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."659Please respect copyright.PENANAdeeYPL7YDL
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. 659Please respect copyright.PENANAyX6yCU1Vwt
"Is there anything you want to say?"659Please respect copyright.PENANAHpEE34ssyP
I shook my head. "Can I be in my room?"659Please respect copyright.PENANA1twZUwBHvV
She nodded. "Of course, Bugsy. I understand that you need space to process your feelings."659Please respect copyright.PENANAMt03wu7QpE
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.659Please respect copyright.PENANAJlLOaoDfZJ
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?659Please respect copyright.PENANAeECt0xpysH
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.659Please respect copyright.PENANADPTKqXUXPE
Krrrriiiiiiing!659Please respect copyright.PENANANpISzkpPYK
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.659Please respect copyright.PENANAzbXVYOzClh
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?"659Please respect copyright.PENANAYXcj1a1Mbt
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?"659Please respect copyright.PENANAQhbJyB3YeF
In a moment, I heard a loud clank in the cooking area, making me jump. "Chaeyeong?" I raised my voice. "Are you there?"659Please respect copyright.PENANAuP7QaNuF6L
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."659Please respect copyright.PENANAoXRxDWxJF0
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."659Please respect copyright.PENANAF5DURp6Hdk
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."659Please respect copyright.PENANA3re2SXxr6k
"In your little dreams, Nick," I spat on his face, to his delight. 659Please respect copyright.PENANAfpKWsRTBTI
"So that's how you wanted it, huh? So be it."659Please respect copyright.PENANAMcHRet29Xt
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?"659Please respect copyright.PENANATwR9VTp9kQ
"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.659Please respect copyright.PENANAHMLPBdbM3y
"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?"659Please respect copyright.PENANAsTBOW6trWV
"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."659Please respect copyright.PENANAsvX5mVu4Th
I gasped. "You killed Naomi? You fucking-"659Please respect copyright.PENANAAlbqwTcKtL
"Only her mind, Meredith. I didn't physically kill her, of course, but I did show her worst fear."659Please respect copyright.PENANA8WFA2LLDsd
"She was my best friend," I cried, my arms trembled. "Why would you hurt her?"659Please respect copyright.PENANALLCmE8wBIM
"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."659Please respect copyright.PENANASWmLKpjU8B
"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."659Please respect copyright.PENANALHPHYAu6q4
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.659Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2kNFSsbug
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.659Please respect copyright.PENANA7rD9DqTcDm
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."659Please respect copyright.PENANAMLGDuORJi7
"But this whole house was surrounded with salt," I argued. "There's no way he could enter my dreams."659Please respect copyright.PENANAsSZE0osgoz
Nick shakes with laughter. "I'm not just some ordinary faerie, Bugsy, oh no."659Please respect copyright.PENANAmFeCDjx7dv
My lips pursed and my fists tightened. "Then what are you?"659Please respect copyright.PENANAOuX69mpqDt
"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."659Please respect copyright.PENANASDnobKlaCL
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. 659Please respect copyright.PENANAUf62Bvrr6D
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."659Please respect copyright.PENANA9qBgeea14j
"Is Carter alright?"659Please respect copyright.PENANAbupHAnRjqn
She nodded. "He's alright, Bugsy."659Please respect copyright.PENANAREbnfdKXky
I gave a slight smile as I looked out of the window and clasped both hands, uttering a short prayer.
ns3.21.158.34da2