Day 243 - 1st day of confinement.

  It was impossible to act fine.

  Seohwa ate all her food but after each meal, she would puke it all out in the toilet.

  Day 244

  Still couldn’t stomach her meals. But started to write down her thoughts with the paper and pen provided. Small mercies.

  ‘Escape failed. Death Casualty: Jisoo…’

  Seohwa exhaled before continuing:

  ‘…Age: 11. Cause of Death: Dr 8’s punishments. A speed awakener who stayed loyal until the end.’

  Tear droplets smudged the paper without Seohwa noticing as she quietly wiped them away.

  I can live… for her.

  Seohwa dropped her pen. She felt weary as she began to work out diligently, practising what she learned from Mr Alpha’s basic training classes.

  Day 245

  She was finally able to properly digest some food as she trained her physical stats.

  During meal times, she would write down her training:

  ‘Did 50 pushups, planked for 30 minutes, and 50 burpees. Done this 3 times’

  But every so often, she couldn’t help but think of Seoyong as she wrote:

  ‘I wonder if oppa is ok… How would he have lived if it was him instead of me?’

  Day 246

  Seohwa started to do some meditation before meals, finding it easier to focus on training her attributes: wind, earth and poison.

  When she moved them according to her will for about 5 minutes, she ate her food.

  ‘An unexpected visitor came in the middle of the night. Hawk secretly shared some of his hidden stash of chocolates from one of his field missions. In exchange, he pulled my cheeks and said how squishy it was, that weirdo…’

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  ‘Anyway, I asked him, “How should I live from now on?” He shrugged me off and irresponsibly said, “Whatever you want.” I mean, I was asking him seriously! Surely, he should’ve answered properly!’

  Seohwa crumpled the paper as she thought of the day’s events. Somehow, the way Hawk shrugged her off reminded her of her brother when he was teasing her. What’s up with that?!

  Seohwa sighed as she massaged her head. She glanced up at the grey ceiling contemplatively and murmured softly, “…whatever, huh?”

  ***

  “Hey Hawk!”

  Hawk was whistling cheerfully after visiting the new recruit when he turned to see his colleague, “Rhino! What’s up, buddy?”

  Rhino’s tanned and large physique towered over him and gruffly asked, “Did she like it?”

  “Like what?”

  “My chocolates you stole! Those were my last ones!” Rhino shook Hawk’s body like a ragdoll as Hawk yelled, “Yeah, yeah, she did! Now, let go of me, you buffalo!”

  Rhino kindly let him go as Hawk steadied himself. Rhino placed his meaty hands on his hips, “So, is the little one feeling better?”

  “Yep, when I checked on her, she was training diligently, even writing a log.” Hawk ruffled his bronze hair and muttered, “Even though I told her to take a break. She’s stubborn.”

  Rhino smirked, “I like her already. You should learn from her. Just because General Ox likes your talent doesn’t mean you should slack off.”

  Hawk got a heavy back-pat from Rhino, “Ugh! Can’t you do it gentler?”

  “No.”

  Hawk rolled his eyes at his blunt response as he remembered, “Right, how is observing 4-17, 5-03, 6-27 and 7-11?”

  Rhino hummed, “They have talent but haven’t awakened yet. Why?”

  “I'm just looking at the potential cadets we’ll be having soon. Two newbies are coming and both are in the same gen. But they’re quite…troublesome. The Houdini 8-10 and the solitary confined 8-33.”

  Rhino scoffed, “I think it's a perfect fit, considering you’re their main mentor.”

  “Shouldn’t you be cheering me on?” Hawk rolled his eyes as Rhino huffed, “Not for slackers and chocolate thieves.”

  “Are you seriously being petty over chocolates?”

  “THAT WAS MY LAST STASH!”

  Hawk retreated back a few steps as his hands surrendered, “Alright, Alright. Geez, for such a big guy, you sure have a sweet tooth. They were expiring anyway — you should be thanking me.” Hawk felt the hairs on his arms standing up as he slowly glanced at the fuming Rhino.

  “Rhino… stay…calm…” Hawk suggested softly as he slowly retreated.

  “COME HERE, YOU BASTARD!”

  Rhino began to chase after Hawk as Hawk screamed, dodging his steel-claw hands, “Wait! I said wait!”

  General Ox’s voice boomed as he stood in the middle of the hallway in his pink pjs, “QUIET DOWN! IT’S THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!!!”

  “Eeeeeek!” Hawk screeched as he fell backwards on the floor. Rhino stopped his stampede and froze at the sight of their general’s ghastly attire.

  Ox cracked his knuckles, “Detention. Both of you. 8-10 and 8-33 will be coming in two days. I expect only the best behaviour befitting a mentor.”

  Hawk and Rhino nodded. Hawk chuckled, slowly rising, “I got it.” His gaze focused down, noticing the pink unicorn in Ox’s hands as he commented, “I never knew you like pink, boss…not saying it doesn’t suit you… it looks good on you by the w—!” The more he looked, Hawk couldn’t help but laugh inside.

  He soon stopped as he saw Ox smirking, “Find something funny, Hawk? Then go fly with Mr Fluffy and brag about him to 100 people.”

  “…”

  “What?”

  “You heard me.” Ox huffed as he handed the unicorn stuffy to Hawk. Ox saluted the both of them, “Have a good night, boys.” Before he went back inside his dorm. All that was left was the speechless Hawk awkwardly holding the unicorn and Rhino who was snickering.

  ***

  Day 248 - End of confinement.

  When Seohwa was released, Hawk smiled welcomingly with his arms wide open. Seohwa glanced down to the taped pink unicorn on his body as she raised her brows curiously.

  “…Don’t ask.” Hawk begged with a listless gaze.

  “I wasn’t going to.”

  For a few minutes, the two stayed awkwardly silent as Hawk coughed, easing the tension, “Anyway, congrats on surviving solitary confinement. And welcome to the Grey family. Grey because we’re not fully human nor are we fully monsters, we’re the in-between. Like how grey is between black and white!” Hawk posed dramatically expecting an applause but…

  …Silence.

  He wilted inside, “…This is when you clap.”

  “Ah, sorry.” Clap. Clap. Clap.

  Hawk stopped posing as he sighed, “At least, you listen well.” He pinched her squishy cheeks for stress-relief, “Anyway, follow me.”

  Seohwa frowned as she rubbed her cheeks, following after him.

  ***

  In the training hall, Seohwa curiously observed her surroundings filled with people in dark grey uniforms sparring and using their powers. She was taken to the Orientation room where she saw a boy her age sitting impatiently.

  The boy with blonde hair and yellow eyes noticed her come in as he stood up shocked. Seohwa asked with widened eyes, “…You’re… 8-10?”