It was practically a ghost town. The stench of decaying bodies filled my nostrils and caused me to gag. I hurried to Ms. Wond's and found her door open. The inside still looked intact. I closed the door and found it easier to breathe inside despite the little wafts of decaying body here and there. Her things were neatly put away as if she had gone on vacation. I noticed a piece of paper stuck in between two books. I pulled one out then started to read.

"Heya sugar. I had a feeling you'd end up back here. I'm sure by the time you get here, you'll see this place is a ghost town. I'm most likely still alive, but in the event I'm not, you'll see a bag sitting in my closet upstairs. In it is all the research I've done on the disease infecting juzuses. - Ms. Wond'. So I guess my answer lies upstairs..." I thought then hurried up the stairs.

It would've been nice to know which door was the closet she was referring too. I was left with no choice but to open all of them. I entered a bedroom then noticed a door. I opened it and found a bag waiting for me. She did die. I tried lifting the bag, but it proved to be difficult.

"Need some help?" a familiar voice asked.

I stood on alert and prepared to fight.

"Calm down. I'm normal, for now anyway. Anything you want? Need? I'll do it." he said.

"Then make yourself scarce." I spat then decided to use the bedroom as my research area.

I looked back and saw he really did leave. I didn't really want him to, but I couldn't risk his other half ruining everything. It was difficult trying to keep my wants at bay. Sometimes I felt like giving up and giving in to him, just so we could be together. Was that a smart thing to do? Obviously not, but it sure was better constantly having to pull away when all I wanted to do was get closer.

시현

I couldn't help but notice food randomly appearing whenever I felt hungry or a drink instantly within arms reach. It most likely was Yugyeom, but there was no proof. After I told him to leave, I had no idea what he did and where he ended up. Though, it could be my own powers acting on their own. A part of me wanted Yugyeom to be the culprit. I wanted him to still care about me, even if on the surface I had to be cruel to him. It sounded selfish, possessive even. I slowly placed the paper down then sighed.

I took a moment to relax and clear my mind. I didn't have time to think of my relationship. Hundreds of people needed a cure and fast. I didn't know much about the disease, but an infected person certainly couldn't live long with it. I got back to work in trying to understand what Ms. Wond had left behind.

시현

I opened my eyes then panicked. When did I fall asleep? A blanket was covering me as well. This was definitely Yugyeom's work. I looked out and saw it was pitch black out.

"Yugyeom..." I muttered subconsciously.

Where was he? I left my spot on the floor and headed downstairs. I turned on some lights then saw a figure looming in her exam room. I sent a projectile at it then saw it move.

"Oh, you're up. How far have you gotten?" he asked in a raspy voice.

"How long have you been here?" I demanded.

"Does it matter? If I say nothing, you tell me off. If I say something, you tell me off. I get it, you don't want me around anymore, but do you think this is easy for me? Knowing I had to let you go because if we stayed together, you'd end up like me?" Yugyeom said as he approached me. I stepped back with each step he took. "Do you know how hard it is to keep myself from going batshit crazy and hurting you? I already did once and I never want to again. But I... I just can't stay away from you."

"I feel that way too. I want to be close to you, but I don't want to get hurt again..." I said, feeling guilty that I never considered his feelings.

"Can I hold you... just once? I'll be careful..." he pleaded.

My body moved without hesitation towards him. It wasn't the same as it used to be, but some of the essence of it remained. Maybe it wouldn't be that bad, becoming infected as well.

"Promise me you'll find a cure for us all and never join our side." said Yugyeom in a serious tone.

I looked at him in shock. How did he know what was on my mind? He looked down at me then smiled warmly.

"I promise." I replied.

He kissed the top of my head then let me go.

"I should go. I can feel my powers weakening." he said with a sad smile.

"Be safe..." I whispered as I watched him go.

It must be tiring, day in and day out using his power to suppress the evils that threatened to spill out if he didn't. I slowly made my way back upstairs feeling emptier than before.

시현

I jumped out of my spot in excitement. It made sense to me. I knew what the next step needed to be. It was just a matter of getting there and hoping there was still some left. I paused in the doorway then looked back. Was it wise to just leave everything? I couldn't use my powers to carry it as they could possibly get wet. I wasn't strong enough either. I had left Seoho and Harin behind. I couldn't trust Yugyeom either.

I tried carrying a few test objects and as expected, they were slightly damp. It could be worse. I could have Seoho's power that burns anything and everything. I turned around then freaked out before trapping it in a water bubble. A zombie? Those didn't exist on this planet. A lightbulb went off. He had to be nearby. I looked out the window and sure enough, he was commanding a bunch of the dead townsfolk.

Which side was it? I looked back and saw a few more trying to enter the room. I trapped them as well. They didn't seem hostile. I opened the window then sent a blob of water his way. It hit him dead on.

"I'm not sure if you noticed, but I sent up some help." he shouted.

"Could you warn a person!? I nearly had a heart attack!" I shouted back, completely annoyed.

"Sorry." he said then snapped. All the moving bodies instantly fell lifeless to the ground. I shuddered. His power was a strange one. "Do you mind sending those down here?"

I quietly watched as he had cleared the town of the horribly smelling normie bodies. The stench lingered, but it wasn't as prominent as it used to be. Was it wise to ask him to fetch something for me? Or even travel with me? The obvious answer was no.

"Yugyeom!" I shouted.

He looked up at me then flew over to the window. I felt my face heat up as he looked at me. He started to laugh and reached for my face then stopped. His face fell momentarily.

"What's up?" he asked after a bit of awkward silence.

"Well, first let me ask this. Why do you hang around me despite knowing you could turn against me at any moment?" I asked curiously.

"It's going to sound cliché and cheesy, but my answer is love. I love you a lot, Shi. I worry about you. Seo and Rin hardly gave a shit about you. They even talked about you behind your back. They-" he said then stopped as he looked at my sullen face. "The point is, I don't want anyone to hurt you when you're alone like this. You aren't the best fighter if we're going to be honest."

"Am I really that weak to you?" I asked in a raised voice.

"I didn't mean it that way. It came out wrong. I meant you don't have experience like we do." he said quickly to try and remedy the situation.

He wasn't wrong. I had barely started to learned basic combat skills when the disease broke out. Still, he didn't have to point it out. He took note of my discomfort and tried to make light of the situation.

"But, that doesn't mean you're helpless now does it? If there's anything I admire about you, it's your iron will." he said with a smile.

"The thing I really wanted to ask... can you accompany me somewhere? I can't possibly carry everything myself and yes, I know, you're a threat to my wellbeing, but Seo and Rin aren't here..." I said with a frown.

"Are you okay with me disappearing for hours?" he asked.

"If it means getting a step closer to a cure, definitely." I responded then stopped myself as I almost touched him.