The Modern Nine-Tailed Fox [A One Shot Story]

The Modern Nine-Tailed Fox

~Do Mi Hyun~

I was running through the woods that I didn't recognize. All I knew at that time was that I had to get away from the person endangering my life. Everywhere I look, trees were all I see. Darkness was seeping from every corner of the land. I didn't know that there was a part of Daegu that could be this dark.

I stopped running and took a rest at the nearest tree to catch my breath. I felt dry tears my faces as I tried my best to fix my ruined clothing. The sleeve on my right arm had completely fallen off. The white skirt of my dress was totally covered with mud that it could no longer be considered white.

I let my tears fall as I hopelessly tried to wipe away the mud that had found its way to my thighs. My life was ruined. I ran away from home to protect my family and myself. All I ever wanted to do was prove to my classmates that I was capable of being as pretty as they say they are. To be noticed and recognized. To stop them from treating me like I wasn't a person.

But even my only wish was never really meant for me. Yes, I got my dream to become a Gumiho for one day-but at what price? To become a permanent, hideous creature that was being hunted down by that...that unbelievably good-looking killer?

I think anyone would rather choose the life of being an outcast than being in my situation.

"Did you really think that you can run from me, my dear Gumiho?"

I was pulled out of my reverie when I heard the voice that gave me my darkest nightmare for the past days right behind me. I scrambled away from the tree and turned around to see him-dressed in his hunting clothes-with his bow and arrow aimed at me.

"Please-"I began to beg but my voice got in my throat as he released the arrow that hit me in the stomach.

I stared at him with fresh tears running down my face as he gave a satisfied smirk before releasing another arrow that hit my chest. I fell to the ground, gasping for breath, as I tried to pull the arrow out.

"Don't even try. You'll die, anyway. Just wait. I'll be coming for you for real." Those were the last words I heard before the world turned black...

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I felt a scream building up my throat as I bolted upright with cold sweat filling my forehead. My hand flew to my mouth just in time to muffle the scream-preventing me from waking the inhabitants of our small house.

Shaking my head to clear the memory of the nightmare, I glanced at the clock beside my bed. 2:36 am. Even though I was dying to get more sleep, I couldn't bring myself to close my eyes. The smirk that was plastered on his face as he watched me run out of breath kept replaying in my mind.

It felt so real, I could almost feel the pain where his arrows had hit me. For safety measures, I glanced at my body to make sure that I was safe and whole.

Having these continuous attacks of terror was becoming bothersome. I couldn't sleep long enough to regain energy, resulting to myself looking life a walking zombie along the school premises.

I couldn't bring myself to tell anyone about it because, one-I didn't have anyone close enough to trust, and two-no one would believe me.

Making sure that I wouldn't wake my Eomma and Appa (mother and father), I went downstairs to drink a glass of water from the kitchen. After drinking, I closed the refrigerator and my heart almost jumped when I saw a lone form standing by the kitchen door, gazing at me.

It was a few moments later that I realized that it were only my older brother.

"Oppa. Mwoya?" I asked.