Chapter One
Claire ran through the woods as though her life depended on it.
Cold air slashed against her skin while branches clawed at her arms and legs. Her breathing came out uneven and painful, yet she forced herself to keep running.
Because they were still behind her.
She glanced over her shoulder and immediately regretted it.
Dark figures darted between the trees at terrifying speed, moving far faster than any human should.
Fear tightened around her chest.
No human can move like that…
Unless—
They aren't human.
The thought alone nearly made her stumble.
Panic surged through her body as she pushed herself harder, ignoring the burning pain in her legs. Every sound in the forest felt alive. Every shadow looked dangerous.
Then suddenly—
Her foot snagged against a root hidden beneath the leaves.
Claire screamed as she lost her balance and tumbled forward into a deep hole buried beneath dirt and dead branches.
Pain shot through her body as she landed harshly.
For a moment she couldn't breathe.
Quickly, she covered her mouth with trembling hands, trying desperately to quiet her ragged breathing.
Maybe they didn't see her fall.
Maybe she still had a chance to escape.
Above her, shadows moved around the opening of the hole.
Her heart nearly stopped.
They knew.
"Little kitty…"
A deep voice echoed through the woods.
Claire froze instantly.
"Where are you?" the man called mockingly. "Come out and meet your father."
Tears burned her eyes.
Father?
No.
That monster was nothing close to a father.
More like a demon pretending to be one.
It was strange that even now, with fear consuming her whole body, she could still think sarcastically.
"There you are, little kitty."
The voice suddenly sounded much closer.
Too close.
Claire's breath caught as realization hit her.
He had known where she was all along.
He had simply been playing with her.
Slowly, she turned around.
A tall figure stood inside the hole with her now, his face hidden beneath darkness.
Claire trembled violently.
"W-what do you want from me?" she whispered shakily. "Please… let me go."
The man stepped closer.
"You're just like your mother," he said coldly. "So annoying."
Before she could react, his hand wrapped tightly around her throat.
Claire clawed at his arm desperately as panic overwhelmed her.
She couldn't breathe.
Darkness slowly blurred her vision—
And then she screamed.
Claire jolted awake violently, gasping for air.
Sweat drenched her body while tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she struggled to calm herself.
"Claire! Claire, baby, what's wrong?"
A familiar voice broke through her panic.
Claire looked up and immediately threw herself into her mother's arms.
"Mom…"
Her mother held her tightly while stroking her hair gently.
"Another nightmare?" she asked softly.
Claire nodded weakly.
"It felt so real this time," she whispered against her shoulder. "He was going to kill me."
Her mother stiffened slightly.
Claire noticed.
And suddenly, the fear returned.
"Mom…" she pulled back slowly. "Who is that man?"
Her mother forced a small smile, though worry remained visible in her eyes.
"It was only a dream, sweetheart."
"But he keeps appearing," Claire continued quietly. "And he said I'm just like you. What does that mean?"
For a brief moment, silence filled the room.
Claire could feel something hidden behind her mother's expression.
Fear.
But just as quickly, it disappeared.
"You're overthinking things," her mother said softly. "Nothing is going to happen to you."
Claire nodded slowly, though she didn't fully believe her.
Something felt wrong.
And deep down, she knew her mother wasn't telling her everything.
A few minutes later, her mother gently stroked her hair again.
"I think you should stay home today," she said. "You look exhausted."
Claire immediately sat upright.
"School!"
Her eyes widened in panic.
"We have chemistry practicals today. If I miss it, I might not get another chance to learn it properly."
Her mother sighed helplessly.
"You care too much about school."
Claire gave a weak smile before rushing into the bathroom.
After taking a quick shower, she hurried downstairs wearing her uniform. She barely sat at the dining table before grabbing her bread and gulping down her milk.
"Claire, slow down!"
"I'm late already!" she replied quickly, grabbing her bag.
"Bye, Mom! Love you!"
"Be careful on your way!" her mother
shouted after her before muttering quietly to herself, "This child…"
Claire laughed lightly and rushed outside.
A few minutes later, she stopped a taxi and headed toward school.
Midsummer Evelyn College.
One of the most prestigious schools in the city.
The tall buildings, polished walkways, and expensive surroundings constantly reminded Claire that she didn't truly belong there.
If not for her scholarship, she would never have stepped foot inside the school.
Unfortunately, being poor wasn't even the worst part of her life anymore.
The real problem started after she turned eighteen.
That was when she began seeing things.
Things nobody else could see.
And because of that, the students gave her a nickname.
Weirdo Girl.
At first, the whispers hurt.
Now, she had simply learned to endure them.
Still…
Even Claire herself didn't fully understand what was happening to her.
The first time it happened remained painfully clear in her memory.
She had arrived at school normally that morning and met up with her best friend, Cleo, who had been excitedly gossiping about boys as usual.
Claire barely listened.
Because standing ahead of them was a man dressed completely in black.
He wore a long dark cloak with a hood covering most of his face.
Claire frowned.
"Who wears something like that to school?" she joked nervously. "It's not Halloween."
Cleo blinked in confusion.
"Who?"
Claire pointed ahead immediately.
"That man."
Cleo stared in the direction Claire pointed but looked even more confused.
"Claire… there's nobody there."
Claire laughed awkwardly.
"Stop joking."
"I'm serious."
Claire turned back toward the figure.
He was still standing there.
Watching her.
A chill ran through her body.
"He's wearing a black cloak with a hood," Claire explained slowly.
Cleo stared at her like she had gone insane.
"Claire," she said carefully, "that's Richard standing there. Our classmate."
Claire's breathing slowly became uneven.
"No…" she whispered.
The man suddenly lifted his head.
His eyes glowed bright red.
Claire froze in horror as he slowly stretched his hands toward her.
As if he wanted to grab her.
"Claire?" Cleo called worriedly.
Claire screamed.
"Run!"
Students turned in confusion as Claire bolted through the hallway in panic.
"There's a man behind us!" she shouted desperately.
But nobody reacted.
Nobody except her.
Claire kept running until she crashed into someone and fell painfully onto the floor.
She quickly crawled backward, expecting to see the hooded man approaching.
But he was gone.
Silence filled the hallway.
Then laughter erupted around her.
Humiliation burned through Claire instantly.
Even Cleo laughed at first.
Though the moment she noticed Claire's expression, her laughter faded.
"Claire…" she whispered softly before helping her up.
Claire accepted the help silently, fighting back tears.
That day changed everything.
After that incident, nobody looked at her the same way again.
Including herself.
"Claire!"
A hand suddenly touched her shoulder.
Claire snapped back to reality and looked at Cleo.
"You've been zoning out again," Cleo said worriedly. "Are you okay?"
Claire forced a smile.
"I'm fine."
She wasn't.
But explaining would only make things worse.
The two girls continued walking toward class while students whispered as Claire passed.
Some stared openly.
Others laughed quietly.
Claire lowered her head and quickened her pace.
She hated the hallway.
It always felt like walking through judgment itself.
The moment she entered the classroom, conversations immediately died down.
Claire pretended not to notice and headed toward her seat.
Suddenly, someone stretched their leg into her path.
Claire tripped instantly and crashed onto the floor.
Laughter exploded around the room.
Her face burned with humiliation as she slowly stood up.
"Aww," Mariah mocked cruelly. "Looks like the weirdo wants to cry."
More laughter followed.
Claire quietly returned to her seat, refusing to let them see her tears.
Luckily, the teacher entered before things could get worse.
The lesson began shortly afterward.
Claire tried focusing on her notes, but suddenly she felt it again.
That strange presence.
Her body stiffened.
Slowly, she turned toward the classroom window.
Her blood ran cold.
The hooded man stood outside again.
Watching her.
Claire immediately looked away, pretending not to notice him.
Maybe he would disappear.
Maybe ignoring him would work.
But seconds later, she glanced back.
He was closer now.
Fear gripped her chest.
Claire abruptly stood up, startling the class.
"Claire?" the teacher frowned. "Is something wrong?"
She hesitated.
How could she explain something nobody else could see?
"S-Sir… may I use the restroom?"
The teacher sighed.
"Go ahead."
Claire grabbed her bag quickly and rushed out of the classroom while quiet snickers followed behind her.
"Weirdo," Mariah muttered loudly enough for everyone to hear.
Claire ignored her and hurried into the restroom.
She splashed cold water onto her face before staring at her reflection.
Dark circles rested beneath her tired eyes.
She looked exhausted.
Broken.
"What's happening to me?" she whispered shakily.
Suddenly, loud noises echoed from outside.
Students were shouting excitedly.
Claire frowned and stepped out to check what was going on.
A large crowd had gathered in the hallway.
Curious, she moved closer.
At the center stood a boy.
No—
Not just a boy.
An unbelievably handsome one.
Tall, calm, and dangerously attractive.
The type that naturally drew everyone's attention without trying.
Girls stared openly at him while whispering excitedly.
But Claire barely cared.
Not when she already had enough problems.
Then suddenly—
The boy looked directly at her.
Claire froze.
His eyes were golden.
Not normal brown or hazel.
Gold.
For a brief moment, it felt like the entire hallway disappeared around them.
Heat rushed through Claire's body strangely.
The boy's sharp gaze remained fixed on her before he finally looked away and continued walking.
Claire blinked repeatedly.
What… was that?
A glance at her phone made her panic instantly.
She was late for chemistry practicals.
Again.
Claire hurried back toward class and quickly apologized before entering.
Then she noticed something unfortunate.
Every seat was occupied.
Except one.
The empty seat beside the new boy.
The girls in class glared at her immediately as though warning her not to sit there.
Claire swallowed nervously.
What did they expect her to do?
Stand for the entire lesson?
Taking a deep breath, she slowly walked toward the seat.
The mysterious boy finally lifted his eyes toward her again.
And for the briefest second—
His golden eyes glowed.