❝ RUN, BUNNY, RUN... 𓏴 ♢
ᶻ 𝘇 𐰁 . . . 𝗜 𝗠𝗔𝗬 fail but i will never give up ❜ ⸝⸝
⊹ . ◌ ༚ ˳ 🕳️⠀﹒⠀ ꙳ .
🖇·˚ ≋♡
- 2020, December
For the first time in a while, Mercy found herself standing alone by the pier near the lake—an idyllic spot that had transformed into a symbol of her shared moments with Heeseung. As the memories flowed like a gentle river through her mind, she closed her eyes, allowing the tears to cascade down her cheeks. Deep within, she grappled with the realization that Heeseung deserved someone better. It was a truth she had long acknowledged, yet she couldn't help but wonder if it had been selfish of her to cling onto him, to attempt to love him, and to strive to provide the affection she believed he deserved—despite deeming it impossible for him to reciprocate.
Her body stiffened at the approaching footsteps, a sound she recognized as distinctly not Heeseung's. Even with her eyes closed, she could sense the person's presence. As arms enveloped her, Mercy froze, her breath caught in her throat. Despite the unease, she didn't dare push them away.
'I remember watching you from the other side of this lake,' a whisper brushed against her ear, sending shivers down her spine. 'My sweet bunny, enjoying a moment of silence with her boyfriend. A pity that the two of you didn't work out.'
'Why are you doing this?' Mercy asked, her eyes closing, a heavy breath escaping her as tears threatened to fall.
'Because you're mine,' he whispered, and the unsettling smile in his voice sent shivers down her spine. 'Don't you remember? That moment those years ago when we bumped into each other. You offered to help me, and I just ran away.' He giggled, a sound that carried an unsettling resonance. 'Oh, I was so terrified of you. But now I see the truth.'
His hand condescendingly smoothed down Mercy's hair, the touch feeling invasive and demeaning.
Turning her around, he revealed his face for the first time, and Mercy's eyes widened in terror. His fingers grabbed hold of her cheeks, squishing them together. 'There is no one to help you, is there?' he taunted. 'You have no one to run to.'
'But it's okay,' he cooed, his voice oozing false comfort. 'You don't need anyone but me.' The words hung in the air, a chilling proclamation of control that sent a cold shiver down Mercy's spine.
Disgust pooled in Mercy's stomach as she mustered the strength to spit in his face and forcefully push him away. Seizing the momentary surprise, she darted away, bursting into the familiar embrace of the forest.
Her knowledge of the paths and terrain gave her an advantage over him, and she exploited it to the fullest. Panic blurred her vision, tears of fear threatening to escape as her heart pounded relentlessly in her throat. A nauseating feeling washed over her, rendering her both terrified and desperate. Clammy hands gripped the trees, and her legs trembled, caught in the tumultuous dance of adrenaline and fear.
'Bunny!' His voice echoed through the once-silent forest, the disturbance causing even the birds to halt their singing, as if the natural world itself paused to witness the unfolding chase. The atmosphere became thick with tension as the pursuit continued, Mercy's fear-driven sprint contrasting with the oppressive silence of the surrounding woods.
Mercy's breath hitched as her racing heart pounded in her ears. She stumbled through the underbrush, branches clawing at her face. The forest seemed to close in around her. Each step echoed in her ears, a rapid cadence of panic. The dense canopy overhead filtered the sunlight, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. It was eerily quiet, except for the rustle of leaves and the occasional distant caw of a crow.
She didn't stop; she couldn't afford to. The ground beneath her feet changed from soft soil to uneven rocks as she neared the edge of the woods. The scent of damp earth mingled with the cool breeze, but there was no solace in the open air. Her car stood as a distant beacon, a refuge from the encroaching terror.
Reaching the car, she fumbled with the keys, hands trembling. The metallic click of the doors locking provided a momentary illusion of safety. Mercy slid into the driver's seat, the worn leather creaking beneath her. The world outside the car windows became a blurry backdrop to her spiraling thoughts.
Her head fell into her hands, and a stifled sob escaped her. But her moment of vulnerability was abruptly shattered. An arm wrapped around her throat, squeezing the air from her lungs. Panic surged, and her hands clawed desperately at the intruder's arm.
Desperation etched lines on her face as the struggle for breath intensified. The dim light within the car flickered, mirroring the turmoil in her fading consciousness. Black spots danced at the edges of her vision, the world shrinking into an abyss of impending darkness.
'Sweet bunny.'
It was the last thing she heard before her vision succumbed to the encroaching void, surrendering to the consuming blackness.