Chapter 1: The Beginning

The blanket covered the half of the person lying on the bed. His eyes tightly shut and the red hair was reveals a bird nest. The body quietly tossed and turned as the night passes by.

11:30 pm,

The phone started to ring nonstop and a name along with a number plastered on the screen. A lazy arm stretched on the side table, grabbing the ringing phone with his hand, the person seemingly half dazed. He just woke up.

Ivis picked up his phone, tap the ‘answer’ button then turn on the loudspeaker as he put the phone back on the side table. He stretched his arms up, the child seems to be exhausted.

“It began.”

Only those words are said and the dazed Ivis didn’t quite understand. He wrinkled his brows and absent-mindedly asked.

“What began?”

“The Arcs appeared.” The cold, irritated voice reminded him.

“Hmm.”

Ivis fell silent for a moment and finally grasped the man’s words. His heart sank and his sanity finally woke up by the heaviness of those three letters.

He throw the sheets on the side and abruptly sit on the bed, grabbed the phone and strode off forgetting his slippers as the feet touches the cold floor. Ivis dragged himself towards the huge window of the hotel with his heart thumping loudly on his chest.

He instinctively look up at the night sky with dark blue tinge and stars. His eyes carefully observed but still saw nothing in the darkness. He let out a sigh of relief seeing no abnormalalities at the night sky.

Ivis inhaled deep and calm himself down to asked the person on the end of the line.

“There’s still no hint of it opening. What are you saying?” He said seriously as he studied the dark sky again.

“Why don’t you go and check your toys. I bet they’re already trembling.” The cold voice said and the call was finally hung up.

Ivis clicked his tongue, throw the phone away and grabbed his hair cursing. It wasn’t supposed to happen this fast.

“Of course! It will appear in the gap first. D*mn it.”

He massage his forehead annoyingly and finally decided to dress up, put on some jeans and casually picked a shirt and wore a jacket.

He then picked up the broken phone he threw on the ground and dialed a number. It took some few rings before the other end picked up.

“What’s happening there?” He asked, the impatience on his voice is clearly noticed by the other.

“T-there’s a sudden manifestation of a rift in the back of the island. We just got out.”

Elena’s voice is heard on the other line as she calmly reported. The wary tone didn’t escape Ivis ears. He gritted his teeth, agitated.

“It’s the first one to appear and it’s in the gap. We can still hold it off for some time.” Elena explained with a worried voice, her voice shaking at the end of the line.

“I’ll go back tomorrow noon. Tell everyone to prepare themselves. Don’t say it straight wait for me to come back.” He commanded as he started to dial another number on his phone.

This matter is urgent and it seems like they couldn’t hide their intentions any longer. Elena hesitated a bit before she answered.

“Yes.”

The call was then hang up.

Ivis dialed his personal assistant and commanded him to prepare a jet. He then threw his phone on the bed and sat on the desk opening his laptop. Looks like he wouldn’t be able to rest tonight.

…

It’s the early January and the surrounding were called despite the fact that it hadn’t snow.

Byul decided to go on a morning walk at the beach. His hand shook the coffee cup and his body involuntarily trembled because of the cold weather.

He let out a sneeze and the coffee spilled a bit on the sand. He hugged his body and finally surrender to the cold, shivering.

Byul walked towards the shore and decided to sit for a while. He drank some of the hot coffee and simply put the cup down on the sand. He then thought of the evening.

Last night was a catch. They barely slept because of the sudden appearance of a monster. He never thought that in realit he would encounter a raging plant trying to eat people.

He don’t believe in those but experience was another thing. He yawned and stretched his arms in his front.

What the heck is really happening? They were forced to stay in an isolated island. Meet the creator? Who the hell is he? It’s been so long and they still haven’t know his identity!

Who cares about him? He rather go back to his country and continue his daily life! If the situation was boring, that’s what he’d think however, this is different.

How could he miss such an adventure hn? Of course he’ll gladly stay!

Byul took another sip on his cup, letting the coffee slid down to his throat. He look at the sky, sighing.

Who knew that it would turn out like this? They just fought a plant last night. The absurdity of the situation was deeply engraved in his head.

Byul clicked his tongue.

There’s no use being fussy. He can jusf think over his life then. What point if he do it now?

Byul drink the last drop of coffee and finally stood up. He dragged his feet towards the house while hugging himself, shivering. He ran towards the house and finally reached the door.

Before he even step inside, his head unexpectedly bump into someone’s chest.

“Out this early?”

Byul tilted his head up. The person in front of him was taller by a head so he couldn’t see who it is. He look up and was welcome with a thick-framed, oversized glasses and a face full of mock.

His brows instantly wrinkles as he recognized the person in front. This jerk, so early in the morning must have decided to make fun of him again.

He sneered at him and taste the lingering bitterness of the coffee in his mouth.

“Move.”

He said casually as he tried to get passed the giant post at the front door.

“Hey!”

He nudged his shoulder away and successfully went in the house. Damn post, blocking me out at this cold.

Stanley was disregarded and felt like this is such an insult to his face. He frowned at the person walking away.

However, Byul strode straight not daring to look back at the glaring person behind him. This made the certain someone’s complexion look bad. The daggers won’t pierce thus Stanley gave up and casually followed him after a moment.

Byul felt the guy in his back following ‘quietly’ he sighed and just go on, not minding the stomping steps behind him.

Although the presence and menacing aura in his rear is a bit strong, he decided to ignore it. You being mad has nothing to do with me. He said to himself and finally climb the stairs.

“Still furious about the fact I wrecked you?”

He heard the person behind him chuckled. Byul paused a bit then continued climbing the stairs. This guy really seek trouble whenever they meet. There’s no point entertaining him with words.

Stanley was again, rejected and the fact that he was ignored twice by the person before him made him irritated. He just let out a helpless sigh.

“Right, you deserved to rest a bit before I screw you again”

Byul flinched and turned his head glaring at the guy next to him.

He successfully shook him off for a while but then this guy started to pester him again. He really can’t handle persistent guys like him.

“F*ck you.”

He scowled and finally stomped towards the remaining steps.

“Haha…”

Stanley watched him leave with an elegant smile on his face.

Byul strode off towards the kitchen in a bad mood. He then slammed the cup on the counter, leaving a few cracks on it’s side.

Everyone look at him, startled.

“What happened?” Hailey anxiously asked him as she was the nearest person at the counter.

She almost thought that she’d be hit by the glass shards. Luckily, the cup didn’t break or it will crash straight into her face.

“I’m sorry.”

Byul gave her an apologetic look. He never lose his temper before so him being cranky right now would really surprised them enough.

Byul spotted someone in the group that wasn’t supposed to be in the ‘island.’ His eyes widened with disbelief. Didn’t she left some time ago? How come she’s here now? He didn’t even see or hear a helicopter descending!

“Elena, where did you came from?”

Elena cleared her throat and smiled. Byul only look at the others with confusion. It seems that they didn’t know when she had arrived too.

“Since you’re finally here. I have something to say.” Elena said in a serious manner.

Byul made his way towards them and sit on the dining room with the others, curious about what she’ll say next.

Elena toughen her expression to indicate that she wasn’t joking. Everyone suddenly felt uneasy.

Elena is always straightforward with what she say, she never delay words as she was a very precise person. If someone asked why, everyone knows because they’ve been with her for a long time. However this sudden seriousness and careful look was new to them.

The others wondered why with anxiousness in their hearts.

The quiet atmosphere in the room shortly became heavy as the nine people look at her with a bad premonition in their hearts.

“Tap”

Stanley suddenly appeared and casually took a seat. He look at them and felt the situation was weird. Everyone gave him a glance and anxiously look back at Elena.

What is it that she’s taking too long to say something?

Elena simply cleared her throat and cautiously asked.

“Did you guys had fun last night?”

Byul instantly cursed in his mind. The f? How did she knew what happened last night?!