executive, 'Wrath'.
(To be continued in the next chapter)