𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞 || 𝐒𝐞𝐨𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐨

Chapter twenty-seven

Mingyu stirred, slowly surfacing from a deep, disorienting slumber. The familiar contours of his room, bathed in the soft morning light, came into focus. He felt a warm presence beside him, a comforting weight that made his heart skip a beat. Turning his head, he found Soojin, his beloved wife, nestled in his arms, her serene expression a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within him.

For a moment, he wondered if the harrowing events of the previous night had merely been a figment of a fevered dream. Yet, the vividness of his memories argued otherwise. The sensation of cold iron against his wrists, the sinister whispers, and the malevolent eyes haunted him still.

Gently extricating himself from Soojin's embrace, Mingyu slipped out of bed, the cool floorboards grounding him in reality. He padded softly to the bathroom, each step tinged with unease. As he reached the mirror, he hesitated, bracing himself for what he might find. His reflection stared back at him, seemingly ordinary. But as he leaned closer, his heart clenched at the sight of a conspicuous mark on his neck – a hickey, glaring and undeniable.

Panic surged through him. His thoughts raced, trying to reconcile the stark evidence with the sanctity of his home. His mind flashed back to the stranger,
whose presence was as chilling as it was enigmatic.

He splashed cold water on his face, attempting to dispel the growing dread. As he lifted his head, his eyes caught sight of a folded piece of paper perched on the edge of the sink. With trembling hands, he unfolded it, his eyes scanning the elegant, flowing script:

"You taste so good, my prince."

A shiver coursed through him, his stomach twisting with a mix of horror and revulsion. The note slipped from his fingers, fluttering to the ground as his knees gave way, sending him collapsing to the floor. His breath came in ragged gasps, the room spinning around him.

Mingyu's mind was a maelstrom of fear and confusion. The stranger's haunting features flashed before his eyes – the nose ring glinting in the dim light, the mocking smile playing on those pink lips. The memory was as vivid as the mark on his neck, a sinister reminder of his helplessness.

He tried to steady his breathing, to regain a semblance of control. Yet, the implications of the note were inescapable. He had been violated, his sanctuary breached, and the sanctity of his life defiled. The enormity of it threatened to overwhelm him.