BLOOD | Purinz

2 : The Awakening

Chaewon's head throbbed with pain, her body heavy as if submerged in water. She struggled to open her eyes, the light around her a blinding blur. For a moment, she didn't know where she was or how she had gotten there. Her senses were muddled, everything around her spinning in a dizzying swirl of color and sound.

Gradually, her vision cleared. She found herself lying on a small bed in a dimly lit room. The walls were old, cracked in places, covered with faded wallpaper that seemed to have once been a soft blue but now had yellowed with age. A single, narrow window let in a sliver of moonlight, casting strange shadows that danced across the walls.

Where was she?

Memories began to surface—Yunjin's piercing eyes, her cold touch, the sharp pain in her neck, and the warmth that followed...

A surge of panic shot through Chaewon as she sat up too quickly. Her head spun, and a wave of nausea rolled over her. She pressed a hand to her forehead, trying to steady herself.

"Easy there," came a familiar voice from the shadows.

Chaewon's head snapped toward the sound. Yunjin was sitting in a chair in the corner of the room, her legs crossed, her face partially hidden by the darkness. Her posture was relaxed, as if she had been waiting there for hours.

"Where am I?" Chaewon demanded, her voice hoarse and shaky. "What did you do to me?"

Yunjin's lips curved into a slow, satisfied smile. "You're safe. I brought you to a place where no one will find us."

Chaewon's heart pounded in her chest. "Find us? Why would anyone be looking for us?"

Yunjin stood up, moving closer with the predatory grace of a panther. "Because you're different now," she said softly. "You've changed."

Chaewon's hand instinctively flew to her neck, her fingers brushing against the spot where she had felt Yunjin's teeth. Her skin was cold to the touch, and when she looked down, she noticed faint marks, twin punctures that sent a shiver down her spine.

"I... I don't understand," Chaewon whispered. "What did you do to me?"

Yunjin leaned against the edge of the bed, her expression serious. "I told you, Chaewon. I'm a vampire. And now... so are you."

Chaewon's eyes widened. "No," she breathed, shaking her head. "That's impossible. This is some kind of joke—"

"It's not a joke," Yunjin cut her off, her voice sharp. "Look at yourself. Feel the changes."

Chaewon's breath quickened as she looked around, her senses suddenly more acute, more heightened than they had ever been. She could hear the soft rustle of leaves outside, the distant hum of electricity in the walls, even the faintest sound of Yunjin's steady breathing. Her eyesight was sharper, the details of the room clear even in the dim light. She could smell the musty scent of the old wood, the faint trace of dust in the air... and something else, something metallic, like copper.

She touched her mouth, her fingers coming away with a small smear of red. Blood. Her own blood.

Chaewon felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. "No... this can't be real," she muttered, her voice cracking.

Yunjin's expression softened slightly, a flicker of something almost like sympathy crossing her face. "I know it's hard to believe," she said quietly. "But you've felt it, haven't you? The thirst."

As if on cue, a sharp hunger tore through Chaewon's insides, an insatiable craving that made her mouth water and her throat burn. She swallowed hard, her mind spinning. "What... what do I do?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Yunjin reached out, taking Chaewon's hand in hers. "You have to feed," she said simply. "It's the only way to survive."

Chaewon recoiled, pulling her hand back. "Feed? You mean... on blood?"

Yunjin nodded, her eyes never leaving Chaewon's. "Yes. Human blood."

Chaewon's stomach churned. The thought of drinking blood, of taking another life to sustain her own... it was horrifying. "I... I can't do that," she whispered, shaking her head.

Yunjin sighed, her smile fading. "I knew this would be difficult for you. But you don't have a choice, Chaewon. The hunger will only grow stronger. If you don't feed, it will consume you."

Chaewon shuddered, closing her eyes. She didn't want to believe any of this, but the hunger gnawing at her insides was real, undeniable. She had to do something.

Suddenly, a loud knock echoed through the room, and Yunjin's head snapped toward the door, her expression tense.

"Who is it?" Yunjin called out, her voice suddenly sharp.

"It's me," came a soft voice from the other side. "Sakura. Let me in."

Yunjin relaxed, moving to unlock the door. As it creaked open, Chaewon saw another girl step inside. She was petite, with short, ash-blonde hair and a delicate, doll-like face. Her eyes were wide and bright, and there was a hint of concern in her expression.

Sakura Miyawaki. Chaewon knew her from school. She was always quiet, reserved, often seen with Yunjin and a few other girls. But there was something different about her now, something Chaewon hadn't noticed before. Her skin was impossibly pale, and her movements were unnaturally graceful, almost like she was gliding across the floor.

"Is she awake?" Sakura asked, her eyes flicking to Chaewon.

Yunjin nodded. "She is. And she's... adjusting."

Sakura's gaze softened, and she moved closer to Chaewon. "Hey, Chaewon. I know this is confusing, but you're not alone. We're here to help."

Chaewon's mind raced. "You... you're like her?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Sakura smiled gently. "Yes. I'm a vampire, too. We all are."

"We?" Chaewon repeated, her head spinning. "How many of you are there?"

Before Sakura could answer, another figure stepped into the room, a tall girl with long, dark hair tied back in a neat ponytail. Kazuha Nakamura. She was another one of Yunjin's friends, known for her athleticism and quiet demeanor. But there was something different about her, too—her eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, and her movements were impossibly fluid, like a cat ready to pounce.

"Kazuha," Yunjin greeted with a nod. "How's Eunchae?"

"She's fine," Kazuha replied, her voice low. "Still a bit shaken, but she'll be okay. She wanted to come, but I told her to rest."

Chaewon's mind raced. Eunchae Hong. She was the youngest of the group, a bubbly, bright-eyed girl who always seemed to be full of energy. Chaewon had seen her hanging around with Yunjin, Sakura, and Kazuha before, but she had no idea they were all... like this.

"This can't be real," Chaewon whispered, feeling her heart race. "How... how did this happen to you all?"

Yunjin's smile was thin. "We were chosen," she replied. "Just like you were, Chaewon."

"Chosen?" Chaewon echoed, confused. "By who?"

Sakura exchanged a look with Yunjin, and for a moment, an unspoken understanding passed between them. "There are others," Sakura said slowly. "Older vampires, who see potential in people like us. They gave us a choice."

"A choice?" Chaewon asked, her voice rising. "What kind of choice?"

"To join them... or die," Kazuha answered bluntly, her eyes dark. "And we all chose to live."

Chaewon felt her legs weaken, her mind struggling to process the reality of her situation. She had been pulled into a world she didn't understand, a world that seemed to defy everything she thought she knew. But as she looked at Yunjin, Sakura, and Kazuha—at the way they moved, the way they looked at her with a mix of concern and expectation—she realized she had a choice to make, too.

"You don't have to decide now," Yunjin said softly, her voice almost kind. "But soon, the hunger will become unbearable. And when it does... you'll need us."

Chaewon nodded, swallowing hard. She didn't know what to do, didn't know who to trust. But she knew one thing for certain: her life would never be the same again.