I stared in oblivion, with my lips dry like a raisin and a heavy bag underneath my eyes. Wrapped up in a fuzzy, white towel, I sat down on the wooden chair, tapping my fingers on the table. As I heard the front door shut, Grandma poured a cup of warm water from the kettle and sat in front of me, placing the cup in front of me. "Drink this," she said, holding my hand. "You need to hydrate yourself."543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCWBd7a76n
I held the handle of the cup and blew my drink, taking a sip. I placed it on the rabbit coaster and stared at the blank wall, droplets of water dripping from my wet clothes. 543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wv39QjzFf
"Is there anything you want to say?"543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMB61El9ig
I shook my head. "Can I be in my room?"543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCt5X4z4UkA
She nodded. "Of course, Bugsy. I understand that you need space to process your feelings."543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMZcQ894pF
I climbed towards the bathroom and locked myself in and squatted underneath the shower head, tears brimming out from my eyes. I covered my mouth and held my breath as I gazed at the floor, shaking with sobs. The water ran all over my body as I curled on the wet floor in a fetal position, washing away my sorrow and pain.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKULMbPPwO7
Why do bad things always happen to me? Why do I have to suffer? Does the Lord even love me? Why does he always bring pain to my existence?543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmw8nzThuId
Minutes passed and I got up and wiped myself, putting on my blue pajamas. As I rested my head on the pillow, I covered myself with my blanket and dozed off.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaDvlEuOGO
Krrrriiiiiiing!543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZyF0mE8el
With my fist, I knocked down my alarm clock on the floor and groaned, rubbing my eyes and slipped on my bunny slippers. I drew the curtains and opened the window, letting in the bright sunlight and cool, late spring breeze that smelled like honeysuckles and lavender.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaD7yUhKzB
I went to the living room and chirped good morning to my family, only to find it empty. That's strange. Usually, Grandma and Chaeyeong will be sitting at the table with my brother and sisters.
"Auntie," I called as I walked into the kitchen, with no one there. "Grandma, Chaeyeong?"543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZvGiRnDgG
I went downstairs towards the coffeehouse and not a single soul appeared. This coffeehouse will be packed with customers right now. I lifted the coffee maker and tilted my head sideways. "Coffee should be ready by now," I commented. "Where is everyone?"543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1BzKxGZz4
In a moment, I heard a loud clank in the cooking area, making me jump. "Chaeyeong?" I raised my voice. "Are you there?"543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSg6YF2q9j
I entered the room and my narrowed eyes widened as I let out a huge gasp at the sight of Chaeyeong, whose lifeless body is now lying in a pool of blood. The sweet-smelling scent from outside was overtaken by the metallic smell, with her blood splattered on my hands and shoes. "I'm so sorry," my lips quivered, wetting my cheeks. "I should've been the one dead, not you."543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxniVD5raZ
Then, I heard a manic cackle behind me. I looked over my shoulder and clenched my fist, facing the ginger-haired monster. "You monster," I clamped my teeth. "You'll pay for this."543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVcdM8UtY3
I ran towards and strikes his face, only for my hand to be grabbed by Nick. "Oh Bugsy," he gleamed. "If you wanted our love to be rough, you could just say so."543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGRueFNkOt
"In your little dreams, Nick," I spat on his face, to his delight. 543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw551SIIoH2
"So that's how you wanted it, huh? So be it."543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZDeVgC4rC
Gripping his hands on my neck, he pinned me against the wall and forced a kiss on my lips, despite my effort trying to push him away. "You fucking bastard," I shouted. "How dare you kissed me?"543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqMUdoaRfB
"Because you're mine," he bellowed. I fumed and kicked his groin, making him release my neck and fall. Tackling him on the ground, I repeatedly slapped his face, only to be shoved aside. Wiping his face with the sleeves of his coat, he laughed as he lifted me in mid-air and headed upstairs, dropping me on my bed.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9gqlmOgmu
"We could make this simple, Meredith," said Nick as he took off his coat, revealing his white shirt underneath. "You and I will tie the knot and make love on this bed, or I'll harm your entire family and your precious Ferdinand."
My fist shook as I strike his face, only to be deflected. "What have you done to him?"543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6vIrI65Da
"I tried to kill him," he cajoled, pacing up and down. "Unfortunately, he hung a cross in his house, so I had no other choice but to take your other friend."543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnOWCbhnhK
I gasped. "You killed Naomi? You fucking-"543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtYIL5JZcB
"Only her mind, Meredith. I didn't physically kill her, of course, but I did show her worst fear."543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PlLcofMKh
"She was my best friend," I cried, my arms trembled. "Why would you hurt her?"543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfTimrruhf
"Because of your selfishness, Bugsy," he slammed his fist on my desk, making it bleed purple blood. "You said no to me, so I had no other choice but to act this way."543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVs3vztVDfX
"I'm being selfish?" I stood my ground, with my sharp tone. "Maybe you should check yourself in the mirror and see who's the real selfish beast."543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHdwZDbuF8
Scowling, he tried to grab me by my shoulder and yelped in pain as his hands were burned. I gave a half-smile as I whacked him numerous times, before spitting on him. "What's happening?" whimpered Nick, as he stared at the mirror and saw his face-melting like candle wax, revealing a bloody, horrendous figure.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6GDDO0sHh
He chortled in a high-pitched voice and lied on the floor, banging his hands against the wood as a luminous light shone in front of me, making my eyes squint.543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ132Ms7573S
As I opened my eyes, Mr Hathale was sitting in the opposite direction, sipping his tea. I rubbed my head and stretched my arms as I got up from bed, and found Nick tied up in iron chains. "What happened?" I asked. He placed his cup and saucer on my table and cleared his throat.
"This faerie infiltrated your mind," he explained. "So I had to pull him out of your mind with an iron chain."543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDS26R5Wzc
"But this whole house was surrounded with salt," I argued. "There's no way he could enter my dreams."543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRS9jTxkRk1
Nick shakes with laughter. "I'm not just some ordinary faerie, Bugsy, oh no."543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGgtxp8fpV
My lips pursed and my fists tightened. "Then what are you?"543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlusW5OHiqd
"I was spawned from the mother of demons," he told. "My father wanted his heir to be more powerful, so he made a deal with the Fallen One. Thanks to her, I am stronger than those normal fair folks. She'll come after you, Bugsy. Mark my word."543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllsEYG1a37
Mr Hathale pulled him out of the room as Chaeyeong entered my room, carrying a tray of pea soup and water. I sighed in relief as she sat beside my bed, smiling. "You're okay," I grinned. 543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AJ7U1tKYE
She furrowed her eyes. "Of course I'm alright, Bugsy. If anything, I should be the one asking you that. You were asleep the whole day. We were worried about you."543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXhcVOzrCc
"Is Carter alright?"543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVHQ9St5sM
She nodded. "He's alright, Bugsy."543Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjjZDmSBtC
I gave a slight smile as I looked out of the window and clasped both hands, uttering a short prayer.
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