(an: the story is ending😧 slowly but surely)

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"Jungwon..?" Her voice sounded like a whisper to me as my mind was too clouded with bloody red thoughts.

Stop, Stop, Stop, Stop Jungwon. Don't. You can't.

I breathed in deeply, trying to keep my composure.

I didn't answer her.

Eunji swallowed, as she was trying to shift her weight to her other hand as it was starting to get uncomfortable in the small cave. Accidentally touching my hand, she flinched.

"Are you..okay?"

She would reach out her hand to touch me, but I quickly backed away, turning away from her.

That's when I realized.

"It's..." I started, my voice breaking as I buried my face in my hands, "It's never going to change."

I really thought I could overcome it.

This devilish and monstrous side of me.

I thought I could be normal.

Like you and everyone else.

I was always going to be a beast. A villain.

No matter how hard I tried to fight it.

A bitter smile made its way up to my lips.

How foolish of me.

"What do you mean? Jungwon—"

Before she could continue, I quickly passed her the navigational device after errorlessly writing down the coordinates of where we were staying at.

I had to act fast.

"Wait for the rain to stop. Follow the instructions. And don't...don't turn back." My voice broke and I felt my throat burn again.

Oh no.

I tried to look into her eyes. But my gaze would constantly shift down to the blood that was dripping down her arm.

"But Jungwon, I can't—" She started again, when I turned around. Right, she was injured.

But I had to leave now before it was too late.

Pulling me back, Eunji suddenly put both her hands on each side of my face, forcing me to look at her.

"Jungwon." She spoke, the blood on her hand was dry, "Snap out of it! You managed to fight the urge the last time too. You can—"

"That was different!" I blurted out, my voice sounding strange all of a sudden. Eunji must have noticed it too.

Because I saw it.

I saw how her pupils shook in fear after my sudden outburst.

"You...You didn't have an open wound back then...this is—It's—" I breathed in deeply, trying to get the gory images out of my head, "It's different, Eunji. I-I can't...Right now..I'm—."

Eunji's eyes watered, "Jungwon."

"I'm scared that I will completely turn into a monster." I spoke breathlessly, my voice trailing off, "While you are watching."

"You are not a monster!" She shook her head, as she put her hands on my shoulders to stop me from leaving, "Stop calling yourself that!"

"I am one." I tried to break free from her grip, "If only you knew about what kind of thoughts I'm having right now, you wouldn't say that."

I felt her grip on me loosen.

"Eunji! Jungwon! Where are you?"

Right in that moment, I heard Heeseung's voice shout for us. He wasn't too far.

Taking this chance, I quickly distanced myself from her.

"Eunji, l-listen closely." A sharp pain trashed my head, causing my vision to be blurry.

My eyes.

My eyes were turning red again.

It was just a matter of time till I would completely turn into a mindless monster and bite the girl in front of me without hesitation.

I had to leave. For my sake.

And hers.

"Stay here and wait for a few minutes." I managed to say with the last bit of dignity I had left, "Heeseung is almost here. When you hear him, make noise to catch his attention. Don't move. Your leg is still injured."

My gaze suddenly travelled to her exposed neck as I rapidly shook my head to snap out of it.

I was starting to completely lose it.

"Jungwon, please..please don't leave me." She begged me, tightly holding onto the hem of my shirt.

It broke my heart.

But there was no other way.

"I'm sorry." I managed to say, "This is for the best. I'm so sorry, Eunji."

And the next moment, I ran to wherever my legs were carrying me till the energy that was left in my body was slowly running out.

The only thing on my mind wasn't the urge to drink blood. It wasn't my thirst or my pain.

I just wanted Eunji to be safe. For Heeseung to bring her home safely and her wounds to be treated.

And so I ran and ran and ran till my body was on the verge of giving up.

While the pain in my head and heart wouldn't lessen.

Eunji covered her mouth, trying to suppress her sobs while the darkness was slowly starting to engulf her.

He left her.

Injured and alone, in the middle of nowhere.

He left her just like that.

"And then you dare to act like you actually care for me." She harshly wiped her tears, trying to calm down in case she had to hear Heeseung passing by.

So she waited and waited, her unsteady breathing filled the whole forest's quietness when suddenly she heard heavy steps coming towards her.

"Heeseung?" Her voice came out like a croak, but she couldn't care less, sticking her head out of the cave's entrance, "I am here! Down here!"

The boy quickly came to her rescue, his eyes widening in relief, "Eunji! Thank god." He helped her out, putting her arm around his shoulders for support.

"Everyone has been searching for you guys! What were you two doing?!" He would ask, "And where's Jungwon?!"

"He went to look for help." Eunji looked down, trying to not break out in tears again, "I-I'm sure he went back first."

"What an asshole." Heeseung hissed angrily, as his arm snaked around her waist for additional support, "It's alright. Let's bring you home first."

_

Later that night, Jungwon would return.

The lights were turned off in every room already, meaning that the boy could quietly return to his room without anyone knowing.

Wrong.

"Where do you think you are going?" Eunji would walk out of her hideout, crossing her arms. She had been waiting for him the whole entire time.

Jungwon tiredly stopped in his tracks, shortly glancing at her when he noticed the big bandage covering almost her entire leg. He smiled weakly, feeling relieved.

"Say something." She know stood in front of him when she noticed how exhausted he looked. The moon light was enough for her to notice his tired eyes and heavy breathing. It was as if he could pass out at any minute now.

"I'd rather not." He spoke coldly, attempting to walk past her.

But she stopped him, "Are you serious right now?"

Jungwon looked down.

"After the thing you pulled earlier? You just left me!"

"If I hadn't left, I would have bitten you." He retorted quickly, his teeth tightly gritted. How could she not understand his actions at all?

"And I told you that I didn't care." She glared at him, "Jungwon, I told you to stop. Stop seeing yourself as a monster. It's not true."

"Eunji, open your eyes."

"They are wide open."

"Then would you see me as a human?" The boy scoffed, turning away from her.

"No."

"See? I told you—"

"I see you as a vampire..." She stopped for a moment, taking a step closer to him, "who is trying his best and who deserves to be loved as well."

Jungwon's eyes widened. All these years he was waiting for someone to tell him these very words. And now that someone did, he didn't know what to do.

"Eunji, It's late. Go to sleep." He changed the topic, trying to ignore his heart pounding loudly against his chest, "We should continue this conversation tomorrow."

"A v-vampire?" Aurora gasped, quickly hiding behind the corner of her bungalow.

Who would have thought that taking fresh air in the middle of the night would result in her hearing the biggest thing to ever happen at their school?

The girl's victorious smirk would widen broaden when she heard both Jungwon and Eunji leave to go to their rooms, meaning she could finally leave her hiding place.

"This is going to be so big!" She whispered to herself as she was about to go back to her own room as well.

Taking out her phone, she had already opened her previous chats to tell her friends about the news when she suddenly felt an unsettling presence behind her.

It was then when Aurora turned around, causing her blood to freeze in her veins.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." The adult's low voice sent shivers down the girl's spine.

And the next moment, the girl's vision went black.