Chilled air drifted in the room, raising the curtains as Jinx stood there, her hand still on Kai's shoulder.

"You're wrong," Jinx said quietly, releasing her hand from Kai. She inhaled deeply, then turned Kai to face her.

"A monster doesn't cry over people they couldn't save. A monster doesn't lock themselves in a room for three days without food or talking because they're drowning in guilt."

Jinx pressed her palm flat against his chest. She felt every beat of Kai's heart, then softened her shoulders.

"This isn't a monster's heart. There is a difference." She closed her eyes, imagined herself, and slowly turned hers to Kai's.

Kai's lips parted, yet no word came out. He simply watched Jinx's face, then slowly placed his palm on his chest, over Jinx's.

Jinx cracked her eyes open, then slowly pulled her hand from beneath Kai's, then wiped her face with her sleeve.

She looked deep into Kai's eyes, then swallowed hard. "Now listen to me. You're going to eat that food, sleep tonight," she turned, pointing toward the slightly opened door. "And tomorrow, you're going to step outside that door."

Kai looked at the door and back at Jinx. "What if I hurt someone?"

A faint laugh nearly escaped Jinx, but she comported herself. "Kai, you've been in this room for three days." She lowered her head, gritted her teeth, then lifted it back to Kai's face. "The only person you're hurting is yourself."

She turned toward the door, her breathing becoming hazy, but paused. She tilted her head, then curled her mouth inward.

"Black said he'd come back. Maybe you would want to come out just to see him."

She left without waiting for a response and swung the door shut behind her.

Kai stood at the window, his hands on his chest, feeling every beat of his heart. The black sun rose higher in the sky, its torchlike rays falling across the ground and the silver sword on the bed.

When the rays faded, Kai walked slowly toward the untouched meal, then picked up the spoon. He looked at the meal as if it was detonating poison, but forced himself to take the first bite.

He felt no taste, but kept on eating.

…

The sky slowly turned from late afternoon to evening, then to a bright morning, where every blade of grass and flower in the barracks had life again.

Soldiers marched across the street, singing their hearts out, greeting every instructor they moved past.

The medical bay, which was a place for only the sick, was now a place where others sat and chatted. The corridor walls were now lined with cots, the floors sticky with juice and the faint smell of antiseptic.

Jinx sat on the edge of her bed, her legs dangling over the side, her left arm now gleaming with a new sling.

Cassy was sound asleep in the two joined chairs, mouth open, snoring softly.

"Always sleeping with an open mouth," Jinx whispered, then shifted her gaze from her to the door.

Soft footsteps, clapping sounds, and faint murmurs echoed from the hallway leading to the room Jinx was in. Children ran from their parents' beds, playing hide-and-seek as they bumped into rooms, unannounced. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

…

At exactly 9:17 a.m., Officer Jinwoo entered Jinx's room, followed by a female doctor, who had a medicated lens in her top pocket.

The officer stopped by the edge of Jinx's bed and rested his palms on the bed hinge. He smiled at Jinx, then tilted toward the doctor, who also pulled out a bag of medications.

Jinx's eyes widened. "Hey! Do you want to turn my body into a living pharmacy or what?"

The officer shook his head, neared the unoccupied seat, and served himself some rest.

The doctor slowly walked toward the small table where Cassy sat, still sleeping, then placed the bag down. "You have to start taking these supplements after you have gone back home."

She disconnected the IVs from Jinx's hands, applied a cleansing oil on the small drop of blood that seeped out, then straightened.

Jinx threw a confused stare at herself and at the doctor. "Is that it?"

"Yes. You can go home," the doctor stated. "Or better still, you can choose for us to give you the supplement through an IV."

"Nah. I will take them as you stated earlier. When I get home."

Jinx swung herself off the bed, walked to the bathroom, and then washed herself. She tried pulling the sling off her arm, but stopped when she noticed it wasn't coming off.

"When do I even get free from this?"

…

Cassy jolted awake five minutes after Jinx had entered the bathroom. She blinked repeatedly, then wiped the sleep from her face, staring at the officer.

"Officer Jinwoo," she called out, slowly bowing her head.

The officer smirked, then shifted his gaze from the lady.

Cassy looked at the empty bed, froze for a second, then stood up and neared the window, wondering. 'Did Jinx leave? Oh! I forgot we had to train early this morning. Maybe she went on without waking me up.'

She pondered on her thought, gripping the window frame hard.

Two minutes after she turned and walked back to the bed, Black appeared. He stood at the other side of the door, a smile filling his face and eyes, holding onto a duffel bag that looked heavy enough to break a normal man's back.

Cassy swallowed hard, then turned her head, having the feeling of being watched without proper makeup, like she had been doing every single morning.

Black stopped by the bed, then bowed to greet the officer. Officer Jinwoo stood up, greeting him back. "Morning, Lieutenant Blay."

Cassy sat there with wide eyes, shifting glances from Black to the officer. 'Lieutenant Blay? That Lieutenant?' Her face gleamed as she tried to remember the name well.

At that same instant, the bathroom door pushed open. Jinx exited wearing her sleek red dress, her head tied into a bonnet, her face gleaming with beauty.