Chapter 3
Hanni stared at her hands, still smeared with shards of glass and blood.
Her father's blood.
Her breathing was shallow, not out of fear, but more out of... confusion.
Why did this feel so... natural?
In front of her, her father was still sitting on the floor, his hand pressing against the wound on his temple. The man's gaze was no longer filled with the usual anger.
He was shocked.
For the first time in his life, he was afraid of Hanni.
And Hanni realized something.
She liked that feeling.
His shock.
His trembling.
The small, sudden power she now held over someone who had always been a monster in her life.
She should have felt guilty.
She should have been afraid.
But all she felt was silence within her.
A strange silence.
In the corner of the room, her mother didn’t move. She just watched the scene with an empty expression, like someone too exhausted to be surprised.
Perhaps she thought this was just another fight that would end with Hanni being beaten harder than before.
But no.
Tonight was different.
Her father tried to stand, his hands trembling. "Y-You damn brat..."
His voice was still filled with anger, but there was a faint tremor in it.
And somehow, that made something inside Hanni urge to break free.
Something dangerous.
Hanni took a step forward, and her father stepped back.
His eyes widened as if he had just seen something that wasn’t Hanni.
"Why... are you looking at me like that?"
Her father’s voice sounded lower, more... hesitant.
Hanni wanted to answer.
But the words didn’t come out.
Because in her head, another voice whispered first.
"Don’t let him dominate you again."
The voice was so soft. So familiar.
So controlling.
Behind Hanni, in a place no one could see, Minji stood silently.
Her eyes never left the girl.
She watched how Hanni’s body moved without hesitation. How her hands, which usually trembled, now felt so strong. How Hanni’s eyes no longer showed fear.
But something else.
Emptiness.
Minji smirked faintly.
She didn’t need to fully take over Hanni’s body tonight. No.
Hanni was already starting to accept her presence.
Starting to listen to her.
And that was far more interesting.
Minji leaned forward slightly, even though she knew Hanni couldn’t see her.
But she could feel her.
"You can do more than this."
"He’s hurt you for too long."
"Make him feel the same."
And it happened.
Without realizing it, Hanni gripped the shard of glass still in her hand, feeling its coldness seep into her skin.
Her fingers turned white as she tightened her grip.
Her father saw it—and his angry face now filled with fear.
"Hanni, p-put that down—"
Hanni smiled faintly.
A smile she didn’t even realize she was making.
But before she could take another step—
CRASH!
Her mother finally moved.
In a hurry, she stood up and grabbed Hanni’s arm, pulling her forcefully.
"Hanni, stop! THAT’S ENOUGH!"
Her voice sounded more panicked than usual.
And in an instant, the silence in Hanni’s head shattered.
Her eyes blinked rapidly.
The fingers gripping the glass shard suddenly felt sharp pain. As if she had just realized the shard was cutting into her own hand.
And for some reason, her body suddenly felt so light.
As if something else had just left her.
As if she had just returned to her own body.
She looked at her mother, who was now holding her with both hands, her face pale.
She turned to her father, who was still sitting on the floor, staring at her with a horrified expression.
And she realized...
What had just happened?
Hanni’s hands trembled again. Not out of fear of her father this time. But because she realized she didn’t know who she had been just moments ago.
Hanni stood still, her breathing calm, but there was something chilling within her.
In front of her, her father was still staggering, his hand touching the wound on his temple that was now bleeding. Dark red blood seeped between his fingers, running down his wrinkled, angry face.
Yet, for the first time, his gaze wasn’t just filled with anger.
There was something else.
Doubt.
Fear.
As if he had just realized that Hanni, his daughter who had always been silent, who had always taken his beatings without resistance, was now different.
Hanni didn’t move.
She just stared at her father with a gaze she shouldn’t have.
Cold.
Calm.
And... waiting.
Waiting for what?
She didn’t know.
Something inside her was still whispering.
"Do it again."
"Hurt him again."
Her fingers tensed slightly. There was a strange urge creeping up from within her—something foreign, something... not her.
She should be afraid, right?
She should feel regret for fighting back against her father, right?
But why was there no guilt?
Why were there no tears?
But before anyone could speak, her father moved.
With a rough motion, the man grabbed the edge of the table to support himself, his eyes blazing with anger again.
"You insolent...!"
His hoarse voice echoed through the room. And without warning, he stepped forward, his large hand raised, ready to slap Hanni across the face.
Hanni should have stepped back. She should have shrunk, closed her eyes, waited for the pain to come.
But she didn’t move.
Even before the hand could touch her face, her body reacted first. Her blood-smeared hand gripped her father’s wrist.
With immense strength.
Instantly, the man’s movement stopped.
He jerked.
Not just because Hanni’s hand had suddenly stopped him, but because... her grip was too tight.
Far too tight.
Her father’s face began to change. "What...?"
Hanni watched as the man’s expression shifted from anger to shock.
Her fingers tightened.
For a moment, she saw her father’s sweaty face, his jaw clenched tightly, his eyes trembling as they stared at her.
And in that silence, something inside Hanni whispered.
"You can crush him now, Hanni."
"He’s weak."
"He deserves it."
Hanni’s fingers tightened slightly.
She could feel the man’s heartbeat quickening, his breathing becoming ragged.
He was afraid.
For the first time in his life... her father was afraid of her.
And Hanni... liked it.
She could feel a smile almost forming on her lips. But amidst the fog of her distorted thoughts, another voice emerged.
A smaller voice.
A softer one.
Her own voice.
"This isn’t me..."
Hanni blinked.
Her hand immediately released its grip.
The man stumbled back, his breathing heavy, as if he had just fought something stronger than he had expected.
Hanni just stood there, staring at her own hand.
What had just happened?
Her chest felt tight, her body suddenly weak. She couldn’t think clearly.
She turned to her mother—the woman was still sitting on the floor with a blank stare.
But this time, that stare wasn’t just for her father.
But also for her. As if her mother didn’t recognize her. Hanni couldn’t bear it any longer.
Without saying a word, she turned and walked out of the house. Leaving the two people who now looked at her differently.
In the narrow, quiet alley, someone was watching her. Minji stood under the dim streetlight, her body leaning casually against the cold brick wall. Her eyes never left Hanni’s figure as she walked unsteadily.
Her smile was faint.
Beautiful.
Hanni had finally tasted a bit of her power. And this was just the beginning. Minji could feel how Hanni was beginning to change—slowly but surely.
How the girl was starting to understand that she no longer needed to be afraid.
That there was something greater within her.
Minji raised her hand, observing her slender fingers. She could still feel the sensation of Hanni’s touch, how she had controlled her body with just a slight push.
Not fully.
Just a whisper.
And look at the result.
Hanni had fought back.
Minji smiled wider.
She let her black mist slowly envelop her body, blending into the darkness of the night.
This game had just begun.
And Minji would make sure Hanni kept playing.
------------------
The night sky stretched wide above the city, still pulsing with life. Though the cold air was beginning to bite, some places were still bustling with people reluctant to go home. One of them was the convenience store at the end of a small street, where the bright white neon light illuminated the sidewalk in front of it.
Hanni stepped inside.
The small bell above the door chimed, but she didn’t really notice. The warm air from inside the store immediately enveloped her slightly shivering body, a contrast to the cold air outside. The bright lights made the place feel more real—safer compared to the darkness that had followed her since she left the house.
She took a deep breath, realizing how chaotic her thoughts were.
Earlier.
What had just happened?
How could she have done that?
How could she not feel afraid?
Her wounded hand still felt cold. No matter how many times she clenched it, the sensation remained. Hanni shook her head slowly, trying to calm her mind.
I just need something warm.
Slowly, she walked toward the back shelf, where rows of instant noodles were neatly stacked. Her hand reached for a cup of spicy ramen, a choice that usually made her feel a little better.
Then, she moved to the hot water dispenser in the corner, mechanically preparing her instant noodles. Her hands were still slightly trembling, but she tried to ignore it.
I just need to eat. I just need to focus on this.
After waiting a few minutes, she carried the ramen to a seat near the large window, where a few small tables were provided for customers who wanted to eat in the store.
She sat down, staring at the steaming ramen in front of her.
Yet, even though the hot steam touched her face, she didn’t really feel warm.
Outside, the streetlights flickered, illuminating the now quiet street. Through the transparent glass, she saw her own reflection.
A tired face.
Empty eyes.
And hands that were still trembling slightly.
Why am I like this?
Hanni sighed. She grabbed the chopsticks, twirling the noodles in the broth before blowing on them gently.
She wanted to believe that this was just the effect of what had happened earlier. That after eating, after resting, everything would go back to normal.
But deep down...
She knew nothing would ever be the same again.
As Hanni was busy with her own thoughts, someone stepped into the convenience store.
Their steps were light, but deliberate.
They moved gracefully between the snack aisles, letting their fingers trail along the colorful packages with an almost curious interest.
But in truth, they weren’t interested in anything here.
Only in one person.
Hanni.
Minji stepped silently, letting her body blend into the bright, cozy atmosphere of the convenience store. Not as a frightening figure, not as a shadow lurking in the dark.
But as an ordinary girl.
Today, she chose not to stand out.
Her hair was left loose and natural. A casual jacket wrapped around her body, making her look just like any other college student stopping by to buy snacks before heading home.
Just a stranger who happened to be in the same place as Hanni.
That’s what the girl would think.
And that was enough for now.
With calm steps, Minji grabbed a can of coffee from the refrigerator, then walked toward the table where Hanni was sitting.
She didn’t ask for permission.
She didn’t ask if the seat next to Hanni was empty.
She just sat down.
Hanni didn’t immediately notice her presence.
She was still busy staring at the ramen in front of her, occasionally blowing on the steam, but Minji could see how her hands were still slightly trembling.
She wasn’t eating eagerly, just going through the motions.
Her eyes were unfocused, her gaze empty as she looked out the large window, staring at the city streets that were slowly becoming quieter.
Minji observed every detail in silence.
How Hanni’s fingers gripped the chopsticks weakly.
How she took a deep breath before sipping the broth, as if hoping something inside her would warm up.
How her chest rose and fell with an unsteady rhythm, like someone trying to calm themselves after a nightmare.
Minji wanted to smile.
But she held it back.
For now, she was content to enjoy this small moment. Being someone who was present beside Hanni without the girl realizing it. Yet, even though she restrained herself from doing anything...
There was something bothering her.
Something she had felt since earlier, since the first time she saw the girl sitting alone in this place. A desire she couldn’t explain.
The desire to touch her.
To reach out and stop that small tremor.
To tuck her fingers into Hanni’s hair and whisper something that would make the girl feel better.
To... hug her.
Minji clenched the coffee can in her hand. She didn’t understand why.
She had touched Hanni before—more than once.
She had controlled her body, felt every part of her weakness and strength.
But why now...
Why did she want to do it as herself?
Not as the voice in her head. Not as the subtle push that made Hanni submit to her.
But as Minji.
Minji who was sitting next to her, in silence, watching her like a stranger.
Minji who... just wanted to be here.
Without coercion.
Without manipulation.
Without reason.
She took a deep breath, then finally spoke in a light voice, "Spicy ramen is the best to eat on a night like this."
Hanni flinched slightly.
She only now realized someone was sitting next to her.
With a slight start, she turned and saw Minji—a stranger smiling faintly as she sipped her coffee.
"Oh..." Hanni blinked. "Yeah... maybe."
Her voice sounded a little hoarse, like someone who had just returned from their own thoughts.
Minji just smiled faintly, looking out the window, letting the conversation flow without pressure.
She could feel how Hanni was still a little confused, but...
For now, that was enough.
She didn’t want to rush.
Because she knew, slowly...
Hanni would get used to her presence.
Hanni was still looking at the girl beside her with slight confusion. The stranger had suddenly sat there, sipping her coffee casually, as if they had known each other for a long time. Hanni didn’t remember seeing her on campus or anywhere else. But she didn’t feel the need to ask.
For some reason, the girl’s presence felt... natural. Not something intrusive, but also not something she could easily ignore.
She was just there. Like part of the background of this night. Like the wind blowing softly through the gap in the convenience store door. And strangely, Hanni didn’t mind.
"Why so quiet?"
The girl’s soft voice broke her thoughts.
Hanni blinked, realizing she had been staring blankly at her for a few seconds.
"Oh... sorry," she murmured. "I’m just... thinking a lot."
The girl nodded slowly, as if understanding without needing to ask further.
"I’m like that too," she said lightly. "Nights are sometimes the worst time to think."
Hanni looked at the ramen in front of her, the steam starting to fade. She didn’t want to admit it, but the girl’s words had a point. Nights always had a way of making her overthink.
And earlier...
What had happened earlier?
She remembered how her body had felt so different as she stared at her father. How her hand had gripped the man’s wrist without hesitation, how her heartbeat had remained steady even though she would usually tremble in fear.
How she hadn’t felt afraid at all. And more than that...
She had enjoyed how the man was afraid of her.
Hanni bit her lower lip. That wasn’t normal. She should have been scared of what had happened earlier. She should have felt guilty. But what she felt now wasn’t fear.
Not regret.
Just... emptiness.
As if a part of her was slowly shifting into something she didn’t understand. And that was more terrifying than anything. Hanni sighed, trying to push the thoughts away.
Her hand reached for the chopsticks, trying to focus on the ramen that was now losing its heat. She took a small bite of noodles, blowing on them gently, then put them in her mouth.
She realized something.
Her hands were no longer trembling.
Hanni stared at her fingers for a moment, trying to understand this small change.
"Is it good?"
The girl beside her asked again, her tone light, almost like the night breeze slipping through the convenience store door. Hanni chewed slowly, then nodded.
"Yeah... it’s okay."
The girl smiled faintly.
"That’s good."
She didn’t say anything else. Just sat there, sipping her coffee in silence, letting the atmosphere between them remain light and unhurried.
And for a reason Hanni couldn’t explain...
It felt comfortable.
A few minutes passed in silence.
Minji remained seated, watching Hanni quietly.
She could see how the girl was trying to calm her thoughts by chewing the noodles slowly. How her eyes occasionally glanced out the window, staring at the streets with an empty expression.
Minji sipped her coffee again. She enjoyed this.
Not in the usual sense.
She enjoyed this small moment—when she could be near Hanni without having to hide.
Without needing to be a shadow behind her. Without needing to whisper in her ear. Without needing to control her thoughts.
For now, this was enough.
Minji let herself observe the girl more closely.
How her hair was slightly messy after the long walk, how her eyelashes were a little damp from the cold dew outside, how there was a faint redness at the corners of her eyes—maybe from exhaustion or holding back something she couldn’t say.
Minji wanted to touch her.
The desire was so strong that she had to press her own fingers to keep them from moving.
She knew this wasn’t the right time.
She knew she had to restrain herself.
But...
Why was this feeling so strong?
Why did she want to wipe that tired expression off Hanni’s face?
Why did she want to make sure the girl didn’t have to think too much, didn’t have to feel alone?
Minji sighed softly. She looked out the window, seeing their reflections in the transparent glass. Hanni still looked like herself...
But Minji knew better.
The girl was already changing.
Slowly.
Without realizing it.
And that was the best part of this game.
Minji tilted her head slightly, enjoying the sight of Hanni in silence.
For now, she didn’t need to do anything.
She just needed to wait.
Because the more Hanni tried to calm herself...
The more she would realize that something was no longer the same within her.
And when that happened...
Minji would be there.
Hanni stared at the ramen in front of her, occasionally stirring it with her chopsticks. Her hands were no longer trembling, but her head still felt heavy. Tonight had been too long.
Too many things she couldn’t explain. Too many changes that didn’t feel like her.
But here, in this brightly lit convenience store, with the sound of the cashier busy counting purchases, with the hum of the refrigerator behind her...
For a moment, everything felt normal.
She even started to forget that there was a stranger sitting next to her. Someone she didn’t know, but strangely... didn’t feel unfamiliar. The girl was still sipping her coffee in silence, looking out the window like Hanni. Not asking anything. Not forcing a conversation. As if her presence here didn’t need to be questioned.
And perhaps because of that atmosphere, Hanni finally felt the need to speak first.
"What’s your name?"
Hanni’s voice was soft, but clear enough to be heard amidst their silence.
Minji turned slowly, as if she wasn’t surprised by the question.
Her smile was faint. "Minji."
Hanni nodded, not immediately responding. As if she just needed that name to fill the empty space in her mind. But after a few seconds, she finally asked again.
"Are you from the campus nearby too?"
Minji leaned her arm on the table, her eyes looking at Hanni casually. "Do I look like it?"
Her tone was slightly teasing, but not overbearing.
Hanni smiled faintly, though her expression was still tired. "I mean... I’ve never seen you before."
Minji shrugged. "I guess we’re not from the same campus." Hanni wasn’t sure if that was true, but she didn’t feel the need to doubt her answer.
She just nodded, stirring her ramen again, then asked, "Do you often eat here?"
Minji looked at her coffee, then chuckled softly. "Not really. But this place feels comfortable, doesn’t it?"
Hanni shrugged. "I guess."
Then, they fell silent again. Not an awkward silence. But a silence that felt... enough.
Minji liked this.
She liked how Hanni didn’t ask her more.
How the girl accepted her as someone who happened to be in the same place.
Without suspicion.
Without big question marks.
As if it was only natural for them to be here, together, on this long night.
Time passed slowly.
Hanni finally started eating more, occasionally sipping the hot broth of her ramen. Minji didn’t talk much. She just sat there, observing with a relaxed gaze. And somehow, this moment became something Minji enjoyed. Watching Hanni slowly calm down.
Watching how the girl didn’t feel the need to rush through her meal.
Minji knew Hanni didn’t realize how chaotic she had been earlier. How empty her gaze had been before she asked Minji’s name. How silent Hanni’s world had been before Minji sat here.
But Minji noticed. And she liked how her presence could change that. For the first time, she didn’t want to rush pulling Hanni into her game.
She wanted... to enjoy this a little longer. She wanted to see Hanni without controlling her.
She wanted to be by her side, not as a shadow whispering in her head, but as someone real.
Minji sipped her coffee again, letting time continue to pass. Without them realizing it, this moment became their first habit. A habit that wasn’t planned.
But slowly started to feel... normal.
Minji watched Hanni once more, noticing how the girl finally finished her meal more calmly, how her fingers that had trembled earlier were now still, how her breathing that had been heavy was now more even. Everything was going according to plan.
But of course, Minji couldn’t stay here much longer. She didn’t want to leave the impression that her presence was too real, too noticeable, too attached.
Hanni had to think this was just a casual encounter, something coincidental, something that didn’t need to be remembered too much. Hanni shouldn’t suspect that Minji had been by her side long before they "met."
However, even though Minji had to leave, she wouldn’t truly leave the girl alone. She needed to make sure Hanni remained in her grasp, still connected to her, still bound to her, even when she wasn’t there.
So, with a movement that was almost too natural, Minji finished her coffee, then got up from her seat. She didn’t say anything at first, letting Hanni remain in her own world, letting the girl stay busy with her ramen and thoughts.
But before she truly left, Minji patted Hanni’s shoulder gently.
"I’ll go ahead," she said lightly, her voice almost like the night breeze slipping through the convenience store door. The touch lasted only a second.
A second that was enough for Minji to leave something there.
A faint black mist, almost invisible, slipped through that touch, seeping into Hanni’s pores, crawling slowly until it merged with her body without leaving a trace.
Not something that could hurt her, of course. Minji just wanted to make sure of one thing. That wherever Hanni was, whenever it was, she could still feel the girl.
Watching her.
Guarding her.
Controlling her—if necessary.
Not just physically, but in a deeper sense. In something even Hanni herself wouldn’t realize.
Hanni didn’t respond to the touch immediately. Maybe she thought it was just a casual gesture.
A brief farewell between two people who had just met, between two strangers who happened to share a table and time in this convenience store.
Minji held back a smile. Good.
She turned, walked away, letting herself exit the convenience store, letting the small bell above the door announce her departure. Hanni remained seated, not turning, not calling her back.
As Minji had expected.
Yet, in the darkness that enveloped the streets, far from where the convenience store’s light still shone, Minji stopped.
The air around her felt heavier, colder, thicker with something only those who weren’t ordinary humans could feel. The curse within her rumbled, shaking her nerves with a growing hunger.
The blood that had touched her tongue earlier when she controlled Hanni wasn’t enough.
She needed more.
And she knew where to find it.
Like a sudden cold breeze that appeared without a sound, Minji disappeared into the shadows. She was no longer in human form at that moment. She wasn’t the girl sitting in the convenience store, chatting with Hanni, sharing a small, seemingly ordinary moment.
She was something else.
Something darker.
And tonight, she would do what she had been doing for centuries.
Absorbing life.
Sipping fear.
Satisfying a thirst that would never be quenched.
The city streets were still bustling in some places, and that’s where she would find her prey. Those who thirsted for pleasure, who were drunk in their foolishness, who plunged themselves into darkness without realizing that something was waiting for them there.
Minji was thirsty.
And tonight, she would quench her thirst until dawn arrived.
The night air enveloped the city with an increasingly biting cold. The dark sky, almost starless, was only illuminated by the dim streetlights. People who were still awake moved like shadows—some stumbling home after drinking too much, some laughing on street corners, talking too loudly as if challenging the silence.
Minji walked among them, her body blending into the darkness. Her steps weren’t hurried, but every movement felt deliberate, as if she already knew where to go, where to find her prey.
Since leaving the convenience store, the hunger had grown.
Not just hunger for blood, but something deeper—more urgent.
The curse that had bound her for centuries made her constantly thirsty, constantly craving more.
One life was never enough.
One soul never satisfied.
And tonight, she needed more than just a trace of blood on her lips.
In a darker corner of the street, in a narrow alley forgotten by the city’s glitter, Minji saw a young man leaning against the wall, a cigarette in his hand burning halfway, the smoke drifting into the air like a thin mist.
He looked drunk.
From the way he stood slightly unsteady, from how his eyes were slightly dull, from how he smiled to himself at something that wasn’t there.
People like this were the easiest.
They had already lost their vigilance.
They had already surrendered their bodies to unconsciousness.
Minji stepped closer, letting her body move gracefully, as if the night wind carried her steps without a sound.
When the man finally noticed her, he looked up, his expression a mix of confusion and interest.
As Minji had expected.
As it had always happened.
The man smiled faintly, his breath reeking of alcohol. "Hey... alone?"
Minji smiled, a smile that had often been the beginning of an end.
"Not really," she said softly, her voice almost like a whisper.
The man stared at her longer, then chuckled softly. "You... who are you?"
Minji didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, she stepped closer, letting the distance between them shrink.
The man didn’t step back. He seemed to enjoy the closeness.
They were always like this.
Minji raised her hand, her fingertips touching the side of the man’s face. A light touch, almost like a breeze brushing his skin.
The man swallowed. His breathing slowed, as if something was calming him... or rather, making him too resigned.
"What’s your name?" Minji asked, her voice still soft, full of temptation.
The man blinked a few times, his lips slightly parted, but no words came out.
As if in an instant, he had forgotten his own name.
As if in an instant, he no longer had an identity.
Minji leaned closer to his ear, breathing a cold breath onto his skin.
"It doesn’t matter," she whispered. "Soon, you won’t need it anymore."
And before the man could react, Minji placed her hand on his chest.
In one second, the man’s body stiffened.
In two seconds, his breath caught.
In three seconds, his eyes widened in full terror, as if he had just realized that something far stronger had ensnared him.
Minji began to absorb his life.
Energy flowed from the man’s body into hers, rushing in like a hot, thick stream.
Minji closed her eyes, feeling the sensation seep into every part of her body.
His blood.
His memories.
His fear.
All became part of her now.
She could feel the man’s pulse weakening, could hear his heart that had initially raced in fear now slowing, growing fainter, emptier.
The man tried to move, tried to break free, but there was nothing he could do. He was no longer a drunk man standing in this dark alley. He was just an empty vessel slowly drying up.
And in a matter of seconds, he was no longer breathing.
Minji finally released her grip, letting the man’s body fall to the ground.
She looked at him for a moment, no emotion in her eyes. This wasn’t the first time she had done this.
And it wouldn’t be the last.
The blood left on her lips was still warm as she licked it slowly. But even though the man’s energy now flowed within her, Minji still felt hungry.
Because that’s how this curse worked.
No matter how many lives she took, the thirst would never truly be quenched. And the only thing that could slightly distract her hunger...
Was Hanni.
Minji looked up, staring at the thick night sky. In the distance, she could feel the girl’s presence.
Still sitting in the convenience store, still busy with her own thoughts, still unaware that now, Minji was within her.
A faint smile formed on her lips.
She would return to Hanni later.
But for now...
The night was still long.
And there were many more people out there for her to enjoy.
---------------------
Hanni walked on the sidewalk with a dazed step, her hands clenched at her sides, her mind filled with a confusion she couldn’t explain. The night was getting late, but she still didn’t know where to go. She was afraid to go home.
Not just because of her father.
Not just because of the tension that must now fill her house.
But because something had changed within her, something she couldn’t understand, something that made her feel like a stranger to herself.
Earlier, at the convenience store, she had thought that everything would feel better after eating something warm. That maybe by letting herself rest a little, her mind would become clearer.
But in reality, nothing had changed.
Her hands still felt cold even though the convenience store had been so warm.
Her steps were still unsteady even though she should have been calmer.
And worse, she felt like something was watching her.
Since when did I start feeling like this?
Hanni bit her lip, trying to hold back the anxiety that was creeping up her throat. Her head lowered, staring at the cold screen of her phone in her hand. She needed someone.
Not just someone who could comfort her, but someone who could make her feel real again, who could assure her that she was still herself.
And only one name came to her mind.
Jihoon.
The only person close enough to her. The only person she might still be able to trust.
Her hand slowly opened her contact list, her eyes searching for that name anxiously. Her fingers hovered over the screen, almost pressing the call button.
But before she could do it...
A black mist enveloped her.
Hanni flinched.
The air around her suddenly changed, the cold night air now felt like it was piercing her skin with an inexplicable strangeness. Her breath caught, her eyes widened, her body froze as the mist grew thicker, surrounding her like something alive.
And then—
Someone snatched her phone from her hand.
Hanni was startled, her heart pounding. She wanted to move, to scream, to fight back, but before she could do anything, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her into a hug that was too tight.
So tight it hurt.
Hanni tried to turn, but the mist surrounding her was too thick. The only thing she felt was the cold emanating from the person’s body, seeping into her skin, making her weaker.
"Wait... who...?"
The words barely left her lips as something invaded her mind, dragging her consciousness into darkness.
And in that instant, the world around her disappeared.
In a darker corner of the city, far from the gaze of ordinary humans, Minji growled softly, her eyes glowing with an anger she couldn’t explain. Her hand was still gripping the neck of a man who had just become her prey. The man’s body was limp, his eyes empty, his lips slightly parted as if he still wanted to scream, but his voice had vanished along with his life.
Minji could feel the remnants of the man’s energy flowing into her, filling the void that always existed within her.
But for the first time in a long time, it wasn’t enough.
The blood on her tongue tasted bland. The energy flowed too quickly, too lightly, unsatisfying.
Because something else had disturbed her.
Something greater than the thirst that always resided within her.
Hanni.
Minji could feel the girl, could feel how her fingers had almost pressed the call button on her phone, could feel how the name on the screen wasn’t hers.
But someone else’s.
Jihoon.
Her eyes narrowed, her hand gripping tighter.
Not on the man who was now a corpse in her hand, but on something she couldn’t see.
A dislike that arose within her.
A reluctance that shouldn’t exist.
This shouldn’t be a problem.
Minji shouldn’t care who Hanni would call, who the girl would turn to when she felt afraid and lost. But the fact that it wasn’t her who first came to Hanni’s mind, the fact that Hanni chose to seek someone else, made something within her burn in silent fury.
Since when did I start feeling like this?
The curse that had bound her for centuries had never given her emotions like this before. She was used to feeling hunger, thirst, anger, vengeance, satisfaction that came after she finished off the foolish humans trapped in her snare.
But now, she felt something different.
Something more akin to... jealousy.
And that made her even more furious.
No.
Hanni didn’t need anyone else.
Hanni only needed her.
Minji growled softly, the black mist around her growing thicker. She felt how Hanni was now unconscious in her arms, how the girl was so weak in her grasp.
Her hand slowly slipped into Hanni’s hair, gently smoothing it, her fingers touching the girl’s cold cheek from the night air.
Hanni...
Hers.
Only hers.
Minji closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, trying to suppress something that was growing stronger within her. And with one step, she disappeared with Hanni into the darkness.