The first time her breath is stolen from her, Risae falls to the floor. Everyone around her is rushing, their movements bizarrely sped up, their voices echoing. She rises. The tile floor should be cool against her bare legs, but she can hardly feel it. Her attention isn't there anyway.8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWaEOaHQyM 維尼

She looks at herself as a doctor shocks her chest. Her body jolts in the bed. All other sounds fade away so she only hears her ragged breath and the erratic beating of the heart monitor.8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDdcuRq0oO 維尼

Risae walks to the other side of the bed and stares with a clinical lack of emotion. So that's how her brain looks. More than that, it bothers her to see her hair. The natural black color is returning. She needs to dye it blonde again before their album promotions end.8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyYYqjLK1i 維尼

She sits cross-legged on the ground and watches them operate with a sense of timelessness. There is more yelling, more hurried action, as the nurses and other doctos rush to follow the surgeon's orders.8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsXUnqiPhy 維尼

The surgeon finally straightens up and leaves the operation room. Risae jumps to her feet, pattering behind him. She's both fascinated and revolted by the morbidity of her dream.8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMhgN9L8BD 維尼

Her mother-her mother!-stands shakily, her face scrubbed with tears. A handkerchief is clutching in her fist. Her eyes are rimmed red but clearly filled with hope.8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjjxBAG1bx 維尼

Risae runs forward to hug her mom, who she hasn't seen in months, but her hands pass through her mom's shoulders. She laughs and shakes her head, remembering she isn't in her body at the moment.8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlINT22n3z 維尼

"We had to stop the surgery," the surgeon says. "Her blood pressure dropped. She isn't stable enough."8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNaU49TQgc 維尼

"So what does that...?" Her mother pressed her lips together.8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡklvMVarco4 維尼

"Right now we can't do anything." He puts a hand on her mother's shoulder. "We just need to watch and see if she'll make it."8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡwj8MTCmCka 維尼

Risae's mother sinks into the chair, Auntie putting an arm around her. Ashley and Juni are there two, the latter with a neck brace. All of them are crying or have streaks on their faces. Risae has a vague sense of discomfort and regret because the people she loves about are in pain.8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZH73kSGiu 維尼

Ashley stands, gently letting go of Juni, who grabs for her. Ashley walks, zombie-like, and Risae follows her, ignoring anyone else in the hallway. They turn into a hospital room where Sojung is asleep, half her face covered with bandages. Ashley strokes her head, and she stirs slightly.8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46P4T2BDui 維尼

Risae backs out of the room, her hands pressed against her side of her face. How did her mind create these horrors? Somehow, seeing Sojung pale and injured is worse than seeing herself in the same condition. Wake up, wake up, wake up.8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsH8t5wiOC 維尼

And then there's another question: where's Eunbi?8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KSTxfgJtI 維尼

"Unnie?"8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1HnLtZvNB 維尼

Risae whirls around to see Eunbi standing there as if conjured by Risae's mind. Risae runs forward and hugs her, rewarded when her arms close around Eunbi's body. Her skin is cool, and Risae thinks with concern that Eunbi needs a jacket.8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡclBM1GJs27 維尼

"I was wondering when you were going to show up in my dream," Risae says, feeling a little bit brighter just because Eunbi is here now.8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJGyj0p0VP 維尼

"This is a dream?" Eunbi looks around uncertainly, smoothing down her skirt.8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVse3PClps 維尼

As Risae looks in at Ashley with her head bowed over Sojung's body, shoulders visibly shaking, she realizes suddenly that Ashley is wearing all black. Eunbi, meanwhile, is wearing the same clothes she was wearing in the van.8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡbExF3rX9oO 維尼

Wake up, Risae tells herself again, not wanting to be lost in this terrible dream where Sojung's condition makes Ashley cry. She's afraid to even consider why Ashley is wearing black in the first place.8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXK1egowih 維尼

Ashley stands again and passes through Eunbi and Risae. Risae expects Eunbi to squeal, but she doesn't react at all. Ashley returns to Juni-who is also dressed in black-saying quietly, "We can't let Sojung know about Eunbi and Risae."8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWOFaxxpnu 維尼

"Let Sojung know what about us?" Risae says, as they follow Ashley and Juni to another doorway.8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWRH69M8vB 維尼

"Risae Unnie," Eunbi says quietly, her gaze to the side. "I think I'm dead."8964 copyright protection354ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWjHCzGNI5 維尼

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