RED STRING || 1

✔️ Chapter twenty.

The flames grew higher, obscuring her view of the man and Seulgi. Panic surged through her veins, and the deafening silence was shattered by the sound of a gunshot. Time seemed to freeze, her heart stopping in its tracks as dread washed over her like a tidal wave.

And as always, the sirens of the police echoed in the distance, arriving late to the scene of chaos. They rushed in, their voices a blur as they attempted to drag Irene away from the flames, from the horror that was unfolding before her eyes. At first, she was in shock, her expression blank, as if her mind couldn’t comprehend the reality that was crashing down around her. But then the weight of it all hit her like a freight train, and she cried out, a primal scream ripping from her throat as she struggled against the officers’ grip. “Let me go! I need to save her!”

But it was too late. The body that lay before her was already engulfed in flames, the fire consuming everything it touched. Irene’s world crumbled around her. She cursed, her sobs wracking her body as she grasped her hair, her knees buckling beneath her as she fell to the ground, the reality of her loss crashing over her like an unrelenting wave.

Everything slowed to a crawl as her vision blurred, darkness creeping in around the edges.

~~

Irene awoke with a start, drenched in sweat, her heart racing as she gasped for breath. The familiar surroundings of her room greeted her, but the weight of grief hung heavy in the air. Baby Yeri lay peacefully asleep in her crib, the soft rise and fall of her chest a stark reminder of the life that continued despite the turmoil that raged within Irene. The sunlight peeked through the curtains, illuminating the room in a gentle glow, but it felt like a cruel joke.

As she sat up, the remnants of the nightmare clung to her like a shroud. It was a dream, she told herself, a horrifying dream. But as she made her way downstairs, the reality of her world began to unravel.

The people gathered in the living room were dressed in black, their expressions somber and mournful. A circle of grief surrounded her, and the air was thick with an unmistakable sorrow. Some sat on the couch, heads bowed, while others stood, lost in their own thoughts.

“What’s going on?” she breathed, her heart racing. Was it truly just a dream?

Mama Kang, her arm heavily bandaged, looked up and caught Irene’s gaze. “You’re awake,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. The room fell silent, and every eye turned to Irene, their expressions a mix of pity and heartbreak.

Mama Bae, a close family friend, approached her, enveloping her in a warm embrace. “I’m so sorry for what happened. I can’t imagine what you must be going through,” she murmured, rubbing Irene’s back soothingly. But confusion clouded Irene’s mind, and her heart raced with fear.

“What’s happening? Where’s Seulgi?” Her voice trembled, the question hanging heavily in the air. The silence that followed was deafening, a cacophony of unspoken words that echoed around her.

Slowly, the group parted, creating a pathway that revealed a small table adorned with flowers, an urn resting beside it.

An urn.

The word echoed in her mind like a haunting melody that refused to fade. The realization crashed over her like a wave, and her heart felt as if it were being ripped from her chest. Tears streamed down her face as she wiped them away in disbelief.

“No. No,” she whispered, backing away as panic surged within her. She tripped over her own feet, landing hard on her backside. A maidservant reached out a hand to help her up, but she recoiled, unable to accept the reality that was unfolding before her.

“You’re all joking!” she cried out, her voice rising in desperation as she dashed upstairs, searching for Seulgi in every room. The nursery was empty. Her old room was devoid of life. She even searched the storage room, but Seulgi was nowhere to be found.

“She can’t be…” The thought twisted in her mind, a cruel torment that made her heart ache. Her hand gripped the doorknob, and she crumpled to the floor, the weight of the last moments they shared together crashing down on her.

The last time they had seen each other, they had made love, their bodies entwined, hearts beating in perfect harmony. She grasped her hair, feeling the edges of sanity fraying as she stumbled into the bedroom they had shared. The sight of baby Yeri sleeping peacefully in the crib tore at her heart.

With a broken voice, she began to sing, the melody a bittersweet reminder of all they had shared.

Distance, timing~

Memories flooded back, the first time she had met Seulgi, a moment that felt like fate had intervened, bringing them together when they needed each other most.

Breakdown, fighting~

She recalled the times they had fought, the tears shed over petty arguments, always followed by laughter and love.

Silence, the train runs off its tracks~

Now, silence enveloped her, a chilling reminder that Seulgi was gone, leaving an unbearable void in her life.

Kiss me, try to fix it~

Those moments of affection, the gentle kisses that Seulgi would place upon her forehead whenever she pouted, the love that had bound them together, felt like a distant memory.

Could you just try to listen?

Seulgi’s stubbornness, her unwavering determination, how it had once irritated Irene but now made her heart ache with longing. She wished she could hear Seulgi’s voice nagging her about the little things, the mundane aspects of life that now felt so hollow.

Hang up, give up~

Acceptance was a bitter pill to swallow, the realization that Seulgi had surrendered to fate, whispering her love as if she were bidding farewell.

For the life of us we can’t get back~

It would take time, she knew, to adjust to a world without Seulgi’s laughter, without her radiant smile lighting up the room.

A beautiful magic love there~
What a sad beautiful tragic love affair~

The irony of it all struck her like a knife. Their love story had been beautiful, filled with moments of pure joy, yet now it felt like a tragic tale that would remain unfinished.

As if pulled from the depths of her grief, she remembered the locket Seulgi had intended to give her, a token of their love. She retrieved it from her drawer, holding it delicately in her trembling hands. The cool metal glinted in the light, and as she opened it, her breath caught in her throat.

Believe in the red string of fate.

The words engraved inside resonated deep within her, a bittersweet reminder of the connection they had shared. Clutching the locket tightly, she allowed the tears to flow freely, each sob echoing the pain in her heart.

And so, with the locket in her hand, she cried throughout the night, her tears mingling with the memories of the love they had built together, now shattered and lost. It was a night filled with sorrow, a night where the shadows of grief danced around her, reminding her that even in the darkest of times, love would always find a way to linger, even if only in the echoes of the past.

THE END

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Sorry for the crappy ending, but there's book two. So please trust the red string, coz there's going to be another. I love everyone who supported and read this. ♡