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Chapter 4: Dome 1 Paradisus (Pt 4.)

Minhee closed the gap between herself and Dalle, standing just inches away. Her piercing gaze bore into Dalle, demanding answers. "I'm not sure myself…" Dalle stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. But Minhee wasn't letting her off so easily. She leaned in closer, her intimidating presence suffocating any attempts at deceit. "Then what do you know, four eyes?" Minhee pressed, her voice sharp and unyielding as she pushed Dalle back against the wall.

Dalle's chest rose and fell rapidly as she tried to gather her thoughts. "S-Something… something came from the sky," she began in a rush, her voice trembling, "It killed Mrs. Eun-ji. And… and it said only two people will be allowed to leave the dome."

Minhee's brow furrowed at the explanation. She sighed heavily, running a hand through her hair in visible disbelief. "The class teacher is dead?" she questioned, her tone edged with skepticism. "Do you think I'm stupid or something?"

"It's the truth! I'm not lying!" Dalle pleaded desperately, her voice breaking. She looked at Minhee with wide, pleading eyes, but the girl remained unimpressed, turning on her heel as if ready to walk away.

But before she could, a deafening crash shattered the tense moment. Glass sprayed across the room as something barreled through the window, landing heavily on the tiled floor. Both girls froze, their breaths catching in their throats. Outside, a mechanical drone hovered briefly, its monotone voice cutting through the silence: "Armament delivered." With a faint hum, it disappeared into the distance, leaving behind a metallic container steaming ominously.

For a moment, neither spoke. The air in the bathroom felt electric with tension. Then Minhee broke the silence, her lips curling into a faint nervous smirk. "I believe you now," she muttered, striding toward the cargo.

The container hissed as it released more steam, the top sliding open to reveal its contents. Minhee peered inside and found two sleek pistols nestled among rows of ammunition. Without hesitation, she picked up one of the weapons, examining it with practiced ease. She snapped the cylinder open, slid a magazine into the chamber with a satisfying click, and tucked the pistol securely into the waistband of her navy-blue school skirt.

With the second pistol in hand, she turned and tossed it toward Dalle. The weapon spun in the air before clattering to the floor at Dalle's feet. Dalle stared at it, paralyzed, her hands trembling.

"You can have that one," Minhee said nonchalantly, brushing past her. Dalle remained frozen, her wide eyes locked on the gun as if it might explode at any moment.

Minhee stopped just behind her, her voice dropping to an icy tone. "If you want to die, go ahead. Stay there and wait for them to finish you off." She tilted her head slightly, her expression void of sympathy. "Or pick up the damn pistol. But don't expect me to save your ass again like I did last time."

With that, she walked away, leaving Dalle to make her choice.

Dalle's gaze remained fixed on the pistol lying cold and lifeless on the floor. Her heart thudded wildly, echoing in her ears, her pupils dilating as if trying to absorb every detail of her crumbling reality. The air felt suffocating, and her knees threatened to buckle beneath her. Slowly, she stepped back, her breath shallow and erratic, and turned toward the sink.

As if on autopilot, she removed her glasses, setting them gently beside the faucet. Water gushed from the tap, and she splashed her face, the cold liquid biting against her skin. Her pink, twin-colored eyes, striking and vivid, stared back at her in the cracked mirror, reflecting the fear etched into every line of her face. She pressed her forehead against the mirror, strands of her light purple hair falling forward, the cool glass grounding her momentarily.

Her thoughts spiralled. Why am I different? she wondered, gripping the edges of the sink. Her unusual appearance—short, straight purple hair and those mesmerizing pink eyes—had always drawn stares from others. Some admired her, but most regarded her as strange, an oddity. Despite it all, her family had always loved her deeply. She recalled her little brother's words, his voice bright and innocent.

"You look so cool, sis! When I grow up, I'll protect you from everything!" The memory stung now, a painful reminder of how far she was from that warmth and safety.

Her trembling hand rose to clutch her chest as her breath hitched. "Am I going to die here?" she whispered to her reflection, her voice breaking. Tears pricked at her eyes, but she blinked them back, biting her lip hard enough to taste copper. She clenched her fists and exhaled shakily, forcing herself to straighten.

Dalle turned, her steps hesitant but resolute, and approached the pistol. Her hand hovered over it for a moment before she bent down, her fingers trembling as they closed around the cold metal. The weight of the weapon in her hand felt overwhelming, both literal and symbolic. She swallowed hard, forcing her legs to move, and stepped out into the corridor.

Minhee was there, leaning casually against the wall as though she hadn't a care in the world. her dark eyes narrowing as she spotted Dalle. "Finally made up your mind, four eyes?" she asked, her voice dripping with her usual cold sarcasm.

Dalle slid her glasses back on, her lips parting to respond, but the words died in her throat. Her heart skipped a beat as her gaze shifted to the hallway. Bodies. The hall was littered with students, their lifeless forms strewn across the floor in gruesome heaps. Blood painted the walls in erratic patterns, a macabre display that sent her stomach into violent protest.

She turned sharply, stumbling to the other side and doubling over as bile rose in her throat. Vomit spilled onto the ground as her body rejected the horror before her. Minhee approached, her hand landing lightly on Dalle's back in an almost apathetic gesture of comfort.

"Get it out of your system," Minhee said flatly, her tone devoid of warmth. "We need to move."

Dalle wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, tears streaming down her cheeks. "How… how can you be so unaffected?" she choked out, her voice trembling.

Minhee ignored the question entirely, stepping over a body with detached precision. "Keep up," she ordered, her voice cutting through the air like a blade.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Dalle forced herself to follow. Her steps were shaky, but she moved, her heart pounding as the two made their way down the bloodstained school corridor.