Chapter 2:
The Nightmare
It wasn't one, or ten, or even fifty. One hundred unknown men were chasing a lone girl through a desolate landscape. She ran without stopping, her feet pounding against a field that wasn't covered in grass, but in blood—thick, crimson blood of people who had been slaughtered in gruesome ways. Strangely, the men chasing her were the only ones whose blood was not on that field.
"Stop!" they roared, their voices echoing like thunder. "You won't escape after what you did to us! We will catch you!"
The girl's breath was ragged. Her lungs burned, and her legs felt like lead. Her speed began to falter. Suddenly, a hand from the mob reached out, inches from her shoulder. As she looked back in terror—
"Ahhh! No!"
The Awakening
Suha bolted upright, gasping for air. She was in a magnificent room, a stark contrast to the nightmare she just escaped.
Suha: (To herself) That was a very strange dream... I have never had anything like that before.
She looked around the room, bewildered. She was draped in beautiful, expensive clothes she didn't recognize. "Where am I? Whose room is this? And where did these clothes come from?"
Just then, Hong entered the room. His face lit up with relief when he saw her awake.
Hong: Oh, you woke up! Don't be scared, Suha. You fainted in my arms at the signal, so I brought you to my house.
Suha: (Scared and whispering) Thank you for taking care of me... but I have to go. My father will be alone at home. I must go to him.
Hong: Look outside the window; it's already night. I will take you home myself, but first, you have to agree to one thing: you must have dinner with me.
Suha: (To herself) I am starving... but my father is waiting. How long was I out? (To Hong) Will you really drop me home if I eat with you? And... you won't do anything wrong to me, will you?
Hong: Oh no, no! I am just worried about your health.
Hong: (To himself) Wow, she was beautiful in rags, but in these clothes... she looks like a princess. She is so cute!
Suha: Okay, fine. I am very hungry, but we must hurry. I have to see my father.
The Dinner
Hong: First, tell me your name.
Suha: My name is Suha. And yours?
Hong: I am Hong. Well, Miss Suha, shall we go for dinner?
Hong decided not to feed her at home; he wanted to take her to the finest five-star restaurant in the city. When they arrived, Suha's eyes widened in shock. She had never even dreamed of stepping into such a place.
Suha: Hong, why is it so empty? Where are the other people?
Hong: I booked the entire restaurant just for us.
Suha: Oh wow... that's very nice!
They sat in a private, magnificent hall.
Hong: What would you like to eat, Miss Suha?
Suha: Whatever you like, I will like too.
Hong: Waiter! Bring two servings of Steak! And listen—if the quality is even slightly bad, I will have this restaurant shut down! Do you understand?
Waiter: (Trembling) Yes, Sir Hong! We will serve the best quality food.
Suha: Hong, what is 'Steak'?
Hong: It's meat, cooked half-raw and half-well. It's delicious.
When the food arrived and Suha took her first bite, tears began to roll down her cheeks.
Hong: (Angrily) Hey, what happened? Is it bad? Waiter, come here!
Suha: No! No, it's not that. It's so delicious that it brought tears to my eyes. I've never tasted anything like this before.
Suha: I wish I could feed this to my father too...
Hong: You can feed him as much as you want. In fact, tomorrow I will admit him to the best hospital in the city. But you have to do one thing for me: you and your father must quit begging.
Suha: But if we quit, who will feed us?
Hong: I told you—I am here. From today, you and your father are my responsibility. Until my last breath, I will take care of you.
The Horror at Home
They drove toward Suha's house, with her giving directions. As they approached, a large crowd was gathered outside in the middle of the night.
Suha: Why are so many people at my house?
Hong: Stay in the car, Suha. I'll go check.
Hong stepped out and approached a man.
The Man: The body inside... it's a nightmare. No one should have to see that.
Hong looked through the door. The room was drenched in blood. Human remains were scattered like trash. It looked like the work of a savage demon. Hong fell to his knees and began to sob.
Suha saw him and ran out of the car.
Suha: Hong! What happened? Why are you crying?
Then her eyes fell on the scene inside. A blood-curdling scream escaped her throat before she collapsed into Hong's arms.
The Dream Continues
In the hospital, Suha fainted again, and her nightmare resumed. The faceless men were still chasing her. Suddenly, an unknown boy with no face—no eyes, no nose, no mouth—only thick black hair, descended from the sky and lifted her away.
Suha: Thank you for saving me...
Faceless Boy: Who said I saved you? I've come to take the heart that was given to you.
He lunged at her chest, his hand ready to tear it open.
"Ahhh! Someone save me!"
The Hospital Room
Suha woke up again. Hong was by her side.
Hong: I'm here, Suha. You're safe.
Suha: Where am I? How did I get here?
Hong tried to lie to protect her from the trauma of her father's death. "You fainted after I shot the bodyguard, remember? I brought you here."
Suha: You're lying! You took me to your house first! Tell me the truth, Hong! Was that a dream? Were those body parts... my father?
Hong hugged her as she broke down. "I swear, Suha, whoever did this to your father, I will make them suffer a fate worse than death. This is my promise!"
As she fainted once more, the faceless boy in her dream tore open her chest. He removed her heart and replaced it with his own. "Now," the boy whispered, "you are even more powerful."
The Investigation
Morning came. Hong stepped out to take a call from his investigator.
Investigator: Sir, it's impossible. No one entered the house on the CCTV except for the landlord, who ran away in fear. No human could have done this. Parts of the body—including the heart—are missing. It's like an animal, but there are no tracks, no footsteps, nothing.
Hong: (Furious) I will find them... even if I have to destroy this world!
In his rage, Hong raised his clenched fists toward the sky. Suddenly, he felt something warm and wet. He lowered his hands to his face.
His hands were covered in fresh, warm blood. He gasped and fell backward in shock.
Where did the blood come from?