Back in the school,
everything looked normal on the surface, as if nothing unusual had happened at all. Students moved about with their usual routines, laughter echoed faintly through the walkways, and lectures continued as scheduled.
Yoon stood in front of Jina's room once again, staring at the locked door.
She knocked lightly, waited, then knocked again, but there was no response. With a small frown, she checked the handle once more. Locked.
This was the second time, she muttered to herself before turning away, a strange uneasiness settling in her chest as she walked down the corridor.
As Yoon approached the cafeteria later that day, she spotted Raven walking ahead. She quickened her steps and called out his name. Raven stopped and turned, his sharp eyes settling on her face. Yoon hesitated for a moment before speaking.
Raven, I haven't seen Jina for about five days now.
The moment the words left her mouth, Raven's expression changed, a flicker of shock passing across his face before he masked it quickly.
He forced a calm tone as he replied that he wasn't sure anything was wrong, maybe Jina had traveled home. Yoon frowned immediately.
"Raven, Jina never stays at home for more than two days.
Something about his response didn't sit right with her.
Raven avoided her gaze, excused himself abruptly, and walked away, leaving Yoon standing there with a growing sense of dread.
Inside the cafeteria, Raven pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
When the call connected, he spoke politely,
Good day mother
I am jina school friend I just called to know if jina is around
I traveled since five days now so I am not in school and I don't know if she is in school as well
Raven lied
Jina mother told him that Jina is still in school and didn't travel
Instantly Raven end the call
And rushed to Jina room and is locked truly
Just as Yoon had said,His heart sank. He turned sharply and went to Jan's room, knocking hard. Jan opened the door, startled by the urgency on his face.
Jan, did Jina tell you anything? Did she say she was traveling or going somewhere?
Raven asked quickly.
Jan shook her head," Jina hadn't said anything definite,
Raven inhaled deeply, then asked if Jan had Jina's spare key, explaining that he needed to check something and that she could stay while he did so. Jan hesitated, then nodded and brought out the spare key she had. Together, they returned to Jina's room and opened the door.
Raven entered first, his eyes scanning every corner of the room with intense focus. He bent down slowly, pressed two fingers against the floor, and closed his eyes. Jan watched him in stunned silence, not understanding what he was doing. After a moment, Raven opened his eyes, his face darkening.
" Oh no, he muttered. The traces and trails are hidden. That's why I didn't sense her disappearance.
He stood up slowly and looked at Jan for a brief moment, worry and urgency written all over his face" Thank you,
he said quietly before rushing out of the room. Jan moved closer to where Raven had touched the floor, but she saw nothing unusual. Confused and unsettled, she locked the room again.
I woke up feeling extremely weak and exhausted, as though my body had been drained of all strength.
My head throbbed lightly as I turned and saw the woman seated calmly in the room, holding a glass of red wine. She smiled as she watched me struggle to sit up.
Welcome back, Jina. Six days have passed, she said casually.
She stood up slowly and added,
"this is your final day.
Then, with a theatrical tone,
My name is Animal Princess. She admitted
And I was hired to do this
She smiled knowingly, and there was no need to ask who had ordered it. They see you as a threat, she continued,
and now I understand why. You are strong. Still, and I would give you one last chance to speak to your mother, to say anything you wanted before you fell asleep for the final time. She checked her watch.
Two minutes left.
My eyelids felt unbearably heavy, my vision blurred, but I forced myself to look at her.
I don't want to speak to my mother
I told her,
Within me, I was protecting my mother and couldn't risk revealing her location.
The woman nodded calmly and said
Your wish is granted. Farewell, Jin….
but before she could finish, the door burst open violently. A part of the door slammed into her, sending her crashing to the floor. Bright light flooded the room, and through my half-opened eyes, I saw him standing there, the masked man.
He stared at me briefly before turning to the woman. She rose slowly, and before my eyes, her body began to change.
"Animal Princess", the masked man said coldly as he watched her transformation.
Now I understand why I couldn't sense her kidnapping. Of course, your power to erase mind traces is exceptional" the mask man said as he stand watching her transform
As he stepped closer, the woman completed her transformation into a terrifying creature, her face twisted, long vampire-like
teeth exposed, saliva dripping from her mouth.
She lunged at him with terrifying speed, but he dodged swiftly, light gathering in his hand. He leapt and struck her head with the glowing energy, sending her crashing to the ground.
Before I could react, her tail whipped around and struck my hand, and blood gushed out instantly.
The masked man rushed to me, grabbing my injured hand, searching frantically for something to tie it with, forgetting for a split second that the creature wasn't dead. In that moment, the woman rose again and struck him hard on the neck. He staggered but did not fall. With a fierce breath, he blew fire from his mouth, and instantly, the creature was torn apart, splitting into pieces as blood scattered everywhere.
The masked man collapsed heavily to the floor, badly injured, clutching his neck with one hand. My body felt numb, my consciousness fading in and out. He struggled toward me, and with what little strength he had left, he lifted me and placed me over his shoulder. The last thing I felt was the warmth of his body and the faint sound of his breathing before everything went dark and I slipped into unconsciousness.