Chapter 2: Secrets in the Shadows

"I go hunting," Ji Won said, his voice thick with menace. "Do you want to see who I hunt? And how I do it? I'll take you this weekend—but you must keep it a secret from your mother." 

 Hye Jin's face lit up. "Dad, I want to come, too!"

 Ji Won shook his head, his smile fading slightly. "No, love. You can't. It might be too frightening for you."

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 That night, as Min Jae lay in bed, his mind was restless. Part of him was curious about what his father meant by "hunting," but the thought of seeing it terrified him. He wanted to be strong like his father, yet something deep inside resisted.

 Hye Jin, on the other hand, felt an unfamiliar thrill course through her. The idea of watching her father hunt made her heart race. She could almost hear the quiet gasp of someone struggling to breathe, feel the fear in their eyes. The thought was terrifying, yes—but it also filled her with a twisted excitement she couldn't quite explain. What would it be like to witness someone's last moments, to hold that kind of power? Her hands trembled slightly at the idea.

 As her mind raced, she felt both thrilled and afraid. The darkness that lived in her father, she realized, lived inside her too. It whispered to her, pulling her deeper. The thought scared her, but the fear only fed her curiosity. What her father had hinted at wasn't just scary—it was exhilarating.

 She couldn't wait to see what he did. Even if she wasn't allowed to go, she would find a way to know. The excitement churned in her, a dark thrill that scared her as much as it excited her. Soon, she thought. Soon she would find out everything.

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