*Re-edited version 12/15/12*

SO SORRY FOR THE VERY LATE UPDATE! My mom took me on another sudden shopping trip and I ate dinner late and had to take a shower. But I finally wrote and edited this chapter the best I could. Sorry for mistakes or confusion. Commenting or subscribing urges me to write more! Anyway, I just belatedly remembered Suho meant guardian and he's a guardian in this fic, so he's a guardian nicknamed guardian. XD Don't mind me. DID YOU HEAR? EXO IS IN HANA KIMI AND SO IS MINHO (and Sulli I think but I don't really care about her)!!! (Korean version everyone?)

Green is Japanese. Some foul language.

Disclaimer: I don't own pics.

(Alaina's POV)

The daily routines repeated - from morning, noon, and night. Late at night, I may clarify.

To sum things up, I was under house arrest. The only place I was allowed to wander outside was the backyard, and I had to have someone accompany me. Paranoid much? It wasn't like I was going to run away, but considering how overprotective everyone was, I might as well just for a whiff of fresh air.

My guardians were a bit uptight you might say. Apprehensive as if a demon may suddenly materialize in front of them (it happened one time) and attack them. They were very tired at the end of the day, no time to take care of themselves. So I was like a housewife, taking care of the house and their needs as they worked hard.

What kind of work they did? Let's see, to keep up appearances, they attended school, did extensive research, did patrols, guarded me, and had a tracking team set out every other day.

And me?

I was cooped up in the house, appointing myself as an alarm clock for others, cooking and cleaning. Someone would be my teacher as I studied for both human school - my schoolwork brought home by Minho - and non-human courses. The same old boring, not-so-interesting stuff that Onew assigned to me (although languages were a bit tricky). Key or D.O. filled in for me at the cafe as I was presumably bedridden since Friday, not able to take care of myself.

Yeah, right.

My wounds were healing quite accordingly. The nasty bruises had faded into faint yellow-gray tints, my cuts and gashes colored into less-puckered, light pink scars, and my throat not-so aggravated. I could wear my necklace again since the chain didn't irritate my skin anymore. I was quite unentertained and unenthusiastic these days, with nothing productive to occupy my hours. Sometimes I hung out with whoever wasn't tired or busy - mainly Sehun, Baekhyun, or Chanyeol - or I would test out my powers discreetly, focusing more on my dreams versus sensory or memory.

I focused on my dreams because it was the only way I could glimpse at Zelo's welfare now. It was a wayward attempt, trying to enforce whatever lousy control I had to pinpoint and explore my dreams - I didn't exactly have an instruction manual. It seemed like my dreams were selected by fate or even chance.

Taemin told me that Zelo wasn't present during the beginning of the week for school and finally appeared near the end, but he evaded the guardians as usual. I pried for more details, Taemin only telling me that Zelo looked more dispirited and somehow lost than before. I didn't like it.

The tracking team's most vitals assets were Key and Kai. Key was the expert with spells and sensing, he also peered into reflections and mirrors, looking for an image or clue about any of B.A.P.'s whereabouts. Kai would teleport to specific locations, searching for suspicious activities or demonic auras. They cut down the massive search, but Seoul was huge and densely populated, bustling with people and filled with numerous buildings - it would be a long fetch to find B.A.P.'s headquarters. Occasionally, they would stumble upon a insignificant demon who they'd kill immediately. Lower ranked demons had no connections with B.A.P, but Onew guessed it was Block B's enaction to stir them off course and distract them.

Saturday night had a twist to it - to me. It was maybe three in the afternoon, I was lounging in my bedroom, having finished reading a book I took from the library. I lazily flopped around in bed. Taemin was with the tracking team - which composed majority of the guardians - out there exploring missing spots on a map. Onew personally led the patrol team consisting of Minho, Suho, and Chanyeol to take a large perimeter detail around the house and cafe. It was Key's turn to take the shift at the cafe and Baekhyun was home to watch over me - more like babysit me. He was only down the hall in his room, his door ajar.

Bored out of my almost-dissipated-functional-mind, I decided to take a nap, which was stupid considering I was well-rested, but I thought I might as well practice with my dreams again. Drawing in the curtains to block out the sunlight, I relaxed on my bed and closed my eyes, waiting for oblivion.

...

My body dove into water's surface, but underneath, I could still breath, the water around me invisible like air but I could see the ripples and disfiguring blur of waves. Instead of floating, my feet touched a solid base, but it was just the same water underneath me. I could stand up straight, supporting myself. Testing, I raised my hands. Yup, I could control my own body. I peered about, but it was like I was residing in an expandable world. No matter where I went or how far I traveled, it all looked the same.

What kind of dream was this? Was I even asleep?

I tried talking but no voice emitted from my mouth. Or was I deaf? I didn't hear a single thing, not when I moved around - the clear water was supposed to drag and slush around me. A silent world?

Then light shined dimly below me, where the 'ground' supposedly was. The water rippled and I saw more colors gleam. An image was forming.

My eyes widened when I saw Zelo sitting on a platform - the same one where I saw him treating his wounds - and his hyung-deul were also loitering around. I bent down to touch the image and suddenly I was being materialized into the setting that was happening at this time. My body was like a ghost or spirit watching the entire scene, standing quietly against the wall.

Zelo. He looked better, ghastly pale and dog-tired, but his wounds were healed, and he seemed more wary than bored. He sat on one corner of the platform, lanky legs swung over the edge. The closest hyung-deul near him was Youngjae, who was also sitting on the edge of the platform, and Daehyun, who was resting against a pillar, arms crossed, passive as ever.

I stared in wonder. For once I saw all of B.A.P assembled together. This was certainly a meeting. Instinctively, I knew who was who like I've known them all along. Yongguk was sitting in a chair before the platform, hands clasped together. Jongup was sitting on the floor, leaning back against the pillar adjacent to Daehyun's. By the same pillar, Himchan was leaning sideways against it.

"Block B are finally losing their patience with us," began Yongguk, withdrawn. "It's been a week since those guardians hid her from us. They are not happy we lost contact with her."

"I blame Zelo and Youngjae," spoke up Himchan tartly, flicking a finger at the mentioned two. "Zelo made the guardians realize they needed to keep her under their wing and Youngjae revealed a bit too much to some of them. Now they're tracking us down and Block B hyung-deul can't escape from their hideout to join up with us."

"Block B are cowards," Zelo muttered under his breath. "They order us around but hide in the dark."

"Enough you two," said Yongguk crisply. "The latest message I've received from them says to finalize the plan to kidnap her soon. Sunbae-deul are also growing tired of waiting in the Reversed World. They'll prepare a portal for us as soon as we have the girl in our clutches. But we need to time everything right."

"How do we draw her out, though?" Jongup criticized. "It's not like she ever stepped out of the house since."

Yongguk produced something from his pocket, something that was small and opaque. I think it was a small stone or pebble that had this red hue shaped like a petal in the center. He tossed it to Youngjae who caught it. Youngjae raised a questionable brow when he identified the pebble in his hand.

"Where did you get this?" asked Youngjae. "This is some rare stuff."

"Kyung informed me it should be of use to disturb the strength of the barrier Kim Kibum set up," explained the leader, somewhat blandly. "He took his time to find it so use it wisely. And you'll be taking this, too." Yongguk held up a small glass vial. Inside was a little butterfly, slightly beating its small, delicate wings. It was black with a magenta hue, like glitter. He tossed the vial to Zelo, who caught it in surprise, the butterfly fluttering distressfully. "Zelo, you will be going with him."

"But-" he protested but was cut off by a taunting Jongup.

"Yah, you better redeem yourself, brat. You've made too many slip-ups. What happened to being the same level as us? You're lame to think you can hold up a reputation," he said scathingly.

Zelo scowled at him. "I'm smarter and more cunning than you are, bastard. I was the first to discover my power when it was the trickiest one yet. All you do is blow up stuff stupidly and you can't even do it without help."

Jongup almost jumped to his feet to pound the maknae but Yongguk shot him a stern look so he stayed put, fuming.

"You talk tough, but you're not really," sneered Himchan, diamond-cut eyes glinting. "You sulk around wishing you were still human."

"And if I wasn't a demon, all of you would be dead!" Zelo shouted back vehemently. "You guys are so stupid! The only reason any of you have this second life is because of me! I decided to make us all demons!"

I gaped when I saw Zelo tear down his armor to reveal a kid - just a kid - with b emotions underneath a cold facade.

"And what? Make you the leader?" retorted Jongup. "You're weak and emotional like a guardian brat. You still act like you're a pathetic human. We all accepted this, why haven't you? What are you, a baby?"

"Enough!" roared Yongguk, eyes blazing in anger. The three of them shut up. "All of you watch your worthless mouths before I punish you myself. I don't want to hear another argument because we need this plan to be done with! No distractions! We start tomorrow, understood?"

The way he stopped the altercation, it was like Yongguk couldn't stand them fighting so viciously, biting with harsh words. I definitely saw some sympathy towards Zelo. I even saw Daehyun tense, the most action he'd done at all.

"Ne," yielded his underlings stiffly. Himchan and Jongup both stalked out the room infuriatedly. Yongguk sighed roughly and stood up, tall physique casting a large shadow. Zelo was quiet, head ducked to hide his face, fingers curling over the vial of the captured butterfly. Youngjae kept turning the pebble in his hand over and over again, lost in thought. Daehyun leaned away from the pillar and regarded Yongguk apathetically, hands tucked in pockets.

"Make sure you help Jongup stock up just in case," Yongguk advised him. "Keep him on his toes and don't let him get out of control."

"Why Zelo?" Daehyun only asked, unconcerned with his leader's order. "I can slip in through the defenses and release the butterfly."

Zelo barely reacted to that. Either way, the plan would proceed, whether he contributed or not.

Yongguk glanced at the disheartened maknae and shook his head. "Jongup was right - Zelo needs to grow up and keep his rep. He needs to understand to do things he doesn't like and get used to it."

"I think he already experienced that," Daehyun remarked simply. "Before any of us. But if you say so." Daehyun turned heel and glided out of the room, slipping into a shadowy hallway.

"Youngjae, drill Zelo about the plan word from word. He will not mess up," Yongguk warned obstinately. He also stalked off after his orders were specified.

Youngjae patted Zelo's slouched shoulder. "Come on, kid. You heard the leader."

Zelo got to his feet quietly, staring ruefully at the small butterfly. I wondered what it was for, and the pebble also. What was so significant about the two that was part of their plan?

Suddenly I felt something touch me - like invisible hands gripping my shoulders - and jerk me out of the scene. I was engulfed in the watery world again, but everything was rippling out of control, distorted and blinding. I was disoriented, my head pounding distressfully. The image under me dissolved away. Instead of a faint light illuminating the area, everything morphed into grays and blacks and white like retrogressing into an old black-and-white film.

You weren't suppose to see that, little girl.

The booming voice made me tremble instinctively. I panicked; it was steely and cold-cut and very deadly like a crude, bloody knife. But despite how dangerous the voice sounded, it was whispery, like it couldn't retain its form. How come I could hear now?

Looks like your powers grow stronger as long as you resist the spell. The scary voice laughed terribly. You chose a bad time to use your powers, especially to sneak into a scene planning your demise But because of your actions, it stirred me and I found you here in the borders of the dream world. You're lucky I'm not fully awakened, I would've killed you then and there. The horrible voice laughed again, shaking the world around me. The flashes of rippling water made me cringe.

I clutched at my head, trying not to lose control over myself and stay aware. I gasped in terror. It felt wrong, this presence lurking around me. It was a thousand times worse than a demon's presence, and I was frightened to the bone. I wanted to wake up from this nightmare. I shook my head, ignoring the pain, to force myself to wake up. But something emerged from the blackness below me, shadowy tendrils encircled my ankles and rose to constrict me from my waist and neck. I choked.

No, child, purred the darkness. You are not escaping from me. I've just found you after all these silent years, hoping to extract revenge. I will not kill you. Not yet. I want to have my fun tormenting you. That way my minions will have an easier task apprehending you while you're trapped here with part of my Essence.

I managed to pull a tendril away from my throat. "Who are you?" I barked out, surprised my voice sounded like I was thinking from my head. A not-so-solid echo.

The menacing presence chuckled again. You don't know? I'm surprised, the seals and spells casted on you did a good job erasing the true you. It may have hidden you well but it renders you weak.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" I shouted defiantly. The black Essence tightened around me.

I screamed.

...

(Baekhyun's POV)

Baekhyun suddenly felt something wrong. Something bad. In the house, someone's ES was pulsing distressfully. A cry for help. A fire alarm.

Only one person was in the house with him. Someone he had to protect.

Without thinking, Baekhyun turned heel and bursted into Alaina's bedroom. He found her struggling and trembling on her bed. Her eyes were shut closed. She was gasping, clawing at and arms as if to ward something off.

He freaked out when she screamed.

"Alaina!" he shouted in alarm and rushed forward. He was only an inch from touching her shoulder when her ES flared acutely and he flinched as her ES shocked him on contact. "Alaina, what's wrong? Omo! Wake up!"

Alaina only thrashed in her sleep. This was more than a nightmare, he could tell.

With no other option, Baekhyun called Suho desperately.

"Baekhyun?" Suho sounded quizzical when he picked up.

"SUHO-HYUNG, SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH ALAINA!"

"Mwoh?! What's wrong? What's happening?" Other voices mingled with Suho's over the phone, the other guardians with him wanting to know what the hell was going on.

Baekhyun reached out to touch Alaina again but her ES heated and he jerked back. He bit his lip troublesomely. "I don't know! Alaina was sleeping and now her ES is going crazy! She's looks like she's in pain, she keeps screaming and thrashing around!"

"Araso! Calm her down and we'll contact the others and be home as soon as we can!" instructed Suho quickly and hung up to call the others on the tracking team and Key at the cafe.

Baekhyun tossed a blanket around the frenzied Alaina and held her down forcibly so that way she wouldn't harm herself further.

Hurry up, guys, he prayed.

...

(Third Person POV)

The guardians were alerted by the demanding ring of Kai's cell phone. The ring pierced the quiet air where they clustered on a roof as they staked-out.

Kai looked puzzled and read the Caller ID. Suho? He answered it. "Suho-hyung?"

Off to the side, Taemin suddenly stiffened, his eyes widening in horror as images flashed before his eyes. Jonghyun watched the maknae's face pale and pupils dilate. He reached out to squeeze the boy's slim shoulder anxiously. "Taemin?"

Everyone heard Suho's commanding voice blare from the mobile, "KAI! Teleport everyone back home NOW! Something is wrong with Alaina! We already called Key and he's rushing home, too! Hurry!"

"R-right." Kai hung up, scared out of his wits when he heard Suho's hasty explanation in such an alarming tone. He was worried what was wrong with Alaina, but when he saw the dreaded look on his best friend's face, he became fearful.

"Alaina."

Taemin had finally exhaled a shaky breath. But the way he'd said her name...it sounded like she was...dying.

"Everyone hold onto each other!" Kai managed to order through his fear. Every converged closer and gripped each others arms tightly. The scene before them twisted and swirled, obscured by purple-black tendrils.

Their feet landed on the floor of their home's entrance hall. They freaked out when they heard wailing upstairs.

"Alaina!" Taemin cried and rushed upstairs with the rest of them on his heels. They bursted into Alaina's bedroom simultaneously. They saw Alaina struggling and trembling in bed under the covers Baekhyun tossed over her. The chestnut-haired guardian was agonized, at lost with nothing else to do but watch and hold her down. Alaina was shaking her head violently, her hair plastered to her face, and released another incoherent scream.

"Taemin, do something!" begged Baekhyun, literally weighing his entire body on the girl to restrain her. "Her ES won't let me touch her! She's having a crazy nightmare or something!"

"What happened?" Jonghyun demanded as Taemin lurched to Alaina's side, the others close by. Baekhyun explained the situation as best as he could but he only had so little to say. The guardians all paled, not sure how to help the girl. Sehun looked like he wanted to cry at Alaina's pain.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Taemin looked at his soulmate as if she was going to disappear on him. He touched her cheek and her ES flared again but he didn't wince at the rage.

"Alaina," he implored urgently. "Wake up. Wake up, please." He forced his frightened voice to be more gentle. "Alaina. It's me, it's Taemin. You have to wake up."

Hot tears spilled from her clenched eyes, her breathing hitched as if she was suffocating.

D.O. disappeared and reappeared with some towels and a bowl of cold water. Beads of sweat were trickling down Alaina's pallid face and neck. It seemed Taemin was the only one who could get near Alaina without getting hurt by her wild ES. He fixed a compress on her forehead.

Kai paced off to the side, worried sick and scared senseless. Something was wrong. He sensed it was more than a nightmare Alaina was having. Taemin knew it, too. But they were useless to comfort or aid her.

"The others are here!" Sehun announced when he heard the front door yank open and slam close. A percussion of hurried footsteps echoed down the hall.

"WHERE'S MY BABY?!" exclaimed Key and immediately streaked to Alaina's side. He flinched at her ES, but ignored it and touched her face, evaluating what was going on.

Onew knelt by the bed, a crease between his brows. "Alaina, calm down," he crooned gently but his troubled face said otherwise. "Stop struggling. We're here to help."

Alaina went limp at his voice, but her upper body tensed instantly. She was still striving for air, her chest falling and rising abruptly. Key wiped the sweat and tears off her face with a towel.

Onew tried again, "Alaina, open your eyes!"

Her eyes flashed open. Instead of beautiful chocolate orbs, they were glassy and hazed, both shining and dimming at the same time like a flickering lightbulb. Her pupils were hugely dilated like saucers. This wasn't normal at all.

"Someone is torturing her in her sleep," Key gasped, horrified at the realization. "A person trapped her in her sleep!" He panicked, his hair. "Crap, crap, crap, she can't get out unless she's freed!"

"And how do we do that?" demanded Minho.

Taemin swallowed thickly, his own set of tears threatening to fall. He wasn't one to cry easily, but now that changed because of his soulmate... "I-I saw s-something earlier-" He choked down a sob. "I-it was like - like I was th-there in her dr-dream. She was talking to someone a-and then everything went bad." He sniffled. "Something was choking her, something black. She was screaming." Droplets of salt water trailed down his cheek. Jonghyun cradled him close as the boy cried in his chest.

"Do you know a spell that can free her?" Suho asked Key.

Key shook his head regrettably. "Not in this situation. We need something to dispel or unbind her..."

"Go check in my office for anything useful," Onew ordered Minho, Sehun, and Chanyeol. They nodded and filed out quickly. D.O. was tending to the slight burns Baekhyun had on his hands and arms, dabbing it with medicine. Baekhyun looked ashamed, disappointed he couldn't help Alaina in the first place. Kai continued to pace and bite his lip. He felt the same as Baekhyun. Utterly worthless.

Everyone felt their hearts drop when Alaina completely stopped struggling and gasping. She was now inert and listless, eyelids fluttering, tiny breaths of air passing her parted lips. Her ES plummeted considerably, drained away.

"Dammit!" cussed Key. "She's losing her strength!"

Taemin took Alaina's limp hand and held it tightly to his lips. "Hold on. Stay strong, please," he pleaded.

"If we don't wake her up, her mind will shut down and she'll die!" growled Jonghyun.
 

...

(Alaina's POV)

I continued to struggle with the black tendrils' vice-like grips. I had to do something to defend myself! But what? Why was I so hopeless to protect myself?

I yelled in frustration and shook my body viciously, but the blackness tightened even more. I gasped for air.

"KUSO!" I cussed in Japanese, my voice barely audible from the restraining binds. Whoever was choking me was amused by my pathetic attempt to free myself.

Then my ES began to flare, body temperature rising until I was sweltering - I thought I could actually see my ES. Faint wisps of a blue-white color channeled from me. I felt the evil presence stutter indignantly at my sudden power. Some tendrils loosened around my waist and arms, burning away.

Oh no, you don't, you pathetic mortal!

A swirl of blackness rose from under my feet, creeping up to my ankles, my calves, my hips, progressing slowly as I willed my ES to continue to flare wildly. I was fighting back but I was growing weak and tired quickly. I grasped at the shadows choking my neck and it pried it off so I could scream at the torturing monster.

"Let me go! What did I ever do to you?!"

You defeated me, dethroned me, and sealed me away for eternity! roared the monster in reply. I slept for countless centuries! My world and its inhabitants were shunned and treated like weaklings without me. Your people dared to make balance and organize us when we were born to reek destruction!

"Destruction is not worth it," I breathed, my response instinctive. I didn't sound like myself, my accent foreign in a formal, smooth voice. "You shouldn't temper with the balance of the world. Death should not upstart peace."

Look at you! So weak and insignificant, not knowing who you are, and yet you lecture me again with those blasted words! You speak of balance and peace even though you've forgotten your duties. YOU MAKE ME SICK!

Something bit into my skin, bringing tears of pain to my eyes. I felt like white-hot needles were drilled into me, left to burn.

Then I heard it. His voice. Soft, sweet, but pleading. The sound came from above me, resonating into this world loud and clear.

"Alaina, wake up. Wake up, please. Alaina, it's me, it's Taemin. You have to wake up."

"Taemin..." I whispered brokenly. The thought of him in the real world watching me suffer as I slept made my tears fall. My breathing hitched as I suppressed a sob.

Ah, I heard you found your soulmate. The evil voice cackled in terrible delight. Very entertaining. He will suffer along with you. I will let them know how powerful I still am.

A veil of darkness shrouded my entire body - from head to toe. I was shaking and struggling to break free, my ES shooting out like fireworks, sparkling and flaring.

And then I heard Onew.

"Alaina, calm down. Stop struggling. We're here to help."

Why should I stop struggling or else I would die? But in the real world, his powers influenced my body, and therefore, me. My body relaxed but I heaved for air, trapped in this darkness. I was despairing. Everything was falling out of place. I was losing.

"Alaina, open your eyes!"

Some light poked holes in the prison that enveloped me, it gave me a sliver of hope.

The dark presence grunted, miffed.

I heard more voices. Key, Minho, Suho, and Jonghyun. They knew what was afflicting pain to me. They were racing against time to save me.

Curse those petty guardians. I really didn't want to kill you off so quickly...

I felt my power being absorbed, being drained from me dry. My ES subsided, the blackness using this chance to shroud me completely. I fell to my knees, unable to support my weight. No light. Only darkness surrounded me. My eyes fluttered, feeling sleepy and exhausted...

Taemin, I'm so sorry... I...
 

...

(Third Person POV)

"I found something!" shouted Minho and clamored back into the room with Chanyeol and Sehun. He quickly tossed the object to Taemin who caught it. It was a round marble, inside a curled white petal dotted with beads of sparkling water. It was shiny and almost transparent as a Cleanser.

"A petal from a dispelling flower dipped in sacred water?" questioned Jonghyun skeptically.

"Think about it," insisted Minho, "whatever is tormenting Alaina is either evil or demonic so the magical petal combined with the blessed water should free her."

"Good thinking!" said Onew, a new light shining in his eyes.

"Alright then," said Taemin, more determined. He filled the marble with some of his ES to activate it. The marble glowed, the petal and droplets floating inside. Taemin pressed the magical orb against Alaina's forehead, and it began to dissolve into her as Alaina unconsciously absorbed the mixture of Essence and magic.

Work, please, everyone prayed fervently.
 

...

(Alaina's POV)

Honestly I had thought I'd been devoured in complete darkness until I felt something being pressed against my forehead, waking me, giving me energy. I think my eyes were opened because I could see a gleam of light illuminating where my forehead was. The beacon of light was a pretty pure white. It calmed me like a caress of a mother's hand. The darkness around me convulsed and suddenly ripped apart.

WHAT IS THIS? The evil presence was astounded and flabbergasted.

I looked around, the watery dream world was still distorted and disorienting, but the clear water glinted from the pure light emanating from my forehead.

Then I sensed another presence. A presence that was the opposite of my tormentor. It was warm and uplifting and pleasant. The second voice that spoke was a women's, very soft and sure, but leveled and cool-tempered.

You dare hurt the child. You dare torture her! How could you? Have you not learned?

It's you. The wicked presence was astonished by the new presence. Even I had a funny feeling, like I knew the womanly voice. It was familiar to me...I heard it somewhere before but I couldn't remember exactly...

The cold-cutting voice was even more sharp. I'm well aware that you visited her in her dreams despite knowing it would raise alarm of her existence. I was merely seeing her myself. She is garbage, just like the others.

So that's where I heard this womanly voice before! Wait, some memories were flooding back to me. A conversation...

Because you deviously sought her out. You found her when she was untrained and unaware. How cruel can you be to hurt such innocence?

Innocence? The darker presence snarled at the word. INNOCENCE? She was never innocent! She locked me up in my own kingdom! She destroyed my castle and ordered my people around!

Only because you resisted her. She tried making peace with you multiple times and all you did was fight back. You chose to strike her down now when fate wrote it differently. You do not temper with fate!

The malicious voice scoffed. Fate? Fate is nothing. We choose our fate, not something that doesn't bodily exist. You bore me as she does.

That is it. You chose not to listen to her, to fate, or to me. I am freeing her from your grasp. The woman's tone was crisp and final.

NO! he roared but it was futile.

The light emanating on my forehead glowed brighter and stronger until it enveloped me with its purity. I had to avert my eyes from the brilliant radiance.

I am sorry for not coming to your aid earlier, murmured the woman's voice very apologetically. I was floating laxed in a white world. Completely safe. He made it impossible to enter the world, but your guardians had inserted a magical orb within you and made it possible for my Essence to appear. Anything from the Reversed World is connected to me.

"It's okay," I whispered, mentally worn out, but overall grateful. "I'm glad you saved me at all."

I only helped you escape, the voice corrected. You have to thank your dear guardians, sweetie. I hope you learned not to wander in the dream world so recklessly. It's where some part of the King's mental Essence lingers the most as he sleeps. You must be more prepared to take a certain direction.

"Mianhaeyo," I apologized like a guilty child. "I hope I remember because...the last time you came into my dream, I barely remembered what we talked about."

That is my fault. Like I had said, the more you know, the weaker the spell grows. I had to leave you clueless to protect your presence.

"Why hide me?" I demanded in a small voice. "And restrain me? I only get hurt in the process because I can't defend myself."

Because if you release your full potential in the human world, a type of shockwave will upset both worlds. Your ES was meant for the Reversed World, not the human world. Without proper training, your ES may react to every living thing on Earth.

"Oh," I mumbled sullenly.

Do not despair, child. Someday you will return home. But for now, you must reassure your beloved guardians, especially the one that loves you more than anything in the world. Although, I must add, he has some...competition in that department.

"What do you mean?" I was puzzled.

Nothing, my dear. It's time we parted, I can only maintain my presence for so long. Be strong and be careful, all will be revealed soon. Everything, she promised.

When I blinked, I wasn't staring at a white titanium world, but at Taemin's haggard angelic face fresh with tears.

I was finally awake. In my bedroom. In the real world. I was fine. I'd been saved.

"Oi, what's with that face?" I whispered softly in Japanese.

Taemin choked on a laugh and yanked me into a bone-crushing hug. I kept quiet and embraced him with what little strength I had, letting him sob in my arms.

I...love you.
 

...