Yerin lay still beneath the covers, her chest rising and falling in even, measured breaths. Her eyes were closed, lashes resting lightly against pale cheeks. To anyone watching, she was finally a frightened child at rest.
But her mind wasn't asleep.
Every detail of the day, the lab, the escape, the blood and pain—she cataloged it all. Every adult's expression, every gesture, every reaction she had seen in the room. Each piece filed away, precise, ready for later.
Her body was rigid in stillness, but internally, she tested her strength. Fingers flexed slowly beneath the blanket. Her toes pressed against the soft hospital sheets. Muscles responding perfectly. Pain, exhaustion, and blood did nothing to slow her—if anything, they sharpened her.
She didn't breathe too loudly. She didn't shift too much. Every small movement was calculated to maintain the illusion of a child finally falling asleep.
Outside the room, the building hummed softly. The faint clicks and footsteps of night staff reached her ears, distant and unthreatening. Machines hummed steadily, keeping rhythm with her breathing.
She kept her eyes closed, but behind the lashes, her mind raced. Every scenario, every step, every possible obstacle she might face in this new world played out in meticulous detail.
The soft warmth of the blankets, the faint smell of antiseptic, the quiet isolation—it was perfect.
For anyone else, she was asleep.
For her, the night was just beginning.
And she would be ready.
CHARACTER INTRODUCTIONS _______________________________ THE BAEK FAMILY
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
BAEK DAN-TAE / 1974.06.17
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
BAEK SEO-JIN / 1976.05.14
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
