Everything was darkness.
The darkness was absolute, an oppressive force that seemed to stretch on forever.
Ye Jin saw herself standing in the midst of this darkness, each breath she took heavier than the last.
Where was she? Wasn't she just reading a dog-blood BG smut? Ye Jin thought, trying to piece two and two together.
Suddenly, a figure appeared before her, blood dripping from his head. It was Shen Xue, his eyes empty, his face filled with agony.
"You caused this," he wailed, his voice haunting and filled with spite and disdain. "Only if you weren't obsessed with that stupid Jade. You caused my death!"
Ye Jin's eyes widened in shock.
Not her Shen Xue... Not her Shen Xue... Shen Xue hates her... he hates...
He hates...
HE... HE...
Ye Jin opened her mouth. She wanted to plead with her Shen Xue, she wanted to tell him she loved him, and if she could, she would exchange her life for his. She tried speaking, but no voice could be heard.
She clutched her neck.
What had happened to her voice? Why couldn't she speak?
Ye Jin suddenly felt a cold chill on her legs. She looked down and beheld the ground beneath her cracking open, plunging her into a sea of dead, soulless bodies. Thousands of hands reached out, dragging her down, their voices, a chorus of despair and agony.
"You did this to us, Ye Jin. Why did you do this to us? Why did you betray us?"
Ye Jin struggled, but it was futile as the hands were relentless, pulling her down into the abyss in which she had pushed them. The anger, pain, hatred, blame, and sorrow suffocated her, making it harder and harder to breathe.
I did not... I did not...
"IT'S NOT MY FAULT!!!" Ye Jin shouted as she bolted up in bed, her body drenched in thick sweat, her heart pounding vigorously.
'Calm down, Ye Jin, it's just a dream,' Ye Jin thought, trying to calm herself down.
She went to the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face. She looked at her hands, but all she could see was blood.
'Why now?' Ye Jin couldn't help but wonder as she stepped into the shower, letting the cold water wash over her.
Why him? Why was his death still haunting her? Yes, she had loved him, but she had watched people she cherished die in her hands. She had also witnessed hundreds of deaths, both by her hands and the hands of others, and none had shaken her up like this.
...
At school, the usual chatter of students filled the air. Ye Jin was still in a daze; she just couldn't get over the dream. She had been so caught up with it that she didn't realize GMS 005 had failed to greet her as usual.
"Good morning, class," Mr. He, the teacher, spoke, drawing her attention. "I have an announcement to make. From today, we have a new student joining us from Class 1."
A ripple of curiosity traveled through the room. This was because, though Yi Zhe was a school for the rich, Class 1 contained the elite of the elites and geniuses. While Class 2 contained the upper middle class and the intelligent, they could never compare to Class 1.
"This is as a result of research being undertaken by the school. Please welcome Gu Yan."
The class fell silent as fear and dread filled the room. Who didn't know Gu Yan? That crazy psychopath and bully.
Gu Yan strolled in, his eyes playful but also indifferent. In his mouth was a stick of candy.
He scanned the room until his eyes landed on Ye Jin. A smile tugged at his lips as he walked over. He looked at the person who sat next to her. He smiled. "Dear classmate, I wish to sit here."
The poor boy shakily packed his things and moved to an empty seat. Gu Yan placed his bag on the desk and sat down.
Ye Jin didn't spare him a glance as she couldn't care less why he decided to move to Class 1 or sit beside her. She would have cared previously if not for the fact that she had tried to contact GMS 005, but it was not responding.
As the lesson went on, Ye Jin couldn't help but feel uncomfortable as she sensed Gu Yan's deep gaze on her neck.
Gu Yan, noticing her discomfort, leaned closer and whispered playfully in her ear, "Looks like we're classmates now."
"Obsessed much?" Ye Jin asked, rolling her eyes. "And don't whisper in my ear next time. It's really uncomfortable."
Gu Yan's grin widened.
He had thought of making her into a doll, but it seemed he preferred her this way.