Yurim stepped back slowly, her legs trembling. She didn't wait to see more.
Turning away, she hurried down the hallway without making a sound.
Her heart hammered as she rushed towards the door, gently pulled open the front door, and slipped outside.
The empty street swallowed her instantly.
"What is happening to me… where should I go now… Mom," Yurim whispered, still breathing hard from all the running.
The night was silent — too silent — broken only by the sound of her uneven footsteps.
Then she heard shouting.
Angry voices echoed from a nearby alley. When she looked closer, her breath caught.
Several rough-looking men were beating someone on the ground, their words sharp with disgust.
"Half-human trash!"
The moment she heard those words, something sparked inside her chest.
Half-human.
In this twisted world, it felt like hope.
Without thinking too much, she kicked off her shoes and hurled them toward the men.
They turned in shock as Yurim rushed forward, grabbed the injured boy's arm, and ran.
She didn't look back.
They ducked into a narrow corner, both breathing hard. When Yurim finally let go, she froze.
It was him.
Again.
His face was bruised, blood staining the corner of his mouth. His expression was unreadable.
Yurim lowered her gaze, fear curling tightly in her chest. For a moment, she thought he might drag her back to that house.
But she didn't run.
Because right now, he was her only hope of getting out of this nightmare.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice tired but sharp.
Yurim looked up at him, disbelief and anger mixing together.
"Don't you know?" she snapped. "Your grandmother tricked me — and you were helping her."
Her voice trembled, thick with betrayal.
"I couldn't trust anyone in this world."
His jaw tightened.
"I didn't help anyone. I warned you."
Her anger flared.
"Warned me? That's what you call—"
She stopped.
From the misty alley ahead, something horrifying emerged.
A hulking, twisted figure dragged itself forward — its limbs unnaturally long, its pale skin stretched tight over its frame. It was chasing one of the mafia demons who had beaten the boy earlier.
This thing wasn't wearing a human disguise.
Its mouth was filled with dagger-like teeth.
Without thinking, they pressed themselves into a narrow gap between two stone walls, barely wide enough to hide them both. They peered through the cracks.
The mafia demon stumbled, roaring in panic —
And then the creature pounced.
Its teeth sank deep into him. A sickening sound of tearing flesh echoed through the alley.
Then silence.
Yurim's heart slammed painfully against her chest.
"W-what is that?" she whispered. "He's… not in human form."
"That's the night guard," he replied grimly. "The peacemaker of this world. He punishes demons who roam after dark…"
His voice lowered.
"…and outsiders who don't belong here."
The words hit her like ice.
Her face went blank.
The monster straightened and sniffed the air. Its head jerked slightly in their direction.
"He's… smelling me, right?" Yurim whispered, her voice cracking.
"What should I do? Please save me… God—"
Her words tumbled out in panic.
Without hesitation, he pulled her into his arms.
"Stay like this," he said quietly. "My scent will cover yours."
But as the creature stepped closer. His eyes darkened.
I'm half-human. My scent won't be enough.
The monster's shadow fell over them.
"Do something, Don't just stare ," Yurim hissed, panic shaking her voice.
"I don't want to die being torn apart."
She kept mumbling frantically, fear spilling out of her.
The night guard took another step.
Then—
A deep, resonating bell rang through the air.
"End of inspection," he whispered.