In Ten Universes (Catnipz)

Universe 1.0

Her friends just shrugged, their laughter fading as they moved away. But Minji couldn't shake the image of Haerin standing there, her silence speaking louder than any words could.

The next morning, Minji arrived at school with a heavy feeling in her chest, like something was off. She walked down the familiar hallways, trying to shake the unease that clung to her. As she approached the gym, the sound of laughter echoed from around the corner. Her friends.

She slowed, hearing their voices grow louder as they approached.

"Look who it is, the mute girl," one of them snickered. "Still hiding behind that silence, huh?"

Minji's stomach dropped as she turned the corner just in time to see Haerin stumble backward, the force of a shove sending her against the wall. The girls circled her like wolves, their taunts cutting through the air.

"Think you're too good for us? You're nothing but a freak." Another shove, this one harder, and Haerin barely managed to catch herself.

Minji's heart raced, but she stayed rooted to the spot, unwilling to step in. Her friends weren't done. One of them grabbed Haerin by the arm, dragging her toward the gym equipment room. Haerin didn't resist, her expression unreadable, but Minji could see the way her shoulders tensed, the silent plea in her eyes.

Without warning, the door to the room slammed shut, and Minji heard the unmistakable sound of a lock clicking into place.

Haerin was trapped.

The laughter from her friends drifted through the hallway, but Minji stood frozen, her mind racing. Every part of her screamed to do something, to run in there and unlock the door, to make them stop. But the words stuck in her throat, the fear of standing up to her friends paralyzing her.

For a long moment, she stared at the closed door, her pulse thumping in her ears. This wasn't right. She knew that. But still, she did nothing. She couldn't.

Minji stood by the door for what felt like an eternity, her heart pounding as she heard the fading footsteps of her friends echoing down the hallway. They had left, satisfied with their cruel little game, and now there was only silence, thick and suffocating. The weight of it pressed down on her chest, and Minji found herself unable to move.

She glanced at the lock, her fingers trembling slightly. She could hear Haerin on the other side, but what could she say? What could she do? She had been too afraid, too silent before, was it too late to make it right?

Finally, with a deep breath, Minji reached for the lock, her hands working quickly, almost instinctively. The sound of the bolt unlocking felt louder than it was, the noise cutting through the still air like a knife. She opened the door slowly, almost hesitantly.

Inside, Haerin was curled up on the floor in the corner, hugging her knees tightly to her chest. Her face was hidden, but Minji could see the faint tremble of her shoulders and the dampness of her cheeks, the way her body seemed to collapse in on itself with every quiet sob.

Minji felt a pang in her chest, a deep ache that made it hard to breathe. Without thinking, she stepped inside, the door creaking softly behind her.

Haerin didn't move at first, as if she hadn't noticed Minji's presence. The only sound in the room was Haerin's soft crying, the desperation of it stabbing at Minji's heart.