Beyond Redemption || Lee Know

Nine.

Exploring this place reminds me of the times I would sit on the couch with Chan, watching him play video games. He loves RPGs, and he'd spend hours exploring every corner and crevice of the game's map, opening doors left and right.

Except there's nothing to be found on this floor aside from long hallways and locked doors, much like a hotel. If my room is on this floor, wouldn't it make sense for others to be too? I shake my head, refusing to think about being neighbors with a vampire.

I take the stairs and go up a floor, my body protesting the extra effort, but still preferring it to the guarded elevator. At last, I reach an opening to the corridor, finding familiar French doors. They're again guarded by vampires, who don't pay me any attention. You would think that these sets of doors are exactly the same as all of the others I'd come across. Except this time, there's a large neon sign adorning the wall above the doors.

LOUNGE

Well, this sounds promising.

Guided by curiosity, I turn the doorknobs and step into the 'lounge', but I hurriedly halt my movements as I take in the lavish decorations surrounding me. Now this is what I expect vampire decor to be. The walls are painted black and adorned with billowy, blood-red drapes. The floor is hardwood, a deep cherry that blends in seamlessly with the walls. On the ceiling hang crystal chandeliers, each tiny piece of glass made to look like a droplet of blood. There's a large bar on one end, the wall behind it filled with every spirit imaginable. And on the floor, countless matching chairs, chaises, sofas, and daybeds, all plush and tufted, and the same deep red color.

But it's what else is in the room that causes me to gape in disbelief. There are humans here, but they're with the vampires. I see them seated on the sofas together, drinks in hand and faces close, exchanging quiet words. I see them dancing in the middle of the floor, bodies held tight together and moving to the music sensually. I see them on top of each other on the day beds, clothes half off and making out. And I even see them doing the unthinkable, vampire lips pressed to human wrists, sucking as trails of blood drip down arms onto the floor.

Goosebumps immediately spread over my arms. This has to be a joke. Looking around at all the humans giving up their blood and their body for these vampires, only one thing comes to mind. Danger.

I can't stay here. I'm just about to sprint back towards the stairs when a young man approaches me with his arms raised in defense.

"Don't be scared," He says before I bolt, sensing my unease. "They won't touch you unless you want them to."

I look at him warily, not yet voicing any of the thousand questions running through my mind.

"It's Tristin, right?" He asks me.

"...Yes?" I answer him hesitantly.

"You've been the talk of the town since you got here." He stretches a hand out to me. "I'm Jeongin."

I shake his hand and study his face. His skin tone is warm, with just a hint of natural blush on his cheeks. He smiles innocently, with two dimples forming next to his mouth, and his eyes crinkled into little crescents. He's so pretty, but also so real. Like a regular person. "Are you—"

"Not a vampire." He answers my unfinished question.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, somewhat relieved to be around a human again. I feel my heart rate start to decrease, the adrenaline wearing off.

"I like to spend my free weekends here."

My voice raises in disbelief. "For fun?"

He chuckles. "Yeah." He starts to walk over to a nearby sofa and I follow him, sitting next to him to continue our chat.