Yuri’s POV

That box was just a part of Dohan’s little tests. He was the one who gave that it to me. It happened last year after my break down up at the bell tower. I don’t know how he does it but he is able to associate certain things to memories I never had.

If I tried to think about the box before I realized everything, my mind would immediately go back to that hazy memory of me being given the box by an unknown person. Every time I tried to remember something about my past, it would always be in fragments.

Over time, I’ve concluded that some of these memories are not mine.

After the incident with Taekwoon hyung, I was destroyed. That night wasn’t just about a person dying in front of my own eyes. It also signaled the start of my imprisonment inside Dohan’s sick games.

When Taekwoon hyung shot himself, I fell back and couldn’t process what had just happened. I wanted it to be a nightmare that I could wake up from but it wasn’t. What I failed to realize then was, the real nightmare had just begun.

Flashback + Present

“Well that took longer than expected.” He turned to me and I could feel the heaviness of his stare beyond that mask.

“W-wh-who are you?” I asked

“That’s up to you, Yuri. I can be your friend or your enemy.” He always liked talking in puzzles. I held my breath as he got closer.

He bended his knees and leveled himself with me.

“Forget the life you’ve had. Your life belongs to me now. From here on out, you will live by my rules and by my standards. Should you not obey, I can tell you right now that you’ll end up like him.” He casually points to Taekwoon’s lifeless body.

Rather than fear, I felt anger spread all around my body. I wanted to scream at him. I wanted him to pay for what he did to my best friend.

“As expected you look more promising. Let’s start the game shall we?” That’s when he grabbed me by collar and I felt a sharp sting on my neck.

The room melted and everything turned white. I was hallucinating. That was the first time I saw the white room. In that confined space, no rules but his existed. Everything was under his control. I was under his control.

The next thing I remember was waking up in the hospital. I opened my eyes and saw my mother sitting down near my bed while my father was outside talking to some of the doctors. When I felt, my body regain control, I snapped and started shouting for Taekwoon hyung. 

My parents tried to calm me down but they couldn’t. I was having a panic attack so the nurses rushed in to sedate me once more. For weeks, I went in and out of my consciousness. I ended up feeling numb.

Several people tried to make me talk but I didn’t. I remember feeling trapped inside my own body. I wanted to tell someone, anyone at all, that there was another person with us that night but I couldn’t.

The story played out how exactly he wanted it to. I was taken off the official case files and Taekwoon’s death was listed off as suicide. It was accepted as the truth while I held onto what really happened that night.

Like I said, he wasn’t satisfied with taking one life. He wanted more blood in his hands. I started seeing him again but this time as my therapist. A lot went on beyond that door. Most of which I don’t really remember.

The second letter in the box was partially true.

Dohan made me believe that I was the one who shot Taekwoon. That’s how he got the video of me ‘confessing’ to the crime. I remember feeling like I had to do everything he said. It wasn’t because of fear. I did everything he said because I didn’t know there were other choices. I was completely void of any sort of control.

At that time, the way I remembered that night changed constantly until I just couldn’t remember it all but before he made me forget it completely… he set out to take one more life.

I never drew the mask. I never told my mother about the mask either. Dohan came to my mother, himself, with the disc containing my confession. Like any mother would do, she wanted to protect me so she prepared herself to do whatever it is that Dohan wanted. 

She flew to Jeju to kill herself because that’s what he wanted her to do. Dohan knew my mother would go there so he set up hidden cameras all over the place she often stayed whenever she visited the island.

My mother wrote a letter to my father apologizing for what she was about to do but didn’t say the real reason. She told my father to lie to everyone about her death. My mother’s death was written off because of some rare illness that plagued her.

The truth was she poisoned herself and she died alone. I know how she did it because Dohan made me watch her die.

Naturally, I went hysterical but he stopped me. After all, I was under his control and there wasn’t much I could do. I was past my breaking point and that allowed him to reset everything. Seeing my own mother die like that finally broke the last string of sanity I had.

I finally lost myself and that’s when Dohan formed his own version of me.

--

I got to school and I entered the same hallway I’ve been walking on since freshmen year. For whatever reason, I felt slightly nostalgic. I’m not exactly sure what I’d even miss about this place. Maybe it’s just stupid emotions.

The halls were crowded but I saw exactly who I wanted to see. I stopped right in front Choa and I could tell she was expecting me.

“When all of this is done, you’ll make a run for it?” Choa asked even though she already knew the answer.

“You already know the answer to that.”

“Do I really though? Or am I sensing hesitation on your part?” I’m not sure where this is going but I can’t quite deny it either.

“I’ll leave. I promise. Just do your part and I’ll do mine.” I left her there at the hallway and went ahead to my own classroom.

I opened the door and she was there.

Jessica laughing with her friends, being carefree and just living a normal life. She deserves it. I spent a lot of time making sure that everything will be set once I go with my plan.

“Hey there!” Taeyeon greeted me first and the rest did the same.

--

Author’s POV

Dohan patiently waited for morning classes to finish before he made his move towards Yuri’s classroom. He was stood right outside when the bell rang.

Students crowded the hallways in one swift second. Yuri went out of the classroom with the others trailing closely behind him.

“Kwon Yuri…” Dohan gently called out, wearing one of his most deceiving smiles.

When Jessica saw Yuri heading towards Dohan, she had to think fast. Without no plan whatsoever, she grabbed Yuri’s arm and spewed out the first words that came to her mind.

“Yuri! Why don’t we… uhh talk about the sky lantern project?? The culture festival is coming up in a few days so we should…” Jessica stammered

Yuri raised his eyebrows and spoke “You’re doing the project with Taeyeon now. We switched partners, remember?”

Kris, Taeyeon and Taecyeon, got out of the classroom and saw how Jessica awkwardly had her arm around Yuri’s.

“Lunch?” Taeyeon asked the two boys on each of her side

“Let’s go.” Kris and Taecyeon answered in unison and left Jessica, Yuri and Dohan.

“Yuri, are you available for a quick chat? We could talk in my office.” Dohan politely asked as he looked at Yuri as if he won’t take no for an answer.

In Jessica’s mind, the last place Yuri should be right now is alone with Dohan.

“I’m sorry Doctor but me and Yuri have this uhh project we need to discuss! Maybe next time! See ya!” Jessica hastily says and drags Yuri out of the academic building.

Yuri didn’t resist at all. He let himself get dragged by Jessica until they got out of the building.

“I know it’s none of my business but I don’t think you should be hanging around him. He’s dangerous and…” Jessica paused as she looked at Yuri’s smiling face.

“Why are you smiling? I’m serious!”  Jessica hit Yuri’s shoulder.

“Who said you weren’t? I just find your actions amusing, that’s all.” Yuri broke into a small laugh as he saw anger spark from Jessica’s eyes. He looked behind them and saw that Dohan was watching them not too far from where they stood.

“If you don’t want to eat then come with me.” Yuri says as he walks past Jessica and heads for the hill behind the soccer field.

Jessica let out a sigh of frustration but ended up following Yuri up the hill anyway. They both sat under the comforting shade of a tree.

“I know that you meant well but you can never do that again, okay?” Yuri tried his best to get his point across without revealing too much information.

“Shouldn’t you be calling the police? He shouldn’t be near you or anyone else!” Jessica countered with an argument.

“Please trust me, okay? I can’t let you be more involved than you already are.”

Up until today Jessica has been extremely patient and understanding when it came to Yuri. She knew the fact there are lines that she can’t cross but she too had her limits.

“No. You can’t do that.” Jessica gets up on her feet and looks down at Yuri

“…If you really think that psycho doctor guy is not a threat then fine. Any other person who read that letter wouldn’t say that but I did because I trust you. And it’s really hard to do that if you can’t do the same for me.”

Jessica was at her wits end. She and Yuri have been going around circles. She wants to help him but he doesn’t let her. In between all the confusing and vague explanations, her feelings are all caught up in the middle. If this was any other day, she would’ve let this slide but not today. She simply was just not having it anymore.

Yuri began to contemplate. He was aware how his actions have been affecting Jessica. At the back of his mind, he had hoped that Jessica would remain understanding despite the situation. Yuri wanted to make Jessica as unaware as possible to control the possible damage that his plans may inflict on her. There was no telling how Jessica would react after everything is over.

But that wasn’t the problem at present. If Jessica decides to throw in the towel now then he would lose the most vital part of his plan and worse, he’d be leaving her vulnerable for Dohan to make a move.

“The more you know, the more you’ll get hurt but if I left you out of it then it would’ve been worse than keeping you somewhat aware of everything.” Yuri heard himself as he said this and even he felt frustrated.

Jessica looked at Yuri. Unlike the countless times she looked at the boy before her, something felt different. She has always sensed something beneath the cold and nonchalant front. Right now more than ever, she felt like she was seeing the real Yuri.

“Then tell me.” Jessica trusted Yuri. No more, no less. “…there’s always going to be something worse so just tell me. I might not be prepared to hear it but just give me time to process whatever it is and we’re good.”

Jessica sat back down and reached for Yuri’s hand. It was a simple gesture but from it Yuri gained confidence.

And so Yuri started from the very beginning, from the time he met Taekwoon. From that day up until now, it has been a constant struggle but Yuri knew that it was all gonna be worth it once it was finished.

Jessica took in every bit of Yuri’s explanation and it was hard. All of Yuri’s cards were laid out in the open, finally she thought but it came with a price.

“If there’s anything I’ve learned from spending time with that sorry excuse of a human being, is that nothing ever is a coincidence. You and Kris were supposed to be in Sooyoung’s class and at the very last minute but on the first day of classes you guys walked into my class.” Yuri trailed

Everything happens for a reason was Dohan’s motto in life and Yuri was aware of this. Nothing is a coincidence, not when he is around. The reason for the sudden change that occurred just before Whimoon opened its gates to its students has yet to be found by Yuri.

“I don’t know why nor do I actually have proof that he was the one who changed the section assignments but I couldn’t take a chance so to be sure that both of you would have people around you at all times.”

As Yuri continued to explain, Jessica began to understand why Yuri never really gave her the chance to get too close.

“At first, I was doing it because I didn’t want anyone else to get hurt by him but I got distracted and I started losing track. I… started having feelings for you.” Yuri bit his lips.

This talk wasn’t about his feelings towards Jessica but he couldn’t help but mention it because from the way things were sounding. He wanted to make it clear that her feelings for Jessica wasn’t just something he had to say he had. It was something he felt.

“That’s everything… It’s a lot to process but please do not do anything rash. Come to me first before you decide on doing anything. This isn’t just about you or me, everyone will pay a price if we don’t act accordingly.”

Jessica was left speechless. She didn’t what to feel but like what she had said earlier, she needs time to process Yuri’s story. Despite being unsure of the weight of the situation, she was sure that she wanted to help Yuri, no matter what happens.

“I… It’s a lot to process right now and I’m not too sure how I feel but that goes the same for you. You can’t do anything rash. Wait for me to at least get the grasp of the situation… until then you can’t do anything. Stop everything you’re planning and just give me time, okay?” Jessica again gave the impression that she wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

“I can’t just—“ Yuri stopped

“No! You’ve been fighting alone this whole time. You don’t have to be, okay? Whether you like it or not, I’ll help.”

And in a split second, Yuri’s dark world started to see light.

---

Author's Notes

Heads up, we're close to the ending!

Thank you for the continued support. I appreciate every single bit of it.