BLOOD | Purinz

1 : The New Girl

Kim Chaewon kept her head low as she navigated the crowded halls of Hanlim High School. She preferred it this way—quiet, unnoticed, invisible. Her life was a careful routine: arrive early, slip into the back row of her classes, disappear into the library during breaks, and leave right as the final bell rang. It was her sanctuary, her way of surviving the chaotic storm that was high school.

But that morning, the routine was broken.

The rumors started before first period. A new student. She had transferred from another city, they said. Someone from a prestigious school, maybe even overseas. Whispers swirled around Chaewon as she moved through the corridors, picking up fragments of conversations about the mysterious new girl. She didn't care; she wasn't interested in gossip. She just wanted to get to her homeroom and start the day like any other.

But then she saw her.

Huh Yunjin. The new girl stood at the front of the classroom, leaning casually against the teacher's desk. She was taller than most of the girls, with long, red hair that cascaded over her shoulders like a midnight waterfall. almost luminescent under the fluorescent lights, and her eyes... Chaewon couldn't help but stare into them. They were deep, dark, endless—like two black holes that threatened to pull her in.

"Class, this is Huh Yunjin," the teacher introduced, but Chaewon barely heard the words. Her attention was fixed on Yunjin's face, on the way her lips curled into a half-smile, almost as if she knew something no one else did.

Yunjin's eyes swept across the room, and for a moment, they locked with Chaewon's. It felt like the world slowed down, the noise of the classroom fading into a distant hum. A strange feeling settled in Chaewon's chest, something between fear and curiosity, and she quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing with heat.

"Yunjin, you can take a seat next to Chaewon," the teacher continued, pointing to the empty chair beside her.

Chaewon's heart sank. Why next to her? Why today, of all days? She kept her eyes on her desk, feeling Yunjin's presence grow closer, and when Yunjin finally slid into the seat beside her, Chaewon could sense her gaze burning into the side of her face.

"Hi," Yunjin's voice was smooth, like silk, her tone almost teasing. "I'm Yunjin. Nice to meet you."

Chaewon swallowed, forcing herself to look up. "Hi... I'm Chaewon."

Yunjin's smile widened, her dark eyes twinkling with something unreadable. "I know," she said softly, as if the name had some special meaning.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Chaewon found it hard to concentrate with Yunjin sitting so close, her presence overwhelming, almost suffocating. During breaks, Yunjin seemed to linger just a little too close, her eyes following Chaewon's every move. When Chaewon looked up from her book in the library, Yunjin was there, watching her from across the room, her lips curled into that same enigmatic smile.

By the time the final bell rang, Chaewon's nerves were frayed. She hurried to pack her things, hoping to escape before Yunjin could follow. But as she stepped out of the classroom, she felt a hand on her shoulder, cold and firm.

"Going somewhere?" Yunjin asked, her voice light but her grip unyielding.

Chaewon turned slowly, meeting those dark eyes once more. "I... I'm going home," she stammered.

Yunjin tilted her head, her smile never faltering. "Mind if I walk with you?"

Chaewon hesitated. There was something unsettling about Yunjin, something that made her want to run in the opposite direction. But there was also a pull, an inexplicable urge to know more, to understand the mystery that shrouded the new girl.

"I guess not," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

They walked in silence, the evening air growing cooler as the sun dipped below the horizon. Chaewon felt the weight of Yunjin's gaze on her, a constant pressure that made her skin tingle. She glanced sideways at Yunjin, who seemed completely at ease, her steps light and graceful.

"Why did you transfer here?" Chaewon finally asked, desperate to break the silence.

Yunjin's smile widened. "Would you believe me if I said it was because of you?"

Chaewon blinked, taken aback. "Me? Why... why me?"

Yunjin laughed softly, a sound like wind chimes in the breeze. "You're interesting, Chaewon. Different from the others."

Chaewon's cheeks burned. "You don't even know me."

Yunjin's eyes seemed to glint in the fading light. "Oh, I know more than you think."

They reached an old, narrow alleyway, and Yunjin stopped, turning to face Chaewon fully. "There's something you should know about me," she said, her voice suddenly serious, her smile fading.

Chaewon's heart quickened, a sense of foreboding settling in her stomach. "What is it?"

Yunjin stepped closer, so close that Chaewon could feel her cold breath against her skin. "I'm not like the others here," she whispered. "I'm... different."

Chaewon's mind raced, confusion and fear warring within her. "Different how?"

Yunjin leaned in even closer, her lips almost brushing Chaewon's ear. "I'm a vampire," she whispered.

Chaewon felt her blood run cold. She pulled back, shaking her head. "That's not funny, Yunjin."

Yunjin's face remained serious, her dark eyes boring into Chaewon's. "Who said I was joking?"

Chaewon's breath caught in her throat. She searched Yunjin's face for any sign of humor, any indication that this was some kind of twisted joke. But there was none. Yunjin's expression was calm, almost serene, and that terrified Chaewon more than anything.

Before Chaewon could react, Yunjin's hand was on her wrist, her grip strong and cold. "Don't be afraid," Yunjin murmured, her voice soft but commanding. "I won't hurt you... unless you want me to."

Chaewon's heart pounded in her chest, her mind screaming at her to run, to get away from this strange, dangerous girl. But her body wouldn't move, held captive by the intensity in Yunjin's gaze.

"Do you want to know what it feels like?" Yunjin asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Chaewon couldn't speak, her throat tight with fear and something else she couldn't quite name. She nodded, almost involuntarily.

Yunjin's lips curled into a smile, one that sent a shiver down Chaewon's spine. "Close your eyes," she whispered.

Chaewon obeyed, her heart racing, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She felt Yunjin's cold fingers brush against her neck, sending a jolt of electricity through her body. And then, she felt a sharp, sudden pain, followed by a warmth that spread through her veins like fire.

Her eyes flew open, and for a moment, she saw Yunjin's face, her lips stained with crimson. Yunjin pulled back, her smile wicked and beautiful, her eyes gleaming with something dark and ancient.

"You're mine now, Chaewon," Yunjin whispered, her voice echoing in the stillness of the night. "Forever."

Chaewon's vision blurred, her body feeling heavy, her mind struggling to make sense of what had just happened. As the darkness closed in, she realized that, against all logic and reason, a part of her didn't want to escape.

A part of her wanted more.