it’s cold, so very cold.

and white. pure and everlasting white, stretching out for miles on end as far as the naked eye can see.

marred only by the vibrant red blood painted across the pristine snow like dying rose petals blown away with the wind and scattered along the milky floor.

junhong stands frozen to the spot, eyes wide with morbid curiosity as a monster stands before him, fangs bared, licking a stripe of the viscous red fluid off of it’s finger.

their eyes remain locked, the world around them melting away into quiet nothingness. nobody breathes, nobody moves.

just the icy, bitter wind whipping his hair around his red cheeks numb with cold.

the silence is almost tangible, hanging thick in the air like heavy morning fog.

junhong blinks, and just like that, the spell is broken.

the monster springs into action, stalking closer and closer with long, graceful strides, blood dripping from the corner of it’s lip quirked up in a taunting grin.

junhong can hear his heart thundering in his ears, terror seizing his muscles into paralysis as the creature stretches it’s blood-encrusted fingers toward him, a low hiss emitting from it’s throat.

junhong tries to scream, but it gets lodged somewhere in the back of his throat, leaving him completely mute.

‘yongguk sama,’ he finds himself thinking, pleading…

“Mister Choi, would you please be so kind as to grace this class with your undivided attention?”

Junhong jerks awake with a start, shooting up from his desk to the sound of low giggles echoing around the lecture hall. he blinks in confusion, heat burning across his cheeks as he realizes he’d been daydreaming.

The bell rings, signaling the end of class. and the teacher sighs, rubbing his temples. “never mind.”

the classroom bursts into activity as students collect their belongings, preparing to head back to the sun dormitory.

junhong sighs, flopping back down into his seat and hanging his head back with his eyes shut tight.

“good going, kid,” a voice floats into his ears.

junhong cracks open one eye to see himchan slowly rising from the desk beside him, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. “if you don’t hurry, you’ll  be late for prefect duties.”

“oh!” junhong gasps, jolting back upright and haphazardly throwing his notebook and pencils into his bag. he glances up to see himchan already heading out the door and quickly yanks the zipper shut, tearing across the room in a few long strides. “himchan, wait up!”