Ayan woke up choking.
Air rushed into his lungs like he'd been drowning for hours. His body jerked violently as he tried to sit up—
but the world spun the moment he moved.
He collapsed back down.
"…What—"
His voice came out hoarse. Dry.
Wrong.
Everything felt wrong.
Darkness.
Not the normal kind.
Not the kind where your eyes adjust after a few seconds.
This darkness stayed.
Heavy.
Permanent.
Ayan froze.
No.
No, no, no—
His hands shot up to his face.
His fingers trembled as they touched his eyes.
They were open.
He could feel it.
He was blinking.
But—
Nothing.
"…I can't see."
The words came out quieter than he expected.
Like saying them louder would make them real.
Silence answered him.
His heartbeat began to rise.
Fast.
Too fast.
"Calm down… calm down…"
His breathing grew uneven anyway.
Because this wasn't panic.
This was reality.
"Sight… is not yours anymore."
The voice echoed in his mind.
Clear.
Cold.
Final
Ayan clenched his fists.
"…So this is the price."
No rage.
Not yet.
Just… understanding.
This game didn't bluff.
He forced himself to sit up again—slower this time.
The ground beneath him felt rough.
Stone.
Cold.
Slightly wet.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
The sound again.
Somewhere ahead.
Or behind.
He couldn't tell anymore.
Ayan swallowed.
"Think."
Panic = death.
That much was obvious now.
He closed his eyes—
Then let out a bitter laugh.
"…Right."
Didn't matter anymore.
So he focused on what he could use
Sound.
Touch.
Breath.
He pressed his palm against the ground and slowly pushed himself up.
His legs shook—but held.
Barely.
"Okay…"
One step forward.
Careful.
Testing.
No immediate trap.
Good.
Second step.
The drip sound grew slightly louder.
So that was direction.
Probably.
Ayan moved slowly, one hand stretched out in front of him.
Every step calculated.
Every breath controlled.
Then—
A presence.
He froze.
It wasn't a sound.
Not a movement.
Just—
Something.
Close.
Watching.
"…You again."
His voice was steady.
Too steady.
The Watcher.
He couldn't see it.
But he knew.
The air itself felt different.
Heavier.
Colder.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
A faint sound.
Like fabric shifting.
It moved.
Ayan didn't.
Didn't run.
Didn't react.
"…You tried to stop me."
Silence.
"…Why?"
No answer.
Of course.
But it didn't attack.
Again.
Ayan exhaled slowly.
"…So you're not just a monster."
Still nothing.
But something changed.
Slightly.
Almost unnoticeable.
The pressure eased.
Just a little.
"…Fine."
Ayan turned his head slightly.
Not towards it.
Not away.
Neutral.
"Then don't get in my way."
He stepped forward again.
The presence stayed behind.
Watching.
But not following.
Time lost meaning.
Ayan kept walking.
Step by step.
Guided only by sound.
By instinct.
The dripping grew louder.
Clearer.
Closer.
Until—
His foot hit something.
He stumbled slightly but caught himself.
Ayan crouched down slowly.
His fingers moved across the surface.
Not stone.
Metal.
Cold.
Smooth.
A container?
No.
A bowl.
His fingers dipped inside.
Liquid.
He brought his fingers closer to his nose.
Paused.
"…Blood."
Fresh.
Ayan's expression hardened.
"…Of course it is."
Then—
A sound.
Right in front of him.
A breath.
Ayan froze.
Someone else was there.
Not the Watcher.
Different.
Closer.
Human.
"…Who's there?"
No response.
But the breathing continued.
Shaky.
Uneven.
Ayan's mind raced.
Another player?
Or—
Something pretending to be one?
"…Answer me."
His tone sharpened.
A pause.
Then—
"…help."
A girl's voice.
Weak.
Terrified.
Ayan didn't move.
Didn't rush.
Too easy.
Too convenient.
"Where are you?"
"…here…"
Vague.
Useless.
Ayan clicked his tongue softly.
"…Move."
A slight sound.
Cloth dragging.
A weak shuffle.
Better.
Ayan adjusted his direction.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Closer.
The breathing got clearer.
Then—
His hand touched something.
A shoulder.
Warm.
Shaking.
The girl flinched violently.
"Don't—!"
Ayan tightened his grip slightly.
Not hurting.
But firm.
"Relax."
Her breathing hitched.
"…I—I can't see…"
Ayan went still.
"…You too?"
Silence.
Then—
"…you too?"