The young man's feet smacked against the cold, uneven pavement as the mind-numbing wind hit his wet and sticky face. Within his deepest fear and anguish, he couldn't help but reassure himself. 

It's another house. Zarian must have mistaken it. 

But, as he rounded the corner, where he and many of the other children would spend their afternoons, it was his home that was up in flames. 

The red and orange inferno melted the white paint and then ripped through the wood altogether. 

"No!", he managed to yell out, his voice mixing with the smoke that had risen from the fire.

His eyes, tears lining and making them burn, landed on the only people who had ever loved him as their bodies turned black and begin to break apart. 

A rough arm wrapped around his torso and he was pulled back from his family. 

As he struggled against the stranger's hold, images of charred remains deepened into his mind.

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He twisted and turned, sweat attaching itself to his neck and in between his knitted brows. Small, choked whimpers escaped his dried lips as he clutched the sheets in between his shaky fists. 

With a loud sob, he turned over and the world slowly appeared before him. 

He slung his feet over these of the bed, his hand reaching up to turn his light on, bringing him out of the dark in the room but not the one in his mind. 

"Seonghwa?", a small voice followed by a knock made him turned to the door, "Are you awake?"

Standing, he forced himself to the door. Taking a deep breath, Seonghwa turned the knob, cold against his hands. 

Anabella stood before him, dressed in a simple, white nightdress with marigolds hand-stitched into the fabric. Tears stained her rosy cheeks as her bloodshot eyes scanned his face. 

As she shook in her doorway, Seonghwa whispered, "You couldn't sleep either?"

She shook her head, biting her lip as she bounced on her knees.

"Here.", Seonghwa opened his arms, a small smile on his lips. 

Anabella ran into his arms, but Seonghwa ended up being the one crying into her shoulder. 

He clutched at the back of her nightdress, his warm tears tickling her shoulder. 

"It's al-alright, Seonghwa.", Anabella ran a hand down his hair, her own facade cracking. 

"I'm want to apologi-"

"Do not. I shouldn't have been so insensitive.", Anabella rubbed at his back. 

Seonghwa pulled back, scanning Anabella's face with a blank expression.

"It's alright, Seonghwa.", she reached forward to wipe his tears, her glove's fabric quickly becoming darker. 

His eyes landed on the ground, "May you stay?"

Anabella leaned back, became silent, and then nodded, "Of course."

With her head hung low, she walked into the bedroom. 

Seonghwa closed the door, a part of him becoming uncomfortable as he began to regret his decision. 

Smaller chapter, I'm sorry. Kinda a filler chapter. Hope you enjoyed.