Chapter One: "You Should've Seen Their Face"
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Minji bid farewell to her friends, her smile lingering as she stepped into her dorm room. With a subtle flick of her fingers, the lights danced out, leaving the room in serene darkness. The air carried a sense of calm as she made her way to the tiny bathroom to wash her face before turning in for the night.
As the cool water ran over her skin, Minji sensed an inexplicable presence around her, but she dismissed it as mere imagination, choosing to focus on the tranquility of the moment. She finished her nightly ritual and slipped into her cozy bed, the covers wrapping around her like a warm embrace. Exhaustion soon claimed her, and she drifted off into slumber, unaware of the events about to unfold.
Unbeknownst to Minji, the moon cast an eerie glow through her dorm room window, painting a mysterious ambiance across the space she called her own.
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As Minji awakened, she instinctively shook her hair away from her face. As she rose from her bed, she noticed an unusual agility, nearly stumbling before steadying herself with an uncanny speed. Blinking away her confusion, she made her way to the bathroom, but a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror stopped her in her tracks.
What she saw left her in shock. Her once petite frame now appeared to have grown almost a full foot taller. Her hair had thickened and cascaded down, obscuring her face like a mysterious veil. Broadened shoulders and a healthier appearance greeted her, and she couldn't help but touch her now clear skin, questioning if she had somehow taken steroids during the night.
Taking a deep breath, she attempted to proceed with her morning routine, washing her face and brushing her teeth. Yet, a peculiar sensation took over as her hand moved with an unprecedented swiftness. Confounded by these bizarre changes, she couldn't help but wonder, "What the hell is going on?"
As she turned her head to listen, her senses seemed sharper than ever before. She could hear the sweet melody of birdsong, an unusual sound in this urban setting. Perplexed, she thought to herself, "There were never birds here." But now, she could hear sounds from afar, as if her connection to the world had heightened to extraordinary levels. The world around her felt different, tinged with a hint of mystique and intrigue.
As Minji opened her closet to retrieve her uniform, her roommate, Hanni, barged into the room with a sense of urgency. "Did I miss briefing?" Hanni inquired, and Minji shook her head in response. As Hanni scanned Minji from head to toe, her eyes widened in surprise and confusion. "The hell happened to you?" she blurted out.
Minji could only shrug in response, still grappling with her newfound identity. Her voice had changed, and her appearance had transformed in astonishing ways. Just as she was about to explain, Hanni's drunken demeanor became apparent when she hiccuped and slumped onto Minji's bed.
"Where were you last night?" Minji asked, attempting to process her own changes while trying to understand Hanni's antics. Hanni's laughter made it evident that she couldn't remember her whereabouts. Then, her attention shifted back to Minji's appearance.
"Whoa, you're jacked too?" Hanni exclaimed, noticing the newfound tone in Minji's chest. Minji herself couldn't comprehend how such changes had occurred without her knowledge. "How? I've never done a sit-up in my life!" she exclaimed, baffled by her sudden physical strength.
Hanni shrugged, admitting she had no explanation for the inexplicable. As Minji attempted to dress in her uniform, the unforeseen changes continued to cause havoc. Buttons popped and shirts broke, leaving her exasperated.
"Shit," Minji muttered as she reached for another shirt, only to meet the same outcome. One after another, the shirts seemed no match for her new physique. With a sigh of resignation, she decided to wear the remnants of her uniform, knowing that this was just the beginning of an extraordinary journey filled with enigma and revelation.
As Minji donned her skirt, she quickly realized that her elongated legs made it look unusually short. "I can't wear this!" she exclaimed, feeling a wave of embarrassment coming her way. From the bathroom, Hanni offered a solution, suggesting she wear trousers instead. Minji nodded, hastily putting on the trousers, even though they fell short of covering her ankles. She knew it would have to suffice to avoid any awkward encounters with the teachers.
Not willing to risk further discomfort, Minji borrowed one of Hanni's shirts, carefully buttoning it up. Miraculously, it fit, and she felt a sense of relief. Hanni emerged from the bathroom, approving of the outfit change. "That's better," Hanni remarked as Minji adjusted her tie.
Though her blazer didn't fit, Minji clutched it, carrying it around as they prepared to head to school. The hunger within her was undeniable, and she sighed, longing for breakfast. Hanni raised an eyebrow, surprised by her sudden appetite. "Thought you weren't hungry in the mornings," Hanni teased.
Struggling with her shoes, Minji sighed in frustration. Hanni, ever resourceful, tossed a pair of Doc Martens her way, claiming they were too big for her. Grateful for the help, Minji slipped them on, completing her school-ready look. However, beneath the external appearance, a whirlwind of emotions swirled within her.
Minji left her dorm room, her head slightly ducked as she navigated the corridors of the boarding school. Hanni followed closely behind, appearing a bit disheveled from their morning rush. The autumnal weather adorned the surroundings with a rich blend of colors, crimson leaves carpeting the path as they made their way towards the main school building.
The crisp breeze carried the sweet scent of fallen leaves, while the distant chirping of birds and the rumble of passing cars added to the serene atmosphere. For Minji, however, the heightened senses proved overwhelming, amplifying every detail to the point of discomfort. She walked with an unusual speed, almost gliding, and skipped stairs effortlessly as she approached the school building.
Upon entering, Minji made her way to her locker, skillfully unlocking it with a swift combination of digits. The door swung open with a force that almost threatened to dislodge it from its hinges. Sighing, she filled her backpack with books, trying to focus on the familiar routine despite her newfound sensory abilities.
Before she could shut the locker, a playful voice interrupted her. "Boo!" Danielle's mischievous voice rang out. Minji, surprisingly, didn't flinch as she usually would have. Danielle looked puzzled at Minji's stoic reaction. "Awh, what happened to you?" she asked, concerned.
Minji nonchalantly shrugged her backpack onto her shoulder and replied, "God's plan," her words laced with sarcasm and a touch of grumpiness. Danielle couldn't believe her ears, speeding up to catch up with Minji, her books floating gracefully by her side. "Are you serious?" she asked, seeking confirmation.
Minji nodded, the weight of her newfound abilities still settling in. As she walked away, a hint of amusement escaped her lips with a quiet "Hallelujah." Danielle couldn't help but tilt her head in bewilderment. "Hallelujah my ass," she muttered, staring at Minji's figure as she continued on her way, both intrigued and mystified by the changes she witnessed in her friend.
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Minji squirmed uncomfortably in the crowded assembly, feeling oddly large on the small chair. Her heightened senses captured every minute sound around her, from the faintest whispers to the creaking of chairs and even the sound of chewing. As the principal led the students in reciting the daily words, Minji's senses went into overdrive, and she instinctively covered her sensitive ears to shield herself from the cacophony.
After the monotonous lecture, everyone stood up and headed to the breakfast hall. Minji didn't waste a second and hurriedly dashed out of the mail hall, determined to be the first to reach the dinner hall. The lady behind the counter noticed Minji's transformation and commented, "Good morning - oh, Minji dear, you've grown!" Minji simply nodded, trying to shrug off the attention.
Impatiently, she requested two of everything for her breakfast, and the dinner lady complied, adding an affectionate remark, "Only because you're good," as she piled up Minji's plate.
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Danielle watched in awe as Minji voraciously consumed her food, lacking any semblance of grace. Minji swiftly gulped down some milk, oblivious to the drops gliding down her throat, leaving her friends amused.
Noticing something amiss, Hyein gestured towards Minji's upper lip, and Minji chuckled, wiping away the milk mustache. "Well, I'm full. Are you gonna eat that?" she asked Hyein, eyeing the untouched pop tart. Hyein shook her head slowly, and Minji seized the opportunity, snatching the pop tart and thanking her friend before devouring it.
With birthday cake flavor still lingering in her mouth, Minji walked away, leaving her friends exchanging curious glances. As she accidentally bumped into another student, Hyein voiced her thoughts. "Is it just me, or..." she began, and Hanni and Danielle both responded simultaneously, "It's not just you." The mystery surrounding Minji's changes deepened, and her friends knew they were in for an eventful and intriguing journey ahead.
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Minji strode towards her desk, adjusting herself to fit comfortably in the small space. Her legs sprawled out, and she moved swiftly, completing tasks with impressive speed. The number of times she dropped her pen due to her rapid movements and losing grip was astonishing, but despite the minor mishaps, she excelled in her lesson.
As the class ended, she joined her friends at their usual gathering spot. They were engrossed in a cryptic conversation, Minji took her seat on the grass, and Danielle spoke with cryptic excitement, "And the boy sunk his teeth into her neck!" Hyein reacted with screams, prompting Minji to quip, "Talking about 'The Enemy' I see." Hanni sported a smirk as she chimed in, "Some fanfic Danielle found," which Minji acknowledged with a nod.
Danielle continued her animated storytelling, using hand gestures to add to the narrative. "But she never saw his face; it was in the night," she revealed, drawing everyone further into the mystery. "She didn't feel a thing," she concluded, but not everyone was convinced. "Boo, that sucked," someone commented teasingly.
Hyein sought comic rescue, exclaiming, "Save me, Yunjin, from the fanfic freak show!" Yunjin chuckled warmly as she welcomed Hyein into her arms, responding, "I missed you too." Hanni inquired, "How was Madrid?" as Yunjin sat Hyein down beside her. Yunjin replied with a hint of longing, "Great actually, would've enjoyed it more if I could actually leave the studio."
Danielle expressed optimism, saying, "I'm sure they'll loosen up soon enough." Hanni agreed, prompting a sigh from Minji. "You sure are loose," Minji playfully remarked, snatching the flask from Hanni's fingers. Taking a swig, she grimaced before passing it back to her. Yunjin's response was resigned, "They never will," as she held Hyein close, sharing an affectionate moment.
In the midst of the laughter and casual banter, Yunjin noticed Minji's transformation and inquired, "By the way, what the hell happened to you?" Minji sighed.
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Minji sat at her desk, engrossed in her homework, which happened to be about the 'other side' she read. With a casual shrug, she scrolled through the wiki page, where she stumbled upon a peculiar theory. The theory related to her recent transformation and seemed to be connected to the fanfic Danielle had been reading - "Shiv in the Night."
According to the theory, Minji had been bitten by a vampire in the night, leading to some mysterious connection with them. A chill ran down her spine as she touched her neck, the assumed spot where the bite had occurred. Strangely, she hadn't felt anything during that eventful night.
Undeterred, she continued her homework and later decided to wash her face. As she dried her face with a towel, she caught a glimpse of her wrist and froze. There, faintly visible on her skin, was a bite mark, adding an element of undeniable truth to the mysterious theory she had stumbled upon. Her heart raced, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something extraordinary and beyond comprehension was unfolding around her.
(Note 💌: consider this a teaser/ prologue. I've got a busy summer so slow updates for some books. This is just a hobby for me so I won't bother if it doesn't get attention anymore.)