Chapter 22: Don’t let it be her

The main gate of Harmony High was now tightly shut. The area surrounding it was pitch black.

The faint light from a crescent moon hung in the sky, casting the shadows of flame tree branches across the schoolyard like sinister claws.

Those ghostly branches swayed gently in sync with the rustling wind.

Ethan felt the soft hairs on his arms stir. Was the air getting colder? The ocean breeze carried moisture inland, adding a biting chill to the night air.

A sudden hoot either from an owl or a nightjar echoed from somewhere far off, followed by frantic wingbeats that made Ethan jump.

He muttered to himself, Gotta get home quick!

Fortunately, the security booth was still lit. Ethan walked over and politely tapped on the glass.

"Kiddo! It's not safe going home at this hour. Just sleep here in the guard room tonight."

Mr. Locke, the night guard at Harmony High, let out a long yawn when Ethan asked him to open the side gate so he could head home.

"But I've got the Math team selection exam tomorrow, and I left my student ID and national ID card at home."

"Huh? You haven't installed the digital ID app yet?"

"I did, but I've been lazy and never scanned my card for verification."

"How about just staying over and running home to grab it in the morning?"

"I'm afraid I won't make it back in time, sir."

Mr. Locke furrowed his brow at Ethan, then opened the calendar on the desk. He studied the dates carefully, flipping back and forth as if pondering something deeply, making Ethan feel a bit uneasy.

"Well, today's only the 5th day of the August Lunar month. Shouldn't be a problem…"

He mumbled to himself and sighed quietly.

"Alright then. Get home safe, okay?"

Mr. Locke got up, grabbed the keyring from the hook, and slowly unlocked the side gate for Ethan.

"Or… maybe don't go home, because…"

He was about to try persuading Ethan again, but before he could finish his sentence, Ethan had already bolted down the path.

"Thank you, sir! Please head back inside before you catch a cold!"

As Ethan turned back to wave and thank him, he saw Mr. Locke still standing at the gate, watching his silhouette fade into the darkness.

…

Halfway home, Ethan slowed his pace.

He remembered the first time he came to Harmony Town in early May to handle enrollment paperwork at the school. Back then, the town was lively both day and night.

But now, in late September, after the tourist season had ended, the town had grown much quieter. Most shops closed early, catering only to locals.

He could hear the faint sound of waves crashing in the distance. Despite living near Paradise Beach, one of the most beautiful in Vietnam, he hadn't had a single free moment to visit.

Maybe after the Math team exam… and once the Women's Day decorations for class are done, he'll finally go see the ocean.

Gurgle!

Ethan's stomach growled from hunger. Lunch had long been digested, and he had skipped dinner while napping. He broke into a run, hoping to get home quickly to cook some instant noodles.

He slowed again as he passed a narrow alleyway. By day, it was a shortcut he always used to get home.

But at night, the familiar alley was cloaked in complete darkness. Not a single streetlamp lit the way, only the faint glow of a few nightlights peeking through windows of nearby houses.

Ethan hesitated.

Should he take the longer but brighter road instead?

Ah, whatever. He walks this alley every day, it's just a little darker now. Same path, nothing to be afraid of!

About halfway down the alley, he suddenly heard something… strange.

It was the sound of rapid, gasping breaths. Ragged. Shaky. Emotional.

It sounded like someone was doing something shady and shameful in the shadows.

Under the dim moonlight, far ahead, the vague silhouettes of a couple emerged. They were pressed tightly against a wall in a passionate embrace, completely absorbed in each other, oblivious to the world around them.

Thanks to their white school uniforms standing out against the darkness, Ethan guessed they were probably students from Harmony High like him. He thought to himself how bold they were, sneaking out to meet at this hour, especially in a dark alley like this.

Witnessing such an intimate scene firsthand, Ethan felt… utterly mortified.

He considered turning around to take a different route, to avoid intruding on someone's private moment. But the alley was almost over, and going back now would just waste time. Ethan only wanted to get home quickly, grab a bite, take a shower, and rest up for tomorrow's big exam.

Up ahead, at the end of the alley, faint streetlights were already in sight. Just a little farther and he'd reach his boarding house.

Ethan decided to tough it out and walk past the lovebirds. Just pretend he hadn't seen anything. After all, he was seventeen, why should he be embarrassed by something like this?

But as he took a few more steps, a faint floral scent wafted into his nose…

…mixed with a strong metallic tang.

Ethan's heart skipped a beat.

He squinted to get a better look.

As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he froze in horror at the scene before him.

The couple he thought were embracing passionately, weren't.

In truth, the tall male student was being slammed against the wall by a much smaller figure. He struggled in vain, trying to break free from the arms wrapped tightly around his neck but he was completely overpowered.

Because the small figure had strength far beyond his.

The tall boy's strength was draining away, flowing out from his neck where the bloodthirsty creature was sinking sharp fangs into his flesh.

His blood spilled down the collar of his crisp Harmony High uniform shirt. When the pool beneath him grew large enough to reflect the moonlight, his fingers twitched one last time then went still.

Thud!

Drained dry and of no further use, the tall boy collapsed like a rag doll into his own blood.

The attacker - a girl, clearly, based on the blood-soaked school uniform and pleated skirt, now stood alone. Her white shirt was blotched with dark red stains from the boy she had just devoured.

She let out a long, grotesque belch.

Then she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, perhaps to clean off the blood, though it only smeared it more wildly across her face.

Her gaze no longer lingered on her lifeless victim.

Her nose twitched. Slowly, she turned toward Ethan. She had sensed his presence. And now she was walking toward him - one slow, graceful step at a time.

No…

Ethan didn't want to believe what was happening.

His breath caught. His limbs turned to jelly. He couldn't run, his body refused. His heart clenched painfully, then pounded so violently he thought it might explode.

The fear of death was just a small part of it.

What consumed him now was a different kind of pain, a deep, indescribable ache.

The scent, the hair, the figure, the strength… and that school uniform - they all felt too familiar.

At this moment, Ethan had only one wish.

Please. Don't let it be her.

God, please. Don't let it be her.