Hesa, Arkha, and Joan walked together down the hospital corridor after coming from the rooftop.
"Khan."
Arkha turned and waved at his older brother.
"I'll go ahead," Arkha said to Hesa and Joan.
After Arkha left, Joan grabbed Hesa's hand, making Hesa turn to look at him.
"Come with me," Joan said, pulling Hesa toward the hospital garden area. They both sat on an empty bench.
"Why are you getting close to Arkha again?" Joan started.
Hesa looked at him in confusion. "I… I've been close to him lately anyway."
"After you almost killed him?" Joan said.
"H-Huh? When did I ever try to kill Arkha?" Hesa asked, confused and suddenly worried.
Instead of answering right away, Joan leaned back against the bench and let out a relieved sigh.
"Then I must've mistaken you yesterday. Thank goodness," Joan said.
"Wait, what do you mean I tried to kill Arkha?" Hesa asked.
"Your copy. He almost pushed Arkha off the rooftop. I was afraid you weren't the real Hesa, so when Seon said you two were on the rooftop earlier, I rushed there," Joan explained.
Hesa was stunned. He hadn't expected Heeseung to go as far as hurting Arkha.
"What about during the camp? Arkha said he was with you, that he gave up, and then you both got captured," Hesa said.
"Actually, at that time he told me to leave, but I couldn't just abandon him alone until his copy showed up. Khan kept telling me to run, and in the end I had no choice but to listen, even though I still got captured by my own copy. But there's something strange that's been bothering me," Joan said.
"What is it?" Hesa asked.
"When I woke up, I met Satya. He said earlier he and Niki couldn't breathe because their heads were covered with black cloth. I asked Jio, and he experienced the same thing," Joan said.
"You didn't?" Hesa asked.
"Khan and I were injected with something. I saw Khan's copy mention something about medicine," Joan said.
"Jake lied—I mean, Arkha's copy mentioned a hallucination drug at first, but later he told Khan that it was just a plan. So the injection you got was probably just a sleeping drug," Hesa explained.
Joan immediately let out a breath of relief. He had been uneasy about it the whole time.
But on the other hand, Hesa felt even more anxious. He had a feeling Heeseung and the others already knew that Joan was aware of some things about this terror.
"Hesa…"
Hesa instantly turned toward Joan nervously. Luckily, Joan was busy opening his soda can and didn't notice Hesa's fear.
"W-What is it, Jo?" Hesa asked.
"I saw Khan's clothes were soaked when we found him. I don't think he was okay before that," Joan said, worry evident in his voice.
"Khan was drowned by his own copy. Luckily, I got there in time," Hesa said.
"You're serious?" Joan asked.
Hesa nodded.
"Then where were you before you got to Khan?" Joan asked.
"You don't need to worry about me, Jo. What matters is that we're all safe and together again," Hesa replied.
He left before Joan could ask more questions. The more he answered, the more information he might accidentally reveal.
Kringgggg.
The sound of his phone ringing pulled Hesa back to the present. He glanced at the window, where the sky was bright blue.
"Hello, Khan," Hesa said.
"You called me earlier?" Arkha asked.
"Yeah. I wanted to ask you to hang out since today's a day off," Hesa said.
"What a coincidence, I'm free too," Arkha replied.
"Alright, let's meet at a café this afternoon. I'll send you the location," Hesa said.
"Okay," Arkha answered.
Hesa ended the call.
Knock knock knock.
"Hesa, are you in your boarding room?"
Hesa glanced at the door. "Didn't Khan say that kid's an esper?"
Even so, he walked over and opened the door.
As expected, it was Sakala.
"I thought you were out," Kala said.
"Later this afternoon. I've got plans with Khan," Hesa replied.
"Oh, that's fine. I just wanted to stop by for a bit," Kala said, handing him a lunch box. "My mom came earlier and brought food. There's too much, so I'm sharing."
"Hmm, thanks. Oh yeah, come in," Hesa invited him.
Kala nodded and followed Hesa inside.
"Want something to drink?" Hesa offered.
"N-No need. I won't stay long," Kala said.
Hesa put the lunch box on the table and sat across from Kala.
"Is there something you want to talk about?" Hesa asked.
"Y-Yes." Kala nodded.
"I have something too. Who wants to go first?" Hesa asked.
"You," Kala said.
"Khan said you met him and talked about my condition in the other world. You also said my gang is special and that we won't end up like Jihan," Hesa said.
"Y-Yeah, I did say that," Kala replied.
"Was it really you?" Hesa pressed.
Kala exhaled and lowered his head. Hesa's expression clearly showed suspicion. It seemed he couldn't hide it anymore.
"It wasn't exactly me. It was my alter ego, Asta," Kala admitted.
"Hm, I figured," Hesa said.
"I came here to tell you about your gang being reincarnations of them," Kala said, taking a piece of old newspaper from his jacket pocket and unfolding the yellowed paper.
"Asta was very curious about the copies. He even searched their past because he believed that would end the terror, but it hasn't worked yet," Kala explained.
Hesa read the newspaper.
"An orphanage fire—"
"The fire caused seven children to die. Heeseung and the others. But there's something that made them unable to rest in peace," Kala said.
"What?" Hesa asked.
"Sorry. That's all Asta told me," Kala said.
~~~~~~
The red-haired young man was on his way home after buying something. He glanced at the quiet street around him.
He felt uneasy and worried even though the sky was still bright. It was as if darkness was wrapping around him.
"It's just my imagination," Kala muttered, brushing the feeling aside as he continued walking.
After only a few steps, a voice from behind made him freeze.
"In such a hurry?"
Kala quickly turned around—just in time. Jay was about to stab him from behind. Kala dodged, though his arm was still slashed.
"J-Jio, what are you doing?" he stammered, clutching his bleeding arm.
"I'm Jay. Don't you remember me? I still remember you, Kyung," Jay said.
"I'm Asta. You've got the wrong person," Kala said.
"So Asta is your name now, huh? Okay, I get it," Jay said, stepping closer.
"Why are you scared? We were friends in the past. Don't you miss me?" Jay asked.
"The past and the present are different. I can't possibly know you anymore," Kala replied.
Jay chuckled and raised his knife. Without wasting time, Kala ran.
Still panting, he stopped and glanced at an alley to his left. Without thinking, he ran in and hid beside a large trash bin.
Peeking out occasionally, he prayed he wouldn't run into Jay again.
"Why would he want to hurt me if we were friends in the past? Or is that just an excuse because he knows I want to help Hesa?"
The sound of footsteps made him shrink back further, trying not to be seen.
"Hey."
A hand tapped his shoulder, making Kala flinch in shock.
"What's wrong?"
Oh, thank goodness. The two people behind him were his friends.
"Ayden, Wish," Kala sighed in relief.
"Why do you look so scared? And your hand is bleeding," Ayden said in panic.
"I-I ran into a mugger. He had a knife," Kala said.
"Did he take your stuff?" Wish asked.
"No. Luckily I managed to escape, but my hand got cut," Kala replied.
"My house is close from here. You should stop by and treat that wound," Wish said.
Kala simply nodded and walked with the two of them.