House of the Nefarious

Prologue

"I'm going out!" I called, even though I knew I wouldn't get an answer.

The wind was particularly bad tonight, blowing my hair out of the safety of my hood. 3am wasn't the ideal time of night for someone my age to be out, turning 18 didn't exactly make late night excursions normal.

This wasn't really how I had imagined spending my birthday last year, but things had definitely changed.

My walk to the beach was a short one, the frigid air turning my fingers stiff. It was uncharacteristically cold for July and my shorts and thin cardigan did little to keep me protected against the relentless wind.

I came to a halt when I arrived at the tire swing my father had set up for me on the cliff side near our house. The old tire clung to rope fastened around the branches of an old oak tree.

The tree was an awkward shape, with branches jutting in all directions, leaves wilted with time. A gaping hole was etched into the center with two squiggles which sort of resembled eyes.

I had begged my father to set up the swing on this tree and not the pristine one beside it cause I had found the illusion of a face funny.

Now shrouded in darkness with only the dull light from my phone's flashlight, it wasn't as amusing nor as funny as I remembered it.

I took a seat on the flaking rubber and was surprised it could still uphold my weight. Dropping my bag on the ground I fished out a rice triangle wrapped in seaweed I had picked up from the convenience store this morning.

I was lucky enough to get the last bulgogi flavoured one and I was eager to eat it.I grabbed a candle and match from my pocket, burying the candle in the rice and lighting the match.

I carefully set the wick aflame admiring the soft glow it produced under the blanket of night. I took a deep breath before loudly screaming out the lyrics to happy birthday knowing my words would be drowned out by the waves crashing against the rocky shore.

I finished with a huff, pausing to think over my birthday wish. I was debating making a wish, but with a loud rush of wind the candle was out. I guess it decided for me.

I placed the melted yellow candle aside digging into my long awaited substitute cake. It was definitely better than the ramen I had forced down my throat for dinner. I had only had a pack of extra spicy flavour left that I had bought by accident and with three glasses of water I had managed to finish it.

My aunt hadn't sent me too much allowance this month saying that it was already costing her too much to send me to University for a business course I had no interest in taking.

'You have to make lots of money to pay me back for looking after you this year' was the last thing she had told me on the phone.

Sometimes I wondered if she even cared that dad died the way he did.

I was snapped out of my thoughts by a sudden rustling in the bushes.

I froze mid-bite, recalling a wild boar had been reported to be roaming in the area. Standing up on shaky legs, I began to back away.

It was probably a hare I reasoned, the noise was much too quiet for something the size of a boar. I felt my heart rate slow as the noise came to a stop, a small sigh escaping my mouth.

It was funny how I was terrified of death yet hated the way I was living. I made a move to go retrieve my bag, silently criticizing myself for over reacting.

My rice triangle lied discarded on the ground and I frowned knowing it was far past the five second rule.

I suppose some wild animal would enjoy it, maybe even the hare that was making noise in the bushes again.

I grumbled adjusting the bag more comfortably on my shoulder as I mourned my lost birthday cake.

When I turned around in order to make my way back to my lonely home, I was surprised to see a man standing a few feet away.

Fortunately, his back was to me and I assumed he was preoccupied watching the ocean. My stranger danger alarm was going off and I hoped I was capable of being quiet enough to escape unscathed.

I was probably overreacting once again, but who in their right mind would be outside at 3am, especially in the outskirts of Daegu. Ignoring me of course, because I am 100% sane.

I tiptoed along the grass, the howling wind masking the crunch of my boots against the dry earth.

I could feel my breathing pick up as I neared the man, he gave off a weird vibe and my heart rate involuntarily picked up in response.

I tightened my fists, willing myself to sneak past the man. But too my luck he wheeled around as I took my final step.

What I saw froze me in my tracks. A wicked grin decorated the males face, his eyes wide with excitement. His black clothes blended in with the night, yet his stark white hair shone like a beacon.

"I didn't think it would take you this long to come over here. Did you really think I couldn't hear you coming?"

My face paled as a loud laugh left his mouth and I pleaded with my muscles to move away from the approaching figure.

"All this waiting has been so boring," he mused, stopping in front of me. I kept my eyes glued to his shoes too afraid to look at his face.

"You're really no fun," he complained,reaching out to grab my jaw and forcing me to look up at him. I could feel my breathing go ragged, at the pure displeasure present in his frown.

"I thought you would be more interesting," he sighed, "but you seem rather average to me."

His face returned to his earlier good mood and his hold on my jaw tightened. "Why don't we play a game, I'll count to 5 and you'll run away. If you can make it off the pier I'll let you go." His grin became impossibly wider. "But if I catch you, well you'll see what happens."

He let go of my face and I felt as if my paralyzed limbs were capable of moving again. He covered his eyes without pupils, dark hands stretched out in the appearance of a mask.

"5."

I took off immediately, tears stinging my eyes as I rushed down the cliff.

"4."

I stumbled over my own feet, a startled shriek escaping my lips as I came into contact with the ground.

"3."

I called for help, scrambling to my feet.

"2."

"Oopsies I caught you." My arm had been caught in an iron grip and I struggled to break away from my attacker.

"You cheated," I rasped out, using my free arm to pull on my captured one.

He shrugged. "I never said I would play fair."

I screamed as I was dragged towards the edge of the pier. "That wasn't as fun as I thought it would be," he pouted.

"Don't do this," I pleaded as I was forced onto my knees face to face with the rocky shore below.

The waves below sounded deafening and I could feel my lungs seizing up. "I'm just doing my job."

With a push on my back I was sent hurtling towards the jagged rocks below. I could feel time slow down as I approached the rocks below the grin of the man ever so wide as he watched me fall to my death.

There was a loud crunch, and then there was nothing.