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."581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwP0HMoTtx
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. 581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ688xV5eLc8
"Is there anything you want to say?"581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSdYNjf3lX
I shook my head. "Can I be in my room?"581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hgvfCBnwW
She nodded. "Of course, Bugsy. I understand that you need space to process your feelings."581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdJXRP3JKk
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcWDazOqTm
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?581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFDTu0G6mh
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CDA8nWxVQ
Krrrriiiiiiing!581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfngKsPbPX0
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfg54iYAXt
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?"581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5XWbqfI0P
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?"581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzZlvDGkfr
In a moment, I heard a loud clank in the cooking area, making me jump. "Chaeyeong?" I raised my voice. "Are you there?"581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFp7etP0pha
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."581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSB3sB7NvCv
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."581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkXczhZP8F
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."581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7SBdsywkU
"In your little dreams, Nick," I spat on his face, to his delight. 581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QuqU8tMAC
"So that's how you wanted it, huh? So be it."581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyJN5M9rWE
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?"581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKGB9yxnQU
"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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAffKG6aUw
"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?"581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7YuxkUNmK
"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."581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeRN2V04Ml
I gasped. "You killed Naomi? You fucking-"581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEHrB1E0yi
"Only her mind, Meredith. I didn't physically kill her, of course, but I did show her worst fear."581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSpaKCuURK
"She was my best friend," I cried, my arms trembled. "Why would you hurt her?"581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyZnKXgq3X
"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."581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1wqx2fEWs
"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."581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweKgwRK4Cx
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEc78YfCde1
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.581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlcMKCuv5c
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."581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0rPklyW5h
"But this whole house was surrounded with salt," I argued. "There's no way he could enter my dreams."581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kXJnx1sxu
Nick shakes with laughter. "I'm not just some ordinary faerie, Bugsy, oh no."581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEy4rUrnzY
My lips pursed and my fists tightened. "Then what are you?"581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJesLuh88E
"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."581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyKaM0upI0
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. 581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvKhjLAov7
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."581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfW7kZ8qRRu
"Is Carter alright?"581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHJWlRfr7c
She nodded. "He's alright, Bugsy."581Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGAolqZAGO
I gave a slight smile as I looked out of the window and clasped both hands, uttering a short prayer.
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