𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞

03 - best punishment

"So, where are you guys taking us?" Yeonjun asked, looking confused as the three in front of him urged them to follow.

"Somewhere where you both can live," Soobin finally said, looking directly at Yeonjun and Beomgyu. "We want to help you." His voice was serious, and it made Yeonjun feel a little uneasy.

"Come on, guys! Join us!" Yuna said happily, clapping her hands. She was so excited, it was hard not to smile back at her.

Beomgyu, trying to lighten the mood, said, "Alright, alright, we're in. Let's go!" He offered his hand to Yuna in a friendly way, and she took it with a big smile. Beomgyu tried to figure out what she was thinking, but he couldn't read her mind.

"You won't regret this," Yuna said, her voice a little mysterious. It made Yeonjun feel even more uneasy.

Yeonjun and Beomgyu looked at each other, both a little nervous, and then started following the others.

The street was empty, and the air felt weird, like something was about to happen. They were vampires, so they could feel things more strongly, but they still had no idea where they were going.

The city lights looked blurry as they walked, and even though they knew the streets, they felt strange and unfamiliar.

"Where are we going?" Beomgyu whispered, his voice barely louder than his own heartbeat.

Yeonjun kept looking at the people in front of them. "I don't know," he said, his voice low and tense. "But I have a bad feeling about this."

They kept walking, but they were getting more and more unsure about everything. The city, which they usually knew so well, felt like a maze, and every turn just made them more lost.

The building looked really old and creepy, standing tall against the night sky. It was all dark and empty, with broken windows that looked like they were staring at them. The air around it felt heavy, like something bad was going to happen, and Yeonjun felt a shiver go down his spine. He could feel something weird coming from the building, like a beat that was hidden under the surface.

As they got closer, they saw a group of people standing outside, about fifteen of them, whispering to each other. Yeonjun was curious, but he was also scared. What was going on in this old building? And why were they here?

Finally, they were right in front of the building's entrance, a big, dark opening that seemed to swallow up all the light. Yuna, her eyes twinkling with mischief, turned to them and said, "They're finally here." She smiled in a way that made Yeonjun feel even more uneasy.

Before they could even react, the fifteen people suddenly lunged at them, their eyes glowing red in the darkness.  Yeonjun and Beomgyu barely had time to react before they were tackled to the ground.  They felt sharp, cold metal digging into their arms, and they realized they were being tied up with heavy chains and with their mouths not too covered.

Yuna, Soobin, and Taehyun all jumped into a car that was waiting nearby.  They threw Yeonjun and Beomgyu in the backseat, still bound and gagged.  Then, with a roar of the engine, the car sped away into the night.

The car zoomed down the empty road, the wind blowing in through the open windows. Yeonjun was so mad, he yelled, "Why did you tie us up?!"

Yuna, her voice cold and hard, said, "Because you need to be punished for what you did, Yeonjun. You're breaking the law here! You killed a lot of people in the city, and the cops are saying it's because of vampires like us.  Because of you, the vampires who try to live normal lives are getting blamed."

Beomgyu, still tied up and with his mouth covered, tried to talk. "Then if it's just Yeonjun you want, why am I here?" he asked, his voice muffled by the cloth in his mouth.

Yuna's eyes narrowed, and her smile turned into a cold, mean one. "Because," she said, her voice sounding really sure, "I know you're going to do the same thing as him."

The car kept going, and it was really quiet in the backseat.  Yeonjun and Beomgyu, tied up and with their mouths covered, could only look out the windows.  It was dark and empty outside.

Yeonjun watched Soobin and Taehyun in the front.  They were so quiet, it was like they were statues.  They didn't say anything, and they barely even seemed to breathe.  It was kind of scary, the way they moved so smoothly, like they were ready to pounce.  Only Yuna, her eyes shining with a cold light, seemed to be alive.  She was full of energy, and it was a little unsettling.

After driving for a long time, the car finally stopped in front of a huge, fancy house. It was a really big house, looking rich and powerful.  The grass was perfectly cut, and the house had all these fancy details that showed it was built for rich people.

Soobin and Taehyun, who were still moving quietly, opened the car doors in the back.  "Get out," Soobin said in a low, scary voice.  Taehyun didn't say anything, but he untied the chains that were holding Yeonjun and Beomgyu and the cover in their mouths.

Yuna, her eyes shining with excitement, was already getting out of the car and walking towards the big front door of the house.  She stopped for a second, turned around, and smiled at them in a way that made them feel uneasy.  "Welcome home," she said, her voice sounding sweet but kind of creepy.

Yuna raised her hand and called out, "Jihyo unniee! They're here!"

A moment later, a woman with a nice smile and kind eyes came out of the house.  "Oh, they're finally here!" she said, sounding happy and excited.  "Welcome, welcome. Come in, come in. I've been waiting for you."

Soobin and Taehyun, followed by Yeonjun and Beomgyu, walked into the house.  The air inside was cool and smelled nice, like fresh flowers and something else, something sweet but a little weird.

Yeonjun, his eyes narrowed, looked around the luxurious surroundings.  "Is this what you call punishment?" he asked, his voice laced with sarcasm.

Beomgyu, his gaze fixed on Yuna, let out a low chuckle. "A memorable punishment," he said.

They were all gathered in the grand living room, a space filled with comfy furniture and fancy decorations. Jihyo, looking at everyone, cleared her throat. "Now, let me be clear," she said, her voice firm but kind. "No one here is allowed to kill humans. We hunt animals, and that's it.  And no one makes their own decisions anymore. We are all a family, even if we aren't related by blood. We look after each other, we protect each other, and we obey the rules.

"Also," Jihyo continued, "no one can ever tell anyone that we're vampires.  It's a secret we keep, and we need to protect it.  And one more thing," she said, her eyes flashing with a hint of steel, "we always follow the moon's cycle.  It's our guide, our rhythm.  We sleep when the moon is full, and we hunt when it's dark.  It's the way it's always been, and it's the way it will always be."

Jihyo turned her gaze to Yeonjun and Beomgyu. "So, are you willing to follow these rules?" she asked, her voice gentle but firm which the two immediately nodded as agreement.

"Oh, and by the way," she added, her smile turning a little mischievous, "if you see the house on the left, there are a few students living there.  So please, behave yourselves. You'll be living here now, after all."

Yuna, her eyes narrowed, stepped forward. "Is that the punishment you're going to give them, Noona? It's unfair!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with indignation.

Jihyo chuckled softly. "Sometimes, Yuna, the best punishments are the ones that seem like rewards.  But these rules are for everyone's safety and they are vampires after all like us. Now, Soobin, show Yeonjun and Beomgyu their rooms."

"Tsk," Yuna said, then sat down on the sofa and pouted. Taehyun, chuckling softly, messed her hair. Meanwhile, Yeonjun and Beomgyu followed Soobin upstairs to see their rooms.