The Lost Girls || Bbangsaz

Epilogue: Hanni

     I stand on the balcony overlooking the waves that roll in over the sugary sands of our private beach. Ours for another week, at least. Haerin dined on the landlord of this place last night and sent a text to his last contact stating that he was taking an impromptu vacation.

Eventually, we'd be making more permanent plans.

The thought of settling down someplace for a decade cases an ache in my chest that I can't place. It's always present, always there, but I have no memory of where it came from or how it developed. I only know scattered pieces of my history.

Everything I know about myself, I learned in the last year.

Though, I have to admit, seeing the guy who'd turned me— and had every intention of using and discarding me once hed had his fill-dead on the pavement with a hole in his chest was one hell of a first memory. I'd always cherish it.

The slider opens up behind me, and I turn, zeroing in on Minji's eyes. They never failed to make me think of bottomless clear blue water. Dani and Haerin are close behind, but whenever Minji enters a room, I can't see anything else. She has a hold on me. A pull stronger than the tether that had previously latched us all to the same guy.

I don't mind this connection, though. It warms the cold blood that runs through my veins with more strength than the Florida sun.

"Happy death day." Dani beams at me, the tips of her fangs a rusty red from her latest meal. "We brought you a surprise."

"I picked her out myself." Haerin puffs up with pride. "We caught her outside a Target. As soon as I heard her ask for the manager, I knew she'd be perfect for you."

We all have our tastes. Haerin likes to eat anything that inspires her creative side. Dani always wants to play with her food. Hyein likes to feast on people who want to be her. Even now, she's at the local high school putting together a vampire clique. Minji prefers predators.

And I enjoy middle-aged women who are nasty to retail workers.

We all have our things.

"Thank you," I say to Minji, who hasn't said a word yet.

She dips her gaze to her feet. I meant to thank Haerin, but when Minji is in a room, I don't know how to look away from her.

We've been tiptoeing around each other for the last year. We do a lot of touching when we don't really need to. A lot of hand-holding in the dark during movie nights, where we don't make eye contact, but I've memorized the exact contour of her fingers.

I don't hate it, but sometimes, when my mind drifts and I'm doing the closest thing to sleeping that a vampire can do, I swear I can feel the shape of her lips against mine.
I know we have a history. I know she loved me like I love her now.

Haerin told me it was fast and heady and consuming when we thought we didn't have forever. And now that we do...

I don't know how to get back what I can't remember. I only know that I want it, I want her. With everything that I have left. It isn't much, but if she takes it, I'll give her every one of my tomorrows for the eternity that we now have at our fingertips.

It's my death day. If I can't go for what I want now, when can I?

Dani gives me a knowing look before she nudges Haerin. She can always sense my moods to an uncomfortable degree. Intuition is just part of her nature.

"Right. We're going to ..." Haerin points behind her. "Do stuff."

"Nicely done." Dani shoves her inside. "Not at all obvious."