Sacrifice || ENHYPEN FF

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 70

~Lol i was gone for long right? Srryyy~

~yah! DOnt u dare forget to VOTE and COMMENT And wish me a late Happy Birthday😌😌 it was on the 26th nov but idc. I like ppl wishing me hbd~

-Start of Chapter 70-

I need to clear my head.

Still in my nightdress I head out into the royal garden. 

The air outside feels cooler, the gentle breeze brushing against my ski. The garden is peaceful, untouched by the madness of the world outside. The flowers are in full bloom, their vibrant colours shining against the crescent moon. 

It's the kind of quiet that makes you forget—just for a moment—how much you have to lose.

I walk along the path, my footsteps light against the stone. The scent of jasmine fills the air, sweet and calming, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I can breathe without hearing her voice—Sumin's voice, constant and venomous in my ears. 

It's the kind of peace I never get to enjoy, and I savour it as I move deeper into the garden, away from the oppressive walls of the castle.

I stop beside a small fountain, the water trickling softly, creating a delicate sound that mingles with the rustling of the trees. My fingers trace the edge of the stone, the coolness soothing, but the calmness doesn't last long.

A figure appears at the edge of my vision. Slowly, he steps forward, his presence unmistakable even in the quiet of the garden.

Sunghoon.

I straighten up, folding my arms across my chest in a subconscious attempt to shield myself from the sudden wave of emotions.

He stops a few feet away, his expression unreadable, but I know him too well. There's always something hidden behind his eyes.

 The moonlight casts his features in soft shadows, giving him an almost ethereal quality. Despite the calm of the night, there's something dangerous about the way he stands, like he's always ready to spring into action at the slightest provocation.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asks, his voice low, almost too casual for the way his gaze sharpens, studying me.

I glance away, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. "No" I reply, my voice colder than I intend. "Nervous for tomorrow." It's only a partial lie. The events of tomorrow are looming in my mind, but it's more than that. My reflection, the blood—it all haunts me, and I can't escape it.

Sunghoon steps closer, his eyes softening, though the tension remains. His gaze lingers on me, but he doesn't press further. "I understand" he says quietly, the words carrying more weight than usual. 

"What about you? Why are you awake?" I mutter, looking at him.

"I'm a vampire. I don't need sleep."

The words catch me off guard. My cheeks flush with heat before I can stop it, and I quickly avert my gaze to hide the embarrassment. The faintest chuckle escapes Sunghoon's lips, but it's not mocking—it's... comforting, in its own strange way.

I shake my head, trying to regain my composure. "Right" I mutter, still feeling the warmth creeping up my neck. "Forgot about that."

He watches me for a moment, and then his lips curl into the faintest of smiles.

"Walk with me?" he asks, the invitation soft, almost reluctant, as if he's uncertain of my answer.

I hesitate. For a split second, I wonder if walking with him will just complicate things more, but then I realize I'm already walking aimlessly through the garden, as if I have nothing left to lose.