Bloodlust | Jeonghan

6 | When Days Gone "Bye"

Squelch

"W-what..." I wanted to ask what he was, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, my mouth tightened into a thin line. I kept backing away as he advanced toward me.

"I finally understand why everyone was so desperate for your blood," he murmured, his voice low and calculated. "At first, I thought they were just slaves to their bloodlust, overreacting to your scent. I kept asking myself, 'What makes that girl so special? What could possibly make her blood worth all this chaos?' But now... now I see it clearly."

In the blink of an eye, he was in front of me, his hands on my waist, keeping me from moving. He leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing with twisted desire. "It's no wonder they were willing to kill for a drop. Your blood... it's unlike any other," he whispered, his tone almost reverent.

I stared at him, my mind reeling in a haze of shock and confusion. The world around me seemed to tilt and whirl, each movement a dizzying blur. Red, familiar spots entered the corners of my eyes. His voice began to fade and distort. I nearly collapsed if not for his grip, which held me firmly by the waist. I struggled against his hold, but he was much stronger. Then I felt something cold press against my stomach.

"One drop, Rose, just one drop could change everything—grant us something beyond our wildest dreams." He paused, his dark eyes locking with mine.

He grinned, and then I felt a sharp pain in my stomach. Something long and pointed was slowly pushing in, making me gasp in pain. "W-what d-did... y-you do?"

"But what really makes it tempting is what it gives back. What it lets us feel again."

"ROSIE GODDAMMIT SNAP OUT OF IT!"

I was pulled away from — whatever the hell that was.

A memory? No.

A dream? No, I wasn't asleep.

A foreshadowing?

I stared at him, my mind racing. When did he come so close? Moments ago he was on the porch — but now he was standing dangerously close in front of me. Chest to chest, toe to toe, we stood drenched beneath the rain.

"What was that? What happened to you?" he asked.

Our eyes met, and I wished they didn't, for I saw something I dreaded more than I could have imagined. I hated it.

I hated it!

"No," I mumbled, stumbling back. "No, it can't be. I-it can't..." be you.

Jeonghan looked a lot like the man I saw from that vision. His body — his eyes — they were almost identical.

"Rosie, what's wrong?"

I reeled back, clutching my head as a pounding pain exploded behind my eyes. "Argh!" I winced.

"Rosie," Jeonghan called, reaching for my hand, but I jerked away as if his touch had burned me.

It did.

"Stop," I blurted, my voice coming out harsher than I'd intended. Shaking my head, I stepped back from him. "Don't you ever touch me again." I spat.

Without another word, I turned and fled toward the house, leaving him standing alone in the pouring rain.

𓆩♡𓆪

SIX WEEKS LATER