In Ten Universes (Catnipz)

Universe 2.4

Minji returned to Haerin's room an hour later, a quiet sense of unease settling in her chest as she walked down the hallway. The hospital ward was unusually still at this hour, but something in the pit of her stomach told her that Haerin's quiet demeanor might have masked something more troubling.

As she opened the door, the soft click of the handle echoed in the room. The lights were still off, and for a moment, Minji thought Haerin was still asleep. But then, her eyes adjusted to the dimness, and she saw it, Haerin wasn't in her bed. She wasn't even sitting by the window.

The girl was huddled in the far corner of the room, her knees pulled tightly to her chest, arms wrapped around her legs as if she were trying to hold herself together. Haerin's face was buried in her knees, and Minji could hear the faint, broken sound of sobs.

Minji's heart sank at the sight. Without thinking, she rushed to the light switch and flicked it on, flooding the room with brightness. The sudden light seemed to startle Haerin, and she flinched at the change, her body trembling in the corner.

"Haerin," Minji said softly, her voice tight with concern as she crouched down in front of the girl. She could see the tremors running through Haerin's body, shaking her from head to toe. Her face was streaked with tears, her eyes red and puffy from crying.

"What's wrong?" Minji asked, trying to keep her voice calm and soothing. She reached out but hesitated, unsure if Haerin would want to be touched. Instead, she kept her hands at her sides, her eyes never leaving Haerin's face. "Haerin, please. Talk to me. What's going on?"

Haerin's trembling grew worse, and she pressed her face harder into her knees, as though trying to disappear, to make herself as small as possible. Minji's heart broke at the sight.

"I- I can't..." Haerin whispered, her voice barely audible over the soft sound of her crying. She was still curled up tightly, her body wracked with the sobs she couldn't seem to control. "They're here... They're always watching me. I can't stop them. I can't..."

Minji's stomach twisted at Haerin's words, at the desperation in her voice. She felt a wave of helplessness, unsure of how to make the girl feel safe again.

"They?" Minji asked gently, trying to get Haerin to focus, to clarify. "Who's watching you, Haerin? What are you afraid of?"

But Haerin only shook her head violently, as if trying to escape her own thoughts. She was shaking so violently that Minji could see her arms quivering from the strain.

Minji's voice softened, an edge of urgency now. "It's okay, Haerin. You're not alone. You're safe here, I promise you. I'll help you."

But Haerin didn't seem to hear her. She kept murmuring under her breath, her words incoherent. Minji could see that Haerin was losing herself in whatever world her mind had created, a world of fear and unseen watchers.

Minji reached out tentatively, her hands trembling as she placed one on Haerin's shoulder. The girl flinched at the contact, but Minji didn't pull away. Instead, she gently pulled Haerin's trembling form toward her, offering whatever comfort she could, even if it was just her presence.

"I'm here," Minji whispered, her voice filled with quiet resolve. "You're not alone. You're not alone, Haerin."

But Haerin's sobs continued to wrack her body, and Minji knew the road ahead would be far from easy. She had to find a way to help Haerin, to show her that, for once, there was someone who wasn't going to leave her alone with her fears.

Minji stayed there for what felt like hours, her heart heavy as she held Haerin. The girl's sobs eventually quieted, her trembling lessened, and her breathing became shallow and steady. Haerin's body, still stiff with fear, began to relax as she slowly succumbed to exhaustion.