Whispers of the Underworld (SunSun)

chapter 1

Sunoo

January 12th, 2021.

That night is burned into my memory, every detail as vivid as if it happened yesterday. The cold had been brutal, the kind that seeps into your bones and refuses to leave, no matter how many layers you wear. I remember sitting in the back of the car, my breath fogging up the window as I stared out at the snow-covered streets. It was supposed to be just another event, another ball where we played the perfect couple in front of the world. But as we pulled up to the Kim family estate, that familiar dread coiled in my stomach like a snake ready to strike.

Jinyun was different that night. He'd been unusually tense, his grip on my arm almost bruising as we walked into the grand ballroom. I could feel his anger simmering beneath the surface, barely contained, and it made my heart race. That sense of foreboding, the one I had grown so used to, hung over me like a shroud. I knew better than to ignore it.

When it finally happened, it wasn't even surprising. A careless comment from one of the guests-nothing more than a sneer, really-had been enough to set him off. I could feel his hand tighten on my arm, his fingers digging into my flesh as he yanked me out of the ballroom, away from prying eyes. My heart pounded in my chest, my mouth dry with fear as he dragged me into a secluded hallway.

"You're worthless," he hissed, his voice dripping with venom. "A pathetic excuse for an omega. I should have left you to rot in that hospital."

The words stung, like they always did, but I had learned long ago how to bury the pain. I kept my head down, refused to meet his eyes, knowing that anything I said would only make things worse. Silence was my only defense, my only way to keep the situation from spiraling out of control.

But Jinyun didn't want silence. He wanted to hurt me, to see me crumble under the weight of his anger. And when I didn't give him the reaction he wanted, his rage turned physical, just like it always did. Before I knew it, he had me pinned against the wall, his hand around my throat, squeezing the life out of me.

The air left my lungs in a rush, my vision darkening at the edges as I struggled to breathe. Panic flared in my chest, a wild, desperate thing that clawed at my insides. I wanted to fight back, to push him off me, but I knew it was useless. He was stronger, and he enjoyed seeing me helpless, seeing the fear in my eyes.

Then, as quickly as it started, it was over. He released me, letting me crumple to the ground like a discarded rag doll, gasping for air as I clutched my bruised throat. I looked up at him, my vision still blurry with tears, and saw nothing but cold, calculating rage in his eyes.

"I'll deal with you later," he growled, his voice like ice.

I didn't respond. I couldn't. All I could do was lie there, trying to catch my breath, as he turned and walked away, leaving me alone in that cold, empty hallway. The tears that had been threatening finally spilled over, but I quickly wiped them away. Crying wouldn't help me now. Nothing would.

The coldness of the hallway still clung to me as I shakily pulled myself to my feet. The ballroom's distant music barely registered in my ears as I steadied myself against the wall, trying to compose my shattered nerves. My throat throbbed where Jinyun's fingers had dug into my skin, the phantom grip still squeezing the life out of me in my mind. But I knew I couldn't stay there, hunched over in the shadows, vulnerable and exposed. Not with the crowd just a few steps away.

I forced my legs to move, to carry me back toward the party, even though every instinct screamed at me to run in the opposite direction. The lights of the ballroom were blinding after the darkness of the corridor, and I had to blink rapidly to adjust. I caught sight of Jinyun across the room, a perfect mask of calm plastered on his face as he mingled with the guests. No one would have guessed what had just transpired between us. He was always good at that-hiding his true nature behind a charming smile and polite conversation.