Chapter 8: .... isn't human

Minsoo woke up, still reeling from his vivid dream about Ethan. He tried to shake off the lingering emotions, deciding to clear his head by searching for Ethan. However, after scouring the house, there was no sign of him.

A spark of worry ignited within Minsoo. He grabbed his phone and dialed Jaehoon's number.

"Jaehoon hyung," Minsoo said, trying to sound calm, "I couldn't find Ethan. Is he with you? Is everything alright?"

Jaehoon's reassuring voice came through the line. "Ethan's fine, Minsoo. He has an important meeting."

Minsoo's tension eased. "Okay."

As he was about to hang up, Jaehoon's voice stopped him. "Wait, Minsoo."

"Yes?" Minsoo replied.

Jaehoon chuckled. "I mean, we need to talk. In person."

Minsoo's curiosity piqued. "What's going on?"

"I'll explain when we meet," Jaehoon said. "Should I come to Jeonju or will you be coming to Seoul?"

Minsoo thought for a moment. "I have business in Seoul later today. I'll come to you."

Jaehoon agreed. "Let's meet at 2 PM then."

Minsoo nodded, even though Jaehoon couldn't see him. "Sounds good."

They confirmed the meeting and ended the call.

---

Ethan stood confidently before the Board of Directors.

"Good morning, gentlemen," Ethan began. "Today, I'll present our proposal for local market expansion."

Director Park leaned forward. "Address the potential risks, Mr. Ethan."

"Our market research shows significant local demand," Ethan replied. "Establishing a strong presence will increase market share."

Director Lee spoke up. "Logistical challenges?"

"We've explored local logistics partnerships and infrastructure upgrades," Ethan explained.

Director Kim asked, "Financial implications?"

"20% revenue increase within two years, 15% ROI," Ethan replied, referencing his notes.

The directors exchanged thoughtful glances.

Director Park summarized, "We'll review and schedule a follow-up meeting."

Ethan nodded, relieved. "Thank you, gentlemen."

The meeting concluded, Ethan left, feeling hopeful.

Ethan spun around in his revolving chair, grinning from ear to ear. "Yes! Fifty percent positivity is all I need." He felt invincible.

He dialed Jaehoon's extension. "Please come in."

Jaehoon entered, raising an eyebrow. "What's got you beaming, boss?"

Ethan chuckled. "You won't believe it. They're open to the proposal."

Jaehoon's face lit up. "No kidding! That's fantastic!"

The two friends shared a triumphant moment, their bond transcending boss-employee dynamics.

"I'll grab those papers from the second floor," Jaehoon said, heading out.

"Go ahead," Ethan replied, refocusing on his computer.

As he scrolled through drafts for the next meeting, a nagging sense of unease crept in. Ethan shook it off, attributing it to exhaustion.

Suddenly, a droplet of blood landed on his keyboard.

Ethan's heart skipped a beat. "What the...?"

He looked up, and his vision blurred. Blood dripped from the ceiling, forming a macabre pattern on the floor.

"No, no, no. This can't be real." Ethan's voice trembled.

The room began to darken, as if an invisible shadow engulfed everything.

Ethan's breath quickened. "What's going on?"

The air thickened, heavy with an ominous presence.

Shadows danced on the walls, twisting into grotesque forms.

Ethan's chair creaked as he pushed back from the desk, his eyes scanning the room frantically.

The darkness deepened, suffocating him.

A faint whisper seemed to echo through the room, "It never stopped."

Ethan's skin crawled. "What never stopped?"

The whisper grew louder, "The curse."

Ethan's vision blurred, and the room began to spin.

He grasped the desk, desperate to anchor himself to reality.

But reality was slipping away.

The darkness consumed him, and Ethan's screams were drowned out by the whisper, now a deafening roar.

"It never stopped... it never stopped..."

Here's the continuation:

Ethan's voice trembled, "What do you want from me? Leave me alone!"

The darkness tightened around him, suffocating.

Suddenly, a shadowy figure materialized, its grip crushing Ethan's neck.

Ethan's feet lifted off the floor, and he hung in mid-air, choking.

"Help..." he gasped, but his cry was muffled by the figure's unyielding grasp.

The room spun, and Ethan's vision blurred.

His thoughts racing, Ethan recalled the tiger's attacks, but this was different. This was an unseen force, an unstoppable terror.

Ethan's struggles weakened as the figure's grip tightened.

His consciousness began to slip away.

In a desperate bid to survive, Ethan's mind reached out for anything.

Minsoo's face flashed before him.

"Minsoo..." Ethan whispered, his voice barely audible.

The shadowy figure leaned in, its presence filling Ethan's senses.

Ethan's world narrowed to darkness.

And everything went black.

Ethan's eyes fluttered open to an endless void. Dark clouds swirled around him, suffocating.

He stumbled upright, disoriented.

"Who are you?" Ethan demanded, his voice shaking.

A figure emerged from the shadows. Ethan's heart sank as he recognized Sooyeon, seated atop the tiger that had supposedly killed her.

Sooyeon's eyes blazed with malice. "You can't run from here, Ethan."

Ethan retreated, but his feet felt rooted.

"Tell me the truth," Ethan pleaded. "What's going on?"

Sooyeon's voice dripped with venom. "I do my master's bidding. And my master wants you dead."

Ethan's desperation grew. "No, I won't die! I have Minsoo waiting for me. Minsoo..."

As he spoke Minsoo's name, Ethan felt himself drifting away, dissolving into the void.

"Minsoo... Minsoo..." Ethan's voice faded.

Sooyeon's laughter echoed through the void. "Your love won't save you, Ethan."

Ethan's vision blurred. He felt his existence unraveling.

"Minsoo... why...?" Ethan's whisper disappeared into the darkness.

The void closed in, consuming him.

Ethan's consciousness fragmented, leaving only one thought:

"Minsoo... don't let me go..."

Sooyeon's eerie voice echoed through the void, "You really are a stubborn human."

The tiger growled, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly intensity.

Ethan's voice trembled, "What do you mean? What warning?"

Sooyeon's laughter sent shivers down Ethan's spine. "Your dearest best friend, Jaehoon. He warned you, didn't he?"

Ethan's mind racing, "Jaehoon? What warning?"

Sooyeon's voice dripped with malice. "About the consequences of loving Minsoo. About the danger that follows him."

Ethan's eyes widened. "What danger? What consequences?"

The tiger's growl grew louder, as if urging Sooyeon to reveal more.

Sooyeon's voice took on a sinister tone. "You see, Ethan, Minsoo is not who you think he is. His past is shrouded in darkness, and his love comes with a terrible price."

Ethan's heart sank. "No, that's not true. Minsoo would never hurt me."

Sooyeon's laughter echoed through the void once more. "You're blind, Ethan. Blind to the truth. And soon, you'll be blind to everything."

The void began to darken, and Ethan felt himself being pulled toward some unknown abyss.

"Minsoo!" Ethan screamed, his voice lost in the void.

Ethan's mind snapped back to reality, and he found himself sitting in his revolving chair, gasping for air. The strangulation marks on his neck and bruises on his body were stark reminders of the terrifying encounter.

He grabbed his phone and dialed Jaehoon's direct line.

"Jaehoon, report to my office immediately," Ethan ordered, his voice laced with urgency.

Jaehoon arrived within minutes, concern etched on his face. "What's wrong, Ethan? You were ecstatic about the meeting results."

Ethan's eyes locked onto Jaehoon's. "The warning. About Minsoo. What did you tell me?"

Jaehoon's expression transformed from concern to horror. His eyes widened, and his face paled.

"Ethan, I...I don't know what you're talking about," Jaehoon stammered.

Ethan's grip on the armrest tightened. "Don't lie to me, Jaehoon. This is about my life. I may not make it through tomorrow."

Jaehoon's voice trembled. "Ethan, I swear, I never gave you any warning. What's happening?"

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "The text. 'Stay away from Minsoo.' Was that you?"

Jaehoon shook his head, alarm written across his face. "No, Ethan. I didn't send that text."

The air thickened with tension.

Ethan's voice dropped to a whisper. "Jaehoon, tell me the truth. What's going on?"

Jaehoon hesitated, his eyes darting around the room before settling on Ethan's.

"I think...I think it's time I told you something," Jaehoon said, his voice barely audible.

I'll make sure to use the correct name, Minsoo.

Jaehoon's voice dropped to a whisper. "Minsoo isn't my biological brother. We grew up together, but...my parents found him as a baby in the 14th district. They were checking on our properties when they heard his cries outside a five-story building."

Ethan's eyes widened. "What?"

Jaehoon nodded. "My mom took pity on him, and they raised him as their own. But when Minsoo turned 18...something changed."

Jaehoon's expression turned haunted. "He locked himself in his room for days. We thought it was teenage angst, but...when we broke down the door, we saw scratch marks everywhere. Minsoo's eyes were red, and he was...different."

Ethan's mind reeled. "What happened?"

Jaehoon's voice trembled. "My parents moved to Seoul, and I went abroad. We left Minsoo behind, bound to this house by a...a geas, a magical constraint. Everyone's scared of him, Ethan. That's why I never told you."

Ethan's shock turned to anger. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? What else are you hiding?"

Jaehoon's eyes pleaded for understanding. "I was protecting you, Ethan. I didn't want you to get hurt."

Ethan's voice rose. "Hurt? You think keeping this secret wouldn't hurt me? What about the text? 'Stay away from Minsoo'?"

Jaehoon shook his head. "I swear, I didn't send it. But...I think someone wants you to know the truth."

The room fell silent, heavy with secrets and foreboding.

Ethan's mind racing, he demanded, "Tell me everything, Jaehoon. What's going on with Minsoo?"

Jaehoon hesitated, then began to speak, his words dripping with fear and reverence.

"Minsoo...isn't human."