The whole school was burned to the ground, and we could not save them all. We managed to get a little girl out of there, as well as the girl who was believed to be behind all the tragic murders.

The higher-ups decided to put the little girl to psychiatric evaluations after learning that her parents were also murdered since she has nowhere else to go. But I couldn't let her all alone in a room with nothing but white, surrounded with people who think that she went crazy right after witnessing a bloodbath inside that school.

So it was only fitting to take her with me, to my home, and raise her to become a normal girl.

"Yebin, are you okay?" I asked as I glance at her through the rear mirror, keeping my hands glued on the stirring wheel as we pass through the deserted streets with nothing but destroyed buildings and fallen debris scattered on the ground caused by the vicious storm. No one really anticipated the storm, it came all of a sudden that many people interpreted it as a warning from our mother nature.

Yebin didn't reply and just sat quietly at the back seat, staring outside the window with a blank and hollow gaze. It was probably hard on her for watching the town she had once lived at get destroyed and reduced to rubbles.

She did not speak a word right after she woke up after being drugged with sedatives, and the doctor who was looking after her also went on without saying a word. But looking at Yebin's figure, I am certain that she's fine aside from numerous bruises and minor burns from that school. What I worry the most is how her mentality will be from now on after undergoing a traumatic experience.

"You can go ahead and sleep, it's gonna be a long ride." I tried to make my voice cheery, but her dead aura she's giving off is contrasting with it. I glanced one more time at her through the mirror and saw that she was already staring at me. "Don't worry, I'm taking you to a safe place, no one will ever try to hurt you anymore."

"Why?" She suddenly asked with a soft voice, catching me off guard to the point that I made a startling noise. "Why are you helping me?"

"Because it's not fun inside a hospital," I said but she doesn't look satisfied with my reply. "People there would stare at you like you're a monster, and more importantly, the food there is disgusting."

I emphasized the topic about food but I wasn't getting anywhere with her constant blank stares so I cleared my throat. "Anyway, just sleep." I smiled awkwardly before putting all my attention on the road. She stared at my eyes through the rear mirror before glancing back outside the car window, watching the chaotic scene roll into fields and long roads.

*

"This will be your new home!" I dramatically raised my arms skyward as if I was advertising my average looking house right after Yebin got off the car. She stared at it for a moment before looking back at me, still with blank eyes.

I got what she was trying to say, I gulped down and lead the way to the door with my keys dangling on my hand. "Your room is already prepared, I hope it's to your liking."

"Can I walk around the neighborhood?" She tugged my sleeves, causing my head to flick back towards her from her suggestion. She would love it here, tall trees, fresh air, and nice folks. It's better for her to take a walk rather than lock herself up in another confined room.

"Uh, sure you can. Just be back before it turns dark." I smiled, patting her head before she walks off the sidewalk. "Ahh, I hope she runs into that boy, I bet they'll be good friends."

I watched her carefully walk on the sidewalk, briefly glancing at the passing cars and then later on meeting gazes with our friendly neighbors that showed her a warm smile without hesitation.

I saw Yebin bow her head to them, then continuing to walk across. I don't know what she's up to, but I guess it's one step ahead in getting over her traumatic experience.

*

Yebin paced around the neighborhood, as much as her small legs could take. She was looking for the playground, where she would always go if ever she's feeling down. But what she's currently feeling is far worse than being sad, it's a combination of sorrow, guilt, and anger.

She glanced up at the sky to see it changing colors, from bright blue to vibrant orange as the sun began to set. She was about to head back to the house not until she heard laughing sounds of kids from a distance.

She instantly turned around to look where the sound is coming from but there were no kids found within the area, almost as if what she's hearing is far from her location.

Confused, she began following the source of the sound while listening closely. It sounded like the kids were playing tag basing from the laughing sound they make. Yebin went through a few houses and blocks until she found a small yet colorful playground.

Filled with different kinds of things to play with, she watched all the kids run around the sandy floor trying to catch each other. No one noticed her as she made her way towards the swing, she sat down while facing everyone and began to push the ground with her feet to swing around but slowly.

When one of the kids tripped and fell down in front of her, it was only then that she was noticed.

"Hey, you look new here." One of them said, the game suddenly stopped as they began gathering around her. It was rare to see a new kid around the area so they were curious about her identity.

"Did you just moved in?" A girl asked as she sat down on the swing next to her. "What's your name?"

Yebin was overwhelmed by their presence she began to stutter as she clutched tightly on the chains of the swing.

"I'm. . . I'm Y-yebin." She murmured as she looked down on her feet, earning confused stares from everyone but they just shrugged their shoulders.

"Don't worry, it's okay to be shy." One of them said, "Do you know how to play tag?"

Yebin looked up, stared at them for a few seconds before nodding.

"Cool! Now you're it!" The boy who was supposed to be 'it' tapped Yebin's shoulder and everyone screamed cheerfully and ran away from her.

A small smile tugged in her face as she stood up and began chasing each and every one of them. She was right about going to the playground, all her sadness would go away if she comes here to play.

"Faster!" They yelled since Yebin wasn't getting anyone, so she ran faster, she headed for the girl who seemed too tired to run anymore. She felt the urge to charge towards her so that she won't have to be 'it' anymore but right when she was about to tag the girl, the girl screamed loudly as it groveled on the ground with fear in her eyes.

Yebin couldn't understand why she was yelling when she was just about to tag her so she stopped, she looked around and everyone was also screaming. A scream not of delight but of fear as they all ran away from the playground as fast as they could.

Yebin thought that they're running away from her because she was 'it' but when she turned around she understood why. Behind her was an overly huge shadow looming over with red beaming eyes.

Her pupils dilated as she too fell on the ground, a series of flashbacks ran through her mind as she remembers what happened back at her old school.

The shadow noticed Yebin's fear so it hovered towards her, slowly as to not make her more scared.

"N-no. . . Please, not again." She cried, crawling back.

The shadow showed no intention of harming her, instead, the shadow hovered closely and positioned itself as if it's bowing down to Yebin. An indication that the shadow is a servant of Yebin.

At her age, she couldn't understand what the shadow was trying to say, all she knew is that everyone will never try to befriend her anymore.

After bowing, the shadow vanished along with the air but Yebin could feel that it's always near.

She wiped her tear-stained cheeks and stood up, brushing the dirt off of her skirt and walking away from the playground she will not be able to visit anymore.

She noticed that it was already dark so she began walking back towards the house she's supposed to live in from now on, she glanced up at the sky once more to see it pitch black, the same thing she saw back at the school windows.

She was too occupied on looking at the sky that she didn't see the boy who was quietly standing at the sidewalk. They both made a startled voice, she bowed at him as an apology before quickly scurrying away from him.

"Hey." The boy stopped her from her tracks, Yebin glanced behind her shoulder to look back at him. He was sheepishly scratching the nape of his neck as if wondering what he would say next.

"What is it?" She asked.

The boy just awkwardly laughed and said in a nervous tone. "N-nothing. I'm Kevin by the way." He raised his hand towards her.

Yebin glanced down at his outstretched hand, waiting for her to shake it but she remembered what just happened back at the playground so she ignored it.

"Yebin." She replied, before continuing to walk leaving Kevin behind.

"N-nice meeting you!" He yelled back but once again, Yebin decided to ignore him.