Sorry again for the shortness but I really want to clean up my other chapters and foreword. So thanks for comments/subscriptions. Please excuse me for mistakes or confusion. So, um, I got to say something. Right now, my time reads close to 5:25 p.m. on 7/17, but in Seoul, it's around 7:25 a.m. on 7/18. So without further ado, HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEE TAEMIN!!!!! <3 I love you, stay healthy, good job with your accomplishments, hope you and SHINee are a family forever. Best wishes! You're turning 19 internationally but 20 in Korea. DAEBAK! :D I'll be saying this again on next update. Hehehe.

(Alaina's POV)

This wasn't a nightmare - the mere fact that it wasn't eased my fears - but I wouldn't call it a dream or premonition either.

I was just walking at an even pace through shifting scenes. I had walked past a garden, a random street, a meadow, a set of woods, down a hallway, and even on a beach. I didn't do anything else, just moving forward, my chin set, eyes straight ahead, and unhurried. So far, no one appeared in my dream - not a single soul. But that changed when my surroundings shifted into an old, spacious building. I was ambling down a middle of an aisle like in a large, empty church. There wasn't a single furniture aside to the platform I was heading towards. I recognized this scene, it was where I often saw B.A.P. gather - it was their hideout.

Someone was standing - waiting - on the center of the platform. He turned around when I past the last set of twin pillars, only a few paces away.

Zelo.

He held out his hands towards me.

I could practically hear what he would say. You're finally here.

I stepped up onto the platform and took his hand.

Then I woke up.

I blinked repeatedly because the sun was glaring in my face. I stared about and realized I was in my bedroom, in bed, with Kai by my side, his arm draped over my waist. I smiled warmly at his peaceful, sleeping face.

Wondering what time it was, I looked over at the clock. Wow, only eight in the morning. It was a good thing that everyone was taking a break from school today because everyone would've been late.

I shook Kai's shoulder and he mumbled incoherently. "Wake up, bear," I cooed at him and chuckled because he was so cute. "Kkamjong bear~"

Suddenly Kai's arm trapped me into an embrace and I gasped. Kai nuzzled my cheek, half-awake.

"Who's a bear again?" he asked me in a drowsy tone.

"You are," I told him and tried to wiggle out of his grasp. He held me closer.

"Aigoo, look, I have a teddy bear," he told me with his trademark grin.

"You're such a kid!" I flicked his forehead. "Time to get up, little boy."

"Ow!" Kai rubbed his forehead poutingly. "Araso, araso."

Kai went to the washroom as I sauntered over to Taemin's bedroom. I peeked inside and he was still asleep. Chuckling, I crossed to his bedside. His hair was a ruffled mess and the blankets tangled around him. I brushed his hair from his slumbering, angelic face.

"Taemin, ai, wake up," I coaxed him.

He stirred and exhaled. I sighed and touched his cheek. "Ai, it's time to wakey wakey."

His eyes fluttered. A crease form on his forehead. "Ai?"

I grinned at his groggy, puzzled face. "Ne, that's what I said." I tugged on his arm. "Now, come on. Get up."

Taemin didn't budge as he thought. "Wait, 'ai' in Japanese means..." His eyes brightened. "Ooh~"

My cheeks tinged pink but I only shook my head sheepishly. "Yeah, I know, cheesy."

Taemin sat up in bed. "I don't think so. That's better than me calling you yeobo." He leaned closer to me and I blushed deeper. "You know, I should learn more Japanese so I can speak only to you." He brushed his lips over mine with a feather-like touch. "What do you think, love?"

I stammered, "Do whatever you want. I have to go cook breakfast. Bye!"

I practically ran out his room, hearing his peals of laughs echo in my ears.

...

Everyone woke up, either sore or still sleepy, and came down to eat some healthy breakfast. Suho and I re-examined everyone of injuries. Chanyeol was going to have a raspy throat for a while, Jonghyun's sprained wrist needed to recuperate, Baekhyun's and Minho's bodies were aching horribly, and Sehun would wince everytime he applied pressure to his right leg. Key, Onew, and D.O. were rejuvenated after rest and food. The ummas began babying their 'kids'.

Onew and Suho went to watch the news and were deep in thought. When I passed the lounge room, I came in to see their gazes locked on the TV screen. I frowned at the news.

"I think the total number of deaths and disappearances match up with the total amount of demons both Super Junior and we have delt with," mused Onew. "And it's pinpointed in the west side of South Korea mainly."

"Does Leeteuk sunbae know of Block B's whereabouts yet?" Suho asked Onew.

Onew shook his head. "Not from what I heard. And since we postponed the search for B.A.P.'s hideout, we're not close into even disposing of the problem." Onew saw me and reached over to take my hand. "But we will," he assured to me.

"Do you think the Council will ring us to ask what's going on?" Suho wondered, troubled by the idea. I was listening intently.

"Possibly..." Onew looked vexed. "I haven't heard from anyone in the Reversed World for a while now. At least half a year by now."

"Me, too..." Suho said and trailed off. "You don't suppose - from what Alaina had said - that the demons who are accomplices of Block B and B.A.P. back home are also causing trouble, are they?"

Onew frowned. "I hope not."

"Are you ever going to go look for B.A.P. again?" I asked aloud.

"Not now, or at least until we're all capable again," he told me.

I nodded.

Later on, Key bursted into the lounge room, looking perplexed. "Onew hyung," he said in a troubled tone, "I got a call from Jae who was informed by Eunmi, it seems like Zelo dropped out of school."

I was baffled. "What?" I gasped. "Why?"

Key shrugged his shoulders, not liking the implication either. "It could mean so many things if he dropped out. Like B.A.P. may be moving on or relocating or..."

"Or it must be part of their plan," finished Suho gravely. "Like they don't need him to keep up appearances anymore. Alaina hasn't been attending school for a while so he doesn't have a motive to be there to watch her every move."

"Maybe they're going to try a different tactic," suggested Onew, but confounded. "Yesterday's attack was sure odd. Daehyun stated that neither their leader, Youngjae, or Zelo were fighting but had stayed behind."

"But Youngjae popped up to retreive Himchan," pointed out Key.

Onew scratched his head. "It likes were going in loops with the facts but haven't found a clue."

"Just stay away from the topic," I suggested, "then go back to it when your mind is clear. It helps."

"Good idea." Onew smiled at me and patted my hand. "Let's just heal up and rest today."

...

(Third Person POV)

"So the butterfly has been implanted into her?" Yongguk asked Zelo for affirmation.

Zelo was still and quiet as he thought to himself. He reluctantly nodded. "Ye."

Himchan snorted. "That was so easy." He rolled his eyes. "Those stupid guardians or the girl don't suspect a thing." Him and Jongup shared cruel grins.

"Then the butterfly's influence will commence," concluded Yongguk, crossing his arms. "Phase two will begin very soon. Keep an eye out on her, Zelo."

"Ye," he only answered blandly again, not looking up.

"Is the pebble still usable?" Yongguk asked Youngjae.

Youngjae nodded and held up the black-red pebble. It glowed in a faint red light. "Should be enough for one more try."

"Do you want me to send a message to hyungs?" Daehyun asked their leader. "Or do we need to warn the sunbaes?"

Yongguk shook his head. "Just leave it for now. I don't want Super Junior sticking their noses into our business if they catch our messages." He glanced out a window. "Soon, everything will fall into place."

...

(Alaina's POV)

Somehow, I felt a little off the next few days.

I would feel restless in my mind that I couldn't fall alseep regularly and then sleep in more than later. In the mornings I felt laggy, like I was lazy. My mind kept wandering and Taemin or Kai would have to snap me out of my reverie. I always wanted to go outside but the guardians were wary of my safety so I would just stare outside a window, wishing I was walking down a street or feel the fresh air.

One time, my chest felt - I don't know - stuffy, as if something was pressing into my skin. I looked into a mirror and saw nothing wrong with my chest, so I thought my necklace was bothering me and waved it off. Occasionally I would reach up to scratch the area below my collarbone because it bothered me.

My dreams were strange, too. Each dream conveyed the same concept. Freedom. Wandering. Open space. Land.

On Friday, in my dream, I was following a butterfly.

The butterfly was one I've never seen before. It was purely black with a magenta tint. Everytime it beated its wings, it shed magenta glitter. It was so pretty and intriguing that my feet automatically pursued after it. I was within a maze-like garden, the butterfly leading me through the corridors and turns. Eventually the butterfly brought me to freedom, outside the maze. I wasn't trapped anymore. The butterfly hovered in front of me and I held out a finger. It perched on my finger, and I observed it, enchanted by such natural beauty.

You want to be free? I heard a whispering voice say very smoothly.

Yes, I wanted to say but couldn't find my voice.

Do you want to find a way out?

I nodded blankly.

The butterfly will always show you a way out. If you follow it, you'll be in a better place than your prison.

My prison? I thought confusedly.

Yes, you live in a prison. Tomorrow, the butterfly will lead you somewhere better. You trust it?

I do, I murmured in my head.

Good.

Then I would wake up normally and the day dragged on again.

...

"Are you okay, Alaina?" Jonghyun asked me when I was curled up by a window loft with a book. But I had long since forgotten about the book and was distracted by the view outside. The aligned houses, the passing cars, the green yards...

I blinked and looked at him. "Hm?" I smiled dreamily - which was cute and all - but he frowned. He waved his hand in front of my face.

"You don't have a fever," he remarked. "You're just acting very...weird."

I tilted my head. "Am I?"

Jonghyun nodded. "Taemin and Kai think so, too, you know. In fact, they-" He was going to say the guardians previously held a meeting to my odd behavior. They assumed it was the affects of the bond, since I was bonded to two people and kept thinking about them. I was, but...I was distracted that's all.

I shrugged offhandedly. "I'm fine. Just a bit sleepy and bored."

"Mian, for keeping you locked up in the house, but it's for your safety," he told me honestly.

Inside, I pouted at that, not liking that I've haven't gotten a breath of fresh air, but I only sighed. "I know, I know."

Just then, Key and Minho stumbled into the room very hastily, followed by Taemin and Kai, and lastly Suho, D.O., Sehun, and Onew. They all looked very distressed, etched clearly on their faces.

"It's B.A.P. again!" exclaimed Key. "They've been spotted by Chanyeol and Baekhyun during a patrol! They need back-up right now! It's only the two of them versus Himchan, Jongup, Daehyun, and Youngjae!"

"That's not good," deadpanned Jonghyun.

"We have to hurry and help them," insisted Sehun, looking impatient and stressed. It wasn't right when he was such an energetic, kind kid.

Taemin touched my shoulder, making me look up at him in worry. "Alaina, Kai and I are going to help out this time. Onew hyung is the only one staying behind because it's going to take all of us to bring them down." He touched my cheek gently. "You stay here and don't wander off, araso?"

I nodded warily. Distraught evident in my eyes. "Be careful," I whispered quietly. I hoped it wouldn't be a dangerous battle like last time, and everyone just healed a few days ago.

Taemin pecked me on the forehead and Kai gave me a long, reassuring hug. Excluding Onew and me, everyone grasped hands tightly and Kai teleported them to the battle site.

"Good luck," Onew told them just as they disappeared in a flurry of purple-black tendrils. I frowned sadly when they were gone. Onew reached over to squeeze my shoulder soothingly.

"Now it's ten of them versus four demons. They should have the upper advantage," he assured me gently.

"But B.A.P. is strong, too," I whispered, deflated. I thought back to how Himchan was a tough challenge for only four guardians and drooped.

"But Taemin is with them, and he's a great fighter. Kai will be able to help Key track down Youngjae's movement," reasoned Onew.

I exhaled, trying to convince myself to stay confident. Having Taemin and Kai in the thick of danger...it made my stomach churn restlessly. I was too uneasy having them fight and come home injured. It scared me if they even came home in one piece.

"Have faith in them," Onew told me gently. "Try not too stress. Do something to distract yourself."

I rubbed at my rose pendent. "I'll think I'll take a nap. Don't worry, I'm not testing my powers or anything."

Onew nodded. "Yeah, don't do that again. I'll just be in my office, araso?"

Onew left to his office while I decided to nap in Taemin's room. I burrowed myself in the blankets that smelled like him and forced myself to relax.

They'll be fine. Nothing will go wrong. They'll come back home.

I flopped around in bed, unsettled. Eventually, I closed my eyes and waited for oblivion to take over.

I saw a butterfly.

...