Welcome To The Nightmare (Book 2)

Chapter 1: The Devil's Awakening

A red-haired child walked deep into the mountain. Her breathing laboured as she dragged her feet across the mountain pass.

"Just a little bit more...." She encouraged herself.

She arrived at a cabin deep in the wood, lighted by some dim lights. She let go sigh of relief. She's here. She walked to the door and starts knocking. No answer. She took a look through the window. There was light and the fireplace is lit, so she must be inside.

She continued knocking the door and called if anyone was there. Her knuckle started to bleed. But she persists, ignoring the pain. She must be in there. Suddenly, the door exploded open. The door hit JiU's face and threw her backward, sent her sprawling to the ground. Blood flowed down her nose. She held and winced by the pain.

"WHAT THE FUCK?! WHO THE FU- a kid?" The woman shouted, but stopped when she saw a kid on the ground in front of her.

"Who the fuck are you?! Didnt your mother teach you not to knock on someone's door?" The woman were fuming.

"Sorry about all that. I heard you are the best hunter in the region. I hope you can teach me-" JiU got cut off in the middle.

"Fuck off!!" The woman slammed the door shut.

JiU ran towards the door and start knocking violently.

"Please, Miss! I want to be your apprentice!! Please!!!" JiU yelled on top of her lung.

But the woman paid no care. JiU continue until she exhausted. She walked and looked back to the cabin. By hook or by crook, she have to learn from this woman. She took a spot not far from the cabin and set her little camp. She gathered dried leaves and piled it up to make her bed.

She opened her bag and took out canned food and bottle of water. She took some of the twigs and leaves around her and made a fire. She opened her canned food an place it close to the fire to heat it up. The autumn night was cold, and she can hear wolves howling in the distance.

She was not afraid. Because she knew there's something out there more terrifying and evil than animal. She paid no attention to the howlings and started to eat. It was baked beans. JiU was not fussy with her food, so anything is fine with her. Her father always joked that JiU can even survive munching on rocks and woods.

Once she is done, she threw the can far away from her site to avoid wild animals. She eased herself into the pile of leaves and looked up to the sky.

The trees were tall, but she can see a glimpse of the night sky. It was clear and the stars were out beautifully, adorning the moon. She lost in her thought and fell asleep.

-

"JiU, hush down."

"JiU, stay silent okay?"

"JiU, Mama love you"

"JiU..."

"JiU..."

"JIIIIIUUU!!!!!"

-

She woked up abruptly. Her breathing heavy and fast. Her chest hurt so bad she hit it with her fist. Tears came out like waterfall. She started to hyperventilate. She ransacked through her bag to find plastic bag. She opened it up and started to breath  into the bag.

Every night is the same nightmare. Every night she fought through it to maintain her sanity. The nightmare became her drive to continue living. To find Gahyeon, to exact her revenge. And this woman is her first stepping stone.

She has calmed herself down after a while. She drew a deep breath and drank her water. She was drenched with sweat. She took off her clothes and hung it by the fire to dry it up. She opened a fresh pack of shirt and wore it down. She laid back down and massaged her temple.