Yoon called me by exactly 2 p.m.
Her voice sounded steadier this time, clearer than the weak whispers of the morning. I knew immediately she must have woken up and was feeling much better.
"Jina," she called softly.
"Yes, Yoon. How are you feeling now?" I asked, already sitting upright on my bed.
"I am… much better, Jina," she said slowly, as if choosing each word carefully. "I want to go and get some meds outside. I already took permission to go out. I want you to follow me."
She looked at me with pleading eyes, her fingers tightly gripping the edge of her sleeve.
"Okay, Yoon," I replied after a short pause.
"And one more thing, Jina," she suddenly broke in, her voice dropping. "Please don't tell Jan. Not for anything. I just don't want her to discourage you."
I stood still for a moment, watching her. Something about the way she said it made my chest feel tight.
If Jan hears this, she really won't accept it, I thought. She would definitely insist we cancel everything.
So I nodded. "Okay. I won't tell her."
Yoon's shoulders relaxed slightly.
I changed my clothes quickly, and together we left through the school gate. The sun was high, students moving in and out freely, laughter filling the air—so normal it felt unreal considering everything happening beneath it.
Yoon stopped a taxi and told the driver where to take us.
After a short ride, the taxi stopped in front of a small roadside shop. A woman sat outside with two children, selling herbs, It didn't look anything like a clinic.
I frowned and turned to Yoon.
"Yoon, you said chemist. This doesn't look like one."
"Jina, come in first and sit," Yoon said calmly, already stepping inside.
Uneasy, I followed her.
The woman looked up and smiled warmly. "Yoon," she greeted, calling her by name.
We sat on the wooden chairs she provided.
"You must be Jina," the woman said, her eyes settling on me.
My heart skipped. At first, fear crept up my spine, but when I glanced outside and saw the busy road—cars passing, people talking—I forced myself to calm down.
"Yes," I replied carefully. "But how do you know me?"
The woman pulled a chair closer and sat beside me.
"My name is Nabi," she said gently.
I looked at Yoon, then back at the woman.
Yoon simply nodded, signaling me to listen.
The woman inhaled deeply, as if preparing herself.
"I am Eunwoo's mother."
My breath caught in my throat.
My eyes widened, my mouth falling open. For a second, my body moved on its own—I stood up, instinctively wanting to hug her. But Yoon touched my arm firmly, guiding me back down.
"Yes, Jina," the woman continued. "I know what you are investigating. I know what you are trying to uncover. Eunwoo is my son, and I will tell you everything you need to know."
She looked straight into my eyes.
"And I know about your father… Lee."
My heart pounded violently.
I turned sharply to Yoon, then back to the woman. "How… how do you know who I am?"
She smiled sadly.
"My late husband contacted your father before he died," she said. "He asked him to look into that particular school."
My fingers curled into my palms.
"Some years ago," she went on, "many students died there. Strange deaths.But the school always covered it up. They have powerful allies—very close ties with the police. Stories were twisted, evidence disappeared, and new students kept coming in."
I felt cold.
"For a while, everything went quiet," she continued. "Until last year."
She leaned closer.
"My son, Eunwoo, saw something… accidentally. On the school security cameras."
My chest tightened.
"Your father tried to investigate quietly at first," she said. "But he kept being shut out. So he did something bold. He arranged for your transfer to the school."
I froze.
"So you would be there," she said, "and he could gain access without suspicion."
My mind flashed back to the camera.
"One day," she continued, her voice shaking, "I received a call from the school. They said Eunwoo broke into the security house with some gang. They said he stole things and ran away."
Tears filled her eyes.
"I was shocked. I know the son I raised. Eunwoo would never do that."
She wiped her face.
"We searched for him for a whole week. Nothing. Then my husband contacted your father to help us."
My breath came shallow.
"Your father went to the school under the excuse of your transfer," she said. "And during that process… he discovered something hidden."
She hesitated.
"Someone dropped evidence where it could easily be seen by him. We still don't know who did that."
My stomach churned.
"Your father took the camera," she whispered. "He came here first. He said he found something—something that could expose everything."
My pulse raced.
"I overheard them talking," she said. "Inside that camera were recordings of illegal experiments… ritual meetings carried out at night. Not just staff—students too."
She lowered her voice.
"Blood-drinking beings. Vampires. Creatures that feed every tenth month of the year."
The world spun.
My hands trembled.
"Your father rushed home," she continued. "To write, to document, to record everything."
My throat tightened painfully.
"That was when he died," she said softly. "In his study room."
Everything clicked.
"That's why," I whispered, "he rushed home… and went straight to the study room."
She nodded.
Tears burned my eyes.
"So what happened to Eunwoo?" I asked hoarsely.
She bowed her head.
"Eunwoo is very sick."
I turned slowly to Yoon. She nodded.
"Sick?" I asked. "How?"
"Mentally unstable," the woman replied. "We hid him far away. Somewhere even demons cannot locate. The school and the students working with them are hunting him."
Fear crawled up my spine.
"Why are you telling me all this?" I asked. "Why trust me?"
She took my hands.
"I trusted your father," she said. "And I see him in you."
My chest ached.
"Only you can stop what is happening in that school," she continued. "The tenth month is close. Another feeding is coming."
My heart nearly stopped.
"But I don't know what to do," I whispered. "Where to even begin."
She turned to Yoon.
"Yoon will help you—if you trust her."
I stared at Yoon.
"Yoon?"
"Yes, Jina," she said softly. "I can't say much yet. But trust me."
She held my hands tightly.
"I was never sick."
My eyes widened. "What?"
"I lied," Yoon said. "To protect you. To stop you from going where you planned."
My head spun.
"But everything still leads there," I whispered.
Yoon stood up. "We need to go now."
She hugged the woman. I followed, my body heavy with fear.
As we stepped outside into the bright afternoon, I knew one thing clearly—
The horror had only just begun.