Running—my heart pounding so loudly it felt like it would burst through my chest—behind me was Yoon, chasing me relentlessly, a long sword clutched tightly in her hand. Her eyes were wild, empty, fixed only on me.
"What's wrong?" I screamed as I ran. "Why do you want to kill me?"
My breath came in broken gasps as my feet pounded against the ground. Fear pushed me forward, faster than I had ever run before. Then suddenly—my leg struck a small stone.
I stumbled.
I fell hard to the ground.
Before I could rise, a shadow loomed over me. I looked up.
It was Yoon.
Standing behind her was another woman.
My blood froze.
It was the same woman Yoon had introduced as Eunwoo's mother. Only this time, she wasn't calm or gentle. She was holding a sword too—its blade drenched in fresh blood, dripping slowly onto the ground.
I tried to scream, but my voice caught in my throat.
When I finally screamed—
I woke up.
My body jerked upright violently, my chest rising and falling as if I had just escaped death. For a split second, I saw a sharp, dark figure vanish from right in front of my face. I couldn't tell if it disappeared through the open window or if my mind was still trapped inside the nightmare.
I sat frozen on my bed, my heart racing.
The window.
It was open again.
I swallowed hard and forced myself to stand. My legs trembled as I walked toward the window to close it. That was when I saw him.
Someone was standing at the tree.
He wore a black uniform. His back was turned to me.
Something pulled me—an invisible force stronger than fear. Before I could stop myself, I opened my door and walked out, my feet carrying me toward the tree as if they no longer belonged to me.
When I reached the figure, I raised my hand.
"Hello?" I whispered.
My fingers brushed his shoulder.
Instantly, he turned.
Sharp vampire teeth gleamed in the darkness. His mouth was smeared with blood. His grip was cold and impossibly strong as he grabbed me, pulling me close.
I felt his breath on my neck.
He opened his mouth—
And I screamed.
The scream tore out of me so loudly that it shattered the dream.
I woke up again.
This time, to loud knocks banging on my door.
I opened my eyes and realized it was already morning.
My body felt weak, heavy, like I hadn't slept at all. The knocking continued, urgent and loud.
I forced myself off the bed and opened the door.
It was Yoon.
For a moment, fear seized me. After that nightmare, seeing her face made my stomach twist. But I stepped aside and let her in.
The moment she entered, she froze.
She stared at me.
Then her eyes dropped to my bed.
"Jina… what happened to you?" she asked slowly. "Did you fight with someone? Why is there blood on your clothes—and on your bed?"
My heart skipped.
Blood?
I turned sharply.
There it was.
Dark red stains smeared across my bedsheet. My clothes—also stained.
Panic surged through me.
Without saying a word, I grabbed the bedsheet, rushed past Yoon, and locked myself inside the bathroom. My hands shook as I stripped off the stained clothes. I couldn't remember bleeding. I couldn't remember being hurt.
When I finally came out, changed into fresh clothes, Yoon was still sitting on my bed, staring at me with worry.
"Jina, are you okay?" she asked, standing up and holding my arm. "You were screaming earlier."
I pulled my hand away gently.
I didn't know what to believe anymore.
Was the dream a warning?
What if Yoon wasn't who she claimed to be?
What if the woman she introduced wasn't Eunwoo's mother at all?
What if everything I had been told was a lie?
"Jina…" Yoon called again, pulling me back from my thoughts.
She looked serious now.
"Eunwoo's mother is missing," she said quietly. "I just received a call. No one has seen her for two days."
My breath caught.
"I was thinking maybe we could go out together and—"
"No," I cut her off immediately.
The word came out harsher than I intended.
"No, Yoon. I'm sorry. I'm not going anywhere with you."
She looked stunned.
"Jina," she said, holding my shoulders, "are you sure you're okay?"
I stepped back.
"Please," I said, forcing calm into my voice, "can you leave my room? I need to tidy up."
She hesitated, then nodded. As she held the door handle, she turned and looked at me one last time, her eyes unreadable.
When she left, I locked the door.
My hands shook as I sat back on the bed. My mind was spinning. I grabbed my phone and dialed the only person I felt I could still trust.
Jan.
"Jan," I said the moment she answered, "please come to my room."
Within minutes, she was knocking.
I opened the door and shut it behind her quickly.
She looked at my face, her expression changing immediately.
Without speaking, I picked up the blood-stained bedsheet and the clothes I had worn earlier.
"Jan," I said, my voice breaking, "I found this when I woke up after a terrible nightmare."
She listened as I told her—about Yoon chasing me with a sword, about the woman she claimed was Eunwoo's mother.
"Hold on," Jan interrupted, sitting down sharply. "Yoon showed you Eunwoo's mother? When?"
"The day we went out together," I admitted quietly. "She told me not to tell anyone… not even you."
Jan stared at me.
"Jina… you believed a stranger?" she asked. "Who is this woman? Where does she stay?"
"Bukchon Hanok Village," I replied. "She's a well-known herbal seller."
Jan shook her head slowly.
"And you kept this away from me?" she asked. "What exactly did she say to you?"
"Jan," I said, my voice trembling, "let's leave Eunwoo and her lies for now."
"No," Jan said firmly, holding my hands. "Tell me."
"I had another dream," I whispered. "Someone tried to bite me at the tree."
Jan froze.
"The tree?" she asked. "Raven's tree?"
I went silent.
I hadn't seen the face clearly—but it was that tree.
"Oh Jina…" Jan pulled me into a tight hug. "The people you almost trusted…"
"I know," I said weakly.
After a moment, she pulled away.
"I need to go now," she said suddenly. "I need to take my bath."
"Already?" I asked.
"Yes," she replied, standing. "I'll see you in class."
She left, shutting the door behind her.
I sat alone for a long time, guilt and fear wrapping tightly around my chest.
How could I be so foolish?
How could I trust Yoon so easily?
How did she even know I was investigating Eunwoo?
I stood up slowly, my body heavy with dread.
I walked into the bathroom and shut the door behind me.