Blood Water // Park Sunghoon

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓞𝓷𝓮

Darkness enveloped my cold and wet body as I thrashed around frantically. Struggling for breath, I felt the water surrounding me, threatening to engulf my lungs.

Beneath the water's surface, my eyes flutter open. Panic grips my chest as I frantically scan my surroundings, the murky depths obscuring any semblance of clarity. In the distance, a faint glimmer of light beckons, teasingly distant yet agonizingly close.

My limbs thrash in desperation, a frenzied attempt to propel myself towards the brightness. Each movement is met with resistance, the water's embrace like a suffocating shroud, weighing me down with its oppressive force. With each passing second, my lungs burn with an insatiable hunger for air, a relentless reminder of my dwindling supply.

Time seems to stretch into eternity as I struggle against the merciless grip of the water, my body consumed by a primal instinct for survival. Just as despair threatens to consume me, a surge of adrenaline courses through my veins, fueling my resolve. With one final burst of strength, I propel myself upwards, breaking through the surface with a desperate gasp for air.

Relief overcomes me as the air seeps into my body and blesses my lungs.

Looking around, I realized I was at the center of a small lake, encircled by towering evergreen trees. My mind was foggy; I struggled to recall where I was, why I was here, or even who I was, but terror set in as my memory remained blank.

Gathering my strength, I paddle towards the shore and, upon reaching the sand, I collapse onto my knees, overcome by weakness. 

With wide, panicked eyes, I search for any sign of civilization-a building, people, lights-but there is nothing. Only the lake, the trees, and the swiftly setting sun remain.

"Hello?!" I yell with all the strength I can gather, hoping against hope that I'm not in the middle of nowhere and that someone might hear me.

I sit down breathlessly and rest my head on my knees. I was shivering as it was getting cold, and I was soaking wet. I had no idea what I should do.

I was terrified beyond belief that I had absolutely no memories, everything was black until I had woken up in the water. Did I go out there? What happened to me?

A twig snapped in the woods, the sound echoing through the stillness, causing my heart to race. My head snapped towards the source, eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. Rationalizing it as likely just an animal, relief washed over me briefly before fear tightened its grip once more. Tears welled in my eyes, a silent testament to my overwhelming sense of vulnerability. Lost and alone in the wilderness, uncertainty gnawed at my core, I didn't know how to survive in the middle of the woods.

Part of me considered just starting to walk, as it seemed better than freezing to death by the lakeside. My stomach growled, and I shivered once more.

I'm so hungry.

Another snap of a twig pierced the silence, jolting me with a surge of unease. I flinched instinctively, my senses on high alert, but I forced myself to dismiss it as mere coincidence, a trick of the forest.

The sunset had nearly disappeared, and darkness was setting in. I could still see well enough, yet I remained uncertain of my next move. Should I stay here where I have nothing, or should I venture into the forest and take my chances?

After a few moments of contemplating, I finally decide to leave the lakeside. Not only was there nothing here for me, but leaving raised my chances of finding people, dry clothing, and food. I pick a direction and hesitate for a moment before slowly taking my first step into the tree line.

My heart pounded in my chest like a drumbeat as I forged ahead through the dense forest. Each step was a battle against the darkness, obstacles littering my path like unseen adversaries. Despite the absence of sunlight, my vision seemed strangely clear, allowing me to navigate with surprising ease. Yet, my limbs felt heavy with fatigue, each stumble a testament to the weariness weighing me down.

My stomach protested loudly, its persistent growls a testament to my gnawing hunger. Weakness washed over me, a relentless reminder of my prolonged deprivation. With my memory lost to the void, I could only guess how long it had been since my last meal.

A noise to my left snapped me out of my reverie, and I turned to investigate. There, amidst the shadows, I spotted a lone bunny. My eyes widened as I noticed its injured leg, a thin trickle of blood staining its fur. Instinctively, I sniffed the air, detecting a strange yet tantalizing scent, sweet yet metallic. Was that...the bunny I was smelling?

As I crouched near the injured bunny, an overwhelming sensation consumed me. Each of my senses seemed to sharpen, as if a switch had been flipped in my mind. I could hear its heart thundering in its chest, see every tiny detail on its fur, and even smell the faint hint of blood. Mesmerized, I lowered myself to the ground with baited breath, the primitive impulse to hunt taking over my thoughts. My stomach rumbled, its emptiness becoming unbearable, and saliva pooled in my mouth.

Without warning, I lunged at the bunny with speed and strength that took me by surprise. Its cries echoed through the forest as I sank my teeth into its flesh, my body trembling with excitement.

I moaned with delight as the warm rush of blood filled my mouth, a primal satisfaction coursing through my veins. In that moment, I surrendered to my instinctual urges, devouring the helpless creature without a hint of remorse.

On my knees, surrounded by the scent of fresh blood and the sounds of my own ravenous consumption, I felt alive in a way I hadn't before. The taste of the bunny's life force satiated the gnawing hunger that had plagued me, leaving me with a sense of primal fulfillment.

"Well, well, well, another vampire?" A deep, familiar voice broke the eerie silence behind me, causing a startled gasp to escape my lips. My grip on the bunny faltered, and I spun around, crimson droplets of blood splattering in my wake. There, standing before me, was a vision of masculine perfection.

His jet-black hair fell in tousled waves, framing his captivating eyes with an almost hypnotic allure. Each feature of his face seemed sculpted by the hands of divine artisans, radiating an ethereal beauty that left me spellbound. His towering stature exuded an aura of strength and confidence, accentuated by the subtle flex of muscles beneath his dark attire.

My astonishment at his sudden appearance was evident, yet it paled in comparison to the myriad of emotions reflected in his light brown eyes as they locked onto mine. His breath hitched in his throat, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still as we stood frozen in each other's gaze.

As he closed the distance between us, every step measured and deliberate, I felt a strange pull in the depths of my soul. There was an inexplicable familiarity in his presence, like the echo of a forgotten memory longing to be remembered. And as our eyes met, a torrent of conflicting emotions washed over me, mingling with the palpable tension that crackled in the air between us.

His hand reaches out, a tantalizing invitation that ensnares my attention. The air crackles with an electric current of desire as his fingertips graze my cheek, tracing a delicate path along the contours of my face. His gaze, intense and probing, seems to search for something hidden within the depths of my soul.

Confusion clouds my mind as I find myself drawn towards him, despite the veil of uncertainty that shrouds my memories. There's a magnetic pull between us, a lingering echo of a connection that defies explanation.

His touch ignites a spark within me, spreading warmth through every fiber of my being. Suddenly, I can hear the rhythmic beating of his heart, a steady pulse that falls in sync with my own. His lip's part, forming a name in a breathless whisper that sends shivers down my spine.

"Aura?" His voice, barely audible, is laden with unspoken questions and unfulfilled desires. My brows knit together in confusion, searching for answers that remain just out of reach. Before I can muster a response, a wave of dizziness washes over me, and before I can even speak a word or question him myself, I fill my strength dwindle away once again, and my world turn black as I fall into his chest. 

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A/N: Hey lovelies! I'm so excited for this story and hope all of you are intrigued by now! Please don't forget to leave a vote! Thank you!