T w e n t i e t h A n t e r o o m: The End Of A Circle Is Just Another Beginning

I could hear them walking in front of my door. Up and down the stairs… Doors banged and whispers before my door, calling names and calling me, asking for permission to enter the silent room. I was there. I heard everything. But I did not move from my place on the bed. Leaning against the wall, half covered by the white blanket I just stood there, listening to the rain that was lightly hitting the glass.

The sign on my thigh was burning bright, not letting me go anywhere outside my own mind. So I wondered inside my head, letting my thoughts take over me, letting my heart beat freely for the first time. I had some problems. I had quite some problems. Thunder was turning into a beast because of my rejection, while Seung Ho was hurting as much as I was because of my silent feelings. Luhan was worrying for me as well as the others. And the last Portal still haven’t unrevealed himself to us…

I rested my head on my pillow, without closing my eyes. The bloody image of my suicidal father was still there, raping my sight every time I closed my eyes to go to sleep. I wanted to cry. I wanted to shout, apologize, say just how much I was missing him…But Hell was far away and there were bars between us…

I always thought that representing Hell on Earth was a bad thing. I felt ashamed of my powers and embarrassed of my destiny. At the beginning I chose not to believe it fully. I doubt Seung Ho’s words even when I lured Thunder inside my world. But now…now that I knew the truth about my father and the sin he had committed after regretting his choice, now that I knew how close to the Purgatory he was, now everything seemed so natural to me. Everything I could do with my powers:going and coming back from Hell, those odd feelings of supreme anger that sometimes shook my body…everything was in me and everything was me. And if saving papa meant for me to accept all of that, then I would gladly embrace them all. Even if that could mean self-destruction…

Something warm wrapped itself around me, making me drift to sleep…

♃~✵~♃

“Good morning,”I greeted, stepping inside the kitchen.

“EUN RIM!”Joon jumped from his chair and threw his arm around me…or at least, that was his intention before GO pulled him back. “YAH!”

“Don’t you ‘YAH!’ at me,”the latter smacked his head, pushing back to his place as Thunder and Luhan hurried to my side. “How’s my lady this morning?”

I rolled my eyes as Thunder stared at him. “You just won’t stop calling me that, right?”

He nodded in agreement. “Who would I tease then if I wouldn’t call you that?”he smirked.

“Yeah right. I’m good. Very good!”I smiled and pulled my hand from Thunder’s. “I missed you, honey boy!”I lightly rubbed my nose against Luhan’s. “Sorry for making you worry, guys. I just had…to think about all of this.”

“Eun Rim?”

“What, Thunder?”

I was cold. I was mean. I was trying to push him away. ‘Coz I made a decision and there was no turning back now.

“Your eyes…they look different.”

And here I thought he won’t notice. The mirror showed me something strange in the morning:my brown eyes were having a shade of blue. Strange enough.

“I don’t know. What’s for breakfast?”I turned to the others, hopping on one foot towards the table while dragging Luhan after me under GO’s amused eyes.

“Salad. ‘Coz this mustached man over there can’t cook,”Joon showed me the bowl with chopped cucumber and tomatoes.

“YAH! Who are you calling ‘mustached man’, you brat?!”GO threw his slipper towards Joon’s head.

“I’m only saying the truth here! You’re one hairy guy!”the latter began running for his life as GO followed him closely, throwing threats and spoons in his head.

I just smiled and put on the red apron. “So, you two can help me cook the breakfast,”I smiled, taking out some eggs and raw ham.

“I’m a doctor, not a butcher!”Thunder complained as I put the knife in his hand to cut the ham.

“But I’m sure you know how to use that!”

He sighed and began slicing the ham. Even though he was pouting, I knew that inside he was dying of happiness. That’s right, how on Earth could I ever let go of him? Wasn’t he my one and only light? If I let go, wouldn’t I remain forever surrounded by darkness?

GO and Joon came back and we all began preparing the breakfast. But there was someone else around, luring in the shadow of the corridor, looking from afar. I sensed him. Thunder sensed him. Even GO and Joon were aware of his presence. I smiled…

♃~✵~♃

“You had fun.”

He was sitting on the stairs outside, looking at the road that was going through the forest.

“And so what?”I replied to his statement while taking a sit next to him.

“They make you smile. Especially Thunder and Luhan.”

“They are. Because they are my family.”

The sun was setting quietly, but it’s light was sweet even though Seung Ho was all gloomy.

“I’m going,”he stood, preparing to disappear once again to his nest of flames. Who knows how many souls were going to be tortured again tonight. “Goo-“

“Stay,”my hand clenched around his sleeve. Now he was looking at me. I could feel his stare burning a whole in my head.

“Eun Rim…”

“If there’s someone who’s going to be tortured tonight, that’s going to be me,”I smiled as I stood from my place, I met his eyes. They were sparkling on his poker face. “You know that’s a one lifetime offer, don’t you?”I wiggled my eyebrows, trying to slow down my crazy heart.

He slowly leaned forward, so that his face met mine at the same level. He stared at me for a couple of seconds, looking straight into my eyes. Then he smirked. “And what if I say no?”

Hehehehheheeee~~and this is how I make enemies *giggles* I hope you'll anticipate the next chapter just as much as I am myself (even though I am the writer!) Today was a gloomy day for this little Kat *sighs* But it's going to be OK! It will pass...

So, what do you think it will happen? Or, let me put this way, what do you what do you WANT to happen? ^.~

Moony_Kat