“Baekhyun…” Chanyeol sighed, “I almost forgot Yixing said you were here.”

“I knew it! I knew the minute I saw Junmyeon lounging in your library that he was here too!” Baekhyun yelled, not even taking one glance at Minseok sitting there gaping at him.

“Baekhyun, calm down.” Chanyeol said standing from his chair, “You’re scaring him.”

Baekhyun stiffened and kept his eyes glaring at Chanyeol, his hands forming into fists. He opened his mouth to speak, but not before Minseok abruptly stood from his chair, his lips parts, words on the tip of his tongue. He was trembling and blinking back tears at the sight of him. He felt an intense pain in his heart and wanted to just touch him…

“Baekhyun,” he whispered.

Baekhyun didn’t take his eyes away from Chanyeol, his heart pounding against his chest at hearing his name.

Minseok took a slow step towards him, “Byun Baekhyun…”

Baekhyun flinched and turned around so he didn’t have to look at the boy shaking before him.

“We have to talk…” Minseok managed to finally say, “Please, talk to me.”

There was no response as the vampire stormed out of the room.

Chanyeol rubbed at his temples and huffed, “I’ll talk to him, you just wait here, alright?”

Minseok shook his head, “It’s probably best if I leave.”

“It’s late,” Chanyeol said looking out the window, the darkness becoming paler, “Maybe you should spend the night.”

“It’s morning…”

“Hm, right. You’re human.” Chanyeol yawned, “I’m sorry, I keep forgetting.”

“Forgetting I’m human?”

Chanyeol chuckled and shook his head, “Not exactly.” he stretched, “I guess Junmyeon will take you to work then. I’ll be seeing you again, soon, Minseok.”

“How do you know?”

“I just know,” Chanyeol grinned.

***

“Are you okay?”

“What was that?” Minseok asked startled.

He was sitting at his desk at work, otherwise completely zoned out from his work. He had been mindlessly clicking the same button over and over again on his computer screen, refreshing the same page rather than looking for stats. Thoughts elsewhere.

“Geez. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Jongdae said, tapping his pencil against his bottom lip as he studied his co-worker.

Minseok couldn’t help but to think that maybe he had seen a ghost… That man, Baekhyun… His past lover. His cheeks turned a pale pink that Jongdae was quick to notice. He smiled and dropped his pencil onto his desk, grabbing onto Minseok’s office chair. He had the biggest, goofiest grin on his face.

“Why are you turning red, dear friend?!” Jongdae chuckled, “Is there someone on your mind?” he asked wiggling his eyebrows.

Before Minseok could respond, Junmyeon came up to the two and cleared his throat, “Minseok, I’d like to see you in my office.” he barely glanced at Jongdae as he walked away.

“What?” Jongdae asked astonished, “Why would he want to see you?” he sounded offended and mildly disgusted.

“Excuse you,” Minseok muttered, “I am valued employee here and,” he lowered his voice so no one could here, “just because you’re getting intimate with our boss in his office does not mean that he doesn’t call other people in there.”

“Other people?” Jongdae asked with a frown, chewing on his bottom lip, scanning the room with fearful eyes, “I might not be the only one?”

Minseok tried to hold in his laugh and instead ended up puffing air out his nose. With a roll of his eyes, he quickly followed after Junmyeon to his office. He slipped into the chair without a word and his boss hurriedly closed and locked the door.

“Why are you here?” Junmyeon asked with a frown as he took his seat behind the large desk.

“What?” Minseok asked in shock.

Junmyeon sighed, “I mean, you only just discovered that you’ve lived more lives before and... I mean Baekhyun! Baekhyun is here and you…”

Minseok shrugged, “I don’t even know him, Sir.” he said, though his heart felt heavy with the words.

“But, Minseok,” Junmyeon sounded exasperated as he searched for words to tell the young man.

“I know I probably loved him in the past, but… Chanyeol said that in each life, we choose the way we want to live it. And maybe I just don’t want to be with Baekhyun in this life. Maybe I’m choosing to be without him. Besides, I don’t want to bother him if he doesn’t want to see me anyway. Obviously he doesn’t…” Minseok knotted his eyebrows together as he spoke, feeling a great sadness in his heart, “I mean… Who says I have to love him? Who says we have to be together? Who says… Who says that Baekhyun is everything to me? I don’t remember any of that...”

“Ah,” Junmyeon shook his head as if trying to remind himself of something, “I’m sorry, Minseok. I just thought that…”

Minseok felt an ache in his chest suddenly, a pain that spread from his heart and numbed him. He bit at his bottom lip, tears in his eyes. He couldn’t stop them and he wasn’t sure why he was crying or why it was that he felt such heartbreak. It was these thoughts, he couldn’t stop them…

“Xiumin, Xiumin! Keep your eyes open for me, I’m going to get you out of here okay?”

“Listen to me. Listen to my voice… Don’t go. Please don’t go… Not yet… Not again…”

“Xiumin, Xiumin! I... I love you…”

“Who is Xiumin?” Minseok blurted, tears streaming down his face.

The sudden question took Junmyeon by surprise, “Uh…”

“I know that he… Is me. Or was me…” Minseok rubbed his temples trying to stop the headache that followed the tears, “Why do I keep dreaming of his… Um, my death?”

“That’s the very last memory you have of that life… Of course that would be the one that haunts you the most.”

“Xiumin! Hold on! I’m coming for you!”

“Xiumin! Xiumin, open your eyes! Open your eyes for me, PLEASE!”

“Can you… Help me remember?”

“What?”

“I… I want to remember. You can help, can’t you? You tampered with my memories before.”

“But those are your memories from this life, Minseok. Those are the ones that you have now. It’s different, I don’t think that I can…” Minseok looked downcast and nodded his head sadly in understanding, “I… You still remember a little bit of it all right? Maybe I can bring those few memories out, huh?”

“Really?” Minseok asked looking at Junmyeon with hopeful eyes, tears still glistening in them.

Junmyeon nodded, “Just lay down on the couch here, this might be a bit of a trial and error for me. I hope you don’t mind.”

Minseok didn’t even question it. He laid down on the couch and propped his head against the pillows. Junmyeon pulled a chair up by the side of it and instructed him to close his eyes. There was a bit of hesitation in Junmyeon, but he finally laid a firm hand on Minseok’s shoulder.

“Just relax,” Junmyeon whispered, “I’ll see what I can reach out of your mind…”

It’s dark… Why can’t I see anything? Oh. There’s some light there…

I stumble towards the light streaming from bars at the top of the room I’m boxed in. As I adjust to the memory, I notice that the moon is shining so brightly on the streets that it lights up the whole cell.

Why am I in a cell…?

“Xiumin,” I hear his voice whispering, “Xiumin.”

“Baekhyun…” I sound desperate and scared.

I reach out my hand and Baekhyun’s slips past the bars to hold mine. He’s so cold, but this is so comforting. I feel my heart rate slow down and I don’t feel so anxious anymore… Why am I still so afraid?

“I’m going to get you out of here, okay?” Baekhyun whispers.

“There’s no use, Baekhyun,” I sound like I’m on the verge of tears, “I’m trapped in here. There’s no way out… They’re going to kill me tomorrow… There’s no hope for me now. I just need you to stay safe.” I sound determined, but honestly I’m scared and shaking… I don’t believe any of the words I’m saying.

“They won’t lay a finger on you, Xiumin. I won’t allow them to.” Baekhyun sounds angry and threatening, but I can tell that his voice is wavering oh so slightly.

I smile weakly and get up on my tiptoes, “Baekhyun-ah,” I’m whispering his name and he looks at me, tears staining his cheeks. I’m surprised, but I reach with my hand to wipe at them gently, “It’s okay, we can do this together. We always find each other again…”

“I’m so tired of searching for you, Xiumin,” Baekhyun sobs, “I just want you to stay by my side forever. Why is this so hard? Why is it so hard for us to be together?”

“Shush,” I’m trying to calm him, “One day, one lifetime, we will be together forever. Okay? Remember that, Byun Baekhyun. You just need to keep finding me.”

“But why not now? I’m so sick of waiting, Xiumin… I want you now!”

“Be patient,” my voice cracks, “Be patient for me, please. Just wait a little more…”

Baekhyun leans towards the bars, his face almost out of my reach, but I strain so I can brush our lips together. He sighs in content and I can feel my heart breaking. I keep asking him to wait for me… How much this must hurt him... I can’t even imagine. I want to stop breaking his heart, I want to stop leaving him behind… Why does it always end like this?

"I love you." Baekhyun whispers, his voice is wavering. He wants to save me, wants to be with me. I know it. It hurts, but I want to be strong for him. Have to be strong for him.

"I love you too."

"I have to go..." He says so sadly that it hurts me. It hurts so bad...

I smile weakly, he can tell it's forced, he knows me too well, "Everything will be alright." I'm lying to him and to myself. We both believe it though, even though all of our hope is ready gone. Meaningless words become the pinnacle that will help us get through this...

It's not even an hour later when I stir from my unexpected nap. I hadn't slept for maybe thirty hours and I was now taking a toll for doing so. There's an intensity of heat washing over my body and I can hear screaming... Why?

The building is on fire!

I open my mouth but I inhale a thick mass of smoke. I'm choking on it, I can't breathe and my lungs hurt. I feel like I'm burning from the inside and the outside. I can barely see anything, my eyes sting with the heavy smog blurring my vision. There's tears streaming down my face, but I can't tell if it's because of the pain or if it's because of the fear I'm feeling.

Out of desperation, I choke out Baekhyun's name. I can barely tell it's my voice from the way it rasps out of my mouth. For some reason, I know this is the end, but I just want to see him one more time... I don't want to forget his beautiful face. Please, God, please don't let me forget... Not again.

I need to escape, I need to flee… I can’t move, my leg is trapped beneath the falling rubble of the building. It doesn’t hurt, it’s gone numb. What hurts more is being alone, being defenseless. I can’t do this on my own. I can’t get out, there’s no hope. I… I don’t want to die like this. I don’t want to die alone…

“Xiumin!”

Is that? Baekhyun…

“Xiumin! Hold on! I’m coming for you!”

I’m so scared, Baekhyun, please help me! Please find me! Save me!

“Xiumin! Xiumin!”

His voice is getting closer and I manage a weak, “I’m over here!” coughing, sputtering, the smoke is filling my lungs and it’s getting even harder to breathe.

“Save me! Baekhyun, please!”

“Xiumin, I’m coming!” he sounds desperate, he sounds afraid...

I can’t see past the smoke, but I know he’s getting closer, I can hear him. But so are the flames. I can feel them… I have to shut my eyes against the thick black wall closing in on me.

“Hurry, Baekhyun! I’m trapped!” I’m screaming, but my throat is sore and it comes out weak and pathetic.

It doesn’t take long before I feel his arms wrap around me. He’s so cold, but there’s nothing warmer than his embrace. I almost smile. Having him by my side… I’m no longer scared. I feel safe.

“Xiumin! Xiumin, open your eyes! Open your eyes for me, PLEASE!”

His tear drops are landing on my cheeks. I try to open my eyes, but I can’t. It just hurts too much… Everything is going fuzzy and I’m starting to feel cold. I can tell this is it… I’ve died so many times, I recognize the feeling of it now. It’s numbing and empty, but I don’t mind the feeling with Baekhyun there. I’m so happy touching him this last time, I could cry. I think I am crying… I can’t tell anymore.

“Xiumin, Xiumin! Keep your eyes open for me, I’m going to get you out of here okay?”

I open my mouth to speak, but I just cough. I try to tell him it's useless, save yourself. But I can't talk.

“Listen to me. Listen to my voice… Don’t go. Please don’t go… Not yet… Not again…”

I’m so sorry Baekhyun… Please forgive me…

“Xiumin! Please, Xiumin… Don’t go…” he’s sobbing and there’s nothing I can do for him. I try to lift my hand to touch his face, but I’ve lost feeling in that too...

“Please, Xiumin, I need you here with me… I need you…”

My heart breaks. I want to stop this death from happening, but it’s too late… I know I’m dying…

“Xiumin, please… This isn’t fair! You can’t go, please, please, please...” he’s begging, he’s holding my lifeless body as he rocks back and forth, pleading for me to stay. It hurts me… Because I know I can’t…

This torturous repetition of dying and finding each other, falling in love and dying all over again… I want to make it stop. I’ll do anything to make it stop. I just want to be with him forever. Why can’t I just be with him forever? One day… One day we can have our eternity.

I inhale my last breath, choking on the smog as it fills my lungs. I exhale it, slowly, and it hurts. I can hear him crying, his last words barely a whisper, but I know he’s screaming them…

“I love you!”

I love you, Baekhyun…

“Are you okay?” Junmyeon asked, retracting his hand as quickly as possible once the memory faded and all became black, tears streaming down his face.

“Fine,” Minseok gasped out, his voice barely above a whisper, “And you?”

“I’m fine,” Junmyeon smiled and wiped at his tears, “Your emotions and memories of your past life are the strongest I’ve ever felt.”

“I need to see him, Junmyeon.” Minseok coughed as if he were still trying to dispel the smoke from his lungs, the memory as strong as if it had only just happened to him.

“Are you sure you want to do that?” Junmyeon asked surprised, “You were pretty determined to stay away from…” his voice trailed off at the look in Minseok’s eyes.

“If those memories are anything really real, then I’ve got to talk to him. I need to know why he keeps avoiding me… If we were so in love before… Then why now?” Minseok’s voice faltered, “I mean… I just…”

“I understand,” Junmyeon said patting his employee’s shoulder, “He’s still at Chanyeol’s place. You should probably head over there soon after work, before he tries to leave again.”

***

The sun set slowly below the horizon and Minseok would have admired the stars as he usually did on such a clear, peaceful night if he weren’t in such a hurry to get to Chanyeol’s place. He stumbled into the door and Chanyeol was standing there in his robe, a wineglass in his hand and a goofy grin on his face.

“I told you we’d see each other again soon,” he chuckled, taking a sip of the red liquid in his cup, Minseok assumed it to be blood. He watched Minseok eyeing his drink and became flustered, “Wine! It’s wine!” he insisted and then shook his head with a laugh, “Never mind that. You’re looking for Baekhyun? He’s upstairs. Might want to get there before he tries to flee out the window. He’s been planning it all day, won’t stop thinking about it. It’s been giving me an awful headache.”

Minseok wasted no time before running up the stairs to the room Yixing had called out to him (“West corridor, first right and the second room towards the south facing window!”). He threw open the large wooden door, it banged hard against the wall. The room was dark, the window was wide open so that the night sky could clearly be seen and the white cotton curtains blew in the wind lightly. His heart dropped at the empty room. He waded in, slowly, cautiously… He couldn’t have already left… No way…

“Baekhyun…” Minseok whispered sadly at the sight. Suddenly, the door slammed shut behind him and he heard the lock click into place. Chills ran up his spine and his blood went cold.

“I thought I’d told you to stay away.”

Tasha: Wow short update and also 100% unedited, because this is so hard without my Silver ;~; I am so sorry... I promise I will work harder on the next chapter! xoxo